Camera system for canines, felines, or other animals

• US 7,424,867 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• 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:
  US10/994,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 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: 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 system comprising to a second wireless communication transceiver and a first image sensor, wherein said animal system provides images from said first image sensor to said computer system, wherein said animal system communicates with said computer system using wireless two-way handshaking communication according to an identification code such that said computer system can send commands to said animal system and receive acknowledgement of receipt of said commands from said animal system, and said animal system can send data to said computer system and receive acknowledgement of receipt of said data by said computer system, wherein said computer system sends training commands using said animal system, wherein said computer system receives sensor data from said animal system related to one or more training command responses of an animal wearing said animal system, wherein said computer system trains the animal for a plurality of selected behaviors according to a training program, wherein said computer system sends commands to provide positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement to the animal based at least in part on said training command responses, behaviors of the animal, and learned behaviors based on the animal'"'"'s response to the training program, and wherein said computer system keeps records of at least a portion of said training command responses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. The system of claim 1, said animal system further comprising an inertial motion unit.

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

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

12. The system of claim 1, said animal system further comprising an accelerometer.

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

14. The system of claim 1, said animal system 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, wherein said computer system communicates a training command to the animal using the animal system and wherein the computer system sends a command to said computer-controlled treat dispenser when the animal obeys the training command.

17. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled water dispenser, wherein said computer system uses the computer-controlled water dispenser to monitor water intake of the animal.

18. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled food dispenser, wherein said computer system uses the computer-controlled food dispenser to monitor food intake of the animal.

19. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a computer-controlled animal toilet, wherein said computer system uses the computer-controlled water dispenser to monitor the animal.

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 system 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 system.

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 system.

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 system.

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

38. The system of claim 1, wherein said animal system is provided to a dog collar.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein said animal system is provided to a dog harness.

40. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second image sensor provided to said processor.