Livestock tracking and management system

• US 20070239723A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Champion Innovations, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Champion Innovations, Ltd.
• Inventors: Roybal, Kirk, Bamburg, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

With the onset of BSE or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Great Britain, and subsequent infections here in the U.S., there has been an increased push to monitor and track movements of animals on ranches and farms. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the process of implementing a National Animal Identification System or NAIS to track animal movements. Conventional systems that comply with the NAIS, though, have been very expensive and cumbersome for the average farmer who cannot afford the expense involved. However, now there is a system, which complies with the NAIS, that is easy to operate for the average farmer or rancher and is inexpensive. Thus, the present system allows the average farmer or rancher to remain in business and comply with national requirements.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic data processing system for maintaining licensure of livestock tracking software, comprising the steps of:

initiating the livestock management software on a local computer;

requesting the user of the local computer to synchronize with a remote computer over a computer network if the livestock management software has expired; and

calculating a new key from at least indicia of livestock stored by the livestock management software and an identification number of the local computer, if synchronization is requested.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

comparing the date on the local computer to at least one predetermined lock condition; and

denying access to the livestock management software if the livestock management software has expired.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one predetermined lock condition is an expiration date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

requesting the user to enter initial livestock data;

storing the initial livestock data;

generating an expiration date; and

calculating an initial key from at least indicia of initial livestock and the identification number of the local computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a media access control (MAC) address for the local computer; and

calculating an initial key at least from the MAC address.

6. A method in an electronic data processing system for maintaining licensure of software, comprising the steps of:

initiating the software on a local computer;

requesting the user of the local computer to synchronize with a host server over a computer network if the software has expired; and

calculating a new key from at least indicia of data stored by the software and an identification number of the local computer, if synchronization is requested.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

comparing the date on the local computer to at least one predetermined lock condition; and

denying access to the software if the software has expired.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one predetermined lock condition further comprises an expiration date.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

requesting the user to enter initial data;

storing the initial data;

generating an expiration date; and

calculating an initial key at least from indicia of the initial data and the identification number of the local computer.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a media access control (MAC) address for the local computer; and

calculating an initial key at least from the MAC address.

11. A system for tracking and managing livestock, comprising:

a local computer including;

a local database that at least contains livestock data;

a local interface adapted to communicate with at least one computer network; and

a local controller which provides control instructions to the local database and the local interface, wherein the local controller includes a lock detector which prevents user access to the local database if a predetermined lock condition is met; and

a remote computer connected to the computer network including;

a remote database that at least contains the livestock data;

a key generator which generates a key at least from indicia of livestock data, wherein the key provides at least one of an indication of the predetermined lock condition, a set of the predetermined lock condition, or a reset of the predetermined lock condition; and

a remote controller which provides control instructions to the remote database, the key generator, and the local controller.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote controller provides at least one control instruction to the local controller through an intervention by at least one human operator.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote controller provides at least one control instruction to the local controller over the computer network.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the local database at least contains livestock data and user data.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises a second local database that at least contains user data.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the lock condition is a use period.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the livestock are cattle.