Dynamically programmed water timer

• US 9,829,871 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goodman, Daniel, Heffernan, Craig Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Diem
• Application Number:
  US14/447,374
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/041 Function-oriented details
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

Programmable controller technology, in which data is received that identifies a particular type of irrigation system component that is to be controlled by a programmable controller. Based on receiving the data identifying the particular type of irrigation system component, configuration information is accessed for the particular type of irrigation system component. Based on the configuration information, a configuration is determined for one or more interface ports of the programmable controller. The one or more interface ports of the programmable controller are configured according to the determined configuration. A connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration is detected. Based on detecting the connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration, the particular type of irrigation system component is controlled through the one or more interface ports.

Claims

1. A programmable controller associated with an irrigation system for a property, the programmable controller comprising:

interface ports that are configurable in multiple settings that relate to multiple, different types of irrigation system components;

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one process to perform operations comprising;

receiving data identifying a particular type of irrigation system component that is to be controlled by the programmable controller, wherein the data identifying the particular type of irrigation system component is received based on input from a user of the property that specifies the particular type of irrigation system component that is to be controlled by the programmable controller, or is received from the particular type of irrigation system component based on detecting a connection between one or more interface ports of the programmable controller and the particular type of irrigation system component;

based on receiving the data identifying the particular type of irrigation system component, accessing configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining a configuration for one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller based on the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component;

configuring the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller according to the determined configuration;

detecting a connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration; and

based on detecting the connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more of the interface ports.

2. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving data associated with an irrigation schedule for the property, the irrigation schedule specifying times when the particular type of irrigation system component is set to be active and being usable by the programmable controller to determine when to activate the particular type of irrigation system component;

accessing weather forecast data for a geographical region that corresponds to a location of the property;

analyzing the weather forecast data for the geographical region that corresponds to the location of the property with respect to the received irrigation schedule;

based on the analysis of the weather forecast data for the geographical region that corresponds to the location of the property with respect to the received irrigation schedule, determining whether to activate the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on the determination, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports.

3. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving data associated with an irrigation schedule for the property, the irrigation schedule specifying times when the irrigation system is set to be active and being usable by the programmable controller to determine when to activate the irrigation system;

receiving environmental condition data obtained by one or more sensors associated with the programmable controller, the one or more sensors including sensors that are fixed at the property and that are capable of sensing environmental conditions relevant to the irrigation of the property;

analyzing the environmental condition data with respect to the received irrigation schedule;

based on the analysis of the environmental condition data with respect to the received irrigation schedule, determining whether to activate the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on the determination, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports.

4. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving data associated with a resource usage policy associated with the property, the resource usage policy indicating limits for the usage of one or more resources that are consumed by the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining, based on the resource usage policy associated with the property, an irrigation schedule for the property, the irrigation schedule specifying times when the irrigation system is set to be active and being usable by the programmable controller to determine when to activate the irrigation system; and

controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports according to the determined irrigation schedule for the property.

5. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

accessing information specifying an anticipated usage of a particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component, wherein the particular resource is a resource that is consumed by the particular type of irrigation system component when the particular type of irrigation system component is active;

monitoring, by the programmable controller, usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component;

detecting, based on the monitoring of the usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component, that the usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component exceeds the anticipated usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining, based on detecting that the usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component exceeds the anticipated usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component, that the particular type of irrigation system component has experienced an error; and

based on the determination, transmitting, to one or more recipients, data that indicates that the particular type of irrigation system component has experienced an error.

6. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the particular type of irrigation system component is associated with a particular location at the property, and wherein the operations comprise:

receiving sensor data from a monitoring system associated with the programmable controller, the monitoring system including sensors that are fixed at the property and that are capable of sensing conditions relevant to the presence of users at various locations at the property;

identifying a location of one or more users at the property based on the sensor data;

determining that the identified location of the one or more users of the at the property corresponds to the particular location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on determining that the identified location of the one or more users at the property corresponds to the particular location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component.

7. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

monitoring a location of a mobile device of the user of the property;

determining, based on the monitoring of the location of the mobile device of the user of the property, to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on determining to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component.

8. The programmable controller of claim 1, wherein the particular type of irrigation system component is associated with a particular location at the property, and wherein the operations comprise:

receiving sensor data from sensors that are fixed at the property and that are capable of sensing conditions relevant to the presence of users at various locations at the property over time;

determining, based on the sensor data, locations of one or more users at the property over time;

determining an activity model for the property based at least on the determined locations of the one or more users at the property over time;

determining a current time at the property;

determining, based on the activity model for the property and the current time at the property, one or more locations at the property where users are likely located at the current time;

determining that the location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component does not correspond to the any of the one or more locations at the property where users are likely located at the current time; and

based on determining that the location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component does not correspond to any of the one or more locations at the property where users are likely located at the current time, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports to activate the particular type of irrigation system component.

9. The programmable controller of claim 1:

wherein accessing the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component comprises accessing information that specifies a wiring arrangement used to enable the programmable controller to control the particular type of irrigation system component; and

wherein determining the configuration for the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller based on the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component comprises determining a configuration for the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller that is compatible with the wiring arrangement used to enable the programmable controller to control the particular type of irrigation system component.

10. A method comprising:

receiving data identifying a particular type of irrigation system component that is to be controlled by a programmable controller associated with an irrigation system for a property, wherein the data identifying the particular type of irrigation system component is received based on input from a user of the property that specifies the particular type of irrigation system component that is to be controlled by the programmable controller, or is received from the particular type of irrigation system component based on detecting a connection between one or more interface ports of the programmable controller and the particular type of irrigation system component;

based on receiving the data identifying the particular type of irrigation system component, accessing configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining a configuration for one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller based on the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component;

configuring the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller according to the determined configuration;

detecting a connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration; and

based on detecting the connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more of the interface ports.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

receiving data associated with an irrigation schedule for the property, the irrigation schedule specifying times when the particular type of irrigation system component is set to be active and being usable by the programmable controller to determine when to activate the particular type of irrigation system component;

accessing weather forecast data for a geographical region that corresponds to a location of the property;

analyzing the weather forecast data for the geographical region that corresponds to the location of the property with respect to the received irrigation schedule;

based on the analysis of the weather forecast data for the geographical region that corresponds to the location of the property with respect to the received irrigation schedule, determining whether to activate the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on the determination, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising:

receiving data associated with an irrigation schedule for the property, the irrigation schedule specifying times when the irrigation system is set to be active and being usable by the programmable controller to determine when to activate the irrigation system;

receiving environmental condition data obtained by one or more sensors associated with the programmable controller, the one or more sensors including sensors that are fixed at the property and that are capable of sensing environmental conditions relevant to the irrigation of the property;

analyzing the environmental condition data with respect to the received irrigation schedule;

based on the analysis of the environmental condition data with respect to the received irrigation schedule, determining whether to activate the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on the determination, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising:

receiving data associated with a resource usage policy associated with the property, the resource usage policy indicating limits for the usage of one or more resources that are consumed by the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining, based on the resource usage policy associated with the property, an irrigation schedule for the property, the irrigation schedule specifying times when the irrigation system is set to be active and being usable by the programmable controller to determine when to activate the irrigation system; and

controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports according to the determined irrigation schedule for the property.

14. The method of claim 10, comprising:

accessing information specifying an anticipated usage of a particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component, wherein the particular resource is a resource that is consumed by the particular type of irrigation system component when the particular type of irrigation system component is active;

monitoring, by the programmable controller, usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component;

detecting, based on the monitoring of the usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component, that the usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component exceeds the anticipated usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining, based on detecting that the usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component exceeds the anticipated usage of the particular resource by the particular type of irrigation system component, that the particular type of irrigation system component has experienced an error; and

based on the determination, transmitting, to one or more recipients, data that indicates that the particular type of irrigation system component has experienced an error.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the particular type of irrigation system component is associated with a particular location at the property, and comprising:

receiving sensor data from a monitoring system associated with the programmable controller, the monitoring system including sensors that are fixed at the property and that are capable of sensing conditions relevant to the presence of users at various locations at the property;

identifying a location of one or more users at the property based on the sensor data;

determining that the identified location of the one or more users at the property corresponds to the particular location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on determining that the identified location of the one or more users at the property corresponds to the particular location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component.

16. The method of claim 10, comprising:

monitoring a location of a mobile device of the user of the property;

determining, based on the monitoring of the location of the mobile device of the user of the property, to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component; and

based on determining to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports to deactivate the particular type of irrigation system component.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the particular type of irrigation system component is associated with a particular location at the property, and comprising:

receiving sensor data from sensors that are fixed at the property and that are capable of sensing conditions relevant to the presence of users at various locations at the property over time;

determining, based on the sensor data, locations of one or more users at the property over time;

determining an activity model for the property based at least on the determined locations of the one or more users at the property over time;

determining a current time at the property;

determining, based on the activity model for the property and the current time at the property, one or more locations at the property where users are likely located at the current time;

determining that the location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component does not correspond to the any of the one or more locations at the property where users are likely located at the current time; and

based on determining that the location at the property associated with the particular type of irrigation system component does not correspond to any of the one or more locations at the property where users are likely located at the current time, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more interface ports to activate the particular type of irrigation system component.

18. The method of claim 10:

wherein accessing the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component comprises accessing information that specifies a wiring arrangement used to enable the programmable controller to control the particular type of irrigation system component; and

wherein determining the configuration for the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller based on the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component comprises determining a configuration for the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller that is compatible with the wiring arrangement used to enable the programmable controller to control the particular type of irrigation system component.

19. A programmable controller associated with an irrigation system for a property, the programmable controller comprising:

interface ports that are configurable in multiple settings that relate to multiple, different types of irrigation system components;

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one process to perform operations comprising;

receiving data identifying a particular type of irrigation system component that is to be controlled by the programmable controller;

based on receiving the data identifying the particular type of irrigation system component, accessing configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component that specifies a wiring arrangement used to enable the programmable controller to control the particular type of irrigation system component;

determining, based on the configuration information for the particular type of irrigation system component, a configuration for one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller that is compatible with the wiring arrangement used to enable the programmable controller to control the particular type of irrigation system component;

configuring the one or more of the interface ports of the programmable controller according to the determined configuration;

detecting a connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration; and

based on detecting the connection between the particular type of irrigation system component and the programmable controller that satisfies the determined configuration, controlling the particular type of irrigation system component through the one or more of the interface ports.