Traveling invisible electronic containment perimeter—method and apparatus

• US 8,115,642 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Folsland, Scott R. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Richard Folsland, Scott R. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Scott R, Folsland, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/247,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.3, 340/539.13, 340/988, 119/721
• US Class Current: 340/573.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices

Abstract

This invention teaches a method and apparatus that combines GPS, map overlays, a means to draw containment perimeters directly over map overlays, and a means to transmit signals to any plurality of electronic stimulus control collars to contain humans or animals within each containment perimeter. A primary aspiration of this invention is to provide hunters with a means to effortlessly operate functions of an animal stimulus collar while hunting. Novel features include a means to specify a containment perimeter that travels with the hunter by drawing the same on a on a touch sensitive graphic user interface that displays a map of the local area. This invention is easy to use and readily accepts new perimeters, perimeter alterations, or a multiple of perimeters at will.

Claims

1. A stimulus collar tracking and control apparatus that compares the position of a plurality of stimulus collars to a plurality of containment zones and provides commands to activate functions of said plurality of stimulus collars based on said plurality of stimulus collar positions relative to said plurality of containment zones and comprises in combination:

(a) a hand portable command module comprising a graphic user interface, a touch screen interface, an electronic means to determine current geolocation of said stimulus collars and said hand portable command module with or without GPS, hardware and software that retrieves and updates background maps relative to current geolocation of said stimulus collars and said hand portable command module, and a function interpreter that selects stimulus commands to send to individual collar units,

(b) an electronic means to enter boundaries representative of said containment zones by drawing said containment zones over said background maps into said graphic user interface using said touch screen interface,

(c) an electronic means to determine the location of said primary control unit,

(d) an electronic means to determine the location of said plurality of stimulus collars,

(e) an electronic means to execute comparison of said plurality of stimulus collar positions to said containment zone perimeters,

(f) an electronic means to use said plurality of stimulus collar positions as a basis to cause activation of functions of said plurality of stimulus collars,

(g) a wireless means to transmit said stimulus commands to said individual collar units,

(h) a plurality of stimulus collar units that receives said stimulus commands,

(i) a combined software and hardware means to initialize said hand portable command module comprising minimally of the steps of identifying, electronically pairing, geolocating, and counting said stimulus collars, obtaining said geolocation, displaying said map representative of said geolocation, and displaying properly positioned iconic images of said stimulus collars over said map representative of said geolocation of each said stimulus collar,

(j) a combined software and hardware means to accept user input from said touchscreen to define a plurality of fixed containment zones,

(k) a combined software and hardware means to accept user input from said touchscreen to define a plurality of traveling containment zones,

(l) a combined software and hardware means to display said containment zones and plurality zones properly positioned over said background map representative of geolocation of said pluralities of fixed and traveling containment zones,

(m) a combined software and hardware means to implement a loop that periodically updates said graphic user interface display of said background map, said pluralities of fixed and traveling containment zones, and said iconic images of said plurality of stimulus collars,

(n) a combined software and hardware means in said function interpreter to implement a comparison loop that periodically updates geolocation of said hand control module and said plurality of stimulus collars, and compares geolocation of said plurality of stimulus collars relative to said pluralities of fixed and traveling containment zones,

(o) a combined software and hardware means to implement a selection function within said comparison loop that selects a warning command for each said stimulus collar that is geolocated in an encroachment zone, a correction command for each stimulus collar that is geolocated outside of every said plurality of fixed containment zones and traveling containment zones,

(n) a combined software and hardware means to implement a wireless transmitting instruction within said selection function loop to convey said warning command selected therein to each said stimulus collar,

(p) each said stimulus collar receives said transmitting instruction and implements each said warning command without having to receive GPS data.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 that further comprises an alternative electronic pointing means to draw said boundaries representative of said containment zones when a touch screen is not present or is not functioning.

3. An apparatus of claim 1 that further comprises a function command interpreter to convert output from the said apparatus of claim 1 into signals that are usable by a plurality of existing stimulus collars.

4. A method to track and contain humans or animals with stimulus collars that comprises in combination:

(a) obtaining accurate geolocation of a handheld portable command module with our without integrated GPS having a touch-screen interface and having a capability to display maps relative to said current geolocation,

(b) causing said handheld portable command module to draw said map representative of said geolocation,

(c) using said touchscreen to enter a plurality of containment zones by drawing perimeters thereof over said background map,

(d) obtaining the location of a plurality of stimulus collars that receive stimulus commands without needing to receive GPS data,

(e) displaying properly positioned icons representative of each stimulus collar, main control, and containment zone,

(f) comparing the position of each stimulus collar to the outer perimeter of each said containment zone and using said comparison to select a specific function activation for each said stimulus collar,

(g) using a wireless means to transmit said selected specific function activation commands to each said stimulus collar,

(i) initializing said hand portable command module by minimally executing the steps of identifying, electronically pairing, geolocating, and counting said stimulus collars, obtaining said geolocation, displaying said map representative of said geolocation, and displaying properly positioned iconic images of said stimulus collars over said map representative of said geolocation of each said stimulus collar,

(j) accepting user input from said touchscreen to define said plurality of fixed containment zones,

(k) accepting user input from said touchscreen to define a plurality of traveling containment zones,

(l) displaying said containment zones and plurality zones over said background map representative of geolocation of said pluralities of fixed and traveling containment zones,

(m) periodically updating said graphic user interface display of said background map, said pluralities of fixed and traveling containment zones, and said iconic images of said plurality of stimulus collars,

(n) continuously updating the geolocation of said hand control module and said plurality of stimulus collars, and comparing the geolocation of said plurality of stimulus collars relative to said pluralities of fixed and traveling containment zones,

(o) selecting a warning command for each said stimulus collar that is geolocated in an encroachment zone, a correction command for each stimulus collar that is geolocated outside of every said plurality of fixed containment zones and traveling containment zones.

5. A method of claim 4 that further comprises associating a plurality of stimulus collar activation functions with said plurality of containment zones.

6. A method of claim 4 that further comprises using a pointing device to enter said boundaries representative of said containment zones.

7. A method of claim 4 that further comprises moving a plurality of said containment zones relative to the operator of said main controller.

8. A method of claim 4 that further comprises moving a plurality of said containment zones relative to a plurality of components of said main controller.