Distributed multiple irrigation controller management system

• US 5,173,855 A
• Filed: 11/04/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solatrol, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solatrol, Inc.
• Inventors: Nielsen, Wyn Y., Luck, Jonathan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huntley, David
• Application Number:
  US07/787,738
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 364/145
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23425 Selection of program, adaptive to process
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24069 Diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25286 Switch on power, awake controlled machine from standby if command signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25366 Detect code, kind connected machine, device before execution of program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Separate, but related, firmware programs for multiple microprocessor-controlled irrigation controllers that are interrelated in their control of irrigation within an irrigation system are generated off-line at a personal computer. The programs are downloaded into a transportable memory device that holds sixty-four separate programs. The memory device is transported to each irrigation controller and plugged to a digital communication channel. The device automatically identifies itself to the controller, and vice versa. The appropriate program is automatically uploaded from the device to the controller. The controller'"'"'s old program and its historical irrigation record data is loaded into the device and delivered to the personal computer for validation and analysis. A wireless remote test command assembly, an extension maintenance panel, or a radio-link central module may be alternatively connected to the controller'"'"'s digital communication channel. The controller is powered by the memory device during the uploading.

Claims

1. A method of programming an irrigation controller comprising:

generating a program, executable by an irrigation controller in order to control irrigation, off-line in a computer and not within any irrigation controller that will in fact execute the program to control irrigation;

downloading the generated and executable program from the computer into a transportable memory device capable of holding the generated and executable program;

transporting the transportable memory device to an irrigation controller within which the executable program is not yet resident;

communicatively connecting the transportable memory device with the irrigation controller through a communication connection;

connecting power from the transportable memory device to the irrigation controller through a power connection;

unloading the executable program from the transportable memory device into the irrigation controller through the communication connection;

supplying power from the transportable memory device to the irrigation controller via the power connection for the irrigation controller'"'"'s uploading of the program;

communicatively disconnecting the transportable memory device from the irrigation controller, leaving the irrigation controller programmed with the generated and executable program; and

executing the executable program in any by the irrigation controller into which it is loaded in order to effect the control of irrigation.

2. The method of claim 1 expanded for the programming of plurality of irrigation controllers that are interrelated in their performance of an irrigation function within a single irrigation system,

wherein the off-line generating is of a plurality of different irrigation programs each executable by a corresponding one of a plurality of interrelated irrigation controllers, the plurality of programs being interrelated so as to permit, upon their execution by the plurality of interrelated irrigation controllers, coordinated irrigation within an irrigation system;

wherein the downloading is of the plurality of generated irrigation programs into a transportable memory device capable of simultaneously holding each such program;

wherein the transporting is of the plurality of irrigation programs simultaneously;

wherein the communicatively connecting is to each of the plurality of irrigation controllers in turn;

wherein the uploading is of a one of the plurality of irrigation programs into an associated one of the plurality of irrigation controllers; and

wherein the executing is of the plurality of programs each in and by an associated one of the plurality of irrigation controllers to effect the coordinated control of irrigation within a single irrigation system.

3. The expanded plural irrigation controller programming method according to claim 2

wherein the uploading of each one of the plurality of irrigation programs into its associated one of the plurality of irrigation controllers is automatic, and without human intervention other than the communicatively connecting.

4. The expanded plural irrigation controller programming method according to claim 2 that, while at least one of the plurality of irrigation controllers is communicatively connected to the transportable memory device, further comprises:

loading information from a communicatively connected irrigation controller into the transportable memory device automatically, and without human intervention other than the communicatively connecting.

5. The expanded plural irrigation controller programming method according to claim 4

wherein the loading is of historical data on the irrigation control effected by that irrigation controller that is communicatively connected.

6. The expanded plural irrigation controller programming method according to claim 4

wherein the loading is of the program that was within the communicatively connected irrigation controller prior to the uploading.

7. The irrigation controller programming method according to claim 1

wherein the off-line generating is in a computer system emulating an actual irrigation controller.

8. The irrigation controller programming method according to claim 1

wherein the downloading of the generated program is into a memory of the transportable memory device;

and

wherein the uploading of the program is from the memory of the transportable memory device under control of a communications controller in the transportable memory device.

10. The irrigation controller programming method according to claim 1 that, at other times than the transportable device is communicatively connected to the irrigation controller, further comprises:

connecting to the irrigation controller at it'"'"'s same physical port that is elsewise and at other times used for communicatively connecting to the transportable device another device suitable to exercise the controller; and

exercising the irrigation controller by a connected controller exercise device.

11. The irrigation controller programming method according to claim 10, wherein the exercising comprises:

causing the irrigation controller tot urn on an irrigation valve that is connected to, and controlled by, the irrigation controller.

9. The irrigation controller programming method according to 1 that while the irrigation controller is communicatively interconnected to the transportable memory device further comprises:

loading information from the communicatively connected irrigation controller into the transportable memory device.

12. An irrigation control programming system comprising:

irrigation control program generation means for generating a plurality of executable programs that, if each is stored in and executed by an irrigation controller means, will control irrigation;

program communicating and communication powering means, connected at times to the program generation means and at other times to each of a plurality of irrigation controller means,

for receiving the plurality of programs from the program generation means,

for transporting the plurality of programs to each of the plurality of irrigation controller means one at a time,

for transferring a particular one of the plurality of programs to an associated particular one of the plurality of irrigation controller means, and

for powering the associated one of the irrigation controller means for its receipt of the associated particular one of the plurality of programs; and

a plurality of irrigation controller means, each initially without any program for executing in order to effect the control of irrigation, each

for temporarily connecting to the program transporting means for receiving a program therefrom while being powered to do so by the program transporting means,

for storing the received program, and

for executing its received and stored program to control irrigation.

13. The irrigation control programming system according to claim 12

wherein the program generation means is for generating a plurality of different irrigation programs interrelated so as permit, when executed by the plurality of irrigation controller means, coordinated irrigation within an irrigation system;

wherein the program communicating means is for receiving the plurality of irrigation programs simultaneously and for transporting them together to the plurality of irrigation controller means; and

wherein the irrigation controller means comprises;

a plurality of irrigation controllers, interrelated within a single irrigation system, each for receiving in turn an associated one of the plurality of programs from the program communicating means and for executing this associated program to control irrigation within the irrigation system in a coordinated manner based on chronological time.

14. The irrigation control programming system according to claim 12 wherein the program generation means comprises:

a digital computer generating the plurality of executable programs;

wherein the program communicating means comprises;

a digital memory; and

wherein the each of the plurality of irrigation controller means comprises;

a programmable digital electronic irrigation controller executing a one of the plurality of executable programs to effect the control of irrigation.