Distributed control network for irrigation management

• US 6,600,971 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signature Control Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Signature Control Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Brian J., Schafer, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US09/537,093
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 700/14, 700/15, 700/16, 700/17, 700/19, 700/20, 700/284, 709/201, 709/243, 137/624.11, 137/624.12
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2229 Multiprocessing, change over from master slave to peer to peer, no master
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23043 Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25192 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25232 DCS, distributed control system, decentralised control unit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A system and method for operating a distributed control network for irrigation management. The system incorporates several irrigation controllers wherein each of the controllers can transmit, receive and respond to commands initiated by any device or satellite controller on the network, a communication bus that is connected to the controllers, a central computer that is connected to the bus, several sensing devices that are connected to each controller, and several sprinkler valves that are connected to each controller. The controllers can be operated in local mode via a user interface and in a remote mode via a wireless connection. The controllers are capable of monitoring and acknowledging the commands that are transmitted on the bus.

Claims

1. A peer-to-peer distributed network system for management and/or control of irrigation, comprising:

(A) a plurality of irrigation controllers, each of said irrigation controllers transmitting at least one command to at least one other of said irrigation controllers, and each being responsive to at least one command received from said at least one other controller;

(B) a communication bus connecting each of said irrigation controllers, wherein said at least one command is transmitted from one of said irrigation controllers to said at least one other irrigation controller on said communication bus; and

(C) wherein said at least one transmitted command includes at least one command initiated at said irrigation controller and not repeating said at least one received command.

2. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said irrigation controllers initiates and transmits a plurality of commands, including said at least one command, on said communication bus.

3. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said irrigation controllers is operated from a remote location via a wireless connection communicating therewith.

4. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said irrigation controllers is operated locally via a user interface connected thereto.

5. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said irrigation controllers monitors said at least one command on said communication bus.

6. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said irrigation controllers, responsive to a receipt of said at least one command from said at least one other irrigation controller, transmits an acknowledgement of said at least one received command to said at least one other irrigation controller on said communication bus.

7. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of commands are transmitted on said communication bus from at least one of said controllers to said at least one other controller, further comprising a bus management scheme to prevent collision of said plurality of commands on said communication bus.

8. The system claimed in claim 1, further comprising a central computer, wherein said central computer is connected to said irrigation controllers on said communication bus;

and said central computer monitors and/or controls at least one of said irrigation controllers.

9. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein said commands are selected from a group comprising:

adjust operation, review operation, sensor review, water schedule, and initiate watering.

10. A method for a peer-to-peer distributed network for management and/or control of irrigation, comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a plurality of irrigation controllers connected via a communication bus, each of said irrigation controllers being responsive to commands received and capable of initiating and transmitting at least one command to at least one other of said irrigation controllers;

(B) transmitting at least one command, from at least one of said irrigation controllers, to said at least one other irrigation controller via the communication bus; and

(C) transmitting a response, responsive to said at least one transmitted command from said at least one irrigation controller and received by said at least one other irrigation controller, from said at least one other irrigation controller to said at least one irrigation controller.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of initiating said at least one transmitted command from said at least one irrigation controller to said at least one other irrigation controller.

12. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of operating said plurality of irrigation controllers from a remote location via a wireless connection communicating therewith.

13. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of operating said plurality of irrigation controllers locally via a graphical user interface connected thereto.

14. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of monitoring, in at least one of said irrigation controllers, a plurality of commands including said at least one command on said communication bus.

15. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting an acknowledgement from one of said irrigation controllers, responsive to a receipt of said at least one command from said at least one other controller, from said at least one irrigation controller to said at least one other irrigation controller on said communication bus.

16. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting a plurality of commands including said at least one command on said communication bus from at least one of said irrigation controllers to at least one other of said irrigation controllers;

further comprising the step of preventing collision of said plurality of commands on said communication bus.

17. The method claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of providing a connection from a central computer to said plurality of irrigation controllers on said communication bus, wherein said central computer monitors and/or controls at least one of said irrigation controllers.

18. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein said commands are selected from a group comprising:

adjust operation, review operation, sensor review, water schedule, and initiate watering.

19. A system for operating a distributed control network for irrigation management, comprising:

(A) a plurality of irrigation controllers, each of said controllers being responsive to a command from an other controller;

wherein said controllers are capable of transmitting, receiving and responding to a plurality of commands, and wherein said controllers can be operated in a local mode via a graphical user interface and in a remote mode via a wireless connection;

(B) a communication bus, connected to said controllers, wherein said controllers are capable of monitoring said commands and said controllers are capable of acknowledging said commands;

(C) a central computer, connected to said bus, communicating with said controllers via said bus;

(D) a plurality of sensing devices connected to each of said controllers; and

(E) a plurality of sprinkler valves connected to each of said controllers.

20. A method for operating a distributed control network for irrigation management, comprising the steps of:

(A) initiating a command at one of a plurality of irrigation controllers, wherein said controllers are connected to a plurality of sensing devices, wherein said controllers are connected to a plurality of sprinkler valves, and wherein said command can be a plurality of commands;

(B) transmitting said command from said controller to an other controller via a communication bus;

(C) monitoring said command on said communication bus by said controller;

(D) receiving said command at said other controller;

(E) acknowledging said command by said other controller;

(F) acting on said command by said other controller; and

(G) providing a connection from a central computer to said controllers on said communication bus.

21. A method for providing a peer-to-peer network-enabled irrigation controller, comprising the steps of:

providing an irrigation controller, wherein said irrigation controller is configured to initiate and transmit at least one command to an other irrigation controller; and

said irrigation controller is configured to receive a transmission including a command from said other irrigation controller, and to transmit an acknowledgement to said other irrigation controller responsive to the command from said other irrigation controller.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of connecting said irrigation controller to at least one sprinkler valve.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of connecting said irrigation controller to at least one sensing device.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of connecting said irrigation controller to said other irrigation controller via a communication bus.

25. A peer-to-peer network-enabled irrigation controller, comprising:

(A) a plurality of satellite irrigation controllers; and

(B) a communications controller, communicating with each satellite irrigation controller of the plurality of satellite irrigation controllers;

wherein the communications controller is a micro-controller in one of said satellite irrigation controllers, and is configured to initiate and transmit at least one command to an other of said irrigation controllers, and said irrigation controller is configured to receive and respond to a transmission including a command from said other irrigation controller.

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a port in said communications controller for communication with a communication bus;

wherein the communications controller, responsive to a transmission of an event on the bus, initiates a transmission on the communication bus.

27. The device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said event is a watering schedule.

28. The device as claimed in claim 26, further comprising at least one sensor input connected to said satellite irrigation controller, wherein said event is based on an input from said at least one sensor input.