Intelligent assisted control of living bodies

• US 7,463,929 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John C. Simmons
• Original Assignee: John C. Simmons
• Inventors: Simmons, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US10/718,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/58, 601/46, 340/573.1, 54/71
• US Class Current: 607/58
• 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: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0018 for nearby electrical discharge, i.e. the electrodes being positioned on the device and the device brought manually or otherwise into contact with a nearby target batons with electric discharge capability F41B15/04; electric shock devices for animals A01K15/02

Abstract

An apparatus and process for providing assisted control, direction, and other information to a living being through a stimulation-based interface.

Claims

1. A device for the direction of a living body comprising:

a plurality of stimulators whose positions indicate a selected one of the group comprising;

A. a spatial direction, B. a pattern relatable to a behavior and C. any combinations of A and B; and

a behavior controller operatively connected to stimulators for directing stimulations; and

a data communication device for communications between the behavior controller and external sources of a selected one of the group comprising;

A. data, B. human-directed control, C. computer-directed control, and D. combinations of A, B, and C; and

a power source for the provision of power to components requiring power;

whereby a potentially distant entity can direct the wearer of the device to perform potentially complex actions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the communication device is effected by a selected one of the group comprising A. radio, B. wire, C. video transmission, D. infra-red transmission, F. any practical wireless means of data communication, and F. any combination of A, B, C, D, and F.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the stimulators are located in the mouth.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a self-attaching housing for enabling the components to be placed in and removed from the mouth.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the location of a stimulation from a stimulator indicates a direction.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the location of a stimulation from stimulation means indicates the amount of change desired.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the location of a stimulation from stimulation means indicates both a direction and the amount of change desired.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a series of points indicated by stimulation means create the perception of a line, or arrow, or shape, or any combination thereof to indicate a direction.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a series of points indicated by stimulators creates the perception of a selected one of the group comprising A. line, B. arrow, C. shape, and D any combination of A, B, and C to indicate a distance to be achieved.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a series of points indicated by stimulation means create the perception of a line, or arrow, or shape, or any combination thereof to indicate both the direction and the amount of distance to be communicated.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a series of points indicated by stimulation means create the perception of a line, or arrow, or shape, or any combination thereof with said points occurring over time to create a perceived motion;

whereby the direction can be emphasized by the moving pattern moving in that direction, or the distance to be communicated can be communicated by the length of the pattern, or the speed desired to be communicated can be communicated by the timing delays between the sequential stimulations, or any combination thereof.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of stimulators are arrayed in a roughly circular or semi-circular area so that they may be related by the mind to direction;

whereby a stimulation at a point in the roughly circular or semi-circular array corresponding to a direction in the current environment may be perceived as an indication of angle or degrees of change.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor operatively connected to the behavior controller for sensing a selected one of the group comprising A. direction, B. attitudes, C. speed, and D. any combination of A, B, and (2;

of the body;

whereby the behavior controller can monitor and automatically respond to user performance.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor operatively connected to the behavior controller for sensing a selected one of the group comprising A. sounds, B. vibrations, and C. any combination of A and B;

whereby the behavior controller may monitor to sense potential problems or undesirable behavior and stimulate a corrective behavior to correct it.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

all or part of the assembly is in or adequately proximate to the mouth;

whereby TMJ, or tooth grinding, or cheek biting, or snoring or other detrimental oral activities, or any combination thereof, are prevented or minimized by corrective actions directed by the behavior controller.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery for provision of power.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein:

power, or additional power, or backup power, or any combination thereof for the behavior controller, or any elements of the assembly requiring power, or any combination thereof, are provided by a wire, or any wireless power transmission means, or any combination thereof.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein:

behavior controller means includes a fully functional computer processor.

19. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

GPS (Global Positioning System) means operatively connected to behavior controller means;

whereby behavior controller means can manage the behavior of the body being directed with respect to a map, or a path, or a direction, or an area on the map, or any combination thereof by comparing the actual GPS position with a desired position and directing the body accordingly.

20. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a remote controller located external to the behavior controller for allowing a selected one of the group comprising A. a person, B. a machine, and C. any combination of A and B, to monitor the status of the body and direct its actions by sending instructions to the behavior controller; and

a data transmitter operatively connected to the behavior controller and remote controller for allowing communications between them;

whereby the remote controller can manage the behavior of the body being directed.

21. The device of claim 20 further comprising:

GPS operatively connected through the data transmitter to the remote controller;

whereby the remote controller can manage the path of the body being directed.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprising:

a video camera operatively connected to the remote controller through the data transmitter.

23. The device of claim 20 further comprising:

a pointing means operatively connected to remote control means for selecting a desired direction or point;

whereby any graphical, or GPS map-based, or video-based image, or any combination thereof available to the remote control means can help a remote operator quickly identify a desired point or direction by pointing it out on the image with a mouse, or joystick, or any other point or area identifying device.

24. The device of claim 20 further comprising:

a steering means;

whereby a remote operator may steer the remote body with a steering wheel, joystick, keyboard, or any other device capable of left-right steering control and the remote control means can translate those actions to desired directions of change which will result in stimulations directing those changes.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein:

the remote operator'"'"'s directing device additionally provides a third dimension of control;

whereby the directing device, which may be a joystick or any directing mechanism capable of three-dimensional control, can also direct a third dimension of direction.

26. The device of claim 20 further comprising:

speed control means;

whereby the remote operator, using any kind of accelerator, brake, joystick, or any other combination of user-interface control devices, can indicate an increase or decrease in the desired speed which is ultimately converted into stimulations delivered to the body.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the stimulators have or include a positive reinforcement component;

whereby a selected one of the group comprising A. pleasant vibrations, B. cooling points, C. stimulations that will be perceived as positive to the body, and D. any combination of A, B, and C, are delivered to encourage a positive behavior.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein:

positive stimulations are made to erogenous zones.

29. The device of claim 1, further wherein the stimulators provide positive reinforcement for obedience, or negative reinforcement for disobedience or both.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein:

other external rewards, or punishments, or teaching aids, or any combination thereof are incorporated by the automated procedure to enhance the speed and depth of the learning experience;

whereby visual aids, video images to prompt a behavior, or auditory prompts, or dispensed reward treats, or other useful teaching aids that can be directed by a computer, or any combination thereof, allow more rapid and pleasant automated training.