KITS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND TRACKING ANIMALS

• US 20100321182A1
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carole A. Wangrud
• Original Assignee: Carole A. Wangrud
• Inventors: Wangrud, Carole A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,188,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

A kit monitoring and tracking the location of at least one animal includes a GPS implant designed to be transplanted subcutaneously into an animal, and capable of communicating spatial information related to the location of the animal. A first receiver allows the user to receive the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant and related to the location of the animal. The first receiver is adapted to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a smartphone.

Claims

1. A kit for monitoring and tracking the location of at least one animal, the kit comprising:

a GPS implant designed to be transplanted subcutaneously into an animal, the GPS implant capable of communicating spatial information related to the location of the at least one animal; and

a first receiver for receiving the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant related to the location of the at least one animal, the first receiver adapted to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a smartphone.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is adapted to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a headphone or headset jack on a smartphone.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first receiver comprises a wireless radio transmitter configured to utilize BLUETOOTH®

headset technology to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a BLUETOOTH®

enabled smartphone.

4. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a location monitoring program loadable onto the smartphone and including a set of instructions, that when executed by the smartphone, causes the smartphone to display the location of the GPS implant.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the location monitoring program further comprises instructions, that when executed by a smartphone having a second GPS receiver for receiving spatial information related to the location of the smartphone, causes the smartphone to display the location of the GPS implant and the location of the smartphone.

6. The kit of claim 5, wherein the set of instructions causes the smartphone to display the location of the GPS implant and the location of the smartphone on a single map.

7. The kit of claim 5, wherein the set of instructions causes the smartphone to display in a split screen mode the location of the GPS implant alongside the location of the smartphone.

8. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a location monitoring program loadable onto a smartphone, the location monitoring program including:

first instructional signals for comparing the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant against data entered to a memory of the smartphone, the entered data defining an allowable zone, and determining when the at least one animal is outside the allowable zone; and

second instructional signals for communicating response signals from the smartphone when the at least one animal is outside the allowable zone.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the data defining an allowable zone is represented by a user-defined perimeter.

10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the data defining an allowable zone is represented by a user-defined distance between the GPS implant and the smartphone when the smartphone has a second GPS receiver for receiving spatial information related to the location of the smartphone.

11. A method for monitoring and tracking the location of an animal, comprising the steps of:

inserting a GPS implant subcutaneously into the animal, the GPS implant communicating information relating to the location of the animal;

providing a memory of a smartphone with data defining an allowable zone;

receiving the location information communicated by the GPS implant through a first receiver in communication with the smartphone;

using a processor of the smartphone to compare the received GPS implant location information against the data defining an allowable zone to determine if the animal is within the allowable zone; and

generating and sending response signal(s) when it is determined that the animal is outside the allowable zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the smartphone includes a second GPS receiver for receiving the smartphone location information, and the data defining an allowable zone is provided by the following steps:

inputting a user defined perimeter into a memory of the smartphone by transporting the smartphone along the perimeter; and

using the second GPS receiver, receiving signals corresponding to the location of the smartphone while transporting the smartphone along the perimeter, and storing the data into the smartphone memory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the smartphone includes a second GPS receiver for receiving the smartphone location information, and the data defining an allowable zone comprises a user-defined allowable distance between the smartphone and the GPS implant.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving the location information communicated by the GPS implant includes transmission to a headphone or headset jack on a smartphone.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first receiver comprises a wireless radio transmitter configured to utilize BLUETOOTH®

headset technology, the smartphone is BLUETOOTH®

enabled, and the location information communicated by the GPS implant is transmitted from the first receiver to the smartphone using BLUETOOTH®

headset technology.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the GPS implant is inserted ballistically into the animal.