Internet-enabled central irrigation control
First Claim
1. A method of operating an irrigation controller having a stored irrigation program, comprising:
- coupling the irrigation controller to a server through a communications network;
receiving irrigation program modification data by the irrigation controller from the server through the communications network;
modifying the irrigation program by the irrigation controller using the irrigation program modification data; and
generating irrigation station control signals by the irrigation controller using the irrigation program.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for Internet-enabled irrigation control. An irrigation controller is coupled to a wide area network, such as the Internet, via a wireless carrier network. The irrigation controller has a unique identifier which makes the irrigation controller addressable by an irrigation server located on the Internet. The irrigation controller is capable of stand-alone operation and may be programmed by a user communicating with the irrigation controller using the irrigation server and the wireless carrier. The user may also send immediate commands to the irrigation controller such as rain shutdown commands. In addition, the irrigation controller may transmit status messages back to the irrigation server such irrigation station faults and excessive flow alarms. The irrigation server saves the status messages in a database for later retrieval by the user. In addition, the irrigation server may also transmit status and alarm messages to the user via email or by telephone.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of operating an irrigation controller having a stored irrigation program, comprising:
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coupling the irrigation controller to a server through a communications network;
receiving irrigation program modification data by the irrigation controller from the server through the communications network;
modifying the irrigation program by the irrigation controller using the irrigation program modification data; and
generating irrigation station control signals by the irrigation controller using the irrigation program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An irrigation controller, comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having processor executable program instructions stored therein, the program instructions including;
receiving an irrigation program by the irrigation controller from a server through a communications network coupled to the irrigation controller;
receiving irrigation program modification data by the irrigation controller from the server through the communications network;
modifying the irrigation program by the irrigation controller using the irrigation program modification data; and
generating irrigation station control signals by the irrigation controller using the irrigation program. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification