Assisted animal activities

• US 9,485,963 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forget You Not, Llc
• Original Assignee: Forget You Not, Llc
• Inventors: Shani, Nissim, Shani, Roni, Shani, Daniel, Shani, Keren
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Hee-Yong
• Application Number:
  US14/057,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

Among other things, artifacts are presented to an animal through a device. The artifacts represent a thing to be learned by the animal and from which the animal can interpret the thing that is to be learned. Artifacts are received from the animal through a device. The received artifacts represent whether the animal has learned the thing. The artifacts are interpreted to infer an extent to which the animal has learned the thing. The animal is rewarded through a device based on the extent to which animal has learned the thing.

Claims

1. A method comprising

presenting to an animal, through a first device, a first set of one or more artifacts that represent an activity to be performed by the animal and from which the animal can interpret the activity that is to be performed, in which the activity comprises creating an item of visual art;

enabling the animal to interact with a second device to indicate elements of the visual art being created;

receiving, through the second device, a second set of one or more artifacts that represent the performing of the activity by the animal;

interpreting, by a computing device, the second set of one or more artifacts to infer a characteristic of the performance of the activity by the animal; and

taking an action, by the computing device, based on the artifacts received.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the first device is different from the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which receiving a second set of one or more artifacts that represent the performing of the activity by the animal comprises detecting contact between the animal and the second device.

4. The method of claim 3, in which interpreting the second set of one or more artifacts comprises determining where color is to be placed on the item of visual art.

5. The method of claim 1, in which taking an action based on the artifacts received comprises transmitting a representation of the item of visual art to a recipient.

6. A method comprising

presenting to an animal, through a first device, a first set of one or more artifacts that represent an activity to be performed by the animal and from which the animal can interpret the activity that is to be performed, in which the activity comprises performing music;

receiving, through a second device, a second set of one or more artifacts that represent the performing of the activity by the animal;

interpreting, by a computing device, the second set of one or more artifacts to infer a characteristic of the performance of the activity by the animal; and

taking an action, by the computing device, based on the artifacts received.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the activity comprises performing music in cooperation with other animals from whom artifacts are received through one or more other devices.

8. The method of claim 6, in which the first device is different from the second device.

9. The method of claim 6, in which interpreting the second set of artifacts that represent the performing of the activity by the animal comprises determining a musical interpretation of the second set of artifacts.

10. The method of claim 9, in which determining a musical interpretation of the second set of artifacts comprises interpreting each artifact of the second set of artifacts as representing a pitch, a volume, or a tonality of the music.

11. The method of claim 6, in which taking an action based on the artifacts received comprises playing the musical interpretation of the second set of artifacts.