# US 10,306,844 B1 · Method and apparatus for networked irrigation controllers that adjust watering schedules in response to rainfall > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,306,844 B1 - Document ID: US10306844B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/851,955 - Filed: 2017-12-22 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-22 - Applicants: Michael R. Levine - Inventors: Michael R. Levine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306844B1 ## CPC - A01G 25/165: {Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - G05B 2219/2625: Sprinkler, irrigation, watering - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A method and apparatus for a networked irrigation system include a battery powered networked irrigation controller that communicates with a backend server. The backend server monitor rainfall at the location of the irrigation controllers via third party weather resources. General irrigation is set to commence once every several days, and when rain falls at the location of an irrigation controller, the watering schedule is shifted to ensure that watering does not occur more frequently than desired. The irrigation controller uses a cellular transceiver modem to communicate with the backend server, and since the irrigation controller is battery powered, the cellular transceiver modem is maintained in an off state until just prior to commencing a scheduled watering, when the irrigation controller contacts the backend server. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a battery powered irrigation unit including an irrigation controller and a cellular modem, the cellular modem having a sleep mode and an operating mode, the method comprising: maintaining the cellular modem in the sleep mode until occurrence of a watering time, wherein the watering time occurs by default every “n” days where “n” is at least 2; at each watering time waking the cellular modem from the sleep mode to the operating mode to communicate with a backend server via a cellular network; upon communicating with the backend server, receiving watering information and placing the cellular modem back into the sleep mode; determining, based on the watering information, whether to presently water, or to not water and shift the watering times; and responsive to determining whether to presently water, or to not water and shift the watering times, the irrigation controller then, accordingly commence: watering; or not watering and shifting the watering times by “n−r” days where “r” is the number of days since it last rained at a location of the battery powered irrigation controller, as determined by the backend server and as indicated in the watering information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: upon attempting to communicate with the backend server, failing to establish communication and, in response, the irrigation controller watering and placing the cellular modem back into the sleep mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein “n” is at least 3. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: upon communicating with the backend server, transmitting to the backend server status information including a date when the battery powered irrigation unit last watered. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the status information further includes at least one of a battery status, a zone status, a solenoid status, or a local override event. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the battery powered irrigation unit controls watering in a plurality of zones, receiving watering information comprises receiving watering information for each zone of the plurality of zones. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein upon communicating, receiving watering information including a specific time of day to commence the watering. ### Claim 8 A battery powered irrigation unit, comprising: a battery; a cellular modem powered by the battery and having a sleep mode and an operating mode, an irrigation controller powered by the battery and that is configured to: maintain the cellular modem in the sleep mode until occurrence of a watering time, wherein the watering time occurs by default every “n” days where “n” is at least 2; at each watering time wake the cellular modem from the sleep mode to the operating mode to attempt to communicate with a backend server via a cellular network, and responsive to communicating with the backend server, receive watering information from the backend server and place the cellular modem back into the sleep mode; responsive to, and based on the watering information received during the operating mode the irrigation controller is further configured to determine whether to either: water; or not water and shift the watering time by “n−r” days where “r” is the number of days since it last rained at a location of the battery powered irrigation controller, as determined by the backend server and as indicated in the watering information, and responsive to making the determination to either water, or not water and shift the watering time, the irrigation controller is further configured to either water, or not water and shift the watering time, accordingly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The battery powered irrigation unit of claim 8, wherein the irrigation controller is further configured to, upon attempting to communicate with the backend server and failing to establish communication, water and place the cellular modem back into the sleep mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The battery powered irrigation unit of claim 8, wherein “n” is at least 3. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The battery powered irrigation unit of claim 8, wherein the irrigation controller is further configured to, upon communicating with the backend server, transmit to the backend server status information including a date when the battery powered irrigation unit last watered. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The battery powered irrigation unit of claim 11, wherein the status information further includes at least one of a battery status, a zone status, a solenoid status, or a local override event. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The battery powered irrigation unit of claim 8, wherein the battery powered irrigation unit controls watering in a plurality of zones, the watering information comprises watering information for each zone of the plurality of zones. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The battery powered irrigation unit of claim 8, wherein the watering information includes a specific time of day to water. ### Claim 15 An irrigation system that waters on non-consecutive days and which skips watering at least one day after a rain event, the system comprising: a plurality of battery powered irrigation control units, each deployed in a respective region, each having a cellular transceiver modem, and each controller at least one watering zone; a backend server that administers each of the plurality of battery powered irrigation control units, and which further monitors rainfall at each location of the plurality of battery powered irrigation control units; each of the plurality of battery powered irrigation control units being configured to: maintain the cellular transceiver modem in the sleep mode until occurrence of a watering time, wherein the watering time occurs by default every “n” days where “n” is at least 2; at each watering time wake the cellular transceiver modem from the sleep mode to the operating mode to attempt to communicate with a backend server via a cellular network, and responsive to communicating with the backend server, receive watering information from the backend server and place the cellular modem back into the sleep mode; water when the watering information indicates that the irrigation controller is to water; and not water and shift the watering time by “n−r” days where “r” is the number of days since it last rained at a location of the battery powered irrigation controller, as determined by the backend server and as indicated in the watering information, when the watering information indicates that the irrigation controller is to not water and shift the watering time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The irrigation system of claim 15, wherein “n” is at least 3. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The irrigation system of claim 15, wherein each battery powered irrigation control unit is further configured to, upon communicating with the backend server, transmit to the backend server status information including a date when the battery powered irrigation unit last watered. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The irrigation system of claim 17, wherein the status information further includes at least one of a battery status, a zone status, a solenoid status, or a local override event. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The irrigation system of claim 15, wherein each battery powered irrigation control unit controls watering in a plurality of zones, the watering information comprises watering information for each zone of the plurality of zones. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The irrigation system of claim 15, wherein the watering information includes a specific time of day to water.