Recording and processing utility commodity usage

• US 6,944,523 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smart Irrigation Solutions Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Aqua Conserve Incorporated
• Inventors: Addink, Sylvan, Addink, John
• Primary Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US10/433,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 137/78.2, 239/68, 239/69, 239/71, 239/74, 705/63, 705/412
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation

Abstract

The present invention provides a recording node (100) at a consummer site that is used for the receiving, storing, determining and/or sending of utility commodity information. The recording node (100) is an integral part of networks (370) or can access networks (370) for the receiving and transmitting of information. The recording node (100) is part of a network process control system (300) that includes other nodes, such as a controller (200), computer (320), monitor (330), display (340) and communication node (360). The recording node (100) receives data on utility commodity flow rates, commodity pressure and environmental factors; stores the data; performs determinations on the data; and sends utility commodity information over the network (370) to consumers (380) and/or third parties (381). The utility commodity may be water, electricity and/or gas. The information the consumers (380) and third parties (381) receive over the network (370) from the recording node (100) and other nodes assists them in their management of process systems.

Claims

1. A recording node for controlling irrigation usage a consumer'"'"'s site comprising:

a receiving device that receives received data, comprising at least one of utility commodity flow data, utility commodity pressure data, evapotranspiration (ETo) data, and environmental data;

a storage device that stores the received data;

a determining device that determines at least one of a preferred usage and a mathematical relationship between the preferred usage and an actual usage; and

a sending device that transmits at least one of the preferred usage and the mathematical relationship to at least one of a utility commodity provider and a governmental agency.

2. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the recording node is embodied in an irrigation controller.

3. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the recording node is embodied in a personal computer.

4. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is obtained from a device local to the consumer'"'"'s site.

5. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is obtained from a device distal to the consumer'"'"'s site.

6. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the consumer'"'"'s site is a residential site.

7. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the consumer'"'"'s site is a commercial site.

8. The recording node of claim 1, further comprising a communication network over which the recording node receives the received data.

9. The recording node of claim 8, wherein the communication network comprises a hardwire link to the consumer'"'"'s site.

10. The recording node of claim 9, wherein the communication network comprises a wireless link to the consumer'"'"'s site.

11. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is directly received from at least one of a meter and sensor.

12. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the received data is manually inputted at the consumer'"'"'s site.

13. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity flow data measures water.

14. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity flow data measures electricity.

15. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity flow data measures gas.

16. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity flow data is received from a utility meter at the consumer'"'"'s site.

17. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity flow data is received from a flow meter separate from a utility meter.

18. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the utility commodity flow data comprises raw data.

19. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the ETo data comprises current ETo data.

20. The recording node of claim 1, wherein The ETo data comprises estimated ETo data.

21. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the ETo data comprises historical ETo data.

22. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the environmental data includes data from at least one of air temperature, soil temperature, solar radiation, humidity, wind, cloud cover, and rainfall.

23. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the sending device transmits the usage data to a consumer.

24. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the determining device comprises a microprocessor.

25. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the preferred usage and the actual usage, represent a preferred irrigation value and an actual irrigation value, respectively that are determined over a period of time.

26. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the period of time is at least ten seconds.

27. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the preferred irrigation value is at least partly derived from the ETo data.

28. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the preferred irrigation value is at least partly derived from a crop coefficient value.

29. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the preferred irrigation value is at least partly derived from an irrigation efficiency value.

30. The recording node of claim 25, wherein the actual irrigation value is at least partly derived by dividing the utility commodity flow data by an area being irrigated.

31. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the mathematical relationship is a ratio of the preferred usage to the actual usage.

32. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the mathematical relationship is the difference between the preferred usage and the actual usage.

33. The recording node of claim 1, wherein the preferred usage and the mathematical relationship are transmitted over a communication network.

34. The recording node of claim 33, wherein the communication network comprises a hardwire link.

35. The recording node of claim 33, wherein the communication network comprises a wireless link.