Computerized plant health diagnostics system

Abstract

A computerized plant health diagnostics system comprises a probe and a computer. The probe is installed at a site of a plant that is in poor health. The probe collects environmental data at the site. The environmental data are uploaded to a computer. The computer obtains a species profile for the installed plant. The computer identifies an adverse environmental condition using the environmental data and the species profile. Information regarding the adverse environmental condition is displayed to a user, which advantageously enables the user to take action to improve the health of the installed plant. The computer may also direct the user to troubleshooting information, such as technical information and purchasing information, which advantageously enable the user to discover and implement an appropriate course of action to improve the health of the installed plant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a probe adapted for use in a computerized plant selection and health maintenance system in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a shield for such a probe.

FIG. 3 shows a soil mount for such a probe.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a soil mount for such a probe.

FIG. 5 shows a stand for such a probe.

FIG. 6 shows a controller for such a probe.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of such a probe illustrating how it is assembled.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of controller logic and sensors for such a probe.

FIG. 9 shows a network adapted for use in a computerized plant selection and health maintenance system in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a computerized plant selection system in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a computerized plant health diagnostics system in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a computerized real-time plant health monitoring system in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a probe adopted for use in a computerized plant selection and health maintenance system in another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view of such a probe.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of such a probe illustrating how it is assembled.

Claims

1. A computerized plant health diagnostics system, comprising: a probe adapted to collect environmental data at a site of an installed plant; anda computer adopted to receive environmental data collected by the probe, identify an adverse environmental condition using the received environmental data and a species profile associated with the installed plant and display information regarding the adverse environmental condition to a user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the received environmental data comprise data indicative of plant-environment compatibility.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the received environmental data comprise light intensity, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and soil pH data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe has a portable controller adapted to store the collected environmental data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the probe comprises a USB connector for connecting the controller to the computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe has a controller adapted for removal from the probe and connection to the computer for transmitting the collected environmental data to the computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the species profile is obtained using user interview data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is adopted to direct a user to troubleshooting information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the troubleshooting information comprises plant care information.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the troubleshooting information comprises product purchasing information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe has a portable controller adapted to store the collected environmental data and computer has client software installed thereon adapted to interact with the controller to receive the collected environmental data, interact with a regional plant database to obtain the species profile and interact with a user interface to display the information regarding the adverse environmental condition.

12. A method for plant health diagnostics, comprising: collecting environmental data at a site of an installed plant;identifying an environmental condition incompatible with the installed plant using the environmental data; anddisplaying information regarding the incompatible environmental condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the incompatible environmental condition is further identified using a species profile obtained for the installed plant.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: identifying troubleshooting information regarding the incompatible environmental condition; anddisplaying the troubleshooting information.

15. A set of instructions executable on a computer for performing steps comprising: receiving environmental data collected at a site of an installed plant;conducting an interview with a user to obtain a species profile associated with the installed plant;identifying an environmental condition adverse to the installed plant using the environmental data and the species profile; anddisplaying information regarding the adverse environmental condition to the user.

16. The set of instructions of claim 15 for performing further steps comprising: identifying troubleshooting information regarding the adverse environmental condition; anddisplaying the troubleshooting information to the user.

17. The set of instructions of claim 15 wherein the environmental data are received from a portable probe controller.

18. The set of instructions of claim 15 wherein the troubleshooting information is obtained from a website.