WATER FLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An interrupt control apparatus comprising a processing system, including at least one processor, the processing system being at least configured to:
- receive a plurality of control signals from an irrigation controller configured to generate control signals for controlling a plurality of irrigation devices, disposed in a plurality of zones, according to an irrigation schedule;
transmit at least one of the received control signals to one or more irrigation devices;
receive data from a plurality of sensors disposed in the plurality of zones;
compare values represented by the received data from the plurality of sensors to one or more preset values; and
when the values represented by the received data from the plurality of sensors do not match the preset value(s), modify at least one of the control signals received from the irrigation controller and transmit the at least one modified control signal to the one or more irrigation devices.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for controlling water flow in a water distribution system (e.g., irrigation system). In an irrigation system, an interrupt controller may receive control signals from an irrigation controller and data from sensors disposed in the irrigation system, and modify operations of components in the irrigation system based on the sensor data. The sensor data may be analyzed to determine conditions in the irrigation system. Based on the analysis, the operation of the irrigation system may be interrupted or modified to optimize the supply of water. The interruption or modification of the operation of the irrigation system may allow detected abnormal conditions to be investigated and corrected.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interrupt control apparatus comprising a processing system, including at least one processor, the processing system being at least configured to:
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receive a plurality of control signals from an irrigation controller configured to generate control signals for controlling a plurality of irrigation devices, disposed in a plurality of zones, according to an irrigation schedule; transmit at least one of the received control signals to one or more irrigation devices; receive data from a plurality of sensors disposed in the plurality of zones; compare values represented by the received data from the plurality of sensors to one or more preset values; and when the values represented by the received data from the plurality of sensors do not match the preset value(s), modify at least one of the control signals received from the irrigation controller and transmit the at least one modified control signal to the one or more irrigation devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An interrupt controller comprising:
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a plurality of input terminals, each input terminal configured to receive a respective control signal provided by an irrigation controller controlling supply of water to a plurality of irrigation zones by activating and deactivating, according to an irrigation schedule, one or more irrigation devices disposed in a plurality of irrigation zones; a plurality of output terminals; a signal control circuit including a plurality of relays, each respective relay coupling an input terminal to a respective output terminal; a network interface configured to receive data from a plurality of wireless sensors disposed in the vicinity of the irrigation devices in the irrigation zones; and a control system coupled to the signal control circuit and the network interface, the control system configured to control the relays in the signal control circuit to decouple one or more input terminals from the respective one or more output terminals to interrupt the supply of water to one or more irrigation zones by the irrigation devices when values represented by the data received from the plurality of wireless sensors exceed preset ranges. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a program executed by at least one processor of an interrupt control apparatus, the program, when executed, causing the processor to:
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receive a plurality of control signals from an irrigation controller configured to generate the control signals for controlling a plurality of irrigation devices, disposed in a plurality of irrigation zones, to supply water to the irrigation zones according to an irrigation schedule pre-programmed in the irrigation controller; transmit the received control signals to the plurality of irrigation devices; receive data from a plurality of wireless sensors disposed in the plurality of irrigation zones; compare values represented by the received data from the plurality of wireless sensors to preset ranges; and when one or more of the values represented by the received data from the plurality of wireless sensors are outside of the preset range(s), modify one or more control signals received from the irrigation controller, transmit the modified control signal(s) to the irrigation device(s), and generate a notification indicating a modification has been made to the control signal(s). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification