SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANIMAL DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYTICS

• US 20160135431A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Siegel
• Original Assignee: John Siegel
• Inventors: Sheldon, Derek Michael, Mackey, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,687,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/00 Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/001 Collars
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/006 with light-emitting or ornamental devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3855 carried in a belt or harness

Abstract

An inventive animal collar device is described herein that monitors location, physiological information and/or environmental information relating to an animal wearing the device. The collar may include multiple sensors and other electrical components embedded within the collar body that provide means for: tracking and monitoring an animal'"'"'s activity and whereabouts, increasing visibility of the collar, and storing and retrieving animal, environment and system information. The collar may implement one or more wired or wireless communication devices so that the collar may transmit data to a connected computing device. The collar may also include one or more antennas to send and/or receive location information associated with the device. The collar may include a removable module that attaches to the collar via a module dock. The removable module may include any of the electronic components and may allow for the collar body to remain on the animal during information transfer and/or charging.

Claims

1. A wearable collar apparatus for monitoring an animal comprising:

a collar body adapted to be worn about the neck of an animal, the collar body comprising;

a first end and second end each comprising a complementary attachment means such that the first end is removably attached to the second end during wear;

an inner surface that faces an animal'"'"'s neck during wear, the inner surface extending from the first end to the second end;

an outer surface that faces away from an animal'"'"'s neck during wear, the outer surface comprising;

a module dock disposed therein, the module dock adapted to receive a removable module therein and comprising;

a bottom wall;

a first side wall extending from the outer surface of the collar body to the bottom wall;

a second side wall extending from the outer surface of the collar body to the bottom wall,

wherein at least one of the side walls comprises a physical attachment means adapted to interface with a complementary physical attachment means of a removable module, such that the module may be removably attachable to the collar body via the module dock; and

wherein at least one of the side walls further comprises an electrical attachment means adapted to interface with a complementary electrical attachment means of a removable module such that, upon removably attaching a module to the dock, the module is placed in electrical communication with electrical components of the collar body via the electrical attachment; and

an internal housing comprising electronic components seated at least partially therein, the electronic components comprising;

a processor;

an internal memory device in communication with the processor;

a cellular communication device in communication with the processor and memory for receiving and transmitting location information;

at least one satellite communication device in communication with the processor and memory for receiving and transmitting location information;

one or more sensors in communication with the processor for monitoring one or more of;

animal information, environment information and system information.

a rechargeable battery in communication with the processor; and

a plurality of lights in communication with the processor, the lights extending from the internal housing through the outer surface of the collar body.

2. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a removable module removably seated within the module dock of the collar body and in electrical communication with one or more of the electronic components of the collar body, the removable module comprising;

a housing comprising;

a first and second side wall;

an outer surface extending from the first side wall to the second side wall, the outer surface comprising;

an activator; and

a display;

an inner surface extending from the first side wall to the second side wall, the inner surface comprising;

a memory port adapted to receive a removable memory device therein;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing; and

one or more transceivers disposed within the housing, the transceivers adapted to communicate with a computing device,

wherein at least one of the side walls comprises a physical attachment means adapted to interface with the physical attachment means of the module dock, and

wherein at least one of the side walls further comprises an electrical attachment means adapted to interface with the electrical attachment means of the module dock.

3. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one or more transceivers are selected from the group consisting of:

WiFi, NFC and Bluetooth transceivers.

4. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transceivers are NFC and Bluetooth transceivers.

5. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the side walls of the removable module further comprises a data port for connecting the removable module to a computing device to charge the removable module and/or transmit information between the computing device and a removable memory device seated within the memory port.

6. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the memory port is adapted to receive a removable memory device selected from the group consisting of:

a subscriber identity module (SIM) card and a secure digital (SD) memory card.

7. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the removable module further comprises a wireless charging device adapted to allow wireless charging of the rechargeable battery disposed therein.

8. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attachment means of the first and second collar body ends is selected from the group consisting of:

magnets, clips, pins, buckles, clasps, snaps, hinges, buttons, complementary track members, complementary threaded members, tongue and groove members, hook and loop, hook and eye, and adhesives.

9. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the attachment means of the first and second collar body ends comprises complementary magnets.

10. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the physical attachment means of the module dock and removable module comprises complementary magnets.

11. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one satellite communication device comprises a GPS satellite device and an Iridium satellite device.

12. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cellular communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

a GSM-type cellular device and a CDMA-type cellular device.

13. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the memory device is an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device.

14. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the EEPROM device is a flash memory device.

15. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of lights comprise LEDS.

16. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the activator and the display are present as an integrated component, and the display comprises one or more LEDS.

17. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a Universal Resource Locator (URL) imprinted on the inner surface or the outer surface of the collar body, the URL providing an address to a website comprising animal identification information.

18. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of:

an accelerometers, gyroscopes, pedometers, magnetometers, proximity sensors, gravity sensors, pressure sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors, heart rate sensors, and battery sensors.

19. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

the animal information comprises one or more of;

identification information, health information, location information, movement information, sleep information and owner information;

the environment information comprises one or more of relative or absolute;

gravity, pressure, moisture, temperature and light; and

the system information comprises one or more of;

battery status, user account information and user settings

20. A wearable collar apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a removable clip attachment removably connected to the collar body via the first and second end attachment means, the removable clip attachment comprising;

a rechargeable battery; and

a wireless charging device,

wherein the removable clip attachment charges the rechargeable battery of the collar apparatus when it is connected to the collar body.