System and method for collecting and processing agricultural field data

• US 8,521,372 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EFC Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agjunction LLC (Kubota Corporation)
• Inventors: Hunt, Aaron Dale, Dearborn, Jeffrey Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bendidi, Rachid
• Application Number:
  US13/117,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/50, 702/2, 702/22, 705/7.11, 705/7.13, 705/7.15
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

A system and method for managing the collection and processing of agricultural field data from a single location is provided. The system includes functionality to create workorders for the taking of samples at a predetermined location, transmit the sampling workorders to the equipment or operators at a job site, e.g., an agricultural field, and log the results of a completed sampling workorder. The system also includes functionality to transmit log data related to the taken samples to a laboratory and receive analysis information on the taken samples from the laboratory. The system then combines log data and analysis information on the taken samples for use in determining additional actions at the predetermined location.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and processing agricultural field data comprising:

collecting a plurality of samples at a predetermined location;

storing log data associated with the collected plurality of samples;

transmitting the stored log data on the collected plurality of samples to a computer;

analyzing the collected plurality of samples;

transmitting analysis information on the collected plurality of samples to the computer;

combining the analysis information with the stored log data for the collected plurality of samples with the computer;

preparing a prescription plan for the predetermined location using the combined information for the collected plurality of samples;

applying the prescription plan to the predetermined location with the predetermined piece of equipment;

storing application data associated with the applied prescription plan;

transmitting the application data on the prescription plan to the computer;

applying the prescription plan to the predetermined location comprises monitoring a status of the predetermined piece of equipment and completing the prescription plan with the computer;

displaying the prescription plan for the predetermined location on a map;

creating a workorder for the predetermined location on the computer, the workorder including at least one action to collect a plurality of samples at the predetermined location;

transmitting the workorder from the computer to a computing device separate from the computer, the computing device being associated with the at least one of the predetermined piece of equipment or operator of the predetermined piece of equipment;

creating a workorder comprises storing a workorder on the computer;

transmitting the workorder comprises providing directions to the predetermined location;

transmitting the stored log data on the collected plurality of samples to a laboratory to analyze the collected plurality of samples, the laboratory having a laboratory computer to receive the stored log data;

providing the collected plurality of samples to the laboratory;

displaying on a map of the predetermined location and indicator corresponding to a location of each sample of the plurality of samples;

accessing analysis information on a sample of a plurality of samples by selecting the corresponding indicator for the sample;

combining the analysis information with the stored log data comprises displaying on a map the combined information for the collected plurality of samples with reference to the predetermined location; and

collecting a plurality of samples at a predetermined location comprises collecting at least one of soil samples, tissue samples or nematode samples.

2. A system comprising:

a first computer;

a second computer associated with a piece of equipment at a remote location from the first computer;

a third computer associated with a laboratory; and

a field data management system comprising;

a first computer algorithm executable by a microprocessor from the first computer, the first computer algorithm operates to permit a user to create a sampling workorder for a predetermined location and transmit the sampling workorder to the second computer;

a second computer algorithm executable by a microprocessor from the second computer, the second computer algorithm operates to store log data associated with a collection of samples from the sampling workorder and transmit log data associated with the collection of samples to the first computer and the third computer;

a third computer algorithm executable by a microprocessor from the third computer, the third computer algorithm operates to transmit analysis information relating to the collection of samples to the first computer;

the first computer algorithm operates to combine the log data and the analysis information for the collection of samples with respect to the predetermined location;

the first computer algorithm operates to permit a user to prepare a prescription plan for the predetermined location using the combined log data and analysis information and transmit the prescription plan to the second computer;

the second computer algorithm operates to store application data associated with the execution of the prescription plan and to transmit the application data to the first computer;

the first computer algorithm operates to permit a user to monitor a status of the predetermined piece of equipment in completing the prescription plan;

the first computer algorithm operates to display the prescription plan for the predetermined location on a map;

the first computer algorithm operates to permit a user to access analysis information on a sample associated with the collection of samples by selecting an indicator corresponding to the sample, the indicator being displayed on a map of the predetermined location;

the first computer algorithm operates to display on a map the combined log data and analysis information with reference to the predetermined location; and

the sampling workorder is directed to collecting at least one of soil samples, tissue samples or nematode samples at the predetermined location.