Compensating for municipal restrictions within irrigation protocols

• US 9,717,191 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SD Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skydrop Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Endrizzi, Clark, Romney, Matt, Dalley, Mack, Mars, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US14/315,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20150005962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25056 Automatic configuration of monitoring, control system as function of operator input, events
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25205 Encrypt communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31422 Upload, download programs, parameters from, to station to, from server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0664 the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a plurality of diverging flows from a single flow G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13

Abstract

The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for generating and optimizing irrigation protocols that are in compliance with municipal restrictions. The disclosure also extends to methods, systems and computer program products for providing automated irrigation.

Claims

1. A method for providing irrigation protocols to an irrigation system having a controller connected to an irrigation server over a computer network for executing irrigation protocols in compliance with irrigation restrictions, wherein the method comprises:

receiving irrigation restrictions over the computer network that correspond to irrigation zones controlled by the controller and storing the irrigation restrictions in memory;

receiving calendaring data over the computer network for generating time stamps denoting a specific date and time irrigation restrictions are received for coordinating irrigation restrictions and irrigation instructions for the controller thereby providing the controller with real time responsiveness with respect to the irrigation restrictions;

generating an irrigation protocol within the irrigation server based at least partially on the irrigation restrictions received and the calendaring data received; and

transmitting the irrigation protocol from the irrigation server to the controller over the computer network such that the irrigation protocol generated within the irrigation server is executed by the controller in compliance the irrigation restrictions, wherein the irrigation protocols cause the controller to be actuated in compliance with the irrigation restrictions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation restrictions are entered by a user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the irrigation restrictions are entered through an account that is paired with the controller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation restrictions are received from a municipality database that is accessed over the computer network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation protocol comprises instructions for irrigating on odd or even days of a month.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation protocol comprises instructions for irrigating only during unrestricted hours of a day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the irrigation protocol comprises instructions for irrigating only on unrestricted days of a month.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the irrigation protocol in controller memory.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a notification to a user'"'"'s communication device regarding irrigation restrictions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user communication device is a computing device connected over a network.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the network comprises cellular network functionality.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the user communication device is a mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a notification output from the controller regarding an irrigation restriction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the notification is a visual output from the controller.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a user a prompt that a change in the irrigation protocol is being initiated, whereby the user ratifies the change in the irrigation protocol through an input;

and wherein the method further comprises receiving the user'"'"'s ratification of the change in the irrigation protocol.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the prompt presenting the user with the change in the irrigation protocol comprises restriction source information causing the controller to operate in compliance with local restrictions.

17. A system for providing an irrigation system with irrigation protocols in compliance with irrigation restrictions having a controller connected to an irrigation server over computer network wherein components of a computing system comprise computer processors performing computing instructions that perform the process of:

receiving irrigation restrictions over the computer network that correspond to irrigation zones controlled by the controller and storing the irrigation restrictions in memory;

receiving calendaring data over the computer network for generating time stamps denoting a specific date and time irrigation restrictions are received for coordinating irrigation restrictions and irrigation instructions for the controller thereby providing the controller with real time responsiveness with respect to the irrigation restrictions;

generating an irrigation protocol within the irrigation server based at least partially on the irrigation restrictions received and the calendaring data; and

transmitting the irrigation protocol from the irrigation server to the controller over the computer network such that instructions generated within the irrigation server are executed by the controller in compliance the irrigation restrictions, wherein the instructions cause the controller to be actuated in compliance with irrigation restrictions.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the irrigation restrictions are entered by a user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the irrigation restrictions are entered through an account that is paired with the controller.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the irrigation restrictions are received from a municipality database that is accessed over the computer network.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the irrigation protocol comprises instructions for irrigating on odd or even days of a month.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the irrigation protocol comprises instructions for irrigating only during unrestricted hours of a day.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the irrigation protocol comprises instructions for irrigating only on unrestricted days of a month.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising recording the irrigation protocol in controller memory.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising initiating a notification to a user'"'"'s communication device regarding irrigation restrictions.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the user communication device is a computing device connected over a network.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the network comprises cellular network functionality.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the user communication device is a mobile device.

29. The system of claim 17, further comprising initiating a notification output from the controller regarding an irrigation restriction.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the notification is a visual output from the controller.

31. The system of claim 17, further comprising presenting a user a prompt that a change in the irrigation protocol is being initiated, whereby the user ratifies the change in the irrigation protocol through an input;

and wherein the method further comprises receiving the user'"'"'s ratification of the change in the irrigation protocol.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the prompt presenting the user with the change in the irrigation protocol comprises restriction source information causing the controller to operate in compliance with local restrictions.

33. A system for providing an irrigation system in compliance with irrigation restrictions having a controller connected to an irrigation server over computer network comprising:

an irrigation server comprising an irrigation protocol generator, wherein the irrigation server is in electronic communication with a controller comprising memory and capable of receiving and storing one or more irrigation protocols from the irrigation server;

an account that is paired with the controller;

wherein components of the irrigation server comprise computer processors performing computing instructions that perform the process of;

receiving irrigation restrictions over the computer network that correspond to irrigation zones controlled by the controller and storing the irrigation restrictions in memory;

receiving calendaring data over the computer network for generating time stamps denoting a specific date and time irrigation restrictions are received for coordinating irrigation restrictions and irrigation instructions for the controller thereby providing the controller with real time responsiveness with respect to the irrigation restrictions;

generating an irrigation protocol within the irrigation server based at least partially on the irrigation restrictions received and the calendaring data; and

transmitting the irrigation protocol from the irrigation server to the controller over the computer network such that instructions generated within the irrigation server are executed by the controller in compliance the irrigation restrictions, wherein the instructions cause the controller to be actuated in compliance with irrigation restrictions.