REMOTELY-CONTROLLED WATER SPRINKLING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130110293A1
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harald Illig
• Original Assignee: Harald Illig
• Inventors: Illig, Harald
• Application Number:
  US13/663,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for remotely controlling water sprinkling systems is disclosed. Computing devices such as smart phones, personal computers, and the like may be connected to the Internet and run programs to control water sprinkling systems. A controller may be provided that communicates with the computing device and activates and deactivates solenoids within an existing sprinkling system. The remote computing device is used to set parameters for watering schedules, etc. and communicate them wirelessly to the controller. The controller may also have access to the internet for local weather reports and activate or deactivate the sprinkling system based on the local weather reports.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling a sprinkling system comprising:

a computing device capable of sending information remotely via wireless communication protocol;

at least one controller, the controller being comprised of an input port for receiving information from at least the computing device, a microprocessor, and an output port for providing an electrical current to at least one irrigation solenoid; and

entering inputs for watering schedules on the computing device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises pairing the computing device and the controller by setting a matching access code on the computing device and the controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device is selected from the group of smart phones, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, home entertainment devices, and home gaming devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller may access the internet and wherein the method further comprises the controller accessing the internet to check for local weather reports, the controller receiving the weather reports on the input port, the controller processing the weather reports through the microprocessor, and the controller sending an electrical current on the output port to at least one irrigation solenoid based on the local weather report processed.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the microprocessor of the controller is programmed to suppress watering in response to rain predicated in the local weather report and increase watering time in response to hot temperatures predicted in the local weather report.

6. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising more than one sprinkling system at more than one physical location, wherein the more than one sprinkling system may be controlled by the computing device, each of the more than one physical locations having at least one controller.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises software with inputs for multiple irrigation stations.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the controller comprises at least one output port for each of the multiple irrigation stations.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the software of the computing device sends a binary code to the controller, the binary code designating the latest version of the software of the computing device, and the controller automatically updating its version of the software whenever a newer version of software on the computing device is detected.

10. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

the computing device sending the inputs for watering schedules remotely via the internet to the at least one controller;

the at least one controller receiving the inputs for watering schedules on its input port and processing the inputs for watering schedules on the microprocessor, and providing electrical currents to at least one irrigation station to implement the inputs received for watering schedules.

11. An apparatus for providing remote control of a water sprinkling system, the apparatus comprising:

an input port for receiving and storing information regarding water scheduling times, the information including at least a desired start time and stop time for irrigation;

a microprocessor connected to the input port and an output port; and

the output port for sending an electrical signal to at least one irrigation station.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second input port for receiving and storing information regarding soil moisture sensor readings.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises a Wi-Fi chip, USB port, Ethernet port, or other means for sending information wirelessly.

14. A system for remotely controlling irrigation systems, the system comprising:

a computing device with Wi-Fi or Internet capabilities to send information; and

at least one controller with an input port for receiving information from the computing device, an output port for sending electrical signals to at least one irrigation station, and a microprocessor connected to the input port and output port.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising at least two controllers located at at least two physical locations, and wherein each of the at least two controllers comprises a unique access code, and wherein the computing device may be programmed to pair to each unique access code.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium to store a computer readable program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations for remotely controlling a sprinkling system, the operations comprising:

receiving an input from a user at a computing device, wherein the input comprises an instruction for remotely controlling a controller of the sprinkling system;

transmitting the instruction from the computing device to the controller; and

receiving at the computing device feedback information from the controller, wherein the feedback information indicates a status of at least one operating condition at the controller.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a pairing input from the user at the computing device, wherein the pairing input comprises an access code to match a corresponding access code of the controller;

enabling a communication of the access code of the computing device or the corresponding access code of the controller between the computing device and the controller; and

pairing the computing device with the controller in response to verification of a match between the access code of the computing device and the corresponding access code of the controller.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing a local weather report via the internet; and

transmitting the instruction from the computing device to the controller in response to a parameter of the local weather report meeting a sprinkler adjustment criteria.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise sending instructions from the computing device to a plurality of controllers to control a corresponding plurality of sprinkling systems.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying a station control screen on a user interface of the computing device, wherein the station control screen is configured to visually display parameters of a watering schedule for a plurality of watering stations controlled by the controller; and

receiving the input from the user to adjust at least one of the parameters of the watering schedule.