US 5,173,855 A · Distributed multiple irrigation controller management system

Abstract

Separate, but related, firmware programs for multiple microprocessor-controlled irrigation controllers that are interrelated in their control of irrigation within an irrigation system are generated off-line at a personal computer. The programs are downloaded into a transportable memory device that holds sixty-four separate programs. The memory device is transported to each irrigation controller and plugged to a digital communication channel. The device automatically identifies itself to the controller, and vice versa. The appropriate program is automatically uploaded from the device to the controller. The controller's old program and its historical irrigation record data is loaded into the device and delivered to the personal computer for validation and analysis. A wireless remote test command assembly, an extension maintenance panel, or a radio-link central module may be alternatively connected to the controller's digital communication channel. The controller is powered by the memory device during the uploading.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of programming an irrigation controller comprising:

generating a program, executable by an irrigation controller in order to control irrigation, off-line in a computer and not within any irrigation controller that will in fact execute the program to control irrigation;
downloading the generated and executable program from the computer into a transportable memory device capable of holding the generated and executable program;
transporting the transportable memory device to an irrigation controller within which the executable program is not yet resident;
communicatively connecting the transportable memory device with the irrigation controller through a communication connection;
connecting power from the transportable memory device to the irrigation controller through a power connection;
unloading the executable program from the transportable memory device into the irrigation controller through the communication connection;
supplying power from the transportable memory device to the irrigation controller via the power connection for the irrigation controller's uploading of the program;
communicatively disconnecting the transportable memory device from the irrigation controller, leaving the irrigation controller programmed with the generated and executable program;
and
executing the executable program in any by the irrigation controller into which it is loaded in order to effect the control of irrigation.

7 more elements

An irrigation control programming system comprising:

irrigation control program generation means for generating a plurality of executable programs that, if each is stored in and executed by an irrigation controller means, will control irrigation;
program communicating and communication powering means, connected at times to the program generation means and at other times to each of a plurality of irrigation controller means,
for receiving the plurality of programs from the program generation means,
for transporting the plurality of programs to each of the plurality of irrigation controller means one at a time,
for transferring a particular one of the plurality of programs to an associated particular one of the plurality of irrigation controller means, and
for powering the associated one of the irrigation controller means for its receipt of the associated particular one of the plurality of programs;
and
a plurality of irrigation controller means, each initially without any program for executing in order to effect the control of irrigation, each
for temporarily connecting to the program transporting means for receiving a program therefrom while being powered to do so by the program transporting means,
for storing the received program, and
for executing its received and stored program to control irrigation.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Distributed multiple irrigation controller management system

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Distributed multiple irrigation controller management system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14