Pet Restraint System

• US 20120312250A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jesurum Scientific Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jesurum Scientific Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Jesurum, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,851,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/721
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/029 Electric or similar shock devices, e.g. prods
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/04 Devices for impeding movement; Devices for impeding passage through fencing , e.g. hobbles or the like; Anti-kicking devices impeding passage under fences A01K15/006

Abstract

In various embodiments, a method of controlling a position of an animal includes tracking a position of the animal using a positioning system, such as a global positioning system. A time-varying position of a base object is also tracked using the positioning system, and a relative position of the animal with respect to the base object is determined, based on the positions of the animal and the base object. When the relative position exceeds a minimum value, a stimulus is provided to the animal to encourage the animal to reduce the relative position. A user of the system may define a region for the animal using a map of the surrounding territory.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a position of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:

tracking a position of the animal using a positioning system;

tracking a time-varying position of a base object using the positioning system;

determining a relative position of the animal with respect to the base object, based on the positions of the animal and the base object; and

when the relative position exceeds a minimum value, providing a stimulus to the animal to encourage the animal to reduce the relative position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a strength of the stimulus is based on a magnitude of the relative position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the stimulus is based on a magnitude of the relative position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulus is selected from the group consisting of a vibration, an electrical shock, and a noise.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is a pet.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a direction of travel of the base object using the positioning system; and

predicting a path of travel for the base object using the position of the base object and the direction of travel of the base object, wherein the stimulus is provided to encourage the animal to travel alongside the path of travel.

7. A method of restraining a position of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a map corresponding to a territory in the vicinity of a positioning system;

receiving information from a user defining a region on the map corresponding to a portion of the territory;

monitoring a position of an animal within the territory using the positioning system; and

when the animal enters the portion of the territory corresponding to the region defined on the map, providing a stimulus to the animal to encourage the animal to exit the portion of the territory.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the animal is a pet.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a strength of the stimulus is based on the position of the animal in the portion of the territory.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a frequency of the stimulus is based on the position of the animal in the portion of the territory.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the stimulus is selected from the group consisting of a vibration, an electrical shock, and a noise.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first positioning system and the second positioning system are the same positioning system.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the map is provided as an Internet-enabled application.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring the position of the animal comprises determining the position of the animal within the territory using a global positioning system differential localizer.

15. A method of restraining a position of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a map corresponding to a territory in the vicinity of a positioning system;

receiving information from a user defining a region on the map corresponding to a portion of the territory;

monitoring a position of an animal within the territory using the positioning system;

when the animal enters the portion of the territory corresponding to the region defined on the map, providing a stimulus to the animal to encourage the animal to exit the portion of the territory;

upon receipt of a command from a user, discontinuing the monitoring of the position of the animal within the territory using the positioning system and enabling the monitoring of the position of the animal relative to a base object using the positioning system; and

subsequent to the enabling of relative position monitoring, when the relative position exceeds a minimum value, providing a stimulus to the animal to encourage the animal to reduce the relative position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a position of the base object is time-varying.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a position of the base object is fixed.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the base object is the positioning system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the stimulus is at least one of a vibration, an electrical shock, and a noise.