Patent ID: 8630743
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: A01G,G05B,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling irrigation, the method comprising: communicating an assumption broadcast from a first irrigation controller to each of a plurality of other irrigation controllers of an irrigation system, where the assumption broadcast defines assumed states of operation of one or more control elements each coupled to a respective one of the first irrigation controller or a respective one of the plurality of other irrigation controllers of the irrigation system, wherein the irrigation system is configured to implement irrigation scheduling instructions, wherein the one or more control elements are shared with one or more of the first irrigation controller and the plurality of other irrigation controllers of the irrigation system that are not coupled to the one or more control elements; determining whether a reply is received from one or more of the plurality of other irrigation controllers in reply to the assumption broadcast; identifying, from the reply, a correction to a state corresponding to a first control element of the one or more control elements, where the first control element is associated with a first of the plurality of other irrigation controllers; updating state information corresponding to the first control element in response to the identifying the correction; and communicating a subsequent notification from the first irrigation controller to each of the plurality of other irrigation controllers of the irrigation system, where the subsequent notification comprises the updated state information corresponding to the first control element.