Proximity based controller access
In one aspect, a method of providing electronic access to a controller (e.g., sprinkler or lighting controller) associated with a first user is disclosed. The method includes determining, via a processing element, a proximity of an access device to the controller, wherein the access device is associated with a second user different than the first user; automatically providing, via the processing element, a grant of access for electronic communications between the controller and the access device based, at least in part, on the proximity of the access device to the controller; displaying, on a user interface rendered by a user device associated with the first user, a message indicating the grant of access.
1 . A method of providing electronic access to a controller associated with a user, comprising:
receiving, via a processing element, an authorization granting an access device associated with an access requester access to the controller;
receiving, via the processing element, three or more locations relative to the controller selected by a user device associated with a user of the controller;
generating, via the processing element, a virtual boundary relative to the controller based on the three or more locations received from the user device;
determining, via the processing element, a proximity of the access device to the virtual boundary;
determining, via the processing element, that the access device is authorized to access the controller based on the authorization;
automatically providing, via the processing element, based at least in part on the proximity of the access device to the virtual boundary, a grant of access for electronic communications between the controller and the access device;
wherein the controller is a sprinkler controller;
and displaying, on a user interface rendered by the user device associated with the user, a message indicating the grant of access.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is within an area defined by the virtual boundary and wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more sprinkler valves.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximity of the access device to the virtual boundary is determined based on receipt of a wireless signal from the access device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving authentication data related to an access privilege of a user associated with the access device, wherein the authentication data is communicated by the access device to the processor and wherein the processor compares the authentication data against stored information associated with the access requester to verify the authenticity of the authentication data.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the authentication data comprises a password, a keyword, a passphrase, an employee number, or other identifying information.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein providing the grant of access is based, at least in part, on the authentication data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a notification based on the grant of access; and
receiving from the user device a user input revoking or confirming the grant of access.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the user input to revoke or confirm the grant of access is generated by the user device responsive to the user device receiving the notification.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the grant of access includes access to an access level of a plurality of access levels.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the user interface is based on the access level.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying a setting of the controller via the user interface.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the grant of access is for a period of time.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising automatically revoking the grant of access after the expiration of the period of time.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, on the user device, a map view associated with the user of the controller, wherein the map view comprises a location of the controller;
receiving, via the processing element, virtual boundary inputs on the user device, wherein the virtual boundary inputs comprise the three or more locations relative to the controller selected by a user device defining the virtual boundary;
generating, via the processing element, an updated map view comprising the location of the controller and a closed virtual boundary defined by the three or more locations relative to the controller selected by a user device;
displaying, on the user device, the updated map view.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of three or more locations relative to the controller selected by a user device comprises elevation data, latitude data, and longitude data.
16 . A system for providing electronic access to a controller associated with a user, comprising:
a processing element;
a user device associated with the user;
an access device associated with an access requester, wherein the processing element is configured to:
receive an authorization granting an access device associated with an access requester access to the controller;
receive three or more locations relative to the controller selected by a user device associated with a user of the controller;
generating a virtual boundary relative to the controller based on the three or more locations received from the user device;
determine a proximity of the access device to the virtual boundary;
determining that the access device is authorized to access the controller based on the authorization;
automatically provide, based at least in part on the proximity of the access device to the virtual boundary, a grant of access for electronic communications between the controller and the access device;
wherein the controller is a sprinkler controller; and
display, on a user interface rendered by the user device, a message indicating the grant of access.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is within an area defined by the virtual boundary.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the grant of access is for a period of time and further comprising automatically revoking the grant of access after the expiration of the period of time.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processing element is further configured to:
receive authentication data related to an access privilege of a user associated with the access device, wherein the authentication data is communicated by the access device to the processor and wherein the processor compares the authentication data against stored information associated with the access requester to verify the authenticity of the authentication data.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processing element is further configured to:
provide the grant of access is based, at least in part, on the authentication data.