System and method for facilitating control of irrigation systems
First Claim
1. A system for controlling an irrigation system, comprising:
- a central control configured to generate a message;
a plurality of communication systems each configured to transmit the message independently, wherein the plurality of communication systems use different communication channels to transmit the message; and
an irrigation controller configured to receive the message from at least one of the plurality of communication systems and perform an action pursuant to the message.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing reliable communications between components of an irrigation system is provided. The system includes a central control, a number of communication systems each representing a transmission channel, an irrigation controller having a receiver that is configured to receive signals from the communication systems, and one or more valves controlled by the irrigation controller to provide irrigation. According to one aspect of the system, in order to direct the irrigation controller to take certain actions, the central control first generates a message. The message is then delivered to the communication systems. In one instance, the message is transmitted by the communication systems in a rotating manner, i.e., the communication systems take turn in transmitting the message in a predetermined cycle. To ensure proper reception of the message, the irrigation controller conforms to the rotational transmission schedule of the communication systems and monitors the incoming signals accordingly. The received message is then used by the irrigation controller to act on the valves, alter an irrigation schedule or otherwise control irrigation.
105 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an irrigation system, comprising:
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a central control configured to generate a message; a plurality of communication systems each configured to transmit the message independently, wherein the plurality of communication systems use different communication channels to transmit the message; and an irrigation controller configured to receive the message from at least one of the plurality of communication systems and perform an action pursuant to the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for facilitating control of an irrigation system, comprising:
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a central control configured to generate a message; a plurality of channels each capable of being used to transmit the message independently; a receiver configured to receive the message from at least one of the plurality of channels; and an irrigation controller coupled to and controlled by the receiver, wherein the receiver directs the irrigation controller to perform an action based on the message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for facilitating control of an irrigation system, comprising:
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a central control configured to generate a message; a plurality of communication systems each configured to transmit the message independently, wherein the plurality of communication systems use different communication channels to transmit the message; a plurality of irrigation controllers, each irrigation controller having a receiver configured to receive the message from at least one of the plurality of communication systems. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for facilitating irrigation control, comprising:
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generating a message, wherein the message is used to direct irrigation action to be performed; providing the message to a plurality of communication systems for transmission; directing the plurality of communication systems to transmit the message independently using different communication channels; receiving the message from at least one of the plurality of communication systems; and performing the irrigation action pursuant to the message. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification