System and method for weather based irrigation control

• US 7,532,954 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Evelyn-Veere, Rene H.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland; Steven R
• Application Number:
  US11/352,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 700/11, 239/69
• US Class Current: 700/284
• 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

Some embodiments provide methods, systems and computer readable mediums storing programs, instructions and/or coding for use in setting up and/or controlling irrigation. A method for use in controlling an irrigation system is provided according to some embodiments that receives a first current moisture loss value, determines a first net moisture loss value since a last irrigation start day utilizing the first current moisture loss value, retrieves a threshold moisture loss value associated with one or more watering programs controlled according to one of a plurality of selectable irrigation control levels that correspond to different ways of associating threshold moisture loss values to watering programs, and defining a current day as an irrigation start day for the one or more watering programs associated with the first irrigation control level when the first net moisture loss value has a predetermined relationship with respect to the threshold moisture loss value.

Claims

1. A method for use in controlling an irrigation system executing a plurality of watering programs, the method comprising:

receiving a first current moisture loss value;

determining a first net moisture loss value since a last irrigation start day utilizing the first current moisture loss value;

retrieving a threshold moisture loss value associated with one or more watering programs controlled according to a first irrigation control level of a plurality of selectable irrigation control levels where each level corresponds to a different way of associating threshold moisture loss values to watering programs;

defining a current day as an irrigation start day for the one or more watering programs associated with the first irrigation control level of the plurality of selectable irrigation control levels when the first net moisture loss value has a predetermined relationship with respect to the threshold moisture loss value;

identifying a first plurality of watering programs associated with an irrigation class of the first irrigation control level that is a class irrigation control level;

the defining the current day as the irrigation start day comprises authorizing the activation of the first plurality of watering programs associated with the class when it is determined that a class irrigation control option is to be activated based on the first net moisture loss value;

identifying a global irrigation control level;

determining a global last irrigation start day associated with the global irrigation control level;

the receiving the first current moisture loss value comprises receiving one or more current moisture loss values including the first current moisture loss value from one or more moisture loss sources;

identifying at least one of the one or more moisture loss sources to be used in determining a global net moisture loss value;

determining the global net moisture loss value based on moisture loss values received from the identified at least one of the one or more moisture loss sources received since the global last irrigation start day;

determining whether the global irrigation control level is to be activated based on the global net moisture loss value; and

authorizing activation of a second plurality of watering programs associated with the global irrigation control level when it is determined that the global irrigation control level is to be activated based on the global net moisture loss value;

wherein the second plurality of irrigation programs comprise all watering programs controlled based on threshold moisture loss values and not associated with the class irrigation control level or a program specific irrigation control level; and

controlling the irrigation system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first current moisture loss value is based on a current evapotranspiration (ET) value, the first net moisture value is a first net ET value, and the threshold moisture loss value is a threshold ET value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the first net moisture loss value comprises retrieving one or more previous days net moisture loss values since the last irrigation start day, summing the one or more previous days net moisture loss values since the last irrigation start day and setting the first net moisture loss value to the sum.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more watering programs associated with the first irrigation control level; and

authorizing activation of the one or more irrigation programs associated with the first irrigation control level when the first net moisture loss value has the predetermined relationship with respect to the threshold moisture loss value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a first watering program associated with a program specific irrigation control of a program specific irrigation control level;

determining a program specific last irrigation start day associated with the program specific irrigation control level;

the receiving the first current moisture loss value comprises receiving one or more current moisture loss values including the first current moisture loss value;

identifying at least one of the one or more current moisture loss values associated with a program specific net moisture loss value;

determining the program specific net moisture loss value based on the at least one of the one or more current moisture loss values associated with the program specific net moisture loss value received since the program specific last irrigation start day;

determining whether the program specific irrigation control level is to be activated based on the program specific net moisture loss value; and

authorizing activation of a first watering program exclusively associated with the program specific irrigation control level when it is determined that the program specific irrigation control level is to be activated based on the program specific net moisture loss value.

6. A computer readable medium encoded with one or more code segments for use by a processor causing the processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving a first current moisture loss value;

determining a first net moisture loss value since a last irrigation start day utilizing the first current moisture loss value;

retrieving a threshold moisture loss value associated with one or more watering programs controlled according to a first irrigation control level of a plurality of selectable irrigation control levels where each level corresponds to a different way of associating threshold moisture loss values to watering programs;

defining a current day as an irrigation start day for the one or more watering programs associated with the first irrigation control level of the plurality of selectable irrigation control levels when the first net moisture loss value has a predetermined relationship with respect to the threshold moisture loss value;

identifying a first plurality of watering programs associated with an irrigation class of the first irrigation control level that is a class irrigation control level;

the defining the current day as the irrigation start day comprises authorizing the activation of the first plurality of watering programs associated with the class when it is determined that a class irrigation control option is to be activated based on the first net moisture loss value;

identifying a global irrigation control level;

determining a global last irrigation start day associated with the global irrigation control level;

the receiving the first current moisture loss value comprises receiving one or more current moisture loss values including the first current moisture loss value from one or more moisture loss sources;

identifying at least one of the one or more moisture loss sources to be used in determining a global net moisture loss value;

determining the global net moisture loss value based on moisture loss values received from the identified at least one of the one or more moisture loss sources received since the global last irrigation start day;

determining whether the global irrigation control level is to be activated based on the global net moisture loss value; and

authorizing activation of a second plurality of watering programs associated with the global irrigation control level when it is determined that the global irrigation control level is to be activated based on the global net moisture loss value;

wherein the second plurality of irrigation programs comprise all watering programs controlled based on threshold moisture loss values and not associated with the class irrigation control level or a program specific irrigation control level.

7. A method for use in implementing irrigation, comprising:

identifying one or more field stations of a plurality of field stations;

associating an irrigation program with the one or more identified field stations;

determining that the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value;

associating the irrigation program with a first irrigation control level of a plurality of selectable irrigation control levels when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value, where the plurality of irrigation control levels correspond to different ways of associating threshold moisture loss values to irrigation programs; and

identifying a threshold moisture loss value associated with the first irrigation control level when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value;

wherein the associating the irrigation program with the first irrigation control level of the plurality of selectable irrigation control levels comprises detecting that the irrigation program is not associated with a program specific control level and is not associated with a class of a class control level and associating the irrigation program with a global control level dictates control for a plurality of other irrigation programs; and

the identifying the threshold moisture loss value comprises identifying a global threshold moisture loss value defined for the global control level such that each of the irrigation program and a plurality of other irrigation programs associated with the global control level are associated with the global threshold moisture loss value in response to being associated with the global control level without designating individual threshold moisture loss values for each of the irrigation program and the plurality of other irrigation programs associated with the global control level; and

controlling irrigation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the associating the irrigation program with one of the plurality of the irrigation levels comprises associating the irrigation program with a global irrigation control level such that the irrigation program is associated with a plurality of irrigation programs of the global irrigation level where the irrigation program and the plurality of irrigation programs are not associated with another of the plurality of irrigation control levels.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining that the irrigation program is to be activated based on the threshold moisture loss value and the identifying the threshold moisture loss value for the irrigation program when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value comprise generating a first user interface comprising a threshold moisture loss value option selectable to cause the use of the threshold moisture loss value with the irrigation program.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating the first user interface further comprises generating a selection of the plurality of irrigation control levels such that the irrigation program is associated with a selected one of the plurality of irrigation control levels.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the associating the irrigation program with the first irrigation control level comprises generating a selection of classes defined in a class irrigation control level such that the irrigation program is associated with one or more additional irrigation programs associated with a selected class of the selection of classes.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating the first user interface further comprises generating a threshold moisture loss value entry field through which the threshold moisture loss value is received that is applicable to the irrigation program such that the identifying the threshold moisture loss value for the irrigation program when the irrigation program is to be activated based on the threshold moisture loss value comprises receiving the threshold moisture loss value entered in the threshold moisture loss value entry field.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the identifying the threshold moisture loss value for the irrigation program when the irrigation program is to be activated based on the threshold moisture loss value comprises generating a second user interface comprising a threshold moisture loss value entry field through which the threshold moisture loss value is received that is applicable to the irrigation program.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying that a net moisture loss value is determined by averaging received moisture loss values since a last start date where the net moisture loss value is associated with the irrigation program to be compared with the threshold moisture loss value to determine whether the irrigation program is to be activated.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying that a net moisture loss value is determined by summing received moisture loss values since a last start date where the net moisture loss value is associated with the irrigation program to be compared with the threshold moisture loss value to determine whether the irrigation program is to be activated.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the associating the irrigation program with the first irrigation control level comprises determining whether the irrigation program is scheduled not to water on one or more days and associating the irrigation program with a program specific control level when the irrigation program is not to water on one or more days.

17. A computer readable medium encoded with one or more code segments for use by a processor causing the processor to perform steps comprising:

identifying one or more field stations of a plurality of field stations;

associating an irrigation program with the one or more identified field stations;

determining that the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value;

associating the irrigation program with a first irrigation control level of a plurality of selectable irrigation control levels when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value, where the plurality of irrigation control levels correspond to different ways of associating threshold moisture loss values to irrigation programs; and

identifying a threshold moisture loss value associated with the first irrigation control level when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value;

wherein the associating the irrigation program with the first irrigation control level of the plurality of selectable irrigation control levels comprises detecting that the irrigation program is not associated with a program specific control level and is not associated with a class of a class control level and associating the irrigation program with a global control level dictates control for a plurality of other irrigation programs; and

the identifying the threshold moisture loss value comprises identifying a global threshold moisture loss value defined for the global control level such that each of the irrigation program and a plurality of other irrigation programs associated with the global control level are associated with the global threshold moisture loss value in response to being associated with the global control level without designating individual threshold moisture loss values for each of the irrigation program and the plurality of other irrigation programs associated with the global control level.

18. A method for use in implementing irrigation, comprising:

identifying one or more field stations of a plurality of field stations;

associating an irrigation program with the one or more identified field stations;

determining that the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value;

associating the irrigation program with a first irrigation control level of a plurality of selectable irrigation control levels when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value, where the plurality of irrigation control levels correspond to different ways of associating threshold moisture loss values to irrigation programs;

identifying a threshold moisture loss value associated with the first irrigation control level when the irrigation program is to be activated based on a threshold moisture loss value;

wherein the associating the irrigation program with the first irrigation control level of the plurality of selectable irrigation control levels comprises associating the irrigation program with a class of a class irrigation control level such that the irrigation program is associated with a plurality of irrigation programs of the class; and

designating a class threshold moisture loss value for the class such that each of the plurality of irrigation programs associated with the class are associated with the class threshold moisture loss value in response to being associated with the class and without designating individual threshold values for each of the plurality of irrigation programs associated with the class; and

controlling irrigation.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifying the threshold moisture loss value for the irrigation program comprises identifying the threshold moisture loss value for the class to be applied to the irrigation program and each of the plurality of irrigation programs associated with the class of the irrigation class control level.