Abstract: A central server containing a database receives snowfall data from weather stations that are contained at a multitude of different sites within a defined geographical area. The central server stores the snowfall data in the database, correlating the data with various user accounts. For instance, the data is correlated with the account of the owner of the site from which the data was received, and with the accounts of landscape contractors whom the owner of the site has engaged to clear snow from his site. The central server provides alerts to various user accounts based on the snowfall data. For instance, the server provides alerts to site owners based on the snowfall at their sites, and to landscape contractors based on the snowfall at sites they are engaged to clear snow from.

Abstract: A central server containing a database receives snowfall data from weather stations that are contained at a multitude of different sites within a defined geographical area. The central server stores the snowfall data in the database, correlating the data with various user accounts. For instance, the data is correlated with the account of the owner of the site from which the data was received, and with the accounts of landscape contractors whom the owner of the site has engaged to clear snow from his site. The central server provides alerts to various user accounts based on the snowfall data. For instance, the server provides alerts to site owners based on the snowfall at their sites, and to landscape contractors based on the snowfall at sites they are engaged to clear snow from.

Abstract: An irrigation system is contained at a particular site, where the site may be a commercial address or a residential address. The system includes a weather station that generates temperature data, precipitation data, and any other useful data that might be used by other components of the system. The system also includes an irrigation controller that uses electrical signals to open and close valves, thereby turning sprinklers on and off, whether zone-by-zone or sprinkler-by-sprinkler. The system further includes a host device which communicates with the weather station and with the irrigation controller. The host device includes a computer processor and one or more wireless interfaces. The host device receives the weather data from the weather station and calculates an amount of desired irrigation, generating an irrigation schedule. The host device then controls the irrigation controller according to the generated irrigation schedule.

Abstract: An irrigation system is contained at a particular site, where the site may be a commercial address or a residential address. The system includes a weather station that generates temperature data, precipitation data, and any other useful data that might be used by other components of the system. The system also includes an irrigation controller that uses electrical signals to open and close valves, thereby turning sprinklers on and off, whether zone-by-zone or sprinkler-by-sprinkler. The system further includes a host device which communicates with the weather station and with the irrigation controller. The host device includes a computer processor and one or more wireless interfaces. The host device receives the weather data from the weather station and calculates an amount of desired irrigation, generating an irrigation schedule. The host device then controls the irrigation controller according to the generated irrigation schedule.

Abstract: A precipitation sensor including: an outer housing having a top portion and forming the first cavity, and inside of the first cavity including a variable-permittivity medium that is exposed at a top of the first cavity; first and second conductive plates extending along at least part of a vertical dimension of the first cavity, the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate disposed so that the variable-permittivity medium separates opposing surfaces of the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; the outer housing having a bottom portion forming a second cavity, the second cavity including means for measuring an electromagnetic characteristic of a capacitor formed by the first conductive plate, the second conductive plate, and the variable-permittivity medium.

Abstract: A central server containing a database receives snowfall data from weather stations that are contained at a multitude of different sites within a defined geographical area. The central server stores the snowfall data in the database, correlating the data with various user accounts. For instance, the data is correlated with the account of the owner of the site from which the data was received, and with the accounts of landscape contractors whom the owner of the site has engaged to clear snow from his site. The central server provides alerts to various user accounts based on the snowfall data. For instance, the server provides alerts to site owners based on the snowfall at their sites, and to landscape contractors based on the snowfall at sites they are engaged to clear snow from.

Abstract: An irrigation system is contained at a particular site, where the site may be a commercial address or a residential address. The system includes a weather station that generates temperature data, precipitation data, and any other useful data that might be used by other components of the system. The system also includes an irrigation controller that uses electrical signals to open and close valves, thereby turning sprinklers on and off, whether zone-by-zone or sprinkler-by-sprinkler. The system further includes a host device which communicates with the weather station and with the irrigation controller. The host device includes a computer processor and one or more wireless interfaces. The host device receives the weather data from the weather station and calculates an amount of desired irrigation, generating an irrigation schedule. The host device then controls the irrigation controller according to the generated irrigation schedule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and software program product for detecting and counteracting a temperature sensor failure with an irrigation controller operating in auto adjust watering mode. A plurality of pseudo temperature data are created from solar radiation for a particular location using unique pseudo temperature conversions for each temperature parameter. The pseudo temperature values can be compared to corresponding measured temperature values from the sensor to validate the integrity of the measurement. These pseudo temperature values are used in place of the measured temperatures for calculating a potential evapotranspiration water deficit for the site. Furthermore, if some valid measured temperature data existed prior to the sensor failure, the measured temperature data is compared to the corresponding pseudo temperature data. Any differences detected between the two values can be used to correct the pseudo temperature toward the measure temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and software program product for detecting and counteracting a temperature sensor failure with an irrigation controller operating in auto adjust watering mode. A plurality of pseudo temperature data are created from solar radiation for a particular location using unique pseudo temperature conversions for each temperature parameter. The pseudo temperature values can be compared to corresponding measured temperature values from the sensor to validate the integrity of the measurement. These pseudo temperature values are used in place of the measured temperatures for calculating a potential evapotranspiration water deficit for the site. Furthermore, if some valid measured temperature data existed prior to the sensor failure, the measured temperature data is compared to the corresponding pseudo temperature data. Any differences detected between the two values can be used to correct the pseudo temperature toward the measure temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intelligent water management irrigation system for monitoring the total water usage for a billing site and preventing cumulative water usage from exceeding a water budget by adjusting the amount of water used for irrigation. Irrigation zone priority values are selected for each irrigation zone that specify a percentage of the full water need that the foliage in the zone can survive and are saved in an intelligent water management irrigation (IWMI) controller. The IWMI controller receives water usage information originating from a property's water meter and compares the measured water usage with the allowable water budget. Water usage is tracked separately for the household use and landscape use (irrigation). Prior to each irrigation cycle, the IWMI controller estimates the amount of water that will be needed by the landscape and for household use during the remainder of a billing cycle; household use is given precedence over landscape use.

Abstract: An intelligent irrigation rain sensor for use in an irrigation system comprises a rain sensor unit and a sensor control unit. The rain sensor unit has a rain catcher reservoir with an open top for receiving rainwater with an internal volume for holding water and tapers into a funnel. At least one droplet detector is positioned directly below the funnel opening that contacts the water droplets from the funnel. The droplet detector includes detection electrodes for sensing a change in an electrical property being monitored by a detection control in the sensor control unit and for discriminating phantom droplets from rain. Upon exceeding a rain threshold amount over measurement time period, the intelligent irrigation rain sensor issues a rain signal to the irrigation controller. The intelligent irrigation rain sensor issues a corresponding dry signal to the irrigation controller after a drying period has elapsed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intelligent water management irrigation system for monitoring the total water usage for a billing site and preventing cumulative water usage from exceeding a water budget by adjusting the amount of water used for irrigation. Irrigation zone priority values are selected for each irrigation zone that specify a percentage of the full water need that the foliage in the zone can survive and are saved in an intelligent water management irrigation (IWMI) controller. The IWMI controller receives water usage information originating from a property's water meter and compares the measured water usage with the allowable water budget. Water usage is tracked separately for the household use and landscape use (irrigation). Prior to each irrigation cycle, the IWMI controller estimates the amount of water that will be needed by the landscape and for household use during the remainder of a billing cycle; household use is given precedence over landscape use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intelligent water management irrigation system for monitoring the total water usage for a billing site and preventing cumulative water usage from exceeding a water budget by adjusting the amount of water used for irrigation. Irrigation zone priority values are selected for each irrigation zone that specify a percentage of the full water need that the foliage in the zone can survive and are saved in an intelligent water management irrigation (IWMI) controller. The IWMI controller receives water usage information originating from a property's water meter and compares the measured water usage with the allowable water budget. Water usage is tracked separately for the household use and landscape use (irrigation). Prior to each irrigation cycle, the IWMI controller estimates the amount of water that will be needed by the landscape and for household use during the remainder of a billing cycle; household use is given precedence over landscape use.

Abstract: An intelligent irrigation rain sensor for use in an irrigation system comprises a rain sensor unit and a sensor control unit. The rain sensor unit has a rain catcher reservoir with an open top for receiving rainwater. The rain catcher has an internal volume for holding water and tapers into a funnel with an opening for metering equally sized round water droplets at a steady-state drip rate. At least one droplet detector is positioned directly below the funnel opening that contacts the water droplets from the funnel. The droplet detector includes detection electrodes for sensing a change in an electrical property being monitored by a detection control in the sensor control unit. Each droplet detected may be counted and the droplet count retained in a memory, or excluded from counting based on certain factors, such as the drip rate between droplets from the funnel opening.