Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A CUSTOMIZABLE PRODUCE GROWING
CONSUMABLE
Background
[0001] Hydroculture is a method of cultivating plants in a soilless medium
through aquatic
distribution of water and nutrients. At first, hydroculture was a methodology
primarily used for
growing plants in lab, allowing scientists to target specific attributes, like
nutrients, for testing.
With the development of Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) and indoor
growing,
hydroculture became more frequently used outside of the lab. There are two
main types of
hydroculture: hydroponic and aeroponic.
[0002] Hydroponics delivers nutrients and hydration to plant roots while
submerged in water
and dissolved nutrients. Support material is used at the base of the plant and
sometimes at the
roots to hold the plant upright.
100031 Aeroponics employs misters positioned to spray the roots of the
plants with nutrient
solution, without the use of aggregate medium, such as soil, around the roots.
Support material
is used at the base of the plant, and the roots are enclosed in the misted
chamber, while the
canopy of the plant is left open.
Summary
WON] The techniques described herein can be used to optimize plant growth
and resiliency
in hyrdoculture. In some examples, the techniques provide for a distributed
system that includes
modular growing chambers with dedicated reservoirs and electronics that
isolate the root area of
each growing chamber, e.g., to contain the spread of disease and mitigate the
risk of crop failure
in a controlled environment. In some examples, the techniques provide for
hybrid hydroculture,
including a hybrid hydroculture system that utilizes hydroponics typical
during early stage plant
growth, hybrid typical during mid stage plant growth, and/or aeroponics
typical during mature
stage plant growth. In some examples, the techniques provide for networked
controls and cloud
based communication protocols that enable general system management and
independent
manipulation of the modular growing chambers in a distributed system. In some
examples, the
techniques provide for growing profiles for plant and the development of
growing algorithm
based on plant species and dedicated system attributes. In some examples, the
techniques
provide for a customizable seed cartridge based on plant type and growth
stage.
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[0005] Disclosed subject matter includes, in one aspect, a computerized
method for
automatically controlling a set of growing parameters for each of a set of
plant growing units,
wherein the set of growing parameters for each plant growing unit from the set
of plant growing
units are customized based on both an environment in which the plant growing
unit is located
and a type of plant being grown in the plant growing unit. The computerized
method includes
storing, by a computing device, a set of growing profiles in a database in
communication with
the computing device, wherein each growing profile defines a set of growing
parameters for a
type of plant. The computerized method includes receiving, by the computing
device, data
indicative of a growing profile from the set of growing profiles being
associated with a plant
growing unit from a set of plant growing units in communication with the
computing device.
The computerized method includes transmitting, by the computing device, a set
of growing
parameters from the growing profile to the plant growing unit so that the
plant growing unit can
execute the growing parameters to grow a plant that is planted in the plant
growing unit. The
computerized method includes receiving, by the computing device, sensor data
from the plant
growing unit indicative of data from one or more sensors locally installed at
the plant growing
unit. The computerized method includes customizing, by the computing device,
the set of
growing parameters based on the sensor data from the plant growing unit such
that the set of
growing parameters can be customized for an environment in which the plant
growing unit is
located.
[0006] Disclosed subject matter includes, in another aspect, a computing
system for
automatically controlling a set of growing parameters for each of a set of
plant growing units,
wherein the set of growing parameters for each plant growing unit from the set
of plant growing
units are customized based on both an environment in which the plant growing
unit is located
and a type of plant being grown in the plant growing unit. The computing
system includes a
processor configured to run a module stored in memory that is configured to
cause the processor
to store a set of growing profiles in a database in communication with the
computing system,
wherein each growing profile defines a set of growing parameters for a type of
plant. The
module stored in memory is further configured to cause the processor to
receive data indicative
of a growing profile from the set of growing profiles being associated with a
plant growing unit
from a set of plant growing units in communication with the computing device.
The module
stored in memory is further configured to cause the processor to transmit a
set of growing
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parameters from the growing profile to the plant growing unit so that the
plant growing unit can
execute the growing parameters to grow a plant that is planted in the plant
growing unit. The
module stored in memory is further configured to cause the processor to
receive sensor data from
the plant growing unit indicative of data from one or more sensors locally
installed at the plant
growing unit. The module stored in memory is further configured to cause the
processor to
customize the set of growing parameters based on the sensor data from the
plant growing unit
such that the set of growing parameters can be customized for an environment
in which the plant
growing unit is located.
[0007] Disclosed subject matter includes, in another aspect, a non-
transitory computer
readable medium comprising executable instructions operable to cause an
apparatus to store a set
of growing profiles in a database, wherein each growing profile defines a set
of growing
parameters for a type of plant. The executable instructions are operable to
cause an apparatus to
receive data indicative of a growing profile from the set of growing profiles
being associated
with a plant growing unit from a set of plant growing units in communication
with the computing
device. The executable instructions are operable to cause an apparatus to
transmit a set of
growing parameters from the growing profile to the plant growing unit so that
the plant growing
unit can execute the growing parameters to grow a plant that is planted in the
plant growing unit.
The executable instructions are operable to cause an apparatus to receive
sensor data from the
plant growing unit indicative of data from one or more sensors locally
installed at the plant
growing unit. The executable instructions are operable to cause an apparatus
to customize the set
of growing parameters based on the sensor data from the plant growing unit
such that the set of
growing parameters can be customized for an environment in which the plant
growing unit is
located.
[0008] These and other capabilities of the disclosed subject matter will be
more fully
understood after a review of the following figures and detailed description.
It is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of
description and
should not be regarded as limiting.
Brief Description of the Figures
[0009] Various objectives, features, and advantages of the disclosed
subject matter can be
more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of
the disclosed
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subject matter when considered in connection with the following drawings, in
which like
reference numerals identify like elements.
[0010] Figure 1 is an exemplary diagram of a hybrid distributed
hydroculture system in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0011] Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram of a hybrid distributed
hydroculture system in
different rooms and/or buildings in accordance with some embodiments.
[0012] Figure 3 is an exemplary diagram of a hydroculture unit in
accordance with some
embodiments.
100131 Figure 4 is an exemplary diagram of how a unit can be adjusted to
achieve
hydroponic, hybrid and/or aeroponic applications in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0014] Figure 5 is an exemplary diagram of a system protocol in accordance
with some
embodiments.
[0015] Figure 6 is an exemplary diagram of a growing protocol in accordance
with some
embodiments.
[0016] Figure 7 is an exemplary diagram of a seed cartridge 700 assembly in
accordance
with some embodiments.
[0017] Figure 8 shows an exemplary cartridge within a micro-gardening
system basin in
accordance with sonic embodiments.
[0018] Figure 9 shows an exemplary cartridge hole configuration in
accordance with some
embodiments.
[0019] Figure 10 shows an exemplary cartridge hole configuration with seeds
in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0020] Figure 11 shows an exemplary cartridge hole configuration with seeds
in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0021] Figures 12-18 show exemplary implementations of the cartridge in
accordance with
some embodiments.
[0022] Figure 19 shows an exemplary cartridge in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0023] Figure 20 shows an exemplary cartridge with seeds in accordance with
some
embodiments.
[0024] Figure 21 shows a side view of an exemplary cartridge in accordance
with some
embodiments.
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[0025] Figure 22 shows a side view of an exemplary cartridge growing a
plant in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0026] Figure 23A shows exemplary components of an exemplary cartridge in
accordance
with some embodiments.
[0027] Figure 23B shows an assembly process 2316 for a cartridge in
accordance with some
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0028] Figure 24 shows an exemplary diagram of the assembly process for an
exemplary
cartridge in accordance with some embodiments.
[0029] Figure 25 shows an exemplary growing experience using an exemplary
cartridge in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0030] Figure 26 shows an exemplary process for producing cartridges in
accordance with
the present disclosure in accordance with some embodiments.
[0031] Figure 27 shows how an exemplary cartridge label may include
exemplary data in
accordance with some embodiments.
Detailed Description
[0032] In the following description, numerous specific details are set
forth regarding the
systems and methods of the disclosed subject matter and the environment in
which such systems
and methods may operate, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of
the disclosed
subject matter. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that
the disclosed subject
matter may be practiced without such specific details, and that certain
features, which are well
known in the art, are not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessary
complication of the
disclosed subject matter. In addition, it will be understood that the
embodiments provided below
are exemplary, and that it is contemplated that there are other systems and
methods that are
within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.
Distributed System
100331 The distributed system described herein can allow for multiple plant
types to be
grown within one system, while at the same time limiting the spread of
disease, reducing failure
and allowing for adaptability of the system in multiple configurations. This
is made possible
through the networked capability of the system for remote control and
monitoring.
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[0034] Figure 1 is an exemplary diagram of a hybrid distributed
hydroculture system in
accordance with some embodiments. As shown in Figure 1, each "unit" 100
includes an
associated plant type and can be placed alone or with multiple units called a
"set" 101 within a
room. Figure 1 shows a single unit and a set with three units. The current
embodiment is
primarily constructed of plastic, aluminum and urethane. The unit is described
in further detail
with respect to Figures 3 and 4, and the communication among different units
or sets is described
in further detail with respect to Figure 5.
10035] Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram of a hybrid distributed
hydroculture system in
different rooms and buildings in accordance with some embodiments. The
scenario in Figure 2
shows eight units and four sets for one "system" within two buildings. The
first set/room 215
includes a single unit 205 with a plant type 200. The second set/room 216
includes three units
206-208, all with the same plant type 201, an additional unit 209 is added at
a later point with a
different plant type 204. The third set/room 217 has two units 210-211, each
with a different
plant type 202-203. The first three sets/rooms are all in the first building
213. The fourth
set/room 218 includes a single unit 212 with a plant type 204 in another
building 214. However,
one of skill in the art can appreciate that there can be myriad units and sets
within multiple
buildings as necessary within one system. Each unit can grow one or
complementary plant
type(s) at a time with multiple plants as the size accommodates. The plant
type(s) can then be
removed from the unit and a different plant type(s) can be placed.
Additionally, units or sets can
be added to the system at any point to expand the system, as shown by the
addition of unit five
209 with plant type five 204 to the set in room two 216.
10036] Each unit is designed to function in a number of different
configurations, including
autonomously, within a set, within a system, or any combination thereof. The
system is not
restricted by space or distance. For example, unit three 207 in building one
213 is part of the
same system 219 as unit eight 212 in building two 214, even if they are very
far away from one
another.
100371 Figure 3 is an exemplary diagram of a hydroculture unit in
accordance with some
embodiments. As illustrated in Figure 3, the unit is comprised of:
water/nutrient distribution 305
(electronic mister, pump), growing chamber 304 (dedicated reservoir,
expandable housing,
sensor circuit board), seed cartridge 303 (with seeds, seed substrate,
structure, growing medium,
nutrients), light 302 (LED board, heatsink, fan), main circuit board 306
(microcontroller,
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network capability). In some examples, the main, sensor and light boards may
be combined into
one or more components. For example, the light/LED circuit board may be
incorporated into the
main circuit board. These components may be moved or recombined in order to
improve their
effectiveness. For example, a sensor may achieve better readings if placed in
one area rather
than another.
[0038] The unit includes a water/nutrient distribution 305 component that
distributes water
and nutrients to the plant. The water/nutrient distribution 305 component can
be an electronic
mister that includes an ultrasonic diaphragm on the top that produces droplets
larger than 5
microns. These droplets create a fog-like water/nutrient vapor that can be
absorbed by the plant
roots. The vapor is largely contained within the growing chamber 304 and
recirculates for
water/nutrient conservation. The water/nutrient distribution 305 component can
include a pump
to aerate and/or circulate the water in the growing chamber 304. The
electronic mister and the
pump is connected to the main circuit board 306.
[0039] The unit includes a growing chamber 304 with a reservoir at the base
where
water/nutrient solution is stored. The roots of the plant are supported at the
top of the growing
chamber 304 in the seed cartridge 303 and hang inside of the growing chamber
304 where they
are in contact with the water/nutrient solution or vapor from the reservoir.
100401 The growing chamber 304 incorporates a "moveable housing" 307 that
allows for the
chamber to expand to provide more growing area for plant roots and change from
a hydroponic
to aeroponic system. The growing chamber 304 also includes a sensor circuit
board 308 that
monitors the conditions at the root. The sensor circuit board includes
humidity, temperature, pH
and conductivity sensors presently. The sensor circuit board 308 is connected
to the main circuit
board 306.
[0041] The seed cartridge 303 is an attachment onto the growing chamber 304
and moveable
housing 307. The seed cartridge 303 is made of a plastic support with seeds,
seed substrate,
structure, growing medium, and nutrients specific to plant type. The seed
cartridge 303 can be
planted, removed and replaced from the system and it is also interchangeable.
For example, a
strawberry seed cartridge could be placed into unit one and then moved into
unit two; a tomato
seed cartridge could then be placed into unit one.
[0042] The light circuit board 302 includes high efficiency LED's that have
different colors
and intensity as needed for the plants growing within the unit. The light
circuit board 302
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currently incorporates a light sensor and camera for recording images of the
plants and
monitoring lighting conditions. The light circuit board 302 incorporates a
microprocessor that is
connected to the main circuit board 306.
100431 The main circuit board 306 is the main control and information hub
of the unit. It can
include power regulation. As described further in Figure 3, the main circuit
board 306 determines
whether the unit is a master or a slave. The slave board incorporates a
microprocessor that can
be Bluetooth (BLE) enabled to communicate with other devices. The slave board
also
incorporates parts that allow all of the ancillary components (light, sensor,
mister) to connect to
it. The master board has all of the same components as the slave, in addition
to a microprocessor
that is Wifi or Ethernet enabled to communicate to the internet and cloud
database.
[0044] The distributed design of the system can, for example, contain
spread, e.g., the
distributed growing/reservoir chambers contain the spread of disease at the
root, which can be a
devastating problem. The distributed growing/reservoir chambers can provide
for the ability to
space between plant types as needed, which aids in minimizing pests. The
distributed design of
the system can, for example, provide for co-locating the growing chamber and
reservoir, which
can conserve water and nutrient use, minimize waste, and/or the like. The
system can be
configured line-free and nozzle-less, such that clogged or mildew ridden
nozzles and water
throughways are no longer an issue as they are no longer necessary using an
electronic mister.
The distributed design of the system can, for example, minimize failure since
multi-source
misting with electronic ultrasonic misters mitigates failures in the system,
unlike standard single
source misting with mechanical pumps. For example, if one electronic mister
malfunctions, the
rest of the units in the system will continue to function because each unit
has an associated
ultrasonic mister.
Hybrid Hydroculture
[0045] Plants, depending on variety and stage of plant growth, have
different needs. Early
stage plants often prefer hydroponic cultivation, as they require more
moisture and less oxygen
at the root. As plants continue to grow, they often prefer aeroponic
cultivation more exposure to
oxygen and less to moisture at the root. The hybrid hydroculture system herein
described can
accommodate this change from hydro to a mixed hydro/aero hybrid to aero
growing by changing
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from collapsed to extended growing chambers and varying the amount of solution
within the
growing chamber.
[0046] Figure 4 is an exemplary diagram of how a units' growing chamber can
be adjusted to
achieve hydroponic 400, hybrid 401 and/or aeroponic 402 applications in
accordance with some
embodiments. The unit includes the seed cartridge 403, growing chamber with
sensor circuit
board 404 and ultrasonic mister 405, and main circuit board 406 as detailed in
Figure 3. The
hydroponic configuration 400 is achieved by lowering the area of the seed
cartridge 403 so that
the roots and cartridge are fully submerged in the solution. The solution
level is higher within
the growing chamber in the hydroponic state. The aeroponic configuration 402
of the unit is
achieved by lifting the seed cartridge area so the roots have more growing
room and are exposed
to the vapor created from the ultrasonic mister. The solution level is lower
within the growing
chamber in the aeroponic state. There are varying degrees of hydro/aero
(hybrid) state that can
occur during the growth process, depending on length of the roots, and how far
the moveable
growing chamber is extended and the solution level of the growing chamber. The
hybrid
configuration 401 of the unit is achieved by lifting the seed cartridge area
so the roots are
partially submerged in water, and partially exposed to the vapor created from
the ultrasonic
mister. In some embodiments, the user lifts or lowers the moveable housing 407
into place
manually. In some embodiments, the moveable housing 407 can be raised and/or
lowered
automatically.
[0047] The hybrid system uses an electronic ultrasonic mister 405 to
provide mist particles
over 5 microns for sufficient water and nutrient uptake at the root in the
aeroponic state. This
ultrasonic mister 405 is also in use during the hydroponic state to perturb
the water and nutrient
mix so that the water does not stagnate (important to keep bacteria and
disease from forming at
the root) and the nutrients and water are mixed as a solution.
[0048] As shown in Figure 4, the system can be configured to achieve
different ways of
moving from aeroponic into hydroponic growing environments (e.g., depending
how much water
is at the base of the system, and/or by moving the seed portion upwards in the
system to give
more space to the roots of the system). The hybrid design of the system can
allow for advances
in optimizing soil-free growing. The techniques can provide for optimized
plant growth by
cycle. For example, the techniques can optimize plant growth at different
stages of the plant
cycle by utilizing hydroponics, hydro/aero and aeroponics within one system
without needing to
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use separate units. The techniques can optimize plant growth by varietal. For
example, varietals
can be affected differently by growth in hydroponics, hydro/aero and
aeroponics.
Networked Unit Management Protocol
[0049] Networked control and monitoring of a distributed system can be used
in order to
limit repetitive tasks that would otherwise become inhibitive (such as turning
on and off misters
on a continual basis). This networked capability can be grouped to control and
monitor one or
multiple units within the system at one time. For example, units one, two and
three are all
growing tomatoes and were planted at the same time ¨ the user can control all
three units with
the same attributes, rather than controlling each individually. Additionally,
continuously updated
data on system use and plant growth can be recorded for feedback and
improvement.
[0050] Figure 5 is an exemplary diagram of the system protocol in
accordance with some
embodiments. The mobile/web application 500 can function on myriad devices and
operating
systems including Android, i0S, Windows, OS, Linux. The mobile/web application
500 has
functionality to control (lighting and misting on schedule) and also monitor
(via the sensor data
over time) the units and system.
[0051] The system protocol illustrated in Figure 5 is based on a "master"
unit 502 and
multiple "slave" units 503. The slave unit 503 can incorporate a sensor
circuit board (e.g.,
temperature, pH, humidity, and/or conductivity), a light circuit board (e.g.,
LED's, light sensor
and camera) a Bluetooth (BLE, Bluetooth low energy) microcontroller, and a
mister in its current
embodiment. The master unit incorporates the same components with the addition
of a wireless
or Ethernet enabled chip for network communication to the internet and cloud
database.
[0052] The master unit serves as an entry and exit gate for information
transmitted to the
cloud server, which includes a database 501 to store information received from
the master unit
502. Each slave unit communicates with a designated master unit 502 to
transmit its data to the
cloud database 501. Information flows in the opposite direction when commands
from a
controller such as a mobile/web application 500 are sent to the cloud database
501, then to the
master unit 502 and then forwarded on to the appropriate slave unit(s), as
necessary. The mobile
application/web application 500 can send commands and receive information via
Bluetooth
(BLE) to a designated master unit directly as well.
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[0053] It is possible to have multiple master units 502 communicate to the
cloud database
501 with or without slave units 503. It is possible to have multiple slave 503
units communicate
to a designated master unit 502 that then communicates to the cloud database
501. It is not
possible to have slave units 503 communicate to the cloud database 501 without
a master unit
502.
[0054] The network protocol of the system provides for, for example,
automation and data
communication between units, sets and systems. The techniques provide an
ability to control the
system(s) from anywhere, such that the user does not need to be in proximity
to the system. The
system can provide tiered control, such as by providing the ability to control
one unit, a set of
units, or on an entire system basis. The techniques provide for data
analytics, including seting up
a protocol for recording plant growing and system history for analysis.
[0055] In some examples, the mobile application/web application 500 can
configure a
particular growing profile, which is explained in further detail herein, for
each unit (e.g., master
unit 502 or slave unit 503). The cloud database 501 (e.g., hosted by a cloud
server, not shown)
stores the growing profiles for each of the units 502 or 503. The growing
profile can be used to
configure growing settings that are transmitted (e.g., via wireless
transmission (e.g., 802.11),
Bluetooth, etc.) to each of the units 502 or 503. The units 502 or 503 receive
the growing
settings and can execute the growing settings (e.g., lighting, misting, fan,
and/or the like). The
cloud database 501 can also customize the settings based on data indicative of
the particular
environment of the units 502 or 503 (e.g., temperature, humidity, light and/or
the like), as
explained further herein.
Growing Profiles
[0056] Growing profiles 605 are analytics associated with a particular
plant type based on
optimal growing conditions within the system. As explained further herein,
growing profiles 605
can be used to configure particular growing settings for a plant type.
Additionally, the
techniques described herein can be configured to also take into account the
individual
environment for each growing chamber to customize the growing profiles for the
specific
environment (e.g., a tomato species growing indoors in a dry/cold climate may
have very
different configurations than the same tomato species growing outdoors in a
warm/humid
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climate, even though the underlying growing profile configuration for the
tomato species is the
same).
[0057] Figure 6 is an exemplary diagram of a growing profile protocol in
accordance with
some embodiments. Data from the system 600 indicates data transmitted to the
cloud database
from one or more units. Data to the system 602 indicates data (e.g.,
configuration data)
transmitted to the one or more units.
[0058] In some examples, data from the system 600 can include data from a
light sensor, an
internal temperature sensor, an external temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a
humidity sensor, a
conductivity sensor, a camera, and/or any other sensor. The light sensor data
can include values
for the color and intensity of the light. The internal temperature sensor data
can include the
internal temperature of the growing chamber at the root area. The external
temperature sensor
can include the temperature of the plant at the stem/leaves. The pH sensor can
include the pH of
the solution in the growing chamber at the root area. The humidity sensor can
include humidity
of the growing chamber at the roots of the plant. The conductivity sensor can
include the parts
per million (ppm) of nutrients in the solution within the growing chamber in
the reservoir area.
The camera can include images of the plant from above.
[0059] In some examples, data to the system 601 can include misting,
camera, fan, light
control, and/or any other type of data. Misting can be controlled in terms of
duration and
interval of mist, and can be set on a calendar schedule. For example: Mist for
two minutes every
hour on Tuesdays, and mist for 5 minutes every hour on Saturdays. The camera
can be
controlled in terms of frequency, and can be set on a calendar schedule. The
fan can be
controlled in terms of duration, interval, intensity and all can be
coordinated with a calendar
schedule. Lighting can be controlled in terms of color, intensity, and
duration, as well as being
set on a calendar schedule. For example, the system can be configured to
control different
spectrums of lighting and lighting intensity (e.g., the system can be
configured to provide more
bluish light when the plant is younger compared to more reddish light when the
plant is more
mature). Misting, imaging, fanning and lighting controls can be set for a unit
206, a set 216 or on
the whole system 219.
[0060] Following is an example of how the growing profile 605 would be
implemented.
Strawberry plants are planted in a unit. The user can tell the system via the
controller
(mobile/web application) that this plant has been installed. A preloaded
"strawberry" growing
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profile 605 is associated with the plant that includes sensor data from system
600 (light,
temperature, humidity, pH, etc.) and automation schedule pertinent to
"strawberry" growing to
system 601 for optimal strawberry plant growing. This "strawberry" growing
profile 605
establishes a baseline for growing, however it is possible for the profile to
be updated and
optimized by receiving data/commands from users 500 (via the mobile/web app)
and data from
environmental conditions and occurrences of plant growing in system to the
cloud
database/server 602. This has created an instance of the "strawberry" growing
profile 603 (e.g.
"strawberry 1"), and can be one of many different instances 603 of the
"strawberry" growing
profile. It is even possible to create instances of a subset of this
"strawberry" growing profile for
each growth phase (e.g. seedling, mature) 604 to optimize plant growth. For
example, a subset
of the "strawberry" growing profile can be "strawberry 1, seedling 1". All of
these instances in
plant growth 603 and growth phase 604 can be saved and aggregated in the cloud
server/database
602 to be utilized toward optimizing the "strawberry" growing profile. The
more plants are
grown within the system (plant instances 603 and growth phase instances 604),
the more
intelligent the growing profiles 605 become. In this manner the system will
use machine
learning to make the growing profiles 605 and become more robust and refined
through use.
[0061] As another illustrative example of how a growing profile can be
modified, assume a
type of pepper is being grown in the northeastern US (e.g., Massachusetts)
during the summer,
and it is located indoors near the window so it is getting natural light. The
techniques described
herein can be configured to automatically adjust the lighting to give the
proper amount of light
necessary for the pepper based on light sensor feedback (e.g., since the
peppers are receiving
some natural light). If the same type of pepper is being grown in South
America (e.g., at the
same time of year, but it is the winter in the southern hemisphere) and the
pepper is getting an
entirely different amount/type of light (e.g., since the plant is located in a
windowless corner),
then the techniques described herein can augment the amount of administered
light so that more
artificial light is provided than would be provided had the system been
located near a window.
100621 As one of skill can appreciate, even though the type of plant may be
the same, each
growing environment may be different and the system can be configured to
accommodate those
differences (e.g., using lighting, misting, fans, and/or the like.
[0063] The benefits of growing profiles 605 can include control and
customization and/or
profile optimization. For example, an ideal and customized growing environment
for multiple
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plant types can be maintained simultaneously within one system. As another
example, growing
profiles can assist users in growing plants according to metrics established
for each plant type.
As another example, profiles can be constantly updated via updates from users
¨ more users
create finer tuned data for profiles, learning over time.
Seed Cartridge
[0064] The seed cartridge 700 serves as the primary means of providing
support, structure
and nutrients for myriad types of plants at different growth stages.
10065] Figure 7 is an exemplary diagram of a seed cartridge 700 assembly in
accordance
with some embodiments. The seed substrate 701 provides the layer in which
seeds are
embedded into the seed cartridge. In some examples this is made of paper
and/or any other type
of suitable material. The structure 702 provides support for the roots of the
plants and can be
made to varying thickness and density in order to support large plants with
dense, deep root
structure (e.g. tomato) to small plants with loose, shallow root structure
(e.g. wheatgrass). In
some examples this is made of plastic and/or any other type of suitable
material. The growing
medium 703 provides support, moisture and nutrients at the roots and base of
stem through
capillary action. In some examples this is made of wool, cotton, felt, peat
and/or any other type
of suitable material. The support layer 704 can be used to provide additional
support to the
plants as needed depending on plant type and growth phase. In some examples
this is made of
wool, cotton, peat and/or any other type of suitable material. These layers
can be mixed, matched
or multiplied and sandwiched together to make the best seed cartridge for a
particular plant type
and growth stage, and will be customized as such to optimize plant growth.
Nutrients will be
added to layers for time release distribution based on plant type and growth
phase.
[0066] The seed cartridge 700 is transportable and adaptable. It can be
added to a unit,
removed and then replanted in another unit. It can be added to a unit,
removed, and replanted in
soil for outdoor growing. In some embodiments, the natural materials,
nutrients and layering
techniques are designed to last for a given period of time necessary for that
particular plant
growth and once completed they will disintegrate or can be composted.
[0067] The benefits of the seed cartridge 700 can include growth
optimization,
standardization, and/or interchangeability. For example, the seed cartridge
can provide an ideal
and customized growing substrate and nutrients for different plant types at
different growth
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stages. As another example, the seed cartridge can provide the ability to
maintain optimum
growing conditions for different types of plants across multiple seed
cartridges 700, reducing the
risk of seeds not germinating. As another example, the seed cartridge can be
moved from one
unit to another throughout growth process, and can be transplanted into soil
if desired.
[0068] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a smart, indoor
micro-gardening
system may allow users to grow plants and vegetables soil free and year-round.
The system
may, for example, by a unit 100 as previously discussed. As described, the
system may include
hardware and/or software that allows the system to grow fresh produce, while
simultaneously
tracking and learning from each plant instance. In some embodiments, this
functionality may be
made possible by a customizable produce growing cartridge. In one example, the
customizable
produce growing cartridge may be seed cartridge 700. In some embodiments, upon
receipt by a
user, the cartridge may be placed into the top of the system basin as shown by
Figure 8. Indeed,
Figure 8 shows an exemplary cartridge within a micro-gardening system basin.
Water may be
added to the system, and plants may grow through a hole pattern of the
cartridge as shown by
Figure 9.
[0069] The cartridge may have a multifaceted purpose. For example, the
cartridge may be
used to contain seeds in their proper locations (based on seed type and/or
seeding density, for
example), house nutrients, provide enduring support for plants, and/or
maintain proper moisture
levels. The cartridge may promote growth optimization of a myriad of plants,
while allowing for
standardization or customization of each plant variety, and can be composted
after the plant has
been harvested. In some embodiments, the assembly process for a cartridge may
be automated at
each step and integrated with an ordering system. For example, each cartridge
may include a
unique identifier, such as a code, that allows for traceability of materials
during assembly and
fulfillment, and customization of growth settings both before and after growth
initiation, so that
produce can be grown according to user preferences. In some embodiments, all
or some of this
information may be tracked in a database. The information may be used to
improve and inform
future plant instances through system automated feedback, voluntary user
input, and/or artificial
intelligence, for example. In some embodiments, the database may be a cloud
database. For
example, the database may be connected to the Internet and/or other databases
and/or micro-
gardening systems via a wired or wireless connection (e.g., a local areas
network, wide area
network, cellular network).
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[0070] Figure 9 shows an exemplary cartridge 900 having an exemplary hole
configuration.
For example, cartridge 900 may include a first hole 902, a second hole 904,
and an additional
hole 906.
[0071] Cartridge 900 may have the hole configuration organized such that a
number of
shapes are formed by the configuration. The holes may be located in one or
both of a top and
bottom cover of cartridge 900. For example, the hole configuration of
cartridge 900 may form
one or more of the following: a circular shape 908, hexagonal shape 910,
triangular shape 912,
and/or square shape 914. Moreover, as shown in Figure 9, the hole
configuration may be a
pentagonal shape if the lowest side of triangle 912 intersects hexagon 910.
For example, the hole
configuration may be any shape formed by connecting holes of cartridge 900.
The hole
configuration may allow for the growth of a wide range of species within one
formfactor (e.g.,
one cartridge). For example, the holes that form triangular shape 912 may be
used for planting
large fruiting species (e.g., tomato, pepper, etc.) in three locations on the
cartridge, giving the
plants room to spread out. For example, first hole 902 may form each of the
points of triangular
shape 912 and may be used for planting large fruiting species. In another
example. the square
shape 914 may be used for planting leafy greens, which still may need space to
spread, but can
be planted closer to one another than the large fruiting varieties. First hole
902 may form each of
the corner of square shape 914. One or more of second hole 904 and additional
hole 906 may be
smaller, non-delineated holes. For example, one or more of second hole 904 and
additional hole
906 may be used for smaller plant species, such as microgreens and herbs, that
may be spread
across the whole cartridge. One or more of the first hole 902, second hole
904, and/or additional
hole 906 may form one or more of corners of shapes and/or locations along a
contour of a shape,
for example. For example, when a hole is located on a contour of the shape,
all or part of the
hole may be located on a path formed by the shape. For example, a first hole
902 may form a
first corner of a shape, and another hole having the same or substantially the
same size as first
hole 902 (i.e., another first hole 902) may form the second corner of the
shape.
[0072] Indeed, one or more first holes 902 of the cartridge 900 may be used
for fruiting
species (e.g., pepper, tomato, beans, etc.), for example. The first holes 902
may be spread out
across the cartridge to give these larger species enough room to fully develop
and spread out, for
example.
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[0073] One or more second holes 904 of the cartridge, which may be smaller
than the first
holes, may be closer to one another compared to the first holes, and may be
where smaller
species (e.g., microgreens, herbs, etc.) may be planted, for example, as these
species can be
seeded much more densely.
[0074] The cartridge may include additional holes 906 around its outer or
inner edges that
may not be intended for plant growth, and may allow for proper drainage, such
a fluid drainage,
to avoid microbial growth. In some embodiments, these holes 906 may be smaller
than both the
first holes 902 and the second holes 904. In some embodiments, these holes 906
may be larger
than both the first holes 902 and the second holes 904. In some embodiments,
these holes may
be larger second holes 904 but smaller than the first holes 906. In some
embodiments, the
additional holes 906 may be provided in only a bottom cover of cartridge 900.
Alternatively, the
additional holes 906 may be provided in only a top cover or both a top and
bottom cover of
cartridge 900.
[0075] For example, the first holes 902 may range from at or about 16 to at
or about 30 mm
in diameter, the second holes 904 may range from at or about 12 to at or about
15 mm, and
additional holes 906 may range from at or about 5 to at or about 11 mm
diameter. The first and
second holes may be separated from each other and from the edges of the
cartridge by a distance
of at or about 1 mm to at or about 30mm, for example. The spacing and
organization of the holes
may provide for the most efficient use of the cartridge with optimal plant
growth.
[0076] Figure 10 shows an exemplary cartridge 1000 having a number of
holes. As shown
by Figure 10, cartridge 1000 may include one or more seeds 1002 within one or
more of the
holes. For example, the holes where seeds 1002 are located in Figure 10 may be
first holes 902.
The holes where seeds 1002 are located in Figure 10 form a hole configuration
in a triangular
shape, such as triangular shape 912. Tiny Tim Tomatoes and other large,
fruiting species may be
seeded in one or more of the first holes 902 of cartridge 1000 in a hole
configuration that forms a
triangular shape 912.
[0077] Figure 11 shows an exemplary cartridge 1100 having seeds 1102
located in each of its
holes. Cartridge 1100 may include a number of holes, including one or more of
first hole 902,
second hole 904, and additional hole 906 described with reference to Figure 9.
For example,
genovese Basil and other smaller, herbaceous plants may be seeded across the
cartridge, utilizing
a plurality of holes including one or more of holes 902, 904, and/or 906. In
some embodiments,
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the seeding may be performed substantially evenly across the cartridge. In
some embodiments,
the seeding may not be performed substantially evenly across the cartridge,
and may instead be
concentrated into one or more regions of the cartridge or one or more of holes
902, 904, and/or
906.
[0078] Figures 12-18 show exemplary implementations of a cartridge in
accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, Figure 12 shows an
exemplary cartridge
1200 having a number of seed holders 1202 connected by a connector 1204.
[0079] Figure 13 shows an exemplary cartridge 1300 having a number of holes
1302. Once
or more seeds may be placed in one or more of holes 1302. As shown by Figure
13, holes 1302
may extend radially outward from a center region 1304 of cartridge 1300. In
one example, there
may be fewer holes 1302 that directly border center region 1304 than there are
that do not border
center region 1304. In one example, there may be fewer holes 1302 in a first
row of holes that
directly border center region 1304 compared to one or more other rows holes of
cartridge 1300.
[0080] Figure 14 shows an exemplary cartridge 1400 having a number of holes
1402 and
1404. Holes 1402 are situated in a row around center region 1406. Holes 1404
are also situated
in a row around center region 1406. Holes 1404 are located closer to center
region 1406
compared to holes 1402. Holes 1404 may be smaller, larger, the same, or
substantially the same
size compared to holes 1402.
[0081] Figure 15 shows an exemplary cartridge 1500 having a number of holes
1502 situated
in a row around center region 1504. Cartridge 1500 may have a single or
multiple rows of holes
1502. Holes 1502 may be the same or substantially the same size, or one or
more of holes 1502
may be larger or smaller than one or more other holes, for example.
[0082] Figure 16 shows an exemplary cartridge 1600 having a number of holes
1602, 1604,
and 1606. Hole 1602 may be sized larger than hole 1604. Hole 1604 may be sized
larger than
hole 1606. Cartridge 1600 may include a handle 1608 that allows for holding of
cartridge 1600
by a user.
[0083] Figure 17 exemplary cartridge 1700 having a number of holes 1702,
1704, and 1706.
Hole 1702 may be sized larger than hole 1704. Hole 1704 may be sized larger
than hole 1706.
Cartridge 1700 may also include a center hole 1708, located at the center or
substantially the
center of cartridge 1700. Center hole 1708 may attach or affix cartridge 1700
to a smart, indoor
micro-gardening system such as unit 100, for example.
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[0084] Figure 18 shows an exemplary cartridge 1800 having a number of holes
1802, 1804,
and 1806. Hole 1802 may be sized larger than hole 1804. Hole 1804 may be sized
larger than
hole 1806.
[0085] Regarding the size of cartridge holes discussed with respect to
Figures 12-18 as well
as other exemplary cartridges of the present disclosure, the term "size" and
the like may refer to
one or more of the size of the diameter, radius, circumference, and/or depth
of holes. Moreover,
holes may have a uniform circumference within the hole as the depth of the
hole increases, or
may have a circumference within the hole that changes as the depth of the hole
increases. For
example, as a hole depth increases, the circumference within the hole may get
smaller. In
another example, as the hole depth increases, the circumference within the
hole may get smaller.
[0086] Moreover, it should be understood that the cartridge holes discussed
with respect to
Figures 12-18 and other exemplary cartridges of the present disclosure may
have a variety of
shapes. For example, one or more holes of a cartridge may be circular, oval,
triangular, square,
pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or take any other shape. A
cartridge may include
uniformly shaped and/or sized holes, or may include one or more holes having
different shapes
and/or sizes.
[0087] Figure 19 shows an exemplary cartridge 1900 having a number of holes
1902.
Within cartridge 1900 may be a substrate 1904. Substrate 1904 may be placed
within cartridge
1900 and may be situated such that the holes 1902 provide an opening to
substrate 1904. For
example, at the bottom of each hole 1902 may be substrate 1904.
[0088] Figure 20 shows an exemplary cartridge 2000 that includes a number
of holes 2002, a
substrate 2004, and seeds 2006 located within one or more of the holes 2002
resting on substrate
2004. Cartridge 2000 may include an adhesive on substrate 2004 that adheres
seeds 2006 to
substrate 2004. Substrate 2004 may include a nutrient growing media that
includes one or more
nutrients that may help in growth of seeds 2006. Figure 21 shows a side view
of exemplary
cartridge 2000. As shown in Figure 21, cartridge 2000 may be formed of a first
component 2008
and a second component 2010. One or both of components 2008 and 2010 may
include one or
more holes 2002. Substrate 2004 may be situated between components 2008 and
2010. For
example, substrate 2004 may be enclosed by components 2008 and 2010. For
example, substrate
2004 may be sandwiched between components 2008 and 2010.
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[0089] In one example, component 2008 may include holes 2002, while
component 2010
includes other holes, which may be sized the same or substantially the same,
smaller, or larger
than holes 2002, and which may allow for root growth through them. Figure 22
shows a side
view of exemplary cartridge 2000 growing a plant having leaves 2012 and roots
2014. Leaves
2012 originate from holes 2002 in first component 2008, while roots 2014
originate from other
holes in second component 2010. The plant may be a lacinato kale, for example.
[0090] Figure 23A shows exemplary components of an exemplary cartridge 2300
in
accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted
that cartridge
2300 may include more of or less of the layers shown in Figure 23A, and that
Figure 23A is
exemplary only. It should also be noted that cartridge 2300 may be the same
cartridge that is
discussed in other parts of this disclosure. For example, cartridge 2300 may
be cartridge 900 of
Figure 9. This is true of all cartridges discussed in this disclosure ¨
namely, that discussion with
respect to a cartridge of one figure may also be applicable to a cartridge
discussed with respect to
a different figure, and cartridges discussed in this disclosure may be the
same cartridge.
Moreover, cartridges of the present disclosure may be consumable seed
cartridges.
[0091] The cartridge 2300 may include, for example, an external shell
(including, for
example, top and bottom external covers 2304 and 2312) and its compostable
adhesive sealant,
an internal growing media 2310, seeds 2306, seed adhesive 2308, nutrients
(e.g., within media
2310), humidity film 2302, and packaging 2314. In one example, external covers
2304 and 2312
may be separate pieces of material that are attached to each other by an
adhesive sealant. In
another example, external covers 2304 and 2312 may be a single, unitary piece
of material that
allows for the insertion of internal components (e.g., internal growing media)
via a side opening.
The packaging 2314 may include Quick Response ("QR") and/or Universal Product
Code
("UPC") code labels, for example. The shell (formed by covers 2304 and 2312,
for example)
may be composed of a durable, sturdy, and bio-based plastic-like material, for
example including
polylactic acid or a polyhydroxyalkanoates material, that may provide support
for plant roots and
shoots throughout the entire lifecycle. At the end of the plant's life, the
cartridge 2300 can be
composted or recycled, so that no waste is generated in the process. In some
embodiments, the
shell may have a pattern of sized and/or shaped holes punched through it,
which may allow for
the optimal growth of a variety of plant types and sizes. In some embodiments,
the internal
growing media 2310 may be one or more sheets of porous bio-based material,
such as a material
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including polylactic acid. The nutrient solution of media 2310, which may be
specific to plant
type and infinitely customizable based on user preferences, may be dried onto
the internal
growing media 2310. For example, the nutrient solution may be dried onto the
internal growing
media 2310 using a dehydration application method that may allow for ease of
shipment and
may only need a user to add water to it to begin growing. The nutrient
solution may contain any
number of combinations of macro and micro nutrients in order to achieve and
optimize a desired
produce outcome. For example, a standard Genovese basil plant may receive a
nutrient solution
containing a ratio of 2% nitrogen, 2% phosphorous, 3% potassium, 2% calcium,
and 0.75%
magnesium. Fruiting species like tomato, for example, may require a higher
percentage of
phosphorous and may receive a nutrient solution containing the following
ratio: 1% nitrogen, 5%
phosphorous, 4% potassium, 1% calcium, and 0.5% magnesium.
[0092] One or more seeds 2306 may be placed on a top side of the internal
growing media
2310, which may provide proper support for establishment and growth of the
seed(s) 2306.
Based on seed size, underneath or above the seeds may be a layer of water
soluble material that
may form adhesive 2308, which may be dried and may serve to adhere the seed(s)
2306 to the
internal growing media 2310. This water soluble material forming adhesive 2308
may be
comprised of a cellulose and starch based paper. The cartridge 2300 may
include an external
cover (for example, formed by top and bottom external covers 2304 and 2312)
that may be
placed over the seed(s) 2306 and adhesive 2308 and may be sealed at their
edges to enclose the
assembled seed disk. The humidity film 2302 may be then placed and attached on
a top of the
external cover such that it is located above the top external cover, and may
stay in place during
germination to maintain proper lighting and humidity conditions within the
cartridge, for
example, and then may be removed for plant growth, for example. Adhered to the
humidity film
2302 may be one or more labels, for example. One or more of the labels may
include a QR code.
One or more of the labels may include a UPC code. For example, two labels may
be attached to
the humidity cover, where one label includes a QR code, and the other label
includes a UPC
code. The QR code may indicate plant specific information and a growth profile
based on seed
type and user requests, for example. The UPC code label may indicate
information on that
individual cartridge 2300, such as seed origin, date seeded, and/or storage
instructions, for
example.
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[0093] As noted, for example, cartridge 2300 may include humidity film
2302. Humidity
film 2302 may help regulate humidity in cartridge 2300 so that growth within
cartridge 2300 is
not damaged by humidity changes. In one example, humidity film 2302 may be
opaque. For
example, an opaque humidity film 2302 may be used when the species grown in
cartridge 2300
is a dark-germinating species. In another example, humidity film 230 may be
transparent. For
example, a transparent humidity film 2302 may be used when the species grown
in cartridge
2300 is a light-germinating species.
[0094] In some embodiments, the humidity film 2302 may temporarily maintain
a moist
environment within the cartridge in order to induce germination. As some plant
types may
require light to germinate but some may not, the humidity film 2302 may be
either transparent or
opaque. The humidity film 2302 may be made of a bio based plastic material,
which can be
removable. For example, the humidity file 2302 may be removed by the user and
then returned
to its original position. To maintain proper humidity while reducing material
usage, the humidity
film 2302 may range in thickness from at or about 0.10 mm to at or about 0.50
mm, for example.
The humidity film 2302 may be designed to fit over the cartridge external
covers and may have a
diameter ranging from at or about 250.0 mm to at or about 270.0 mm, for
example.
[0095] Cartridge 2300 may include external top 2304. External top 2304 may
be located
below humidity film 2302. In one example, external top 2304 may be first
component 2008,
discussed above. External top 2304 may include a number of holes, and may also
provide
protection for seeds situated within cartridge 2300.
[0096] Cartridge 2300 may include seeds 2306. Seeds 2306 may have a
multitude of shapes,
sizes, quantities, germination patterns, light exposure criteria, and density
distributions which
may be accommodated by the cartridge. Indeed, one or more different types of
seeds 2306 may
be located within cartridge 2300. Seeds 2306 may be attached to internal
growing media 2310
via adhesive 2308. Adhesive 2308 may be a cartridge adhesive, for example.
Internal growing
media 2310 may provide a substrate for growing plants from seeds 2306, and may
include one or
more nutrients that assist in growing seeds 2306.
[0097] For example, in some embodiments, the internal growing media 2310
may house
seeds and/or nutrients, and may provide the support needed for proper root and
shoot
development. The internal growing media 2310 may be comprised of one or more
sheets of thin,
porous, sturdy material. The pores within the material may allow for water
uptake and storage
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(which may support germination and/or plant health), as well as air exchange
between the basin
and the environment. The material may be thick enough to ensure a secure fit
within the
cartridge external covers 2304 and 2312 so that it may remain in place, but
loose enough so that
water storage and air exchange are not inhibited. It may, at the same time, be
dense and sturdy
enough to support root establishment and plant growth. The material may be
also designed to be
the proper thickness to ensure the correct degree of separation between the
nutrients and the
seeds to prevent possible damage due to contact. To ensure this proper
distance is achieved, the
internal growing media 2310 may range in thickness from at or about 4.0 mm to
at or about 7.0
mm. The internal growing media 2310 may be designed to fit within the
cartridge external covers
2304 and 2312 and therefore may range in diameter from at or about 215.0 mm to
at or about
250.0 mm. The internal growing media 2310 can be colored with natural dyes.
[0098] In some embodiments, adhesive 2308 may hold seeds 2306 in place
during shipment,
and then may essentially disappear once the cartridge is placed in the basin
and watered, so as
not to interfere with germination and overall plant growth and health.
Therefore, the seed
adhesive 2308 may be a thin bio-based, water soluble material. The material
may not contain any
sugars or starches. In some embodiments, the material may be wet and then
placed on top of the
internal growing media 2310 underneath the seeds, or on top of the seeds
(depending on plant
type), allowing it to mold to the internal growing media 2310 and seeds 2306
and hold
everything in place, without inhibiting seed germination. Once the cartridge
is watered through,
the material may dissolve and fall into solution within the basin. Any
material that is left on the
internal growing media 2310 may be thin enough so as not to interfere with
germination. To help
ensure the adhesive 2308 does not interfere with seed germination or plant
growth, thickness of
the adhesive material may range from at or about 0.02 mm to at or about
0.10mm, for example.
The diameter of the adhesive material may be designed so that the entirety of
the internal
growing media 2310 surface is covered; therefore this diameter could range
from at or about
215.0 mm to at or about 250.0 mm, for example.
[0099] In some embodiments, the nutrients of internal growing media 2310
may vary based
on plant type and the outcome desired by the user. Different nutrient
formulations may be made
using different ratios of macronutrients and micronutrients to achieve the
desired outcome of the
plant. The cartridge may come with additional nutrients depending on plant
type, and these
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nutrients may be supplied in packets within the cartridge for a time release
based application
over the life cycle of the plant. The packets may be sealed packets.
[0100] Cartridge 2300 may include external bottom 2312. External bottom
2312 may be
located below growing media 2310. In one example, external bottom 2312 may be
second
component 2010, discussed above. External bottom 2312 may include a number of
holes, and
may also provide protection for seeds situated within cartridge 2300. External
cartridge 2300
may further include packaging 2314, which may encompass or otherwise surround
all or some of
elements 2302, 2304, 2306, 2308, 2310, and 2312.
[0101] In some embodiments, packaging 2314 may comprise a layer of sealed
bio-based
plastic material. This packaging 2314 may keep out moisture and/or pollutants
to ensure a long
shelf life of the cartridge. The packaging 2314 may be durable and sturdy
enough to maintain its
form and protect the internal materials during shipping and handling, so that
the entire cartridge
arrives intact at any destination. The packaging may include compostable
labels, such as one or
more of the QR and/or UPC code labels (e.g., a unique identifier code label),
for example.
[0102] As discussed, cartridge 2300 may include external top 2304 and
external bottom
2312. One or both of these covers may provide support and space for the roots
and shoots of a
variety of plant types and sizes. This may be achieved through the unique
pattern of hole sizing
and/or spacing, which may allow for optimal growth of wide range of plants,
all within the same,
or similar external structure. For example, proper support for plants may be
provided through
the rigid material of which the top and/or bottom covers 2304 and 2312 may be
composed,
which may range in thickness from at or about 0.10 millimeters (mm) to at or
about 0.40 mm, for
example. This range of thickness may allow for the optimal amount of support
while reducing
material use and cost. Both the cartridge top and bottom covers 2304 and 2312
may have a
diameter ranging from at or about 228 mm to at or about 381 mm, for example,
which may allow
for proper plant growth. The top and/or bottom covers 2304 and 2312 may
include one or more
tabs along their edges for proper fit within a micro-gardening system basin.
[0103] The cartridge's top and/or bottom 2304 and 2312 may be made of a bio-
based plastic
material which may have a certain durability and/or ability to maintain its
form and support
throughout a plant's life cycle. For example, the material may provide
protection for the internal
contents of the cartridge during shipment. The plastic may be composed of such
a material that
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the cartridge may be composted in its entirety to reduce waste generation. The
cartridge may be
sealed with either compostable glue or heat sealing or both, for example.
[0104] In some embodiments, the cartridge top and bottom external covers
2304 and 2312
can be expanded to accommodate the growth of larger plant varieties, such as
root vegetables,
which may require more space to fully develop.
[0105] The bio-based plastic material may be thin, and therefore a
decreased amount may be
used per cartridge, which may reduce production costs. The cartridge may still
remain rigid
enough to provide support and structure to plants throughout their lifecycle.
The manufacturing
process for the cartridge, and this material may be based on the design of a
clamshell packaging,
which may allow for straightforward and effective manufacturing. The holes
discussed herein
may accommodate a wide variety of plant species (see e.g., Figure 9).
[0106] In some embodiments, the cartridge of the present disclosure may act
as a physical
and virtual data packet. For example, while the cartridge form factor may
remain the same and
is able to accommodate multiple plant types and growth patterns, the
contents/components
within it can be infinitely customized. The way that the produce is grown can
also be infinitely
customized by altering a variety of growth settings of a micro gardening
system (e.g., unit 100)
based on the desired produce outcome. The information on how the cartridge has
been physically
customized, as well as the customized growing instructions for the unit, may
be accessed by a
unique identifier code (for example, the QR and/or UPC codes discussed
previously) associated
with each plant instance and stored within the cartridge. The cartridge may
provide an all-in-one
and completely compostable method to growing customized produce any time and
any place.
[0107] The data stored within the unique identifier code may include
information on the
material origins of the cartridge so that every piece of the cartridge's
manufacturing process and
components are traceable, to ensure full transparency of the product. For
example, information
may include composition and origin of each piece of the cartridge, amount and
origin of the
specific seeds included, makeup of the nutrient solution, and location of
assembly, and date of
assembly. Second, the code may include either a standard or a customized
growing profile,
which may ensure the optimized growth of the plant based on specific user
requests. This may
include, for example, information on the optimum or desired growing
environment, and/or one or
more of the following criteria: lighting profiles, irrigation settings,
seeding practices, nutrient
additions, and watering requirements.
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[0108] When the user receives their cartridge (for example, via the mail),
they may place it
into a micro-gardening system (e.g., unit 100) basin, and a camera located
within a lamp head of
the system may scan the code. The system then may download a growing profile
and enable
required settings, and may begin the growing cycle. The settings can be
altered at any time by
the user, through an application that may be present on a user's computing
device, such as a
cellular phone, personal computer, tablet computer, or the like, if changes
are desired. This code
also sends traceable information regarding the micro-gardening system to the
user via the
application interface so that the user may access all information related to
what they are growing
and consuming.
[0109] The cartridge may also allow for increased efficiency of a
subscription refill service.
For example, a camera of the micro-gardening system may have the ability to
recognize when a
plant growing in the cartridge has reached the end of its life cycle based on
size, coloration, or
overall appearance, for example. Alternatively, a user may decide to harvest
the plant at any
point, and alert the system by indicating harvest within the app. Once either
situation is
recognized, a notification may be sent to a database (e.g., the database
previously discussed),
which may allow for the next cartridge in a user's subscription to be prepared
and sent to the
user. This feature may allow for users to be continuously growing using the
micro-gardening
system.
[0110] Figure 23B shows an assembly process 2316 for a cartridge in
accordance with some
embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, in step 2318, a precut,
sized, and colored
cartridge growing medium (e.g., substrate) may be placed on a work surface and
the appropriate
amount and type of nutrient may be applied to particular locations on the
substrate using a
pipetting system or robotic arm that can customize quantity, type, and
location of the nutrient
solution. The amount of nutrient solution may be dependent on plant type that
will be grown in
the medium; for example, fruiting species with high nutrient requirements may
receive
20mL/gallon of water, while a green like arugula may receive 10mL/gallon. The
nutrient
solution may be applied in an even layer across the bottom of the internal
growing media. At step
2320, the medium with nutrient solution may be placed into a dehydrator to
seal the nutrients
into the medium. Dehydration may provide the most compact and efficient method
for
containing nutrients within the cartridge, and the process may also reduce
moisture, ensuring
ease of transit as well as storage stability.
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[0111] The medium with dried nutrients may be placed onto the work surface
again and
sprayed with water at step 2322. At step 2324, a precut and sized adhesive
material may be then
placed on top of the medium. At step 2326, an automatic vacuum seeder attached
to a CNC
robotic arm may then place the appropriate seed type in predetermined
locations on the adhesive,
designed to optimize growth. The medium with seeds and adhesive material may
be then
dehydrated at step 2328. For example, the medium with seeds may be placed into
the
dehydrator. Once entirely or substantially dried, the cartridge may be
assembled and placed into
a custom fixture where the edges of the cartridge may be sealed with a
compostable glue, for
example, at step 2330. Eventually, the cartridge may be heat sealed to reduce
material waste at
step 2332.
[0112] The robot system may have the ability to scan a barcode or a unique
identifier
(discussed above) associated with each cartridge it is assembling, and may
determine the proper
nutrient combination/placement, as well as the proper seeding locations and
density as described
above.
[0113] Following sealing of the cartridge, the humidity film, which may
contain the unique
identifier, such as a QR code and associated data, may be adhered to the top
of the cartridge and
the whole cartridge may then be placed into a machine in which the cartridge
is wrapped and
sealed in the bio based plastic packaging material, at step 2334. The
cartridge may then be stored
for an extended period of time, for example.
[0114] Figure 24 shows an exemplary diagram of the assembly process 2400
for an
exemplary cartridge. For example, infinite cartridge customization may be
possible both
physically in the assembly process and through systematic changes in the
growth settings
through data stored within the cartridge. All cartridges can be the same
general format, but each
can be assigned a traceable QR code which attaches unique data to inform the
micro-gardening
system and computerized application how that plant will be grown and unique
attributes through
the physical assembly, such as nutrients and seeding.
[0115] For example, process 2400 may include nutrient addition 2402, which
may include
the addition of one or more nutrients to an internal growing medium of a
cartridge. The nutrient
addition 2402 may be customized, as indicated by box 2404 in Figure 24. For
example,
customizing may include varying nutrient placement during the assembly process
based on plant
type, desired plant size, and/or the level of maturity the plant will reach.
The type of nutrients
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and number of nutrients added to the internal growing medium may also be
varied based on the
plant type, desired size, and/or level of maturity.
[0116] For example, process 2400 may include seeding/adhesion 2406, where
seeds may be
adhered to internal growing medium. This step may be customized as indicated
by box 2408 in
Figure 24. For example, customizing may include varying the seed type, seed
location within the
cartridge, and/or seeding density, for example. These aspects can be altered
based on the desired
product outcome.
[0117] For example, process 2400 may include code/data assignment 2410,
where a unique
identifier, such as a QR and/or UPC code may be assigned to a cartridge. The
settings associated
with the unique identifier may be customized as indicated by box 2412 in
Figure 24. For
example, customizing may include assigning a growth profile (which can be
changed by the user,
if desired) to the identifier that can indicate that particular settings of
plant growth associated
with the cartridge are automated, and which can optimize growth based on the
user's desired
outcome. The variables include, for example, the amount and/or strength of
various LED lighting
channels, misting settings, and number of nutrient additions.
[0118] For example, process 2400 may include aggregation 2414. Here, for
example, data
from each growth instance in each cartridge may be aggregated in one or more
databases and
used to inform future applications. The future applications may be, for
example, both general
and user specific, allowing for further customization of the process. For
example, the future
applications that may be customized may include future cartridge assembly.
[0119] Figures 25A-25C show an exemplary growing unit 2500 using an
exemplary
cartridge. Unit 2500 may be the same as unit 100, for example. Figure 25A
shows various
settings 2502, 2504, 2506, 2508 for growing a plant in unit 2500. The plant
may be seeded
within a cartridge of unit 2500, and the cartridge may include a QR code 2510.
QR code 2510
may be read by unit 2500, and may cause unit 2500 to acquire one or more of
settings 2502,
2504, 2506, 2508 from one or more databases such that unit 2500 can be
adjusted using one or
more of 2502, 2504, 2506, 2508 to effectuate controlled growing of the plant.
For example, the
settings may refer to how a standard Tiny Tim tomato should be grown by unit
2500. In another
example, the settings may refer to how a Genovese basil should be grown by
unit 2500. In
another example, the settings may refer to how multiple different plants
should be grown
simultaneously within unit 2500. The QR code 2510 may reflect that one or more
of the growth
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settings 2502, 2504, 2506, and 2508 should be obtained by one or more
databases, and also may
reflect seed origin and seeding date within the cartridge.
[0120] Setting 2502 reflects, for example, seeding for the cartridge in
unit 2500. Setting
2502 may reflect the density of seeding within the cartridge, which may be,
for example, 3 seeds
in each of three larger sized holes (e.g., the first hole described above).
Setting 2502 may also
reflect the amount of seeds within a cartridge. The amount may be the number
of seeds, or may
be the weight of seeds within the cartridge. Setting 2502 may reflect the
location of seeds within
the cartridge. For example, the location may be reflected as a pattern, such
as a triangular,
square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal pattern, for example.
Other patters,
such as checker board and zig-zag, for example, may be used. The locations of
seeds may
correspond to one or more holes of an external top and/or bottom (e.g., 2304,
2312) of a
cartridge.
[0121] Setting 2504 reflects, for example, mister settings for unit 2500 to
grow a plant of the
cartridge. The mister settings may include, for example, duration and/or
frequency of misting.
The duration may be, for example, 15 seconds. The frequency may be, for
example, every 15
minutes. The duration and frequency may be any number of different values.
Moreover, the
frequency may be set to occur within certain time windows. For example, in a
first time
window, the frequency may be every 10 minutes, but in a second time window,
the frequency
may be every 30 minutes.
[0122] Setting 2506 reflects, for example, light settings for unit 2500 to
grow a plant of the
cartridge. For example, the light settings may adjust one or more of the
channel intensity,
duration, and frequency of light applied to seeds of a cartridge by unit 2500.
For example, the
settings may indicate one or more of red, far red, blue, and/or white channels
for light, and may
indicate percentage intensity for each of these channels. For example, the red
channel may be set
to 30 percent intensity, the far red channel may be set to 5 percent
intensity, the blue channel
may be set to 30 percent intensity, and the while channel may be set to 30
percent intensity. The
duration may be set to 18 hours, for example, The frequency may be set to
daily, for example.
The duration may be on the order of a predetermined number of minutes, hours,
or days, for
example. The frequency may be on the order of a predetermined number of
minutes, hours, or
days, for example.
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[0123] Setting 2508 reflects, for example, nutrient settings for unit 2500
to grow a plant of
the cartridge. For example, the settings can indicate the formulation of
nutrients (e.g., which
nutrients are present and the concentration of each nutrient), and the amount
and location of
nutrients present in the cartridge. For example setting 2508 may indicate a
certain formulation of
nutrients A, B, and C, that the amount is 2 tsp. per gallon of water added to
the growth medium,
and that the nutrients were concentrated in the center of the cartridge
growing medium.
Additions to the nutrients may also be indicated by the settings 2508.
[0124] It should be noted that plants may be customized based on requests
from a user, who
may adjust unit 2500 settings via control of an application on a computing
device or via unit
2500 itself. Indeed, one or more of the growth settings 2502, 2504, 2506, and
2508 may be
adjusted by a user and customized to the user's preferences. For example,
three are numerous
possible combinations of different nutrient solutions, and a different
combination can be used for
each cultivar or for each plant instance.
[0125] Figure 26 shows an exemplary process 2600 for producing cartridges
in accordance
with the present disclosure. For example, process 2600 may include cartridge
manufacturing at
step 2602. Here, for example, a cartridge may be manufactured having settings
2604 received
from one or more databases. Settings 2604 may be settings as previously
discussed, and may
direct how a growing unit should operate. The settings may be a standard
setting for a particular
seed type/plant of the cartridge, or may include customized settings that
deviate from the
standard setting. For example, the customized settings may be received at the
databases from
one or more plant growing units 2606, and may reflect settings that were
previously used for
growing the same plant within a unit 2606. The manufactured cartridge may then
be used by a
unit 2606. In another plant instance (e.g., instances 2, 3, 4, to N), a
cartridge may again be
manufactured at step 2608. Settings 2610 may be received from one or more
databases, and may
be further customized compared to settings 2604 because they include further
information of
cartridge growth settings from one or more units 2612. Indeed, the cartridge
manufacturing at
step 2608 can be influenced and refined, for example, by prior growth
settings, cartridge settings,
and growth profiles from previously manufactured cartridges for the same or
different seed
types. The manufactured cartridge of step 2608 may then be used by a unit
2612.
[0126] Indeed, with respect to Figure 26, the creation of each of the plant
instances can be
informed and initiated by requests from users. Information from those initial
requests, from data
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collected during the first plant instance in each unit, and from requests
prior to a user's second
(and third, fourth, and so on...) plant instance can be used to inform the
production of the next
cartridge and growth profile that user will receive. Data can be used to form
a progressive loop in
which information from each individual cartridge and plant instance can be
stored within the
larger platform and transferred forward to be used to inform future cartridge
production. This
may allow for the improved performance of future cartridges both generally and
based on
individual users' desired outcomes.
[0127] Figure 27 shows an exemplary cartridge label 2700 that may include a
unique
identifier, such as a QR code or UPC code, as discussed above. Label 2700 may
be adhered to a
seed cartridge, packaging of the seed cartridge, or any other layer of the
cartridge. In another
example, label 2700 may be branded or otherwise printed or formed directly on
a seed cartridge,
packaging of the seed cartridge, or any other layer of the cartridge. For
example, the unique
identifier described may also allow the micro-gardening system to collect and
store data
regarding the health and overall growth of that specific plant within that
unique and specific
environment for that plant instance. There may be system and user verification
for each plant
instance, and data may be aggregated in one or more databases, such as cloud
databases, from all
past and current plant instances.
[0128] In some embodiments, the system may be automated to collect data on
each specific
cartridge, such as data regarding one or more of its installation date within
a unit (e.g., unit 100)
and geographic location, ambient lighting, electrical conductivity and pH of
the nutrient solution,
water level, and overall plant health. This data may be collected through a
variety of sensors
located in the unit's basin, as well as sensors and a camera system that may
be located in a
lamphead of the unit.
[0129] In some embodiments, users may be able to supply feedback and
information on
produce/system status by answering a variety of questions through a computer
application
interface, throughout the growth of each cartridge. Such questions may ask for
information on
one or more of germination rate and/or timing, produce coloration and/or
flavor, and the timing
of flowering and fruiting phases.
[0130] In some embodiments, the data on each specific cartridge and/or
feedback and
information on produce/system status may be collected from every cartridge
grown, and may be
stored in a database (e.g., a database as previously discussed). In some
embodiments, the
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combination of the data on each specific cartridge and feedback and
information on
produce/system status may be used to create a third data set (see Figure 27).
This aggregated data
may be used by artificial intelligence (AI) (e.g., AT algorithms and analysis)
to inform future
plant instances for each plant type. This may allow the system to learn from
each plant instance
in order to improve performance both on a general and an individualized scale,
further
customizing the experience for users.
[0131] Indeed, Figure 27 shows, for example, data storage effectuated by
each cartridge's
label 2700. For example, label 2700 may include a unique identifier that
reflects a variety of
information pertaining to that particular cartridge. The information may
include one or more of
seed disk information 2702, plant instance information 2704, and/or plant type
information 2706
for a particular cartridge. The information may be stored and/or tracked
within this unique
identifying code.
[0132] Seed disk information 2702 may include, for example, the date and/or
time that the
cartridge was made, the plant type that the cartridge is configured to grow,
the expiration date for
the cartridge, the seed and/or nutrient source and/or lot, and the plant
instance. The seed and/or
nutrient source and/or lot may refer to the specific purveyor and batch number
associated with
the seed and/or nutrients in that particular cartridge. Seed disk information
2702 may also store
information on the particular materials used to assemble that cartridge, for
example,
[0133] Plant instance information 2704 may provide further information of
the plant instance
information of seed disk information 2702. For example, plant instance
information 2704 may
refer to data the system may collect throughout the cartridge plant's life
cycle. This data,
associated with that one cartridge, may be stored, tracked, and used to inform
future plant
instances. For example, plant instance information 2704 may include device
information
regarding the device (e.g., unit 100) holding the cartridge and/or settings
for a gardening system
in which the seed cartridge is configured for installation, sensor data of the
device, photos of
plants captured by the device (e.g., unit 100), date and/or time of planting
of the cartridge in the
device, date and/or time of completion of growing for the cartridges plant(s),
and information on
harvesting, such as harvesting yield and time of harvesting, for example.
[0134] Plant type information 2706 may provide further information of the
plant type
information of seed disk information 2702. For example, plant type information
2706 may be
stored and tracked within the unique identifier for each cartridge. This data
may include the
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actual growth settings (e.g., lighting, misting, etc.) that may have been used
to grow a plant in
that particular plant instance. For example, plant type information 2706 may
include one or
more of the name of the plant (e.g., breed, identifying name, etc.), light
settings of the device
(e.g., unit 100) growing the plant, mister settings of the device (e.g., unit
100) growing the plant,
water and nutrition requirements of the plant, content assets relating to the
cartridge and/or plant,
plant life cycle data, and settings for a gardening system in which the seed
cartridge is
configured for installation.. 'The indicated information 2702, 2704, and/or
2706 of Figure 20
may be formatted and stored within a database, such as a cloud database, and
may contribute to a
larger data set that could inform future growing.
[0135] As previously noted, in some embodiments, a computer application may
be used to
interact with systems of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the
application interface
and associated code can be customized to achieve a particular outcome based on
user
preferences. For example, the application interface may allow the user to
select produce by
flavor profiles such as sweet or salty, which would result in the assembly and
processing of a
cartridge order to be different within each plant type. In some embodiments,
the cartridge
assembly process may allow for physical customization of the cartridge itself.
Different produce
outcomes, such as changes in produce size and quantity can be achieved through
these physical
processes. Various aspects of the cartridge may be altered during the assembly
process to
achieve a desired outcome. For example, the placement and composition of
nutrients used may
be customized to accommodate various outcomes such as plant size and level of
maturity
reached. In another example, the pattern and density of seeding may be varied
in order to create
produce of different sizes, morphologies, and locations on the cartridge.
[0136] The subject matter described herein can be implemented in digital
electronic circuitry,
or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structural means
disclosed in this
specification and structural equivalents thereof, or in combinations of them.
The subject matter
described herein can be implemented as one or more computer program products,
such as one or
more computer programs tangibly embodied in an information carrier (e.g., in a
machine
readable storage device), or embodied in a propagated signal, for execution
by, or to control the
operation of, data processing apparatus (e.g., a programmable processor, a
computer, or multiple
computers). A computer program (also known as a program, software, software
application, or
code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled
or interpreted
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languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone
program or as a
module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing
environment. A
computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file. A program can be
stored in a
portion of a file that holds other programs or data, in a single file
dedicated to the program in
question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more
modules, sub
programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be
executed on one
computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple
sites and
interconnected by a communication network.
[0137] The processes and logic flows described in this specification,
including the method
steps of the subject matter described herein, can be performed by one or more
programmable
processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions of the
subject matter
described herein by operating on input data and generating output. The
processes and logic
flows can also be performed by, and apparatus of the subject matter described
herein can be
implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field
programmable gate array)
or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).
[0138] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include,
by way of
example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more
processor of
any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions
and data from a
read only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of
a computer are
a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for
storing instructions
and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled
to receive data from
or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing
data, e.g., magnetic,
magneto optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for
embodying computer
program instructions and data include all forms of nonvolatile memory,
including by way of
example semiconductor memory devices, (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory
devices);
magnetic disks, (e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks); magneto
optical disks; and optical
disks (e.g., CD and DVD disks). The processor and the memory can be
supplemented by, or
incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.
[0139] To provide for interaction with a user, the subject matter described
herein can be
implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray
tube) or LCD
(liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a
keyboard and a
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pointing device, (e.g., a mouse or a trackball), by which the user can provide
input to the
computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a
user as well. For
example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback,
(e.g., visual
feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback), and input from the user can
be received in any
form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
[0140] The subject matter described herein can be implemented in a
computing system that
includes a back end component (e.g., a data server), a middleware component
(e.g., an
application server), or a front end component (e.g., a client computer having
a graphical user
interface or a web browser through which a user can interact with an
implementation of the
subject matter described herein), or any combination of such back end,
middleware, and front
end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form
or medium
of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of
communication
networks include a local area network ("LAN") and a wide area network ("WAN"),
e.g., the
Internet.
[0141] It is to be understood that the disclosed subject matter is not
limited in its application
to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set
forth in the
following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosed subject
matter is capable of
other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the
purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0142] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures,
methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the disclosed
subject matter. It is
important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent
constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosed
subject matter.
[0143] Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and
illustrated in the
foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure
has been made
only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of
implementation of the
disclosed subject matter may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the
disclosed subject matter.
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