System and method for canine training

• US 20060196445A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US11/417,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20060196445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/719
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7038 Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/01 adapted for specific applications or environments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 119/908 Electrical animal control or handling

Abstract

A computer-aided training and management system that uses a computer or other processor in wireless communication with an instrumented dog collar and/or optionally, one or more dog interaction devices, such as, for example, video monitors, loudspeakers, video cameras, training toys (e.g., ball, bone, moving toy, etc.), an animatronics “trainer,” a treat dispenser, a food dispensing and monitoring device, a water dispensing and monitoring device, tracking devices, a dog door, dog-monitoring doghouse, a dog-monitoring dog toilet, is described. In one embodiment, the instrumented dog collar is in two-way communication with a central computer system.

Claims

1. An animal training system, comprising:

a computer system provided to a first wireless communication transceiver;

an animal collar provided to a second wireless communication transceiver, said animal collar having an identification code, said animal collar configured to communicate with said computer system using wireless two-way handshaking communication according to said identification code such that said computer system can send commands to said animal collar and receive acknowledgement of receipt of said commands from said animal collar, and said animal collar can send data to said computer system and receive acknowledgement of receipt of said data by said computer system, said computer system configured to send commands to said animal collar, said computer system configured to receive data from said animal collar related to one or more actions of an animal wearing said animal collar;

one or more sensors provided to said animal collar; and

at least one stimulus device provided to said animal collar, said computer system configured to use said stimulus device in connection with a training regimen, said animal collar configured to provide negative stimulus and positive stimulus, wherein said computer system receives current sensor data from said animal collar and selects a stimulus based, at least in part, on said current sensor data, said training regimen, and previous sensor data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprises an acoustic input device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an acoustic output device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises a vibrator device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an odor output device.

6. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an infrared receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an infrared transmitter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a location sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a receiver configured to receive GPS signals.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a receiver configured to receive radio navigation signals.

11. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an inertial motion unit.

12. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an accelerometer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprises a sound sensor.

14. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an RFID tag reader.

15. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a temperature-sensing RFID tag.

16. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled treat dispenser.

17. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled water dispenser.

18. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled food dispenser.

19. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled animal toilet.

20. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled animal house.

21. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a video monitor.

22. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising an animal toy provided with a third wireless communication device.

23. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a light.

24. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising an acoustic input device.

25. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising an acoustic output device.

26. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a touch sensor.

27. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a motion sensor.

28. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a location tracking system.

29. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a movement actuator system.

30. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a motor.

31. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising a treat dispenser.

32. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more repeaters.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more location system units disposed about an area.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use infrared radiation for location and tracking of said animal collar.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use acoustic waves for location and tracking of said animal collar.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use electromagnetic waves for location and tracking of said animal collar.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units further comprises motion detectors for a home security system.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an electric shock device.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an audio output device configured to make sounds to provide a negative stimulus.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an audio output device configured to make sounds to provide a positive stimulus.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an audio output device configured to make sounds corresponding to a trainers voice.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one stimulus device comprises an audio output device configured to make sounds corresponding to a trainers voice.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to train an animal to avoid a prohibited area by using a combination of positive stimulus and negative stimulus.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to train an animal to stay in a designated area by using a combination of positive stimulus and negative stimulus.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to train an animal to a desired behavior by using a combination of positive stimulus and negative stimulus.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to train an animal to a desired behavior by using positive stimulus when at least one of said one or more sensors produce data indicating the animal has acted as desired, and by using negative stimulus when at least one of said one or more sensors produce data indicating the animal has not acted as desired.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to use said one or more sensors and said at least one stimulus device to interact with an animal to entertain the animal.

48. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer system is configured to use said one or more sensors and said at least one stimulus device to interact with an animal to exercise the animal.