Patent Application
20090106272
There are many species of turfgrass seeds. Each species produces a grass that has unique characteristics. For example, species can produce grasses that vary in color, leaf width, moisture requirements, and density (i.e. number of living plants in a specified area).
Sometimes instead of using only one species of turfgrass seed, it is preferable to use a mixture of different species of turfgrass seeds. For example, it may be desirable to have a lawn of turfgrass that has dark green color and a high density. There may not be one species of seed that produces grass having these qualities. It may however be possible to create a mixture of different turfgrass seed species that would produce a mixture of grasses that collectively has the desired characteristics. For example, it may be possible to mix a seed species that produces grass with a dark green color with a species that produces grass with a high density.
It may also be desirable to mix species of seeds for economic reasons. For example, an optimal species for a particular setting may be prohibitively expensive. However, it may be possible to mix the expensive species with a more reasonably priced species to reduce cost while maintaining desired features.
Despite the benefits of using seed mixtures, it can be very difficult to choose a seed mixture. For example, a person may be interested in using a seed mixture that includes ten species. The person may be interested in ten characteristics of the grass the mixture produces. If the mixture contained equal amounts of each species, this would result in the person having to examine one hundred data points (i.e. each of the ten characteristics for each of the ten species). If the mixture contains unequal amounts of each species, the analysis becomes even more complicated. It can also be difficult to compare one seed mixture to another. It can also be difficult to determine and compare the costs associated with different mixtures.
One embodiment of a method of this invention includes storing turfgrass seed information in a database such as a computer readable storage medium. A user provides computer input indicative of a mixture of turfgrass seeds. Information related to the indicated mixture is retrieved from the database. Based at least in part on the retrieved data, a user interface is created and presented to the user. In one embodiment, the user interface is a graph format display that enables the user to directly compare characteristics of the indicated mixture with characteristics of one or more different mixtures.
Certain embodiments described herein are intended for implementation in association with a computing device such as, but not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant. A Computing device generally illustrated at 100 in
Computing device 100 includes a motherboard 102, a central processing unit 104, a hard disk drive 106, random access memory 108, a power supply 110, a graphics display card 112, a monitor 114, user input devices 116, a communications card 118, and removable media reader/writer 120. Hard disk drive 106 is configured to write information to, and read information from computer readable storage media. Random access memory 108 is also configured to write information to, and read information from computer readable storage media. Removable media reader/writer 120 is configured to write information to, and read information from removable media such as, but not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and/or flash memory. User input devices 116 are configured to receive various inputs from a user. Devices 116 can include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, and/or a microphone. Communications card 118 enables computing device 100 to transfer data to and from other electronic devices.
Graphics display card 112 generates graphical image information and outputs the information such that it can be viewed on a monitor. Monitor 114 receives a signal from graphics display card 112 and displays visual images on its screen for a user to view. Central processing unit 104 executes computer program instructions and processes data. Motherboard 102 provides electrical and logical connections by which the other components of the system communicate. For example, motherboard 102 allows the central processing unit 104 to read data from, and write data to random access memory 108. Finally, power supply 110 provides for the electrical requirements of computing device 100. For example, electricity needed to operate hard disk drive 106 and monitor 114 illustratively originates from power supply 110.
A system 200 illustrated in
One or more users 212 illustratively interact within system 200 by providing input for example providing commands to component 208 in order to manipulate interfaces 210. In one embodiment, a user 212 interacts directly with a computing device upon which one or more of the other components of system 200 are installed. However, in another embodiment, a user 212 interacts remotely through a network 220 such as but not limited to the Internet.
Information in database 202 can be acquired from a variety of sources such as, but are not limited to, websites, product brochures, and published reports. The information can include anything that may be useful for purposes such as, but not limited to, identifying, comparing, or evaluating a mixture of turfgrass seeds. The information can include, but is certainly not limited to, price information, quality information, and/or types and amounts of species of seeds within a given mixture.
A user 212 is illustratively a person that uses system 200 to evaluate a mixture. In the context of computing device 100 described in relation to
A method 300 as illustrated in
In accordance with block 304, user(s) 214 provides input and in doing so identifies a mixture or mixtures of turfgrass seeds to be evaluated. Mixtures can be identified by any of a variety of methods such as, but not limited to, a user selecting a mixture from a list of mixtures, or a user identifying a custom mixture by utilizing a keyboard or other input device to enter types and quantities of species within a mixture.
In accordance with block 306, information retrieval component 204 retrieves information from database 202 that is associated with the mixture or mixtures identified in block 304. In addition, analysis component 206 may be utilized to derive additional information by performing a related calculation. For example, component 206 is illustratively configured to calculate a characteristic that is not otherwise stored in database 202 as raw data. In one embodiment, a calculated characteristic is stored in database 202 such that it can be retrieved rather than re-calculated when responding to subsequent same or similar user requests.
Mixture characteristics that are retrieved or computed can include, but are not limited to, quality and outcome characteristics of the grass produced by the identified mixture(s) and/or cost considerations. In one embodiment, the characteristics are determined using the information about the mixture(s) itself and/or information about the individual species within the mixture(s). For example, if a hypothetical “Mixture 1” is selected and it consists of 50% of “Type A” seed and 50% of “Type B” seed, and if “Type A” seed cost $100 per a pound and “Type B” seed cost $50 per a pound, then analysis component 208 is illustratively configured to calculate the cost of “Mixture 1” at $75 per a pound.
In accordance with block 308, information retrieved and/or identified at block 306 is provided to user 212. In one embodiment, this means providing the information through user interfaces 210. Interfaces 210 can include, but are not limited to, tabular or graphical representations of the information on a computer monitor.
In accordance with block 310, the mixture or mixtures identified by the user are evaluated using the information provided in accordance with block 308. Methods of evaluating include, but are not limited to, a person comparing quality characteristics and/or economic considerations related to grasses produced by the mixtures. In an embodiment, a user evaluates a mixture by comparing characteristics of a mixture to his or her requirements such as color, density, cost or other requirements.
In one embodiment, at least one interface 210 through which mixture-related information is provided to user(s) 212 is a worksheet that is an implementation of a spreadsheet application. A spreadsheet worksheet is generally indicated at 400 in
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a spreadsheet application also often includes more advanced features. One advanced feature is support for creating a graphical representation of data contained in a workbook. Another advanced feature is a capacity to interpret scripting programming languages. For example, a scripting programming language could be used to perform a function such as “hiding” specified cells in a worksheet.
In accordance with block 501, a user enters turfgrass seed species characteristic information into a worksheet. An example of an interface 210 for entering and storing turfgrass seed species information is illustrated in a worksheet generally indicated at 600 in
In one embodiment, the characteristic information included in worksheet 600 for each species includes some or all of the species characteristic information reported by the National Turf Evaluation Program of Beltsville, Md. (hereinafter “NTEP”). In one embodiment, the characteristics included in worksheet 600 for each species include some or all of aggressiveness, brown patch, certified genetics, cold tolerance, color, compaction tolerance, dollar spot, drought tolerance, early spring green up, endophyte/insect resistance, fast establishment, height/moving frequency, high pH tolerance, insect tolerance, leaf spot, leaf texture, low maintenance, low mowing height, mountain west quality, mowing quality, necrotic ring spot, PNW quality, quality ratings, red thread, phizomatous, rust, salt tolerance, shade tolerance, shade/powdery mildew, sod-shear strength, summer patch, summer stress, wear tolerance, and winter active growth.
In accordance with block 502, a user enters turfgrass seed species economic information into a worksheet. An example of an interface 210 for entering and storing species economic information is illustrated in a worksheet generally indicated at 700 in
In accordance with block 503, a user enters grass seed mixture information into a worksheet. An interface 210 for entering and storing grass seed mixture information into a worksheet is generally indicated at 800 in
In accordance with block 504, a user identifies, in a worksheet, the grass mixture or mixtures to be evaluated. An example of an interface 210 for identifying grass seed mixtures is illustrated in a worksheet generally indicated at 900 in
In an embodiment, a user can identify a mixture of seeds to be evaluated by either entering mixture information such as shown in worksheet 900, or by choosing a mixture from a list. The list could contain, for example, the mixtures identified in worksheet 800.
In another embodiment, a user can identify a mixture from a list and that mixture information will be automatically entered into worksheet 900. For example, a user could select the mixture “Michigan Green Mixture” from a list of mixtures and its species and relative amount information would be automatically entered into worksheet 900. A user could then optionally make modifications to the mixture to create a new, but related mixture for evaluation.
In yet another embodiment, a user can first limit the selection of mixtures to be listed by first choosing a characteristic such as a sales region. The list of mixtures will then be limited to only those mixtures sold in that region. For example worksheet 800 could include information relating to whether or not a mixture is sold in Colorado. In an embodiment, a user could select to exclude mixtures not sold in Colorado from being displayed in the list. In an embodiment, the mixtures are excluded utilizing a scripting programming language interpreted by the spreadsheet application.
In accordance with block 505, a spreadsheet program retrieves data and calculates mixture information in a worksheet. An interface 210 for retrieving data and calculating mixture information is illustrated in a worksheet generally indicated at 1000 in
Characteristics such as quality and price characteristics for each mixture are calculated in cells 1008. Cells 1008 contain formulas that utilize spreadsheet application capabilities such as retrieving information (e.g. using information retrieval component 204) and performing mathematical calculations (e.g. using analysis component 206). In accordance with one embodiment, equation 1 below) is a mathematical expression for calculating a mixture characteristic value.
A characteristic or attribute of a mixture, CM, is determined by multiplying the characteristic for each species in the mixture, Ci, by its relative amount in the mixture, pi, and then totaling the values. For example, cell 1009 calculates the “Color” characteristic of the “User Defined Mixture #1” mixture to be “7.0” by multiplying the “American Kentucky Bluegrass” species color value “9.0” by its relative amount “50%”, and adding this to the product of the “Arcadia Kentucky Bluegrass” species color value of “5.0” and its relative amount “50%” (i.e. 9.0×50%+5.0×50%=7.0).
In accordance with block 506, a spreadsheet program displays mixture information in a chart and/or a table. An interface 210 for displaying mixture information is illustrated in a chart indicated at 1100 in
An example of an interface 210 for displaying mixture information is shown in a table generally indicated at 1200 in
In accordance with block 507, a user evaluates a mixture using information displayed in chart 1100 and/or table 1200. In one embodiment, a user uses Chart 1100 and Table 1200 to evaluate a mixture based upon their needs. For example, Table 1200 shows that the “Michigan Green Mixture” price per pound is $0.98, that the “Custom Product 1” price per pound is $2.17, and that “Custom Product 2” price per pound is $2.25. A user may only have a budget for $2.10 per pound. Table 1200 shows that “Custom Product 1” and “Custom Product 2” are out of his or her budget. Additionally, Table 1200 shows the prices of the species of seeds in “Custom Product 1” and “Custom Product 2.” The user could use this information to modify the mixtures so that they meet his or her criteria. For example, Table 1200 shows that “Custom Product 1” includes the species “America KY Bluegrass” that has a price per pound of $2.50 and also includes the species “SR2100 KY Bluegrass” that has a price per pound of $1.90. A user could modify “Custom Product 1” by decreasing the amount of the more expensive species and increasing the amount of the less expensive species, such that the mixture price will meet the price requirements.
In another embodiment, a user evaluates a mixture or mixtures using Chart 1100. Chart 1100 is useful in evaluating a mixture because it allows a user to easily compare his or her needs to the characteristics of the mixture or mixtures, and also allows for a user to easily detect strengths and weaknesses between mixtures. For example, “Custom Product 1” as is indicated by legend 1106 is represented by the square value indicators. The “Color” value indicator shows that “Custom Product 1” has the highest score for this characteristic. If a user is only concerned with “Color”, this would indicate to the user that he or she should select “Custom Product 1.” Chart 1100 also shows that for the “Leaf Texture” characteristic, “Custom Product 1” has the lowest score. If a user was interested in a mixture with good performance in both “Color” and “Leaf Texture”, Chart 1100 shows that he or she may want to choose “Custom Product 2” represented by the diamond value indicators which has slightly lower “Color” performance than “Custom Product 1”, but has much better “Leaf Texture” performance.
In yet another embodiment, Chart 1100 and Table 1200 are used in combination. For example, Chart 1100 shows that the “Michigan Green” mixture has the lowest performance for nine out of the ten characteristics displayed. However, Table 1200 shows that the “Michigan Green” mixture cost less than half the price of the other mixtures. A user can compare his or her needs for price and performance, and make a decision. For example, even though “Michigan Green” mixture generally under performs the other two mixtures, it may be the preferable mixture considering cost requirements.
It is worth noting that the embodiments are only shown for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. For example, worksheet 600 in
It is also worth noting that the user in
Finally, it is worth noting that the described methods and tools are only illustrative embodiments of methods and tools for evaluating a turfgrass seed mixture. They are not limitations. Methods and tools for evaluating a turfgrass seed mixture can use spreadsheets differing from what has been shown, the method and tool can include computer programs other than a spreadsheet program, and the method and tool need not include any computer programs, the method and tools can be done manually. Workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
