Training, management, and/or entertainment system for canines, felines, or other animals

• US 7,409,924 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• 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): NGUYEN, TRINH T
• Application Number:
  US10/893,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 119/712, 119/718, 119/719, 119/720, 119/721, 119/856, 119/857, 119/858, 119/859, 119/905, 119/908, 340/573.1, 340/573.3
• US Class Current: 119/720
• 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, is described. In one embodiment, the instrumented dog collar is in two-way communication with a central computer system.

Claims

1. An animal management system, comprising:

a computer system provided to a first wireless communication transceiver;

an animal collar provided to a second wireless communication transceiver, said animal collar having an identification code, wherein said animal collar communicates with said computer system using wireless two-way handshaking communication according to said identification code such that said computer system can send commands to said animal collar and receive acknowledgement of receipt of said commands from said animal collar, and said animal collar sends data to said computer system and receives acknowledgement of receipt of said data by said computer system, wherein said computer system sends commands to said animal collar wherein said computer system selects between commands correspond to positive reinforcement stimuli and negative reinforcement stimuli to train the animal according to a training program running in said computer wherein at least a portion of data received from said animal collar is provided to said training program, wherein said computer system receives data from said animal collar related to one or more actions of an animal wearing said animal collar, wherein said computer system keeps records of at least a portion of said actions for later review.

2. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an acoustic input device.

3. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an acoustic output device.

4. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising a vibrator device.

5. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an odor output device.

6. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an infrared receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an infrared transmitter.

8. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising a GPS receiver.

9. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an inertial motion unit, wherein said computer system senses actions of an animal based at least in part on data from said inertial motion unit.

10. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising a 2-axis inertial motion unit.

11. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising a 3-axis inertial motion unit.

12. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an accelerometer, said animal collar conserves power by powering down selected portions of said animal collar when said accelerometer does not sense motion.

13. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an RF location system.

14. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising an RFID tag reader.

15. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a temperature-sensing RFID tag.

16. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled treat dispenser.

17. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled water dispenser.

18. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled food dispenser.

19. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled animal toilet.

20. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled animal house.

21. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a video monitor.

22. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising an animal toy provided with a third wireless communication device.

23. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a light.

24. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising an acoustic input device.

25. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising an acoustic output device.

26. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a touch sensor.

27. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a motion sensor.

28. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a location tracking system.

29. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a movement actuator system.

30. The system of claim 22, said animal toy comprising a motor.

31. The system of claim 1, said animal collar further comprising a treat dispenser.

32. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more repeaters.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more location system units disposed about an area.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use infrared radiation for location and tracking of said animal collar.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use acoustic waves for location and tracking of said animal collar.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use electromagnetic waves for location and tracking of said animal collar.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein one or more of said location system units further comprise motion detectors for a home security system.