Animal control system

• US 20060180093A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sensortec Limited
• Original Assignee: Sensortec Limited
• Inventors: Cross, Peter Stephen, Claycomb, Rodney Wayne
• Application Number:
  US10/543,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20060180093A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/720
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012

Abstract

An animal control system, including at least one transducer assembly intimately associated with an animal, and at least one control unit, wherein the control unit contains at least one assembly that includes on-board data, and the control unit is configured to receive data from the transducer assembly, and assess the received data with respect to the on-board data, and formulate and transmit a command to an appropriate transducer assembly; the system wherein the control unit is functionally separated from both actuation of the command and from the transducer assembly or assemblies.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An animal control system, including at least one transducer assembly physically associated with an animal, said transducer assembly being adapted to transmit individual animal data, and at least one control unit, wherein the control unit contains at least one assembly that includes on-board data, and the control unit is configured to

a) receive individual animal data from the transducer assembly, and

b) assess the received individual animal data with respect to historical individual animal data stored as on-board data in the control unit, and

c) formulate and transmit a command to an appropriate transducer assembly intimately associated with the animal using the historical individual animal data of the animal associated with the transducer assembly.

wherein the control unit is functionally separated from both the actuation of the command and from the transducer assembly or assemblies.

20. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of the at least one transducer assembly intimately associated with the animal includes a bolus.

21. An animal control system as claimed in either claim 19 wherein the at least one transducer assembly intimately associated with the animal includes an ear tag.

22. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the at least one transducer assembly intimately associated with the animal includes the at least one subcutaneous transceiver.

23. An animal control system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the at least one transducer assembly intimately associated with the animal includes a medication release control system.

24. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein an information flow to the control unit is via on-line or off-line sensors of animal excretions.

25. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein a route of information flow to the control unit includes image recognition.

26. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein a route of information flow to the control unit includes wireless transmission.

27. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the end result of the command from the control unit being received by the at least one transducer intimately associated with an animal is to elicit a biological response from the animal.

28. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the absence of a transmitted signal is taken as intended action by the transducer assembly or assemblies.

29. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the control unit is fitted in a passageway.

30. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the control unit is capable of sending instructions to an automatic drafting gate.

31. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the control unit is capable of sending instructions to dispense feed.

32. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein a command from the control unit triggers the dispensing of a substance internally to the animal.

33. An animal control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein a command from the control system includes a delayed activation signal.

34. A method of operating the animal control system including

a) transmitting identity information and individual animal data from an animal to a control unit, and

b) assessing the identity information against the control unit'"'"'s on-board data, and

c) formulating an appropriate response using historical individual on-board animal data for said animal, and

d) transmitting the response containing a command to an appropriate transducer assembly physically associated with said animal.

wherein the control unit is functionally separated from both the actuation of the command and from the transducer assembly or assemblies.