Kits and methods for monitoring and tracking animals

• US 8,188,869 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carole A. Wangrud
• Original Assignee: Carole A. Wangrud
• Inventors: Wangrud, Carole A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/871,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731-5734, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

A kit monitoring and tracking the location of at least one animal includes a GPS implant designed to be transplanted subcutaneously into an animal, and capable of communicating spatial information related to the location of the animal. A first receiver allows the user to receive the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant and related to the location of the animal. The first receiver is adapted to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a smartphone.

Claims

1. A kit for monitoring and tracking the location of at least one animal, the kit comprising:

a GPS implant designed to be transplanted subcutaneously into an animal, the GPS implant capable of communicating spatial information related to the location of the at least one animal;

a first receiver for receiving the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant related to the location of the at least one animal, the first receiver adapted to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a smartphone; and

a location monitoring program loadable onto the smartphone and including a set of instructions, that when executed by the smartphone, causes the smartphone to (a) compare the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant against data entered into a memory of the smartphone, the entered data defining an allowable zone, (b) determine when the at least one animal is outside the allowable zone, (c) communicate response signals when the at least one animal is outside the allowable zone; and

to (d) display the location of the GPS implant;

wherein the allowable zone represents selectively either a user-defined perimeter, or a user-defined allowable distance between the smartphone and the GPS implant; and

wherein the location monitoring program further comprises instructions, that when executed by a smartphone having a second GPS receiver for receiving spatial information related to the location of the smartphone, (a) cause the smartphone to display the location of the GPS implant and the location of the smartphone in a split screen mode, the mapped location of the GPS implant alongside a second mapped location of the smartphone, and (b) cause the smartphone to receive the smartphone location information while a user transports the smartphone along a perimeter, and to enter the resulting user-defined perimeter data into the memory of the smartphone.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is adapted to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a headphone or headset jack on a smartphone.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first receiver comprises a wireless radio transmitter configured to utilize BLUETOOTH®

headset technology to transmit the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant to a BLUETOOTH®

enabled smartphone.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the location monitoring program further includes instructions that when executed by the smartphone cause the smartphone to display the location of the GPS implant and the location of the smartphone on a single map.

5. A method for monitoring and tracking the location of an animal, comprising the steps of:

inserting a GPS implant subcutaneously into the animal, the GPS implant communicating information relating to the location of the animal;

providing a memory of a smartphone with a location monitoring program loadable onto the smartphone and including a set of instructions, that when executed by the smartphone, causes the smartphone to (a) compare the spatial information communicated from the GPS implant against data entered into a memory of the smartphone, the entered data defining an allowable zone, (b) determine when the at least one animal is outside the allowable zone, (c) communicate response signals when the at least one animal is outside the allowable zone; and

to (d) display the location of the GPS implant;

wherein the allowable zone represents selectively either a user-defined perimeter, or a user-defined allowable distance between the smartphone and the GPS implant; and

wherein the location monitoring program further comprises instructions, that when executed by a smartphone having a second GPS receiver for receiving spatial information related to the location of the smartphone, (a) cause the smartphone to display the location of the GPS implant and the location of the smartphone in a split screen mode, the mapped location of the GPS implant alongside a second mapped location of the smartphone, and (b) cause the smartphone to receive the smartphone location information while a user transports the smartphone along a perimeter, and to enter the resulting user-defined perimeter data into the memory of the smartphone; and

providing the memory of the smartphone with data defining an allowable zone;

receiving the location information communicated by the GPS implant through a first receiver in communication with the smartphone;

using a processor of the smartphone to compare the received GPS implant location information against the data defining an allowable zone to determine if the animal is within the allowable zone; and

generating and sending response signal(s) when it is determined that the animal is outside the allowable zone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of receiving the location information communicated by the GPS implant includes transmission to a headphone or headset jack on a smartphone.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first receiver comprises a wireless radio transmitter configured to utilize BLUETOOTH®

headset technology, the smartphone is BLUETOOTH®

enabled, and the location information communicated by the GPS implant is transmitted from the first receiver to the smartphone using BLUETOOTH®

headset technology.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the GPS implant is inserted ballistically into the animal.