System and method for weather based irrigation control
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for use in controlling an irrigation system executing a plurality of watering programs, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer readable medium encoded with one or more code segments for use by a processor causing the processor to perform steps comprising:
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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.
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7. A method for use in implementing irrigation, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium encoded with one or more code segments for use by a processor causing the processor to perform steps comprising:
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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.
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18. A method for use in implementing irrigation, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification