Sensor-based interruption of an irrigation controller

A method for controlling irrigation based on rainfall, the method comprising:

• providing an irrigation controller configured to execute one or more watering schedules and including a wireless transceiver detachably coupled thereto;
• providing a server remote to a location where the irrigation controller is installed, the server being in communication with the irrigation controller over a network, the network comprising a wireless local area network, wherein the wireless transceiver of the irrigation controller is communicationally coupled to the wireless local area network, the server including a control unit;
• transmitting a first signal to the irrigation controller, via the wireless local area network and the wireless transceiver, to cause, via the control unit, an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller in response to weather data indicative of active rainfall, in the location where the irrigation controller is installed, reaching an interrupt threshold that is associated with a preset rainfall accumulation amount;
• and
• transmit a second signal to the irrigation controller, via the wireless local area network and the wireless transceiver, to cause, via the control unit, a removal of the interruption of the one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller after a completion of a predetermined interval of time and without determining whether the rainfall accumulation amount is above the interrupt threshold or below the interrupt threshold in response to weather data indicative of a rainfall stop in the location where the irrigation controller is installed.

A system for controlling irrigation based on rainfall, the system comprising:

• an irrigation controller configured to execute one or more watering schedules and including a wireless transceiver detachably coupled thereto;
• a weather station source in communication with the irrigation controller over a network comprising a wireless local area network, wherein the wireless transceiver of the irrigation controller is communicationally coupled to the wireless local area network;
• wherein the irrigation controller is configured to obtain, from the weather station source and over the network via the wireless local area network and the wireless transceiver, weather data associated with a location where the irrigation controller is installed;
• and
• wherein the irrigation controller includes a control unit configured to:
• cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller in response to receipt of weather data indicative of active rainfall, in the location where the irrigation controller is installed, reaching an interrupt threshold that is associated with a preset rainfall accumulation amount;
• and
• remove the interruption of the one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller after a completion of a predetermined interval of time and without determining whether the rainfall accumulation amount is above the interrupt threshold or below the interrupt threshold in response to receipt of weather data indicative of a rainfall stop in the location where the irrigation controller is installed.

A method for controlling irrigation based on rainfall, the method comprising:

• providing an irrigation controller configured to execute one or more watering schedules and including a wireless transceiver detachably coupled thereto;
• providing a weather station source in communication with the irrigation controller over a network comprising a wireless local area network, wherein the wireless transceiver of the irrigation controller is communicationally coupled to the wireless local area network;
• obtaining, via the irrigation controller, from the weather station source and over the network via the wireless local area network and the wireless transceiver, weather data associated with a location where the irrigation controller is installed;
• causing, via a control unit of the irrigation controller, an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller in response to receipt of weather data indicative of active rainfall, in the location where the irrigation controller is installed, reaching an interrupt threshold that is associated with a preset rainfall accumulation amount;
• and
• removing, via the control unit of the irrigation controller, the interruption of the one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller after a completion of a predetermined interval of time and without determining whether the rainfall accumulation amount is above the interrupt threshold or below the interrupt threshold in response to receipt of weather data indicative of a rainfall stop in the location where the irrigation controller is installed.