Systems and methods for remote irrigation control

• US 8,193,930 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas David, Huff, Richard M
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/225,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/531, 340/601, 340/4.3, 340/4.34, 700/19, 700/284, 239/63, 239/68, 239/69, 137/624.12
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25198 Brouter: transfers data from wireless to wired networks, router: wired to wired
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to systems and methods for remote irrigation control. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a remote irrigation control system having a rain sensor enabled to detect the amount of rain received in a first rain area, and a first local transceiver in communication with the rain sensor, the first local transceiver configured to receive information from the rain sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the first local transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway. The gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the first local transceiver. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A remote irrigation control system, comprising:

a rain sensor enabled to detect the amount of rain received in a first rain area; and

a first local transceiver in communication with the rain sensor, the first local transceiver configured to receive information from the rain sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the first local transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway,

wherein the gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the first local transceiver.

2. The remote irrigation control system in claim 1, further comprising a water control assembly in communication with a second local transceiver, the water control assembly including at least one water supply valve, at least one actuator and at least one water spray head.

3. The remote irrigation control system in claim 2, wherein the second local transceiver is enabled to receive a first control signal from the gateway and communicate the first control signal to the water control assembly.

4. The remote irrigation control system in claim 3, wherein the first control signal instructs the water control assembly to activate the at least one actuator to open the at least one water supply valve and activate the at least one water spray head.

5. The remote irrigation control system in claim 4, further comprising a server connected to the wide area network configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the gateway.

6. The remote irrigation control system in claim 5, wherein the server is configured to receive information from the first rain sensor regarding the amount of rain received in a first rain area.

7. The remote irrigation control system in claim 6, wherein the server is configured to transmit a second control signal to the second local transceiver regarding control of the water control assembly.

8. The remote irrigation control system in claim 6, wherein the rain sensor is enabled to detect the amount of water applied by the water control assembly in a first rain area.

9. The remote irrigation control system in claim 8, server is configured to receive information from the first rain sensor regarding the amount of water applied by the water control assembly in a first rain area.

10. The remote irrigation control system in claim 6, server is configured to transmit a third control signal to the second local transceiver, the third control signal instructs the water control assembly to deactivate the at least one actuator to close the at least one water supply valve.

11. A remote irrigation control system, comprising:

a rain sensor enabled to detect the amount of rain received in a first rain area;

a first local transceiver in communication with the rain sensor, the first local transceiver configured to receive information from the rain sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the first local transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway;

wherein the gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the first local transceiver;

a water control assembly in communication with the first local transceiver, the water control assembly including at least one water supply valve, at least one actuator and at least one water spray head; and

wherein the first local transceiver is enabled to receive a first control signal from the gateway and communicate the first control signal to the water control assembly.

12. The remote irrigation control system in claim 11, the first control signal instructs the water control assembly to activate the at least one actuator to open the at least one water supply valve and activate the at least one water spray head.

13. The remote irrigation control system in claim 12, further comprising a server connected to the wide area network configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the gateway.

14. The remote irrigation control system in claim 13, wherein the server is configured to receive information from the first rain sensor regarding the amount of rain received in a first rain area.

15. The remote irrigation control system in claim 14, wherein the server is configured to transmit a second control signal to the second local transceiver regarding control of the water control assembly.

16. The remote irrigation control system in claim 15, wherein the rain sensor is enabled to detect the amount of water applied by the water control assembly in a first rain area.

17. The remote irrigation control system in claim 16, server is configured to receive information from the first rain sensor regarding the amount of water applied by the water control assembly in a first rain area.

18. The remote irrigation control system in claim 17, server is configured to transmit a third control signal to the first local transceiver, the third control signal instructs the water control assembly to deactivate the at least one actuator to close the at least one water supply valve.

19. A remote irrigation control system, comprising:

a rain sensor enabled to detect the amount of rain received in a first rain area;

a first local transceiver in communication with the rain sensor, the first local transceiver configured to receive information from the rain sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the first local transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway;

wherein the gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the first local transceiver; and

a server connected to the wide area network configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the gateway.

20. The remote irrigation control system in claim 19, wherein the server is configured to receive information from the first rain sensor regarding the amount of rain received in a first rain area.