System and method for operating bathing sessions of a scheduled type and of an impromptu type based on a cost sensitivity profile

Abstract

A computer implemented method and associated system are presented for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session, wherein the specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type. Th method comprises generating operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data. When the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, the bathing unit system is operated to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system. When the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type, a cost conformity indicator is generated at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile. In response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, a non-conforming impromptu session process is performed.

Description

[0001] 89003-271

[0002] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING BATHING SESSIONS OF A SCHEDULED TYPE AND OF AN IMPROMPTU TYPE BASED ON A COST SENSITIVITY PROFILE

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] [1] The present disclosure relates generally to operating a bathing unit system i n accordance with a specific bathing session being one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type, the bathing unit system including but not limited to, a swimming pool, a spa, a hot tub, and other recreational and therapeutic units for holding water. The present disclosure relates more specifically to operating the bathing unit system differently based on whether the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type or is of the impromptu type.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] [2] A bathing unit system typically includes various bathing unit components such as a receptacle holding water, one or more pumps to circulate water in a circulation system comprising a plurality of conduits, one or more temperature change modules (e.g., heaters to increase the water temperature and coolers to decrease the water temperature), a filter system to filter the water and a control system for activating and managing the various components.

[0007] [3] During a typical operation, a user can initiate a bathing session via a control panel. A control system of the bathing unit system then operates the various bathing unit components, including the one or more temperature change components, the one or more pumps and / or other bathing unit components, in order to create a desirable bathing session for a user. An important aspect of a desirable bathing session may be a desired water temperature and a desired start time for the bathing session. However, changing a water temperature (either increasing or decreasing) may take some time as a result of thermal inertia (or heat capacity) of the bathing unit system. As such, if the user would like to use the bathing unit system at a certain start time and at a certain water temperature, the control system needs to activate the one or more temperature change components, one or more pumps and / or various components in advance of that start time.

[0008] [4] Additionally, activating bathing unit components (and in particular, the temperature change components) can consume significant amounts of energy, which can result in increased costs for the operating the bathing unit system as energy costs continue to rise. As such, it may be desirable to reduce the amount of time the bathing unit components are activated in order to 89003-271 reduce energy consumption and cost. For example, a user may pre-schedule bathing sessions, and the control system may activate the bathing unit components to reach the desired water temperature at a scheduled start time, while maintaining the bathing unit components in a maintain mode (slightly lower temperature) and / or a standby mode (much lower temperature) outside of the bathing sessions of the scheduled type.

[0009] [5] However, a user may have a cost sensitivity which affects whether, and when, that particular user will actually use the bathing unit system. For example, some users may prefer to cancel a scheduled session if the costs for the scheduled session is too high. Further, in situation where a user would like to use the bathing unit system outside of scheduled bathing sessions, requiring the bathing unit system to reach the desired water temperature rapidly can also consume a significant amount of energy, particularly when compared to situations where the bathing unit system was provided with more lead time to heat to the desired temperature. Some users may be willing to wait for a longer lead time for reduced energy costs. Operating the bathing unit system in a manner which causes the cost of operation to exceed the cost sensitivity of the user can result in user dissatisfaction with the bathing unit system, particularly when the user does not expect or approve of the increased cost.

[0010] [6] Against the background above, there is a need in the industry to provide improved methods and systems which take into account the cost sensitivity of a user during operation of the bathing unit system. This can allow the cost for operating the bathing unit system to be controlled and approved by the user more granularly. This can also provide the user with a tailored experience based on the user’s personal preferences and cost sensitivities.

[0011] SUMMARY

[0012] [7] Conventional systems fail to provide solutions that take into the cost sensitivity of the user during operation of the bathing unit system, such as when operating the bathing unit system according to scheduled bathing sessions or according to impromptu bathing sessions and / or when energy costs change to increase operating costs associated with a specific bathing session.

[0013] [8] In one embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session. The specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type. The method is implemented by at least one processor. The method comprises: generating operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by 89003-271 processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data; and when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, operating the bathing unit system to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system. The method further comprises, when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type: deriving a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, performing a non-conforming impromptu session process.

[0014] [9] The specific bathing session may be one of a plurality of bathing sessions. Each bathing session in the plurality of bathing sessions may be one of the scheduled type or the impromptu type. Bathing sessions of the scheduled type may be stored in a storage memory in communication with the at least one processor as a part of an existing operating schedule of the bathing unit system. Bathing sessions of the impromptu type may be absent from the existing operating schedule within a minimum delay period from their start time.

[0015]

[0010] The cost sensitivity profile may convey one or more of: an economical mode, a standard mode, a performance mode, a maximum cost per bathing session, a maximum cost for a duration, a maximum cost for a time period, or a maximum energy cost rate.

[0016]

[0011] The method may further comprise receiving the cost sensitivity profile.

[0017]

[0012] Receiving the cost sensitivity profile may comprise receiving the cost sensitivity profile as: user input into a cost sensitivity menu associated with the bathing unit system; and / or user input in response to a notification message conveying a change in operating costs or conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile of the user.

[0018]

[0013] The cost sensitivity menu may present, on a user interface associated with at least one device, user selectable options corresponding to different cost sensitivities for operating the bathing unit system.

[0019]

[0014] The operating details may comprise a start time and a target temperature. Generating the operating costs comprises generating energy costs for reaching the target temperature at the start time.

[0020]

[0015] The operating details may comprise a start time and a target temperature. Generating the operating costs may be further based at least in part on processing the start time 89003-271 and the target temperature in combination with one or more of: thermal property data of the bathing unit system, thermal energy input models associated with one or more bathing unit components of the bathing unit system, power consumption models associated with the one or more bathing unit components, current ambient temperature data at a field location of the bathing unit system, forecasted ambient temperature data at the field location, the energy cost data, and current water temperature of water in a water receptacle of the bathing unit system.

[0021]

[0016] The non-conforming impromptu session process may comprise transmitting an impromptu type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user. The impromptu type cost notification message may include the cost conformity indicator. The non-conforming impromptu session process may further comprise, in response to receiving an impromptu type response from the at least one device, operating the bathing unit system according to the impromptu type response. The impromptu type response may comprise: an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

[0022]

[0017] The method may further comprise, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically: preventing initiation of the specific bathing session; or operating the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details. The conforming modified operating details may enable the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0023]

[0018] When the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, the method may further comprise: deriving the cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing updated operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the updated operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with updated energy cost data; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the updated operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, performing a nonconforming scheduled session process.

[0024]

[0019] The non-conforming scheduled session process may comprise transmitting a scheduled type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user. The scheduled type cost notification message may include the cost conformity indicator. The non-conforming scheduled session process may further comprise, in response to receiving a scheduled type response from the at least one device, operating the bathing unit system 89003-271 according to the scheduled type response. The scheduled type response may comprise: an acceptance of the operating details and / or the updated operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

[0025]

[0020] The method may further comprise, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically: cancelling the specific bathing session; or operating the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details. The conforming modified operating details may enable the updated operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0026]

[0021] The at least one device may comprise a top-side control panel of the bathing unit system.

[0027]

[0022] The at least one device may comprise a personal communication user device associated with the user.

[0028]

[0023] In another embodiment, there is provided a system for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session. The specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type. The system comprises at least one processor configured to: generate operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data; and when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, operate the bathing unit system to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system. The at least one processor is further configured to, when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type: derive a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, perform a non-conforming impromptu session process.

[0029]

[0024] The specific bathing session may be one of a plurality of bathing sessions. Each bathing session in the plurality of bathing sessions may be one of the scheduled type or the impromptu type. The system may further comprise a storage memory in communication with the at least one processor. Bathing sessions of the scheduled type may be stored in the storage memory as a part of an existing operating schedule of the bathing unit system. Bathing sessions of the impromptu type may be absent from the existing operating schedule within a minimum delay period from their start time. 89003-271

[0030]

[0025] The cost sensitivity profile may convey one or more of: an economical mode, a standard mode, a performance mode, a maximum cost per bathing session, a maximum cost for a duration, a maximum cost for a time period, or a maximum energy cost rate.

[0031]

[0026] The system may further comprise receiving the cost sensitivity profile as: user input into a cost sensitivity menu associated with the bathing unit system; and / or user input in response to a notification message conveying a change in the energy cost data or conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0032]

[0027] The operating details may comprise a start time and a target temperature. The operating costs may comprise energy costs for reaching the target temperature at the start time.

[0033]

[0028] The at least one processor may be configured to perform the non-conforming impromptu session process by being configured to: transmit an impromptu type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user. The impromptu type cost notification message may include the cost conformity indicator. The at least one processor may be configured to perform the non-conforming impromptu session process by being configured to, in response to receiving an impromptu type response from the at least one device, operate the bathing unit system according to the impromptu type response. The impromptu type response may comprise: an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session. The at least one processor may be configured to perform the non-conforming impromptu session process by being configured to, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically: prevent initiation of the specific bathing session; or operate the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details. The conforming modified operating details may enable the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0034]

[0029] When the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, the at least one processor may be configured to: derive the cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing updated operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the updated operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with updated energy cost data; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the updated operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, perform a non-conforming scheduled process. 89003-271

[0035]

[0030] The at least one processor may be configured to perform the non-conforming scheduled session process by being configured to transmit a scheduled type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user. The scheduled type cost notification message may include the cost conformity indicator. The at least one processor may be configured to perform the non-conforming scheduled session process by being configured to, in response to receiving a scheduled type response from the at least one device, operate the bathing unit system according to the scheduled type response. The scheduled type response may comprise: an acceptance of the operating details and / or the updated operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session. The at least one processor may be configured to perform the non-conforming scheduled session process by being configured to, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically: cancel the specific bathing session; or operate the specific bathing session based on conforming modified operating details. The conforming modified operating details may enable the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0036]

[0031] In another embodiment, there is provided a computer-readable storage storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor associated with a bathing unit system, causes the at least one processor to generate operating costs for a specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data. The specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type. The computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to, when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, operate the bathing unit system to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system. The computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to, when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type: derive a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, perform a non-conforming impromptu process.

[0037]

[0032] In another embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session of an impromptu type, the method being implemented by at least one processor. The method comprises: generating operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data; generating a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with a cost sensitivity profile associated 89003-271 with a user of the bathing unit system; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, performing a nonconforming impromptu process. The non-conforming impromptu session process comprises: transmitting an impromptu type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user, wherein the impromptu type cost notification message includes the cost conformity indicator; and in response to receiving an impromptu type response from the at least one device, operating the bathing unit system according to the impromptu type response. The impromptu type response comprises: an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

[0038]

[0033] The specific bathing session may be absent from an existing operating schedule within a minimum delay period from its start time.

[0039]

[0034] The method may further comprise, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically: preventing initiation of the specific bathing session; or operating the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details. The conforming modified operating details may enable the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0040]

[0035] In another embodiment, there is provided a method for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session. The specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type or an impromptu type. The method is implemented by at least one processor. The method comprises transmitting a session request for the specific bathing session to a control system, the session request including operating details of the specific bathing session. The control system is configured to control one or more bathing unit components of the bathing unit system according to the operating details. The method further comprises, when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type: receiving, from the control system, an impromptu type cost notification message conveying that a cost conformity indicator does not conform to a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system, the cost conformity indicator generated at least in part by processing operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with energy cost data; and transmitting an impromptu type response to the control system. The impromptu type response comprises: an 89003-271 acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

[0041]

[0036] The may further comprise, when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type: receiving, from the control system, a scheduled type cost notification message conveying that the cost conformity indicator does not conform to the cost sensitivity profile, the cost conformity indicator generated at least in part by processing updated operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the updated operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with updated energy cost data; and transmitting a scheduled type response to the control system. The scheduled type response may comprise: an acceptance of the operating details and / or the updated operating costs; a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

[0042]

[0037] All features of embodiments which are described in this disclosure and are not mutually exclusive can be combined with one another. Elements of one embodiment can be utilized in the other embodiments without further mention. Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings.

[0043] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044]

[0038] A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045]

[0039] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a bathing unit system in accordance with one embodiment;

[0046]

[0040] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a controller of the bathing unit system of Figure 1 showing elements involved in operating one or more bathing unit components of the bathing unit system in accordance with one embodiment;

[0047]

[0041] Figures 3A-3D are schematic representations of data stores in a storage memory the controller of Figure 2 in accordance with one embodiment; 89003-271

[0048]

[0042] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a control panel, a control server, user devices and external systems in communication with the controller of Figure 2 in accordance with one embodiment;

[0049]

[0043] Figure 5 is schematic representation of a cost sensitivity menu for adding a cost sensitivity profile to a preference data store of the data store of Figure 3D in accordance with one embodiment

[0050]

[0044] Figures 6A and 6B are schematic representations of an operating schedule menu and an add scheduled bathing session menu for adding bathing sessions of a scheduled type and which are displayed on the control panel or the user devices of Figure 5 in accordance with one embodiment;

[0051]

[0045] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a scheduled bathing session process using at least one of the controller, the control panel, the control server, the user devices, and the external systems of Figure 5 in accordance with one embodiment;

[0052]

[0046] Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a schedule type cost notification message associated with bathing sessions of the scheduled type and which is displayed on the control panel or the user devices of Figure 5 in accordance with one embodiment;

[0053]

[0047] Figure 9 is a schematic representation of an initiate impromptu bathing session menu for initiating bathing sessions of an impromptu type and which is displayed on the control panel or the user devices of Figure 5 in accordance with one embodiment;

[0054]

[0048] Figure 10 is a flowchart of an impromptu bathing session process using at least one of the controller, the control panel, the control server, the user devices, and the external systems of Figure 5 in accordance with one embodiment; and

[0055]

[0049] Figure 11 is a schematic representation of an impromptu type cost notification message associated with bathing sessions of the impromptu type and which is displayed on the control panel or the user devices of Figure 5 in accordance with one embodiment.

[0056]

[0050] In the drawings, the embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention. 89003-271

[0057] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058]

[0051] The description below is directed to specific implementations and uses of embodiments of the invention in the context of bathing unit systems. The phrase “bathing unit system” as used herein include without limitation spas / swim-spas, whirlpools, hot tubs, bath tubs, therapeutic baths and swimming pools and any other type of unit having a receptacle for holding water. Moreover, while specific embodiments have been described for use in the context of bathing unit systems, one skilled in the art will appreciate that, in view of the present description, alterative embodiments may be configured for use in any system including a body of water which may be heated or cooled to a particular target temperature by a start time, where costs associated with such heating or cooling are desired to be controlled and approved by a user of the system.

[0059]

[0052] In addition, for the purpose of the disclosure and to facilitate understanding, certain reference numerals appear in the description followed by an apostrophe “ ’ ” (or a double apostrophe “ ” ”) to denote a modified version (or a doubly modified version) of the element referenced by the refence numeral in the figures.

[0060] Bathing unit system 100

[0061]

[0053] One embodiment of a bathing unit system 100 installed at a field location 101 is shown in Figure 1. The bathing unit system 100 includes a receptacle 102 for holding water 103. The receptacle 102 includes a plurality of water inlets 120 (five are shown in Figure 1) which will typically be connected to respective jets and a plurality of water outlets 122 (three are shown in Figure 1) of the receptacle 102. The bathing unit system 100 further includes a circulation system 104 including a plurality of conduits 124 for removing water from and returning water to the receptacle 102 through the water inlets 120 and the water outlets 122. One skilled in the art will appreciate that practical implementations of the bathing unit system 100 may include additional or fewer water inlets 120, additional or fewer water outlets 122, different configuration of conduits 124 in the circulation system 104 interconnecting the water inlets 120 and the water outlets 122 then those shown in Figure 1 , etc.

[0062] Bathing unit components

[0063]

[0054] The bathing unit system 100 includes one or more bathing unit components. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the bathing unit components includes at least one filter 108, at least one pump 106, at least one temperature change component 110 and at least one sensor 89003-271

[0064] 112. A control system 118 may be in communication with these bathing unit components. In other embodiments, the bathing unit system 100 may include additional or alternative bathing unit components, such as at least one light for lighting the receptacle 102, at least one speaker for projecting music or other audio data around the bathing unit system 100 for ambience, at least one diverter component for switching or diverting flow of the water 103 away from or towards a specific water inlet 120, at least one air blower for introducing air into the water 103, etc.

[0065]

[0055] The filter 108 may generally function to filter solids and other debris from the water 103. Only a single filter 108 positioned in the circulation system 104 before the other bathing unit components is shown in Figure 1 ; in other embodiments, the bathing unit system 100 may include more than one filter 108, and may, e.g., include smaller filters associated with the with the at least one pump 106 and the at least one temperature change component 110.

[0066]

[0056] The at least one pump 106 may generally function to circulate the water 103 from the receptacle 102 through the water outlets 122, through the circulation system 104 and back into the receptacle 102 through the water inlets 120. In the embodiment shown, the at least one pump 106 includes a first pump 130, a second pump 132 and a third pump 134. In other embodiments, the bathing unit system 100 may include more additional or fewer pumps 106. In some embodiments, in addition to circulating the water 103, the at least one pump 106 may also input thermal energy into the water 103 to raise a temperature of the water 103. For example, agitation of the water 103 by impellers of the at least one pump 106 may input thermal energy into the water 103. Additionally, the at least one pump 106 may be placed within an interior of a spa cabinet of the bathing unit system 100, which may be a closed and insulated space. As motors of the at least one pump 106 operate to circulate the water 103, the motors may produce thermal energy which may be trapped in the interior of the spa cabinet and which may be transferred to the water 103 through the receptacle 102 or through the conduits 124.

[0067]

[0057] The first pump 130 may be a powered pump including a motor (not shown) which draws energy from a power source 116. The first pump 130 may comprise a variable speed pump and may be operate in, for example, a low mode where the motor of the first pump 130 draws a low amount of power from the power source 116 to operate at a corresponding low speed, a standard mode drawing a standard amount of power to operate at a standard speed, and a high mode drawing a high amount of power to operate at a high speed. Alternatively, the first pump 130 may be a percentage modulated pump and the motor may operate anywhere between 0% 89003-271 and 100% of a maximum speed, and may correspondingly draw anywhere between 0% and 100% of a maximum amount of power from the power source 116.

[0068]

[0058] The second and third pumps 132 and 134 may also be powered pumps including respective motors (not shown) which draw energy from the power source 116. In the embodiment shown, the second and third pumps 132 and 134 may be a variable speed pump similar to the first pump 130 described above. In other embodiments, at least one of the second and third pumps 132 and 134 may instead comprise a single speed pump or a dual speed pump and, in operation, may only include “on” (first speed and / or second speed) mode where the corresponding motor draws a fixed amount of energy from the power source 116 and an “off” mode drawing no energy (or negligible energy).

[0069]

[0059] The at least one temperature change component 110 may generally function to change a temperature of the water 103 flowing through the circulation system 104 and within the receptacle 102 by inputting thermal energy or by removing thermal energy. In the embodiment shown, the at least one temperature change component 110 may include a primary heater 150 generally configured to heat the water 103, a primary cooler 152 generally configured to cool the water 103 and a combined auxiliary heater / cooler 154 generally configured to assist the primary heater 150 and / or the primary cooler 152 as applicable. In other embodiments, the bathing unit system 100 may include additional, fewer or alternative temperature change components 110.

[0070]

[0060] The primary heater 150 may be an electrical heater including a heating element which draws energy from the power source 116. The primary heater 150 may be operable in, for example, a low mode where the heating element draws a low amount of power from the power source 116 to generate a correspondingly low amount of thermal energy, a standard mode drawing a standard amount of power to generate a corresponding standard amount of thermal energy, and a high mode drawing a high amount of power to generate a correspondingly high amount of thermal energy. Alternatively, the primary heater 150 may be a percentage modulated heater, and the heating element may operate anywhere between 0% and 100% of a maximum heating capacity, and may draw anywhere between 0% and 100% of a maximum amount of power from the power source 116. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more pumps may include a respective heater built into the wet portion of the pump. In such alternative embodiment, each built-in heater can be activated independently from the other heaters, and activation or deactivation of each heater in different pumps will generate different amounts of thermal energy. 89003-271

[0071] It is understood that such built-in heaters can also be modulated to generate a plurality of amount of thermal energy as described above in the primary heater.

[0072]

[0061] The primary cooler 152 may be a thermoelectric cooling element which draws energy from the power source 116 to transfer heat from one surface of the primary cooler 152 (e.g., a cold surface) to another surface of the primary cooler 152 (e.g., a hot surface). Similar to the primary heater 150, the primary cooler 152 may be operable in, for example, a low mode, a standard mode and a high mode. Alternatively, again similar to the primary heater 150, the primary cooler 152 may also have a percentage modulated operation. It is understood that the primary cooler can be operated using different mechanisms such as using a Peltier element, chiller systems, a cooling tower, a closed loop system and a heat pump using refrigerant. As was the case above with respect to the primary heater, one or more pumps may include a respective cooler built into the wet portion of the pump. In such alternative embodiment, each built-in cooler can be activated independently from the other coolers, wherein activation or deactivation of each of the different cooler in different pumps will generate different cooling effects. Alternatively, similar to the primary heater 150, the primary cooler 152 may also have a percentage modulated operation.

[0073]

[0062] The auxiliary heater / cooler 154 may be a heat transfer module such as a heat pump which draws power from the power source 116 to transfer thermal energy from one area (e.g., cool area) to another area (e.g., hot area). Similar to the primary heater 150, the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 may also be operable in, for example, a low mode, a standard and a “high” mode. Alternatively, again similar to the primary heater 150, the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 may also have a percentage modulated operation. The auxiliary heater / cooler 154 may draw less energy from the power source 116 when compared to either the primary heater 150 or the primary cooler 152.

[0074]

[0063] As described below, the at least one pump 106 and the at least one temperature change component 110 may be operated in different modes to consume different amounts of power from the power source 116 and to input different amounts of thermal energy into the water 103. The control system 118 may operate the at least one pump 106 and the at least one temperature change component 110 in different modes to input a certain amount of thermal energy into the water 103 in order to achieve a particular target temperature by a start time of a specific bathing session as described below. 89003-271

[0075]

[0064] The at least one sensor 112 may generally function to sense and / or measure a temperature of the water 103 within the receptacle 102, as well as an ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the bathing unit system 100. In the embodiment shown, the at least one sensor 112 includes a receptacle temperature sensor 160 configured to sense a temperature of the water 103 within the receptacle 102, an inline temperature sensor 162 configured to sense a temperature of the water 103 before or after it passes through the at least one temperature change component 110, and an ambient temperature sensor 164 configured to sense an ambient temperature of the environment around the bathing unit system 100. In other embodiments, the at least one sensor 112 may include additional and / or alternative sensors which sense attributes of the water 103 within the bathing unit system different from water temperature, and may include, e.g., a depth sensor, a water level sensor, a flow sensor, a pH sensor, an ORP sensor, a turbidity sensor, etc. In yet other embodiments, the at least one sensor may further include additional and / or alternative sensors which sense environmental factors other than ambient temperature, and may include e.g., a humidity sensor, a light sensor, the windspeed sensor, precipitation sensor, etc.

[0076] At least one insulating component 114

[0077]

[0065] Still referring to Figure 1, as described above, the bathing unit system 100 includes at least one insulating component 114. The at least one insulating component 114 generally function to maintain thermal energy in the water 103 held in the receptacle 102. Thermal properties and thermal property indicators of the bathing unit system 100 (e.g., a k constant representing a rate of temperature change of the water 103 in the receptacle 102 when no further thermal energy is inputted into the water 103, a thermal conductivity H of the bathing unit system 100 and / or a thermal resistance 0 of the bathing unit system 100) may depend significantly on a quality and condition of the at least one insulating component 114. The at least one insulating component 114 may include a cover, cabinet insulation and receptacle insulation (not shown). In other embodiments, the at least one insulating component 114 may include fewer, additional or alternative insulating components.

[0078]

[0066] The cover may comprise a cover foam encased in a covering, and which forms a cover seal with around a perimeter of the receptacle 102. An insulating capacity of the cover may be proportional to (a) a material, density, and thickness of the cover foam, (b) a material of the covering, (c) a current condition of the cover foam (e.g., whether the cover foam is wet, frozen, etc.), and / or (d) a current condition of the covering (e.g., whether the covering has any cracks or 89003-271 tears). As the cover functions to cover the opening of the receptacle 102 (from which a majority of the thermal energy in the water 103 can escape), a large portion of the total insulative capacity of the at least one insulating component 114 may be due to the insulative capacity of the cover and the integrity of a seal formed by the cover seal.

[0079]

[0067] The cabinet insulation may be placed around the receptacle 102 within the spa cabinet. An insulation capacity of the cabinet insulation may be proportional to at least (a) a material, density and thickness of the cabinet insulation, (b) a placement of the cabinet insulation (e.g., placing the cabinet insulation on a surface of the receptacle 102 and / or on a surface of the spa cabinet), (c) a material of the spa cabinet, (d) a condition of the cabinet insulation (e.g., again whether the cabinet insulation is wet, frozen, etc.), and (e) a condition of the spa cabinet (e.g., whether the spa cabinet is fully enclosed or has an cracks or openings).

[0080] Control system 118

[0081]

[0068] Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the bathing unit system 100 includes the control system 118 in communication with the different bathing unit components described above and the power source 116. The control system 118 is generally configured to activate and deactivate the different bathing unit components to control the bathing unit system 100 to initiate bathing sessions of the scheduled type and of the impromptu type as described below. In the embodiment shown, the control system 118 includes a controller 180, a control server 182, and a control panel 188. In other embodiments, the control system 118 may include only the controller 180, only the control server 182 or only the control panel 188. The controller 180 and the control panel 188 may be located physically near (e.g., at the same field location 101) the bathing unit system 100. In contrast, the control server 182 may be located physically separate (e.g., in a different building from) the bathing unit system 100. The controller 180 and / or the control server 182 may generally be configured to receive parameters from the different bathing unit components noted above and to execute different processes to add bathing sessions of the scheduled type and initiate bathing sessions of the impromptu type as described below. In some implementations, the controller 180, the control server 182, the control panel 188 and / or at least one user device 184 may collaborate with each other to implement different processes, or different parts of the processes, described in the present disclosure. Typically, the controller will activate and deactivate the different bathing unit components by selectively connecting the components to the power source. Alternatively, the different bathing unit components such pumps, heater, cooler, audio devices and lighting devices can have a permanent power source connected to them and the controller can activate and 89003-271 deactivate the component via a control signal, a suitable wired communication protocol or any suitable wireless communication protocol.

[0082] Controller 180

[0083]

[0069] Referring specifically to Figure 2, the controller 180 includes at least one local processor 190, a storage memory 192, a program memory 194 and a I / O interface 196, all in communication with the local processor 190. Other embodiments of the controller 180 may include fewer, additional or alternative components. Additionally, although only a single local processor 190, single storage memory 192, single program memory 194 and single I / O interface 196 are shown in Figure 2, other embodiments of the controller 180 may include more than one of each of these components. For example, the controller 180 may include at least one first processor positioned topside of the receptacle 102 (e.g., forming a part of the control panel 188) configured to perform some of the functions of the controller 180 and at least one second processor positioned within the spa cabinet configured to perform other functions of the controller 180. As another example, the controller 180 may include the at least one first processor positioned topside of the receptacle 102 configured to perform some functions of the controller 180, and two different processors (e.g., a spa pack and a separate central processor) positioned within the spa cabinet configured to perform some other functions of the controller 180. t is understood that portions of the storage memory 192 may be located in different physical storage mediums, and that one or more portions of the program memory 194 may be located in the control panel and / or the control server.

[0084] I / O interface 196

[0085]

[0070] The I / O interface 196 includes an interface for the local processor 190 to communicate commands to, and receive information from, the bathing unit components. In the embodiment shown, the local processor 190 may communicate with these bathing unit components via a wired connection; in other embodiments, the local processor 190 may also communicate with the bathing unit components over a wireless network 181 (e.g., a wireless network such as a Wi-Fi network, a Bluetooth network, a radio frequency network or a cellular network).

[0086]

[0071] The I / O interface 196 may further include a communication module which generally enables the local processor 190 to communicate with (a) a remote processor 200 (shown in Figure 4) of the control server 182 over the network 181 , (b) at least one user device 184 (two user devices 184A and 184B are shown in Figure 4) associated with a user of the bathing unit system 89003-271

[0087] 100 over the network 181 , (c) at least one external system 186 (two external systems 186A and 186B are shown in Figure 4) associated with at least one external system separate from the bathing unit system 100 over the network 181 , and / or (d) the control panel 188 of the bathing unit system 100. The I / O interface 196 may also enable the controller 180 to supply power from the power source 116 to the different bathing unit components, and optionally the control panel 188 in some embodiments. The I / O interface 196 may include any communication interface which enables the local processor 190 to perform the functions as described above and below, including specialized or standard I / O interface technologies such as channel, port-mapped, asynchronous for example.

[0088] Storage memory 192

[0089]

[0072] Referring now to Figures 2 and 3A-3D, the storage memory 192 stores information retrieved or generated by the local processor 190 and may generally function as an information or data store. In the embodiment shown, the storage memory 192 may include a user data store 210, an external data store 213, a preference data store 215 and an internal data store 216. In other embodiments, the storage memory 192 may include fewer, additional or alternative data stores, and may further include for example a historical data store for storing historical data associated with a historical bathing session which have occurred in the past.

[0090] User data store 210

[0091]

[0073] The user data store 210 may store user data associated with different users of a particular bathing unit system 100. Each entry in the user data store 210 may be associated with a unique user identifier (e.g. userJD) and a description. For example, referring to Figure 3A, one embodiment of the user data store 210 includes: (i) entry 600 corresponding to a first user named John and having an userJD of “John”; entry 602 corresponding to a second user named Jane and having an userJD of “Jane”; and entry 604 corresponding to a third user named Jack and having an userJD of “Jack”. Each of the entries 600, 602 and 604 may be associated with a user type field 610 and a description field 612.

[0092]

[0074] One skilled in the art will appreciate that alterative embodiments of the user data store 210 may include more, fewer or alternative entries based on a number of users using a particular bathing unit system 100 and may have a different data store structure including fewer, additional or alternative fields. Additionally, new entries may be added to the user data store 210 when a new user profile for a new user of the bathing unit system 100 is created (e.g., via a user interface of the user device 184 and / or a user interface of the control panel 188). 89003-271

[0093] External data store 213

[0094]

[0075] The external data store 213 may persistently or permanently store external data retrieved from an external system. As used herein, the phrase “external system” generally means any system separate from the bathing unit system 100 (e.g., any system separate from the receptacle 102, the bathing unit components (e.g., the circulation system 104, the at least one pump 106, the at least one filter 108, the at least one temperature component 110, the at least one sensor 112, the at least one insulating component 114 etc.), and the control system 118 (e.g., the controller 180, the control server 182 and the control panel 188)). Correspondingly, as used herein, the phrase “external data” generally means data received from the external system separate from the bathing unit system 100. In some embodiments, the external system may include the user device 184 associated with a user of the bathing unit system 100. In other embodiments, the external system may be the external systems 186 (e.g., the external systems 186A and 186B shown in Figure 4) associated with external service providers. The external service providers may be, for example, a weather service provider, an energy service provider on an energy grid, a calendar service provider, a location positioning service provider, a news service provider, etc.

[0095]

[0076] In some embodiments, the external data may comprise ambient environment data at the field location 101 , including one or more of current weather condition data for a current time, current ambient temperature data for the current time, forecasted weather condition data for a future date / time and / or forecasted ambient temperature data for a future date / time. The weather condition data may comprise one or more of: (i) a description of weather condition (e.g., sunny, cloudy, rain, snow, etc.); (ii) an amount of precipitation (e.g., 0mm, 5mm, 10mm); (iii) air pressure; (iv) humidity; (v) wind speed; (vi) wind direction; (vii) LIV index; etc. The ambient temperature data may comprise one or more of: (i) ambient temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit; (ii) an indicator that the ambient temperature was above or below a threshold (e.g., above, at, below); (iii) ambient temperature categories (e.g., very hot, hot, slightly hot, very warm, warm, slightly warm, slightly cold, cold, very cold, etc.); etc. This ambient environment data may be retrieved by the control system 118 (e.g., the local processor 190 of the controller 180 and / or the control processor 200 of the control server 182) from at least one weather service provider (e.g., The Weather Channel™) over the network 181 , such as from the first external system 186A (shown in Figure 4) associated with the weather service provider. This ambient environment data may also be retrieved by the control system 118 from a weather application installed on the user device 184 or the control panel 188. In some other embodiments, the ambient environment data may also be 89003-271 retrieved from the at least one sensor 112 of the bathing unit system 100, such as the ambient temperature sensor 164.

[0096]

[0077] In some embodiments, the external data may also comprise energy cost data related to energy costs for operating the bathing unit system 100. The energy cost data may comprise electrical costs in embodiments where the power source 116 supplies electrical power, oil costs in embodiments where the at least one power source 116 is an oil-based boiler, gas costs in embodiments where the at least one power source 116 is a gas-based boiler, etc. The energy cost data may comprise one or more of (i) an energy cost rate (e.g., per kilowatt hour: $ / kWh); (ii) energy cost tiers for different times of day, including, times of day associated with off- peak (e.g., 7AM-4PM, 9PM-11 PM), on-peak (e.g., 4PM-9PM) and overnight (e.g., 11 PM-7AM); (iii) energy cost tiers associated with different times of the year, including times of the year associated with high cost (e.g., winter months) versus times of the year associated with low-cost (e.g., summer months); (iv) dynamic pricing data etc. This energy cost data be retrieved by the control system 118 from at least one energy service provider (e.g., BC Hydro® in British Columbia - Canada) on an energy grid over the network 181 , such as from the second external system 186B (shown in Figure 4) associated with an energy service provider. This energy cost data may also be retrieved by the control system 118 from an energy management application installed on the user device 184 or the control panel 188. In some embodiments, the energy cost data may be relatively stable over a period of time. The energy cost data may be manually inputted by a user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) and stored in a storage memory in communication with the control system 118 (e.g., the storage memory 192 of the controller 180, a storage memory 202 of the control server 182, a storage memory associated with the user device 184 and / or a storage memory associated with the control panel 188).

[0097]

[0078] As a more specific example, referring to Figure 3B, one embodiment of the external data store 213 includes entries 640, 641 , 642, and 643. Other embodiments of the external data store 213 may include additional, fewer, or alternative entries, based on the external data actually received or retrieved by the control system 118 from the external systems 186. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that entries may be automatically added to the external data store 213 as the external data is received from the user device 184 and / or the external systems 186. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that entries may be automatically deleted from the external data store 213 after expiration of an expiry period from a date time stored in an external data date / time field 650 (described below) associated with the entries. The expiry period 89003-271 may be any period of time after which the relevancy of the associated external data entry decreases, and may be 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, etc.

[0098]

[0079] Each entry 640, 641 , 642, and 643 in the external data store 213 may be associated with different fields. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3B, these fields include:

[0099] (a) the external data date / time field 650 storing a date and / or a time associated with a particular entry of external data stored in the external data store 213. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3B, each of entries 640, 641 , 642, and 643 are associated with a date and time of “October 20, 2024; Sunday; 5:30 PM.” The external data date / time field 650 may store a date or time during which the associated entry of the external data is valid and applicable. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different ways of indicating date and time are possible, including: (i) indicating time of day (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening) rather than a specific time, (ii) indicating time in relation to a schedule of a user (e.g., busy, free, school, work, home, gym, etc.), (iii) not including a day of the week; (iv) not including a time; (v) including categories of dates (e.g., weekday, weekend, holiday, school year, summer holiday, winter holiday, etc.); etc.

[0100] (b) an external data type field 652 storing a type of external data associated with a particular entry of the external data. The external data type field 650 may differentiate between external data indicating the weather condition data, the ambient temperature data, and the energy cost data, etc. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3B, entry 640 is associated with a data type of “weather condition data,” entry 641 is associated with “ambient temperature data,” entry 642 is associated with “energy cost rate,” and entry 643 is associated with “energy cost tier.” Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different ways of indicating different data types are possible, including by using an alphanumeric identifier rather than a word identifier (e.g., type A, type B, type C, etc.).

[0101] (c) an external data value field 654 storing a value of external data associated with a particular entry of the external data. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3B, entry 640 may be associated with a value of “clear,” entry 641 may be associated with “19°C,” entry 642 may be associated with “$0.5 / kWh,” and entry 643 may be associated with “off-peak.” Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different ways of indicating data values for different types of external data are possible as described above. 89003-271

[0102]

[0080] The above fields and values in Figure 3B are provided as examples only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative embodiments of the external data store 213 may include additional, fewer, or alternative fields associated with each entry, and additional, fewer or alternative values associated with each such field. For example, some embodiments may include a combined energy cost rate and energy cost tier data type rather than the separate energy cost rate and energy cost tier entries 642 and 643. Some embodiments may also include an indication of whether a weather condition value of a particular weather condition entry 640 or an ambient temperature value of a particular ambient temperature entry 641 is a current value or a forecasted value, and may include a degree of confidence associated with any forecasted values.

[0103] Internal data store 216

[0104]

[0081] The internal data store 216 may persistently or permanently store internal data related to the bathing unit system 100. As used herein, the phrase “internal data” generally describes features, and in particular thermal properties, power consumption and / or thermal energy input, associated with the different bathing unit components of the bathing unit system 100. The internal data may be used (or alone or in combination with the external data) to determine how to operate the bathing unit components (e.g., when to activate, what mode to operate in, and how long to operate) according to a cost sensitivity profile of a use.

[0105]

[0082] In some embodiments, the internal data may comprise thermal property indicator data related to a thermal property indicator of the bathing unit system 100. The thermal property indicator may be a metric indicative of an ability of the bathing unit system 100 to conduct (or inversely, resist / insulate) thermal energy (in particular thermal energy inputted into the water 103 in the receptacle 102 by the at least one temperature change component 110 and / or the at least one pump 106). In some embodiments described herein, the phrase “thermal property indicator” may refer to the k constant, a thermal conductivity H of the bathing unit system 100 and / or an inverse thermal resistance 0 of the bathing unit system 100. The thermal property indicators of the bathing unit system 100 may be primarily correlated to an insulative capacity (e.g., correlated to condition) of the at least one insulating component 114.

[0106]

[0083] In some embodiments, the internal data may comprise power consumption data describing power consumption of different bathing unit components when operating in different modes. The power consumption data may include a power consumption model generated for each bathing unit component. For example, the power consumption data may include: (i) a power consumption model for a particular temperature change component 110 (e.g., the primary heater 89003-271

[0107] 150, the primary cooler 152, and / or the auxiliary heater / cooler 154) modelling an amount of power drawn from the power source 116 when operating in the low mode, the standard mode and the high mode as described above; and / or (ii) a power consumption model for a particular pump 106 (e.g., the first pump 130, the second pump 132 and / or the third pump 134) modelling an amount of power drawn from the power source 116 when operating in the low mode, the standard mode and the high mode as described above.

[0108]

[0084] In other embodiments, the internal data may comprise thermal energy input data generally describing different amounts of thermal energy inputted by different bathing unit components into the water 103 when operating in their corresponding different modes. The thermal energy input data may be based on a thermal energy input model generated for each bathing unit component. For example, the thermal energy input data may comprise: (i) a thermal energy input model for a particular temperature change component 110 (e.g., the primary heater 150, the primary cooler 152, and / or the auxiliary heater / cooler 154) modelling an amount of thermal energy inputted into the water 103 when operating in the low mode, the standard mode and the high mode as described above; and / or (ii) a thermal energy model for a particular pump 106 (e.g., the first pump 130, the second pump 132 and / or the third pump 134) modelling an amount of thermal energy inputted into the water 103 when operating in the low mode, the standard mode and the high mode as described above.

[0109]

[0085] Different ways of calculating the thermal property indicators of the bathing unit system 100, generating the power consumption models of different bathing unit components, and generating the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components is described in United States patent application no. 18 / 745,455, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND MONITORING THERMAL PROPERTIES OF A BATHING UNIT SYSTEM AND FOR USING SAME TO CONTROL THE BATHING UNIT SYSTEM,” filed June 17, 2024, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0110]

[0086] As a more specific example, referring to Figure 3C, the internal data store 216 includes entries 660, 661 and 662. Other embodiments of the internal data store 216 may include additional, fewer, or alternative entries. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that entries may be automatically added to the internal data store 216 as the internal data is generated or calculated by the control system 118 and / or received by the I / O interface 196 externally (e.g., upon installation of the bathing unit system 100, or upon replacement of the bathing unit component and configuration thereof). Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that entries may 89003-271 be automatically deleted from the internal data store 216 after expiration of the expiry period from a date time stored in an internal data date / time field 670 (described below) associated with the entries. The expiry period may be any period of time after which the relevancy of the associated internal data entry decreases.

[0111]

[0087] Each entry 660, 661 and 662 in the internal data store 216 may be associated with different fields. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3C, these different fields include:

[0112] (a) the internal data date / time field 670 storing a date and time associated with a particular entry of the internal data stored in the internal data store 216. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3C, each of entries 660, 661 and 662 are associated with a date and time of “November 1 , 2020.” The internal data date / time field 670 may store a date or time during which the associated entry of the internal data is valid and applicable. The date and time may correspond to a date / time that the bathing unit system 100 or a certain bathing unit component was initially purchased, or a date / time at which the internal data was recalculated by the control system 118.

[0113] (b) an internal data type field 672 storing a type of internal data associated with a particular entry of internal data. The internal data type field 672 may differentiate between internal data indicating the thermal property indicator data, the power consumption model of a particular bathing unit component, and / or the thermal energy model of a particular bathing unit component. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3C, entry 660 is associated with the internal data type of “thermal property indicator data,” entry 661 is associated with “primary heater 1 power consumption model,” entry 662 is associated with “aux heater / cooler 3 power consumption model.”

[0114] (c) an internal data value field 674 storing a value of internal data associated with a particular entry of internal data. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3C, entry 660 may be associated with a thermal property indicator value of “ / 7=0.01 W / mK,” entry 661 may be associated with “7kW: standard mode; 8kW: high mode; 5kW: low mode,” and entry 662 may be associated with “4kW: standard mode; 5kW: high mode; 2kW: low mode.”. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different ways of indicating data values for different types of internal data are possible as described above. In addition, while the specific example presented here contemplates the user of a heater module, the person skilled the 89003-271 art will appreciate in view of the present disclosure that similar information may be stored in connection with a cooler module for bathing unit systems including such a module.

[0115]

[0088] The above fields and values are provided as examples only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative embodiments of the internal data store 216 may include additional, fewer, or alternative fields associated with each entry, and additional, fewer or alternative values associated with each field. For example, some embodiments may include separate entries for the power consumption when operating the primary heater 150 in the standard mode versus high mode versus low mode rather than combining the power consumption of all modes into a single entry 661. As an additional example, some embodiments may include separate fields for identity of the bathing unit component and internal data type, rather than combining both into the single internal data type field 672.

[0116] Preference data store 215

[0117]

[0089] Figure 3D is a schematic representation of a data store for the preference data. In the example shown, the preference data store 215 may store data associated with different internal preferences and different external preferences during one or more bathing sessions. Generally, the preference data may be associated with a particular user (e.g., entries 600, 602, 604 from the user data store 210 shown in Figure 3A) to convey preferences of specific users and may allow the control system 118 to modulate bathing sessions of the scheduled type and of the impromptu type in order to conform with the preferences of the specific user. However, in other embodiments, the preference data in the preference data store 215 (shown in Fig. 3D) may be associated with different factors, including, including one or more of different days of the week (e.g., weekdays versus weekends), different date categories (e.g., school year versus holidays), different times of day (e.g., morning versus afternoon versus evening), different energy costs (e.g., on-peak versus off-peak), different weather conditions (e.g., during sunny conditions versus during raining conditions), different ambient temperatures (e.g., during cold ambient temperatures versus warm ambient temperatures), etc. In such embodiments, the preference data may instead indicate preferences during a particular time / date, at a particular energy cost, during a particular weather condition, during a particular ambient temperature, etc., and may allow the control system 118 to modulate bathing sessions of the scheduled type and of the impromptu type in order to conform with these preference.

[0118]

[0090] The preference data may comprise the cost sensitivity profile conveying energy preferred or acceptable costs for conducting a bathing session. The cost sensitivity profile may 89003-271 be inputted by and / or associated with a particular user (e.g., cost sensitivity profile associated with Jane versus John). In other embodiments, the cost sensitivity profile may be associated with a particular time, time category, date or date category (e.g., cost sensitivity profile during weekend mornings versus weekday evenings). The cost sensitivity profile may be associated with a particular ambient environment (e.g., cost sensitivity profile for sunny conditions above 20°C versus clear conditions below 10°C).

[0119]

[0091] The cost sensitivity profile may be used by the control system 118 to modulate bathing sessions of the scheduled type and of the impromptu type in order to conform operating costs thereof to the cost sensitivity profile. The cost sensitivity profile may include one or more of: (i) energy cost rate (e.g., $ / kWh); (ii) an energy cost tier (e.g., on-peak, off-peak, overnight); (iii) an energy mode (e.g., performance mode, standard mode, economical mode, etc.); (iv) an energy cost relative to a threshold or preferences of a particular user (e.g., above, at, below, high, low, etc.); etc.

[0120]

[0092] As described below, the cost sensitivity profile may be generated at least in part based on input from the user (e.g., via a cost sensitivity menu 700 shown in Figure 5 displayed on the user interface of with the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188). In some embodiments, the cost sensitivity profile may also be generated at least in part by processing historical data associated with different historical bathing sessions which have previously occurred (including, e.g., historical date / time data corresponding to when historical bathing sessions occurred, historical duration data corresponding to historical durations of the historical bathing session, historical ambient environment data related to an ambient environment (e.g., ambient temperature) during historical bathing sessions, historical operational settings data corresponding to operational settings (e.g., water temperature) for different bathing unit components during historical bathing sessions, and historical energy cost data related to energy costs for historical bathing sessions).

[0121]

[0093] In some embodiments, the preference data in the preference data store 215 may include additional preference data (not shown) outside of the cost sensitivity profile. For example, the preference data may include: (i) preference date / time data storing a preferred date and / or a preferred time for a bathing session; (ii) preference duration data storing a preferred duration for a bathing session; (iii) preferred ambient environment data related to a preferred ambient environment at the field location 101 during a bathing session; (iv) preference operational settings data related to preferred operational settings of the bathing unit system 100, including preference 89003-271 water temperature data related to a preferred temperature for the water 103 in the receptacle 102 during a bathing session; etc.

[0122]

[0094] As a more specific example, referring now to Figure 3D, each entry in the preference data store 215 may be associated with a unique preference identifier (e.g., preference D) and details associated therewith. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3D, the preference identifier corresponds to a user identifier (e.g., userJD) identifying a particular user entry stored in the user data store 210. This generally allows the control system 118 to associate a set of preferences (e.g., the cost sensitivity profile in the embodiment shown in Figure 3D) with a particular user of the bathing unit system 100. However, in other embodiments, the preference identifier may not be linked to the user identifier and may instead represent a unique standalone preference identifier. In yet other embodiments, the preference identifier may also be associated with other data, including a particular day of the week (e.g., a set of preferences for Fridays), a particular time of the day (e.g., a set of preferences for mornings), a particular time of the year (e.g., a set of preferences for summer), a particular ambient temperature (e.g., a set of preferences for cold weather).

[0123]

[0095] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3D, the preference data store 215 includes an entry 630 corresponding to a particular set of preferences and having a userJD of “John,” indicating that entry 630 is associated with John; and an entry 632 corresponding to another set of preferences and having a userJD of “Jane,” indicating that entry 632 is associated with Jane. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional entries may be added and / or modified in response to user input (e.g., via the cost sensitivity menu 700 shown in Figure 5 displayed on the user interface of with the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) of additional preferences and / or after the control system 118 extracts the preference data based on the historical data. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that entries may be manually deleted from the preference data store 215 in response to user input and / or automatically deleted from the preference data store 215 after expiration of the expiry period from a date time stored in a preference date / time field 690 (described below) associated with the entries. The expiry period may be any period of time after which the relevancy of the associated preference data entry ceases or otherwise decreases.

[0124]

[0096] Each entry 680 and 682 in the preference data store 215 may be associated with different fields identifying information associated with the preference data represented by the entry. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3E, these fields include: 89003-271

[0125] (a) a preference date / time field 690 storing a date and time associated with a particular entry of the preference data stored in the preference data store 215. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3D, entries 680 and 682 are both associated with a date and time of “October 20, 2024.” The date and time may correspond to a date / time that the preference data was inputted by a user or automatically generated by the control system 118.

[0126] (b) a cost sensitivity profile field 692 storing a cost sensitivity profile, namely a type and a value of preference energy cost data. The cost sensitivity profile may differentiate between different types of energy cost data (e.g., an energy cost rate, an energy cost tier, an energy mode, a maximum cost per session etc.) and provide values associated with each data type. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3D, entry 680 is associated with “preferred energy mode: economical; maximum energy cost rate: $2 / kWh; maximum energy cost tier, weekday: off-peak; maximum energy cost tier, weekend: on peak; maximum cost per session: $5” and entry 682 is associated with “preferred energy mode, performance; maximum energy cost rate: $5 / kWh; maximum cost per session: $18.”

[0127]

[0097] The above fields and values are provided as examples only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative embodiments of the preference data store 215 may include additional, fewer, or alternative fields associated with each entry and additional, fewer or alternative values associated with each field. For example, some embodiments may include an entry for each of the different types of energy cost data forming the cost sensitivity profile, rather than combining the entire cost sensitivity profile into the single cost sensitivity profile field 692. Other embodiments may include a separate data type and data value fields, rather than the combined data type and value field 692.

[0128] Program memory 194

[0129]

[0098] The program memory 194 stores various blocks of code (alternatively called processor-executable instructions and / or computer-executable instructions), for directing the local processor 190 to perform various processes, such as an add scheduled bathing session process 350, different operating modes of the bathing unit system 100, and an initiate impromptu bathing session process 450, as described below. The program memory 194 may also store database management system computer-executable instructions for managing the data stores in the storage memory 192, including the user data store 210, the external data store 213, the internal data store 216, and the preference data store 215. In other embodiments, the program memory 89003-271

[0130] 194 may store fewer, additional or alternative computer-executable instructions directing the local processor 190 to execute additional or alternative processes.

[0131]

[0099] The storage memory 192 and the program memory 194 may each be implemented as one or a combination of a non-transitory computer-readable medium and / or non-transitory machine-readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory and / or any other storage device or storage disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and / or for caching thereof). The expression “non-transitory computer-readable medium” or “non-transitory machine-readable medium” as used herein is defined to include any type of computer-readable storage device and / or storage disk and to exclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media.

[0132] Local processor 190

[0133]

[0100] The local processor 190 is generally configured to execute instructions stored in the program memory 194 (including the add scheduled bathing session process 350, the different operating modes of the bathing unit system 100, and the initiate impromptu bathing session process 450 as described below), to retrieve information from, and store information into, the data stores (including the user data store 210, the external data store 213, the internal data store 216 and the preference data store 215) of the storage memory 192 and to receive information and transmit commands and power to, the bathing unit system components, the power source 116, the control panel 188, the remote server 182, the user device 184, and / or the external system 186 if and as applicable over the I / O interface 196.

[0134] Control server 182

[0135]

[0101] Referring to Figure 4, the control server 182 includes the control processor 200, the storage memory 202, a program memory 204 and an I / O interface 206, all in communication with the control processor 200. Other embodiments of the control server 182 may include fewer, additional or alternative components. Additionally, although only a single control processor 200, single storage memory 202, single program memory 204 and single I / O interface 206 is shown in Figure 4, other embodiments of the control server 182 may include more than one of each of these components. For example, the control server 182 may include at least one first remote control server hosted at a first data center configured to perform some functions of the control server 182 and at least one second remote control server hosted at a second data center configured to perform some other functions of the control server 182. 89003-271

[0136]

[0102] The I / O interface 206 includes an interface for the control processor 200 to communicate commands to, and receive information from: (a) the local processor 190 of the controller 180 over the network 181 ; (b) the user device 184 associated with a user of the bathing unit system 100 over the network 181 ; and / or (c) the external systems 186 associated with external service providers (e.g., the weather service provider and the energy service provider, etc.) over the network 181. In some embodiments, the I / O interface 206 may also include an interface for the control processor 200 to communicate directly with the bathing unit components (including the at least one pump 106, the filter 108, the at least one temperature change component 110, and the at least one sensor 112), the power source 116, and / or the control panel 188 via the network 181. Similar to the I / O interface 196 of the controller 180, the I / O interface 206 of the control server 182 may include any communication interface which enables the control processor 200 to perform the functions as described above and below.

[0137]

[0103] The storage memory 202 stores information received or generated by the control processor 200 and may generally function as an information or data store. In the embodiment shown, the storage memory 202 may store a corresponding remote version (not shown) of the user data store 210, the external data store 213, the internal data store 216 and the preference data store 215 described above. In other embodiments, the storage memory 202 may include fewer, additional or alternative data stores.

[0138]

[0104] The program memory 204 stores various blocks of code (alternatively called processor-executable instructions and / or computer-executable instructions), for directing the control processor 200 to perform various processes, such as a remote version (not shown) or a portion of the add scheduled bathing session process 350, the different operating modes of the bathing unit system 100, and the initiate impromptu bathing session process 450 as described below. The control processor 200 may perform such various processes in addition to, as a redundancy for, or as an alternative to, the local processor 190 of the controller 180. In this regard, the control processor 200 may have greater processing power and processing speed when compared to the local processor 190 and may perform certain steps of the various processes faster than the local processor 190. The program memory 204 may also store database management system computer-executable instructions for managing the data stores in the storage memory 202. In other embodiments, the program memory 204 may store fewer, additional or alternative computer-executable instructions directing the control processor 200 to execute additional or alternative processes. 89003-271

[0139]

[0105] The storage memory 202 and the program memory 204 may each be implemented as one or a combination of a non-transitory computer-readable medium and / or non-transitory machine-readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory and / or any other storage device or storage disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and / or for caching thereof).

[0140]

[0106] The control processor 200 is generally configured to execute instructions stored in the program memory 204 (including the add scheduled bathing session process 350, the different operating modes of the bathing unit system 100, and the initiate impromptu bathing session process 450 as described below), to retrieve information from, and store information into, the data stores (including the user data store 210, the external data store 213, the internal data store 216, and the preference data store 215), and to receive information from, and transmit commands to, the controller 180, the user device 184, the external systems 186, the control panel 188 and / or the bathing unit components through the I / O interface 206 if and as applicable.

[0141] Control panel 188

[0142]

[0107] Referring to Figures 1 , 2 and 4, in some embodiments, the control panel 188 may comprise a topside control panel generally configured to transmit commands to, and receive information from, the controller 180 over the wired connection. Examples of a topside control panel include various embodiments described in the related United States application no. 17 / 515,703, entitled “TOPSIDE CONTROL PANEL AND TOPSIDE CONTROL PANEL SYSTEM FOR BATHING UNIT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME”, filed on November 1 , 2021 and related United States patent no. 10,353,499, entitled “TOPSIDE CONTROL PANEL FOR BATHING UNIT SYSTEM”, filed on March 19, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. In other embodiments, the control panel 188 may comprise a user device (e.g., similar to the user device 184 described below) having a bathing unit system control application installed thereon for facilitating transmission of commands to, and receipt of information from, the controller 180 over the network 181.

[0143]

[0108] The control panel 188 may include: (a) a processor for performing the operations of the control panel 188 (e.g., by executing instructions stored in a program memory of the control panel 188); (b) the program memory configured to store instructions which may be executed in order to implement various functionality of the control panel 188, including user interface codes which cause a cost sensitivity menu 700 (shown in Figure 4), a scheduled bathing session menu 89003-271

[0144] 302 (shown in Figure 6A), an add scheduled bathing session menu 306 (shown in Figure 6B), a scheduled type cost notification message 318 (shown in Figure 8), an initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 (shown in Figure 9), and an impromptu type cost notification message 418 (shown in Figure 11) to be displayed on the user interface of the control panel 188; (c) a storage memory configured to store data in order to implement various functionality of the control panel 188; (d) a network interface (e.g., a transmitter / receiver with an antenna or a network interface card or a port) for communicating with the controller 180, the control server 182, the external system 186, and / or the user device 184 if and as applicable; and (c) the user interface (e.g., keypad, the display screen, touchscreen, rotary input device) for receiving user input and for displaying information regarding the bathing unit system 100, including the menus and the notification messages described below.

[0145] Power source 116

[0146]

[0109] As described above, the controller 180 may be operable to supply power from the power source 116 to the different bathing unit components. The at least one power source 116 may supply any conventional power service suitable for residential or commercial use. For example, the power source 116 may supply 240 volts (V) AC to the controller 180 via a service wiring 117 (shown in Figure 1). In other embodiments, the power source 116 may instead supply 120 V AC to the controller 180 via the service wiring 117. In yet other embodiments, the power source 116 may supply 120 V and 240 V AC to the controller 180 via the service wiring 117. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other voltage supply values or voltage supply combinations are possible. For example, the voltage supply values may be different depending on geographical location. Additionally, other embodiments of the bathing unit system 100 may include other types of power sources 116, such as a stored electrical power source (e.g., battery), generated electrical power source (e.g., solar panel or wind / water turbine), a natural gas power source, an oil-based power source, etc. Further still, other embodiments of the bathing unit system 100 may include more than one power source 116, an individual power source 116 for each bathing unit component, or a power source 116 which is shared by more than one bathing unit component (but not by all bathing unit components) of a particular bathing unit system 100.

[0147]

[0110] After receipt of the power from the at least one power source 116, the controller 180 may distribute the power to the different bathing unit components to operate the different bathing unit components according to different operational modes, and to operate the bathing unit 89003-271 system 100 according to the operating schedule and / or the modified operating schedule as described below.

[0148] User device 184

[0149]

[0111] Referring to Figures 1 , 2 and 4, the user device 184 may be any communication device which can be associated with a user of the bathing unit system 100. The user device 184 may comprise, for example, a mobile phone, or a tablet, or a laptop, or a personal computer, a smart watch, an implantable device (under skin), a wearable device etc., associated with a user of the bathing unit system 100. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, two user devices 184, namely, a mobile phone 184A and a laptop 184B are shown; however, in other embodiments, the control system 118 may communicate with additional or fewer user devices 184, and may communicate with no user devices 184.

[0150]

[0112] The user device 184 may include: (a) a processor for performing the operations of the user device 184 (e.g., by executing instructions stored in a program memory of the user device 184); (b) the program memory configured to store instructions which may be executed in order to implement various functionality of the user device 184, including user interface codes which cause the cost sensitivity menu 700 (shown in Figure 4), the scheduled bathing session menu 302 (shown in Figure 6A), the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 (shown in Figure 6B), the scheduled type cost notification message 318 (shown in Figure 8), the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 (shown in Figure 9), and the impromptu type cost notification message 418 (shown in Figure 11) to be displayed on the user interface of the user device 184; (c) the storage memory configured to store data in order to implement various functionality of the user device 184; (d) a network interface (e.g., a transmitter / receiver with an antenna or a network interface card or a port) for communicating with the controller 180, the control server 182, the external system 186, and / or the control panel 188 if and as applicable; and (c) the user interface (e.g., keyboard, the display screen, and / or touchscreen) for receiving user input and for displaying information regarding the bathing unit system 100, including the menus and the notification messages described below.

[0151]

[0113] In some embodiments, the user device 184 may comprise an external system 186 separate from the bathing unit system 100 and may store or enable retrieval of the external data. For example, the external data may be retrieved from software applications stored on the program and storage memories of the user device 184 and executed by the processor of the user device 89003-271

[0152] 184. For example, the external data may include one or more of: (i) the weather condition data and / or the ambient temperature data which may be retrieved from the weather application installed on the user device 184; and (ii) the energy cost data which may be retrieved from an energy management application installed on the user device 184. In other embodiments, the user device 184 may facilitate retrieval of the external data from a separate external system 186 (e.g., the external systems 186A and 186B) associated with a service provider (e.g., the weather service provider and the energy service provider), and the user device 184 may operate as an intermediary between the external system 186 and the control system 118. For example, the user device 184 may retrieve the external data from the external systems 186, optionally store the external data in the storage memory of the user device 184, and then transmit the external data to the control system 118.

[0153]

[0114] In some embodiments, the user device 184 may comprise the control panel 188 (or a portion of the control panel 188). For example, the user device 184 may include the bathing unit system control application installed thereon, which may facilitate transmission commands to, and receive information from, the controller 180 and / or directly to the bathing unit components over the network 181.

[0154] External system 186

[0155]

[0115] Still referring to Figures 1 , 2 and 4, the external system 186 may comprise any computing processor or server associated with an external system separate from the bathing unit system 100. The external system 186 may store and / or enable retrieval of the external data. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, two different external system 186 are shown, the first external system 186A associated with the weather service provider and the second external system 186B associated with the energy service provider. In other embodiments, the control system 118 may communicate with additional or fewer external systems 186 (e.g., an external system associated with a user calendar service, an external system associated with a location positioning service provider, an external system associated with a news service provider, etc.), and may communicate with no external systems 186 in some embodiments.

[0156]

[0116] The external system 186 may include: (a) a processor for performing the operations of the external system 186 (e.g., by executing instructions stored in a program memory of the external system 186, potentially on behalf of a variety of different clients using the external system 186); (b) the program memory configured to store instructions which may be executed to 89003-271 in order to implement various functionality of the external system 186; (c) a storage memory configured to store data in order to implement various functionality of the external system 186, which may store portions of the external data to be retrieved by the control system 118 from the external system 186; (d) a network interface for communicating with the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184, and / or the control panel 188 if and as applicable.

[0157] Operational modes of the bathing unit system 100

[0158]

[0117] The control system 118 may generally be configured to operate the bathing unit system 100 in a plurality of different operational modes including at least a standby mode 250, a temperature change mode 252, a use mode 254 and a maintain mode 256.

[0159] Standby mode 250

[0160]

[0118] During the standby mode 250, the bathing unit system 100 may not being used by a user and is also not being prepared for use by a user, and may be primarily operated by the control system 118 to filter the water 103, sanitize and otherwise maintain cleanliness of the water 103, prevent the water 103 from freezing in the conduits 124, etc. For example, the controller 180 may operate the at least one pump 106 (causing the component to draw power from the power source 116) to circulate the water 103 throughout the circulation system 104 for filtration thereof and to maintain flow through the conduits 124 using the operate bathing unit system in standby mode 250 described below. During a lifetime of a typical bathing unit system 100, the bathing unit system 100 may be in standby mode 250 more than 90% of the time.

[0161]

[0119] For example, standby mode 250 may include computer-executable instructions which direct the control system 118 to: (a) operate the first pump 130 in the “low” mode, the second pump 132 in the “on” mode, and the third pump 134 in the “off” mode for one minute, (b) operate the first pump 130 in the “low” mode, the second pump 132 in the “off’ mode and the third pump 134 in the “on” mode for one minute, and (c) operate the first pump 130 in the “low” mode, the second pump 132 in the “off” mode, and the third pump 134 in the “off” mode for 58 minutes. The different steps (a), (b) and (c) may be performed immediately sequentially (e.g., step (b) may be performed immediately after step (a)), or may be performed sequentially but with a delay in between (e.g., step (b) may be performed after step (a) by a delay period). The standby mode 250 may be repeated anywhere between 2-10 times a day and may specifically be repeated 4 times a day. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various embodiments of the standby mode 89003-271

[0162] 250 may include additional, alternative or fewer computer-executable instructions to operate the at least one pump 106 differently than that described above.

[0163] Temperature change mode 252

[0164]

[0120] During the temperature change mode 252, the bathing unit system 100 is being prepared for use by the user, and is primarily operated by the control system 118 to reach a target water temperature by a target start time for use by the user. For example, the control system 118 may operate the at least one pump 106 and the at least one temperature change component 110 (causing these components to draw power from the at least one power source 116) to heat or cool the water 103 to a target water temperature by a target start time based on operational details of the bathing session specified by the user or determined based on the preference data. During a lifetime of a typical bathing unit system 100, operating the bathing unit system 100 in the temperature change mode 252 may draw the most power from the power source 116 when compared to operating the bathing unit system 100 in the standby mode 250, the use mode 254 or the maintain mode 256 (or any other mode), and may be associated with the highest energy costs.

[0165]

[0121] In one embodiment, the temperature change mode 252 may include computerexecutable instructions which direct the control system 118 to receive temperature signals from the receptacle temperature sensor 160 representing a current water temperature of the water 103 held in the receptacle 102. The control system 118 may then determine or receive a target water temperature of the water 103 and / or a target start time at which the bathing unit system 100 is required to reach the target bathing temperature. For example, the control system 118 may receive the target water temperature and the target start time point from user input (e.g., via the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 (shown in Figure 6B), the scheduled type cost notification message 318 (shown in Figure 8), the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 (shown in Figure 9), and the impromptu type cost notification message 418 (shown in Figure 11)), which may be received via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188. The control system 118 may also determine the target water temperature and the target start time based on any preference date / time data and any preference water temperature data stored in the preference data store 215.

[0166]

[0122] The temperature change mode 252 may then direct the control system 118 to operate one or more of the at least one pump 106 and the at least one temperature change component 110 based the target water temperatures, the target start time and / or the internal data 89003-271

[0167] (e.g., the thermal property indicator data, the power consumption models, and the thermal energy input models), to reach the target water temperature at the target start time. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various embodiments of the temperature change mode 252 may include additional, alternative or fewer computer-executable instructions to operate at least one pump 106 and the at least one temperature change component 110 differently than that described above.

[0168] Use mode 254

[0169]

[0123] During the use mode 254, also referred to as the “in use mode”, the bathing unit system 100 may be being used by the user and may be primarily operated by the control system 118 to provide the user with a desirable experience during a specific bathing session. For example, during the use mode 254, the control system 118 may operate the at least one pump 106 to generate a desired massage sequence based on user input (e.g., via the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 (shown in Figure 6B), and the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 (shown in Figure 9)) or otherwise based on preference data associated with the user, operate the at least one temperature change component 110 to maintain the water 103 at the target water temperature, and operate other components of the bathing unit components (such as at least one light and at least one speaker described above) to maintain a desired ambience during use of the bathing unit system 100. Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of the present disclosure that various embodiments of the use mode 254 may include additional, alternative or fewer computer-executable instructions to operate the various bathing components during a specific bathing session as described above and below.

[0170] Maintain mode 256

[0171]

[0124] During the maintain mode 256, the bathing unit system 100 may be maintained at or proximate a future target water temperature (of a future bathing session) prior to a future start time of the future bathing session. For example, when bathing sessions are scheduled close to each other (as described below), it may be more energy-efficient and / or cost-efficient to maintain the water 103 proximate the target temperature rather than to allow the water 103 to cool down to a standby water temperature (e.g., the standby mode 250) and then to heat up again to the target water temperature (e.g., the temperature change mode 252).

[0172]

[0125] During the maintain mode 256, the control system 118 may operate the at least one temperature change component 110 to maintain the current water temperature with a certain precision range (e.g., ± 1°C, ± 2.5°C, ± 5°C, ± 10°C, etc.) of the future target water temperature. 89003-271

[0173] Maintaining a current water temperature during the maintain mode 256 may require less thermal energy input when compared to heating to a target water temperature during the temperature change mode 252. Accordingly, the maintain mode 256 may involve heating using the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 rather than the primary heater 150, heating using the primary heater 150 in the low mode rather than the high mode, and / or heating using the primary heater 150 for a shorter duration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the maintain mode 256 may include additional, alternative or fewer computer-executable instructions to maintain the current water temperature within a certain range of the future target water temperature as described above and below.

[0174] Cost sensitivity menu 700

[0175]

[0126] Referring now to Figure 5, in some embodiments, the cost sensitivity profile of a particular user stored in the preference data store 215 may be generated based on user input via a cost sensitivity menu 700 associated with the bathing unit system 100. The cost sensitivity menu 700 may be displayed via the user interface (e.g., display screen) associated with the user device 184 (shown in Figure 1) and / or the user interface (e.g., display screen, keypad) associated with control panel 188. In the embodiment shown, the cost sensitivity menu 700 is displayed on a display screen of the user device 184A (shown in Figure 5).

[0176]

[0127] As shown in the example depicted, the cost sensitivity menu 700 may present user selectable options corresponding to different cost sensitivities for operating the bathing unit system 100. For example, the cost sensitivity menu 700 may include input areas 702 for receiving user preferences. In the embodiment shown, the input areas 702 include an energy cost input area 704, which may allow a user to indicate preferred energy cost data, and associated cost sensitivities (e.g., the cost sensitivity profile) when using the bathing unit system 100. In other embodiments, the input areas 702 may also include input areas for other types of preference data (not shown), including ambient environment input areas which may allow a user to indicate their ambient environment preferences (e.g., preference ambient environment data) when using the bathing unit system 100, preference date / time input areas which may allow a user to indicate their date / time preferences (e.g., preference date / time data) for using the bathing unit system 100, preference duration input areas which may allow a user to indicate their preferred durations (e.g., preference duration data) for using the bathing unit system 100, and preference operational settings data which may allow a user to indicate their operational setting preferences (e.g., preference water temperature data, preference ambience data) during a particular bathing 89003-271 session. Those skilled in the art will recognize that further input areas for other types of preference data is possible.

[0177]

[0128] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the energy cost input area 704 includes a cost sensitivity slider 706. The cost sensitivity slider 706 may generally allow a user to indicate their overall cost sensitivity, which may be stored as the preference energy mode. In the embodiment shown, the cost sensitivity slider 706 includes a cost end 708 and a performance end 710, with an indicator 712 which may be dragged towards the cost end 708 or towards the performance end 710. The placement of the indicator 712 along the cost sensitivity slider 706 may be associated with discrete different preference energy modes. For example, a “high economical mode” may be indicated if the indicator 712 is placed at the cost end 708, an “economical mode” may be indicated if the indicator 712 is placed between the cost end 708 and a centre of the cost sensitivity slider 706, a “standard mode” if the indicator 712 is placed at the center, a “performance mode” if the indicator 712 is placed between the center and the performance end 710, and then a “high-performance mode” if the indicator 712 is placed at the performance end 710. In other embodiments, the cost sensitivity slider 706 may instead be associated with percentage indicators (rather than discrete energy modes) that can also be stored as the preference energy modes, such 0% cost sensitive, 25% cost sensitive, 50% cost sensitive, 75% cost sensitive, 100% cost sensitive as the indicator 712 is moved from the performance end 710 towards the cost end 708. In other embodiments, rather than the cost sensitivity slider 706, there may be buttons or user interfaces for selecting the different energy modes. Alternatively, a cost sensitivity slider may be provided to allow a user to select a level of precision required for the water temperature setting from a range of levels of precision (not shown in the Figures). For example, the user may be able to specify that he would like a setpoint for the water temperature to be achieved within +-1 degrees, +-2 degrees, ... or +-5degrees from the setpoint. In other words, if the setpoint is set at 100degrees, if the user moves the slider to select +-3 degrees, the system will operate to maintain the water temperature within +-3 degrees of the original 100 degree setpoint and will operate to save energy when it is possible to do so. An indication of the savings in dollars that can be achieved with a more flexible level of precision (e.g. a larger permitted deviation from the setpoint) may be displayed on the GUI as the user moves the slider along the various settings. 89003-271

[0178]

[0129] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the energy cost input area 704 also includes rules input 720. The rules input 720 generally allows a user to indicate rules for energy costs for operating the bathing unit system 100, such as maximum energy costs above which a user would prefer not to use the bathing unit system 100. In the embodiment shown, the rules input 720 specifically include a maximum energy cost rate field 722 which allows a user to input a maximum energy rate amount for $ / kWh for a specific bathing session. The rules input 720 further includes a maximum cost entry field 724 which allows a user to input a maximum total cost for a specific bathing session. The rules input 720 further includes maximum energy cost tier fields 726A and 726B which allow a user to input a maximum energy cost tier for a specific bathing session. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the maximum energy cost tier fields 726A and 726B are associated with day fields 727A and 727B, and allow a user to select different maximum energy cost tiers for different days. More specifically, a maximum energy cost tier of “off peak” in a first maximum energy cost tier field 726A is associated with “weekdays” in a first day field 727A, while a second maximum energy cost tier of “off peak” in a second maximum energy cost tier field 726B is associated with “weekend” in a second date field 727B. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in other embodiments, the maximum energy cost rate field 722 and the maximum total cost field 724 may also be associated with date fields similar to 727A and 727B. In yet other embodiments, various different fields in the rules input may be associated with the other filters, including different weather conditions (e.g., rules for energy costs during sunny conditions versus rain conditions), different ambient temperatures (e.g., rules for energy cost during colder ambient temperatures versus warmer ambient temperatures), different times of the day (e.g., rules for energy costs during mornings versus evenings), etc.

[0179]

[0130] In other embodiments, the control system 118 (e.g., the local processor 190 of the controller 180 and / or the control processor 200 of the control server 182) may also automatically generate the cost sensitivity profile by processing historical data entries associated with different historical bathing sessions after they have occurred, and may include, for example, historical date / time data, historical duration data, historical ambient environment data, historical operational settings data, and historical energy cost data. For example, the control system 118 may aggregate and process historical entries which identify a particular user and determine whether there are any trends or preferences in the energy cost data of the historical entries in order to infer the cost sensitivity profile of that particular user; etc. As another example, the control system 118 may aggregate and processes historical entries which identify a particular day of the week and determine whether or not there are any trends or preferences in the energy cost data of the 89003-271 historical entries in order to infer preferred energy costs associated with that particular day of the week. In other embodiments, the control system 118 may also aggregate and process the historical data in order to identify different trends and preferences in energy costs for different ambient environments, different operational settings, etc.

[0180]

[0131] In some embodiments, the control system 118 may store and execute heuristic processing algorithms to aggregate and process the historical data and determine trends and preferences for energy cost data contained therein. In other embodiments, the control system 118 may utilize a machine learning model specifically trained to receive the historical data as input and generate the cost sensitivity profile as output. For example, a cost sensitivity profile model may be trained on a plurality of training entries of historical data which are previously labelled with corresponding known preference energy cost data associated with a cost sensitivity profile (e.g., “preference energy mode: economical,” “preference energy cost tier: on-peak,” “preference energy cost rate: $2 / kWh,” etc.) The control system 118 may then input the actual entries of historical data into the cost sensitivity profile model to generate the preference energy cost data which may form a cost sensitivity profile. Alternatively or additionally, in other embodiments, the control system 118 may utilize a generative large language model (e.g., GPT-3, GPT-3.5, GPT- 4, Claude, etc.) and may input a plurality of historical entries as input data with a prompt to determine preference energy cost data (e.g., “Here are <historical entries> associated with user X; determine a cost sensitivity profile for user X based on <historical entries>).

[0181] Scheduled bathing session process 350

[0182]

[0132] Referring to Figures 6A and 6B, operation of the different bathing unit components of the bathing unit system 100 in each of the standby, temperature change, use mode, and maintain modes 250, 252, 254 and 256 may be controlled by an operating schedule 301 including one or more bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type.

[0183]

[0133] In this regard, activating the at least one temperature change component 110 to change the water temperature to (e.g., the temperature change mode 252), or to maintain the water temperature at (e.g., the maintain mode 256), the target water temperature can consume a significant amount of power from the power source 116, which may increase the energy costs for operating the bathing unit system 100. As such, it may be desirable to reduce an amount of time the bathing unit system 100 is at the desired water temperature when the bathing unit system 100 89003-271 is not in use (e.g., the use mode 254), and to increase the amount of time operating in the standby mode 250.

[0184]

[0134] In order for the control system 118 to operate the bathing unit system 100 in a manner which allows for more time in the standby mode 250 and less time in the temperature change mode 252 or the maintain mode 256, a user may be prompted to pre-schedule use of the bathing unit system 100 by scheduling one or more bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type to generate an operating schedule. Use of the operating schedule 301 including one or more bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type generally means that the bathing unit system 100 only needs to be at the target temperature in time for the bathing sessions 342, and may be maintained in the standby mode 250 and / or the maintain mode 256 outside of the specific bathing sessions 342. As used herein, the phrase bathing session of the “scheduled type” generally means bathing sessions which are stored in a storage memory in communication with the control system 118 (e.g., the storage memory 192 of the controller 180, the storage memory 202 of the control server 182, the storage memory of the control panel 188 and / or the storage memory of the user device 184) as a part of an existing operating schedule 301. Further, bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type are generally stored in the storage memory and / or are generally a part of the existing operating schedule 301 in advance of a minimum delay period from their start time. In other words, bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type are generally added at least the minimum delay period in advance of their start time 324. The minimum delay period may be preset (e.g., 6 hours before, 10 hours before, 12 hours before, etc.), or may be dynamically varied based on how much time the control system 118 needs to implement a specific bathing session 342 having a specific target water temperature 322. For example, lower proposed water temperatures may be associated with a shorter minimum delay period, higher proposed water temperatures or bigger differences between a current water temperature and the proposed water temperature may be associated with a longer minimum delay period. The minimum delay period may also provide the control system 118 with sufficient time to operate the bathing unit components of the bathing unit system 100 differently to conform operating costs associated with the bathing session 342 of the scheduled type to the cost sensitivity profile associated with the user of the bathing unit system 100 as described below.

[0185]

[0135] The user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 may display (on the corresponding user interface or the corresponding display screen), the schedule bathing session menu 302 which generally allow a user to add and modify bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled 89003-271 type to the operating schedule 301. In the embodiment shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the schedule bathing session menu 302 is displayed on the display screen of the user device 184A.

[0186]

[0136] Referring to Figure 6A, the schedule bathing session menu 302 includes an add button 304 for adding bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type to the operating schedule 301 . Upon user selection of the add button 304, the display screen of user device 184A displays the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 shown in Figure 6B. The add scheduled bathing session menu 306 allows a user to input operating details 320 associated with a specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type. As used herein, the phrase “operating details” for a bathing session include any details associated with the bathing session which may be set or otherwise controlled by the control system 118, include one or more of start time 324, a duration, a water temperature 322, and ambience settings, etc.

[0187]

[0137] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 6B, the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 includes (i) a date selector 308 which allows a user to enter a scheduled date for the bathing session 342, which may be a specific date (e.g., (October 20, 2024) or a recurring date (e.g., every Friday, every first of the month, etc.); (ii) a time selector 310 which allows the user to enter a scheduled time for the bathing session 342, including the start time 324 and an end time 326 (e.g., difference corresponding to a duration); (iii) a user selection field 311 which allows the user to enter which users will be attending the bathing session 342, (iv) a water temperature field 312 which allows the user to enter the water temperature 322 for the bathing session 342; and (v) ambience selection buttons 314 which allows the user to select different ambience settings for the bathing session 342, including different pump settings and / or speeds, different air blower settings and / or speeds, different massage sequences, different light settings, different audio settings, different visual settings, etc. In the embodiment shown, the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 specifically illustrates operating details 320A associated with a first bathing session 342A of the scheduled type (shown in Figure 6A), including the scheduled date entered using the date selector 308, the scheduled start time 324A and the scheduled end time 326A entered via the time selector 310, the scheduled water temperature 322A entered via the water temperature field 312 and scheduled ambience settings entered via the ambience setting selection buttons 314.

[0188]

[0138] The add scheduled bathing session menu 306 also includes a confirm button 316. Upon user selection of the confirm button 316, the network interfaces of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 may transmit a session request to the control system 118 indicating 89003-271 that the user would like to add a bathing session 342 of the scheduled type having specific operating details 320 to the operating schedule 301 , and the scheduled bathing session process 350 may be initiated.

[0189]

[0139] One embodiment of the scheduled bathing session process 350 is shown in Figure 7. The scheduled bathing session process 350 may be performed by a combination of the local processor 190, the control processor 200, the processor of the user device 184 and / or the processor of the control panel 188 executing processor-executable instructions and / or computerexecutable instructions. The scheduled bathing session process 350 may generally direct the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to establish the operating schedule 301 comprising one or more bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type and for determining whether such bathing sessions 342 conform with the cost sensitivity profile of a user both prior to and after addition to the operating schedule 301. In other embodiments, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may comprise instructions stored on other types of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk or another component associated with the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188. In yet other embodiments, the scheduled bathing session process 350 and / or parts thereof may be executed entirely by the local processor 190, executed entirely by the control processor 200, executed entirely by the processor of the user device 184, executed entirely by the processor of the control panel 188, and / or by a system other than those described above. Further, although the scheduled bathing session process 350 in accordance with one embodiment is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in Figure 7, other methods of implementing the scheduled bathing session process 350 may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks shown in Figure 7 may be altered, and / or some of the blocks described may be altered, eliminated, or combined.

[0190]

[0140] In the embodiment shown, the scheduled bathing session process 350 starts at block 352, which includes computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to process the scheduled operating details 320 associated with the specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type to be added to the operating schedule 301 (e.g., entered using the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 shown in Figure 6B) to determine an operating cost 328 of the specific bathing session 342. As a more specific example, block 352 may involve processing the operating details 320 of date, the start time 324, the end time 326, corresponding duration, the target water temperature 322, and ambience settings associated with a specific bathing session 342. In some 89003-271 embodiments, block 352 may also involve processing a current water temperature of the water 103 within the receptacle 102. Block 352 may also involve processing external data stored in the external data store 213, such as the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier associated with the operating details 320, including the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier during the start time 324 and a period of time take to heat the water 103 from the standby temperature to the target water temperature 322 by the start time 324. Block 352 may further involve processing the internal data stored in the internal data store 216, and in particular the power consumption models of the bathing unit components, the thermal energy input models of the bathing unit components, and the thermal property indicator of the bathing unit system 100. Different ways of calculating operating costs associated with a specific bathing session based on one or more of the thermal property indicators, the power consumption models and / or the thermal energy inputted models are described in United States patent application no. 18 / 745,455, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND MONITORING THERMAL PROPERTIES OF A BATHING UNIT SYSTEM AND FOR USING SAME TO CONTROL THE BATHING UNIT SYSTEM,” filed June 17, 2024, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0191]

[0141] Block 352 may then involve comparing the calculated operating costs 328 against the cost sensitivity profile of a user (e.g., the user adding the specific bathing session 342) to determine whether operating costs 328 of the specific bathing session 342 conform with the cost sensitivity profile. Identifying non-conformity with the cost sensitivity profile before adding a bathing session 342 of the scheduled type to the operating schedule 301 may prevent activating the bathing unit system 100 for a bathing session that exceeds the cost preferences of the user. Block 352 may generate a cost conformity indicator comprising a “conforming” indicator indicating that the operating costs 328 of the specific bathing session 342 conform with the cost sensitivity profile and a “non-conforming” indicator indicating that the operating costs 328 do not conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0192]

[0142] For example, in some embodiments, block 352 may involve a heuristic processing algorithm to determine whether the operating costs 328 of a specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type conforms with the cost sensitivity profile. In some embodiments, the heuristic processing algorithm of block 352 may compare specific values associated with the operating costs with specific values associated with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, a specific bathing session 342 may be scheduled during on-peak hours of 4PM-9PM on a Friday, and the cost sensitivity profile may indicate that the user has a rule against heating during on-peak hours during weekdays. As another example, the specific bathing session 342 may be associated with 89003-271 a particular energy cost rate (e.g., external data retrieved from the energy management application installed on the user device 184 or the external system 186B associated with the energy service provider) which exceeds a maximum energy cost rate set in the cost sensitivity profile. As another example, the duration of the specific bathing session 342 may cause the total operating costs for the specific bathing session 342 to exceed a maximum energy cost set in the cost sensitivity profile. As a further example, the water temperature 322 of the particular bathing session 342 may cause the total operating costs for the specific bathing session 342 to exceed the maximum energy cost set in the cost sensitivity profile.

[0193]

[0143] In other embodiments, the heuristic processing algorithm of block 352 may compare combined values of the operating costs 328 with combined values associated with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, the combination of one or more of the: the energy cost rate, the duration and the date / time of the particular bathing session 342 may cause the total operating costs for the specific bathing session 342 to exceed a threshold associated with an economical mode pre-set for the bathing unit system 100. Economical mode may be set as the maximum energy cost mode in the cost sensitivity profile.

[0194]

[0144] In other embodiments, block 352 may input the operating details 320 of the specific bathing session 342, alone or in combination with the external data associated with the operating details 320 (e.g., the energy cost rates and energy cost tiers) and the cost sensitivity profile into an artificial intelligence model specifically trained to receive operating details 320 (and / or associated external data) and the cost sensitivity profile as inputs and to generate the cost conformity indicator as an output. For example, a conformity determination model may be trained on a plurality of training operating details 320 (and / or associated external data) associated with training cost sensitivity profiles which are previously labelled with either “conforming” or “nonconforming” labels. Block 352 may then input pairs of the actual operating details 320 (and / or associated external data) and the actual cost sensitivity profiles into the conformity determination model to generate either the “conforming” label or the “non-conforming” label associated with the pair. Alternatively, block 352 may utilize a generative language model (e.g., GPT-3, GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Claude, etc.) and may input the operating details 320 (and / or associated external data) and the cost sensitivity profiles with a prompt to generate either the “conforming” indicator or the “non-conforming” indicator (e.g., “here are <operating details> and <energy cost data> associated with a specific bathing session 342; here is <cost sensitivity profi le> associated with the user X; determine whether operating costs for the specific bathing session 342 determined based on <operating details> and <energy cost data> conform with <cost sensitivity profile>. 89003-271

[0195]

[0145] In response to block 352 generating the conforming indicator that the operating costs 328 for the specific bathing session 342 conforms with the cost sensitivity profile, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may continue to block 360. Block 360 may include computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to add the specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type as a part of the operating schedule 301.

[0196]

[0146] In some embodiments, block 360 may involve storing the operating details 320 (and / or associated external data) of the particular bathing session 342 as the historical data. For example, the scheduled start and end times 324A and 326A may be stored as historical date / time data, the scheduled water temperature 322A may be stored as historical water temperature, and calculated operating costs may be stored as historical energy cost data. In some embodiments, the operating details 320 may only be stored as the historical data after the particular bathing session 342 has actually occurred (e.g., after the end time 326A).

[0197]

[0147] In other embodiments, block 360 may also involve storing the operating details 320 (and / or associated external data) of the particular bathing session 342 as the preference data in the preference data store 215. For example, the scheduled start and end times 324A and 326A may be stored as the preference date / time data, the scheduled water temperature 322A may be stored as the preference water temperature data, and the calculated operating costs may be stored as a part of the cost sensitivity profile. In some embodiments, the preference data may all be associated with the user scheduling the specific bathing session 342 (e.g., Fridays between 7 PM and 9 PM is a preferred date and time for John, 39°C is a preferred water temperature for John, and $2.5 / kWh is an acceptable energy cost rate to be added to the cost sensitivity profile of John (to be added to the cost sensitivity profile associated with John, e.g., entry 680 shown in Figure 3D)). In other embodiments, the preference data may instead be associated with each other. For example, the preference date / time data may be associated with the calculated operating costs and vice versa (e.g., $2.5 / kWh is an acceptable energy cost for Friday evenings). As a further example, the preference water temperature data may be associated with the calculated operating costs and vice versa (e.g., $2.5 / kWh is an acceptable or preferred energy cost for reaching a target water temperature of 39°C).

[0198]

[0148] However, in response to block 352 generating the non-conforming indicator that the operating costs 328 of the specific bathing session 342 does not conform with the cost sensitivity profile, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may then continue to block 353 89003-271 which includes computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to execute a non-conforming scheduled session process.

[0199]

[0149] In the embodiment of the scheduled bathing session process 350 shown in Figure 7, the non-conforming scheduled session process of block 353 may begin at subblock 354. Subblock 354 may include computer-executable instructions for displaying, or otherwise communicating, the scheduled type cost notification message 318 to the user (e.g., via the user interface of the control panel 188 and / or the user device 184). The scheduled type cost notification message 318 may convey: (a) at least a portion of the cost sensitivity profile; (b) the operating details 320 of the particular bathing session 342 of the scheduled type (and associated external data) resulting in the operating costs 328 which do not conform with the cost sensitivity profile; (c) rationale data 340 explaining how the particular bathing session 342 does not conform with the cost sensitivity profile; and / or (d) optionally, recommendation data 341 explaining modifications to the operating details 320 of the specific bathing session 342 which may cause it to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0200]

[0150] One embodiment of the scheduled type cost notification message 318 is shown in Figure 8. In the embodiment shown, the scheduled type cost notification message 318 is displayed on a display screen of the user device 184A and includes:

[0201] (a) operating details 320 of a specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the operating details 320A of the specific bathing session 342A include the scheduled water temperature 322A of 39°C, the scheduled start time 324A of 7 PM on Friday, October 25 and the scheduled end time 326A of 9 PM on Friday, October 25.

[0202] (b) operating costs 328 for the specific bathing session 342. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the operating costs 328A include an estimated energy cost rate 330A of $2.5 / kWh and an estimated energy cost tier 332A of “on-peak” for operating the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating details 320A of the specific bathing session 342A. As described above, the operating cost 328 may be calculated based on: (i) the operating details 320A; (ii) the external data (e.g., the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier) stored in the external data store 213 and / or retrieved directly from the external systems (e.g., the energy management application stored on the user device 184 and / or 89003-271 the second external system 186B of the energy service provider); and (iii) the internal data (e.g., the power consumption models and the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components).

[0203] (c) one or more fields 334 conveying information derived from the cost sensitivity profile and in particular elements of the sensitivity profile that are not respected by the new bathing session. In this example, the fields 334 conveying information derived from the cost sensitivity profile include a maximum energy cost rate field 336 indicating that the cost sensitivity profile specifies $2 / kWh and a maximum energy cost tier field 337 indicating that the cost sensitivity profile specifies “off-peak, weekends”.

[0204] (d) rationale data 340 outlining reasons why the operating details 320 and / or the operating cost 328 may not conform with the cost sensitivity profile. In some embodiments, the rationale data 340 may specifically include both at least a portion of the operating details 320 (and / or the associated operating costs 328) and at least a portion of the cost sensitivity profile. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, rationale data 340 includes a text description of “Estimated energy cost rate and tier for above session exceed existing maximum energy cost rate and tier.”

[0205] (e) recommendation data 341 outlining how the operating details 320 may be adjusted so that the operating costs 328 of the specific bathing session 342 conforms with the cost sensitivity profile. The recommendation data 341 will typically include recommendations which reduce the operating cost 328 of the specific bathing session 342, including a lower water temperature 322, a start time 324 associated with an off-peak energy cost tier, a shorter duration, etc. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the recommendation data 341 includes a text description of “Delaying the start time to 9 PM will decrease the estimated energy cost rate.” The recommendation data 341 may be calculated in a way similar to the operating cost 328, including based on (i) the operating details 320A; (ii) the external data (e.g., the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier) relevant for and associated with the operating details 320A; and (iii) the internal data (e.g. , the power consumption models and the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components).

[0206]

[0151] Referring back to Figure 7, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may then continue to optional block 355 which may include codes directing the control system 118 to 89003-271 determine whether there has been any modification of the operating details 320 of the specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type or the cost sensitivity profile, such as directly via the scheduled type cost notification message 318.

[0207]

[0152] In some embodiments, the scheduled type cost notification message 318 may include fields, inputs, and selectors which can be used by a user to modify the operating details 320 to generate modified operating details 320’ (not shown). For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the bathing session 342A on the scheduled type cost notification message 318 may be selectable by the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) to modify the operating details 320A thereof in a manner similar to that described above in association with add scheduled bathing session menu 306 shown in Figure 6B. For example, the scheduled water temperature 322A may be modified to enter a modified scheduled water temperature 322A’ (e.g., a lower temperature of 35°C). Similarly, the scheduled start and end times 324A and 326A may be modified to enter a modified scheduled start and end time 324A’ and 326A’ (e.g., a later time of 9 PM to 10 PM to fall outside of the on-peak energy cost tier).

[0208]

[0153] If the user has modified the operating details 320 at block 355, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may return back to block 352 and continue therefrom based on the modified operating details 320’. For example, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may correspondingly modify the operating costs 328 which is calculated, or retrieved for, the modified operating details 320’. This may in turn result in re-comparison of the modified operating costs 328’ with relevant portions of the cost sensitivity profile to determine whether the modified operating costs 328’ conforms with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, referring to the examples described above, after modification of the operating details 320 to generate the modified impromptu start and end times 324’ and 326’ of between 9 PM to 10 PM, block 352 may determine that the modified operating costs 328’ for the specific bathing session 342 conforms with the cost sensitivity profile, as the energy cost rate associated with the modified impromptu start and end time 324’ and 326’ is at or below the maximum energy cost rate 336 when the bathing session 342 is scheduled for a different time. The scheduled bathing session process 350 may also regenerate and re-transmit the scheduled type cost notification message 318 if the modified operating costs 328’ does not conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0209]

[0154] In other embodiments, the scheduled type cost notification message 318 may include fields, inputs, and selectors which can be used by a user to modify the portions of the cost 89003-271 sensitivity profile to generate a modified cost sensitivity profile (not shown). For example, with reference to Figure 8, the information in fields 334 conveying information derived from the cost sensitivity profile indicating the maximum energy cost rate 336 may comprise a field which can be selected by the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) and modified to enter a modified maximum energy cost rate 336’ (e.g., not shown, $2.5 / kWh). The modified maximum energy cost rate 336’ may be stored as a part of a modified cost sensitivity profile in the preference data store 215. As an additional example, selection of the maximum energy cost rate 336 and / or the maximum energy cost tier 337 may cause display of the cost sensitivity menu 700 shown in Figure 5 which may be used to modify various different user preferences via the input areas 702.

[0210]

[0155] If the user has modified the cost sensitivity profile at block 355, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may also return to block 352 and continue therefrom based on the modified cost sensitivity profile. For example, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may recompare the original operating details 320 and / or the original operating costs 328 with the modified cost sensitivity profile to determine whether the original specific bathing session 342 conforms with modified cost sensitivity profile. For example, referring to the examples described above, after modifying the maximum energy cost rate 336 to $2.5 / kWh, block 352 may determine that the original operating details 320 conforms with the modified cost sensitivity profile, as the estimated energy cost rate is at or below the modified maximum energy cost rate 336’. The scheduled bathing session process 350 may also re-generate and re-transmit the scheduled type cost notification message 318 if the original operating costs 328 does not conform with the modified cost sensitivity profile.

[0211]

[0156] However, if there is no modification of the operating details 320 or the cost sensitivity profile at optional subblock 355, the non-conforming scheduled session process of block 353 may then continue to subblock 356. Subblock 356 may include computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to determine whether the user has decided to schedule the particular bathing session 342 of the scheduled type in spite of the existing non-conformity with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, referring back to Figure 8, the scheduled type cost notification message 318 includes a confirm button 344 and a cancel button 345. Subblock 356 may involve receiving a scheduled type response (e.g., inputted via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) based on whether the user has selected the confirm button 344 to accept the bathing session 342 with the operating details 320 (or the modified operating details 320’) in spite 89003-271 of the non-conformity with the cost sensitivity profile or the cancel button 345 to cancel the specific bathing session 442.

[0212]

[0157] In response to determining that the specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type has been accepted at subblock 356, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may then continue block 360 as described above to add the bathing session 342 to the operating schedule 301.

[0213]

[0158] In response to determining that the particular bathing session 342 of the scheduled type has been rejected or cancelled at subblock 356 (or in response to not receiving any response from the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188)), the scheduled bathing session process 350 may then end without adding the bathing session 342 of the scheduled type as a part of the operating schedule.

[0214]

[0159] However, in some embodiments, in response to determining that the particular bathing session 342 has been rejected or cancelled (or in response to not receiving any response from the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188)), the non-conforming scheduled session process of block 353 may also continue to optional subblock 361. Optional subblock 361 includes computer-executable instructions directing the control system 118 to add a bathing session 342 of the scheduled type to having conforming modified operating details to the operating schedule 301. The conforming modified operating details may be operating details which enable the operating costs 328 of the specific bathing session 342 to conform with the cost sensitivity profile. As such, the conforming modified operating details may generally include operating details which reduce the operating costs 328, including lower water temperature 322, start times 324 and corresponding heating times associated with an off-peak energy cost tier, a shorter duration for the specific bathing session 342, etc. The conforming modified operating details may be determined in a manner similar to the recommendation data 341 described above, namely by processing (i) the external data (e.g., the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier) relevant for and associated with the operating details 320 versus the conforming modified operating details; and (ii) the internal data (e.g., the power consumption models and the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components).

[0215]

[0160] Referring back to Figure 6A, after block 360 and / or optional subblock 361 , and at least one specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type has been added to the operating schedule 301 , the schedule bathing session menu 302 may display the operating schedule 301 89003-271 including the bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type, such as the first bathing session 342A described above and a second bathing session 342B. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in other embodiments, the schedule bathing session menu 302 may include fewer, additional or alternative bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type based on a number of sessions scheduled for the bathing unit system 100 and / or associated with a particular user in embodiments where the schedule bathing session menu 302 only displays bathing sessions associated with one particular user.

[0216]

[0161] The schedule bathing session menu 302 may display the operating details 320 associated with different bathing sessions 342. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6A, the schedule bathing session menu 302 displays the first operating details 320A associated with the first bathing session 342A, including the scheduled start and end time 324A and 326A of Friday, October 25, from 7 PM to 9 PM, and the scheduled water temperature 322A of 39°C. The schedule bathing session menu 302 also displays second operating details 320B associated with the second bathing session 342B, including scheduled start and end time 324B and 326B of Sunday, October 27, from 4 PM to 5 PM and a scheduled water temperature 322B of 39°C. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that fewer, additional or alternative operating details 320 may be displayed with each bathing session 342 (e.g., scheduled ambience settings).

[0217]

[0162] In some embodiments, the schedule bathing session menu 302 may include fields, inputs, and selectors which can be used by a user to modify the operating details 320 associated with a particular bathing session 342 of the scheduled type to generate the modified operating details 320’ (not shown). For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 6A, the first and second bathing sessions 342A and 342B may be selected by a user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) and to display a modify scheduled bathing session menu (not shown) similar to the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 shown in Figure 6B. The user may interact with the modify scheduled bathing session panel to modify the first and second operating details 320A and 320B in a manner similar to the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 as described above.

[0218]

[0163] In other embodiments, the schedule bathing session menu 302 may also display corresponding first and second operating costs 328A and 328B calculated based on the first and second operating details 320A and 320B. As will be described below, because the first and second scheduled times 324A, 326A, 324B and 326B are close together to each other, the control system 118 may determine that it is more cost / energy efficient to operate the bathing unit system 89003-271

[0219] 100 in the maintain mode 256 between the first and second bathing sessions 342A and 342B rather than allow the water 103 to cool down in the standby mode 250 after the first bathing session 342A and then to heat up again for the second bathing session 342B. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that fewer, additional, or alternative external data may be displayed with a particular bathing session (e.g., the user calendar data).

[0220]

[0164] Further, after block 360 and / or optional subblock 361 as generated the operating schedule 301 including at least one specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may continue to block 362. Block 362 may include computer-executable instructions directing the control system 118 (e.g., the local processor 190 of the controller 180 and / or the control processor 200 of the control server 182) to actually operate the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating schedule 301 and in a manner which takes into account the external data, the internal data, and the cost sensitivity profile.

[0221]

[0165] For example, in some embodiments, block 362 may direct the control system 118 to control the bathing unit components based at least in part on the thermal property indicator data, the thermal energy input models, and the power consumption models stored in the internal data store 216. For example, the thermal property indicator data may represent the k constant, the thermal conductivity H and / or the inverse thermal resistance 0 of the bathing unit system 100. The thermal energy input models may represent an amount of thermal energy inputted into the water 103 when the different bathing unit components (e.g. the at least one temperature change component 110 and the at least one pump 106) are operated in different modes (e.g., the low mode, the standard mode and the high mode) as described above. The combination of the thermal property indicator data and the thermal energy input models can be used to determine how to operate the different bathing unit components in order to reach the scheduled water temperature (e.g., the scheduled water temperature 322A of 39°C shown in Figure 6A) by the scheduled start time (e.g., 7 PM on Friday, October 25, 2024) for a specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type.

[0222]

[0166] In other embodiments, block 362 may direct the control system 118 to control the bathing unit components based at least in part on the power consumption models stored in the internal data store 216 and the energy cost data stored in the external data store 213 (and / or retrieved from the external systems such as the energy management application on the user device 184 or the second external system 186B of the energy service provider). For example, the power consumption models may represent an amount of power drawn from the power source 116 89003-271 when the different bathing unit components (e.g. the at least one temperature change component 110 and the at least one pump 106) are operated in different modes (e.g., the low mode, the standard mode and the high mode) as described above. The energy cost data may represent costs associated with the amount of power drawn from the power source 116. The combination of the power consumption models and the energy cost data can be used to determine the operating cost for operating the different bathing unit components to reach the scheduled water temperature 322 by the scheduled start time 324 of a specific bathing session 342 and for conducting the specific bathing session 342.

[0223]

[0167] The energy cost data may also include data regarding how energy costs vary over time (e.g., times of day associated with off-peak, on-peak and overnight rates). The thermal energy input models may convey how different bathing unit components may be controlled differently in order to input a same amount of thermal energy into the water 103 in order to reach the scheduled water temperature 322 by the scheduled start time 324. For example, it may be possible to input the same amount of thermal energy by operating the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 for a longer duration when compared to operating the primary heater 150 for a shorter duration. Additionally or alternatively, it may be possible to input the same amount of thermal energy by operating the primary heater 150 in combination with the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 for a shorter duration when compared to operating the primary heater 150 alone for a longer duration. Further still, the power consumption models may represent how operating the different bathing unit components in different modes may draw different amounts of power from the power source 116 and thus be associated with different energy costs. For example, operating the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 for the longer duration may be less expensive than operating the primary heater 150 for the shorter duration. The combination of the energy cost data, the thermal energy input models, and the power consumption models may thus be used to determine how to operate the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating schedule 301 to minimize the operating costs 328 associated with reaching the scheduled water temperature 322 by the scheduled start time 324 of the specific bathing session 342.

[0224]

[0168] Further, as the bathing sessions 342 of the scheduled type are typically scheduled at least the minimum delay period ahead of their start times 324, block 362 may control the control system 118 to execute computer-executable instructions to control the bathing unit components based at least in part on the cost sensitivity profile. For example, the control system 118 may control the different bathing unit components to ensure that the operating costs 328 required to reach the scheduled water temperature 322 by the scheduled start time 324 conforms with the 89003-271 cost sensitivity profile. For example, in situations where the cost sensitivity profile indicates an energy cost mode of “economical mode,” the control system 118 may opt to operate the primary heater 150 during off-peak hours to reach the scheduled water temperature and then operate auxiliary heater / cooler 154 during on-peak hours in order to maintain the scheduled water temperature, rather than operate the primary heater 150 during on-peak hours. Additionally or alternatively, the control system 118 may opt to operate the primary heater 150 on the low mode for a longer duration rather than operate the primary heater 150 on the high mode for a shorter duration. Additionally or alternatively, the control system 118 may opt to operate the primary heater 150 on the standard mode in combination with the auxiliary heater / cooler 154 on the high mode, rather than operate the primary heater 150 on the high mode. Further, in situations where the preference energy cost data indicates a maximum energy cost tier of “off-peak”, the control system 118 may operate the primary heater 150 during the off-peak hours to reach a water temperature which is above the scheduled water temperature 322, and then turn off all of the temperature change component 110 to allow the water 103 to decrease to the scheduled water temperature 322 at the scheduled start time 324 without use of energy during the on-peak hours. Additional ways of operating the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating schedule 301 in an optimized manner which takes into account external data such as energy cost and ambient environment are described in in United States patent application no. 18 / 745,455, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND MONITORING THERMAL PROPERTIES OF A BATHING UNIT SYSTEM AND FOR USING SAME TO CONTROL THE BATHING UNIT SYSTEM,” filed June 17, 2024, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0225]

[0169] While the scheduled bathing session process 350 is operating according to the operating schedule 301 at block 362, the energy cost data stored in the external data store 213 (and / or retrieved from the external systems such as the energy management application on the user device 184 or the second external system 186B of the energy service provider) may indicate that an energy cost has changed from when a specific bathing session 342 of the scheduled type was initially added to the operating schedule 301 at block 360 or optional subblock 361. For example, the energy cost rates may increase due to current load on the electrical grid, due to unforeseen events disrupting a transition and distribution system of the electrical grid, unforeseen weather conditions, etc. This increase in energy cost may cause the operating costs 328 of a previously scheduled bathing session 342 to become non-conforming with the cost sensitivity profile. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may continue to optional block 364 in response to receiving updated energy cost data. 89003-271

[0226]

[0170] Optional block 364 may include computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to process the operating details 320 and the updated energy cost data to determine updated operating costs 328” of the bathing session 342 of the scheduled type. Similar to block 352, in some embodiments, optional block 364 may also involve processing the current water temperature of the water 103. Optional block 364 may further involve processing the internal data stored in the internal data store 216, such as the power consumption models of the bathing unit components, the thermal energy input models of the bathing unit components, and the thermal property indicator of the bathing unit system 100. After generating the updated operating costs 328”, optional block 364 may determine whether the updated operating costs 328” for the specific bathing session 342 is different from the original operating costs 328 (or the original modified operating costs 328’) for the specific bathing session 342 when it was originally added to the operating schedule 301 at block 360 or optional subblock 361. In some embodiments, optional block 364 may further involve determining whether operation of the bathing unit components can be modulated to maintain the original operating costs 328 (or the original modified operating costs 328’) in view of the updated energy costs, such as by utilizing different combinations of the temperature change components 110 in different operational modes or by activating the temperature change components 110 more significantly ahead of the start time 324.

[0227]

[0171] If optional block 364 determines that the updated operating costs 328” is different from the original operating costs 328 (or the original modified operating costs 328’) and / or it is not possible to modulate operation of the bathing unit components to maintain the original operating costs 328, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may then return to block 352 described above and continue therefrom based on the updated operating costs 328” to determine whether the updated operating costs 328” conform to the cost sensitivity profile.

[0228]

[0172] If optional block 364 determines that the updated operating costs 328” is the same as (or within a similarity threshold of) the original operating costs 328 (or the original modified operating costs 328’), or that it is possible to modulate operation of the bathing unit components to maintain the original operating costs 328, the scheduled bathing session process 350 may return to block 362 cand continue therefrom to operate the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating schedule 301. The scheduled bathing session process 350 may then end. 89003-271

[0229] Impromptu bathing session process 450

[0230]

[0173] Referring now to Figures 9-11 , during operation of the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating schedule 301 , the bathing unit system 100 may also be activated to initiate a specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type. In this regard, a particular user may wish to use the bathing unit system 100 outside of the bathing sessions 442 of the scheduled type included in the operating schedule 301. As used herein, the phrase bathing session 442 of the “impromptu type” generally means bathing sessions 442 which are not a part of an existing operating schedule 301. Further, bathing sessions of the impromptu type are generally initiated within the minimum delay period from their start time. As described above in association with the schedule bathing session process 350, the minimum delay period may be pre-set (e.g., 6 hours before, 10 hours before, 12 hours before, etc.), or may be dynamically varied based on how much time the control system 118 needs to implement the bathing session 442 at a target water temperature 422 by a target start time 424. Because the bathing sessions 442 of the impromptu type are provided within the minimum delay period of their start times 424, the control system 118 may not have sufficient time to operate the bathing unit system 100 to conform operating costs 428 associated with the bathing session 442 to the cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system 100 (e.g., the user initiating the specific bathing session 442).

[0231]

[0174] The user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 may display (on the corresponding user interface) the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 to allow a user to initiate and modify bathing sessions 442 of the impromptu type. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 is displayed on the display screen of the user device 184A.

[0232]

[0175] The initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 generally allows a user to input operating details 420 associated with the specific bathing session 442, the operating details including one or more of the water temperature 422, the start time 424, a duration 427, and ambience settings 429. As one example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 includes (i) a water temperature field 412 which allows the user to enter the target water temperature 422 for the bathing session 442; (ii) a start time field 414 which allows a user to enter a start time 424 of the bathing session 442; (iii) a duration field 417 which allows a user to enter a duration for the bathing session 442; and (iv) ambience selection buttons 418 which allow a user to select different ambience settings for the bathing session 442, including different pump settings and / or speeds, different air blower settings and / or 89003-271 speeds, different massage sequences, different light settings, different audio settings, different visual settings, etc. The start time field 414 allows the user to select a start time 424 of “immediately” at a current time, or to select a start time 424 with an initiation delay period from a current time (e.g., in 30 minutes, in one hour, in two hours, in three hours, etc.). The initiation delay period may be less than the minimum delay period described above. Further, the control system 118 may be operable to calculate an end time 426 (shown in Figure 11) for the bathing session 442 based on a combination of the start time 424 entered via the start time field 414 and the duration 427 entered via the duration field 417.

[0233]

[0176] The initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 also includes a confirm button 416. Upon user selection of the confirm button 416, the network interfaces of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 may transmit a session request to the control system 118 indicating that the user would like to initiate a bathing session 442 of the impromptu type having the specific operating details 420 and the impromptu bathing session process 450 may be initiated.

[0234]

[0177] One embodiment of the impromptu bathing session process 450 is shown in Figure 10. The impromptu bathing session process 450 may be performed by a combination of the local processor 190, the control processor 200, the processor of the user device 184 and / or the processor of the control panel 188 executing processor-executable instructions and / or computerexecutable instructions. The impromptu bathing session process 450 may generally direct the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to determine whether a specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type complies with the cost sensitivity profile associated with a user (e.g., the user initiating the specific bathing session 442) and to initiate the specific bathing session 442 according to an impromptu type response received from the user. As will be described below, the impromptu type response may include an acceptance of the existing operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442, a cancellation of the specific bathing session 442, or modified operating details 420’ (not shown) for the specific bathing session 442.

[0235]

[0178] The impromptu bathing session process 450 (or portions thereof) may be stored on the program memory 194 of the controller 180, the program memory 204 of the control server 182, the program memory of the user device 184, and / or the program memory of the control panel 188. In other embodiments, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may comprise instructions stored on other types of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk or another component associated 89003-271 with the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188. In yet other embodiments, the impromptu bathing session process 450 and / or parts thereof may be executed entirely by the local processor 190, executed entirely by the control processor 200, executed entirely by the processor of the user device 184, executed entirely by the processor of the control panel 188, and / or by a system other than those described above. Further, although the impromptu bathing session process 450 in accordance with one embodiment is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in Figure 10, other methods of implementing the impromptu bathing session process 450 may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks shown in Figure 10 may be altered, and / or some of the blocks described may be altered, eliminated, or combined.

[0236]

[0179] In the embodiment shown, the impromptu bathing session process 450 starts at block 452, which includes computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to process the scheduled operating details 420 associated with the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type to be initiated (e.g., the operating details 420 entered via the initiate impromptu bathing session menu 402 shown in Figure 9) to determine the operating costs 428 for the specific bathing session 442. As a more specific example, similar to block 352 of the scheduled bathing session process 350, block 452 may involve processing the operating details 420 of the start time 424, the end time 426, corresponding duration 427, the target water temperature 422, and ambience settings associated with a specific bathing session 442. In some embodiments, block 452 may also involve processing a current water temperature of the water 103. Block 452 may also involve processing external data stored in the external data store 213, such as the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier associated with the operating details 420 and potentially the ambient temperature associated with the operating details 420 (e.g., corresponding to the start time 424). Block 452 may further involve processing the internal data stored in the internal data store 216, such as the power consumption models of the bathing unit components, the thermal energy input models of the bathing unit components, and the thermal property indicator of the bathing unit system 100. Different ways of calculating operating costs associated with a particular bathing session based on one or more of the thermal property indicators, the power consumption models and / or the thermal energy inputted models are described in United States patent application no. 18 / 745,455, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND MONITORING THERMAL PROPERTIES OF A BATHING UNIT SYSTEM AND FOR USING SAME TO CONTROL THE 89003-271

[0237] BATHING UNIT SYSTEM,” filed June 17, 2024, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0238]

[0180] Block 452 may then involve comparing the operating costs 428 against the cost sensitivity profile of a user (e.g., the user adding the bathing session 442) to determine whether operating costs 428 of the specific bathing session 442 conform with the cost sensitivity profile. Identifying non-conformity with the cost sensitivity profile before initiating a bathing session 442 of the impromptu type may prevent activating the bathing unit system 100 for a bathing session that exceeds the cost preferences of the user. Block 452 may generate a cost conformity indicator comprising a “conforming” indicator indicating that the operating costs 428 of the specific bathing session 442 conform with the cost sensitivity profile and a “non-conforming” indicator indicating that the operating costs 428 do not conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0239]

[0181] For example, block 452 may involve a heuristic processing algorithm to determine conformity, whether the operating costs 428 of the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type conforms with the cost sensitivity profile. In some embodiments, the heuristic processing algorithm of block 452 may compare specific values associated with the operating costs 428 with specific values associated with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, the specific bathing session 442 may be scheduled during on-peak hours of 4PM-9PM on a Friday, and the cost sensitivity profile may indicate that the user has a rule against heating during on-peak hours during weekdays. As another example, the specific bathing session 442 may be associated with a particular energy cost rate (e.g., external data retrieved from the energy management application installed on the user device 184 or the external system 186B associated with the energy service provider) which exceeds a maximum energy cost rate set in the cost sensitivity profile. As another example, the duration 427 of the specific bathing session 442 may cause the total operating costs for the specific bathing session 442 to exceed a maximum energy cost set in the cost sensitivity profile. As a further example, the water temperature of the specific bathing session 442 may cause the total operating costs for the specific bathing session 442 to exceed the maximum energy cost set in the cost sensitivity profile.

[0240]

[0182] In other embodiments, the heuristic processing algorithm of block 452 may compare combined values of the operating costs 428 with combined values associated with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, the combination of one or more of the: the energy cost rate, the duration 427 and the start time 424 of the particular bathing session 442 may cause the total operating costs for the specific bathing session 442 to exceed a threshold associated with an 89003-271 economical mode pre-set for the bathing unit system 100. Economical mode may be set as the maximum energy cost mode in the cost sensitivity profile.

[0241]

[0183] In other embodiments, block 452 may input the operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442, alone or in combination with the external data associated with the operating details 420 (e.g., the energy cost rates and energy cost tiers) and the cost sensitivity profile into the conformity determination model as described above in association with block 352 of the scheduled bathing session process 350. For example, the conformity determination model may be trained on a plurality of training operating details 420 (and / or associated external data) associated with training cost sensitivity profiles which are ground labelled with either “conforming” or “non-conforming” labels. Block 452 may then input pairs of the actual operating details 420 (and / or associated external data) and the actual cost sensitivity profiles into the conformity determination model to generate either the “conforming” label or the “non-conforming” label associated with the pair. Alternatively, block 452 may utilize a generative language model (e.g., GPT-3, GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Claude, etc.) and may input the operating details 420 (and / or associated external data) and the cost sensitivity profiles with a prompt to determine conforming or nonconforming (e.g., “here are <operating details> and < energy cost data> associated with a specific bathing session 442; here is <cost sensitivity profile> associated with the user X; determine whether operating costs for the specific bathing session 442 determined based on <operating details> and <energy cost data> conform with <cost sensitivity profiler

[0242]

[0184] In response to block 452 generating the conforming indicator that the operating costs of the specific bathing session 442 conforms with the cost sensitivity profile, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may continue to block 460, which includes computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to initiate the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type according to the (original) operating details 420 (shown in Figure 9).

[0243]

[0185] In some embodiments, block 460 may also involve storing the operating details 420 (and / or associated external data) of the particular bathing session 442 as the historical data. For example, the impromptu start and end times 424 and 426 may be stored as historical date / time data, the impromptu water temperature 422 may be stored as historical water temperature, and calculated operating costs may be stored as historical energy cost data. In some embodiments, the operating details 420 may only be stored as the historical data after the particular bathing session 442 has actually occurred (e.g., after the end time 426). 89003-271

[0244]

[0186] In other embodiments, block 460 may also involve storing the operating details 420 (and associated external data) of the particular bathing session 442 as the preference data in the preference data store 215. For example, the impromptu start and end times 424 and 426 may be stored as the preference date / time data, the impromptu water temperature 422 may be stored as the preference water temperature data, and the calculated operating costs may be stored as a part of the cost sensitivity profile. In some embodiments, the preference data may all be associated with the user scheduling the specific bathing session 442 (e.g., Fridays between 7 PM and 9 PM is a preferred date and time for John, 39°C is a preferred water temperature for John, and $2.5 / kWh is an acceptable energy cost rate for John (to be added to the cost sensitivity profile associated with John, e.g., entry 680 shown in Figure 3D)). In other embodiments, the preference data may instead be associated with each other as described above in association with block 360 of the scheduled bathing session process 350. The impromptu bathing session process 450 may then end.

[0245]

[0187] However, in response to block 452 generating the non-conforming indicator that the operating costs 428 of the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type does not conform with the cost sensitivity profile, and the impromptu bathing session process 450 may then continue to block 453. Block 453 may include computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to execute a non-conforming impromptu session process.

[0246]

[0188] In the embodiment of the impromptu bathing session process 450 shown in Figure 10, the non-conforming impromptu session process of block 453 starts at subblock 454, which may include computer-executable instructions for displaying, or otherwise communicating, an impromptu type cost notification message 418 (shown in Figure 11) to the user (e.g., via the user interface of the control panel 188 and / or the user device 184). The impromptu type cost notification message may convey: (a) at least a portion of the cost sensitivity profile; (b) the operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type (and associated external data) resulting in the operating costs 428 which do not conform with the cost sensitivity profile; (c) rationale data 440 explaining how the particular bathing session 442 does not conform with the cost sensitivity profile; and / or (d) optionally, recommendation data 441 explaining modifications to the operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442 which would cause it to conform with the cost sensitivity profile. 89003-271

[0247]

[0189] One embodiment of the impromptu type cost notification message 418 displayed on the display screen of the user device 184A is shown in Figure 11. In the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the impromptu type cost notification message 418 includes:

[0248] (a) operating details 420 of a specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type. In the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442 include the impromptu water temperature 422 of 39°C, the impromptu ambience setting 429 including a Swedish massage, the impromptu start time 424 of 7 PM on Friday, October 25, the impromptu end time 426 of 9 PM on Friday, October 25.

[0249] (b) operating costs 428 for the specific bathing session 442. In the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the operating costs 428 includes an estimated energy cost rate 430 of $2.5 / kWh and an estimated energy cost tier 432 of on-peak for operating the bathing unit system 100 according to the operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442. As described above, the operating cost 428 may be calculated based on: (i) the operating details 420; (ii) the external data associated with the operating details 420 (e.g., the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier); and / or (iii) the internal data (e.g., the thermal property indicator, the power consumption models of different bathing unit components and the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components).

[0250] (c) at least a portion 434 of the cost sensitivity profile that the operating cost 428 of the specific session 442 does not conform with. In the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the portion 434 of the cost sensitivity profile includes the maximum energy cost rate 436 of $2 / kWh and the maximum energy cost tier 437 of “off-peak, weekends.”

[0251] (d) rationale data 440 outlining how the operating details 420 and / or the operating cost 428 may not conform with the cost sensitivity profile. In some embodiments, the rationale data 440 may include at least a portion of the operating details 420 (and / or the associated operating costs 428) and at least a portion of the cost sensitivity profile. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the rationale data 440 includes a text description of “Estimated energy cost rates and tier for above session exceed existing maximum energy cost rate and tier.”

[0252] (e) recommendation data 441 outlining how the operating details 420 may be adjusted so that the operating costs 428 can conform with the cost sensitivity profile. The recommendation data 441 may typically include recommendations which reduce the operating cost 428 of 89003-271 the specific bathing session 442, including a lower water temperature 422, a start time 424 associated with an off-peak energy cost tier, a shorter duration 427, a longer initiation period, etc. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the recommendation data 441 includes a text description of “Delaying the start time to 9 PM will decrease the estimated energy cost rate.” The recommendation data 441 may be calculated in a way similar to the operating cost 428, including based on (i) the operating details 420; (ii) the external data (e.g., the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier) relevant for and associated with the operating details 420; and (iii) the internal data (e.g., the power consumption models and the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components).

[0253]

[0190] Referring back to Figure 10, the non-conforming impromptu session process of block 453 may then continue to optional subblock 455, which may include codes directing the control system 118 to determine whether there has been any modification of the operating details 420 of the specific bathing session 442 or the cost sensitivity profile, such as directly via the impromptu type cost notification message 418.

[0254]

[0191] In some embodiments, the impromptu type cost notification message 418 may include fields, inputs, and selectors which can be used by a user to modify the operating details 420 to generate the modified operating details 420’ (not shown). For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , the bathing session 442 may be selectable by the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) to modify the operating details 420 thereof in a manner similar to that described in association with the add scheduled bathing session menu 306 shown in Figure 6B. For example, the impromptu water temperature 422 may be modified to enter a modified impromptu water temperature 422’ (not shown, e.g., a lower temperature of 35°C). Similarly, the scheduled start and end times 424 and 426 may be modified to enter a modified scheduled start and end time 424’ and 426’ (not shown, e.g., a later time of 9 PM to 10PM to fall outside of the on-peak energy cost tier).

[0255]

[0192] If the user has modified the operating details 420 at optional subblock 455, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may return to block 452 and continue therefrom based on the modified operating details 420’. For example, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may correspondingly modify the operating costs 428’ associated with, or retrieved for, the modified operating details 420’. This may in turn result in re-comparison of the modified operating costs 428’ with relevant portions 434 of the cost sensitivity profile to determine whether the 89003-271 modified operating costs 428’ conforms with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, referring to the examples described above, after modification of the operating details 420 to generate the modified impromptu start and end times 424’ and 426’ of between 9 PM to 10 PM, block 452 may determine that the modified operating costs 428’ for the specific bathing session 442 conforms with the cost sensitivity profile, as the energy cost rate associated with the modified impromptu start and end time 424’ and 426’ is at or below the maximum energy cost rate 436 when the bathing session 442 is scheduled for a different time. The impromptu bathing session process 450 may also regenerate and re-transmit the impromptu type cost notification message 418 if the modified operating costs 428’ does not conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

[0256]

[0193] In other embodiments, the impromptu type cost notification message 418 may also include fields, inputs, and selectors which can be used by a user to modify the portion 434 of the cost sensitivity profile to generate a modified cost sensitivity profile (not shown). For example, the portion 434 indicating the maximum energy cost rate 436 may comprise a field which can be selected by the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) and modified to enter a modified maximum energy cost rate 436’ (e.g., $2.5 / kWh). The modified maximum energy cost rate 436’ may be stored as a part of the modified cost sensitivity profile in the preference data store 215. As an additional example, selection of the maximum energy cost rate 436 and / or the maximum energy cost tier 437 may cause display of the cost sensitivity menu 700 shown in Figure 5 which may be used to modify various different user preferences via the input areas 702.

[0257]

[0194] If the user has modified the cost sensitivity profile at optional subblock 455, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may also return to block 452 and continue therefrom based on the modified cost sensitivity profile. For example, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may re-compare the original operating details 420 and the original operating costs 428 with the modified cost sensitivity profile to determine whether the original specific bathing session 442 conforms with modified cost sensitivity profile. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , after modifying the maximum energy cost rate 436 to $2.5 / kWh, block 452 may determine that the original operating details 420 conforms with the modified cost sensitivity profile, as the estimated energy cost rate is at or below the modified maximum energy cost rate 436’. The impromptu bathing session process 450 may also re-generate and re-transmit the impromptu type cost notification message 418 if the original operating costs 428 does not conform with the modified cost sensitivity profile. 89003-271

[0258]

[0195] However, if there is no modification of the operating details 420 or the cost sensitivity profile at optional subblock 455, the non-conforming impromptu session process of block 453 may then continue to subblock 456. Subblock 456 may include computer-executable instructions directing the controller 180, the control server 182, the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188 to determine whether the user has decided to schedule the particular bathing session 442 of the impromptu type in spite of any existing non-conformity with the cost sensitivity profile. For example, referring back to Figure 11 , the impromptu type cost notification message 418 includes a confirm button 444 and a cancel button 445. Subblock 456 may involve receiving an impromptu type response (e.g., inputted via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188) based on whether the user has selected the confirm button 444 to accept the bathing session 442 with the operating details 420 (or the modified operating details 420’) in spite of the non-conformity with the cost sensitivity profile or the cancel button 445 to cancel the specific bathing session 442.

[0259]

[0196] In response to determining that the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type has been accepted at subblock 456, the impromptu bathing session process 450 may then continue to block 460 as described above to initiate the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type according to the (original) operating details 420 (shown in Figure 9) or according to the modified operating details 420’. The impromptu bathing session process 450 may then end.

[0260]

[0197] In response to determining that the particular bathing session 442 of the impromptu type has been rejected or cancelled at subblock 456 (or in response to not receiving any response from the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188)), the impromptu bathing session process 450 may then end and prevent initiation of the specific bathing session 442 of the impromptu type.

[0261]

[0198] However, in some embodiments, in response to determining that the particular bathing session 442 has been rejected or cancelled (or in response to not receiving any response from the user (e.g., via the user interface of the user device 184 and / or the control panel 188)), the non-conforming impromptu session process of block 453 may also continue to optional subblock 461. Optional subblock 461 includes computer-executable instructions directing the control system 118 to initiate a bathing session 442 of the impromptu type to having conforming modified operating details. The conforming modified operating details may be operating details which enable the operating costs 428 of a specific bathing session 442 to conform with the cost sensitivity profile. Accordingly, the conforming modified operating details may generally include 89003-271 operating details which reduce the operating costs 428, including lower water temperatures 422, start times 424 associated with an off-peak energy cost tier, a shorter duration 447 for the specific bathing session 442, a longer initiation period, etc. The conforming modified operating details may be determined in a manner similar to the recommendation data 441 described above, namely by processing (i) the external data (e.g., the energy cost rate and the energy cost tier) relevant for and associated with the operating details 420 and the conforming modified operating details; and (iii) the internal data (e.g., the power consumption models and the thermal energy input models of different bathing unit components). Optionally, a message conveying a cost for the impromptu session may be presented as part of the impromptu type cost notification message 418 and optionally may also prompt the user to confirm that they wish to proceed. For example, a specific non-limiting example of a message may read as follows « This impromptu session will cost you 19$, are you agree to continue? (Yes or No)». The impromptu bathing session process 450 may then end.

[0262] Conclusion

[0263]

[0199] The person skill in the art will appreciate that many variations to the embodiments described in the present document art possible and will become apparent from a reading of the present document concurrently with the figures.

[0264]

[0200] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that throughout the present specification, the term “a” used before a term encompasses embodiments containing one or more to what the term refers. It will also be understood by those of skill in the art that throughout the present specification, the term “comprising”, which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.

[0265]

[0201] As used in the present disclosure, the terms “around”, “about”, “substantially” or “approximately” shall generally mean within the error margin generally accepted in the art. Hence, numerical quantities given herein generally include such error margin such that the terms “around”, “about” “substantially” or “approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated. For greater clarity, unless otherwise explicitly stated, the terms "around", "about", “substantially” and “approximately” means a proportion of at least about 60%, or at least about 70% or at least about 89003-271

[0266] 80%, or at least about 90%, at least about 95%, at least about 97% or at least about 99% or more, or any integer between 70% and 100%.

[0267]

[0202] Note that the expression “at least one of A or B”, as used herein, is interchangeable with the expression “A and / or B”. It refers to a list in which you may select A or B or both A and B. Similarly, “at least one of A, B, or C”, as used herein, is interchangeable with “A and / or B and / or C” or “A, B, and / or C”. It refers to a list in which you may select: A or B or C, or both A and B, or both A and C, or both B and C, or all of A, B and C. The same principle applies for longer lists having a same format.

[0268]

[0203] Although various embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present description that numerous modifications and variations can be made. The scope of the invention is defined more particularly in the appended claims.

Claims

89003-271CLAIMS1. A method for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session, wherein the specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type, the method being implemented by at least one processor, and the method comprising: o generating operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data; o when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, operating the bathing unit system to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system; and o when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type:■ generating a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile; and■ in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, performing a nonconforming impromptu session process.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specific bathing session is one of a plurality of bathing sessions, wherein each bathing session in the plurality of bathing sessions is one of the scheduled type or the impromptu type, and wherein:- bathing sessions of the scheduled type are stored in a storage memory in communication with the at least one processor as a part of an existing operating schedule of the bathing unit system; and- bathing sessions of the impromptu type are absent from the existing operating schedule within a minimum delay period from their start time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cost sensitivity profile conveys one or more of: an economical mode, a standard mode, a performance mode, a maximum cost per bathing session, a maximum cost for a duration, a maximum cost for a time period, or a maximum energy cost rate.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the cost sensitivity profile.89003-2715. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the cost sensitivity profile comprises receiving the cost sensitivity profile as:- user input into a cost sensitivity menu associated with the bathing unit system; and / or- user input in response to a notification message conveying a change in operating costs or conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cost sensitivity menu presents, on a user interface associated with at least one device, user selectable options corresponding to different cost sensitivities for operating the bathing unit system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating details comprise a start time and a target temperature, wherein generating the operating costs comprises generating energy costs for reaching the target temperature at the start time.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating details comprise a start time and a target temperature, wherein generating the operating costs is further based at least in part on processing the start time and the target temperature in combination with one or more of: thermal property data of the bathing unit system, thermal energy input models associated with one or more bathing unit components of the bathing unit system, power consumption models associated with the one or more bathing unit components, current ambient temperature data at a field location of the bathing unit system, forecasted ambient temperature data at the field location, the energy cost data, and current water temperature of water in a water receptacle of the bathing unit system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-conforming impromptu session process comprises: o transmitting an impromptu type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user, wherein the impromptu type cost notification message includes the cost conformity indicator; and89003-271 o in response to receiving an impromptu type response from the at least one device, operating the bathing unit system according to the impromptu type response, wherein the impromptu type response comprises:■ an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs;■ a cancellation of the specific bathing session; and / or■ modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically:- preventing initiation of the specific bathing session; or- operating the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details, wherein the conforming modified operating details enables the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, the method further comprises:- generating the cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing updated operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the updated operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with updated energy cost data; and- in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the updated operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, performing a non-conforming scheduled session process.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the non-conforming scheduled session process comprises: o transmitting a scheduled type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user, wherein the scheduled type cost notification message includes the cost conformity indicator; and o in response to receiving a scheduled type response from the at least one device, operating the bathing unit system according to the scheduled type response, wherein the scheduled type response comprises:■ an acceptance of the operating details and / or the updated operating costs;■ a cancellation of the specific bathing session; and / or89003-271 modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically:- cancelling the specific bathing session; or- operating the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details, wherein the conforming modified operating details enable the updated operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

14. The method of any one of claims 9, 10, 12 and 13, wherein the at least one device comprises a top-side control panel of the bathing unit system.

15. The method of any one of claims 9, 10, 12 and 13, wherein the at least one device comprises a personal communication user device associated with the user.

16. A system for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session, wherein the specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type, the system comprising: o at least one processor configured to:■ generate operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data;■ when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, operate the bathing unit system to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system; and■ when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type:• generating a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile; and• in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, perform a non-conforming impromptu session process.89003-27117. The system of claim 16, wherein the specific bathing session is one of a plurality of bathing sessions, wherein each bathing session in the plurality of bathing sessions is one of the scheduled type or the impromptu type, and wherein: o the system further comprises a storage memory in communication with the at least one processor, and wherein:■ bathing sessions of the scheduled type are stored in the storage memory as a part of an existing operating schedule of the bathing unit system; and■ bathing sessions of the impromptu type are absent from the existing operating schedule within a minimum delay period from their start time.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the cost sensitivity profile conveys one or more of: an economical mode, a standard mode, a performance mode, a maximum cost per bathing session, a maximum cost for a duration, a maximum cost for a time period, or a maximum energy cost rate.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising receiving the cost sensitivity profile as:- user input into a cost sensitivity menu associated with the bathing unit system; and / or- user input in response to a notification message conveying a change in the energy cost data or conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the operating details comprises a start time and a target temperature, wherein the operating costs comprise energy costs for reaching the target temperature at the start time.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the non-conforming impromptu session process by being configured to: o transmit an impromptu type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user, wherein the impromptu type cost notification message includes the cost conformity indicator; o in response to receiving an impromptu type response from the at least one device, operate the bathing unit system according to the impromptu type response, wherein the impromptu type response comprises:89003-271■ an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs;■ a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or■ modified operating details for the specific bathing session; and o in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically:■ prevent initiation of the specific bathing session; or■ operate the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details, wherein the conforming modified operating details enables the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein, when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, the at least one processor is configured to:- generate the cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing updated operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the updated operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with updated energy cost data; and- in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the updated operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, perform a non-conforming scheduled process.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the non-conforming scheduled session process by being configured to: o transmit a scheduled type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user, wherein the scheduled type cost notification message includes the cost conformity indicator; o in response to receiving a scheduled type response from the at least one device, operate the bathing unit system according to the scheduled type response, wherein the scheduled type response comprises:■ an acceptance of the operating details and / or the updated operating costs;■ a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or■ modified operating details for the specific bathing session; and o in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically:■ cancel the specific bathing session; or89003-271 operate the specific bathing session based on conforming modified operating details, wherein the conforming modified operating details enable the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

24. A computer-readable storage storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor associated with a bathing unit system, causes the at least one processor to: generate operating costs for a specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data, wherein the specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type and an impromptu type; when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type, operate the bathing unit system to conform the operating costs with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system; and when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type: generate a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with the cost sensitivity profile; and in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, perform a nonconforming impromptu process.

25. A method for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session of an impromptu type, the method being implemented by at least one processor, and the method comprising: o generating operating costs for the specific bathing session at least in part by processing operating details of the specific bathing session in combination with energy cost data; o generating a cost conformity indicator at least in part by processing the operating costs in combination with a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system; and o in response to the cost conformity indicator conveying that the operating costs fail to conform with the cost sensitivity profile, performing a non-conforming impromptu process, wherein the non-conforming impromptu session process comprises:89003-271■ transmitting an impromptu type cost notification message to at least one device operable to receive input from the user, wherein the impromptu type cost notification message includes the cost conformity indicator; and■ in response to receiving an impromptu type response from the at least one device, operating the bathing unit system according to the impromptu type response, wherein the impromptu type response comprises:• an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs;• a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or• modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the specific bathing session is absent from an existing operating schedule within a minimum delay period from its start time.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising, in response to not receiving any response from the at least one device, automatically:- preventing initiation of the specific bathing session; or- operating the specific bathing session according to conforming modified operating details, wherein the conforming modified operating details enable the operating costs to conform with the cost sensitivity profile.

28. A method for operating a bathing unit system in accordance with a specific bathing session, wherein the specific bathing session is one of a scheduled type or an impromptu type, wherein the method is implemented by at least one processor, and wherein the method comprises: o transmitting a session request for the specific bathing session to a control system, the session request including operating details of the specific bathing session, wherein the control system is configured to control one or more bathing unit components of the bathing unit system according to the operating details; and o when the specific bathing session is of the impromptu type:■ receiving, from the control system, an impromptu type cost notification message conveying that a cost conformity indicator does not conform to a cost sensitivity profile associated with a user of the bathing unit system, the cost conformity indicator generated at least in part by processing operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity89003-271 profile, the operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with energy cost data; and■ transmitting an impromptu type response to the control system, wherein the impromptu type response comprises:• an acceptance of the operating details and / or the operating costs;• a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or• modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising, when the specific bathing session is of the scheduled type: o receiving, from the control system, a scheduled type cost notification message conveying that the cost conformity indicator does not conform to the cost sensitivity profile, the cost conformity indicator generated at least in part by processing updated operating costs for the specific bathing session in combination with the cost sensitivity profile, the updated operating costs generated at least in part by processing the operating details in combination with updated energy cost data; and o transmitting a scheduled type response to the control system, wherein the scheduled type response comprises:■ an acceptance of the operating details and / or the updated operating costs;■ a cancellation of the specific bathing session; or■ modified operating details for the specific bathing session.

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