Wireless location assisted zone guidance system incorporating a multi-zone containment area

• US 10,064,390 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPSip, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GPSip, Inc.
• Inventors: Landers, Rodney P., Nieuwsma, Kevin L., James, Chad R., Erickson, Michael D., Anderson, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thanh T
• Application Number:
  US14/660,926
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Individual zones are defined within a multi-zone assisted guidance region by storing a zone GPS data point target width, assigning GPS data points located within a perimeter and within the target width to a second zone, allotting GPS data points located interior of and distinct from the second zone and within the target width to a first zone; and finally ascribing unassigned GPS data points located interior of and distinct from the first zone to a safe zone. If there is not enough total width between perimeter points in a region to provide all zones at the target width, a data point width of more exterior zones are preferentially electronically maintained at the target width and more interior zones are reduced or eliminated. In addition, adjacent guidance zones have unique stimulation that acts through different neurological access channels to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.

Claims

1. A method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region having at least a perimeter, a safe zone interior of said perimeter, a second zone adjacent to said perimeter, and a first zone adjacent to said safe zone, comprising the steps of:

electronically storing a zone GPS data point target width;

electronically calculating GPS data points located within said perimeter;

electronically assigning to said second zone a first subset of said GPS data points that are located within said perimeter and that are also within a number of GPS data points of said perimeter approximately equal to said zone GPS data point target width;

electronically allotting to said first zone a second subset of said GPS data points located within said perimeter that are unassigned subsequent to said electronic assigning step and that are also located interior of and distinct from said second zone and within a number of GPS data points of said second zone approximately equal to said zone GPS data point target width;

electronically ascribing unassigned and unallotted GPS data points located interior of and distinct from said first zone to said safe zone;

whereby for each of said first and second zones calculated if there is not enough total width between perimeter points in a region of said assisted guidance region to provide said first and second zones at said zone GPS data point target width, a data point width of said second zone is electronically maintained at said zone GPS data point target width and a data point width of at least one zone interior to said second zone is reduced.

2. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 1, further comprising a step of electronically associating with each of said safe zone, second zone and said first zone a unique set of characteristics to provide behavioral guidance stimulation.

3. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 2, further comprising a step of providing stimulation to an animal through an animal stimulation apparatus responsive to a location of said animal within at least one of said safe zone, first zone, and second zone.

4. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 1, further comprising a step of electronically associating at least two adjacent ones of said individual zones each with a unique animal stimulation, a first one of said at least two adjacent ones of said individual zone unique animal stimulations acting through a different neurological access channel than a second one of said at least two adjacent ones of said individual zone unique animal stimulations.

5. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 4, wherein said associated unique animal stimulation is selected from a group of auditory stimulation, vibratory stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

6. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 5, wherein said auditory stimulation is electrically associated with said safe zone.

7. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 5, wherein said vibratory stimulation is electrically associated with said first zone.

8. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 5, wherein said transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is electrically associated with said second zone.

9. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 5, wherein an electrical impulse stimulation is electrically associated with said perimeter.

10. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 4, wherein said unique animal stimulations comprise non-aversive stimulation.

11. The method of defining individual zones within a multi-zone assisted guidance region of claim 1, further comprising a step of associating each one of said individual zones with a unique animal stimulation that acts through a different neurological access channel than any other ones of said unique animal stimulations of said individual zones.