Grain aeration systems and techniques

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a networked grain aeration control system. For example, the system can provide centralized monitoring of the aeration of a number of grain storage facilities, thereby improving the management of stored grain. The networked grain aeration control system can allow the custodian of the system to offer an aeration service. Farmers, or other individuals, cooperatives, or companies can purchase the aeration service at a cost proportionate to the amount of stored grain to be aerated and the duration of storage. In this manner, the purchaser of the aeration service can avoid relatively high fixed costs that can be associated with various aeration hardware.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A computer-implemented method for determining a management fee for the management of a crop storage facility via a central computer, the method comprising:
 causing at least one processor associated with a central computer to record a management history of a crop stored in the crop storage facility, wherein the management history includes the management of the crop storage facility driven by the central computer;   causing the at least one processor associated with the central computer to evaluate the management history to determine a fee to charge that is based on at least one record in the management history; and   generating a fee notification indicating the determined fee.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one record in the management history is a quantity of crop stored in the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         44 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one record in the management history is a storage time of the crop stored in the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         45 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one record in the management history includes a record of at least one member of a group comprising: an obtained crop objective, at least one crop storage condition value associated with the crop storage facility, and a determined control policy configured to control at least one controller of the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         46 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 45 , wherein the obtained crop objective includes at least one member of a group comprising: a targeted crop rating, a targeted moisture content, a targeted temperature, a targeted weight, a targeted storage time, and a targeted delivery location. 
     
     
         47 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 45 , wherein the at least one crop storage condition value includes at least one member of a group comprising: a crop temperature value, a crop moisture content value, a crop type value, a crop blend value, a crop static pressure value, a crop humidity value, a crop quantity value, a temperature value, a humidity value, a barometric value, a facility capacity value, a facility dimensions value, a controller type, a fan type, a fan quantity, a fan performance, and a fan size. 
     
     
         48 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 45 , wherein the determined control policy is configured according to at least one member of a group comprising: crop rating criteria values, electric power demand information, temperature band values, humidity band values, truncated temperature band values, truncated humidity band values, offsets for fan heat based on theoretical values, offsets for fan heat based on static pressure values, and offsets for fan heat based on measured values. 
     
     
         49 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for determining a management fee for the management of a crop storage facility, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
 recording a management history of a crop stored in the crop storage facility, wherein the management history includes the management of the crop storage facility driven by a central computer;   evaluating the management history to determine a fee to charge that is based on at least one record in the management history; and   generating a fee notification indicating the determined fee.   
     
     
         50 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one record in the management history is a quantity of crop stored in the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one record in the management history is a storage time of the crop stored in the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one record in the management history includes a record of at least one member of a group comprising: an obtained crop objective, at least one crop storage condition value associated with the crop storage facility, and a determined control policy configured to control at least one controller of the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 52 , wherein the obtained crop objective includes at least one member of a group comprising: a targeted crop rating, a targeted moisture content, a targeted temperature, a targeted weight, a targeted storage time, and a targeted delivery location. 
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one crop storage condition value includes at least one member of a group comprising: a crop temperature value, a crop moisture content value, a crop type value, a crop blend value, a crop static pressure value, a crop humidity value, a crop quantity value, a temperature value, a humidity value, a barometric value, a facility capacity value, a facility dimensions value, a controller type, a fan type, a fan quantity, a fan performance, and a fan size. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 52 , wherein the determined control policy is configured according to at least one member of a group comprising: crop rating criteria values, electric power demand information, temperature band values, humidity band values, truncated temperature band values, truncated humidity band values, offsets for fan heat based on theoretical values, offsets for fan heat based on static pressure values, and offsets for fan heat based on measured values. 
     
     
         56 . A system for determining a management fee for the management of a crop storage facility, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for:
 recording a management history of a crop stored in the crop storage facility, wherein the management history includes the management of the crop storage facility driven by a central computer; 
 evaluating the management history to determine a fee to charge that is based on at least one record in the management history; and 
 generating a fee notification indicating the determined fee. 
   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one record in the management history is at least one member of a group comprising: a quantity of crop stored in the crop storage facility and a storage time of the crop stored in the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one record in the management history includes a record of at least one member of a group comprising: an obtained crop objective, at least one crop storage condition value associated with the crop storage facility, and a determined control policy configured to control at least one controller of the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the obtained crop objective includes at least one member of a group comprising: a targeted crop rating, a targeted moisture content, a targeted temperature, a targeted weight, a targeted storage time, and a targeted delivery location. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the at least one crop storage condition value includes at least one member of a group comprising: a crop temperature value, a crop moisture content value, a crop type value, a crop blend value, a crop static pressure value, a crop humidity value, a crop quantity value, a temperature value, a humidity value, a barometric value, a facility capacity value, a facility dimensions value, a controller type, a fan type, a fan quantity, a fan performance, and a fan size. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the determined control policy is configured according to at least one member of a group comprising: crop rating criteria values, electric power demand information, temperature band values, humidity band values, truncated temperature band values, truncated humidity band values, offsets for fan heat based on theoretical values, offsets for fan heat based on static pressure values, and offset for fan heat based on measured values.