Location method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for locating an object relative to a predetermined external boundary and at least one internal boundary, said external boundary defining an allowed area of movement therewithin and said internal boundary defining at least one excluded area of movement within said allowed area of movement, said external and internal boundary each having a plurality of vertices, said method for locating using a reference unit, a mobile unit attached to and movable with the object, and position indicating data signals broadcast by a remote transmitter and receivable by the reference and mobile units, said method comprising:
- receiving the position indicating data signals;
determining the respective global positions of the reference and mobile units;
determining the differential coordinate position of the mobile unit;
determining the respective global positions of a plurality of external boundary coordinates of the external boundary including at least the vertices of the external boundary;
determining the differential coordinate positions of at least the vertices of the external boundary;
determining the respective global positions of a plurality of internal boundary coordinates of the internal boundary including at least the vertices of the internal boundary;
determining the differential coordinate positions of at least the vertices of the internal boundary;
determining whether the mobile unit is within the allowed area by comparing the differential coordinate position of the mobile unit with the differential external and internal boundary coordinate positions.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for training an animal to remain in a specified area of containment. The perimeter of containment being easily tailored to fit a specific geometry. The system includes apparatus for determining the location of the animal, apparatus for specifying boundary coordinates, apparatus for determining if the location of the animal is within the containment perimeter, and apparatus for administering stimulus to the animal if warranted.
127 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for locating an object relative to a predetermined external boundary and at least one internal boundary, said external boundary defining an allowed area of movement therewithin and said internal boundary defining at least one excluded area of movement within said allowed area of movement, said external and internal boundary each having a plurality of vertices, said method for locating using a reference unit, a mobile unit attached to and movable with the object, and position indicating data signals broadcast by a remote transmitter and receivable by the reference and mobile units, said method comprising:
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receiving the position indicating data signals; determining the respective global positions of the reference and mobile units; determining the differential coordinate position of the mobile unit; determining the respective global positions of a plurality of external boundary coordinates of the external boundary including at least the vertices of the external boundary; determining the differential coordinate positions of at least the vertices of the external boundary; determining the respective global positions of a plurality of internal boundary coordinates of the internal boundary including at least the vertices of the internal boundary; determining the differential coordinate positions of at least the vertices of the internal boundary; determining whether the mobile unit is within the allowed area by comparing the differential coordinate position of the mobile unit with the differential external and internal boundary coordinate positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for relating the position of a mobile unit to a predefined external boundary defining an area of allowed movement and at least one predefined internal boundary defining an area of excluded movement within said area of allowed movement, said system comprising:
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a mobile unit; a reference unit; and at least one remote transmitter provided for transmitting position indicating signals by which the positions of the mobile and reference units may be determined relative to the external and the at least one internal boundary; wherein said mobile unit and said reference unit each include a receiver for receiving said position indicating signals and wherein said system further includes at least one processor for converting said position indicating signals into global coordinate positions of said reference and mobile units and for determining the distance of said mobile unit from said predetermined external boundary. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification