Decoder systems and methods for irrigation control

A local area network module for a landscape system that selectively powers and activates devices along a two-wire communication network using data encoded power waveforms, the local area network module comprising:

• a sensor interface configured to receive sensor data from at least one sensor and provide sensor information responsive to the sensor data;
• a local area network interface configured to communicate with a user input device over a local area network, wherein the user input device is configured to accept user input from a user and output user information responsive to the user input;
• a processor configured to communicate with the sensor interface to receive the sensor information and to communicate with the local area network interface to receive the user information, the processor configured to communicate with a cloud-server to send the sensor information to the cloud-server and to receive a sensor signal from the cloud-server, wherein the sensor signal is responsive to the sensor information;
• and
• a controller interface configured to communicate with the processor to receive the sensor signal and the user information, the controller interface further configured to communicate the sensor signal and the user information to a landscape controller;
• wherein the landscape controller is configured to generate a control signal responsive to the sensor signal and the user information, the control signal having a first state and a second state, the landscape controller further configured to provide an AC power signal that is approximately sinusoidal and output the data encoded power waveform, wherein the landscape controller passes the AC power signal approximately in-phase when the control signal is in the first state and shifts a phase of the AC power signal by approximately 180 degrees when the control signal is in the second state, the landscape controller further configured to output the approximately in-phase AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the first state and output the phase-shifted AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the second state.

A method to selectively power and activate landscape devices along a two-wire communication network using data encoded power waveforms, the method comprising:

• receiving sensor data from at least one sensor and providing sensor information responsive to the sensor data;
• receiving, over a local area network, user information responsive to user input from a user;
• sending over the Internet to a cloud-server the sensor information;
• generating at the cloud-server a sensor signal responsive to the sensor information;
• receiving over the Internet from the cloud-server the sensor signal;
• generating a control signal responsive to the sensor signal and user information, the control signal having a first state and a second state;
• providing an AC power signal that is approximately sinusoidal;
• generating the data encoded power waveforms by passing the AC power signal approximately in-phase when the control signal is in the first state and shifting a phase of the AC power signal approximately by 180 degrees when the control signal is in the second state;
• and
• outputting the approximately in-phase AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the first state and outputting the phase-shifted AC power signal on the two-wire communication network when the control signal is in the second state.