WO2018178521A1 - System, method and kit for collecting and transmitting agricultural crop management data - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an agricultural crop management system comprising a telecommunications network architecture, a central or distributed application server, that belongs to the network architecture and is connected to same, configured to manage and control the system, a plurality of data capture nodes, that belong to the network architecture and are connected to same, configured to send captured data to the central or distributed server, at least one first node of the plurality of data capture nodes being in the form of a portable collection of passive RFID tags independent of one other, each independent RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags containing both a piece of unique encoded digital identification information identifying a management condition with respect to the agricultural crop and, on a visible external surface of said RFID tag, a piece of information identical to the encoded digital identification information, displayed graphically, the system further comprising at least one RFID reader configured to read the encoded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags, and send this information to the central or distributed application server via the telecommunications network architecture.

Description

 SYSTEM, METHOD AND KIT FOR COLLECTING AND TRANSMITTING AGRICULTURAL CULTURE MANAGEMENT DATA

The present invention relates to an agricultural management system implementing physical means for capturing, communicating, and controlling relevant data relating to the state of the crops.

In general, such systems are known in the world of agricultural management, for example in the management of greenhouses. These systems are increasingly using sophisticated means to facilitate the capture and communication of captured data, and rely on computer elements and wireless communications. An example of such a system uses a computer architecture with a central server, often remote from the operating site or sites, the central server having the role of managing and controlling the flow of data and the execution of control commands of the system , and the central or distributed server having the ability to communicate over a network with nodes, these nodes providing the various information supplying the system, and being able to receive instructions or commands back.

An example of such a system is that described in the article entitled "AWireless Sensor Network-Based Ubiquitous Paprika Growth Management System" (Hwang et al., Sensors 2010, 10, 11566-1159). This article discloses a management system for greenhouse pepper cultivation using a wireless sensor network, whose designation in English is "wireless sensor network" or "WSN". The term wireless sensor network or "WSN" generally refers to a fairly widespread technology for monitoring and controlling a system, in which information sensor nodes and equipped with communication and computing means or processing Data are located at various locations in the area to be monitored, forming a network that collects and distributes collected and collected data by radio waves. The system described in the article thus performs the capture, collection and monitoring of information related to the growing environment inside and outside greenhouses of pepper culture, through the installation of sensors. "WSN" and monitoring images captured by CCTV cameras. In addition, the system provides a control system of the greenhouse culture environment allowing both manual and remote remote control and control, with the aim of improving the ease of use and productivity of the users of the greenhouse. system, and thus provide an optimized environment for growing pepper from catch data collected and transmitted to the system. Real-time communication of data from the nodes is achieved through the use of a ZigBee protocol, which allows

low power consumption communication with appropriate communication modules. The sensors measure, for example, the temperature and humidity of the greenhouse, the temperature and humidity of the leaves of the crop, but also the level of CO2, or the pH of the soil.

In a similar article, titled "A Review of Wireless Sensor Technologies and Applications in Agriculture and Food Industry: State of the Art and Current Trends" (Ruiz-Garcia et al., Sensors 2009, 9, 4728-4750), we go into review the various wireless technologies known and applied in the field of crop management. It refers in particular to the use of sensors with RFID circuits to identify the capture nodes in the system, the main difference between a WSN system and an RFID system would be that a system of RFID sensors do not have cooperative capabilities, while a WSN system would allow a variety of network topologies and multi-hop communications. Some examples of applications are given, for example, environmental monitoring, irrigation, livestock management, greenhouse management, cold chain management or traceability. In general, such systems include some collectors or collection basins, and a large number of small sensor nodes. These sensor nodes consist of three elements: capture means, processing or calculation means, and communication means. Each node communicates wirelessly with a gateway unit that communicates with other computers via other networks, such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), the Internet, a control network ( CAN) or a wide wireless network, through standard protocols such as GSM or GPRS. In a system implementing RFID sensors, these generally comprise three main components: an RFID tag or transponder, an RFID reader or transceiver whose function is to read and write data to the transponder, and a base of data hosted on a server or a distributed processing system, as well as a management software package. RFID tags are called "active", "passive" or "semi-passive". Passive and semi-passive RIFD tags send their data by reflection or modulation of the electromagnetic field emitted by the reader. The typical average reading distance in this case is of the order of 10 cm to 3 meters. The power supply of a semi-passive RFID tag sensor, which is often a battery, is only used to power the sensor and the on-board recording controller, and not for sending or receiving data. . The communication operated by active RFID tag sensors, on the other hand, is done by an onboard battery. Such an operation makes it possible to increase the signal and the range of the latter up to about 100 meters, but also requires significantly larger batteries. in size and a greater number of electronic components for their management, which gives a significantly more expensive system in hardware investment, the active RFID tag sensors being of the order of five times more expensive than the semi-RFID tag sensors. passive.

Another crop management system is disclosed and proposed in the article "Internet of Things based Expert System for Smart Agriculture" (Raheela Shahzadi et al., (IJACSA) International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, Vol 7 , No. 9, 2016). The objective of this expert system is to offer help and advice to a user, in this case a farmer, who connects to the system via his mobile phone. The mobile phone has an application that guides the user, through a series of limited choices in response to questions, about the state of culture, environmental conditions, parasitic or other, related to culture. The system itself is constructed to take into account all the conditions and events that can occur during the culture and is stored and operated from a central server. Data from the crop is collected via sensors, in this case soil sensors, moisture, temperature, and leaf moisture. The system uses the ZigBee protocol via a corresponding communication module over distances of approximately 500 meters. The example of the crop given in this article is that of cotton. The intelligent system relies on a knowledge base and an inference engine, allowing it to propose answers to farmers' questions based on data captured, collected and communicated in real time by the sensor network. For the functioning of their system, the authors exclude the use of manual observations on site, as being too imprecise and besides, particular at a given moment in the year, or at a stage of development of the plant or the parasite which changes depending on when the observation is made. The operation of the system can be summarized as follows: different sensors operate the collection of data, via ground sensors for ground conditions, soil moisture, and its chemical composition, and weather sensors to obtain data on the air humidity and temperature. The sensors send the collected data to the server, the server then deciding on the probability

possible diseases or parasitic infestations on the basis of a list of information established during the installation of the system and the learning of the latter. Fact, rule and calendar lists are preprogrammed in the system and an activation list is loaded into memory. All situations that may arise are represented by logical conditions

"IF ... THEN ... ELSE .." The system implemented on the server side processes the data, analyzes it, and then sends a textual recommendation to the farmer via his mobile phone, for example a smartphone application, on how to proceed. Despite the existence of the various known systems, of which representative examples are given above, it turns out that none is suitable for a situation in which the staff working in the growing station is essentially illiterate or illiterate. Even the example given above relating to an expert system for cotton requires that the user or the farmer knows how to use a mobile phone, the corresponding smartphone application, and that he can read and understand the messages sent to him by the system. Moreover, as indicated in the various articles, the communication network of the captured data is restricted to relatively small ranges, of the order of 500 meters maximum, before having to switch to a system of communication.

communication requiring bandwidth, and therefore the need for power, much larger. In addition, it also requires at least good GSM network coverage, just to send text messages. This kind of need is simply unrealistic in areas of culture that are far apart, where there is often no reliable electricity supply, as is often the case in many countries, such as in Africa. or in Central America, or in Asia. The system according to the present invention proposes to overcome, among others, and as will be explained below, these various disadvantages. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is an agricultural crop management system comprising: a telecommunication network architecture; a central or distributed application server, member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to perform management and control of the system; a plurality of data capture nodes, a member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to send captured data to the central or distributed server; wherein: at least a first node of the plurality of data capture nodes is in the form of a portable collection of passive RFID tags independent of each other; each RFID tag independent of the portable collection of RFID tags contains both a coded digital information of unique identification of a management condition related to the agricultural culture and, on a visible outer surface of said RFID tag, information identical to coded digital identification information in the form of a graphical representation; the system further comprising at least one RFID reader configured to read the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection, and to send this information to the central application server or distributed via the telecommunication network architecture.

The telecommunication network architecture may be of a type known per se, combining several telecommunication network elements, for example wireless links, such as Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), wifi a, b, g, n, and / or s, implementing communication frequencies at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, wired links, such as Ethernet networks, or coaxial links, satellite links, HF radio links, VHF links and / or UHF, LF and / or ULF radio links, radiotelephone links, such as 2G, 3G, Edge, HSPDA, UMTS, LTE, 4G and 5G, or a combination of these different elements and protocols with routers and switches, and multiplexers and demultiplexers as needed to form the telecommunication network architecture.

According to another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to remain dormant until it has received a wake-up signal. Indeed, the autonomy of the RFID reader, which is preferably powered by a battery, rechargeable or not, is thus greatly extended since the electronic modules RFID reader consume nothing or almost nothing in power supply until it has not received this wake up signal. The wake-up signal could be emitted by any appropriate means, for example by emitting an electromagnetic field into the receiving field of the RFID reader, or by a presence detector associated with or integrated in the RFID reader. Preferably, however, and in order to economize the power supply of the RFID reader, it comprises a magnetic field detection module which, when a magnetic field is detected beyond a certain threshold, will cause generating an alarm signal from the RFID reader in the form of an electrical pulse, for example, sent to a power management module advantageously integrated in the RFID reader.

Thus, and according to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader comprises means enabling the RFID reader to be woken up when a unique identification key associated with each user approaches said RFID reader or vice versa .

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to remain dormant as long as a user identification key does not approach it or vice versa. In this way, the RFID reader will not be awakened by any magnetic field, but only when the magnetic field is associated with a user identification key and / or worker personnel. This type of association of means, that is to say of field transmitter Magnetic and personnel identification is commonly available commercially, and is sold among others under the Dallas key denomination. Such keys are indeed commonly used in electronic point of sale management systems. They allow a referenced user to connect to a registration and / or management system simply by positioning the key on a corresponding reader connected to the system. Each key contains a unique code declared in the management system for each user, so that when the key is used, the user in question is logged automatically to the system. There is therefore no secret code to remember or passwords to enter, which saves time for the user, and a secure way for data that can be entered into the system. According to another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is portable. According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is carried on a part of the body of the user.

In this case, if RFID reader is portable, it can advantageously be of sizes and dimensions for gripping and holding and handling in one hand. Alternatively, and advantageously, it can be worn by the workers, for example, via a harness, or any other means of appropriate fasteners, for example, with straps or a belt, on the arm, on the leg, the head , or the thorax or the abdomen, as long as the worker staff can either bring it closer to an activation key, or present such a key to the RFID reader to activate it.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is fixed. As indicated, the RFID reader may also be in a fixed position, for example, positioned around the path to the parcel or culture station, or in the entry thereof for the case where the culture Under cover, for example, in a greenhouse, or several RFID readers may be distributed through the parcel or crop station to locations determined according to need. In this case, the workers can walk past the RFID reader and activate it with their identification key.

Finally, one can also advantageously predict the case where the plot or culture station has a plurality of RFID readers, some being fixed, and other portable. When RFID readers are fixed, the need for number of drives per hectare depends on the type of crop. For example, with red fruit cultivation, it is best to place an RFID reader per hectare of crop, which allows for the correct identification of pests and diseases. According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to communicate the read data of each RFID tag to the central application server or distributed via a wireless telecommunication link.

In this way, all the data encoded in each tag of the RFID tag collection can be read and sent to the central or distributed application server. These data can, depending on the needs, be stored centrally, or distributed, for example, in one or more databases. The stored data can be queried by other users of the system, for example administrators or managers, or even agronomists. Moreover, since the RFID tags are said to be "passive", they do not consume any energy, and do not need to be supplied with electrical energy, the reader providing the energy required for its radio wave emission, the passive RFID circuit being designed to respond to the stimulation of radio waves emitted by the reader by returning the data

identification codes encoded in the tag RFID circuit by reflection.

The wireless telecommunication links to be implemented in the context of the present invention are also generally known, different wireless communication protocols can be implemented. These include Bluetooth wireless protocols, ZigBee, wifi a, b, g, n, and / or s, the WifiMax, otherwise known as WiMax, radio telecommunication protocols, such as those implemented by the radio operators, for example, 2G, 3G, Edge, HSPDA, UMTS, LTE, 4G and 5G to name a few. Preferably, however, and according to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the wireless telecommunication link is a long-distance radio telecommunication link with low energy consumption. Such systems require very little power and minimal infrastructure to relay data safely over long distances. Such low-power, long-distance radio telecommunication systems are known as low-speed networks (LPWAs), or "low power wide area network", and nicknamed "0G" or "SIMless". Low-speed networks of the LWPA type often do not require license fees, and have been developed to communicate objects with a number of characters transmitted of the order of a few bytes or a few tens of bytes at most, and with a transmission frequency, limited, for example less than 150 messages per day. The two main types of low-speed networks are Sigfox and LoRa. LWPA networks were originally developed for water meter reading, but these networks are now also deployed by many telephone operators to communicate objects that are not covered by classic networks like WiFi and Bluetooth. The most common features of an LPWA network are: a range of three to fifty kilometers depending on the environment and topography; a range of five to fifteen years, and a bit rate of 0.3 to 50 kbits per second.

LPWA networks differ from traditional wireless communication networks between objects such as short-range ZigBee networks commonly found in Internet of Things (IOT) applications, or known as Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and conventional WL AN wireless networks, as well as cellular telecommunication networks, such as GSM or LTE, etc. Such networks of

conventional telecommunication thus pose problems of autonomy of power supply, to connect between them low power devices in power supply which are distributed over large geographical areas. Indeed, the range of conventional wireless technologies used to interconnect objects such as sensors or a sensor node is limited to a few hundred meters at best. It is therefore often necessary to increase the scope of these interconnected objects in such a type of wireless IOT network by providing for a large deployment of switches or routers or other similar devices implementing a multiple jump technology, making these deployments are very expensive and greedy energy.

Thus, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, these difficulties are solved by setting up a long-distance radio transmission link with low energy consumption, and in particular by means of a low-power, wide-area network. called LWPA.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader further comprises a Global Positioning Satellite Module (GPS). In fact, communicating the GPS position of the reader to the crop management system allows system managers and administrators to better track the activity of the worker staff using RFID tags. This position is preferably communicated to the system before reading and sending data read from the RFID tags. In an alternative variant, the GPS position can be communicated to the system at the same time as sending data read from the RFID tags.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to communicate a time stamp and a geographical position to the central application server or distributed via the telecommunication network architecture. In this case, the RFID reader sends the GPS position and the date and time of the management condition that has just been reported by the worker staff, since the latter presents the RFID tag containing the code in question corresponding to its action to the RFID reader.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to go to sleep after a certain predetermined period of inactivity. Indeed, and

advantageously, in order to limit the power supply consumption, the RFID reader comprises a power management module configured to cut the power supply when the information, whether it is the registration of the user with the system, the time and the date, the GPS position, or the data corresponding to the management condition read from one or more RFID tags, have been transmitted. Preferably, the RFID reader is configured to go into sleep automatically as soon as the transmission of the elements entered is performed.

As has been indicated, each RFID tag independent of the portable RFID tag collection contains both a coded digital unique identification information of a management condition related to the crop and on a visible outer surface of said tag. RFID, information identical to the coded digital identification information in the form of

Graphic Representation. The graphic representation may be in various forms, for example, in the form of symbols or diagrams, or in the form of printed photographs or glued on said outer surface of the RFID tags. These tags are therefore grouped into collections, each corresponding to a grouping of conditions related or related to the management of agricultural culture, which will be referred to for all intents and purposes by the word "color chart". The collection of RFID tags, or color chart, is also portable, and is preferably held in one hand. The RFID tags can advantageously be gathered, for example by appropriate attachment means, such as an axis crossing the thickness of the collection of RFID tags stacked one on the other, and allowing the rotation of the RFID tags around the axis, so that you can select, for example with the thumb or more fingers, with one hand, only one RFID tag accurately to present it to the RFID reader. Such a through axis may advantageously be in the form of a rivet having a bore or not, introduced into an anchor, inside which the rivet will be able to be rotated. The rivet may further comprise an annular skirt at each end of the rivet, extending from the body of the rivet and coming to rest on the outer surface of the RFID tag at the top and bottom of the stack. Thus, the collection or color chart of RFID tags can be spread like a fan, by simply pressing and rotating an inch, several fingers or the hand. According to an object of the system according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a physiological state of a plant in culture. In this case, the graphic representation on a visible outer surface of each RFID tag is a different representation of the physiological state of the plant. This may for example be a representation of a plant that is about to bloom, or whose leaves or flowers are faded, or bleached, or any other physiological state of the plant, and the like.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a pathological state of a plant in culture. By pathological state, the conditions relating to a plant in culture showing visible signs of phytosanitary attack, for example drought, virosis, lack of dietary intakes, and the like, are preferably indicated.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a state of growth of a plant in culture. By growth state is meant here indicate the stage of development of the plant or the fruits it bears, for example, flower buds, buds, sexual maturity or fruit, and the like.

According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a state of parasitic infestation of the plant in culture. By state of infestation, we mean a parasitic or microbiological attack. This indication may be the representation of the parasite itself, or its number, which makes it possible to represent the degree of attack, or the stage of development of the parasite, or the presence on the plant of visible signs of damage, such as only blisters, stains, rots, and the like. According to yet another object of the system according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to an action performed by the user on the plant in culture. In this case, the action performed by the user or laborer means conventional actions of handling and care of the crop, for example, watering, pruning, thinning, cleaning, hoeing, sweeping, harvesting, and the like. Of course, the collections or swatches of RFID tags are not limited to the objects indicated above. The system allows the implementation of other tag collections, for example actions or input observations, and among others: - climate monitoring;

- phytosanitary surveillance;

- monitoring of the state of the plant;

- monitoring of treatments; - monitoring of fertigation;

- surveillance activities;

- monitoring the harvest;

- traceability.

If we take, for example, the input of information, it will include the implementation of RFID tags coding for, and in particular:

- the count of the number of fruits per cluster;

- the height of the plant between two landmarks;

- the opening of the vents; - weeding;

- the phenological stages;

- climate data;

- irrigation;

- trapping; - the passage over an area;

- observations;

- daily work, start and end of actions;

- the forecasts.

The present invention also has another object, namely, a kit for collecting and

transmission of data relating to the management of an agricultural crop, comprising: - an RFID reader;

at least one portable collection of passive RFID tags, independent of each other, that can be read by the RFID reader; in which: each RFID tag independent of the portable RFID tag collection contains both coded digital identification information unique to a management condition related to the agricultural crop and, on a visible external surface of said RFID tag, information identical to the coded digital identification information in the form of a graphic representation; and

the RFID reader is configured to read the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags, and to send this information to a central application server or distributed via a telecommunication network architecture.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to remain dormant until it has received a wake-up signal.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the kit further comprises a unique identification key associated with each user, the key being configured to wake the RFID reader when approaching it near said RFID reader or vice versa.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the unique identification key associated with each user is a Dallas key.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is portable. According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is carried on a part of the body of the user.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is fixed.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to communicate the read data of each RFID tag to the central application server or distributed via a wireless telecommunications link.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to communicate the read data of each RFID tag to the central application server or distributed via a wireless telecommunications link comprising a low-power long-distance radio link. energy. According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to communicate a time stamp and a geographical position to the central application server or distributed via the telecommunication network architecture.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader further comprises a Global Positioning Satellite Module (GPS).

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the RFID reader is further configured to go to sleep after a certain predetermined period of inactivity. Preferably, the RFID reader is configured to go into sleep automatically as soon as the transmission of the elements entered is performed. According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a physiological state of a plant in culture.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a pathological state of a plant in culture.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a state of growth of a plant in culture.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a state of parasitic infestation of the plant in culture.

According to yet another object of the kit according to the invention, the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to an action performed by the user on the plant in culture. Yet another object of the present invention is a method of managing an agricultural crop comprising: providing a telecommunication network architecture; providing a central or distributed application server, member of the network architecture and connected thereto configured to perform system management and control; providing a plurality of data capture nodes, a member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to send sensed data to the central or distributed server; providing at least a first node of the plurality of data capture nodes in the form of a portable collection of passive RFID tags independent of each other; each RFID tag independent of the portable collection of RFID tags containing both a coded digital identification information unique to a management condition related to the agricultural culture and, on a visible outer surface of said RFID tag, information identical to coded digital identification information in the form of a graphical representation; providing at least one RFID reader configured to read the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection, and to send this information to the central or distributed application server via the RFID tag architecture. network of

telecommunication; reading one of said RFID tags by the RFID reader; and communicating the coded identification information of said RFID tag read by the RFID reader via the telecommunication network architecture to the central or distributed application server.

According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, the communication of the coded identification information of said RFID tag read by the RFID reader is effected via a wireless telecommunication link comprising a low-power long-distance radio link. energy.

According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, the RFID reader is kept dormant until it has received a wake-up signal.

According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, the RFID reader is awakened when a unique identification key associated with each user approaches said RFID reader or vice versa.

According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, the RFID reader goes into standby after a certain predetermined period of inactivity. Preferably, the RFID reader goes into standby automatically as soon as the transmission of the elements entered is carried out. According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, the RFID reader also communicates to the central or distributed application server its precise geographical position by GPS and the time and date of its awakening.

According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, it comprises the steps according to which: the RFID reader is awakened by the approach of a unique identification key associated with each user; the user selects one of the RFID tags from the collection of RFID tags corresponding to a state of management of the agricultural crop and the approach of the RFID reader, or vice versa, to be read by the latter; the coded identification information of said RFID tag read by the RFID reader is sent via a wireless telecommunication link comprising a long-distance radio link with low energy consumption.

According to yet another object of the method according to the invention, the RFID reader is again dormant once the data is communicated.

As has been indicated in advance, the system of the present invention makes it possible, among other things, to overcome the lack of communication between workers and team leaders, due in particular to their illiteracy, or their illiterate situation, which normally would have led to significant losses in time, quality, production, water, phytosanitary products, fertilization and traceability, and which thanks to the implementation of the system object of the present invention, no longer occur, thus generating a better management, productivity, and use of phytosanitary products, as well as saving time and money.

Furthermore, among the other advantages of the system which is the subject of the invention, mention may notably be made of:

- the simplicity and reliability of use of the RFID reader that does not require maintenance - indeed, the RFID reader is autonomous in energy with a lifetime of more than 5 years - moreover, if it is portable, in particular by the workers, representing a preferred embodiment, instead of being in a fixed location, this makes it easier to use and increases the accuracy of the data transmitted by the system;

- The various portable collections of RFID tags, or color charts, holding, according to a preferred embodiment, in one hand, in the form of cards, are easy to modify the case to represent other management states of the culture, the reprogramming of the card being easy as needed, and the graphic representation on an outer visible surface of the RFID tag is also easily obtained by a simple printing with a printer;

- communications via low-speed networks, which are simple and easily deployable and which may be public or private telecommunication networks.

With regard to the workers, the system object of the invention has, among others, the following advantages:

-the valuation of staff actions;

- the identification of proactive staff; - learning the production cycles of agricultural culture, diseases, treatments;

- continuous training of staff.

One can also cite as advantages, for the managers of a system object the invention, among others:

- immediate improvement of management processes and therefore of profitability; - the traceability of the work carried out, or not yet done, or omitted;

- the feedback of information without re-entry;

- reduction of losses;

- the increase in quality;

- the reduction of water consumption, and / or inputs; - more precise forecasts of production;

- the reduction of diseases.

The various objects of the present invention will be explained in more detail by the description of the following non-limiting embodiment, taken with reference to the figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a system of agricultural management according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an RFID reader, a collection of RFID tags and an identification and activation key of the RFID reader, according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a collection of RFID tags, in the form of cards, corresponding to the stage of development of a plant;

- Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a collection of RFID tags, in the form of cards, corresponding to parasites; FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a collection of RFID tags, in the form of cards, corresponding to works;

- Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a collection of RFID tags in the form of cards, corresponding to irrigation operations and phytosanitary treatment.

Example

According to Figure 1, which is a schematic representation of an example of an agricultural management system 1 according to the invention, in which one can see represented, among other components, a telecommunication network architecture 2, and a central or distributed application server 3, member of the network architecture and connected thereto, and configured to perform management and control of the system. In Figure 1, the central server 3 is represented by a cloud, synonymous with a server distributed through a network of connected machines, including the Internet, but it could also be a completely private network, in which case the symbol of the cloud could be usefully replaced by the symbol of one or more computers or a central server.

The communication network architecture 2 illustrated also includes laptops 4, a workstation 5, such as a desktop computer, a mobile phone or smartphone 6, routers or network switches 7. The various users of the system can thus 8. Figure 1 also illustrates a plurality of data capture nodes, a member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to send data captured to the server. central or distributed. At least one of the plurality of data capture nodes is in the form of a portable collection of passive RFID tags independent of each other. Each RFID tag independent of the portable RFID tag collection contains both coded digital information

unique identification of a management condition in connection with the agricultural crop and, on a visible outer surface of said RFID tag, information identical to the coded digital identification information in the form of a graphical representation. The system further comprises at least one RFID reader 9 configured to read the coded identification information of each tag RFID of the portable collection of RFID tags, and send this information to the central application server or distributed via the telecommunications network architecture. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the telecommunication link between the RFID readers 9 and the central or distributed application server is a LoRa-type low-energy long-distance radio telecommunications link, a LWPA technology promoted and distributed by the LoRa Alliance. This technology enables secure two-way communication, and mobile and location services. Its implementation according to the present invention makes it possible to avoid complex local installations. The network topology, as shown in Figure 1, is typically in the form of star-dependent stars, in which the gateways are transparent bridges that relay messages between end devices and a back-end network server. plan. The gateways are connected to the central server or distributed by standard IP connections, while the end devices use single hop wireless communications to one or more gateways. In general, all terminal communications are bidirectional, but also allow wireless multicast software update operations, or the distribution of other messages en masse to reduce wireless communication time. This technology also uses different frequencies and transfer rates between the terminal devices and the gateways, which are advantageously between 0.3 kbps and 50 kbps. The power management of the terminal devices can be done by the network server by modifying the data transfer rate and the power of the transmission frequencies via a system called "adaptive transfer rate" (ADR).

Figure 2 illustrates a representative example of a kit according to one of the objects of the present invention, which comprises a portable RFID reader 9, which can be held and manipulated with one hand by a user and / or worker, is usefully presenting in the form of a housing, and a collection 11 or chart of RFID tags 12 in the form of cards, the color chart can also be held and manipulated with one hand by a user and / or worker personnel. Optionally, and as represented in FIG. 2, the kit also includes an activation key 13 of the RFID reader 9. This key 13 may usefully be a Dallas type key, the operation of which is known per se, notably comprising an RFID tag. 14 and a magnet (not shown), the RFID tag 14 of the key 13 having a unique identification code transmittable to the RFID reader 9, representing the worker or the user of the system working in a farm station or farm. The magnet, which is not shown in the figure, is placed under the RFID tag 14. The key 13, which is therefore also worn by the user, is unique for each user provided with such a key. As indicated above, the RFID reader 9 has a receiver location of the magnet and of the RFID tag 14 provided on the key 13. When the key 13 is placed with the magnet and the RFID tag 14 near or in the receiving location 15, the magnetic field generated by the magnet causes the sending a signal, for example an electric current activated via, for example, a reed switch, this signal being managed by the power management module integrated in the RFID reader 9 and which therefore indicates to the reader to wake up and to be ready to receive information from an RFID tag 12. While waiting for the passage of an RFID tag 12 from the collection of RFID tags 11, the system awakened by the approach of the magnet reads the tag RFID 14 of key 13 to validate and record the user identification.

The RFID reader 9 also comprises a reader 16 of RFID tags capable of reading the information reflected by an RFID tag 12 in response to the sending of a radio wave from the RFID reader 9. Each RFID tag 12 has a code different and unique digital information and

identification of a management condition in relation to the agricultural crop and, on a visible outer surface of said RFID tag, information identical to the coded digital identification information, in the form of a graphic representation. The RFID tag reader 12 also includes a light indicator, for example a light emitting diode (LED) 17 which indicates that if the reader is ready to receive information relating to a management condition related to agricultural management. The LED 17 may for example display a red color when the RFID tag reader is not ready to receive information, or when it is busy, for example, and a green color when it is available again and ready to receive such information. As indicated above, the RFID reader 9 has a receiver location 15 of the magnet and the RFID tag 14 of the key 13, to wake up the RFID reader 9, which remains dormant until it has been enabled, to save the power supply of the RFID reader 9. This power supply, which may be a long-lasting battery, rechargeable or not, having an average life of between 5 and 10 years, for example, is managed by a circuit or integrated power management module RFID reader 9 which is also configured to fall asleep once the data transmitted to the central application server or distributed. Near the receiver location 15 of the magnet and the RFID tag 14 of the key 13, the RFID reader 9 may also include another indicator light 18, for example again an LED, which indicates whether a user or staff worker, identified himself with the reader. If it is red, for example, then the RFID reader will not be awake since the user could not identify himself correctly, which will prevent fraudulent use of the system. If on the other hand, this indicator light displays a green color, then the identification of the user went well, and it may attempt to read one of the tags RFID 12 collection or color chart 11. The RFID reader 9 further includes a validation button 19 for data read by the reader 16 of an RFID tag 12. The user or laborer will press this validation button 19 when he wants to validate the reading of the tag. it has just presented the reader with RFID tag 12. As long as this validation has not taken place, the data will not be transmitted to the central application server or distributed via the telecommunication network architecture. In addition, to facilitate understanding of the state of the RFID reader 9 at any point in the read and write cycle.

transmission of the data, the RFID reader 9 preferably also comprises another light indicator 20, for example another LED. As long as the validation button 19 has not been pressed, the indicator light 20 could display a red color, for example. If the declared user having activated the RFID reader 9 has presented a selected RFID tag 12 in the collection 12 and wishes to validate this RFID tag, then he will press the validation button 19 to send the data to the central or distributed application server, and in this case the indicator light 20 may for example display a green color.

So that the management system can also know the position and time and date of sending the data, the RFID reader 9 also advantageously includes a GPS module and time stamp, for example, by means of a clock internal or a suitable microprocessor. The GPS module will then precisely identify the position of the user when he enters data by presenting one or more of the RFID tags 12 sequentially to the reader 16 and validating by pressing the validation button 19 with each times. It is preferred that the various components and modules of the RFID reader are controlled and controlled by a control system integrated in the RFID reader, which is connected to the various components and modules. This control system can be usefully integrated into a

microprocessor or a microcontroller, for example a microprocessor or a programmable microcontroller, preferably remotely. Such microprocessors or microcontrollers

Programmable are commercially available, known for example under the designation

TRF7962A, marketed by Texas Instruments, or the designations AT89C 51 of the 8051 family of microcontrollers, or the microcontroller ATA5505, both

marketed by Armel.

The operating cycle of the RFID reader 9 will be briefly described below: 1) Wake up the RFID reader 9 by positioning the magnet and the RFID tag 14 in the location 15 of the RFID reader 9 and reading the RFID tag 14 of the identification key 13; 2) Reading an RFID tag 12 of the color chart 11, a management condition, for example spots, actions or observations;

3) Validation and transmission of information by pressing the validation button 19 and then put to sleep by the power management module integrated in the RFID reader 9. In more details, this gives the following operation:

the RFID reader electronics 9 is always at a standstill to avoid energy consumption, that is to say that the RFID reader 9 is in standby mode;

as soon as the user approaches his identification key 13, the electronics of the RFID reader 9 wakes up; the number of the key 13 is read, and the RFID tag reader 16 starts up, the diode placed next to the reader flashes;

as soon as the reading of an RFID tag 12 of the color chart 11 is carried out, the validation diode 20 flashes and the diode 17 of the reader 16 of the RFID tag 12 stops;

- As soon as the user validates by pressing the button 19, the validation diode 20 goes green, the data is transferred over the air and the RFID reader electronics 9 goes back to a standstill, that is to say again in sleep.

During these steps, the management of the power supply can be done, for example, as follows:

- When reading the RFID tag 12, or color chart, the power of the drive 16 is cut to limit power consumption. From this moment, a configurable time counter, for example of a few seconds, is started pending the support of the validation button 19;

if the validation button 19 is pressed, the control system integrated in the RFID reader 9 sends the data, switches on the validation diode 20 and then turns off the power supply after a few seconds;

- If the validation button 19 is not pressed during this time, the operation is considered canceled, and the control system integrated in the RFID reader 9 turns off the power without turning on the validation diode 20.

The validation cycle can be set remotely and can be changed depending on the use case. For example, it is possible to send the data read from RFID tags 12 without waiting for validation from the user. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate two examples of graphic information belonging to a collection of RFID tags, or a color chart, affixed to a visible outer surface of an RFID tag 12, which tag will be programmed or coded with corresponding unique digital identification, of so that this information is transmitted when the tag 12 is approached from the reader 16 in the RFID reader 9. Figure 3A illustrates a growth stage of the plant in which the plant is in flowering period. Figure 3B illustrates a plant growth stage in which the plant is in a seed production period.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two other examples of graphical information belonging to a collection of RFID tags or color chart, different from that shown in Figures 3A and 3B. These representations are those of a parasite, and include two types of parasites, here insects, clearly identifiable. One could also include in such a collection of RFID tags the number of such or such other parasite found on this or that other plant, or in traps placed in the culture station.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate two other examples of graphical information belonging to a collection of RFID tags or color chart still different from the previous ones. In this, Figure 5A shows the action of the size, illustrated by a pruner, and Figure 5B the raking action, illustrated by a rake.

Figures 6A and 6B further illustrate two other examples of graphical information belonging to a collection of RFID tags or color chart still different from the previous ones. In this, Figure 6A shows the watering action, illustrated by a tap with a drop of water, and the action of a phytosanitary treatment, illustrated by a sprayer.

The system, kit and method that are the subject of the invention can be applied in agricultural growing stations or farms located in places where there is no reliable electrical supply network, or this supply is generally absent. and only available as local generators. An example of such culture stations are with greenhouses in Morocco. Such an example is representative of all developing countries that grow vegetables or fruits. These are farms in which there is very little technology implemented, say farms "low-tech" because there is no electricity and therefore no automatic control, everything is managed by individuals on the field and instead of the exploitation site. The "low-tech" farm is managed by a farm manager who communicates with his assistants, usually from two to five people, each assistant manages about five to twenty team leaders and each team leader manages about eight to twenty workers. Team leaders and workers are seasonal workers. Assistants are supported by stationaries, about five to six per farm to manage the growing process. This represents on average more than ten people per hectare cultivated, of which more than 85% are seasonal workers. Farm management companies rely on western subcontractors working in different countries to help these structures in their agronomic management. These agronomic consultants represent a small group of experts with qualifications by country and culture. They have algorithms for predicting disease and yield, as well as knowledge of the rules for the input of phytosanitary products and the supply of fertilizers. About 90% of farms are between about sixteen to twenty-four hectares, with three to four greenhouses. We can then estimate that per hectare and per number of workers, that we will set up a minimum of one RFID reader per hectare, this number can be easily doubled when we also want to obtain traceability and complete management . The number of collections of RFID tags or color charts may for example be three per RFID reader, each collection may especially contain between twenty to thirty RFID tags. Thus, for an average farm of thirty hectares of crops, one would use thirty RFID readers and sixty cards of twenty cards. Taking into account pest and disease management alone, a 10% profitability gain and a 10% decrease in costs can be estimated.

To facilitate staff training and provide simple information, it is possible to equip an open access consultation station with a screen and a fixed RFID reader. The staff can then identify themselves with their identification key, pass an RFID tag from their color chart in front of the RFID reader and consult the screen which will give full information on the selected action, for example, the photo of a pest. with its life cycle, appearance factors, mixtures or processes to apply, etc.

Among the plurality of data capture nodes, it is also possible to add simple sensors for the reassembly of information at regular intervals using the same low bit rate network as the RFID readers. This makes it possible to trace information such as

temperature, tensiometry, hygrometry, etc. It is also possible to control irrigation or awning opening in this way. For example, the establishment, from an agronomic point of view, of a pyranometer, for example at least two per hectare, of a tensiometer, and of a pH meter, especially between about four to ten per hectare.

Claims

1) An agricultural cropping management system comprising: a telecommunication network architecture; a central or distributed application server, member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to perform management and control of the system; a plurality of data capture nodes, a member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to send captured data to the central or distributed server; wherein: at least a first node of the plurality of data capture nodes is in the form of a portable collection of passive RFID tags independent of each other; each RFID tag independent of the portable collection of RFID tags contains both a coded digital information of unique identification of a management condition related to the agricultural culture and, on a visible outer surface of said RFID tag, information identical to coded digital identification information in the form of a graphical representation; the system further comprising at least one RFID reader configured to read the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection, and to send this information to the central application server or distributed via the network architecture telecommunication. The crop management system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to remain dormant until it has received a wake-up signal. The crop management system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the RFID reader includes means for enabling the RFID reader to be woken up when a unique identification key associated with each user approaches said RFID reader. or vice versa. 4) A crop management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to remain dormant as long as a user identification key does not approach or vice versa. 5) A crop management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the RFID reader is portable. 6) agricultural crop management system according to claim 5, wherein the RFID reader is carried on a part of the body of the user. 7) agricultural crop management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the RFID reader is fixed. 8) agricultural crop management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to communicate the read data of each RFID tag to the central application server or distributed via a wireless telecommunication link . The agricultural crop management system of claim 8, wherein the wireless telecommunication link is a low power, long distance radio telecommunication link. 10) agricultural crop management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the RFID reader further comprises a Global Positioning Satellite Module (GPS). The agricultural crop management system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to communicate a time stamp and a geographic location to the central application server or distributed via the telecommunication network architecture. The crop management system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to go to sleep after a certain predetermined period of inactivity. 13) An agricultural crop management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection corresponds to a physiological state of a plant in culture. 14) agricultural crop management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 above, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a pathological state of a plant in culture. The crop management system according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection corresponds to a state of growth of a plant. in culture. The crop management system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection corresponds to a state of parasitic infestation of the plant in culture. An agricultural crop management system according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection corresponds to an action performed by the user on the plant in culture. 18) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop, comprising: - an RFID reader; at least one portable collection of passive RFID tags, independent of each other, that can be read by the RFID reader; in which : each RFID tag independent of the portable RFID tag collection contains both a coded digital identification information unique to a management condition related to the agricultural crop and, on a visible external surface of said RFID tag, identical information coded digital identification information in the form of a graphic representation; and the RFID reader is configured to read the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags, and to send this information to a central application server or distributed via a telecommunication network architecture. The agricultural crop management data collection and transmission kit according to claim 18, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to remain dormant until it has received a feed signal. awakening. The agricultural crop management data collection and transmission kit of claim 18 or 19, which further includes a unique identification key associated with each user, the key being configured to wake up the RFID reader. when approaching it near said RFID reader or vice versa. The agricultural crop management data collection and transmission kit of claim 20, wherein the unique identification key associated with each user is a Dallas key. 22) A collection and transmission of data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the RFID reader is portable. 23) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the RFID reader is carried on a part of the body of the user. 24) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the RFID reader is fixed. 25) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to communicate the read data of each RFID tag to the server central application or distributed via a wireless telecommunication link. The agricultural crop management data collecting and transmission kit according to any one of claims 18 to 25, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to communicate the read data of each RFID tag to the server. central or distributed application via a wireless telecommunication link comprising a long-distance radio link with low energy consumption. An agricultural crop management data collection and transmission kit according to any one of claims 18 to 26, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to communicate a timestamp and a geographic location to the server. central application or distributed via the telecommunication network architecture. 28) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 27, wherein the RFID reader further comprises a Global Positioning Satellite Module (GPS). The agricultural crop management data collection and transmission kit according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the RFID reader is further configured to sleep after a predetermined period of time. 'inactivity. 30) Collection and transmission of data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a physiological state of a plant in culture. 31) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a pathological state of a plant in culture. 32) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a state of growth of a plant in culture. 33) A collection and transmission of data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to a state of parasitic infestation of the plant in culture. 34) Kit for collecting and transmitting data related to the management of an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable collection of RFID tags corresponds to an action performed by the user on the plant in culture. 35) Method of managing an agricultural crop comprising: providing a telecommunication network architecture; providing a central or distributed application server, member of the network architecture and connected thereto configured to perform system management and control; providing a plurality of data capture nodes, a member of the network architecture and connected thereto, configured to send sensed data to the central or distributed server; providing at least a first node of the plurality of data capture nodes in the form of a portable collection of passive RFID tags independent of each other; each RFID tag independent of the portable collection of RFID tags containing both a coded digital identification information unique to a management condition related to the agricultural culture and, on a visible outer surface of said RFID tag, information identical to coded digital identification information in the form of a graphical representation; providing at least one RFID reader configured to read the coded identification information of each RFID tag of the portable RFID tag collection, and to send this information to the central or distributed application server via the RFID tag architecture. network of telecommunication; reading one of said RFID tags by the RFID reader; and communicating the coded identification information of said RFID tag read by the reader RFID via the telecommunication network architecture to the central or distributed application server. 36) method for managing an agricultural crop according to claim 35, wherein the communication of the coded identification information of said RFID tag read by the RFID reader is via a wireless telecommunication link comprising a long radio link distance with low energy consumption. 37) A method of managing an agricultural crop according to claim 35 or claim 36, wherein the RFID reader is kept dormant until it has received a wake-up signal. 38) A crop management method according to any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the RFID reader is woken up when a unique identification key associated with each user approaches said RFID reader or vice versa. 39) An agricultural crop management method according to any one of claims 35 to 38, wherein the RFID reader goes to sleep after a certain predetermined period of inactivity. 40) method for managing an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 35 to 39, according to which the RFID reader further communicates to the central application server or distributed its precise geographical position by GPS and the time and date of its awakening. 41) A method of managing an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 35 to 40, wherein: the RFID reader is awakened by approaching a unique identification key associated with each user; | ST | the user selects one of the RFID tags from the collection of RFID tags corresponding to a state of management of the agricultural crop and the approach of the RFID reader, or vice versa, to be read by the latter; the coded identification information of said RFID tag read by the RFID reader is sent via a wireless telecommunication link comprising a long-distance radio link with low energy consumption. 42) method of managing an agricultural crop according to any one of claims 35 to 41, wherein the RFID reader is again dormant once the data communicated.