Wireless remote irrigation control
First Claim
1. An irrigation control system comprising:
- an irrigation controller located within a coverage range of a first local wireless network and configured to control irrigation by outputting control signals to one or more water flow control devices;
a wireless adapter, wherein the wireless adapter comprises a processor, a memory and a wireless communication chipset; and
an irrigation control application, wherein the irrigation control application is configured to execute on a smart phone, and wherein the irrigation control application is configured to communicate with the irrigation controller via the wireless adapter to provide a remote user control interface to the irrigation controller;
wherein the wireless adapter is configured to communicate with the irrigation control application in each of the following communication modes;
a direct communication mode between the wireless adapter and the smart phone where the wireless adapter creates a second local wireless network and the smart phone becomes a client of the second local wireless network, wherein the direct communication mode is required for configuration of the wireless adapter via the irrigation control application, wherein a password is created during the direct communication mode that allows the irrigation control application to access the wireless adapter in indirect communication modes, and wherein the indirect communication modes cannot be used to access the wireless adapter until the wireless adapter is configured in the direct communication mode;
a first indirect communication mode where the wireless adapter and the smart phone communicate via an access point using the first local wireless network without a user account, wherein the smart phone is within the coverage area of the first local wireless network, and wherein during the first indirect communication mode the irrigation control application transmits the password to the wireless adapter to access the wireless adapter; and
a second indirect communication mode where the wireless adapter communicates with the access point using the first local wireless network without a user account, wherein the smart phone communicates with the access point via a wide area network, wherein the smart phone is outside of the coverage area of the first local wireless network, and wherein during the second indirect communication mode the irrigation control application transmits the password to the wireless adapter to access the wireless adapter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein related to irrigation control systems. In some embodiments, an irrigation control system includes a router, an access point, and irrigation controller, a wireless adapter, and a mobile device. The mobile device can communicate with the wireless adapter in a direct communication mode in which the wireless adapter creates a wireless network, a first indirect communication mode in which the mobile device and the wireless adapter communicate via the access point while the mobile device is within range of the access point, and a second indirect communication mode in which the mobile device and the wireless adapter communicate via the access point while the mobile device is out of range of the access point.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An irrigation control system comprising:
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an irrigation controller located within a coverage range of a first local wireless network and configured to control irrigation by outputting control signals to one or more water flow control devices; a wireless adapter, wherein the wireless adapter comprises a processor, a memory and a wireless communication chipset; and an irrigation control application, wherein the irrigation control application is configured to execute on a smart phone, and wherein the irrigation control application is configured to communicate with the irrigation controller via the wireless adapter to provide a remote user control interface to the irrigation controller; wherein the wireless adapter is configured to communicate with the irrigation control application in each of the following communication modes; a direct communication mode between the wireless adapter and the smart phone where the wireless adapter creates a second local wireless network and the smart phone becomes a client of the second local wireless network, wherein the direct communication mode is required for configuration of the wireless adapter via the irrigation control application, wherein a password is created during the direct communication mode that allows the irrigation control application to access the wireless adapter in indirect communication modes, and wherein the indirect communication modes cannot be used to access the wireless adapter until the wireless adapter is configured in the direct communication mode; a first indirect communication mode where the wireless adapter and the smart phone communicate via an access point using the first local wireless network without a user account, wherein the smart phone is within the coverage area of the first local wireless network, and wherein during the first indirect communication mode the irrigation control application transmits the password to the wireless adapter to access the wireless adapter; and a second indirect communication mode where the wireless adapter communicates with the access point using the first local wireless network without a user account, wherein the smart phone communicates with the access point via a wide area network, wherein the smart phone is outside of the coverage area of the first local wireless network, and wherein during the second indirect communication mode the irrigation control application transmits the password to the wireless adapter to access the wireless adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for communicating between a smart phone and an irrigation controller, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the smart phone, user input, wherein the user input indicates a command for the irrigation controller; and receiving at a wireless adapter that is within a coverage area of a first local wireless network, the command for the irrigation controller, wherein the wireless adapter is capable of receiving the command in three modes, and wherein the command is received from; the smart phone when the wireless adapter is in a direct communication mode, wherein when in the direct communication mode the wireless adapter creates a second local wireless network and the smart phone becomes a client of the second local wireless network, wherein the direct communication mode is required for configuration of the wireless adapter via the irrigation control application, wherein a password is created during the direct communication mode that allows the irrigation control application to access the wireless adapter in indirect communication modes, and wherein the indirect communication modes cannot be used to access the wireless adapter until the wireless adapter is configured in the direct communication mode; an access point when the wireless adapter is in a first indirect communication mode, wherein when the wireless adapter is in the first indirect communication mode the smart phone communicates directly with the access point and the smart phone is within the coverage area of the first local wireless network without a user account, and wherein during the first indirect communication mode the irrigation control application transmits the password to the wireless adapter to access the wireless adapter; and the access point when the wireless adapter is in a second direct communication mode, wherein when in the second indirect communication mode the smart phone communicates indirectly with the access point via a wide area network and the smart phone is outside of the coverage area of the first local wireless network without a user account, and wherein during the second indirect communication mode the irrigation control application transmits the password to the wireless adapter to access the wireless adapter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification