DESC:PRIORITY CLAIM:
[0001] This application claims priority from the provisional application numbered 201741007039 filed with Indian Patent Office, Chennai on 28th February 2017 entitled “Kiosk system for automated soil testing”, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
PREAMBLE OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical field of invention
[0003] The invention relates in general to systems and methods for soil analysis and more particularly to a self-service kiosk for automated soil testing and soil fertility management.
Background of the invention
[0004] Soil testing in agriculture plays a very important role as it partly decides the productivity of the land from where the soil is being tested. Soil testing helps in assessing the fertility of the soil periodically and calculating accurate dosage of fertilizer required to increase the productivity, which in turn prevents indiscriminate usage of fertilizers. Also, it categorizes soil into alkaline, mineral or saline that helps in advising the farmers on converting the soils to normal condition.
[0005] At present, the methods available with farmers for soil testing are laboratory testing and soil testing kits etc. The former process is very tedious and time consuming as the farmers have to take the soil sample to the laboratories. It takes nearly 15- 30 days for the reports to come and additional travel time to drop the soil samples and pick up the reports adds to the time consumption. The existing soil testing kits can be bought by the farmers and used for soil testing, wherein the reporting is faster but the limitation is that these machines assess only two to three macro nutrients. Therefore the farmers rely on laboratory testing of soil.
[0006] There is no technique available in the prior art that can help the farmers conduct a detailed testing of soil within a quick time frame, with a user friendly interface.
[0007] Hence, there is a need for a soil testing device which is less time consuming and located at accessible locations for the farmers and also provides an easy to use user interface.
Summary of the invention
[0008] In one embodiment, a system for managing soil fertility is described. The system comprises a network of kiosks, each kiosk configured for receiving and processing user information and soil sample so as to generate a fertility report. The system further comprises a central server communicatively coupled to the network of kiosks via a communication network. The central server is configured for storing, processing and providing information to a user based on the fertility report and at least one additional parameter.
[0009] In another embodiment, a method of managing soil fertility is described. The method comprising steps of registering a user by an interface unit at a kiosk and subsequent to registration receiving soil sample of a selected land at a soil input unit of the kiosk. The method further comprises sensing one or more nutrients in the soil sample by a sensor unit, and processing information provided by the sensor unit for generating a fertility report by a processing unit. The fertility report thus generated may be displayed at the kiosk. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting the fertility report to the central server and receiving one or more suggestions based on the fertility report and one or more additional parameters.
Brief description of drawings
[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system for managing soil fertility, as described in one embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the kiosk shown as a part of FIG.1, as described in one embodiment of the invention; and
[0013] FIG 3 illustrates a flow diagram depicting a method of managing soil fertility as described in one embodiment of the invention.
Detailed description of the invention
[0014] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0015] The present invention provides a self-service kiosk for automated soil testing for quick soil analysis, soil fertility management and gives recommendation on the correct dosage of fertilizers required for specified yield to farmers in regional languages. Farmers need to register using phone number and derive the information on various topics on farming. This involves the simple procedure of collecting the soil sample and visit to the kiosk center to get the soil analysis report and other related information. The soil sample is fed to the kiosk machine that quickly analyses the quality of soil, based on which it gives recommendation on the correct dosage of fertilizers required for specified yield. Based on the soil analysis, the system also assists in procurement of fertilizers. The system also delivers the soil analysis report via SMS and other related SMS alerts to the farmers.
[0016] Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows system (100) that comprises one or more self-service kiosks 110 for automated soil testing and analysis and provides recommendation on the crop type to be cultivated and correct dosage of fertilizers required for specified yield to one or more users of the system 100. The one or more kiosks 110 are communicatively coupled to a central server 120 via a communication network 140.
[0017] As used herein, the term "network" includes any electronic communications system or method which incorporates hardware and/or software components. Communication among the parties may be accomplished through any suitable communication channels, such as, for example, a telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internet, point of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digital assistant (e.g., Palm Pilot. RTM., Blackberry. RTM.), cellular phone, kiosk, etc.), online communications, satellite communications, off-line communications, wireless communications, transponder communications, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), networked or linked devices, keyboard, mouse and/or any suitable communication or data input modality.
[0018] Though a single kiosk 110 is shown as a part of the system 100 in FIG, 1, skilled artisans shall appreciate that multiple kiosks 110 may be coupled to the central server 120 via the communication network 140. The distribution of the kiosks 110 may depend on the density of farmers utilizing the services of the system 100 at a given geographical area. Further each kiosk 110 is configured for receiving, processing and providing information to the user.

[0019] The user may be a farmer wishing to cultivate a piece of land and seeking information on the type of crop to be cultivated, type and dosage of at least one fertilizer to be used for a selected crop and the expected yield for the crop-fertilizer combination. The user may initiate communication with the kiosk 110 by registering himself by providing his/her identification and password. Identification may be a unique combination of alphabets, numerals and special characters. Alternatively, the user can register using phone number of the user device 130 he/she carries.
[0020] In one embodiment, the user device 130 may be a personal computing device, among other things for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook, a netbook, a tablet personal computer (PC), a control panel, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or any other suitable device operable to send and receive data and display data.
[0021] As the kiosk 110 may be deployed in remote areas where the users are not literate enough to use the automated machines, in such cases, the user may take assistance of people from any Non-Government Organization (NGO) or any kiosk 110 service agencies. The phone number of the user device 130 may be used as a prime reference for access credentials. Following successful registration, the personal details of the user such as name, age, demographical details, preferred language for communication and the information associated to his/her land are entered in the kiosk 110 through a interface unit 205.
[0022] The interface unit 205 may be a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) monitor and/or the like. In one embodiment, the user interface may include, for example, a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector, a Video Graphics Array (VGA) connector, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector or any other suitable connector operable to couple the kiosk 110 to a display unit.
[0023] Soon upon receiving sign-in information from the user device 130, a unique identifier is assigned to the user device 130. The kiosk 110 is further configured for storing an association of the unique identifier, the sign-in information, and a device type of the user device 130. This information may be used for subsequent log-in of the user.

[0024] The user may further provide location parameter of the land selected to be cultivated by the user. Alternatively, the user may provide other identification details of the land, such as survey number associated with the land. The information provided by the user is transmitted to the central server 120.
[0025] As used herein, "transmit" may include sending electronic data from one system 100 component to another over a network connection. Additionally, as used herein, "data" may include encompassing information such as commands, queries, files, data for storage, and the like in digital or any other form.
[0026] The central server 120 may identify location parameters of the selected land using one or more spatial maps obtained from the geographical information system. The central server 120 is configured for storing, processing and providing information to a user. For this purpose, the central server 120 may include memory, a processor and a communication module. The processor may be a general purpose processor, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), and/or the like. The processor may be configured to retrieve data from and/or write data to the memory. The memory may be, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a database, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a floppy disk, cloud storage, and/or so forth. In one embodiment, the server may include one or more hardware- based modules (e.g., DSP, FPGA, ASIC) and/or software- based modules (e.g., a module of computer code stored at the memory and executed at the processor, a set of processor- readable instructions that may be stored at the memory and executed at the processor) associated with executing an application, such as, for example, receiving, processing and displaying data from the kiosks 110.
[0027] Further, the central server 120 may include a database 125 (e.g., in memory and/or through a wired and/or a wireless connection) for storing data received from the multiple kiosks 110 coupled to the central server 120 via the communication network 140. Additionally, the central server 120 may store information related to the user, location parameters of the land selected to be cultivated by the user and spatial parameters of the selected land obtained using the geographical information system. The central server 120 may further comprise a User Interface (UI) (not shown) directly coupled to the database 125 so as to facilitate display of data stored in the database 125.
[0028] Any database discussed herein may include relational, hierarchical, graphical, or object-oriented structure and/or any other database configurations. Common database products that may be used to implement the databases include DB2 by IBM (White Plains, N.Y.), various database products available from Oracle Corporation (Redwood Shores, Calif.), Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server by Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.), MySQL, or any other suitable database product. Moreover, the databases may be organized in any suitable manner, for example, as data tables or lookup tables. Each record may be a single file, a series of files, a linked series of data fields or any other data structure. Association of certain data may be accomplished through any desired data association technique such as those known or practiced in the art.
[0029] The central server 120 is further configured for sending the location parameters of the selected land, based on the survey number input by the user, to the kiosk 110 or for sending a confirmation of the location parameters input by the user at the kiosk 110 by matching the location information with one or more spatial maps obtained from the geographical information system.
[0030] Upon receiving the location parameters of the land to be cultivated, the kiosk 110 prompts the user to input the soil sample via an interface unit 205. A soil input unit 210 receives the soil sample. The contents of the soil sample thus obtained are analyzed by a sensor unit 215. The sensor unit 215 may comprise one or more nutrient sensors for sensing various nutrients such as Hydrolytic Nitrogen, Ammonium Nitrogen, Nitrate Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Ferrous, Manganese, Chloride and Sulphur.
[0031] The fertility of the soil is indicated by various nutrients present in the soil sample. A processing unit 220 is configured for processing information provided by the sensor unit 215 and generating a fertility report for the soil sample. In one embodiment, the processing unit 220 is configured for providing one or more suggestions based on the fertility report and one or more additional parameters. The additional parameters include one or more location parameters of the selected land, one or more spatial maps of the land, one or more fertility reports of one or more land parcels adjacent to the selected land and one or more pre determined Soil Test Crop Response.
[0032] In an alternate embodiment, the communication unit 225 is configured for sending the fertility report to the central server 120 for processing, storage and future reference.
[0033] The central server 120 is configured for processing the fertility report along with one or more additional parameters and providing one or more suggestions based on the processing. The processing is performed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Language (ML) based prediction system.
[0034] The one or more suggestions including crop recommendation, composition and dosage of at least one fertilizer to be used. Furthermore, the communication unit 225 is configured for sending the fertility report and suggestions for display at the kiosk 110 and/or the user device 130. The fertility report may be sent to the user device 130 in Portable Document Format (PDF) or any other device compatible format preferred by the user.
[0035] In one embodiment, the interface unit 205 is configured for displaying the fertility report at the kiosk 110. In an additional embodiment, the interface unit 205 is configured for displaying the fertility report (voice/text format) at the kiosk 110 in one or more regional languages such as Malyalam, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil. Natural language processing system is utilized for converting the fertility report from one language to another including any linguistic (i.e. vocabulary) or grammatical (i.e. syntax) variation without affecting the overall meaning (semantic). Natural language processing is well known in the art and will not be described in detail.
[0036] The kiosk 110 further comprises soil output unit 230 for discarding the soil sample so as to facilitate dispensing the soil sample out the kiosk 110.
[0037] The central server 120 is further configured for hosting a web page for managing soil fertility. The web page may be accessed using the one of the user interface (not shown) at the central server 120, at the user device 130 and at the kiosk 110. Accordingly, the user device 130 may comprise a web application, the web application providing an interface for the user with the central server 120. The user may derive additional information/assistance regarding farming by browsing the web page.
[0038] Applications, as used herein, include any set of computing instructions. Applications instruct an electronic device to perform specified functions. Applications typically contain logic and methods for accessing, manipulating, and storing data. Examples of applications include word processors, web browsers, email clients, games (e.g., chess games, etc), and media players. Applications may contain instructions on displaying and formatting data. For example, an application may instruct an electronic device to access certain data and display it in a specified format and/or at a specified time.
[0039] Applications may be transported via any method suitable for such purpose. For example, the applications may be downloaded to the user device 130 via a Web browser or may be transported to the user device 130 using a "push" type operation via a network protocol over a cable or wireless infrastructure. Possible means for pushing an application or application reference include, but are not limited to, email, embedding in a Web page, part of an RSS feed, a WAP.TM. push, or a Bluetooth.TM. transmission. The system for deploying applications to the user devices 130 may optionally include a runtime environment for the application. A runtime environment is software that allows a user device 130 to execute application code.
[0040] The term "web page" as it is used herein is not meant to limit the type of documents and applications that might be used to interact with the user. For example, a typical website might include, in addition to standard HTML documents, various forms, Java applets, JavaScript, active server pages (ASP), asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), common gateway interface scripts (CGI), extensible markup language (XML), dynamic HTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), helper applications, plug-ins, and the like. A server may include a web service that receives a request from a web server, the request including a URL (http://yahoo.com/stockquotes/ge) and an IP address (123.56.789.234). The web server retrieves the appropriate web pages and sends the data or applications for the web pages to the IP address. Web services are applications that are capable of interacting with other applications over a communication means, such as the internet. Web services are typically based on standards or protocols such as XML, SOAP, WSDL and UDDI. Web services methods are well known in the art.
[0041] As explained in various embodiments above, the system 100 provides the users (farmers) with accurate fertilizer recommendation based on location parameters, spatial maps and smart database 125 in quick time with the help of interface in local languages for each state. Also, the smart database 125 across the cloud helps in storing huge data base of farmers across the country.
[0042] In an additional embodiment, the system 100 provides finance assistance to the farmer based on the predictions and additional alert regarding weather and precautions to be taken by the user to increase the yield.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram depicting a method 300 of managing fertility of the soil. The method comprises registering a user by the interface unit 205 of the kiosk 110 (at step 305). In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving sign-in information from the user device 130 and assigning a unique identifier to the user device 130. The method 300 also includes storing an association of the unique identifier, the sign-in information, and a device type of the user device 130.
[0044] The method 300 further comprises receiving user information including location information of a selected land to be cultivated by the user (at step 305) and receiving soil sample of a selected land at the soil input unit 210 of the kiosk 110 (at step 310). The method (300) further comprises sensing one or more nutrients in the soil sample by the sensor unit 215 (at step 315), processing information provided by the sensor unit 215 and generating a fertility report by the processing unit 220 (at step 320). The fertility report thus generated may be displayed at the kiosk 110. In a preferred embodiment, the method 300 comprises transmitting the fertility report to the central server 120 by the communication unit 225 (at step 325) and receiving suggestions based on fertility report and one or more additional parameters (at step 330).
[0045] Once the fertility report is generated, users can retrieve the fertilizer recommendation based on the soil test results for the selected crop, seed variety, soil type and season. The fertilizer recommendation comprises of targeted yield based on recommended fertilizers for each crop type. The user receives e-receipt and soil health card along with the fertilizer recommendations in one visit.
[0046] The method 300 further comprises providing one or more suggestions, by the central server 120, based on the fertility of the soil and one or more additional parameters. The one or more suggestions include the crop recommendation, composition and dosage of at least one fertilizer to be used.
[0047] In another embodiment, a computer program product stored in a computer readable media, the computer program product having instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the method 300 depicted by the flowchart shown in FIG. 3.
Advantages
[0048] The system 100 provides geo-referenced soil fertility maps showing distribution of soil nutrients and their spatial variability, audio information intelligence in local languages across small to large farm holders. This service helps them stay connected with the current agricultural information and aiding soil test agencies on a daily basis, which in turn help in maximizing the production and income of the farmers. The e-governance and extension workers may also use this system 100 to provide the farmers with information on fertilizer dosage and complete spatial data on soil fertility customized to their region.
[0049] The kiosks 110 are employable across taluk offices, panchayat offices and also as separate centers at convenient locations for farmers like Automated Teller Machine (ATM) centers. Farmers can conveniently access, register and process the information themselves on various topics on farming using the present system 100. They need to collect the soil samples from their farming land and visit kiosk 110 centers to get the soil analysis report and other agriculture related information. Based on methodological data at farmer’s location, together with on-location parameters, farmers are able to have an accurate fertilizer recommendation and precise calculations needed for properly applying fertilizers for better yield and in improving their economic growth.
[0050] Although the invention is described with reference to a soil fertility management system 100, skilled artisans shall however appreciate that the same infrastructure along with a different senor unit can be used in different management systems such as health management system and water management system.
[0051] The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer- readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described above can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

[0052] In addition, any disclosure of components contained within other components or separate from other components should be considered exemplary because multiple other architectures may potentially be implemented to achieve the same functionality, including incorporating all, most, and/or some elements as part of one or more unitary structures and/or separate structures.

[0053] Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer- readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general -purpose or special -purpose computer, or a general -purpose or special -purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer- readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer- readable media.

[0054] While the invention has been described in detail, modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Such modifications are also to be considered as part of the present invention. In view of the foregoing discussion, relevant knowledge in the art and references or information discussed above in connection with the Background of the Invention, the inventions of which are all incorporated herein by reference, further description is deemed unnecessary. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the invention and portions of various embodiments may be combined or interchanged either in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A system (100) for managing soil fertility, the system (100) comprising:
at least one kiosk (110) configured for receiving and processing user information and soil sample so as to generate a fertility report; and
a central server (120) communicatively coupled to the kiosk (110) via a communication network (140), the central server (120) configured for storing, processing and providing suggestions to a user based on the fertility report and at least one additional parameter.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central server comprises a database (125) for storing user information, the user information comprising information concerning user, details of a selected land to be cultivated by the user and information concerning the soil sample and the fertility report.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a web application module for use in a user device (130), the user device (130) being communicatively coupled to the central server (120) via the communication network (140), the web application module providing an interface for the user with the central server (120).

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central server (120) is further configured for hosting a web page for managing soil fertility and wherein the kiosk (110) is further configured for displaying the web page hosted by the central server (120).

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kiosk (110) comprises:
an interface unit (205) for interfacing the kiosk (110) with the user;
a soil input unit (210) for receiving soil sample of a selected land to be cultivated by the user;
a sensor unit (215) coupled to the soil input unit (210), the sensor unit (215) configured for sensing one or more nutrients in the soil sample;
a processing unit (220) coupled to the sensor unit (215), the processing unit (220) configured for processing information provided by the sensor unit (215) for generating a fertility report for the soil sample; and
a communication unit (230) configured for transmitting the fertility report to a central server (120).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the central server (120) is further configured for providing one or more suggestions based on the fertility of the soil and one or more additional parameters, the one or more suggestions including crop recommendation, composition and dosage of at least one fertilizer to be used.

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the additional parameters include one or more location parameters of the selected land, the selected land being the land selected to be cultivated by the user, one or more spatial maps of the land, one or more fertility reports of one or more land parcels adjacent to the selected land and one or more pre determined Soil Test Crop Response.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor unit (215) may comprise one or more nutrient sensors for sensing various nutrients in the soil sample such as Hydrolytic Nitrogen, Ammonium Nitrogen, Nitrate Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Ferrous, Manganese, Chloride and Sulphur.

9. A method (300) for managing soil fertility, the method (300) comprising the steps of:
registering a user by an interface unit (205) at a kiosk (110) (step 305);
receiving soil sample of a selected land at a soil input unit (210) of the kiosk (110), the selected land being the land selected for cultivation by the user (step 310);
sensing one or more nutrients in the soil sample by a sensor unit (215) (step 315);
processing information provided by the sensor unit (215) and generating a fertility report by a processing unit (220) (step 320);
transmitting the fertility report to the central server (120) (step 325); and
receiving one or more suggestions based on the fertility report and one or more additional parameters (step 330).

10. A computer program product stored in a computer readable media, the computer program product having instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the following steps of:

registering a user at a kiosk (110);

receiving soil sample of a selected land, the selected land being the land selected for cultivation by the user;
sensing one or more nutrients in the soil sample;

processing information concerning the nutrients of the soil sample along with one or more additional parameters and generating a fertility report;

transmitting the fertility report to the central server (120); and
receiving one or more suggestions based on the fertility report and one or more additional parameters.