Patents by Inventor David E. Columbo

David E. Columbo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8433448
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described in which different irrigation controllers in an irrigation control system have machine code having a same code base. In one implementation, a first irrigation control unit comprises a processor and a medium storing a first set of machine code to be executed by the processor. The first set is based on a portion of source code on which a second set of machine code stored in a second irrigation control unit is based, and the first and second sets not identical to each other. The first and second irrigation control units are in a predefined hierarchical control relationship. In one variation, the first and second control units have at least related operating systems. In another variation, a central controller includes machine code developed from at least a portion of the same source code as machine code in a remote controller for simulation or execution purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan L. Walker, David E. Columbo, Whitney M. Kew
  • Patent number: 8224493
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described in which different irrigation controllers in an irrigation control system have machine code having a same code base. In one implementation, a first irrigation control unit comprises a processor and a medium storing a first set of machine code to be executed by the processor. The first set is based on a portion of source code on which a second set of machine code stored in a second irrigation control unit is based, and the first and second sets not identical to each other. The first and second irrigation control units are in a predefined hierarchical control relationship. In one variation, the first and second control units have at least related operating systems. In another variation, a central controller includes machine code developed from at least a portion of the same source code as machine code in a remote controller for simulation or execution purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan L. Walker, David E. Columbo, Whitney M. Kew