Recording and processing utility commodity usage

• US 20040064217A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Irrigation Solutions Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: John W. and Betty J. Addink Living Trust
• Inventors: Addink, Sylvan, Addink, John
• Granted Patent: US 6,944,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation

Abstract

The present invention provides a recording node (100) at a consummer site that is used for the receiving, storing, determining and/or sending of utility commodity information. The recording node (100) is an integral part of networks (370) or can access networks (370) for the receiving and transmitting of information. The recording node (100) is part of a network process control system (300) that includes other nodes, such as a controller (200), computer (320), monitor (330), display (340) and communication node (360). The recording node (100) receives data on utility commodity flow rates, commodity pressure and environmental factors; stores the data; performs determinations on the data; and sends utility commodity information over the network (370) to consumers (380) and/or third parties (381). The utility commodity may be water, electricity and/or gas. The information the consumers (380) and third parties (381) receive over the network (370) from the recording node (100) and other nodes assists them in their management of process systems.

Claims

1. A recording node at a consumer site comprising:

a receiving device that receives at least one of utility commodity flow data, utility commodity pressure data, evapotranspiration (ETo) data, and environmental data;

a storage device that stores the data;

a determining device that determines usage data; and

a sending device that transmits usage data to at least one of a consumer and a third party.

2. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the recording node is embodied in an irrigation controller.

3. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the recording node is embodied in a personal computer.

4. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is obtained from a device local to the consumer'"'"'s site.

5. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is obtained from a device distal to the consumer'"'"'s site.

6. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the consumer'"'"'s site is a residential site.

7. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the consumer'"'"'s site is a commercial site.

8. The recording node of claim 1, further comprising a communication network over which the recording node receives data.

9. The recording node of claim 8, wherein the network comprises a hardwire link to the consumer site.

10. The recording node of claim 8, wherein the network comprises a wireless link to the consumer site.

11. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is directly received from at least one of a meter and sensor.

12. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is manually inputted at the consumer site.

13. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity is water.

14. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity is electricity.

15. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity is gas.

16. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the flow data is received from a utility meter at the consumer site.

17. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the flow data is received from a flow meter separate from the utility meter.

18. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the flow data comprises raw data.

19. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the ETo data comprises current ETo data.

20. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the ETo data comprises estimated ETo data.

21. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the ETo data comprises historical ETo data.

22. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the environmental data includes data from at least one of air temperature, soil temperature, solar radiation, humidity, wind, cloud cover, and rainfall.

23. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the storage device is a non-volatile memory.

24. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the determining device comprises a microprocessor.

25. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the usage data comprises at least one of utility commodity usage, utility commodity usage anomalies, preferred irrigation value, actual irrigation value, and results from the determination of a mathematical relationship between the preferred irrigation value and the actual irrigation value.

26. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the utility commodity usage, preferred irrigation value and actual irrigation value is determined over a period of time.

27. The recording node of claim 26, wherein the period of time is at least ten seconds.

28. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the preferred irrigation value is at least partly derived from the received ETo data.

29. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the preferred irrigation value is at least partly derived from a crop coefficient value.

30. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the preferred irrigation value is at least partly derived from an irrigation efficiency value.

31. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the actual irrigation value is at least partly derived by dividing the irrigation flow data by an area being irrigated.

32. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the mathematical relationship is a ratio of the preferred irrigation value to the actual irrigation value.

33. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the mathematical relationship is the difference between the preferred irrigation value and the actual irrigation value.

34. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the transmitted information is transmitted over a communication network.

35. The recording node of claim 34, wherein the network comprises a hardwire link

36. The recording node of claim 34, wherein the network comprises a wireless link.