PCT
`
`International Bureau
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
` (11) International Publication Number:
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`WO 99/39567
`A01G 25/16
`
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`12 August 1999 (12.08.99)
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`
`
`
`(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD,
`GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP,
` (22) International Filing Date:
`4 February 1999 (04.02.99)
`
`KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK,
`
`MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, 86,
`
`SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, "IT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW,
`(30) Priority Data:
`
`
`
`US
`ARIPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, 82, UG, ZW),
`09/0 1 8,629
`4 February 1998 (04.02.98)
`
`
`
`
`Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`
`
`European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR,
`
`GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF,
`HUNTER INDUSTRIES INCORPORATION
`(71) Applicant:
`
`
`
`BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN,
`[US/US]; 1940 Diamond Street, San Marcos, CA 92069
`
`
`TD, TG).
`(US).
`
`
`
`(72) Inventors: SCOTT, Mike, R.; 11761 Windcrest Lane, San
`
`Published
`
`Diego, CA 92128 (US). RING, James, F.', 2528 San
`With international search report.
`
`Clemente Terrace, San Diego, CA 92122 (US). CESENA,
`
`Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`Antonio, G.; 9565 Vervain Street, San Diego, CA 92129
`
`
`
`claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
`(US). VAN VLEET, Larry, M.; 2922 Caballista Del Norte,
`amendments.
`
`
`San Clemente, CA 92673 (US). HALE, John, D.; 7047
`
`Camino De Grazia #190, San Diego, CA 92111 (US).
`
`MCDONALD, Michael, S.; 1575 Tanglewood Lane #1236,
`Escondido, CA 92029 (US).
`
`
`
` (74) Agent: JESTER, Michael, H.; Law Offices of Michael H. Jester,
`Suite 2560, 750 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101—8122 (US).
`
`(54) Title:
`
`IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`
`
`WATER
`.
`‘
`, L
`
`
` PROCESS}!!!
`IIUALITY
`
`LOGIC
`MANAGER
`
`7‘
`
`STATION
`CONTROL
`
`
`IFUT/OUTFUT
`LOGIC
`
`I TERFACES
`
`
`________________ J T0
`_____________________ |_
`
`
`svsrs
`
`VIDEO
`IRRIGATIO:
`9‘5"”
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`
`
`52
`INTERFACE
`so
`
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`
`
`A computer—controlled irrigation system, computer program product, and computer—implemented method of Operation includes a site
`map—based graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes animations and hyperlinked irrigation system elements that allow a user to
`
`
`traverse the site, zoom in on an irrigation system element or water resource element and adjust its programming parameters or monitor
`its operation by selecting it with a mouse button click or similar selection mechanism. Graphics representing the site, irrigation system
`elements and water resource management elements, as well as hydraulic attributes and other attributes describing the functions of such
`elements may be extracted from a conventional CAD drawing file. The invention may also promote efficient use Of water resources by
`performing hydraulic simulation of the irrigation network using a hydraulic analysis software engine. Hydraulic analysis also maximizes
`irrigation in accordance with priorities selected by the user. Hydraulic analysis also optimizes product injection by taking loading and other
`factors into account.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 1
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 1
`
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Zimbabwe
`
`ML
`
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`SI
`Slovenia
`LS
`Lesotho
`ES
`Albania
`LT
`Lithuania
`SK
`FI
`Slovakia
`Armenia
`LU
`SN
`FR
`Austria
`Senegal
`Luxembourg
`SZ
`Swaziland
`LV
`Latvia
`Australia
`GA
`TD
`Monaco
`Chad
`MC
`GB
`Azerbaijan
`MD
`TG
`GE
`Togo
`Republic of Moldova
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`MG
`Barbados
`TJ
`GH
`Tajikistan
`Madagascar
`TM
`MK
`Turkmenistan
`The former Yugoslav
`Belgium
`TR
`Burkiua Faso
`Turkey
`Republic of Macedonia
`'l‘T
`Mali
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Bulgaria
`UA
`Ukraine
`Benin
`Mongolia
`UG
`Mauritania
`Brazil
`Uganda
`US
`United States of America
`Malawi
`Belarus
`UZ
`Uzbekistan
`Mexico
`Canada
`VN
`Viet Nam
`Niger
`Central African Republic
`YU
`Netherlands
`Yugoslavia
`Congo
`ZW
`Switzerland
`Norway
`New Zealand
`cote d’lvoite
`Poland
`Cameroon
`China
`Portugal
`Romania
`Cuba
`Russian Federation
`Czech Republic
`Sudan
`Germany
`Sweden
`Denmark
`Estonia
`Singapore
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan:
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 2
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 2
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-1-
`
`IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to computer—controlled irrigation control
`
`systems of the type used in golf courses, master planned housing developments,
`
`cemeteries, parks and the like.
`
`10
`
`Description of the Related Art
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Irrigation system controllers allow a user to program the system to irrigate
`
`specified zones of a golf course or similar site for specified time periods or until
`
`specified volumes of water have been applied. Such conventional systems are
`
`difficult for a user to program. Typically, a system may display configuration and
`
`programming information in a tabular format on the computer screen, and the
`
`user enters information in a tabular format. Elements of the irrigation system,
`
`such as pumps, valves and irrigation heads are designated by numeric or
`
`alphanumeric labels. The various pipes of the irrigation network may be
`
`designated by labels or by graphical formats that indicate their location in the
`
`hierarchy of main supply pipes branching into smaller pipes. For example, the
`
`display may indicate by means of a label “tst Hole” indented slightly to the right
`
`and below a label “2 Inch Branch," which is in turn indented slightly to the right
`
`and below a label “10 Inch Main," that the irrigation heads in the zone relating to
`
`the first hole of the golf course are supplied by a certain two-inch branch pipe
`
`25
`
`that is in turn supplied by a certain ten-inch main pipe.
`
`Computer-controlled irrigation systems for golf courses have been
`
`developed that include graphical user interfaces (GUls). The GUI may display
`
`a map of the site on the computer screen. The site map indicates the fairways,
`
`greens, tees, roughs, bunkers and lakes and other features, as well as the
`
`locations of pipes and irrigation heads in relation to those features.
`
`In operation,
`
`the system graphically indicates which heads are in use and which are not, and
`
`may also indicate other pertinent information. To set up such systems prior to
`
`use, the user must enter the site map in the form of a suitable digital image.
`
`Once the site map has been entered into the system, the system prompts the
`
`user to enter the positions of the irrigation heads and pipes.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 3
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 3
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-2-
`
`The term “hydraulic management” in the context of irrigation systems
`
`refers generally to controlling irrigation in response to flow rate information. A
`
`hydraulic tree is the basis of conventional hydraulic management. A user enters
`
`hydraulic tree information into the irrigation system by specifying the connectivity
`of the network as well as the user’s estimate of the maximum flow rate in each
`
`pipe.
`
`In operation, the system may compute the flow rate at any irrigation head
`
`in response to the open or closed status of network valves. The system
`
`computes the flow rate along a straight path between the pressure source
`
`(typically a pump) and each head. Hydraulic management may be used to
`
`facilitate programming the system to apply a specified volume of water to a
`
`specified zone by computing the time required to operate certain heads based
`on the flow rates at those heads.
`
`In reality, a hydraulic system comprising a network of irrigation pipes
`
`behaves in a more complex manner than can be modeled by a hydraulic tree.
`
`A head or section of pipe may be fed by several pipes that are ultimately coupled
`
`together at some point in the network closer to the source.
`
`In other words, the
`
`network includes loops. Hydraulic management systems that are based upon
`
`the hydraulic tree model cannot model loops because they simplify the problem
`
`to the computation of flow rate along a straight path.
`
`Hydraulic analysis software programs are used by civil engineers in the
`
`design of municipal water supplies, water treatment plants, and similar industrial
`
`operations. Examples of commercially available hydraulic analysis programs
`
`include KYPlPE, produced by The University of Kentucky, and CYBERNET,
`
`produced by Haestad Methods, Inc. of Waterbury, Connecticut. Designers of
`
`irrigation systems have also used such programs. Hydraulic analysis programs
`
`can model the dynamic behavior of a complete piping network, including loops
`
`and other features, and can compute not only flow rate at any pipe section but
`
`also water velocity, dynamic pressure, and volume in any pipe section.
`
`Furthermore, such programs take into account changes in elevation, turbulent
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`3O
`
`flow, and other real-world conditions.
`
`Irrigation systems have long included product injection units to mix liquid
`
`nutrients, i.e., fertilizers, into the irrigation water, a process known as fertigation.
`
`More recently,
`
`they have been used to apply beneficial microorganisms
`
`(“biologics”), pesticides and soil amendment minerals.
`
`Injection units are
`
`35
`
`typically operated for a programmed time period or as a ration of measured
`
`discharge flow. The injection unit operation is not othenrvise coordinated with
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 4
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 4
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-3-
`
`irrigation programming. Another challenge of using irrigation systems to
`
`distribute products is known as pipe “loading." The piping network between the
`
`injection unit and the irrigation head may hold a considerable volume of water.
`
`It may be desirable to apply a product, such as a biologic to suppress fungus, yet
`
`minimize irrigation volumes to avoid overwatering. Such a scenario is typical
`
`during a time of rainfall.
`
`If the system is operated for a sufficiently short time to
`
`avoid ovenivatering, the injected product may not reach outlying areas furthest
`
`away from the injection unit by the end of the application period.
`Golf courses often contain lakes and other bodies of water that serve not
`
`only as obstacles to challenge golfers but also as irrigation water reservoirs.
`
`Golf courses may include water resource management systems that control the
`
`filling of such reservoirs from the water supply and the draining of them into the
`
`irrigation system. More sophisticated systems may also include aeration
`
`systems in reservoirs to assist in water quality management. Water resource
`
`management systems may include various pumps, valves, air compressors and
`
`oxygen injectors.
`
`It would be desirable to provide an irrigation control system that enhances
`
`ease of programming and monitoring and that includes improved hydraulic
`
`management.
`
`It would also be desirable to provide an irrigation control system
`
`with improved product injection that is coordinated with irrigation programming
`
`and that takes loading and other hydraulic factors into account. Furthermore, it
`
`would be desirable to provide an improved lake water resource management
`
`system that is coordinated with irrigation programming and that is easy to
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`program and monitor. These needs are satisfied by the present invention in the
`manner described below.
`
`25
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`30
`
`35
`
`The present invention relates to a computer-controlled irrigation system,
`
`computer program product, and computer-implemented method of operation that
`
`includes a site map-based graphical user interface that displays information on
`
`the computer screen and receives information input by a user, and an application
`
`processor that generates irrigation controller commands in response to the
`
`programming information received from the user. The irrigation system itself
`
`may include any combination of irrigation heads, valves, pipes, water sources
`
`and other elements of the types commonly used in irrigation systems for golf
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 5
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 5
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-4-
`
`courses, master planned housing developments, cemeteries, parks, and the like.
`
`Many existing irrigation systems of this type are computer-controlled, and can be
`
`controlled in accordance with the present invention merely by reprogramming the
`
`computer of such a system in accordance with the invention, provided that the
`
`computer hardware is sufficiently capable.
`
`The site map may be represented by a computer-aided design (CAD)
`
`drawing file produced by any suitable commercially available CAD program. The
`
`site map depicts the site, e.g., the landscape architecture of a golf course, and
`
`the irrigation system elements such as piping, irrigation heads, zones, pump
`
`stations or other elements. The graphical representations of irrigation system
`
`elements are logically linked to an object attribute group. Most CAD programs
`
`generate drawing files in which the drawing objects may be linked to one or more
`
`attributes, and any such CAD program that allows a user to define attributes is
`
`suitable. The attributes describe the irrigation system element. For example, an
`
`attribute group linked to a depiction of a sprinkler head may include not only
`
`those attributes that the CAD program automatically generates, but also
`
`additional user-defined attributes such as minimum and maximum operating
`
`pressures, nozzle size, flow rate, rotation speed and arc.
`
`The user interface may include a movie player for displaying a movie or
`
`video image site map depicting the site from the perspective of a movie or video
`
`camera moving through the site. The terms “movie" and “video” are not intended
`
`to imply any particular format or standards, but merely reflect that commercially
`
`available player software typically refers to such moving images as movies.
`
`Perhaps more accurately, they may be referred to as animations. The movie-
`
`image site map may be the sole site map or may be included in combination with
`
`a more conventional two—dimensional site map.
`
`In embodiments of the latter
`
`type, a user may switch from one map to the other by making suitable selections.
`
`Any type or grade of graphics is suitable for the site map and other
`
`depictions of the site and irrigation system elements.
`
`In the illustrated
`
`embodiment the depictions range in grade or quality from two—dimensional maps
`
`showing little more than the boundaries of greens, fain/vays, and so forth to
`
`three-dimensional renderings of pumps and other elements. Nevertheless, the
`
`depictions may be more symbolic and less realistic in other embodiments or may
`
`be more realistic, even of photorealistic quality or actually incorporating
`
`photographic imagery, in still other embodiments. The term “map” or the term
`
`“graphical” is thus not intended to limit the depictions in these respects.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 6
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 6
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-5-
`
`The application processor receives programming parameters that the user
`
`inputs. The parameters may include, for example, a selection of the zones to
`
`which the user wishes the irrigation system to apply water or other product.
`
`In
`
`addition, or alternatively, they may include a water application volume that
`
`represents the volume of water the user wishes the irrigation system to apply to
`
`the site or to a selected zone or zones.
`
`In addition, or alternatively, they may
`
`include soil percolation information. They may also include,
`
`in addition or
`
`alternatively, product selections that represent the different products the user
`
`wishes the irrigation system to apply, such as water, nutrients and biologics, and
`
`in what order the user wishes them to be applied. The user may also provide an
`
`overall start time and/or stop time for the applications. The application processor
`
`may compute the start and/or stop times of individual product applications in
`
`response to the overall start and stop times, the volumes selected, the soil
`
`percolation information, programming priorities, and as discussed further below,
`
`hydraulic analysis computations in response to these programming parameters.
`
`The application processor may include a hydraulic analysis manager that
`
`includes a commercially available hydraulic analysis program of the type used
`
`by engineers and other designers of hydraulic systems.
`
`In the illustrated
`
`embodiment, the CYBERNET program is indicated as a preferred program
`
`because it can read AUTOCAD drawing files directly. The hydraulic analysis
`
`manager conducts simulations of the piping network in response to the hydraulic
`
`attributes of the irrigation system elements provided via the CAD drawing.
`
`Nevertheless, other programs would be suitable. The programming parameters
`
`may include a priority for the applications that represents the order or
`
`precedence among the regions of the site. For example, the user may select a
`
`much higher priority for the greens than the roughs to ensure that the greens are
`
`watered. The application processor uses the hydraulic analysis manager to
`
`conduct simulations to maximize the number of selection regions to irrigate
`
`within the capacity of the water source and the limitations of the piping, pumps
`
`and other piping network elements. Thus, if the user were to assign a higher
`
`priority to the greens than the roughs, the irrigation system would only water the
`
`roughs if it were also capable of watering the greens within the selected time
`
`period.
`
`In contrast to the hydraulic analysis program in the present invention, a
`
`conventional hydraulic tree cannot perform such simulations or computations.
`
`The present invention may also include water resource management. that
`
`allows a user to monitor and control water resources such as lakes, wells and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 7
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 7
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-5-
`
`other water supplies. The user interface may allow a user to select a body of
`
`water or similar water resource depicted on the site map.
`
`in response to such
`
`a selection, the user interface may provide a more detailed depiction, such as
`a three-dimensional animation that illustrates the movement of water into or out
`
`of the resource or otherwise in association with the resource. By further
`
`selecting an element associated with the resource, the user may provide
`
`programming parameters that control the resource. For example, a user may
`
`select a valve that controls the filling of a lake. The user may make a selection
`
`that opens the valve.
`
`In response,
`
`the invention accordingly generates
`
`commands to the water resource system to open the actual physical valve.
`
`Moreover, however, the user interface may generate an animation depicting the
`
`water beginning to flow out of a discharge pipe into the lake that occurs in
`
`response to the opening of the valve. The user interface may also depict the
`
`lake level rising or falling via an animation. Not only valves, but also pumps,
`
`aerators, ozone generators, product injectors and other water resource elements
`
`may be monitored and controlled in such a manner.
`
`The invention may include any of the above-described features by
`
`themselves or in any suitable combination. By means of these features and
`
`others described below, the invention allows a user to control an irrigation
`
`system via an intuitive and easy-to-use user interface and conduct sophisticated
`
`hydraulic management. The invention also allows a user to control and monitor
`
`water resources using the same concept of an intuitive and easy-to-use user
`interface.
`
`The foregoing, togetherwith other features and advantages of the present
`
`invention, will become more apparent when referring to the following
`
`specification, claims, and accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference
`
`is now made to the following detailed description of the embodiments illustrated
`
`in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`
`Figure 1 is a block diagram of a computer—controlled irrigation and water
`
`resource management system;
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a computer programmed in accordance with the
`
`invention;
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
`
`35
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 8
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 8
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
`
`PCT/US99/02354
`
`-7-
`
`Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the system;
`
`Figure 4 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a site map prior
`
`to logging on;
`
`Figure 5A illustrates a window on the computer relating to attribute group
`
`5
`
`editing;
`
`Figure 58 illustrates another window on the computer relating to attribute
`
`group editing;
`
`Figure 6 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a site map after
`
`logging on;
`
`10
`
`Figure 7 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a site map upon
`
`selection of Programming mode;
`
`Figure 8 illustrates a screen on the computer relating master programming
`
`of irrigation priorities;
`
`Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the Programming mode;
`
`15
`
`Figure 10 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to selecting zones
`
`on a hole basis;
`
`Figure 11 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to selecting zones
`
`on a hole sub-group basis;
`
`Figure 12 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to selecting zones
`
`20
`
`on an individual zone basis;
`
`Figure 13 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a site map
`
`relating to Application mode;
`
`Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating Application mode;
`
`Figure 15 illustrates a further screen on the computer relating to
`
`25
`
`Application mode in which a hole is depicted;
`
`Figure 16 illustrates a still further screen on the computer relating to
`
`Application mode in which a zone is depicted;
`
`Figure 17 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to Application
`
`mode;
`
`30
`
`Figure 18 is a flowchart illustrating an iterative hydraulic analysis;
`
`Figure 19 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a site map
`
`relating to Water Resource Management mode;
`
`Figure 20 is a flowchart illustrating Water Resource Management mode;
`
`35
`
`Figure 21 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a site map
`
`relating to Water Resource Management mode;
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 9
`
`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
`
`Exhibit 1004 - 9
`
`

`

`WO 99/39567
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`Figure 22 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a perspective
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`view of water resource management elements relating to a reservoir;
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`Figure 23 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to reservoir status;
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`Figure 24 illustrates a screen on the computer displaying a reservoir and
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`associated water quality management unit;
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`Figure 25 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to product injection
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`valves;
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`Figure 26 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to compressor and
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`ozone generator operation;
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`Figure 27 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to injection pump
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`operation;
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`Figure 28 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to pump control;
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`Figure 29 illustrates a further screen on the computer relating to pump
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`control;
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`Figure 30 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to pump control
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`time scheduling;
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`Figure 3 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to event scheduling;
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`Figure 32 illustrates a screen on the computer relating to event interval
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`timing; and
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`Figure 33 illustrates a screen on the computer display relating to reservoir
`level control.
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`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`1.
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`Irrigation System Elements
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`As illustrated in Fig. 1, a computer-controlled irrigation and water resource
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`management system includes a computer 10, which communicates with the
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`various electronically controllable and electronically monitorable elements of an
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`irrigation system via an irrigation system communications interface 12 and a
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`water resource system communications interface 23. These elements of the
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`irrigation and water resource system may include any elements commonly
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`included in irrigation and water resource systems for golf courses, master
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`planned housing developments, cemeteries, parks, and the like. They are
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`disposed on the golf course or other site in the locations and manner known in
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`the art, remotely from computer 10 and communications interfaces 12 and 13,
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`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
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`Exhibit 1004 - 10
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`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
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`Exhibit 1004 - 10
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`PCT/US99/02354
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`which may be in any convenient location, such as inside the greenskeeper’s
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`office of the golf course.
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`For example, an irrigation system for a golf course typically includes a
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`number of sprinkler heads, some of which may be of the well-known stand-alone
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`type such as sprinkler head 14, and some of which may be of the well-known
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`valve-in-head type such as sprinkler head 16. Some of the sprinkler heads may
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`rotate in a circular pattern as they spray water, others may move in other
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`patterns, and still others may be stationary or even drip—irrigation sprinkler heads.
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`The term “sprinkler head” or "head” is used in this patent specification to include
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`all such devices that distribute irrigation water to the turf, plantings and other
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`vegetation of the site. A valve 18 controls the flow of water to sprinkler head 14.
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`Both sprinkler head 14 and sprinkler head 16 are coupled to lateral piping 20,
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`which is in turn coupled to distribution piping 22. Typically, distribution piping 22
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`has a larger diameter than lateral piping 20 because a number of smaller—
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`diameter lateral pipes typically branch off from a distribution pipe. The illustrated
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`topography of piping 20 and 22 with respect to each other and the piping
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`network as a whole is intended merely to be generally illustrative of an irrigation
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`system piping network, and is not intended to have other significance.
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`In a
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`complete irrigation system, the piping network comprising numerous distribution
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`pipes, lateral pipes and other pipes may form a hierarchy or tree of pipes of
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`several different diameters.
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`In a golf course, such a piping network may feed
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`hundreds of heads. Such a complete system is not illustrated in this patent
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`specification for purposes of clarity.
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`It should be noted that the heads are
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`typically grouped into zones of one or more heads.
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`Irrigation networks and
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`controllers and the persons who design them typically identify and distinguish
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`different irrigated areas of a site by zones rather than by individual sprinkler
`heads.
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`The heads and any valves controlling them may be controlled by satellite
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`units such as satellite units 24 and 26, which are in turn controlled by a multiple—
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`valve controller 28. Valve controller 28 may be located in a central location out
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`on a golf course, and may control many satellite units distributed about the
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`irrigated areas of the golf course. Each satellite unit may control a number of the
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`heads and zones. Heads such as heads 14 and 16 may be controlled by an
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`irrigation system computer, as known in conventional prior irrigation systems.
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`Thus, computer 10 may control the flow of water to heads 14 and 16 (and any
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`other heads in the same zones) by issuing the appropriate commands. The
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`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
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`Exhibit 1004 - 11
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`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
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`Exhibit 1004 - 11
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`commands are encoded in any suitable digital or analog format known in the art
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`and transmitted by communications interface 12 by wires or by radio link to valve
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`controller 28. Valve controller 28,
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`like some commercially available valve
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`controllers presently available, can also generate status information that is
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`potentially readable by a computer.
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`It is known that pumps such as pump 30 may be similarly controlled by a
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`computer via a suitable communications interface such as interface 13. Pump
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`30 may, for example, be a booster pump for supplying pressurized irrigation
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`water to distribution piping 22.
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`It may receive water from a municipal water
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`supply, a well or a reservoir of some type. Typically, a group of one or more
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`pumps is controlled via a pump controller such as pump controller 32.
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`Communications interface 13 links pump controller 32 to computer 10 in
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`essentially the same manner as communications interface 12 links valve
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`controller 28 to computer 10.
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`In other words, computer 10 may control pump 30
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`by issuing the commands appropriate to the commercially available pump
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`controller 32. The format of the commands may be readily determined from
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`specifications provided by the manufacturer of pump controller 32.
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`In certain
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`commercially available irrigation systems, valve controller 28 may be of a type
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`that can not only receive commands from computer 10 but can also generate
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`status information readable by a computer. Pump controller 32 can similarly
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`generate status information.
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`Product injectors such as product injector 34 may also be controlled by
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`an irrigation system computer. Product injector 34 may be any suitable product
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`injector, such as the FERTIGATION UNIT produced by Weircon, Inc. of Arizona.
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`Product injector 34 may inject fertilizers and other nutrients, soil amendments
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`such as calcium or gypsum, beneficial microorganisms (“biologics”), and
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`pesticides. As with respect to the valves, pumps and other illustrated irrigation
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`system elements, product injector 34 is merely intended to be illustrative of a
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`product injector and is not intended to have other significance. A complete
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`irrigation system, which is not illustrated for purposes of clarity, may include
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`several product injectors.
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`It
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`is known that such product injectors may be
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`controlled by an irrigation system computer. Computer 10 may control product
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`injector 34 by issuing the appropriate commands in a manner similar to that in
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`which it may control heads 14 and 16 and pump 30.
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`The above-described irrigation system elements and the fact that they
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`may be controlled by a computer are well-known in the art, and such computer-
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`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
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`Exhibit 1004 - 12
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`Lindsay Corporation
`IPR2015-01039
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`Exhibit 1004 - 12
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`controlled irrigation system elements and their computer-based controllers and
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`communications
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`interfaces,
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`such as communications
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`interface 12, are
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`commercially available from The Toro Company of Riverside, California, Rain
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`Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing Corp. of Glendora, California, and other
`manufacturers. Communications
`interface
`13 is
`similar
`in
`function to
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`communications interface 12 and is thus similarly within the knowledge and
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`capabilities of persons skilled in the art. The novelty of the present invention
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`relates primarily not to the irrigation system and water resource management
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`system elements that are located out on the golf course or other site, i.e., the
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`hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical elements themselves, but rather to the
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`novel programming of the system, operation of the programmed system, and
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`software program products by which a user may cause computer 10 to be
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`programmed.
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`In other words, the present invention may be used, for example,
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`to enhance the functionality of pre-existing computer-controlled irrigation
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`systems by re-programming them in accordance with the present invention.
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`Thus, although the present invention may include any suitable computer
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`hardware and irrigation system elements in certain embodiments, it may consist
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`of the program product or method alone in other embodiments. Persons of skill
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`in the art will readily be capable of programming (or reprogramming) a pre—
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`existing c