System and method for wireless irrigation utilizing a centralized control server and field module matrix

• US 8,024,075 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Pipe And Fitting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Joseph Fekete
• Inventors: Fekete, Daniel Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki; Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker; Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/109,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 700282-284, 700/19, 239/11, 239 61- 69, 239/97
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

The invention is a centralized server-based system containing a database with relevant information regarding features, parameters, and characteristics of a particular irrigation system, which utilizes proprietary irrigation software to control a plurality of field modules, at one or more remote locations, via a network bridge adapter. An irrigation system may comprise a single server, or multiple servers that may be configured so that control of the entire system is centralized, and control of one or multiple irrigation locations may be accomplished remotely by wirelessly accessing, monitoring and controlling a location'"'"'s field module matrix.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly monitoring and controlling an irrigation field comprising:

creating a field module matrix by placement of a plurality of field modules within an irrigation area, the field module matrix dynamically reconfigurable to compensate for changes in the irrigation field;

configuring a server for;

receiving data pertaining to said irrigation area from said field modules,

generating a control signal based on said data,

sending said control signal to said field modules adapted to receive said control signal, and

controlling a plurality of irrigation components coupled to said field modules based on said control signal; and

enabling a wireless network adapter, communicatively coupled between the server and the irrigation field module matrix, adapted to route the data from the matrix to the server and route the control signal from the server to the matrix; and

configuring said plurality of field modules for single-hop and multi-hop communication for receiving said control signal and sending said data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network adapter translates between a protocol in use by said field modules and said server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said control signal further comprises generating an irrigation schedule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on a hydraulic analysis of said data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on an interpolation of sensor data gathered from said data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on evapotranspiration data gathered from said data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring a performance of said server via algorithmic calibrations pertaining to one or more irrigation related processes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sending said data pertaining to said irrigation area further comprises reporting a system status.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the changes in the irrigation field are an addition or a deletion of a field module to the field module matrix.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the changes in the irrigation field are based on environmental factors.

11. A system for wirelessly monitoring and controlling an irrigation field comprising:

a server configured for;

receiving data pertaining to an irrigation area from a field module matrix including one or more field modules, the field module matrix dynamically reconfigurable to compensate for changes in the irrigation field,

generating a control signal based on said data,

sending said control signal to said one or more field modules adapted to receive said control signal, said field modules configured for single-hop and multi-hop communication for receiving said control signal and sending said data, and

controlling a plurality of irrigation components coupled to said one or more field modules based on said control signal;

a wireless network adapter, communicatively coupled between the server and the field module matrix, adapted to route the data from the field matrix module to the server and route the control signal from the server to the field module matrix;

a memory module accessible by said server; and

a database, residing on said memory module, for storing a system status generated from said data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless network translates between a protocol in use by said field modules and said server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is configured to control a plurality of irrigation areas utilizing a plurality of field module matrices.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein generating said control signal further comprises generating an irrigation schedule based on said system status.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on a hydraulic analysis of said system status.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on an interpolation of sensor data gathered from said system status.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein generating said control signal further comprises making determinations based on evapotranspiration data gathered from said system status.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a user interface for monitoring said field module matrix and said irrigation area.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein HTTP requests are served on said server'"'"'s user interface to enable an internet-based graphical user interface.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said server can be accessed and controlled from a remote Internet location via said server'"'"'s internet-based graphical user interface.

21. A method for wirelessly monitoring and controlling an irrigation field, comprising:

creating a field module matrix by placement of a plurality of field modules within an irrigation area, the field module matrix dynamically reconfigurable to compensate for changes in the irrigation field;

configuring a server for;

receiving data pertaining to said irrigation area from said field modules,

generating a control signal based on said data, wherein generating said control signal further comprises

generating an irrigation schedule, making determinations based on a hydraulic analysis of said data,

making determinations based on an interpolation of sensor data gathered from said data, and

making determinations based on evapotranspiration data gathered from said data,

sending said control signal to said field modules adapted to receive said control signal, and

controlling a plurality of irrigation components coupled to said field modules based on said control signal;

enabling a communication medium, communicatively coupled between the server and the field module matrix, adapted to route said data from said matrix to said server and route said control signal from said server to said matrix, wherein said communication medium further comprises a wireless network adapter translates between a protocol in use by said plurality of field modules and said server;

configuring said field modules for single-hop and multi-hop communication for receiving said control signal and sending said data; and

monitoring a performance of said server via algorithmic calibrations pertaining to one or more irrigation related processes.