US 11,726,444 B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for adaptive irrigation zone control using pressure, time, flow, and predicted behavior
Franklin Timothy Hickenlooper, Eagle, ID (US); Christopher Leon Swenson, Meridian, ID (US); and Tige H. Fiedor, Meridian, ID (US)
Assigned to Baseline, Inc., Boise, ID (US)
Filed by Baseline, Inc., Boise, ID (US)
Filed on Sep. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/466,969.
Application 17/466,969 is a continuation of application No. 16/533,535, filed on Aug. 6, 2019, granted, now 11,112,764, issued on Sep. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/715,184, filed on Aug. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0400674 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Prior Publication US 2023/0195069 A9, Jun. 22, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 72/04 (2023.01); H04W 72/00 (2023.01); H04W 80/02 (2009.01); H04L 5/00 (2006.01); H04W 56/00 (2009.01); H04L 1/00 (2006.01); H04L 5/10 (2006.01); H04W 76/27 (2018.01); G05B 19/048 (2006.01); A01G 25/16 (2006.01); F15B 19/00 (2006.01); H04W 72/30 (2023.01); H04W 72/53 (2023.01)
CPC G05B 19/048 (2013.01) [A01G 25/165 (2013.01); F15B 19/005 (2013.01); H04L 1/0026 (2013.01); H04L 5/0051 (2013.01); H04L 5/10 (2013.01); H04W 56/001 (2013.01); H04W 72/30 (2023.01); H04W 72/53 (2023.01); G05B 2219/2625 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydraulic control system comprising:
a pressure sensor to measure a pressure in a water line;
a flow meter to measure a flow rate in the water line;
a plurality of valves to control water flow; and
a processing unit in communication with the pressure sensor, the flow meter, and the plurality of valves, wherein the processing unit is to:
monitor the pressure and the flow rate;
determine when the pressure is above and below a minimum target threshold and when the flow rate is above and below a maximum target threshold;
when the pressure is determined to be above the minimum target threshold and the flow rate is determined to be below the maximum target threshold, identify one or more valves in a closed position of the plurality of valves that when opened would maintain the pressure above the minimum target threshold and the flow rate below the maximum target threshold;
when the pressure is determined to be below the minimum target threshold or the flow rate is determined to be above the maximum target threshold, identify one or more valves in an opened position of the plurality of valves that when closed would cause one or more of the pressure to be increased above the minimum target threshold and the flow rate to be reduced below the maximum target threshold;
provide instructions to change a position of the one or more identified valves;
compare a predicted pressure and flow rate change to a measured pressure and flow rate change after a valve positional change of the one or more identified valves, the comparison to determine an effectiveness of the change in position of the one or more identified valves, wherein the effectiveness is based on a difference between the predicted pressure and flow rate change and the measured pressure and flow rate change;
rank the effectiveness of the valve positional change of the one or more identified valves and previous valve positional changes; and
identify future valve positional changes to maintain the pressure and flow rate within the minimum target threshold and maximum target threshold by determining which combination of valves has the highest ranked effectiveness for a desired pressure and flow rate change.