Irrigation Schedule Updates Using Zone Offsets and Runtime Multipliers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing irrigation control systems face high wireless data transmission costs and long transmission times, lack flexibility in operating simultaneous zones, and are inefficient in scaling irrigation cycle durations, especially in distributed architecture systems with limited wireless infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves receiving input for irrigation zone start times and run durations, storing them in an ordered array with an overall multiplier, and wirelessly transmitting this data to irrigation controllers, allowing for flexible operation of zones in or out of numerical order, and adjusting cycle durations based on weather and evapotranspiration rates without retransmitting full schedule data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a completely separate schedule is sent for each zone to provide individual zone control flexibility, then operational flexibility is improved, but data transmission volume and system complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual zone control flexibilityVSAvoidscheduling data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The schedule is segmented into a master schedule containing common parameters (cycle duration, flow rates, weather adjustments) applicable to all zones, and individual zone-specific parameters (start times, run durations, offsets). This segmentation allows transmission of compact data structures while maintaining full zone control flexibility through the ordered array representation with multipliers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses parameter changes by transmitting adjustment factors and multipliers rather than complete schedules. The ordered array with overall multiplier allows scaling of run times and adjustment of start times without retransmitting the entire schedule structure, reducing data volume while preserving operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If schedule data is transmitted frequently to allow real-time adjustments, then operational adaptability is improved, but wireless transmission costs and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time schedule adjustment capabilityVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and transmits only the essential adjustment parameters (overall multiplier, zone-specific offsets, and run time modifications) rather than complete schedules. This extraction approach enables real-time adjustments by transmitting minimal data sets that can be applied to the existing schedule structure already present in the controllers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The master schedule and base schedule data are pre-configured and stored in the controllers before field deployment. This preliminary action allows the system to operate with full functionality initially, and subsequent adjustments can be made by transmitting only the necessary modification parameters rather than complete schedules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports operation of zones out of numerical sequence and simultaneous zones, then operational flexibility is improved, but data structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone operation flexibilityVSAvoidscheduling data structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a temporal dimension through the ordered array structure with start time offsets and run duration multipliers. This dimensional approach allows zones to be scheduled in any sequence and to operate simultaneously by defining their temporal relationships through offsets from a master cycle start time, rather than requiring complex sequential programming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The ordered array data structure serves multiple functions: it defines zone sequencing, determines simultaneous operation, calculates run durations through multipliers, and establishes temporal offsets from master cycle start. This universal data structure handles all zone operation scenarios without requiring separate complex control logic for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11160221B2Efficient updates to schedules in irrigation controllers

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 HOOVER PUMPING SYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

A system and method for managing a schedule on an irrigation controller is claimed. For each irrigation zone, out of a set of one or more irrigation zones, the process begins by receiving input for an irrigation controller for both i) an offset from an irrigation cycle start time according to a master clock in the irrigation controller and ii) a length of run time. Next the offset from the irrigation cycle start timer and the length of runtime is stored in a data structure such as an ordered array. An overall multiplier for the data structure is also stored. Continuing further the data structure with or without the overall multiplier is wirelessly transmitted to the irrigation controller. In one example the set of the one or more irrigation zones are in numerical order. In another example the set of one more irrigation zones is out of numerical order.