Asynchronous capture, processing, and adaptability of real-time feeder livestock ration weight information and transfer over wireless connection for mobile device, machine-to-machine supply chain control, and application processing

• US 9,924,700 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Livestock Analytics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Performance Livestock Analytics, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuper, Dane T., Balsley, Dustin C., Blair, Thomas N.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABBOTT-LEWIS, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US15/828,109
• Time in Patent Office: 117 Days
• Field of Search: 119 5102, 119 5101, 119842, 119511, 119515
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/001 Fodder distributors with mixer or shredder adaptations of cutting machine A01F29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0283 by weight
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method and system is provided in a framework and workflow for assisting in livestock feeding operations by tracking and weighing ingredients from an electronic scale associated with feed mixing equipment. The framework and workflow captures, transfers, stores and processes parameters for cattle feeder ration weight data collection. The method and system include initializing a collection of weight data related to components of a feed ration for a mixing of feed for livestock, capturing a scale identifier from a scale interface on mixing equipment, and capturing weight information from the scale interface as the components of a feed ration are loaded into the mixing equipment. Such information is broadcasted over a wireless radio communication connection, such as via a Bluetooth® device, to a mobile application, and displayed during feed mixing operation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

initializing a collection of input data that includes livestock feed data for one or more components of a feed ration and a scale identifier, in a feed mixing operation for livestock feed;

capturing the scale identifier from a scale interface configured with feed mixing equipment for the feed ration;

capturing weight information for each component in the livestock feed data from the scale interface as the one or more components of the feed ration are loaded into the feed mixing equipment;

broadcasting at least the scale identifier and the weight information for each component over an asynchronous wireless radio communication connection to a receiver coupled to the feed mixing equipment as the livestock feed data is being loaded into the feed mixing equipment, to at least one mobile application configured to process the weight information, and to at least one server-side application configured to apply the weight information to supply chain providers for the feed ration, in a computing environment in which a plurality of data processing modules are executed in conjunction with at least one specifically-configured processor, the plurality of data processing modules configured to adapt at least the weight information for display using the mobile application during the feed mixing operation to determine a collected weight of the overall feed ration and each component thereof as the one or more components are being loaded in the feed mixing equipment; and

generating output data that at least represents weight information for each of the one or more components of the feed ration loaded into the feed mixing equipment, and transmitting the weight information for each of the one or more components of the feed ration to the server-side application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the asynchronous wireless radio communication connection includes a Bluetooth®

communications protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a work order and a subscriber identifier associated with one or both of the feed ration and individual components in the one or more components of the feed ration, and creating a feed load target and a feed mixture weight for a selected work order.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising integrating multiple work orders for a preparation of the feed ration, the feed ration having different requirements, for each lot of livestock and in each feedlot location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing each scale identifier for a plurality of scales in an integrated supply chain for delivery of the one or more components of the feed ration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving spatial and temporal weather data relative to a time of mixing the feed ration.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving spatial and temporal feedlot data, the feedlot data comprising information for each pen on a feedlot, and livestock tag data for livestock, and correlating the livestock tag data with the feedlot data to identify location information at a time of feeding to track which feed ration is fed to which pen on the feedlot.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of data processing modules are further configured to model growth rates in livestock designated to consume the feed ration on a specific feedlot using one or more artificial intelligence techniques that correlate feedlot destination information with nutritional content in collected ration weight information for each feed ration to generate predictions based the collected ration weight information and on relationships developed between amounts of the one or more components in the feed ration, the feedlot data, the livestock tag data, and the weather data.

9. A method, comprising:

identifying at least one triggering condition to initialize a collection of input data for a livestock feed mixing operation, the input data including livestock feed data for one or more components of a feed ration, the at least one trigger condition representing one or both of a ready indication from feed ration loading equipment that the one or more components of the feed ration are ready for mixing in feed mixing equipment, and an indication from the feed mixing equipment that the feed ration is ready for a next component;

selecting at least one scale identifier and at least one subscriber identifier from a subscriber database and a scale database based on the at least one triggering condition;

associating the at least one triggering condition with one or more scale identification parameters and a desired ration component weight for each component of the feed ration to be loaded in the feed mixing equipment;

transmitting the at least one subscriber identifier, the least one scale identifier and the desired ration component weight to a mobile application associated with the at least one scale identifier and configured to process weight information for the feed ration over an asynchronous wireless radio communication connection to a receiver coupled to the feed mixing equipment as the one or more components of the feed ration ae being loaded into the feed mixing equipment, within a computing environment in which a plurality of data processing modules are executed in conjunction with at least one specifically-configured processor, the plurality of data processing modules configured to adapt the weight information for the feed ration for display using the mobile application during the feed mixing operation to determine a collected weight of the overall feed ration and each component thereof as the one or more components are being loaded in the feed mixing equipment; and

transmitting the subscriber identifier, the least one scale identifier, the desired ration component weight, the weight information, and the collected weight of the overall feed ration and each component thereof to at least one server-side application configured to apply the weight information, the desired ration component weight, and the collected weight of the overall feed ration and each component thereof to an integrated supply chain of feed ration providers to the livestock feeding operation for preparation of the one or more components of the feed ration for the feed mixing operation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the asynchronous wireless radio communication connection includes a Bluetooth®

communications protocol.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting a work order and associating the work order with the least one subscriber identifier and one or both of the feed ration and individual components in the one or more components of the feed ration, and creating a feed load target and a feed mixture weight for a selected work order.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising integrating multiple work orders for a preparation of the feed ration, the feed ration having different requirements, for each lot of livestock and in each feedlot location.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising selected scale identifiers for a plurality of scales in the integrated supply chain for delivery of the one or more components of the feed ration.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving spatial and temporal weather data relative to a time of mixing the feed ration.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving spatial and temporal feedlot data, the feedlot data comprising information for each pen on a feedlot, and livestock tag data for livestock, and correlating the livestock tag data with the feedlot data to identify location information at a time of feeding to track which feed ration is fed to which pen on the feedlot.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of data processing modules are further configured to model growth rates in livestock designated to consume the feed ration on a specific feedlot using one or more artificial intelligence techniques that correlate feedlot destination information with nutritional content in collected ration weight information for each feed ration to generate predictions based the collected ration weight information and on relationships developed between amounts of the one or more components in the feed ration, the feedlot data, the livestock tag data, and the weather data.

17. A system, comprising:

a data collection and initialization component configured to;

initialize a collection of input data that includes livestock feed data for one or more components of a feed ration and a scale identifier, in a feed mixing operation for livestock feed,

capture the scale identifier from a scale interface configured with feed mixing equipment for the feed ration, and

capture weight information for each component in the livestock feed data from the scale interface as the one or more components of the feed ration are loaded into the feed mixing equipment;

a data transmission component configured to broadcast at least the scale identifier and the weight information for each component over an asynchronous wireless radio communication connection to a receiver coupled to the feed mixing equipment as the livestock feed data is being loaded into the feed mixing equipment, to at least one mobile application configured to process the weight information, and to at least one server-side application configured to apply at least the weight information to an integrated supply chain of feed ration providers to the livestock feeding operation for preparation of the one or more components of the feed ration for the feed mixing operation; and

a plurality of data processing components in a computing environment in which a plurality of data processing modules are executed in conjunction with at least one specifically-configured processor, the plurality of data processing modules configured to adapt at least the weight information for display using the mobile application during the feed mixing operation to determine a collected weight of the overall feed ration and each component thereof as the one or more components are being loaded in the feed mixing equipment and integrate one or more additional inputs that include weather information and location information for a geographical location where the feed ration is to be consumed, and generate output data that at least represents the weight information for each of the one or more components of the feed ration loaded into the feed mixing equipment.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the asynchronous wireless radio communication connection includes a Bluetooth®

communications protocol.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the data collection and initialization component is further configured to select a work order and a subscriber identifier associated with one or both of the feed ration and individual components in the one or more components of the feed ration, create a feed load target and a feed mixture weight for a selected work order, and integrate multiple work orders for a preparation of the feed ration, the feed ration having different requirements, for each lot of livestock and in each feedlot location.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the data collection and initialization component is further configured to capture each scale identifier for a plurality of scales in an integrated supply chain for delivery of the one or more components of the feed ration.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the data collection and initialization component is further configured to collect spatial and temporal weather data relative to a time of mixing the feed ration, and spatial and temporal feedlot data, the feedlot data comprising information for each pen on a feedlot, and livestock tag data for livestock, and correlating the livestock tag data with the feedlot data to identify location information at a time of feeding to track which feed ration is fed to which pen on the feedlot.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of data processing modules are further configured to model growth rates in livestock designated to consume the feed ration on a specific feedlot using one or more artificial intelligence techniques that correlate feedlot destination information with nutritional content in collected ration weight information for each feed ration to generate predictions based the collected ration weight information and on relationships developed between amounts of the one or more components in the feed ration, the feedlot data, the livestock tag data, and the weather data.