Simplified Interface and Operation in a Watering System

Abstract

A user terminal may be configured to communicate with a gateway. The gateway may be configured to communicate with sensor equipment including one or more sensors and watering equipment via a first network. The gateway may also be configured to communicate with the user terminal via a second network. The user terminal may include processing circuitry that is configured to provide a remote interface for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment via the gateway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a sensor equipment including one or more sensors configured to be disposed on a parcel of land;   a watering equipment disposed on the parcel and configured to selectively apply water to the parcel;   a user terminal; and   a gateway configured to communicate with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment via a first network, and communicate with the user terminal via a second network;   wherein the user terminal comprises processing circuitry configured to provide a remote interface for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment via the gateway;   wherein the sensor equipment is configured to implement an intelligent measurement cycle that adapts a timing between sensor measurements based on a result of a previous sensor measurement.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor equipment comprises, and is powered by, a battery. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor equipment is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between sensor measurements to reduce energy consumption from the battery. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors of the sensor equipment is a moisture sensor;
 wherein the sensor measurements comprise moisture measurements;   wherein the sensor equipment is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between the moisture measurements in response to a previous moisture measurement being above a high moisture threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor equipment is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to decrease the timing between the moisture measurements in response to the previous moisture measurement being below a low moisture threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor equipment is configured to override the intelligent measurement cycle regardless of a value of a previous moisture measurement and perform a moisture measurement before the watering equipment begins a planned irrigation event. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor equipment is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between the sensor measurements in response to the previous sensor measurement being above a high threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor equipment is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to decrease the timing between the sensor measurements in response to the previous sensor measurement being below a low threshold. 
     
     
         9 . A sensor equipment for a watering system, the sensor equipment comprising:
 a sensor configured to be disposed on a parcel of land, the sensor being further configured to take sensor measurements for vegetation maintenance on the parcel of land;   processing circuitry; and   a device interface configured to communicate at least the sensor measurements to a gateway within a garden network;   wherein the processing circuity is configured to:
 receive sensor measurements from the sensor; and 
 implement an intelligent measurement cycle that adapts a timing between the sensor measurements based on a result of a previous sensor measurement. 
   
     
     
         10 . The sensor equipment of  claim 9  further comprising a battery configured to power the sensor equipment. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor equipment of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuity is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between sensor measurements to reduce energy consumption of the battery. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a moisture sensor;
 wherein the sensor measurements are moisture measurements;   wherein the processing circuity is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between the moisture measurements in response to a previous moisture measurement being above a high moisture threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The sensor equipment of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuity is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to decrease the timing between the moisture measurements in response to the previous moisture measurement being below a low moisture threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor equipment of  claim 13 , wherein the processing circuity is configured to override the intelligent measurement cycle regardless of a value of a previous moisture measurement and perform a moisture measurement before a planned irrigation event occurs. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the processing circuity is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between the sensor measurements in response to the previous sensor measurement being above a high threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor equipment of  claim 15 , wherein the processing circuity is configured to implement the intelligent measurement cycle to decrease the timing between the sensor measurements in response to the previous sensor measurement being below a low threshold. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 performing, by a sensor of a sensor equipment disposed on a parcel of land, sensor measurements for vegetation maintenance on the parcel of land;   receiving, at processing circuity of the sensor equipment, sensor measurements from the sensor   communicating, via a device interface, the sensor measurements to a gateway within a garden network; and   implementing, by the processing circuitry, an intelligent measurement cycle that adapts a timing between the sensor measurements based on a result of a previous sensor measurement.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising powering the sensor equipment via a battery. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising implementing the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between sensor measurements to reduce energy consumption of the battery. 
     
     
         20 . The method  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a moisture sensor;
 wherein the sensor measurements are moisture measurements;   wherein the method further comprises implementing the intelligent measurement cycle to increase the timing between the moisture measurements in response to a previous moisture measurement being above a high moisture threshold.