Apparatus and method for animal behavior tracking, predicting and signaling

• US 6,311,644 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl S. Pugh
• Original Assignee: Carl S. Pugh
• Inventors: Pugh, Carl S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US09/497,025
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 119/712, 119/702, 119/174, 119/907
• US Class Current: 119/712
• 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

Abstract

A behavior tracking apparatus for use in training a dog, the apparatus comprising a memory; a user input, means for associating a time with training event information input by a user into the user input and for recording the associated time in the memory, and an output. The user input is for inputting predetermined training event information into the memory. The predetermined training event information includes an eating event of when the dog eats, a bowel movement event, and a bladder relief event. The output is for displaying the training event information and associated time recorded in the memory.

Claims

1. A canine behavior tracking computer apparatus for use in training a dog, the apparatus comprising:

a memory programmed to store information relating to a predetermined training event in a predetermined relational format;

a user input operatively associated with said memory for inputting said predetermined training event information into the memory, the predetermined training event information including at least, a bowel movement event, and a bladder relief event;

a processor operatively associated with said memory and said user input and programmed to establish trends relating to the occurrence of said predetermined training events based on said stored information;

a digital clock operatively associated with said processor to allow said processor to chronologically organize said information stored in said memory; and

an output for communicating the stored training event information and trends to said user.

2. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising a housing sized and shaped to be hand-held and portable.

3. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein the user input comprises dedicated buttons for inputting specific predetermined ones of the events.

4. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 3, wherein one of the dedicated buttons inputs occurrence of an eating event.

5. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 3, wherein one of the dedicated buttons inputs occurrence of the bowel movement event and one of the dedicated buttons inputs occurrence of said bladder relief event.

6. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said processor further comprises a program for predicting when a predetermined training event should occur based, at least partially, upon said stored information.

7. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 6, further comprising a signaler for signaling when the predicted animal training event is about to occur.

8. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising a controller connected to the memory and the output, wherein the controller is programmable by a user to vary display of the training event information and its associated time on the output.

9. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein the digital clock also comprises means for associating a date with the training event information input by the user.

10. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein the user input comprises means for inputting additional information other than predetermined training event information into the memory.

11. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, wherein said processor automatically enters a time and date entry for said predetermined training event.

12. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising:

a second processor remote from said first processor constructed to communicate with said first processor to obtain access to said stored information by another user.

13. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising buttons, operable by the user, said buttons dedicated to accessing predetermined specific items of data.

14. A behavior tracking apparatus, as in claim 1, further comprising an alarm triggered by said processor after the expiration of a predetermined time period after the occurrence of a particular training event.

15. A method of housebreaking a dog, wherein a user utilizes a computer having a memory, a processor, a user input, a digital clock and an output device, comprising steps of:

inputting occurrence information of a predetermined dog behavior event into said memory;

storing said information relating to a predetermined training event in a predetermined relational format in said memory;

organizing said information relative to time as part of said format;

processing said information to determine when a predicted dog behavior event may occur based, at least partially, upon the input occurrence information; and

signaling the user when the determined predicted dog behavior event is expected to occur.

16. A method of housebreaking a dog, wherein a user utilizes a computer having a memory, a processor, a user input, a digital clock and an output device, further comprising steps of:

storing data with respect to normal behavioral events relating to canines in general; and

comparing data with respect to a specific dog with the data stored relating to canines in general and determining whether or not a specific behavior is normal.