Irrigation System and Methodology
First Claim
1. A method of irrigation comprising:
- transmitting, by a transmitter station, weather prediction information to a geographic region including a plurality of geographic sub-regions, the weather prediction information including a respective geographic sub-region code for each of the geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a first predetermined time period;
halting activation, by an irrigation apparatus in a particular geographic sub-region, of watering devices that otherwise activate to water at least one watering zone at a scheduled time, if at least one of the following conditions occurs;
receiving, by the irrigation apparatus within the particular geographic sub-region, the respective geographic sub-region code for the particular geographic sub-region, thus indicating that rain is forecast for the particular geographic sub-region within the first predetermined time period; and
sensing, by a rain sensor of the irrigation apparatus within the particular geographic region, that rain water is present in the rain sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation system includes a radio transmitter station that transmits weather prediction information to a geographic region that includes multiple geographic sub-regions. The weather prediction information includes a respective geographic sub-region code for each of the geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a predetermined time period. An irrigation apparatus in a particular sub-region activates to water a watering zone at a schedule time. However, if the irrigation apparatus receives the sub-region code for the particular sub-region where the irrigation apparatus is located, the irrigation apparatus does not immediately activate to water the watering zone in one embodiment. The transmitter station may transmit both program content and data content on a common radio frequency signal wherein the data content includes the weather prediction information.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of irrigation comprising:
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transmitting, by a transmitter station, weather prediction information to a geographic region including a plurality of geographic sub-regions, the weather prediction information including a respective geographic sub-region code for each of the geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a first predetermined time period; halting activation, by an irrigation apparatus in a particular geographic sub-region, of watering devices that otherwise activate to water at least one watering zone at a scheduled time, if at least one of the following conditions occurs; receiving, by the irrigation apparatus within the particular geographic sub-region, the respective geographic sub-region code for the particular geographic sub-region, thus indicating that rain is forecast for the particular geographic sub-region within the first predetermined time period; and sensing, by a rain sensor of the irrigation apparatus within the particular geographic region, that rain water is present in the rain sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of irrigation comprising:
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receiving, by an irrigation apparatus in a particular geographic sub-region of a plurality of geographic regions, radio frequency signals that include weather prediction information, the weather prediction information including geographic sub-region codes corresponding respectively to geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a first predetermined time period; halting activation, by the irrigation apparatus in the particular geographic sub-region, of watering devices that otherwise activate to water at least one watering zone at a scheduled time, if at least one of the following conditions occurs; receiving, by the irrigation apparatus in the particular geographic sub-region, the respective geographic sub-region code for the particular geographic sub-region, thus indicating that rain is forecast for the particular geographic sub-region within the first predetermined time period; and sensing, by a rain sensor of the irrigation apparatus in the particular geographic area, that rain water is present in the rain sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An irrigation apparatus, comprising:
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a radio receiver that receives radio frequency signals that include weather prediction information, the radio receiver being usable in a particular geographic sub-region of a plurality of geographic sub-regions, the weather prediction information including geographic sub-region codes corresponding respectively to geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a first predetermined time period; a controller, coupled to the radio receiver, that activates watering devices coupled to the controller to water at least one watering zone at a scheduled time, the controller preventing activation of the watering devices at the scheduled time if at least one of the following conditions occurs; a) the radio receiver receives the geographic sub-region code of the particular sub-region in which the irrigation apparatus is located, thus indicating that rain is forecast for the particular geographic sub-region within the first predetermined time period; and b) the controller determines that rain water is present in a rain sensor coupled to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification