System and method for controlling the release of material
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- one or more actuators that are configured to release a material;
a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless positioning signals;
a processing device configured to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on a determined position associated with the wireless positioning signals;
a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the one or more actuators based on signals from the processing device; and
a wireless junction configured to enable wireless communication between the processing device and the controller;
wherein the processing device is configured to be placed in multiple locations and to communicate wirelessly with the controller through the wireless junction in at least one of the locations; and
wherein at least one of the locations comprises a location in which the one or more actuators are visible to a user and the processing device is further configured to allow the user to turn the one or more actuators on and off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes one or more actuators (such as valve assemblies) that are configured to release a material. The system also includes a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless positioning signals. The system further includes a processing device configured to determine a position associated with the one or more actuators based on the wireless positioning signals and to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on the determined position. In addition, the system includes a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the one or more actuators based on signals from the processing device. The processing device may be configured to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators by determining whether the material has already been released at the determined position.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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one or more actuators that are configured to release a material; a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless positioning signals; a processing device configured to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on a determined position associated with the wireless positioning signals; a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the one or more actuators based on signals from the processing device; and a wireless junction configured to enable wireless communication between the processing device and the controller; wherein the processing device is configured to be placed in multiple locations and to communicate wirelessly with the controller through the wireless junction in at least one of the locations; and wherein at least one of the locations comprises a location in which the one or more actuators are visible to a user and the processing device is further configured to allow the user to turn the one or more actuators on and off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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receiving wireless positioning signals; identifying a position associated with one or more actuators based on the wireless positioning signals, the one or more actuators configured to release a material; determining whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on the identified position, wherein a first device determines whether to open or close the one or more actuators; opening and closing the one or more actuators based on the determination, wherein a second device controls the opening and closing of the one or more actuators; and placing the first device in multiple locations, at least one of the locations comprising a location in which the one or more actuators are visible to a user and the first device is used to turn the one or more actuators on and off via wireless communications with the second device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program operable to be executed by a processing device, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:
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identifying a position associated with one or more actuators based on wireless positioning signals, the one or more actuators configured to release a material; determining whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on the identified position; causing a controller to open or close the one or more actuators based on the determination; when the processing device is located in a first position, communicating with the controller using a wired connection; and when the processing device is located in a second position, communicating with the controller wirelessly, the second location comprising a location in which the one or more actuators are visible to a user and the computer program further comprises computer readable program code for allowing the user to turn the one or more actuators on and off.
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a processing device configured to communicate with a controller that is configured to control one or more actuators for releasing a material, wherein the processing device is configured to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on a determined position associated with wireless positioning signals; wherein the processing device is configured to be placed in multiple locations and to communicate wirelessly with the controller in at least one of the locations; and wherein at least one of the locations comprises a location in which the one or more actuators are visible to a user and the processing device is further configured to allow the user to turn the one or more actuators on and off.
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Specification