Animal management systems
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling and monitoring at least a first and a second animal, the system comprising:
- at least a first and a second control device, each arranged for communication with one another, the first control device adapted to be fitted to the first animal, and the second control device adapted to be fitted to the second animal, wherein each of the first and second control devices includes;
a communication module, the communication module including a transmitter and a receiver configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to communicate directly with at least the other of the first or second control devices,a distance and movement processor, wherein the distance and movement processor determines a distance of said control device relative to other control devices and determines relative movement of said control device with respect to at least the other of the first or second control devices using the radio frequency signals,a trigger signal generator arranged to generate a trigger signal upon comparison of values of the determined distance and relative movement with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable distance and relative movement threshold values, respectively, andat least one stimulus application device that is adapted to be fitted to at least a selected one of said animals and arranged for selective application of a stimulus to the animal upon activation by the trigger signal,wherein the trigger signal generator is arranged to generate the trigger signal upon determination that each of;
a) the value of the determined distance is less than a threshold value of the one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable distance threshold values, thereby indicating that the first animal and the second animal are closer than an allowable interaction distance; and
b) the value of the determined relative movement of the first control device relative to the second control device exceeds a threshold value of the one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable relative movement threshold values, thereby indicating that at least one of the first animal and the second animal is travelling towards the other of the first animal and the second animal above an allowable velocity;
wherein the distance and movement processor is configured to determine a first velocity of the first animal and a second velocity of the second animal and to determine the value of the determined relative movement based on the determined first velocity and the determined second velocity.
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Abstract
The system for controlling and monitoring animals, the system including control devices that are able to be fitted to the animals and arranged for communication with one another. Each control device is capable of determining the position of an animal relative to a second animal as well as the distance between animals and the relative movement of animals fitted with the control device. The system of control devices also includes a stimulus device that allows stimuli to be applied to an animal or animals based on the relative position, movement and/or distance of the respective animals to one another.
21 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for controlling and monitoring at least a first and a second animal, the system comprising:
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at least a first and a second control device, each arranged for communication with one another, the first control device adapted to be fitted to the first animal, and the second control device adapted to be fitted to the second animal, wherein each of the first and second control devices includes; a communication module, the communication module including a transmitter and a receiver configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to communicate directly with at least the other of the first or second control devices, a distance and movement processor, wherein the distance and movement processor determines a distance of said control device relative to other control devices and determines relative movement of said control device with respect to at least the other of the first or second control devices using the radio frequency signals, a trigger signal generator arranged to generate a trigger signal upon comparison of values of the determined distance and relative movement with one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable distance and relative movement threshold values, respectively, and at least one stimulus application device that is adapted to be fitted to at least a selected one of said animals and arranged for selective application of a stimulus to the animal upon activation by the trigger signal, wherein the trigger signal generator is arranged to generate the trigger signal upon determination that each of; a) the value of the determined distance is less than a threshold value of the one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable distance threshold values, thereby indicating that the first animal and the second animal are closer than an allowable interaction distance; and b) the value of the determined relative movement of the first control device relative to the second control device exceeds a threshold value of the one or more predetermined or situation-dependent selectable relative movement threshold values, thereby indicating that at least one of the first animal and the second animal is travelling towards the other of the first animal and the second animal above an allowable velocity; wherein the distance and movement processor is configured to determine a first velocity of the first animal and a second velocity of the second animal and to determine the value of the determined relative movement based on the determined first velocity and the determined second velocity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification