Long-range cattle identification system

• US 7,830,257 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Inventors: Hassell, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, JACK K
• Application Number:
  US11/410,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

A long-range cattle identification system used to monitor a plurality of animals. The system uses a plurality of electronic information tags that are attachable to animals. The electronic information tags transmit and receive electronic information with at least one other electronic information tag. The electronic information tags are spatially disposed so that one electronic information tag can transmit and receive at least one other electronic information tag'"'"'s individual electronic information to form a mesh network. The system includes a communication device that can communicate with at least one electronic information tag and receive information from that tag. The communication device can also receive the information contained in all the other electronic information tags in the mesh network through the at least one electronic information tag.

Claims

1. A method for making a tag system for attachment to a plurality of animals, comprising the steps of:

making a plurality of electronic information tags, with each tag attachable to a different animal and each tag made by the process of;

installing a circuit board in a housing configured to be attached to an animal;

mounting a wireless sensor networking chip to the circuit board, the wireless sensor networking chip being configured to work in a mesh network using tag-to-tag relaying of electronic information between tags attached to different animals; and

installing an electronic memory to communicate with the wireless sensor networking chip to store algorithms for supporting software and to store the electronic information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein communication devices are mounted to fixed locations, within a preselected area, so as to accumulate electronic information from the electronic information tags.

3. A method for making a tag system for attachment to a plurality of animals, comprising the steps of:

making a plurality of electronic information tags, with each tag attachable to a different animal and each tag made by the process of;

installing a circuit board in a housing configured to be attached to an animal;

mounting a wireless sensor networking chip to the circuit board, the wireless sensor networking chip being configured to work in a mesh network using tag-to-tag relaying of electronic information between tags attached to different animals;

installing a power source in the housing to supply the wireless sensor networking chip with power; and

installing an electronic memory to communicate with the wireless sensor networking chip to store algorithms for supporting software and to store the electronic information.

4. A method for recording data onto a tag system for a long-range animal identification system, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching tags to a plurality of animals such that each animal has a tag attached thereto, wherein the tags comprise a housing encapsulating a circuit board, a wireless sensor networking chip configured to work in a mesh network using tag-to-tag relaying of electronic information, a power source, and an electronic memory used to store the electronic information, the mesh network encompassing multiple animals; and

using a communication device to record the electronic information onto the tag.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic information comprises premise identification data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic information comprises ownership data.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic information comprises identification data to identify a particular animal upon which the tag is connected.