Patent ID: 7058479

Claim:
An irrigation controller for selectively turning on and off a set of sprinkler valve stations, said irrigation controller being programmable by a user, said irrigation controller comprising: a. an irrigation control processor, including i. an input port; ii. an output port; iii. a memory element for storing an irrigation control program and irrigation control parameters, said irrigation control program implementing a plurality of functionalities, each functionality controlling at least in part the turning on and off of the sprinkler valve stations; iv. a processing unit for executing said irrigation control program; and v. a bus connecting said processing unit to said memory element and to said input and output ports; b. an input device interfaced with said input port; c. said output port being provided for interfacing with the sprinkler valve stations for controlling the turning on and off of said sprinkler valve stations; d. said input device cooperating with said control program to allow said intended user to upgrade said irrigation controller by entering through said input device a predetermined input representative of a predetermined code, said predetermined code being specific to said irrigation controller; e. wherein a larger number of functionalities are enabled in said irrigation controller after said irrigation controller has been upgraded than before said irrigation controller is upgraded.