System and method for computer-controlled pet food system

• US 20060201433A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• 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:
  US11/417,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/51.20
• 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. A computer-controlled pet feeding system, comprising:

a food container;

a food dispenser;

one or more sensors configured to measure data related to actual food consumption by an animal;

a computer system configured to dispense food according to feeding schedule and to track said actual food consumption; and

a communication system configured to provide data from said one or more sensors to a computer system, said computer system configured to assess a condition of the animal by comparing actual food consumption to expected food consumption.

2. The system of claim 1, further configured to calculate calories consumed by the animal according to said actual food consumption.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors configured to measure activity of the animal, said computer system configured to calculate calorie needs of the animal based, at least in part, on activity of the animal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said computer system is configured to dispense food according to said calorie needs.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said computer system is configured to modify said feeding schedule according to said calorie needs.

6. The system of claim 1, said computer system configured to send a warning message when said actual food consumption falls below said expected food consumption by a specified amount.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors configured to provide identification data to said computer system, said computer system configured to use said identification data to distinguish which animal, from a plurality of animals, is consuming food.

8. The system of claim 7, said computer system further configured to track calorie intake by each animal of said plurality of animals.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said sensor comprises an RFID tag reader.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said sensor is configured to obtain said identification data by communicating with a computer-controlled pet collar.

11. A method for feeding a pet, comprising;

dispensing food according to a feeding program;

sensing measured data related to an amount of food consumed by the pet;

providing the measured data to a computer system;

using said measured data to estimate an actual amount of food consumed by the pet;

comparing said actual amount to an expected amount of food that the pet is expected to consume; and

sending a warning message from said computer system when said measured amount differs from said expected amount by more than an acceptable difference over a specified time period.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring an activity level of the pet.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring an activity level of the pet and adjusting said expected amount based, at least in part, on said activity level.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring an activity level of the pet and adjusting said feeding program and said expected amount based, at least in part, on said activity level.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said warning is sent when said measured amount falls below said expected amount according to said acceptable difference.