System and method for computer-controlled pet water dispenser

• US 7,380,518 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): SWIATEK, ROBERT P
• Application Number:
  US11/417,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.5, 119/72, 119/74, 119/51.01
• US Class Current: 119/72
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7038 Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/01 adapted for specific applications or environments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 119/908 Electrical animal control or handling

Abstract

A computer-aided training and management system that uses a computer or other processor in wireless communication with an instrumented dog collar and/or optionally, one or more dog interaction devices, such as, for example, video monitors, loudspeakers, video cameras, training toys (e.g., ball, bone, moving toy, etc.), an animatronics “trainer,” a treat dispenser, a food dispensing and monitoring device, a water dispensing and monitoring device, tracking devices, a dog door, dog-monitoring doghouse, a dog-monitoring dog toilet. In one embodiment, the instrumented dog collar is in two-way communication with a central computer system.

Claims

1. A computer-controlled water system, comprising:

a water dispenser;

one or more sensors configured to measure data related to actual water consumption by an animal;

a computer system configured to track the water consumption patterns; and

a communication system configured to provide data from said one or more sensors to a computer system, said computer system configured to assess a condition of the animal by comparing actual patterns of water consumption to expected patterns of water consumption, wherein said computer system reports the times-of-day at which the animal chooses to drink water and the amount of water consumed at different times and by analyzing changes in long-term consumption patterns, wherein said computer system displays information indicating that consumption patterns have changed.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more ambient condition sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more ambient condition sensors, said computer system configured to estimate expected water consumption based, at least in part, on ambient conditions.

4. The system of claim 1, said computer system configured to send a warning message when said actual water consumption falls below said expected water consumption by a specified amount.

5. The system of claim 1, said computer system configured to send a warning message when said actual water consumption exceeds said expected water consumption by a specified amount.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a warning is sent when a measured amount exceeds an expected amount according to said acceptable difference.