Systems and methods for cloud-based agricultural data processing and management

• US 9,667,710 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agverdict, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agverdict, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilbur, Michael, Ellsworth, Jason, Mohapatra, Adarsha, Thayer, David, Oommen, Toji
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US15/133,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20160308954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

A cloud-based system for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations is provided. The system receives agricultural-related data associated with a given geographic area and transforms the received data into an analysis-ready format. The system processes the received data through one or more algorithms to determine at least one operation to be performed within the given geographic area. The system generates a set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation, where the instructions are coded for direct use by a controller of a specified type of agricultural equipment. The system transmits the instructions over a wireless communication channel to the controller, where the instructions cause the controller to direct operation of the agricultural equipment to perform the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation in an automated manner.

Claims

1. A method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations, comprising:

directing operation of a cloud-based computing system to receive agricultural-related data associated with a given geographic area;

operating the cloud-based computing system to provide a first level of authorization to a grower entity accessing the cloud-based computing system and a second level of authorization to a trusted advisor entity accessing the cloud-based computing system, the first level of authorization providing the grower entity with access to all received agricultural-related data associated with the given geographic area, the second level of authorization providing the trusted advisor entity with access to an exposed portion of the received agricultural-related data associated with the given geographic area, wherein setting of the exposed portion of the received agricultural-related data associated with the given geographic area requires the first level of authorization, the second level of authorization restricting the trusted advisor entity from accessing agricultural-related data outside of the exposed portion;

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to transform the exposed portion of the received data into an analysis-ready format;

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to verify access by the trusted advisor entity and allow the trusted advisor entity to process the exposed portion of the received data having been transformed into the analysis-ready format through one or more algorithms to determine at least one operation to be performed within the given geographic area in accordance with the second level of authorization;

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to generate a set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation, the instructions for execution of the at least one operation coded for direct use by a controller of a specified type of agricultural equipment; and

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to verify access by the grower entity and allow the grower entity to direct transmission of the instructions for execution of the at least one operation over a wireless communication channel from the cloud-based computing system to the controller of the specified type of agricultural equipment in accordance with the first level of authorization, wherein the instructions for execution of the at least one operation cause the controller to direct operation of the specified type of agricultural equipment to perform the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation in an automated manner.

2. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, wherein the agricultural-related data includes one or more of soil survey geographic database (SSURGO) data, Veris soil electrical conductivity data, soil sampling data, tissue sampling data, aerial imagery data, satellite imagery data, commodity yield data, moisture data, elevation data, field event data, data from controllers of agricultural equipment, product application data, planting data, scouting data, trap counting data, boundary mapping data, field sensor data including soil moisture data, temperature data, barometric pressure data, humidity data, rainfall data, wind speed data, wind direction data, and sunlight intensity data.

3. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more algorithms include one or more of a threshold value comparison algorithm, a value range comparison algorithm, a numerical interpolation algorithm, a numerical extrapolation algorithm, a statistical zone generation algorithm, and a mathematical operation algorithm.

4. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation includes one or more of a planting operation, an operation to apply an agricultural product, a crop maintenance operation, an irrigation operation, a tillage operation, a harvesting operation, a pest control operation, an inspection operation, a scouting operation, a surveying operation, a trap counting operation, a data collection operation, a soil sampling operation, and a tissue sampling operation.

5. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation is defined as a planting map that divides the given geographic area into a raster pattern and that specifies a planting procedure in accordance with the raster pattern.

6. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation is defined as a prescription map that divides the given geographic area into a raster pattern and that specifies performance of the at least one operation in accordance with the raster pattern.

7. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, wherein the specified type of agricultural equipment is one or more of an air seeder, a baler, a chisel plow, a combine, a cultivator, a drill, an electrostatic machine, a harrow, a harvester, a tillage machine, a planter, a plow, a pull-behind sprayer, a seeder, a sprayer, a spreader, a swather, a tractor, a trailer, a truck, and a wagon.

8. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to determine an amount of the at least one operation to be performed as a function of geolocation within the given geographic area.

9. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to provide an interface for defining equations through which the received agricultural-related data can be processed to generate the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation, the interface for defining equations providing for use of system variables and for creation of user-defined variables and for implementation of nested data operation arguments and conditional statements for data operation control.

10. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to access one or more sources that provide information regarding manufacturer instructions concerning use of specified agricultural products and that provide information regarding regulations concerning use of specified agricultural products; and

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to automatically verify that the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation complies with manufacturer instructions concerning use of specified agricultural products and with regulations concerning use of specified agricultural products.

11. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to iterate on the generated set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation until a given iteration of the set of instructions is in compliance with manufacturer instructions concerning use of specified agricultural products and with regulations concerning use of specified agricultural products.

12. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to retrieve an aerial image and/or a satellite image of the given geographic area; and

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to provide a utility for drawing polygons to define geographic field boundaries on the aerial image and/or the satellite image of the given geographic area.

13. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

directing operation of the cloud-based computing system to provide a utility for drawing annotations on the aerial image and/or the satellite image of the given geographic area.

14. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing data between the cloud-based computing system and a mobile application in communication with the cloud-based computing system when the mobile application transitions from an offline state to an online state.

15. The method for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

operating the cloud-based computing system to respectively provide multiple levels of authorization to different levels within an organization, wherein the multiple levels of authorization are in addition to the first and second levels of authorization, wherein each of the multiple levels of authorization provides a corresponding set of roles and permissions for a set of functions within the cloud-based computing system.

16. A data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations, comprising:

program instructions for receiving agricultural-related data associated with a given geographic area;

program instructions for providing a first level of authorization to a grower entity accessing the cloud-based computing system and a second level of authorization to a trusted advisor entity accessing the cloud-based computing system, the first level of authorization providing the grower entity with access to all received agricultural-related data associated with the given geographic area, the second level of authorization providing the trusted advisor entity with access to an exposed portion of the received agricultural-related data associated with the given geographic area, wherein setting of the exposed portion of the received agricultural-reated data associated with the given geographic area requires the first level of authorization, the second level of authorization restricting the trusted advisor entity from accessing agricultural-related data outside of the exposed portion;

program instructions for transforming the exposed portion of the received data into an analysis-ready format;

program instructions for verifying access by the trusted advisor entity and allowing the trusted advisor entity to process the exposed portion of the received data having been transformed into the analysis-ready format through one or more algorithms to determine at least one operation to be performed within the given geographic area in accordance with the second level of authorization;

program instructions for generating a set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation, the instructions for execution of the at least one operation coded for direct use by a controller of a specified type of agricultural equipment; and

program instructions for verifying access by the grower entity and allow the grower entity to direct transmission of the instructions for execution of the at least one operation over a wireless communication channel from the cloud-based computing system to the controller of the specified type of agricultural equipment in accordance with the first level of authorization, wherein the instructions for execution of the at least one operation cause the controller to direct operation of the specified type of agricultural equipment to perform the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation in an automated manner.

17. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, wherein the agricultural-related data includes one or more of soil survey geographic database (SSURGO) data, Veris soil electrical conductivity data, soil sampling data, tissue sampling data, aerial imagery data, satellite imagery data, commodity yield data, moisture data, elevation data, field event data, data from controllers of agricultural equipment, product application data, planting data, scouting data, trap counting data, boundary mapping data, field sensor data including soil moisture data, temperature data, barometric pressure data, humidity data, rainfall data, wind speed data, wind direction data, and sunlight intensity data.

18. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, wherein the one or more algorithms include one or more of a threshold value comparison algorithm, a value range comparison algorithm, a numerical interpolation algorithm, a numerical extrapolation algorithm, a statistical zone generation algorithm, and a mathematical operation algorithm.

19. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation includes one or more of a planting operation, an operation to apply an agricultural product, a crop maintenance operation, an irrigation operation, a tillage operation, a harvesting operation, a pest control operation, an inspection operation, a scouting operation, a surveying operation, a trap counting operation, a data collection operation, a soil sampling operation, and a tissue sampling operation.

20. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, wherein the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation is defined as a planting map that divides the given geographic area into a raster pattern and that specifies a planting procedure in accordance with the raster pattern.

21. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, wherein the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation is defined as a prescription map that divides the given geographic area into a raster pattern and that specifies performance of the at least one operation in accordance with the raster pattern.

22. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, wherein the specified type of agricultural equipment is one or more of an air seeder, a baler, a chisel plow, a combine, a cultivator, a drill, an electrostatic machine, a harrow, a harvester, a tillage machine, a planter, a plow, a pull-behind sprayer, a seeder, a sprayer, a spreader, a swather, a tractor, a trailer, a truck, and a wagon.

23. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions for determining an amount of the at least one operation to be performed as a function of geolocation within the given geographic area.

24. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions for providing an interface for defining equations through which the received agricultural-related data can be processed to generate the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation, the interface for defining equations providing for use of system variables and for creation of user-defined variables and for implementation of nested data operation arguments and conditional statements for data operation control.

25. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions for accessing one or more sources that provide information regarding manufacturer instructions concerning use of specified agricultural products and that provide information regarding regulations concerning use of specified agricultural products; and

program instructions for automatically verifying that the set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation complies with manufacturer instructions concerning use of specified agricultural products and with regulations concerning use of specified agricultural products.

26. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

program instructions for iterating on the generated set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as the function of geolocation until a given iteration of the set of instructions is in compliance with manufacturer instructions concerning use of specified agricultural products and with regulations concerning use of specified agricultural products.

27. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions for retrieving an aerial image and/or a satellite image of the given geographic area; and

program instructions for providing a utility for drawing polygons to define geographic field boundaries on the aerial image and/or the satellite image of the given geographic area.

28. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

program instructions for providing a utility for drawing annotations on the aerial image and/or the satellite image of the given geographic area.

29. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions for synchronizing data between the cloud-based computing system and a mobile application in communication with the cloud-based computing system when the mobile application transitions from an offline state to an online state.

30. The data storage device having program instructions stored thereon for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

program instructions for respectively providing multiple levels of authorization to different levels within an organization, wherein the multiple levels of authorization are in addition to the first and second levels of authorization, wherein each of the multiple levels of authorization provides a corresponding set of roles and permissions for a set of functions within the cloud-based computing system.