TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID DISTRIBUTION

• US 20140343737A1
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dzuy H. Nguyen
• Original Assignee: Dzuy H. Nguyen
• Inventors: Nguyen, Dzuy H.
• Application Number:
  US14/277,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343737A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A technique for operating an irrigation controller includes receiving, via a communication interface, a request from a computing device. First data is communicated, via the communication interface, to the computing device in response to the request. The first data includes a user interface that is displayable via a web browser of the computing device. User data input via the user interface of the computing device is received, via the communication interface. At least one electrically actuated fluid valve that is mechanically coupled to one or more in-ground sprinkler heads is controlled based on the received user data.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller, comprising:

a communication interface; and

a processing unit coupled to communication interface, wherein the processing unit is configured to;

receive, via the communication interface, a request from a computing device;

communicate, via the communication interface, first data to the computing device in response to the request, wherein the first data includes a user interface that is displayable via a web browser of the computing device;

receive, via the communication interface, user data input via the user interface of the computing device; and

control at least one electrically actuated fluid valve that controls water flow to one or more in-ground sprinkler heads based on the received user data.

2. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes a request for a graphical representation of real property associated with the irrigation controller and the processing unit is further configured to:

communicate, via the communication interface, second data to the computing device in response to the request, wherein the second data includes data for creating the graphical representation.

3. The irrigation controller of claim 2, wherein the user data includes data associated with moving a new zone icon to a location on the graphical representation and the processing unit is further configured to:

store zone information associated with the new zone icon in an associated memory.

4. The irrigation controller of claim 2, wherein the user data includes data associated with moving an existing zone icon to a different location on the graphical representation and the processing unit is further configured to:

store zone information associated with the moved existing zone icon in an associated memory.

5. The irrigation controller of claim 2, wherein the user data includes data associated with removing an existing zone icon on the graphical representation and the processing unit is further configured to:

remove zone information associated with the removed existing zone icon in an associated memory.

6. The irrigation controller of claim 2, wherein the user data includes data associated with selection of an existing zone icon on the graphical representation and the processing unit is further configured to:

communicate, for the selected existing zone icon, zone control menu information to the computing device for display via the user interface.

7. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes data associated with user input to a program interface and the processing unit is further configured to:

modify, in an associated memory, an amount of time for respective zones to permit water flow based on the user data;

store, in the associated memory, a program based on the user data;

delete, in the associated memory, an existing program based on the user data;

cancel changes to a program, in the associated memory, based on the user data; and

communicate, data associated with a different program, to the computing device for display via the user interface.

8. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes data associated with user input to a seasonal setting interface and the processing unit is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more of a ‘

season name’

, a ‘

from date’

, a ‘

to date’

, and a percentage; and

store, in an associated memory, the one or more of the ‘

season name’

, the ‘

from date’

, the ‘

to date’

, and the percentage.

9. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes data associated with user inputs to a schedules interface and the processing unit is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more of a ‘

schedule name’

, a ‘

start time’

, a ‘

program’

name, a ‘

season’

, an ‘

active’

indication, and a ‘

run on day’

indication; and

store, in an associated memory, one or more of the ‘

schedule name’

, the ‘

start time’

, the ‘

program’

name, the ‘

season’

, the ‘

active’

indication, and the ‘

run on day’

indication.

10. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes data associated with user input to a sensor settings interface and the processing unit is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more of a ‘

rain sensor’

present indication, a ‘

rain sensor type’

, a ‘

garage door sensor’

present indication, a ‘

close after’

indication for the garage door sensor, and a ‘

close at’

time for the garage door sensor; and

store, in an associated memory, the one or more of the ‘

rain sensor’

present indication, the ‘

rain sensor type’

, the ‘

garage door sensor’

present indication, the ‘

close after’

indication for the garage door sensor, and the ‘

close at’

time for the garage door sensor.

11. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes data associated with user input to an operational settings interface and the processing unit is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more of a ‘

bypass rain sensor’

indication, a ‘

master valve’

present indication, and a ‘

delay watering’

period; and

store, in an associated memory, the one or more of the ‘

bypass rain sensor’

indication, the ‘

master valve’

present indication, and the ‘

delay watering’

period.

12. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the user data includes data associated with user input to a weather settings interface and the processing unit is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more of an ‘

extend forecast to’

time, a ‘

forecast zip code’

, and one or more ‘

do not water if’

conditions; and

store, in an associated memory, one or more of the ‘

extend forecast to’

time, the ‘

forecast zip code’

, and the one or more ‘

do not water if’

conditions.

13. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a wired interface or a wireless interface.

14. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the irrigation controller provides a wireless access point.

15. The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a smartphone or a tablet computer.

16. An irrigation system, comprising:

an electrically actuated water valve;

one or more in-ground sprinkler heads mechanically coupled to the electrically actuated water valve; and

an irrigation controller, including;

a communication interface; and

a processing unit coupled to communication interface, wherein the processing unit is configured to;

receive, via the communication interface, a request from a computing device;

communicate, via the communication interface, first data to the computing device in response to the request, wherein the first data includes a user interface that is displayable via a web browser of the computing device;

receive, via the communication interface, user data input via the user interface of the computing device; and

control the electrically actuated water valve to provide water to the one or more in-ground sprinkler heads based on the received user data.

17. The irrigation system of claim 16, wherein the communication interface includes a wired interface and a wireless interface.

18. The irrigation system of claim 16, wherein the irrigation controller provides a wireless access point.

19. A method of operating an irrigation controller, comprising:

receiving, via a communication interface, a request from a computing device;

communicating, via the communication interface, first data to the computing device in response to the request, wherein the first data includes a user interface that is displayable via a web browser of the computing device;

receiving, via the communication interface, user data input via the user interface of the computing device; and

controlling at least one electrically actuated fluid valve that is mechanically coupled to one or more in-ground sprinkler heads based on the received user data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the user data includes a request for a graphical representation of real property associated with the irrigation controller and the method further comprises:

communicating, via the communication interface, second data to the computing device in response to the request, wherein the second data includes data for creating the graphical representation.