Automatic yard moisture control system

• US 20050187665A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fu, Zhen
• Application Number:
  US10/784,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors

Abstract

An automated moisture control network system is disclosed which enables automated maintenance of moisture levels for landscaping features and control of the systems that perform the maintenance operations. The maintenance operations are controlled based on environmental conditions affecting the landscaping features and systems, including weather forecasting, research regarding the different plants and grasses being maintained by the system, geographical information (soil, climate, etc.) for the region in which the landscaping features are situated, and real-time data regarding current moisture, temperature, and other environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A moisture control system for a residential landscaping area having one or more landscaping elements, comprising:

a moisture delivery system controllable to provide moisture to the landscaping area; and

a moisture control processor, coupled to said moisture delivery system, configured with;

real-time weather data for the landscaping area;

real-time moisture data for the landscaping area; and

landscaping-care data for the landscaping area;

wherein said landscaping area has a residence located thereon and wherein said moisture control processor is located within said residence;

wherein said moisture control processor comprises a personal computer configured to wirelessly access said real-time weather, moisture and/or landscaping-care data; and

whereby said moisture delivery system is controlled by said moisture control processor to deliver moisture and/or cease delivery of moisture to the landscaping area based on said weather, moisture, and/or landscaping-care data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said landscaping-care data includes data specific to each landscaping element in said landscaping area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the type of landscaping element.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the name of each landscaping element.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the age of at least one of said landscaping elements.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes a recommended moisture level for at least one of said landscaping elements.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the soil type(s) in which the landscaping elements are planted.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said moisture control processor drains and shuts down said moisture delivery system when said real-time weather data indicates that a temperature at the landscaping area has reached a predetermined threshold temperature.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said moisture control processor drains and shuts down said moisture delivery system when said real-time weather data indicates that a temperature at the landscaping area has been forecasted to reach a predetermined threshold temperature.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time weather data is obtained from sensors located within the landscaping area.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time weather data is obtained from one or more weather databases accessible to said moisture control processor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said one or more weather databases include one or mores weather databases accessible via the Internet.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time moisture data is obtained from one or more moisture sensors situated in the landscaping area.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said landscaping-care data is obtained from one or more landscaping databases accessible to said moisture control processor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of said one or more landscaping databases is a local database maintained by a user of the moisture delivery system.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of said one or more landscaping database is a global database accessible to said moisture controller via a network connection.

10. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A method of moisture control for a residential landscaping area having one or more landscaping elements, and one or more moisture delivery systems, comprising:

providing a moisture control processor with real-time weather data for the landscaping area;

providing the moisture control processor with real-time moisture data for the landscaping area;

providing the moisture control processor with landscaping-care data for the landscaping area; and

controlling a flow of moisture to the landscaping area based on said real-time weather, moisture, and/or landscaping-care data;

wherein said landscaping area has a residence located thereon and wherein said moisture control processor is located within said residence; and

wherein said moisture control processor comprises a personal computer configured to wirelessly access said real-time weather moisture and/or landscaping-care data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said landscaping-care data includes data specific to each landscaping element in said landscaping area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the type of landscaping element.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the name of each landscaping element.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the age of at least one of said landscaping elements.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes a recommended moisture level for at least one of said landscaping elements.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said data specific to each landscaping element further includes the soil type(s) in which the landscaping elements are planted.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said controlling of moisture flow includes the draining of all moisture delivery systems and ceasing of moisture delivery when said real-time weather data indicates a temperature at the landscaping area has reached a predetermined threshold temperature.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said controlling of moisture flow includes the draining of all moisture delivery systems and ceasing of moisture delivery when said real-time weather data indicates a forecast temperature for the landscaping area of a predetermined threshold temperature.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said real-time weather data is obtained from sensors located within the landscaping area.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein said real-time weather data is obtained from one or more weather databases accessible to said moisture control processor.

28. (canceled)