Management of peak water use

• US 7,317,972 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smart Irrigation Solutions Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Aqua Conserve Incorporated
• Inventors: Addink, John W., Addink, Sylvan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr.; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US10/343,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 700/9, 137/624.11, 137/78.2, 239 69- 70, 239/99
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods in which an irrigation management system reduces high peak water use values by utilizing a microprocessor (220) disposed in an irrigation controller (100) to receive peak water use information from a water supplier receive water use information at a consumer site and automatically derive a new irrigation schedule that is at least partly based on the information received. The new irrigation schedule, derived by the microprocessor (220), may include a modification in a default irrigation frequency, a modification in a default irrigation start time(s), a reduction in a default irrigation application duration, the use of a rolling-average in the determination of the new irrigation application duration and other changes or modifications to the default irrigation schedule that will provide for the reduction in high peak water use values. Additionally, the microprocessor will display to the water user and/or third parties details on the new irrigation schedule and information received from the water supplier.

Claims

1. An irrigation management system comprising a microprocessor disposed in an irrigation controller that is programmed to:

(a) receive, from a water supplier, information relating to peak water use;

(b) receive information on water use at a consumer site;

(c) automatically derive a new irrigation schedule that is at least partly based on both the peak water use and the water use at the consumer site; and

(d) execute the new irrigation schedule.

2. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the peak water use information comprises a maximum threshold water requirement value.

3. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the peak water use information comprises a set volume of water available for the consumer'"'"'s use during a specified time period.

4. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the water supplier is a municipality.

5. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the water supplier is a water district.

6. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the water use information at the consumer site comprises prioritizing landscape watering zones.

7. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the information on water use at the consumer site comprises a maximum volume of water to be applied during any one irrigation application.

8. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein a consumer at the consumer site is a residential water user.

9. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein a consumer at the consumer site is an agricultural water user.

10. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein a consumer at the consumer site is a commercial water user.

11. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein both the peak water use information and the water use at the consumer site are received via a wired connection.

12. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein both the peak water use information and the water use at the consumer site are received via a wireless connection.

13. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the new irrigation schedule comprises a modification in a default irrigation frequency.

14. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the new irrigation schedule comprises a modification in a default irrigation start time(s).

15. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the new irrigation schedule comprises a reduction in a default irrigation application duration.

16. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the new irrigation schedule comprises the use of a rolling-average in the determination of a new irrigation application duration.

17. The irrigation management system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to display details of the new irrigation schedule and the peak water use information to a water user and a third party.