WEATHER RESPONSIVE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An irrigation control system, comprising:
- an irrigation controller configured to control an irrigation system, where the irrigation controller is configured to communicate with an access point via a local bi-directional communication network;
a personal computer connected to the access point and to a communication network, where the personal computer is configured to communicate with the irrigation controller via the access point;
a weather server configured to communicate with the personal computer via the communication network;
an application server configured to communicate with the personal computer via the communication network; and
a user device configured to communicate with the application server via the communication network;
wherein the irrigation controller is configured with a baseline schedule for controlling the irrigation system;
wherein the irrigation controller is configured to maintain information concerning water usage;
wherein the personal computer is configured to obtain weather information from the weather server, modify the baseline irrigation schedule using at least the weather information, and to provide the irrigation controller with the modified irrigation schedule via the access point;
wherein the personal computer is configured to obtain information including water usage information from the irrigation controller via the access point;
wherein the application server is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of an irrigation controller from the personal computer via the communication network; and
wherein the user device is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of the irrigation controller from the application server via the communication network.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Irrigation control systems are described. In a number of embodiments, the irrigation control systems include a wireless irrigation controller that activates valves within an irrigation system and can wirelessly communicate with an access point. In several embodiments, the irrigation control system includes an ASP server that obtains weather information and can query irrigation controllers for information. In many embodiments, the ASP server aggregates information regionally and can provide water authorities with information concerning water usage and water savings. In further embodiments, the ASP server can provide access to authorized third parties, such as landscape contractors, enabling the third parties to remotely adjust the baseline watering schedule. In several embodiments, the ASP server uses information collected from an irrigation control system to provide one or more users associated with the irrigation control system with relevant information and/or marketing materials.
148 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An irrigation control system, comprising:
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an irrigation controller configured to control an irrigation system, where the irrigation controller is configured to communicate with an access point via a local bi-directional communication network; a personal computer connected to the access point and to a communication network, where the personal computer is configured to communicate with the irrigation controller via the access point; a weather server configured to communicate with the personal computer via the communication network; an application server configured to communicate with the personal computer via the communication network; and a user device configured to communicate with the application server via the communication network; wherein the irrigation controller is configured with a baseline schedule for controlling the irrigation system; wherein the irrigation controller is configured to maintain information concerning water usage; wherein the personal computer is configured to obtain weather information from the weather server, modify the baseline irrigation schedule using at least the weather information, and to provide the irrigation controller with the modified irrigation schedule via the access point; wherein the personal computer is configured to obtain information including water usage information from the irrigation controller via the access point; wherein the application server is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of an irrigation controller from the personal computer via the communication network; and wherein the user device is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of the irrigation controller from the application server via the communication network. - 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 control system, comprising:
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an access point connected to a communication network via a router; an irrigation controller configured to control an irrigation system, where the irrigation controller is configured to communicate with an access point via a local bi-directional communication network; a weather server configured to communicate with the access point via the communication network; an application server configured to communicate with the access point via the communication network; and a user device configured to communicate with the application server via the communication network; wherein the irrigation controller is configured with a baseline irrigation schedule for controlling the irrigation system; wherein the irrigation controller is configured to maintain information concerning water usage; wherein the access point is configured to obtain weather information from the weather server via the router, modify the baseline irrigation schedule using at least the weather information, and to provide the irrigation controller with the modified irrigation schedule via the local bi-directional communication network; wherein the access point is configured to obtain information including water usage information from the irrigation controller via the local bi-directional communication network; wherein the application server is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of an irrigation controller from the access point via the communication network; and wherein the user device is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of the irrigation controller from the application server via the communication network.
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21. An irrigation control system, comprising:
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an access point connected to a communication network via a router; an irrigation controller configured to control an irrigation system, where the irrigation controller is configured to communicate with an access point via a local bi-directional communication network; an application server configured to communicate with the access point via the communication network; a weather server configured to communicate with the application server via the communication network; and a user device configured to communicate with the application server via the communication network; wherein the irrigation controller is configured with a baseline irrigation schedule for controlling the irrigation system; wherein the irrigation controller is configured to maintain information concerning water usage; wherein the application server is configured to obtain weather information from the weather server, modify the baseline irrigation schedule using at least the weather information, and to provide the irrigation controller with the modified irrigation schedule via the access point; wherein the application server is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage from the irrigation controller via the access point; and wherein the user device is configured to obtain information including information concerning water usage of the irrigation controller from the application server via the communication network.
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Specification