Agricultural data collection system

• US 20050242949A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Morehouse, Charles C.
• Application Number:
  US10/835,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.260
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

A system for data collection regarding agricultural elements includes a reader device having an interface for generating RF waves. The system also includes a plurality of electronic devices associated with agricultural elements. The electronic devices are located in a relatively fixed positioned with respect to the associated agricultural elements and have radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) configured to activate one or more sensors for collecting at least one condition in response to receipt of the RF waves from the reader device. In addition, the electronic devices are configured to transmit data collected by the one or more sensors to the reader device.

Claims

1. A system for data collection regarding agricultural elements, said system comprising:

a reader device having an interface for generating RF waves;

a plurality of electronic devices associated with agricultural elements, wherein the electronic devices are located in a relatively fixed positioned with respect to the associated agricultural elements, said electronic devices having radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) configured to activate one or more sensors for collecting at least one condition in response to receipt of the RF waves from the reader device; and

wherein the electronic devices are configured to transmit data collected by the one or more sensors to the reader device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the agricultural elements comprise at least one of trees and vines.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the plurality of electronic devices are positioned in the ground adjacent to the agricultural elements and wherein the one or more sensors comprises at least one of a moisture detector and a mineral detector.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of sensors positioned at various depths in the ground and wherein the one or more of the plurality of electronic devices comprise a section that extends at least one of above the ground and near to the surface of the ground, said section having an interface and a transmitter for receiving RF waves and for sending data to the reader device.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the plurality of electronic devices are positioned on at least one of a trunk and a branch of the agricultural element, and the one or more sensors comprises at least one of a sap detector, an insect detector, a mineral detector, and a growth detector.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motorized vehicle configured to carry the reader device to various locations in the respective vicinities of the plurality of electronic devices.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of electronic devices comprise a power supply configured to recharge through receipt of RF waves from the reader device, wherein the power supply is configured to supply power to the one or more sensors in the absence of RF waves from the reader device.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the one or more of the plurality of electronic devices comprise a memory configured to store data collected by the one or more sensors.

9. A method of collecting data regarding agricultural elements with a reader device, one or more electronic devices being associated with the agricultural elements, said method comprising:

maneuvering the reader device configured to emit an RF wave to a vicinity of one or more of the electronic devices;

transmitting RF waves to the one or more electronic devices in the vicinity of the reader device;

in the one or more electronic devices, activating a sensor through receipt of the RF waves and detecting at least one condition with the sensor; and

transmitting the detected at least one condition to the reader device.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

configuring the at least one electronic device with one or more sensors, said one or more sensors being selected according to desired condition detection; and

installing the at least one electronic device at various locations with respect to the agricultural elements prior to the step of maneuvering the reader device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the agricultural elements comprise at least one of trees and vines, and wherein the step of installing the at least one electronic device comprises installing the at least one electronic device in the ground adjacent to the at least one of the trees and vines, and wherein the step of detecting at least one condition comprises detecting at least one of a moisture content and a mineral content in the ground.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of detecting at least one of a moisture content and a mineral content comprises detecting at least one of a moisture content and a mineral content at various depths in the ground.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the agricultural elements comprise at least one of trees and vines, and wherein the step of installing the at least one electronic device comprises installing the at least one electronic device on the agricultural elements, and wherein the step of detecting at least one condition comprises detecting one or more of sap flow, insect population, minerals, and growth of the agricultural element.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the reader device is positioned on a motorized vehicle, and wherein the step of maneuvering the reader device comprises maneuvering the motorized vehicle to the vicinity of the one or more electronic devices.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

maneuvering the reader device to a vicinity of another electronic device;

transmitting RF waves to the another electronic device;

activating a sensor on the another electronic device;

detecting at least one condition with the sensor of the another electronic device; and

transmitting the detected at least one condition to the reader device.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more electronic devices comprise a rechargeable power supply, the method further comprising:

recharging the power supply through receipt of the RF wave; and

providing electrical charge to the sensor from the power supply to enable the sensor to continue performing the step of detecting the at least one condition in the absence of RF waves from the reader device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more electronic devices further comprises a memory, the method further comprising:

storing the detected at least condition in the memory; and

transmitting the detected at least condition to the reader device when the reader device is again in a proximity to the one or more electronic devices.

18. A method of supplying resources to agricultural elements, said method comprising:

collecting data related to one or more conditions of the agricultural elements from electronic devices associated with the agricultural elements, wherein the electronic devices comprise radio frequency identification devices;

determining a resource allocation scheme based upon the collected data; and

implementing the resource allocation scheme.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of determining a resource allocation scheme is performed by a computing device.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of implementing the resource allocation scheme is performed by a computing device.

21. A system for data collection regarding agricultural elements, said system comprising:

means for interrogating a means for detecting one or more conditions regarding the agricultural elements, the means for detecting being positioned at least one of on or adjacent to respective ones of the agricultural elements, wherein the means for detecting comprises a radio frequency identification device; and

means for transmitting the one or more conditions to the means for interrogating.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising:

means for maneuvering the means for interrogating to respective vicinities of a plurality of means for detecting.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein the agricultural elements comprise at least one of trees and vines.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein the means for detecting comprises a means for supplying power to the means for detecting, wherein the means for supplying power is configured to receive power and become recharged through receipt of RF waves emitted by the means for interrogating.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the means for detecting further comprises a means for storing detected one or more conditions.

26. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for supplying resources to agricultural elements, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:

collecting data related to one or more conditions of the agricultural elements from electronic devices associated with the agricultural elements, wherein the electronic devices comprise radio frequency identification devices;

determining a resource allocation scheme based upon the collected data; and

implementing the resource allocation scheme.