Tracking and monitoring of animals with combined wireless technology and geo-fencing

• US 10,292,370 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nmode Solutions, Inc. (Samtec Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nmode Solutions, Inc. (Samtec Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mobley, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US15/076,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20160198680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/004 with electronic identification means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating

Abstract

A networked cattle tracking system may track cattle using a base station, smart tags for cattle, and a mobile device. Tags are placed on each animal within a group of cattle. The tags may communicate with each other and with a base station. The tags may communication animal location and other information, including temperature, movement, blood information, and so on. A user may track cattle location, behavior, health, and other information at a base station monitor or a remote wireless device in communication with the base station and plurality of tags.

Claims

1. A method for tracking objects, the method comprising:

forming a node that includes a plurality of tags, wherein each tag in the node is attached to a respective object in a plurality of grouped objects;

receiving satellite positioning signals at each tag in the node;

providing respective position information from each tag in the node to a selected tag in the node;

sending data from the selected tag in the node to a base station over a wireless network;

determining a location and an identification for each tag in the node from the data sent to the base station;

determining that the grouped objects are within a geofenced area based on the location and the identification information for each tag in the node; and

transmitting the location and the identification information for each tag in the node to a recipient device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering an alert when at least one of the objects is identified as outside the geofenced area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting map data of the geofenced area to the recipient device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering an alert when one of the tags does not respond to the base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the geofenced area is associated with the node.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing graphical data to the recipient device for rendering the geofenced area and the location and the identification for each tag in the node.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the selected tag in the node based on a distance between each tag in the node and the base station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the selected tag in the node based on a change in the distance between each tag in the node and the base station.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the selected tag in the node based on expiration of a time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising reconfiguring the node and identifying a different selected node.