Irrigation management
First Claim
1. A method for providing irrigation management services, the method comprising:
- visiting a first property having an irrigation system;
identifying one or more characteristics of the first property affecting water usage on the first property;
developing an irrigation management plan for the first property using the one or more characteristics, the irrigation management plan being applied by the irrigation system;
determining a value of irrigation management services at the first property, determining the value comprising;
an irrigation manager charging a fixed amount for the irrigation management services over a predetermined period of time;
calculating an irrigation water cost savings for the predetermined period;
determining a guaranteed maximum charge for the predetermined period of time by multiplying the irrigation water cost savings by a guaranteed rate;
if the fixed amount exceeds the guaranteed maximum charge, having the irrigation manager refund or credit a difference between the fixed amount and the guaranteed maximum charge;
communicatively connecting a controller controlling application of water by the irrigation system with a central computer at a remote location, the central computer being communicatively connected with a plurality of second controllers associated with a plurality of second irrigation systems installed at a plurality of second properties;
implementing the irrigation management plan for the first property from the central computer;
continually monitoring the water usage at the first property and at the plurality of second properties using water usage data communicated to the central computer from the controller and from the plurality of second controllers;
in response to the water usage data from the controller indicating a fault in the irrigation system, diagnosing the fault using the water usage data; and
dispatching a technician to the first property to repair the fault in the irrigation system, the technician being provided with a diagnosis of the fault in the irrigation system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing irrigation management services is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of controllers, where each controller controls application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller. A central computer that is remote from each of the controllers may be configured to implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to each location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit. The irrigation manager may guarantee that the system will provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time. The system may also detect faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers and diagnose the faults. A technician may be notified and dispatched to repair the faults.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for providing irrigation management services, the method comprising:
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visiting a first property having an irrigation system; identifying one or more characteristics of the first property affecting water usage on the first property; developing an irrigation management plan for the first property using the one or more characteristics, the irrigation management plan being applied by the irrigation system; determining a value of irrigation management services at the first property, determining the value comprising; an irrigation manager charging a fixed amount for the irrigation management services over a predetermined period of time; calculating an irrigation water cost savings for the predetermined period; determining a guaranteed maximum charge for the predetermined period of time by multiplying the irrigation water cost savings by a guaranteed rate; if the fixed amount exceeds the guaranteed maximum charge, having the irrigation manager refund or credit a difference between the fixed amount and the guaranteed maximum charge; communicatively connecting a controller controlling application of water by the irrigation system with a central computer at a remote location, the central computer being communicatively connected with a plurality of second controllers associated with a plurality of second irrigation systems installed at a plurality of second properties; implementing the irrigation management plan for the first property from the central computer; continually monitoring the water usage at the first property and at the plurality of second properties using water usage data communicated to the central computer from the controller and from the plurality of second controllers; in response to the water usage data from the controller indicating a fault in the irrigation system, diagnosing the fault using the water usage data; and dispatching a technician to the first property to repair the fault in the irrigation system, the technician being provided with a diagnosis of the fault in the irrigation system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for providing irrigation management services, the system comprising:
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a plurality of controllers, each controller controlling application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller; a central computer that is remote from each of the plurality of controllers and that is in communication with each of the plurality of controllers; the central computer configured to; for each location associated with each irrigation system, implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to the location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit; wherein the irrigation management plan is guaranteed by an irrigation manager to provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time; detect one or more faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers associated with the irrigation system; and run one or more user-defined tests to diagnose the one or more faults in the irrigation systems; and notify a technician of the one or more faults, the technician being dispatched to repair the one or more faults; the central computer disabling one or more stations in the irrigation system in response to detecting the one or more faults and enabling the one or more stations in the irrigation system in response to the technician repairing the one or more faults; and wherein a fee charged by the irrigation manager is determined by;
estimating a water cost savings over the predetermined period of time;
allocating between two-thirds and one-third of the estimated water cost savings over the predetermined period of time to the client; and
setting the fee equal to the remaining water costs savings over the predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification