Fish kiosk for weighing and transmitting fish weight and method for its use

• US 10,021,859 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam Miller
• Original Assignee: Adam Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, RANDY W
• Application Number:
  US15/148,160
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/10 of fish
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/90 Sorting, grading, counting or marking live aquatic animals, e.g. sex determination
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/00 Accessories for angling fish stringers A01K65/00; landing-nets or landing-spoons for fishing A01K77/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 99/00 Methods or apparatus for fishing not provided for in groups A01K69/00 - A01K97/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1084 Tapes combined with arrangements for functions other than measuring lengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/60 combined with fishing equipment, e.g. with fishing rods
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/283 Details related to a user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3742 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 in fisheries management

Abstract

A fish weight capture system accurately captures and records the number and weight of each fish caught by fishermen through a geographic area. The system uses a series of dispersed kiosks such that each kiosk weighs each fish processed by the kiosk and captures and image and other information about the fish. The data about each fish is recorded within the kiosk and is transmitted to a central computer and stored within a database. The data received from each kiosk allow a regulatory agency to determine the number and weight of each fish type taken and set appropriate rules and regulations based on this data.

Claims

1. A fish weight data capture system, for weighing a fish, the fish weight data capture system comprising:

a kiosk having a view screen, a data entry subsystem, a processor with data storage, and a transmitter;

a first computer system coupled to a database; and

a pole mounted hook scale communicatively coupled to the processor such that the fish is adapted to be weighed by the scale to arrive at a weight of the fish and information regarding the fish is input to the processor via the data entry subsystem, the information is coupled with the weight, and the information and the coupled weight transmitted to the first computer system wherein the information and the coupled weight is entered into the database.

2. The fish weight data capture system as in claim 1 further comprising a camera communicatively coupled to the processor such that the camera captures an image of the fish on the scale so that the image is part of the information regarding the item.

3. The fish weight data capture system as in claim 2 further comprising a second computer system such that the transmitter transmits the information and the coupled weight to the second computer system.

4. The fish weight data capture system as in claim 3 wherein the data entry subsystem is a touch sensitive overlay of the view screen.

5. The fish weight capture system as in claim 4 further comprising an area light attached to the kiosk.

6. The fish weight capture system as in claim 5 further comprising a printer disposed within the kiosk such that the printer prints a receipt with the information and coupled weight printed thereon.

7. The fish weight data capture system as in claim 1 further comprising a second computer system such that the transmitter transmits the information and the coupled weight to the second computer system.

8. The fish weight data capture system as in claim 1 wherein the data entry subsystem is a touch sensitive overlay of the view screen.

9. The fish weight capture system as in claim 1 further comprising an area light attached to the kiosk.

10. The fish weight capture system as in claim 1 further comprising a printer disposed within the kiosk such that the printer prints a receipt with the information and coupled weight printed thereon.

11. A method for capturing fish weight data comprising the steps of:

providing a kiosk having a view screen, a data entry subsystem, a processor with data storage, and a transmitter;

providing a first computer system coupled to a database;

providing a pole mounted hook scale

communicatively coupling the scale to the processor;

placing a fish on the scale to arrive at a weight of the fish;

inputting information regarding the item to the processor via the data entry subsystem;

coupling the information with the weight;

having the transmitter transmit the information and the coupled weight to the first computer system; and

entering the information and the coupled weight is entered into the database.

12. The method as in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing a camera;

communicatively coupling the camera to the processor;

having the camera capture an image of the fish on the scale; and

appending the information to include the image prior to transmitting the information and the coupled weight to the first computer system.

13. The method as in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

providing a second computer system; and

having the transmitter transmit the information and the coupled weight to the second computer system.

14. The method as in claim 13 wherein the data entry subsystem is a touch sensitive overlay of the view screen.

15. The method as in claim 14 further comprising the step of attaching an area light to the kiosk.

16. The method as in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

disposing a printer within the kiosk; and

having the printer print a receipt with the information and coupled weight printed thereon.

17. The method as in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing a second computer system; and

having the transmitter transmit the information and the coupled weight to the second computer system.

18. The method as in claim 11 wherein the data entry subsystem is a touch sensitive overlay of the view screen.

19. The method as in claim 11 further comprising the step of attaching an area light to the kiosk.

20. The method as in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

disposing a printer within the kiosk; and

having the printer print a receipt with the information and coupled weight printed thereon.