Method and system for remote wireless monitoring and control of climate in greenhouses

Abstract

A remote wireless climate monitoring and control system for a greenhouse is provided. The system includes a wireless sensor network including a plurality of sensor nodes for monitoring climate conditions in the greenhouse and controlling one or more climate control systems. The system also includes a server computer system located remotely from the greenhouse. The server computer system is coupled to the wireless sensor network over a communications network for receiving data from and controlling operation of the sensor nodes. The server computer system is also coupled to a device operated by an end-user over a communications network for transmitting the data to and receiving remote control commands or queries from the end-user.

1 . A remote wireless climate monitoring and control system for a greenhouse, comprising:
 a wireless sensor network comprising a plurality of sensor nodes for monitoring climate conditions in the greenhouse and controlling one or more climate control systems; and   a server computer system located remotely from the greenhouse, said server computer system coupled to the wireless sensor network over a communications network for receiving data from and controlling operation of the sensor nodes, said server computer system also coupled to a device operated by an end-user over a communications network for transmitting the data to and receiving remote control commands or queries from the end-user.   
   
   
       2 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor network further comprises a base station for transferring data between the plurality of sensor nodes and the server computer system. 
   
   
       3 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 2 , wherein said base station disseminates control commands from the server computer system to the sensor nodes. 
   
   
       4 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the server computer system communicates with the wireless sensor network through the Internet or a cellular network. 
   
   
       5 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the server computer system transmits measurements from sensor networks to end users via the Internet or a cellular network. 
   
   
       6 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the server computer system responds to queries from the end-user with short text messages (SMS), web pages, or screens to be displayed on a cell phone application. 
   
   
       7 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the climate control systems comprise vents, fans, heating units, heat curtains, shade curtains, misting units, or cooling pads. 
   
   
       8 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor nodes form an ad-hoc dynamic wireless sensor network, and wherein each sensor node sends collected climate measurements to a base communication node by relaying data through a neighbor sensor node, and wherein the sensor node identifies the neighbor sensor node by determining which node can be used to establish the highest quality data transfer link. 
   
   
       9 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 8 , wherein the neighbor sensor node having the best quality link comprises a parent node that is used as a bridge for sending data to the base communication node. 
   
   
       10 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor nodes take measurements of environmental climate parameters including temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions at given periods, and compare the measurements against control conditions received by the sensor nodes and stored in an internal memory. 
   
   
       11 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the communications network for transferring data between the wireless sensor network and the server computer system comprises a GPRS network, an Edge network, a  3 G network, a UMTS network, a cellular network, a wireless broadband data communication service, or WiMAX. 
   
   
       12 . The remote wireless climate monitoring and control system of claim  1 , further comprises a web based application or a cell phone application for providing an interface for monitoring data from the wireless sensor network and transmitting commands to the central computer server. 
   
   
       13 . A method of monitoring and controlling climate conditions in a greenhouse, comprising:
 communicating with a wireless sensor network installed in the greenhouse over a communications network, said wireless sensor network comprising a plurality of sensor nodes for monitoring climate conditions in the greenhouse and controlling one or more climate control systems, wherein communicating with the wireless sensor network comprises receiving data from and controlling operation of the sensor nodes; and   communicating with a device operated by an end-user over a communications network for transmitting the data to and receiving remote control commands or queries from the end-user.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein communicating with the wireless sensor network comprises communicating via the Internet or a cellular network. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the server computer system wherein communicating with the device comprises communicating via the Internet or a cellular network. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising responding to queries from the end-user with short text messages (SMS), web pages, or screens to be displayed on a cell phone application. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein communicating with the wireless sensor network comprises communicating using a GPRS network, an Edge network, a 3G network, a UMTS network, a cellular network, a wireless broadband data communication service, or WiMAX.