Mosquito Misting System And Method For Using Same

Abstract

Embodiments described herein comprise an apparatus and method for controlling and monitoring a mosquito misting system. The apparatus includes a chemical reservoir, a delivery system, a spray system, one or more sensors, a communication network and a misting management unit. The sensors may detect normal and abnormal operations of the misting system and send this data to the misting management unit. The misting management unit may then analyze the data and determine the problem. If the problem can be fixed without personnel, the misting management unit may simply adjust the system and fix the problem. If the problem requires personnel, the system may automatically schedule the service call based on a number of criteria.

1 . A control system for remotely monitoring and controlling the operation of a plurality of insect misting systems disposed at respective target areas, wherein each of the insect misting systems includes a liquid reservoir for storing an insecticide mixture, a delivery system for delivering the insecticide mixture to the target area via a spray system that distributes the insecticide mixture within the target area, and a spray cycle control unit for controlling the spray cycle of said spray system, the control system comprising:
 a misting management system operatively connected with each insect misting system that includes a reservoir sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding at least one condition in the liquid reservoir, a delivery system sensor configured to provide data regarding at least one operating condition of the delivery system in delivering the insecticide mixture to the target area via said spray system, a historical data unit configured to collect and store at least said data from said sensors, and a diagnostic unit configured to receive data from said sensors and take actions as needed based upon said data from said sensors to optimize the operating efficiency of the insect misting system, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle; and   at least one remote computer connected via an Internet communications network with said misting management system of respective said insect misting systems and configured to transmit and receive said data from said sensors, and to transmit commands to said misting management system to remotely monitor various conditions and operating parameters, and to take actions to remotely control the operation of the respective said insect misting systems, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one remote mobile hand-held digital device connected via the Internet communications network with the misting management system of respective said insect misting systems and configured to transmit and receive said data from said sensors and to transmit commands to said misting management system, to remotely monitor various conditions and operating parameters, and to take actions to remotely control the operation of the respective said insect misting systems, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         3 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the insect misting systems includes a chemical reservoir for storing an insecticide concentrate, and a water source for providing a volume of water to be mixed with the insecticide concentrate to form the insecticide mixture which is stored in said liquid reservoir; and   said misting management system operatively connected with each insect misting system includes a chemical reservoir sensor configured to provide data regarding at least one condition in the chemical reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . The control system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said chemical sensor of said misting management system is configured to monitor and provide data regarding the amount of insecticide concentrate remaining in said chemical reservoir; and   said diagnostic unit is configured to send an alert to an operator via the Internet communications network regarding the low level of insecticide concentrate with instructions to fill said chemical reservoir, determine an amount of time remaining until the operator can fill said chemical reservoir, and ration the amount of the insecticide mixture dispensed based on the level of the insecticide concentrate remaining in said chemical reservoir and the amount of time remaining until said chemical reservoir is filled.   
     
     
         5 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said misting management system further includes at least one target area sensor selected from the group consisting of a wind sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding wind speed and direction at the target area, a rain fall sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding current or historical rain fall at the target area, a temperature sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding temperature in the target area, a barometric pressure sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding barometric pressure at the target area, a motion sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding presence of people or pets at the target area, and an insect sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding current insect population density at the target area;   said historical data unit is configured to collect and store data from said target area sensors; and   said diagnostic unit is configured to take actions as needed to optimize the operating efficiency of the mosquito misting system based on the data collected from said target area sensors.   
     
     
         6 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said misting management system is configured to receive weather forecasts from the Internet relating to weather conditions in the vicinity of said target area, and said diagnostic unit is configured to adjust the spray cycle as needed to optimize the operating efficiency based on the received weather conditions.   
     
     
         7 . The control system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said delivery sensor is configured to monitor and provide data regarding the operating condition of a pump of said delivery system for delivering said insecticide mixture to said target area.   
     
     
         8 . An insect misting system for controlling an insect population at a target area, comprising:
 a liquid reservoir for storing an insecticide mixture;   a delivery system for delivering the insecticide mixture to the target area;   a spray system that distributes the insecticide mixture within the target area; and   a spray cycle control unit for controlling the spray cycle of said spray system; and   a misting management system comprising:
 a reservoir sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding at least one condition in said liquid reservoir; 
 a delivery system sensor configured to provide data regarding at least one operating condition of the delivery system in delivering the insecticide mixture to the target area via said spray system; 
 a historical data unit configured to collect and store at least said data from said sensors regarding the operation of the misting system; and 
 a diagnostic unit configured to receive data from said sensors and take actions as needed to optimize the operating efficiency of the insect misting system, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system or modifying the spray cycle; and 
   at least one remote computer connected via an Internet communications network with said misting management system and configured to transmit and receive said data from said sensors and to transmit commands to said misting management system, to remotely monitor various conditions and operating parameters, and to take actions to remotely control the operation of said insect misting system, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         9 . The insect misting system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at least one remote mobile hand-held digital device connected via the Internet communications network with said misting management system of respective said insect misting systems and configured to transmit and receive said data from said sensors and to transmit commands to said misting management system, to remotely monitor various conditions and operating parameters, and to take actions to remotely control the operation of said insect misting system wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         10 . The insect misting system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a chemical reservoir for storing an insecticide concentrate; and   a water source for providing a volume of water to be mixed with the insecticide concentrate to form the insecticide mixture which is stored in said liquid reservoir; and   said misting management system includes a chemical reservoir sensor configured to provide data regarding at least one condition in said chemical reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . The insect misting system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 said chemical sensor of said misting management system is configured to monitor and provide data regarding the amount of insecticide concentrate remaining in said chemical reservoir; and   said diagnostic unit is configured to send an alert to an operator via the Internet communications network regarding the low level of insecticide concentrate with instructions to fill said chemical reservoir, determine an amount of time remaining until the operator can fill said chemical reservoir, and ration the amount of the insecticide mixture dispensed based on the level of the insecticide concentrate remaining in said chemical reservoir and the amount of time remaining until said chemical reservoir is filled.   
     
     
         12 . The insect misting system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said misting management system further includes at least one target area sensor selected from the group consisting of a wind sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding wind speed and direction at the target area, a rain fall sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding current or historical rain fall at the target area, a temperature sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding temperature in the target area, a barometric pressure sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding barometric pressure at the target area, a motion sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding presence of people or pets at the target area, and an insect sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding current insect population density at the target area;   said historical data unit is configured to collect and store data from said target area sensors; and   said diagnostic unit is configured to take actions as needed to optimize the operating efficiency of the mosquito misting system based on the data collected from said target area sensors, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The insect misting system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said delivery sensor is configured to monitor and provide data regarding the operating condition of a pump of said delivery system for delivering said insecticide mixture to said target area.   
     
     
         14 . The insect misting system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said misting management system is configured to receive weather forecasts from the Internet relating to weather conditions in the vicinity of said target area, and   said diagnostic unit is configured to adjust the spray cycle as needed to optimize the operating efficiency based on the received weather conditions.   
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling an insect population at a target area with an insect misting system, comprising the steps of:
 providing an insect misting system at a target area, the insect misting system having a liquid reservoir for storing an insecticide mixture, a delivery system for delivering the insecticide mixture to the target area, a spray system that distributes the insecticide mixture within the target area, a spray cycle control unit for controlling the spray cycle of said spray system, and a misting management system operatively connected with each insect misting system;   said misting management system having a reservoir sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding at least one condition in the said liquid reservoir, a delivery system sensor configured to provide data regarding at least one operating condition of said delivery system in delivering the insecticide mixture to the target area via said spray system, a historical data unit configured to collect and store at least said data from said sensors, and a diagnostic unit configured to receive data from said sensors and take actions as needed based upon said data from said sensors to optimize the operating efficiency of the insect misting system, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle; and   connecting at least one remote computer in communication with said misting management system via an Internet communications network to monitor various conditions and operating parameters and receive said data from said sensors; and   transmitting commands, via said at least one remote computer, to said diagnostic unit of said misting management system to remotely control the operation of the insect misting system and take actions as needed based upon said data received from said sensors to optimize the operating efficiency of the insect misting system, wherein said actions comprise at least one of disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising the further steps of
 connecting at least one remote mobile hand-held digital device in communication with said misting management system via the Internet communications network to monitor various conditions and operating parameters and receive said data from said sensors; and   transmitting commands, via said at least one mobile hand-held digital device, to said diagnostic unit of said misting management system to remotely control the operation of the insect misting system and take actions as needed based upon said data received from said sensors to optimize the operating efficiency of the insect misting system.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 said insect misting system includes a chemical reservoir for storing an insecticide concentrate, and a water source for providing a volume of water to be mixed with the insecticide concentrate to form the insecticide mixture which is stored in said liquid reservoir;   said misting management system includes a chemical reservoir sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding the amount of insecticide concentrate remaining in said chemical reservoir; and   said steps of transmitting commands to said diagnostic unit of said misting management system to remotely control the operation of the insect misting system and taking actions as needed based upon said data received from said sensors to optimize the operating efficiency of the insect misting system comprise at least one of sending an alert to an operator via the Internet communications network regarding the low level of insecticide concentrate with instructions to fill said chemical reservoir, determining an amount of time remaining until the operator can fill said chemical reservoir and rationing the amount of the insecticide mixture dispensed based on the level of the insecticide concentrate remaining in said chemical reservoir and the amount of time remaining until said chemical reservoir is filled, disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 said misting management system further includes at least one target area sensor selected from the group consisting of a wind sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding wind speed and direction at the target area, a rain fall sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding current or historical rain fall at the target area, a temperature sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding temperature in the target area, a barometric pressure sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding barometric pressure at the target area, a motion sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding presence of people or pets at the target area, and an insect sensor configured to monitor and provide data regarding current insect population density at the target area; and   said steps of transmitting commands to said diagnostic unit of said misting management system to remotely control the operation of the insect misting system and taking actions as needed based upon said data received from said at least one target area sensor comprise at least one of sending an alert to an operator via the Internet communications network regarding the data received from said at least one target area sensor, disabling the delivery system, and modifying the spray cycle.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising the further steps of:
 obtaining weather forecasts from the Internet relating to weather conditions in the vicinity of said target area; and   selectively disabling the delivery system, or modifying the spray cycle, as needed to optimize the operating efficiency based on the received weather conditions.