METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AN IRRIGATION SCHEDULE

• US 20170112079A1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eyring, Matthew J., Warren, Jeremy B., Nye, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,624,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors

Abstract

A method for managing an irrigation schedule is described. Data related to soil at a location may be received from a first sensor by way of a first wireless communication. Data related to weather at the location may be received from a second sensor by way of a second wireless communication. At least one video frame of the location may be received from a camera located within a predetermined distance from the location by way of a third wireless communication. An amount of liquid to discharge at the location may be determined based at least in part on the received data and the received video frame. A discharge of the determined amount of liquid at the location may be activated.

Claims

1. A method for managing an irrigation schedule, comprising:

receiving, from a first sensor by way of a first wireless communication, data related to soil at a location;

receiving, from a second sensor by way of a second wireless communication, data related to weather at the location;

receiving, from a camera located within a predetermined distance from the location by way of a third wireless communication, at least one video frame of the location;

determining an amount of liquid to discharge at the location based at least in part on the received data and the received video frame; and

activating a discharge of the determined amount of liquid at the location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the first sensor and receiving from the second sensor further comprises receiving from the same sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from any of the first wireless communication, the second wireless communication, and the third wireless communication further comprises receiving from the same wireless communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the camera further comprises receiving at least one real-time video frame of the location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the at least one video frame received from the camera on a storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of irrigation schedule from a user based on the received data and the received video frame, the indication received prior to determining the amount of liquid to discharge.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving movement information associated with the location from a motion sensor;

identifying a first indication of the movement information;

calculating a time frame between the first indication of the movement and a second indication of the movement; and

if the time frame is less than a predetermined threshold, discharging a predetermined amount of liquid at the location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of liquid to discharge further comprises:

receiving an indication of a user-selected amount of liquid.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, by way of a wireless communication network, weather data associated with the location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data and receiving the video frame further comprises receiving on a remote portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data related to soil at the location further comprises:

receiving at least one selected from a group comprising;

soil moisture;

soil type;

soil composition;

incline of the soil at the location;

air humidity at the location;

air temperature at the location; and

soil temperature at the location.

12. An apparatus for managing an irrigation schedule comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive, from a sensor by way of a wireless communication, data related to soil at a location;

receive, from a camera located within a predetermined distance from the location by way of the wireless communication, at least one video frame of the location;

determine an amount of liquid to discharge at the location based at least in part on the received data and the received video frame; and

activate a discharge of the determined amount of liquid at the location.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the processor receives the at least one video frame, the instructions further cause the processor to receive from the camera at least one real-time video frame of the location.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a storage device coupled to the processor;

wherein the instructions further cause the processor to store on the storage device the at least one video frame received from the camera.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive an indication of irrigation schedule from a user, the irrigation schedule based on the received data and the received video frame, the indication received prior to determining the amount of liquid to discharge.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive movement information associated with the location from a motion sensor;

identify a first indication of the movement information;

calculate a time frame between the first indication of the movement and a second indication of the movement; and

if the time frame exceeds a predetermined threshold, discharge a predetermined amount of liquid at the location.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein when the processor determines the amount of liquid to discharge, the instructions further cause the processor to receive an indication of a user-selected amount of liquid.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to obtain, by way of a wireless communication network, weather data associated with the location.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein when the processor receives the data and the video frame, the instructions further cause the processor to receive the data and video frame on a remote portable electronic device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the code executable by a processor to:

receive, from a sensor by way of a wireless communication, data related to soil at a location;

receive, from a camera located within a predetermined distance from the location by way of the wireless communication, at least one video frame of the location;

determine an amount of liquid to discharge at the location based at least in part on the received data and the received video frame; and

activate a discharge of the determined amount of liquid at the location.