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Integrated apparatus and method to combine a wireless fence collar with GPS tracking capability

  • US 10,228,447 B2
  • Filed: 03/07/2014
  • Issued: 03/12/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A dog collar having a strap and a housing held by the strap comprising:

  • a fence module configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one transmitter within a wireless fence dog containment system to determine a dog'"'"'s position relative to a containment area defined by a wireless fence;

    a GPS module configured to wirelessly transmit dog location data from the collar to a first device to provide remote dog location tracking capability at the first device;

    wherein;

    the fence module is configured to be operationally active and the GPS module is configured to be inactive as long as the dog remains within the containment area so that the collar operates in a wireless fence mode;

    the fence module is further configured to power up the GPS module upon detecting that the dog is no longer in the containment area so that the collar operates in a GPS mode, wherein the powering up comprises the GPS module receiving at least one signal from the fence module;

    the GPS module is further configured, upon determining using information of the dog location data that the dog is beyond a set distance from the containment area, to send a “

    sleep request”

    signal to the fence module in response to which the fence module enters an inactive state while the collar is in the GPS mode; and

    the GPS module is further configured, upon determining using information of the dog location data that the dog is within a set distance from the containment area to send a “

    wake request”

    signal to the fence module, whereupon the fence module returns from the inactive state to an active state, whereupon the fence module re-establishes communication with the at least one transmitter within the wireless fence dog containment system and resumes operation in the wireless fence mode, wherein the fence module is configured to power down the GPS module upon returning to the active state.

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