REMOTE DATA COLLECTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100299074A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Chang, David, Ma, Changpu
• Application Number:
  US12/734,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/00 Feeding devices for stock or game A01K1/10 takes precedence; feeding devices for poultry or other birds A01K39/00 ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0114 Pet food dispensers; Pet food trays time-controlled A01K5/0291
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/40 for carnivorous animals, e.g. cats or dogs
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3742 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote data collecting system comprising a measuring device comprising at least two scales in communication with a terminal center. The terminal center is in communication with a control center. The control center can be linked to a computer with software to collect, distribute, analyze, and display data collected from the measuring device. The remote data collecting system is particularly useful for uncontrolled environment (e.g., in-home) product testing such as testing the palatability of pet foods.

Claims

1. A remote data collecting system comprising:

a measuring device comprising at least two scales in communication with a terminal center, the scales comprising a receptacle for holding a product; and

a control center in communication with the terminal center, the control center having the ability to collect and distribute data related to product removed from the receptacle of each scale.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the receptacles comprises a bowl for holding a product.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the product comprises a pet food.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the scales comprises a component selected from the group consisting a weight sensor, a battery power pack, a liquid crystal display, a rechargeable or regular battery, a circuit board, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the scales are removably attached to each other.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the control center links to a computer with software for organizing, analyzing, and displaying the data.

7. A method of collecting data remotely comprising:

providing a measuring device comprising at least two scales in communication with a terminal center and a control center in communication with the terminal center, each of the scales comprising a product; and

collecting data with respect to the amount of product removed from each of the scales.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the control center collects, distributes, and analyzes the data.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the data is collected for a predetermined amount of time.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the measuring device shuts off automatically after a predetermined time period when not in use.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the control center is capable of conducting a plurality of trials for determining amounts of product removed from each of the scales.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the control center links to a computer for organizing, analyzing, and displaying the data.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the data is, transferred from the measuring device to the terminal center through a low frequency wireless connection.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein each of the scales comprises a bowl for holding the product.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein each of the scales comprises a component selected from the group consisting a weight sensor, a battery power pack, a liquid crystal display, a battery, a circuit board, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein the product comprises a pet food.

9. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19. A method of testing the palatability of pet food remotely, the method comprising:

providing a measuring device comprising at least two scales in communication with a terminal center and the terminal center in communication with a control center, each of the scales comprising a different pet food;

introducing a pet to the pet foods on the scales; and

collecting data with respect to the amount of pet food eaten by the pet from each of the scales.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the control center collects and distributes the data.

22. The method of claim 19 comprising collecting data every second for a predetermined amount of time.

23. The method of claim 19 comprising collecting data every minute for a predetermined amount of time.

21. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)