Patent Publication Number: US-2013231780-A1

Title: Tank mixing order tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/605,553 filed Mar. 1, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for determining a mixing order for creating water-based solutions using more than one chemical. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Applicators of plant protection products, such as farmers, landscapers, etc., are under increased pressure to become more efficient in their operations and to increase crop yield or turf performance. The applicators may apply chemicals of many varieties to soil, crops, weeds, insects, fungi, etc., to increase crop yield. However, repeated applications of these separate chemicals are costly both in terms of fuel and labor. Increasingly, applicators are turning to the application of more than one chemical at a time by mixing the chemicals prior to application. 
     SUMMARY 
     While mixing chemicals can be as easy as pouring the chemical into a tank, there are over twenty-five identified formulation types for agricultural chemicals, including wettable powders, flowable concentrates, emulsified concentrates, etc., represented by over one thousand generic and brand name agricultural chemical products. Some formulation types, when mixed in the wrong sequence can coagulate, gel, etc. causing , among other things, clogged sprayer tanks, tubes and nozzles. Moreover the active ingredients may leave the solution or settle in the solution such that only water is applied, leaving the active ingredients in the tank. Clogged tanks, lines, and spray nozzles require expensive and time consuming clean up, not to mention the cost of the lost chemicals and any time spent applying ineffective mixtures to fields. 
     A tank mixing order tool supported by a tank mixing order system matches specified agricultural chemical products to their formulation type and recommends a mixing order or sequence based on characteristics of the formulation type. The tank mixing order tool uses a table of mixing order for different formulation types and a formulation type selector, where the formulation type selector matches generic or brand name chemical names to their respective formulation type. Once two or more agricultural chemicals are identified, the tool identifies corresponding formulation types and recommends a mixing order for the identified chemicals. The tool can save previously used mixing orders to reduce the time expended in mixing order development for future applications of the same chemicals. Additionally, the effect of various adjuvants may be included in the determination of the mixing order or specific adjuvants may be recommended based on the combination of chemicals being mixed. 
     The tool can provide on-line access to label information as well as entry of chemical identification via bar code capture. The tool can also provide additional benefits related to chemical incompatibilities in the way of mixing warnings or precautions. The tool allows compliance to various regulations to be documented via spray logs containing geographic location readings, local weather reports, and specific details of applied chemicals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system supporting a tank mixing order tool; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a mobile device supporting a tank mixing order tool; 
         FIGS. 3-7  are exemplary screen shots of operation of a web version of a tank mixing order tool; 
         FIGS. 8-18  are exemplary screen shots of operation of a smart phone version of a tank mixing application; 
         FIG. 19  is a flow chart of an exemplary method of providing a tank mixing order; and 
         FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an exemplary method of saving, timing, and logging spray applications sessions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean. . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates various aspects of an exemplary architecture implementing a tank mixing order system  100 . The high-level architecture includes both hardware and software applications, as well as various data communications channels for communicating data between the various hardware and software components. A web server  102  may connect over a network  104  to a number of web-enabled devices  110 . In some instances, the web enabled devices  110  may communicate with the network  104  via wireless signals  108  and, in some instances, may communicate with the network  104  via an intervening wireless or wired device  106 , which may be a wireless router, a wireless repeater, a base transceiver station of a mobile telephony provider, etc. In most cases, the network  104  may be the Internet, however, the network  104  may be a proprietary network, a secure public Internet, a virtual private network or some other type of network, such as dedicated access lines, plain ordinary telephone lines, satellite links, combinations of these, etc. Where the digital network  104  comprises the Internet, data communication may take place over the digital network  104  via an Internet communication protocol. 
     The web enabled devices  110  may include, by way of example, a smart-phone  112 , a web-enabled cell phone  114 , a tablet computer  116 , a personal digital assistant (PDA)  118 , or a laptop/desktop computer  120 . Other exemplary user computer or mobile devices may include any web-enabled device appropriately configured to interact with the tank mixing order system  100 . 
     Each of the web-enabled devices  110  may interact with the web server  102  to receive web pages, such as the web page  300  depicted in  FIG. 3 , for display on a display associated with the web-enabled devices  110 . Alternatively, the web server  102  may download an application to the web-enabled device that provides increased local functionality for interacting with the tank mixing system. Examples, of such applications include iPhone® and Android® applications. It will be appreciated that although only one web server  102  is depicted in  FIG. 1 , multiple web servers  102  may be provided for the purpose of distributing server load, serving different web pages, providing applications, implementing different portions of the tank mixing order system interface, etc. 
     The web server  102  includes a controller  128 . The controller  128  includes a program memory  132 , a microcontroller or a microprocessor (μP)  138 , a random-access memory (RAM)  140 , and an input/output (I/O) circuit  130 , all of which are interconnected via an address/data bus  144 . The controller may include a clock function (not depicted) capable of providing date and time information as well as providing a timer function, such as a stop watch. The clock function may be a hardware device or may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software. In some embodiments, the controller  128  may also include, or otherwise be communicatively connected to, a database  142  or other data storage mechanism (e.g., one or more hard disk drives, optical storage drives, solid state storage devices, etc.). The database  142  may include data such as customer web profiles, copies of product data, web page templates and/or web pages, iPhone®, Android®, or other applications for downloading and other data necessary to interact with the user devices  110  through the network  104 . It should be appreciated that although  FIG. 1  depicts only one microprocessor  138 , the controller  128  may include multiple microprocessors  138 . Similarly, the memory  132  of the controller  128  may include multiple RAMs  134  and multiple program memories  136 ,  136 A and  136 B storing one or more corresponding server application modules, according to the controller&#39;s particular configuration. Although  FIG. 1  depicts the I/O circuit  130  as a single block, the I/O circuit  130  may include a number of different types of I/O circuits (not depicted), including but not limited to, load balancing equipment, firewalls, proxy servers, cache controllers, etc. The controller  128  may implement the RAM(s)  134 ,  140  and the program memories  136 ,  136 A and  136 B as semiconductor memories, magnetically readable memories, and/or optically readable memories, for example, but does not include transitory media such as carrier waves. 
     The tank mixing order system may further include a central processing system  122  and user data storage  124 . The central processing system  122  can be used to create and/or store product formulation type data and mixing order data. The central processing system  122  may be a server the same as or similar to the web server  102  described above. The central processing system  122  may be a conventional server and may include mass storage devices, a database, or both (not depicted). The central processing system  122  may include more than one physical processor or server in known configurations. 
     The user data storage  124  may be a part of the central processing system  122  or may be a separate server with independent memory. The user data storage  124  may store information from users as discussed in more detail below. Briefly, the user information may include data for an individual user that saves previously entered tank mix product selections or historical data related to a previous application of chemicals by that user. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a simplified and exemplary block diagram of a web-enabled user device  202 , suitable for use in the tank mixing order system  100 . The user device  202  may include a wired and/or wireless communication interface  204 , a display  206 , a keyboard or equivalent touchscreen input device  208 , and, in some embodiments, a global positioning system (GPS)  210  and clock function  212 . In some embodiments, the clock function  212  may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software. A memory  214  may include volatile and non-volatile storage. In addition to an operating system and other utilities (not depicted), the memory  214  may store a browser  216  and, in some embodiments, a downloaded application  218 . 
     In operation of the tank mixing order tool, two basic modes are supported. The first mode of the tank mixing tool is a web-based client/server embodiment using a browser on the user device  110 , and the second mode is an application-based embodiment using a locally installed application with locally installed reference tables. 
     First, looking at the web-based client/server embodiment, a user at a user device  110 , with a browser  214  may enter a universal record locator (URL) and may be presented with an initial screen, such as screen  300  of  FIG. 3 . A series of selection boxes  302 - 310  may be shown on the initial screen, where each of the selection boxes  302 - 310  represents large categories of products. These large categories of products may include herbicides, PGRs (plant growth regulators), defoliants, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, IGRs (insect growth regulators) and miticides, as well as adjuvants that can promote the effects of chemical products from other categories. In some embodiments, some categories are combined to preserve screen space. For example, the miticides product category may be included with insecticides product category  306 . In further embodiments, adjuvants are recommended to the user to increase product efficacy. 
     Selection of a product category (e.g. the fungicides product category  304 ) may cause presentation of a product selection window, or similar selection function.  FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary product selection window  400 . The tool presents similar upon selection of the other product categories  301 - 310 . In an embodiment, a product selection window  400  may be returned to at any time during product selection to allow previously selected products to be removed from the mix, or to add an additional product from that category. 
     In some embodiments, product selection windows, such as product selection window  400 , include indications of favorite (i.e. preferred) products. For example, a star or other highlight may be displayed next to a product that is frequently selected by a user of the user device  110 . Alternatively, a user may manually select some of the products as favorites such that they are highlighted in future instances of the presentation of the product selection window  400 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an initial screen in which product categories have been populated via a product selection window, such as the product selection window  500 . In this example, a user has selected one each of a brand name herbicide, fungicide and insecticide, and one generic herbicide (2,4-DB 175). Button  502  allows a user to request a mixing order for the selected chemicals, and button  504  allows session user to clear the selected products and return to a clear initial screen, such as the initial screen  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary mixing order window  600  for the selected products indicated in  FIG. 5 . The products are assigned an ordinal number (e.g. 01, 02, 03, etc) and listed in sequence  602 . In addition to the order, as indicated by the ordinal numbers, the mixing order window may include the names of the chemicals and the corresponding chemical categories. The mixing order in the mixing order window  600  may be saved.  FIG. 7  illustrates a mixing order window  700  with a name entry box  702 , where the user may enter a descriptive name for the mixing order, and an associated save button  704 . A representation of the mixing order, presented below the name entry box  702 , may be saved via selection of the save button  704 . In some embodiments, the saving feature is available only when the user is logged into the system using a unique identifier and optional password. 
     Turning to the application-based embodiment,  FIGS. 8-17  illustrate a tank mix application  218 , implemented on a smartphone, tablet, or similar device. Upon navigating to the tank mixing tool, via a browser, for example, the user is offered an opportunity to download an application  218 . Alternatively, the user may select and download the application from an application store, known in the industry. 
     After executing the application  218 , the tank mixing order tool presents initial page  800 , where execution of the application may be initiated by a user navigating to and opening the tank mixing order tool on the user device  110 . Icons on the initial page  800  allow selection of a number of internal applications or instructional aides. For example, a mix guide icon  802  accesses the tank mix order application, a saved mixes icon  804  accesses previously saved tank mixes, a spray log icon  806  accesses the spray log application, discussed in more detail below, a products icon  807  accesses chemical product information, such as product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and a videos icon  808  accesses instructional videos. 
     Selection of the mix guide icon  802 , for example, starts the internal mix guide application.  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of an initial screen  810  for the mix guide application. The internal mix guide application of the application  218  allows the user to select from a number of chemical application products. As shown, three example herbicides and one example adjuvant have been selected. Activating the select button for a particular chemical type permits the user to either select additional chemicals or deselect a previously selected chemical. For example,  FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment  814  of an active select button showing previously selected chemicals from two groups. In this embodiment, a limit is placed on the total number of chemicals from each category that may be selected, for example.  FIG. 10  shows that three example herbicides of a maximum number of six herbicides have been selected.  FIG. 11  shows an exemplary screen shot  818  illustrating a generated mixing order  820  for the chemicals selected in the example illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     In some embodiments, the tool displays Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration numbers with the selected or selectable chemical application products. The EPA registration number may be displayed in a product selection window, such as the product selection window  400 , and/or in a mix guide application, such as in the initial screen  810 . 
     Activating the Mixing Precautions button  822  may cause the display of a scrollable window  830 A and  830 B of  FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B  showing exemplary mixing instructions. In some embodiments, the mixing precautions button  822  is presented to the user only when the mixing order  820  has corresponding mixing precautions. Additionally, the mixing precautions button  822  may provide an indication of the number of mixing precautions corresponding to the mixing order  820 . Similar to the web-based server/client embodiment discussed above, the name entry box  824  and Save Mixing Order button  826  may cause the selected chemicals and corresponding mixing order to be saved for future reference.  FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary screen shot  834  of a saved mixing order. 
     Selection of a Create Spray Log button  836  activates a spray log feature that allows logging of spray applications. The laws of some jurisdictions require such logs.  FIG. 14A  shows a first portion  840  of an example spray log screen.  FIG. 14B  shows a second portion  844  of the example spray log screen of  FIG. 14A . A Location Information section  846  may display location information collected via a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in the smart phone, if available. When a data connection is available, the location information may be used to query a weather reporting system to automatically populate a Weather Information area  848  with official weather information for that location. In another embodiment, the location data, the weather data, or both, may be manually entered. 
     In some implementations, the initial application screen, such as the initial screen  800 , includes a dedicated weather data icon. Selection of the weather data icon may trigger the presentation of current weather data corresponding to the current location of the user device or historical weather data corresponding to previously saved spray logs. 
     The spray log feature provides the ability to capture a duration of an application process by activating the Start Spraying button  850 .  FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary screen shot  860  of a spray application timer. Selecting the Stop Spraying button  862  will end the spray session, and, in some implementations, the spray application timer provides the user with periodic alerts if one or more spray sessions are active.  FIG. 16  illustrates a screen shot  870  of a completed spray interval. A summary area  872  shows the start and stop times. A Start Spraying button  874  allows capture of a second spray interval (not depicted), for example, after refilling a spray tank. A View Spray Log Details button  876  allows display of a spray log of the spraying activity by activating a screen depicted in  FIG. 18 , where the display of a spray log may include mixing order, date, location information, weather information, and EPA registration numbers. The display of a spray log may also include a notes field where the user enters text notes to be stored with the spray log. 
     In some embodiments, the display of a spray log includes a calculator field where the user adds select use rates (e.g. volume/acre) for each of the selected chemicals in the tank mix order. Further, the calculator field may allow the user to record units of measure, size of spray tanks, and the size of the sprayed areas. This additional calculator information may be saved with other spray log information, such as mixing order, date, location information, etc., as a comprehensive spray log. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a spray log summary for two spray sessions  882 ,  884 , each having one interval. The selection of one of the respective intervals will trigger the display of a spray log detail page.  FIG. 18  illustrates a detail page  890  for a saved spray session, such as spray session  882  of  FIG. 17 . Further, selection of a Share Spray Log button  892  may facilitate sending the spray log via email or Bluetooth to another computer. Thus the spray log feature may simplify the capture of data required for reporting chemical applications in some jurisdictions. 
     In some embodiments, the application may be completely downloaded to the smart phone  202  so that the application operates without network access, although some features, such as automatic weather information, may not be available in that case. That is, all mixing sequence and product to formulation data as well as mixing order algorithms are saved on the smart phone  202  or other similar user device. It is desirable to have the locally-saved application periodically check for updates to the application  218  that may affect the product listings or formulation types (discussed more below). Although in one embodiment the local application  218  stores all the necessary data for implementing mixing order selection, other embodiments may include various amounts of interactivity, either to save space on a user device  110 , or simply to use the most current chemical or algorithm data when a network connection is available. 
     In some embodiments, the mix tank order tool may employ an image capture module of the user device  110  to capture imagery of sprayed areas. For example, the image capture module may be a charge couple device (CCD) camera on a common smartphone. The captured imagery of the field may be saved in the memory of the user device  110  and/or shared, via email, for example, along with GPS location information and a timestamp (e.g. latitude, longitude, time, and date). In some implementations, the tool displays multiple images of the sprayed area along with a map of the sprayed area that indicates locations of respective image capture. The user may track and comment on field progress by reviewing the images over time and by making notes in a note field. 
     Specifying a mixing order can be broken into several parts. One part is the development of a mixing sequence, or mixing order, by formulation type. Table 1, below, shows a representative list of chemical formulation types in a sequence according to the order in which they should be added to a water or liquid fertilizer solution. The current embodiment uses the assumption that all the chemicals will be delivered in a water-based mix, therefore, water is the first ingredient. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 MIXING 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 ORDER 
                 ABBR. 
                 EQUIVALENTS 
                 FORMULATION TYPE 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 W 
                   
                   
                   
                 Water 
               
               
                 2 
                 C 
                   
                   
                   
                 Compatibility Agent 
               
               
                 3 
                 EW 
                   
                   
                   
                 Aqueous Emulsion 
               
               
                 4 
                 WSP 
                 WS 
                   
                   
                 Water Soluble Packet 
               
               
                 5 
                 WP 
                 SP 
                 P 
                 W 
                 Wettable Powder 
               
               
                 6 
                 DF 
                   
                   
                   
                 Dry Flowable 
               
               
                 7 
                 WDG 
                 DG 
                   
                   
                 Water disperable 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 granular 
               
               
                 8 
                 SG 
                 WSG 
                   
                   
                 Water Soluble Granule 
               
               
                 9 
                 WG 
                   
                   
                   
                 Wettable Granule 
               
               
                 10 
                 AMS 
                   
                   
                   
                 Ammonium Sulfate 
               
               
                 11 
                 DDR 
                   
                   
                   
                 Dry drift retardant 
               
               
                 12 
                 SE 
                   
                   
                   
                 Suspoemulsion 
               
               
                 13 
                 AS 
                   
                   
                   
                 Aqueous Suspension 
               
               
                 14 
                 FC 
                 F 
                   
                   
                 Flowable Concentrate 
               
               
                 15 
                 FL 
                 WDL 
                   
                   
                 Flowable 
               
               
                 16 
                 SC 
                 SF 
                   
                   
                 Suspension 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Concentrate 
               
               
                 17 
                 LDR 
                   
                   
                   
                 Liquid drift retardant 
               
               
                 18 
                 ME 
                   
                   
                   
                 Micro encapsulated 
               
               
                 19 
                 ES 
                   
                   
                   
                 Emulsion suspension 
               
               
                 20 
                 LC 
                   
                   
                   
                 Liquid concentrate 
               
               
                 21 
                 EC 
                 E 
                   
                   
                 Emulsifiable 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 concentrate 
               
               
                 22 
                 SL 
                   
                   
                   
                 Soluble Liquid 
               
               
                 23 
                 L 
                 S 
                 SL 
                 WSL 
                 Liquid 
               
               
                 24 
                 CS 
                   
                   
                   
                 Capsule Suspension 
               
               
                 25 
                 COC 
                   
                   
                   
                 Crop oil concentrate 
               
               
                 26 
                 MSO 
                   
                   
                   
                 Modified seed oil 
               
               
                 27 
                 HSOC 
                   
                   
                   
                 High surfactant oil 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 concentrate 
               
               
                 28 
                 NIS 
                   
                   
                   
                 Nonionic surfactant 
               
               
                 29 
                 WC 
                   
                   
                   
                 Water conditioner 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Table 1, a water dispersible granular formulation type (no. 7) should be mixed before adding a suspension concentrate (no. 16). Equivalent formulation types are shown in the same row and when more than one equivalent chemical is selected, the corresponding products are assigned a mixing order, for example, either alphabetical or in the sequence selected. 
     Another part of specifying the mixing order is the identification of chemicals by their formulation type. In an embodiment, each chemical available for selection is identified either by brand name or generic equivalent and is associated with its formulation type. In some cases, the formulation type may be listed on the label, but in other cases the manufacturer must identify the formulation type. After identification of each chemical by formulation type, an index may be developed of product by formulation type. 
     The tank mixing order application, whether web-based or application-based (e.g. supported by application  218 ) then presents the list of products, receives a selection from those products, and does an index look up, or equivalent, of product to formulation type. The formulation types are identified in a second index look up to identify the mix order number from, for example, Table 1. Lastly, the products are ordered according to the corresponding mix order number and presented to the user. 
     As discussed above with respect to  FIG. 7 , the selected products and mix order may be saved for future use. For local application-based embodiments, the saved results may be stored locally on the user device  110  and uploaded to the user data storage device  124  when network connectivity is available. Further, other customer records may be stored on the system, either locally or at the user data storage device  124 . These records may include a user name, address, contact information, as well as chemical application histories, discussed below. 
     In some locations, a record of chemical applications must be kept. These records often include the chemicals applied, the location of the application, the date, and the weather (e.g. wind speed that may affect spray drift). The tank mixing order application or tool  218  may collect the date, time and location from the GPS receiver  210  and compile that information with the chemicals from the tank mixing selection. Integration with a local or server-side weather application (not depicted) allows retrieval of weather conditions for that geographic area on that day (and time if necessary). Therefore, compliance to chemical application reporting is greatly simplified using the single user-device based mixing order tool  218 . 
     An additional feature of the tank mixing order tool  218  is the ability to capture one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code information and either using a local look-up or server-based information, returning the chemical product name for use when selecting chemicals in the mixing order tool  218 . 
     Another feature of the tank mixing order tool  218  or web-based application is the ability to retrieve, either locally or via a network connection, label data for each selected chemical. Agricultural product labels may be several pages or more in length, with detailed information about storage, application rates, mixing proportions, health cautions, etc. However, the storage environment for these containers is not always conducive to preservation of the labels. Dirt, abrasion, spills, and other events may cause the labels to be lost or unusable. The ability to retrieve label data via the tool  218  provides an additional benefit to the end user. 
       FIG. 19  is a flow chart of an exemplary method  900  of providing a tank mixing order, that is particularly applicable to, but not limited to, water soluble chemicals. 
     The method involves identifying a formulation type for chemicals and creating a mixing sequence according to the formulation type (block  902 ). The mixing sequence according to formulation type may be stored on a computer readable media (block  904 ), either at a server  122 , database  142 , or at a memory  212  of a user device  110 , such as a smartphone  112 . 
     A product table may be created identifying a plurality of brand name or generic agricultural chemicals by respective formulation type (block  906 ) and stored in computer readable memory (block  908 ), either at a server  122 , database  142 , or at a memory  212  of a user device  110 , such as a smartphone  112 . 
     A request for a mixing sequence may be received over a network from a user device or at a user device application (block  910 ). The server  122  or  102  or a user device may receive a selection of two or more chemicals appearing in the product table (block  912 ). The two or more chemicals may be matched to their respective formulation types using the product table (block  914 ). The two or more chemicals may be ordered by their respective formulation types using the mixing sequence (block  916 ). The chemicals sequenced in the mixing order may be delivered to a user device  110  (block  918 ) for display via a user interface. Alternatively, if the tank mixing order application is stored and executed locally, the results may simply be displayed via the user interface. 
       FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an exemplary method  950  of saving, timing and logging spray application sessions. After entering chemicals and receiving a tank mix order, as described above with respect to  FIG. 19 , the selected chemicals and tank mix may be saved for later use (block  952 ). The tank mix may be given a descriptive name for ease of identification. The tank mix may be saved locally, for example, on a smart phone  112  or may be saved at a web site or in the cloud. 
     If the tank mix information is to be used for spray application logging, a previously stored tank mix formulation may optionally be retrieved for use in creating the spray log ( 954 ). If the current mix is to be applied, the information available from entering the data for the tank mixing order may simply be used. Location information may be captured either manually or via a built-in GPS unit (block  956 ). 
     Optionally, weather information may be manually or automatically added to the spray log (block  958 ). If no weather information is added at the time of spraying, the weather information may be added later using almanac data for the date, time and location. 
     When the spray session is started, a timer may be activated on the smart phone  112  or similar device being used. When the spray session is concluded, the timer may be deactivated (block  960 ). At that point, the start/stop and durations of the spray application may be logged. As discussed above, if other intervals of spray application are performed, those additional intervals may also be recorded (block  962 ). 
     At a convenient time, such as when spraying is concluded and network connectivity is available, the spray log may optionally be sent to another device for use in spray application reporting. 
     This detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this application.