Abstract:
This invention teaches a method and apparatus that combines GPS, map overlays, a means to draw containment perimeters directly over map overlays, and a means to transmit signals to any plurality of electronic stimulus control collars to contain humans or animals within each containment perimeter. A primary aspiration of this invention is to provide hunters with a means to effortlessly operate functions of an animal stimulus collar while hunting. Novel features include a means to specify a containment perimeter that travels with the hunter by drawing the same on a on a touch sensitive graphic user interface that displays a map of the local area. This invention is easy to use and readily accepts new perimeters, perimeter alterations, or a multiple of perimeters at will.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to provisional application No. 60-981,100 Filed Oct. 18, 2007 and titled “Portable Invisible Perimeter Fence for Animal Control—Method and Apparatus”. This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/239,740, filed Sep. 27, 2008 and titled “Voice Controlled Stimulus Collar—Method and Apparatus”, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to provisional application No. 60-975,516 Filed Sep. 27, 2007 and titled “Voice Controlled Dog Hunting and Training—Method and Apparatus”; all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    None 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to hands-free control of human and animal borne stimulus collars used for control, containment, and training thereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Use of stimulus collars to train and control animal behavior dates back nearly three-quarters of a century to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 2,023,950 in 1935 by Carter. Twenty-one years later Putnam unveiled a sound activated stimulus collar to control dog barking in U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,224. Pettingill introduced a similar device 5 years later in 1961 under U.S. Pat. No. 2,996,043. One of the first radio controlled stimulus collars was introduced by Cameron in 1957 under U.S. Pat. No. 2,800,104. U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,337 subsequently taught an improved radio controlled dog collar in 1971 that provides increased shock intensity for insensitive animals or when the collar battery attenuates. 
         [0005]    Since that time, improvements to accurate control, effective range, battery life, and simultaneous operation of multiple stimulus collars have advanced the technology. For example Tobias teaches a means to deliver voice commands directly to an animal collar in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,696. Kim extends battery longevity by teaching a transmitter that automates signal duration in U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,563. McFarland teaches forward error correction to increase the effective range of accurate collar control in US Patent application 20070181078. Recent disclosures like US Patent application 20070056526 teach methods to find collar control transmitters that are lost in the field. Other illustrative embodiments of animal training and hunting collars are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,046,152, 5,934,225, 7,068,174, and 6,874,447 and in US Patent Application Publication 20070181078. 
         [0006]    Considerable attention is given to automated control of animal stimulus collars in prior art. Early variations of automated control employed sound activation as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,224. The teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,421,979, 6,575,120, and US Patent Applications 20060226994 and 20040239507 employ buried wires that serve as containment barriers of an invisible fence to control animal stimuli. RF and acoustic Range Collars like those taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,769,032, 6,191,693, 6,542,080, 6,825,768, 6,961,001, 6,874,447, 6,879,300, 7,046,152 and 7,173,535 and US Patent applications 20010040508 and 20070096929 advanced the technology by eliminating the need to bury conductive loop wires around the containment perimeter. 
         [0007]    Recent prior art is directed toward autonomous animal containment and control that relies in part on GPS. A sample embodiment of GPS controlled animal stimuli was introduced in 1999 by Marsh under U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,100 and WO9801023 to control grazing animals. Marsh and other teachings including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,271,757, 604,374, 6,232,880, 6,232,916, 6,342,847, 6,923,146, 6,700,492, 5,949,350, and 7,034,695. US Patent Application 20060197672, and international patents WO 2005034617 A1, WO 2004114238 A2, EP 1632787 A1, CA 02214238, and WO 9801023 A3 use transmitters and other key-in style devices to establish GPS coordinates that make up vertices of a containment boundary that is stored on a computer or other electronic device. Variations of these prior art teach means to stimulate animals with vibratory, electrostatic, acoustic commands, right-left coordinated sound, and praising responses to control animal behavior. Schmitt teaches a GPS fence and an ultrasonic link to contain groups of animals in U.S. Pat. No. 6,956,483. US Patent Application 20080036610 by Hokuf teaches an animal tracking unit that sends GPS tracking info back to an external device such as a portable navigation unit that displays animal location. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In spite of the foregoing, prior art and the literature fail to teach a user friendly means to define containment zones by effectively drawing perimeter boundaries over a graphic representation of the surrounding area. The present invention addresses this deficiency by teaching a means to use a pointing device to specify containment zones for stimulus collars by effectively drawing them onto a graphical user interface. This invention is easier to use than prior art and readily accepts new perimeters, perimeter alterations, or a multiple of perimeters at will. This invention is able to simultaneously operate a plurality of sub and primary containment perimeters as well as a plurality of stimulus collars. 
         [0009]    The resulting invisible fence improves prior art by allowing an operator to specify or alter containment zones on-site without having to traverse portions or vertices of the desired perimeter boundaries. This invention also eliminates the need to specify, store, or download containment zones in advance of use. A novel feature of the present invention is that any plurality of the established perimeters can be selected to follow a moving base unit. 
         [0010]    The invention may be used to contain humans or animals to specific mobile or stationary zones and is well suited for controlling pets in public areas. The device is also useful for traveling pet owners that visit parks or rest stops where pets are restricted to specific areas. Moreover, the perimeter fence can be used to contain an animal to a specific pattern near the owner so that the animal does not run away. This is useful for older or disabled pet owners that can&#39;t chase a running pet. This invention is also well suited for home and industrial animal containment. 
         [0011]    A principal motivation for this invention is to enable distraction-free control of a plurality of dogs during a hunt as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . By simply drawing in a containment perimeter on the device before a hunt, a hunter can focus entirely on a hunt rather than on control of a hunting dog. The present invention thereby eliminates the need to constantly monitor and control dogs during a hunt. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Further features, advantages, and benefits of this invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments thereof, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digits in the corresponding reference number. A number of applications exist for the present invention and the drawings disclosed herein are illustrative of preferred and sample embodiments of the disclosed invention and are not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the present invention that uses integrated Bluetooth from a cell phone or PDA to communicate functions to a wireless stimulus collar control transmitter, which relays the same to a dog. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a preferred method and apparatus of the present invention to define a containment perimeter and use the same to control stimulus functions on a dog collar. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a notebook PC embodiment of this invention that is used to define separate invisible fences to control individual dogs in a public area. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plurality of moving and stationary containment zones used as thresholds to autonomously trigger warning and corrective functions of an animal stimulus collar. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a plurality of safe, encroachment, and restrictive containment zones used as thresholds to autonomously trigger various warning and corrective functions of an animal stimulus collar. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram a preferred apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the preferred initialization method of this invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart of the preferred method to implement this invention in an infinite loop. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a belt-worn embodiment of the present invention used to exercise with a dog. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates a belt-worn embodiment of the present invention in use during a bird hunt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    This invention teaches a methods and apparatuses that combine ways to track and contain humans or animals with conventional and evolving stimulus collars that are affixed to a human or animal and used for training, control, and communication thereof. Among the many benefits of this invention is that it provides an improvement to conventional hand-held operation of dog collars. 
         [0024]    The term “collar” is used herein to describe a human or animal borne device that provides stimulus that is readily detected by the wearer. Examples thereof include electrostatic shock, acoustic stimulus, mist or vapor stimulus, buzzers, voice relay, vibration, light, and other means of stimulus that are used to communicate or to control behavior. The term collar herein also refers to any device that is affixed to the wearer and preferably to the body or neck region thereof. 
         [0025]    The term “main control unit” is used herein to describe a processor or device that provides the primary computation and control functions of this invention. The device is preferably a belt-clipped or other human borne apparatus. Examples thereof include portable data assistants (PDA), cell phones, dedicated portable electronic devices, embedded controllers, FPGA or ASIC chips, and other devices with sufficient processing capability to perform the operations and functions of this invention. Other examples include computers and preferably portable notebook PCs. 
         [0026]    The term “pointing device” is used herein to describe components that are commonly used to enter information into a computer including those commonly known to one skilled in the art such as a touch-screen, computer mouse, digital pen, digital table, or other pointing device. 
         [0027]    Embodiments of this invention combine GPS  201  or other tracking methods with a main control unit  101 ,  202 ,  305 ,  609  to autonomously transmit signals  203  that control functions on a plurality of animal stimulus collars  204 . Preferred embodiments accept animal containment perimeter  205  input from a touch sensitive screen wherein said perimeter  205  is established by drawing the same  106  over a background map of the area  207 . Some main control units may include switches  105  to manually operate functions of the stimulus collar. 
         [0028]    A principal novelty of the present invention is the use of containment perimeters that are drawn  106  over a graphic representation of the surrounding area  207 , regardless of the method used to draw each perimeter. Select embodiments capture pointer movements and compare the resulting drawn perimeter  106  pixel by pixel to the corresponding location of map contours on the display  207  to calculate the desired zone boundaries  205 ,  208 ,  301 ,  302 . It is also possible to use methods including curve fitting, vectors, and other means to convert perimeters that are operator drawn  106  into comparison zones  205 ,  208 ,  301 ,  302  to improve performance of this invention. 
         [0029]    At the time of filing, background maps provided by Google Earth, Google Maps, MapQuest, and Yahoo Maps were suitable for use as background maps in the present invention. Other similar background maps or electronic generated images of the area  304  are suitable. Users are able to draw and use nested smaller perimeters  208  that are a subset of larger perimeters  205  in preferred embodiments. Optimal embodiments of this invention superimpose iconic symbols  210  or real images over the background map  207  to depict the location of each animal or stimulus collar as well as the location of the main control unit  101 ,  202 ,  305 ,  609 . Symbols representative of a human  211  are preferably used when this invention is used to assist a hunt. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , this invention provides a plurality of containment regions  301 ,  302  and is able to jointly or separately contain a plurality of animals  303  within any combination of invisible fences desired by the user. Notice that the embodiment in  FIG. 3  illustrates a background map  304  depicted on a standard computer interface  305 , which functions as a main control unit. Background map information is preferably stored on the main control unit and is alternatively field downloadable as needed. 
         [0031]    Containment perimeters  205 ,  208 ,  301 ,  302  in PDA  202 , laptop  305 , smart or GPS based cell phone  609 , computer, and other embodiments of the present invention are selectable by clicking boundary vertices or drawing desired perimeters  106  with a pointing device  606 , loading predefined perimeter files, keying or typing in desired perimeter files, or any other means of data entry that interfaces to the main control unit. 
         [0032]    It is advantageous to use features of existing devices to minimize the burden of constructing this invention. Accordingly, Bluetooth links  102  are a preferable means in some embodiments to deliver stimulus commands to relay transmitters, which then forward the instructions to a plurality of stimulus collars. 
         [0033]    Like prior art, this invention includes a plurality of containment zones that trigger various functions of the stimulus collar. For example a plurality of safe zones  401 ,  402 ,  501  trigger praise stimulus or will not trigger alarm functions on the collar  407 . By contrast, a plurality of encroachment zones  403 ,  404 ,  502  trigger warning functions on the collar  407 , while a plurality of restricted zones  405 ,  406 ,  503  trigger corrective functions on the collar  407 . Other zones may be defined and used with this invention to control functions on the stimulus collar. As previously noted, this invention provides simultaneous operation of a plurality of separate mobile  402 ,  404 ,  406  and stationary  401 ,  403 ,  405 ,  501 ,  502 ,  503  containment zones. 
       Embodiments of Preferred Apparatus 
       [0034]    Various components of the preferred apparatus include a stimulus collar  601 , communication link  602 , function command interpreter  603 , main control unit  604 , graphic user interface  605 , human interface for data entry  606 , a plurality of locators on each wearer placed preferably on the collar  607  and at least one locator coupled to the main control unit  608 . The main control unit  604  comprises preferably a computer, PDA, smart phone, embedded controller, or dedicated control electronics. While select embodiments use a keyboard, computer mouse, digital pen, digital table, or other pointing device as the human interface  606 ; a touch-screen is preferred. 
         [0035]    Preferred communication link  603  embodiments use bidirectional wireless means to communicate location, stimulus collar command, and other data between the remote unit and individual stimulus collars. Bi-directional communication of function commands is generally not required unless error correction is used to improve stimulus collar performance. Preferred computer  305 , cell phone  102 ,  609 , and PDA embodiments use Bluetooth, packet based, or other protocols to improve performance. Spread spectrum techniques may also improve wireless performance. 
         [0036]    Select embodiments employ a function command interpreter  603  to convert output from the main control unit  602  into signals that are usable by the stimulus collar  601 . The command interpreter  609  is particularly useful when this invention is provided as an upgrade to an existing collar. When used with the present invention, the command interpreter serves as a bridge between the main control unit  602  and the communication module  603 . Not all embodiments of this invention require the function command interpreter  603 . 
         [0037]    Various embodiments use combinations of GPS  610  or cellular telephone triangulation  611  to provide location for the main unit  608 . Select embodiments use the same  610 ,  611  to provide location of each stimulus collar; however alternative means including local RF triangulation to locate each collar will work with this invention. Other embodiments rely on differential tracking and GPS positioning located either on the stimulus control collar or on the remote unit to provide location. CDMA and GMS cellular phones  609  are preferably used to provide location in some embodiments. Other embodiments use GPS  201  that is integrated into PDA, portable computer  305 , or other electronic devices. 
       Embodiments of the Preferred Method 
       [0038]    This invention employs various methods, some discussed below, to determine if a given animal is within a specific plurality of zones and sends appropriate functions to a stimulus collar worn by the animal. 
         [0039]    A flow-chart of a preferred method is shown in  FIG. 7  and starts by initializing the system  701 . The system or the end-user determines the number of stimulus collars in use  702  and subsequently obtains accurate geolocation of the main unit from GPS, cell phone triangulation, wireless triangulation, or other methods  703 . A local map of the area is subsequently drawn  704  on the display and the end user is prompted to draw or enter containment perimeters over the map  705 . Before entering an infinite loop to update collar position and send appropriate commands to each collar, the operator is prompted  706  for the option of entering or selecting traveling perimeters  707  that automatically move with the transmitter and properly positioned icons of each stimulus collar and the main control unit are drawn in the display  708 . 
         [0040]    In the preferred embodiment, the following steps are repeated in an infinite loop  801 . Each iteration starts by updating position data of the main unit and all stimulus collars  802 . The position of each collar is compared to the outer perimeter of each containment perimeter  803  before a decision is made to send a specific function to each collar  804 . As previously noted, a plurality of containment zones  805 ,  806 ,  807  are used as thresholds to determine which functions  814 ,  808 ,  809  are activated. The process is repeated for each stimulus collar in use  810 . If traveling containment perimeters are in use  811  and the position of the main unit has changed  812  since the last iteration, the perimeter boundaries of each traveling perimeter is updated  813 . The position of each collar and the position of the main control unit are updated on the display as is the background map during each iteration  708 . 
       Sample Uses of the Present Invention 
       [0041]    Another preferred method is to use this invention to contain pets in public areas as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The example shows a pet owner drawing  106  containment perimeters  301 ,  302  for two separate dogs  303  over a map of a public rest stop. Properly trained dogs equipped with a stimulus collar that is controlled by this invention will remain in separate areas representative of perimeters that were drawn using a pointing device on the computer  305 . This invention is also well suited for use as a traveling electronic leash while walking, playing, and exercising  901  with pets as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0042]    A hunter  1001  equipped with an embodiment of this invention  1002  is able to operate stimulus collars  601  on a plurality of trained hunting dogs  1003 . The example in  FIG. 10  shows that a hunter  1001  using this invention  1002  is able to keep his hands on a shotgun while remaining focused on the hunt. This invention obviates the need to reach for a conventional collar transmitter if either dog  1003  is flushing to far ahead and makes it easier to hunt with more than one dog. 
         [0043]    It is understood that the above embodiments and applications are merely illustrative of the possible specific applications which may represent principles of the present invention. Other arrangements may readily be devised in accordance with the principals herein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.