Sprinkler control systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096340-B1
Application number	US-201815888985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for controlling a sprinkler system, including an apparatus for sprinkler system control that includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to receive operation instructions for the sprinkler system from a source that is separate from a control panel of the sprinkler system, and operate valves of the sprinkler system independent of instructions from the control panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An in-line apparatus for sprinkler system control, comprising:
a processor;
a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
receive, from a home automation system control panel, at least one instruction associated with operation of the sprinkler system;
block a first signal associated with the operation of the sprinkler system and received from a controller of the sprinkler system from being transmitted to at least one valve of the sprinkler system subsequent to and in response to receiving the at least one instruction from the home automation system control panel, wherein blocking the first signal further comprises deactivating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system for a predetermined amount of time;
transmit a second signal to cause the at least one valve of the sprinkler system to operate in a first mode after blocking the first signal associated with the operation of the sprinkler system from being transmitted to the at least one valve of the sprinkler system;
receive, from the home automation system control panel, at least one real-time condition after transmitting the second signal to operate the at least one valve of the sprinkler system; and
transmit a third signal to cause the at least one valve of the sprinkler system to operate in a second mode based on receiving the at least one real-time condition from the home automation system control panel.

2. The in-line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system in the second mode comprises turning off the at least one valve of the sprinkler system for a duration.

3. The in-line apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the duration is based on the at least one real-time condition received from the home automation system control panel.

4. The in-line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the in-line apparatus comprises a user interface configured to receive manual input of at least one instruction.

5. The in-line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one real-time condition comprises past weather conditions, current weather conditions, future weather forecasts, or a combination thereof.

6. The in-line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve of the sprinkler system is associated with a first zone of the sprinkler system.

7. The in-line apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
operate at least one additional valve of the sprinkler system in the first mode based on receiving the at least one instruction; and
operate the at least one additional valve of the sprinkler system in the second mode based on receiving the at least one real-time condition from the home automation system control panel, wherein the at least one additional valve of the sprinkler system is associated with a second zone of the sprinkler system.

8. The in-line apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
determine a change in the at least one real-time condition after operating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system in the second mode; and
operate the at least one valve of the sprinkler system in the first mode based on determining the change in the at least one real-time condition.

9. A computer-program product for controlling a sprinkler system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:
receive, from a home automation system control panel, at least one instruction associated with operation of the sprinkler system;
block a first signal associated with the operation of the sprinkler system and received from a controller of the sprinkler system from being transmitted to at least one valve of the sprinkler system subsequent to and in response to receiving the at least one instruction from the home automation system control panel, wherein blocking the first signal further comprises deactivating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system for a predetermined amount of time;
transmit a second signal to cause the at least one valve of the sprinkler system to operate in a first mode after blocking the first signal associated with the operation of the sprinkler system from being transmitted to the at least one valve of the sprinkler system;
receive, from the home automation system control panel, at least one real-time condition after transmitting the second signal to operate the at least one valve of the sprinkler system; and
transmit a third signal to cause the at least one valve of the sprinkler system to operate in a second mode based on receiving the at least one real-time condition from the home automation system control panel.

10. The computer-program product of claim 9 , wherein the at least one instruction comprises user input received at the home automation system control panel.

11. The computer-program product of claim 10 , wherein the user input is received at a user interface of the sprinkler system.

12. The computer-program product of claim 9 , wherein operating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system in the second mode includes turning the at least one valve off for a select time period.

13. A computer-implemented method for controlling a sprinkler system, comprising:
receiving, from a home automation system control panel, at least one instruction associated with operation of the sprinkler system;
blocking a first signal associated with the operation of the sprinkler system and received from a controller of the sprinkler system from being transmitted to at least one valve of the sprinkler system subsequent to and in response to receiving the at least one instruction from the home automation system control panel, wherein blocking the first signal further comprises deactivating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system for a predetermined amount of time;
transmitting a second signal to cause the at least one valve of the sprinkler system to operate in a first mode after blocking the first signal associated with the operation of the sprinkler system from being transmitted to the at least one valve of the sprinkler system;
receiving, from the home automation system control panel, at least one real-time condition after transmitting the second signal to operate the at least one valve of the sprinkler system; and
transmitting a third signal to cause the at least one valve of the sprinkler system to operate in a second mode based on receiving the at least one real-time condition from the home automation system control panel.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
transmitting information related to operating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system in the first mode to the home automation system control panel; and
transmitting information related to operating the at least one valve of the sprinkler system in the second mode to the home automation system control panel.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the home automation system control panel comprises a home automation security system.

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Thomas Jeffrey G

Classifications

• A01G25/16 Primary

  Control of watering · CPC title

• A01G25/165

  Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations · CPC title