Proximity programmed, globally synchronized irrigation controller and system

A method for providing watering metrics in an irrigation control system having an irrigation controller and a mobile computer, comprising:

• sending a request from a wireless transceiver in communication with the mobile computer to a transceiver in communication with the irrigation controller for watering metrics associated with the irrigation controller, including the geospatial location values observed by a global positioning receiver and cumulative amount of watering time of distributing water at that specific geographic location;
• receiving the request for watering metrics from the mobile computer;
• compiling the requested watering metrics;
• transmitting the watering metrics to the mobile computer via the established communication link;
• and
• displaying on a user interface of the mobile device the watering metrics in at least one of tabular or graphic format.

An irrigation control system comprising:

• a mobile computer comprising a first processor which executes an irrigation scheduling application and a first wireless transceiver controlled by the first processor and adapted to communicate using a first wireless protocol;
• a valve controller located at a geospatial position comprising:
• a second processor connected to a real-time clock and enabled to execute an irrigation schedule;
• a second wireless transceiver connected to the second processor and adapted to communicate using the first wireless protocol;
• and
• a wireless receiver connected to the second processor and enabled to acquire real-time clock data from an outside source using a second wireless protocol,
• wherein the second processor is configured to periodically adjust the real-time clock to match the real-time clock data,
• wherein the first processor executes the irrigation scheduling application on the mobile computer so that the irrigation schedule is synchronized with the irrigation schedule in the valve controller using the first wireless protocol when the mobile device is located in a position that is proximate to the geospatial position of the valve controller.

A method of controlling an irrigation system, comprising:

• obtaining a mobile computer and an application configured to run on the mobile computer, wherein the mobile computer has an integrated wireless transceiver configured to communicate using a first wireless protocol;
• obtaining a plurality of valve controllers, each of the plurality of valve controllers having an integrated wireless transceiver that is configured to communicate using the first wireless protocol;
• compiling, by the application running on the mobile computer, an irrigation schedule for each of the valve controllers;
• and
• synchronizing at each valve controller the valve schedule using the first wireless protocol when the mobile computer is proximate to the valve controller.

A method of controlling an irrigation system comprising:

• providing a mobile computer and an application configured to run on the mobile computer;
• providing a wireless transceiver integrated in the mobile computer and configured to communicate using a first wireless protocol;
• providing a plurality of valve controllers;
• providing each of the plurality of valve controllers with an integrated wireless transceiver that is configured to communicate using the first wireless protocol;
• providing each of the plurality of valve controllers with a wireless receiver that is configured to receive real-time clock information from an outside source,
• wherein
• the application is configured to compile an irrigation schedule for each of the valve controllers, and
• each of the valve controllers is configured to synchronize the valve schedule using the first wireless protocol when the mobile device is proximate to the valve controller.

A method of commanding a valve controller having a real-time clock, a first wireless transceiver and a wireless receiver using an application enabled to run on a mobile computer having a second wireless transceiver, comprising:

• specifying an irrigation schedule using the application;
• detecting the presence of the valve controller at the second wireless transceiver;
• forming a data connection between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver;
• transferring the irrigation schedule from the mobile computer to the valve controller using the data connection if the irrigation schedule in the mobile computer differs from the irrigation schedule residing in the valve controller;
• and
• running the irrigation schedule on the wireless valve controller based on timing provided by the real-time clock.

A method of commanding a valve controller using an application enabled to run on a mobile computer comprising:

• providing a real-time clock having a real-time value, a first wireless transceiver and wireless receiver within the valve controller;
• providing a second wireless transceiver within the mobile computer;
• specifying an irrigation schedule using the application;
• periodically receiving and decoding a clock signal from an outside source using the wireless receiver to synchronize the real-time clock;
• indicating a presence of the valve controller by transmitting an advertising packet provided by the first wireless transceiver;
• sensing the presence of the valve controller by receiving the advertising packet on the second wireless transceiver;
• forming a data connection between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver based on information contained in the advertising packet;
• transferring the irrigation schedule from the mobile computer to the valve controller using the data connection if the irrigation schedule in the mobile computer differs from the irrigation schedule residing in the valve controller;
• abandoning the data connection after the irrigation schedule has been transferred;
• and
• running the irrigation schedule on the wireless valve controller based on timing provided by the real-time clock.