Patent Publication Number: US-2013249694-A1

Title: Systems and methods for animal containment, training, and tracking

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/880,012 filed on Sep. 10, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,438,999 on May 14, 2013, which claims benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/241,866 filed on Sep. 12, 2009. The foregoing U.S. patent applications and U.S. patent are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to systems and methods containing, training, and tracking of animals, including pets such as dogs. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Companion animals or pets provide numerous benefits to their caregivers. Caring for a companion animal provides purpose and fulfillment, and lessens feelings of loneliness and depression in people of all age groups. Various pet behaviors, however, can present challenges and frustrations to pet owners. It can be difficult and expensive to train or condition pets to refrain from unwelcome behaviors, such as: wandering into off-limits areas of a home or area, jumping on house guests, begging for food, barking uncontrollably, escaping outside beyond the confines of a yard, and exhibiting aggression toward other animals. It can also be devastating to learn of the escape and possible loss of a pet. 
     Certain systems targeting specific unwelcome pet behaviors are known. In-ground outdoor boundary wire systems arranged to communicate with pet collars (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,421) dissuade pets from escaping pre-defined outdoor areas, but such systems are difficult to install and reconfigure, and do little or nothing to address pet behavior within the confines of a defined area, such as within a home. Anti-bark collars can deliver audible stimulus (e.g., a tone) or tactile stimulus (e.g., a shock or vibration) to an animal upon detection of a barking condition, and/or stimulus may be delivered by collar to an animal upon activation of an associated radio frequency (RF) remote control unit for training purposes (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,240). Stationary infrared transmitters emitting different command signals may be mounted in groups to define overlapping zones for communicating with an animal wearing an electronic collar to provide warning and discipline signals, respectively (e.g., via audible or tactile feedback), to dissuade pets from entering designated areas (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,690). A global positioning unit and a wireless communication apparatus may be embodied in a pet collar to facilitate locating or tracking an animal (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,879). 
     The foregoing and other conventional systems suffer from restrictions that limit their utility. It would be desirable to provide systems and methods that address unwelcome animal behaviors and may be tailored to different animals and owner preferences. It would be desirable to provide systems with enhanced portability and durability. It would be desirable to enhance battery life and/or reduce the size of electronic animal collars. It would be desirable to provide enhanced capabilities for detection and reporting of conditions indicative of unwelcome animal behaviors. It would be desirable to facilitate training of pets at a reasonable cost and at the convenience of an animal owner or caregiver. In consequence, the art continues to seek improvements in animal containment, training, and tracking systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in various aspects to systems and methods containing, training, and/or tracking of animals, utilizing electronic animal tags or collars, and related electronic communication devices. 
     In one aspect, the invention relates to an animal collar or tag coupleable to an animal and adapted to communicate wirelessly with a radio frequency (RF) base station, the animal collar or tag comprising: a power storage element; a microprocessor arranged to receive power supplied by the power storage element; and a RF transmitter and a RF receiver operatively coupled with the microprocessor and adapted to communicate wirelessly with the RF base station. 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) base station adapted for RF wireless communication with an animal collar or tag wearable by an animal and including a mobile RF transmitter and a mobile RF receiver, the RF base station comprising: a base station microprocessor; and a base station RF receiver and a base station RF transmitter operatively coupled with the base station microprocessor and adapted for wireless communication with the mobile RF transmitter and a mobile RF receiver, respectively; wherein the base station is adapted to generate an alarm signal responsive to receipt or non-receipt of a RF signal indicative of at least one of: condition of the animal, behavior of the animal, and proximity of the animal to the base station 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to a directional zone defining unit adapted for use with an animal collar or tag that includes infrared (IR) receiver, the directional zone defining unit comprising: a body structure; an IR transmitter retained by the body structure, wherein at least a portion of the IR transmitter is movable to allow directional aiming of an IR beam emitted therefrom to be received by the IR receiver; and at least one user input to enable a user to select different modes of operation of the zone defining unit relative to the animal collar or tag. 
     A further aspect of the invention relates to an animal training system comprising a handheld remote controller adapted for RF wireless communication with an animal collar or tag wearable by an animal and including a mobile RF receiver and at least one animal-perceptible signal generator, the handheld remote controller comprising: a RF transmitter adapted for wireless RF communication with the mobile RF receiver; at least one user input adapted to generate a correction signal for transmission via the RF transmitter to the mobile RF receiver to operate the animal-perceptible signal generator; at least one of (i) a memory element arranged to store animal training instructions, and (ii) a memory element interface adapted to receive a memory element arranged to store animal training instructions; and an audio output element adapted to facilitate delivery to a user of an audible signal including animal training instructions upon playback of stored animal training instructions from said memory element. 
     In another aspect, any of the foregoing aspects or other aspects and features described herein may be combined for additional advantage. 
     Other aspects, features. and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a directional zone defining unit including an infrared transmitter and adapted for use with an electronic animal collar or tag to promote containment of an animal within a desired area. 
         FIG. 1B  is a top plan view of the directional zone defining unit of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the directional zone defining unit of  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
         FIG. 1D  is a front elevation view of the directional zone defining unit of  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
         FIG. 1E  is a rear elevation view of the directional zone defining unit of  FIGS. 1A-1D . 
         FIG. 1F  is a right side elevation view of the directional zone defining unit of  FIGS. 1A-1E . 
         FIG. 1G  is a left side elevation view of the directional zone defining unit of  FIGS. 1A-1F . 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of the directional zone defining unit of  FIGS. 1A-1G . 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified top view schematic of an animal containment system including the directional zone defining unit of  FIG. 2  engaged with an electrical outlet and arranged to transmit an infrared beam proximate to multiple electronic animal tags each including an infrared receiver. 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified top view schematic of an animal containment system including the directional zone defining unit of  FIG. 2  coupled with a battery receptacle having an associated surface mounting element. 
         FIG. 5A  is a top plan view of an animal collar having an associated electronic animal tag. 
         FIG. 5B  is a front elevation view of the animal collar and electronic animal tag of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the animal collar and electronic animal tag of  FIG. 5C . 
         FIG. 6A  is a front elevation view of an electronic animal tag such as included in  FIGS. 5A-5C . 
         FIG. 6B  is a rear elevation view of the electronic animal tag of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a bottom plan view of the electronic animal tag of  FIGS. 6A-6B . 
         FIG. 6D  is a top plan view of the electronic animal tag of  FIGS. 6A-6C . 
         FIG. 6E  is a lower perspective view of the electronic animal tag of  FIGS. 6A-6D . 
         FIG. 6F  is a rear perspective view of the electronic animal tag of  FIGS. 6A-6E . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of the electronic animal tag of  FIGS. 6A-6F . 
         FIG. 8A  is a front perspective view of a base station for radio frequency communication with one or more electronic animal tags, such as the electronic animal tag of  FIGS. 6A-6F . 
         FIG. 8B  is a rear elevation view of the base station of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 8C  is a front elevation view of the base station of  FIGS. 8A-8B . 
         FIG. 8D  is a bottom plan view of the base station of  FIGS. 8A-8C . 
         FIG. 8E  is a rear perspective view of the base station of  FIGS. 8A-8D . 
         FIG. 8F  is a left side elevation view of the base station of  FIGS. 8A-8E . 
         FIG. 8G  is a top plan view of the base station of  FIGS. 8A-8F . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing various elements of an animal containment and monitoring system including the base station of  FIGS. 8A-8G  arranged to communicate with multiple electronic animal tags according to  FIGS. 6A-6F  and  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of the base station of  FIG. 8A-8G . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing various elements of an animal training system including an electronic remote controller arranged for wireless communication with at least one electronic animal tag according to  FIGS. 6A-6F  and  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of a remote controller (such as the remote controller illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) arranged for wireless communication with at least one electronic animal tag. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates in various aspects to systems and methods containing, training, and/or tracking of animals, utilizing electronic animal tags (optionally embodied in collars incorporating same), and related electronic communication devices. 
     In one embodiment, an animal containment system includes a directional zone defining unit (ZDU) including an infrared (IR) transmitter, the ZDU being adapted for use with an electronic pet tag or collar. The ZDU includes multiple user-selectable modes of operation, such as warning and correction modes, is arranged for both mounting and receiving power via at least one electrical connector, and has a signal transmitter that is movable to allow directional aiming of an IR beam emitted therefrom to be received by the IR receiver. Use of a single ZDU having multiple user-selectable operating modes is in contrast to prior systems (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,690) that required concurrent use of multiple transmitters to broadcast different commands. Numerous other distinctions over prior systems are embodied in the inventive systems and devices disclosed herein. 
     A directional ZDU  10  including an infrared transmitter is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1G . The directional ZDU  10  includes a lower body structure  12  of generally cylindrical shape, with first and second electrical connectors  20 A,  20 B protruding from a bottom surface  11  of the lower body structure  12 . The electrical connectors are preferably adapted to mate with a wall receptacle for providing AC electrical power, and sufficiently sized and shaped so as not to obscure a second outlet of a standard dual outlet wall plate with center-to-center outlet spacing of 1.5 inches. Preferably, at least a portion of a ZDU has an external diameter or lateral width of less than two inches to avoid interference with a second outlet of a standard dual outlet wall plate. Although only two connectors  20 A,  20 B are shown, it is to be appreciated that additional connectors (e.g., including a ground connector) may be provided. At least a portion of the ZDU is preferably paintable to enable a user to match a desired decor. 
     A front portion of the lower body structure includes at least one user input element  18  (e.g., a button), and at least one output element  19  (e.g., a multi-color LED or other indicator lamp). An audible output element may be additionally or alternatively provided. Multiple user input elements of like or different types may be provided. In one embodiment, a user input element comprises a signal receiver operatively connected to the ZDU  10  arranged to receive a remote user input, such as from a wireless remote controller, and/or a data signal transmitted via a power line (also known as power line communications). The user input element  18  allows a user to control a mode of operation of the ZDU  10  relative to an associated electronic pet collar or tag; similarly, the output element(s) preferably provide a user-perceptible signal indicative of a currently selected mode of operation of the ZDU  10  relative to an associated pet collar or tag. 
     Along an upper edge of the lower body structure  12  is a rotatable joint  13  between the lower body structure  12  and a rotatable upper body structure or turret  14 , with the joint  13  permitting the turret  14  to rotate along a first axis (e.g., a longitudinal axis definable through a center point of the bottom surface  11 ). The turret  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1G  is generally hemispherical in shape, with a recess  15  containing therein a wheel element  16  defining a signal emitter port  17  arranged to direct a signal in a direction selected by a user. A sliding element (not shown) may be used in place of a rotatable wheel element  16  in an alternative embodiment. The wheel element  16  is preferably mounted along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis (e.g., a latitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis). The wheel element  16  and recess  15  define a joint  15 A therebetween. The turret  14  preferably has an internal travel stop to prevent continuous rotation from damaging electrical connections; preferably the turret may be rotated around the longitudinal axis within a range of motion of at least about 320 degrees, more preferably at least about 340 degrees, and more preferably still at least about 355 degrees. Such travel stop prevents continuous rotation of the turret  14  relative to the lower body structure  12  to prevent damage to electrical conductors disposed inside the ZDU  10 . The wheel element  16  preferably has a range of motion of at least about  90  degrees. 
     An IR beam port  17  is defined in the wheel element  16 . A user may selectively rotate the wheel element  16  and/or the turret  14  along the respective two axes of rotation thereof to permit directional aiming of an IR beam emitted from the IR beam port  17 , so as to define a response zone as desired within a space. 
     Various components of a ZDU  10  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 . At least one power input terminal  20  receives power from a power source (e.g., AC outlet or battery pack). A power conditioning element  21  may provide power conditioning and/or regulating utility, including AC/DC power conversion. Although only a microprocessor  25  is shown in direct electrical communication with the power conditioning element  21 , it is to be appreciated that electrical power may be conducted to any of various electrically operated elements in the ZDU  10 , whether or not through the microprocessor  25 . At least one input element  18  and at least one output element  19  are arranged to communicate with the microprocessor  25 . A transmitter  23  (preferably adapted to output an IR beam), and an optional receiver  24  (e.g., to receive a RF signal from a remote controller and/or from an animal tag or collar) are further arranged to communicate with the microprocessor  25 . A computer-readable or processor-readable instruction set (e.g., operating instructions) for execution by the microprocessor  25  may be stored on a memory element  26 . Operating instructions for the ZDU  10  may be updated via an optional update port  28  (e.g., a miniature USB port or similar interface). The update port  28  may further be used to read or extract information logged to the memory  26 , as the memory  26  may be used to store information received from the input element  18  and/or the receiver  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a ZDU  10  may be engaged to an electrical receptacle  5  via electrical connectors  20 A,  20 B protruding from the body structure of the ZDU  10 . In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a ZDU  10  may be operatively coupled to a battery pack  6  (e.g., using electrical connectors  20 A,  20 B, or other dedicated mechanical and/or coupling means), and an engaging element  8  (e.g., a clamp, a suction cup, a magnet, an adhesive surface, a mechanical fastener, a twist tie, or the like) may be associated with the battery pack  6  to permit the battery pack  6  and associated ZDU to be temporarily or permanently affixed to a desired surface or object if an electrical power outlet is not otherwise available. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , an IR beam including boundaries  29 A,  29 B defines a response zone  29 . Multiple electronic pet tags or collars  50 A,  50 B may be disposed proximate to the ZDU  10 . Depending on the operating mode selected for the ZDU, any of various actions may be triggered upon entry of a tag or collar  50 A,  50 B into the response zone  29 . Adjustment of the operating mode (e.g., through use of the user input element  18 ) preferably causes alteration of an IR signal emitted by the ZDU  10 , with possible alterations including, for example, pulse shape, pulse pattern, pulse duration, frequency, and amplitude. Such IR signal propagates into the response zone  29 . Upon detection of the IR signal by an animal collar or tag  50 A, such tag  50 A may take appropriate responsive action based upon the content of the IR signal (indicative of operating mode). Various different operating modes (selectable at the ZDU) and corresponding responses (implemented by an animal collar or tag  50 A) tag be selected. The pet collar or tag  50 A may further embody one or more sensors (e.g., a piezoelectric bark sensor to detect when a dog is growling or barking), and signals from such sensor(s) may further affect responsive action to be taken by the pet collar or tag. Various operating modes may therefore be selected to utilize the ZDU solely to contain an animal to a desired area, solely to prevent barking/growling/whining, or to provide both pet containment utility and pet noise (e.g., bark) deterrence utility. In one embodiment, if the ZDU is placed in a mode to provide pet noise deterrence only, then receipt by the pet collar or tag of a single transient IR signal from the ZDU (i.e., until receipt of a subsequent different signal) may be used merely to temporarily ‘program’ the pet collar or tag to respond in to pet noise in a user-specified way, such that the pet need not maintain presence in a response zone to maintain the temporary programming. In another embodiment, a ZDU may be placed in a mode to provide pet noise deterrence only while the pet is located within a response zone. 
     In one embodiment, at least one operating mode includes administration of a warning signal (e.g., vibration, audible signal, and/or electric shock of low intensity) for a specified time period if an animal collar or tag should receive an IR signal (from the ZDU) within a response zone, and then administer a correction/discipline signal (e.g., high amplitude vibration and/or electric shock of higher intensity) if the pet wearing the pet tag or collar does not cease an offending behavior (e.g., barking and/or presence within a response zone) shortly thereafter. For example, a warning signal may be administered for a period of two seconds (or so long as the pet remains in the response zone) via an animal tag or collar upon entry of an animal into a response zone, and if the pet does not exit the response zone within three seconds, then a correction signal will be administered by the animal tag or collar. 
     In one embodiment, at least one operating mode causes the pet collar or tag to administer vibration, and at least one other operating mode causes the pet collar or tag to administer electric shock. Such adjustment permits a user to select an action appropriate to a specific pet to deter unwanted behavior. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of operating modes includes (i) at least one “anti-bark” mode to cause the pet collar or tag to administer any of a warning signal and a correction signal upon detection of sound or vibration emitted by an animal (e.g., a bark) wearing the animal collar or tag, and (ii) at least one other “permissive bark” mode to cause the animal collar or tag to neither administer a warning signal nor administer a correction signal upon detection of sound or vibration emitted by an animal (e.g., a pet) wearing the animal collar or tag. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of operating modes includes at least one mode in which, upon detection of sound or vibration emitted by the animal wearing the animal collar or tag prior to entry of the animal collar or tag into the response zone, the animal collar or tag is caused to temporarily suspend administration of a warning signal or a correction signal after entry of the animal collar or tag into the response zone. Such mode may be useful so as not to deter an animal dog from barking upon hearing a suspicious noise suggestive of an intruder, or confronting an intruder near a point of entry. For example, a ZDU may be placed to define a response zone near a door or other point of entry into a home. A dog located outside the response zone may hear a noise suggestive of an intruder seeking forced entry. If the dog should start barking before entering the response zone, then administration of a warning signal or a correction signal to the dog may be suspended while the dog is in the response zone (or for a specified period after entry into or exit from the response zone). In one embodiment, a suspension of warning and/or correction signal may be restricted only to barking, to maintain containment functionality so as to prevent escape of the animal if a door or window is opened. The foregoing operating mode (temporary suspension of warning or correction if an animal barks before entering a response zone) may be automatically terminated upon a specified condition, such as expiration of time, cessation of barking for a specified time, and/or absence from the response zone for a specified time. The foregoing operating mode may be desirably implemented at night when occupants of a home are normally sleeping, and when it may be useful for a dog to bark and/or confront an intruder. In one embodiment, an automatic input (e.g., light sensor, timer, etc.) may be provided in a ZDU, and the ZDU may be programmed to automatically adopt the foregoing operating mode upon detection of an automatic input suggestive of a nighttime (or other) condition. 
     In one embodiment, a ZDU may include the following operating modes with associated user-perceptible output signals provided by at least one indicator lamp (e.g., by combinations of lit lamp colors, flashing lamp patterns, alternating lamp color patters, and the like). 
     (1) Zone containment only with administration of warning signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (2) Zone containment only with administration of warning signal, followed with correction signal, by pet collar or tag; 
     (3) Zone containment only with administration of correction signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (4) Pet noise (e.g., bark) deterrence only with administration of warning signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (5) Pet noise deterrence only with administration of warning signal, followed with correction signal, by pet collar or tag; 
     (6) Pet noise deterrence only with administration of correction signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (7) Zone containment and independent noise deterrence with administration of warning signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (8) Zone containment and independent noise deterrence with administration of warning signal, followed by correction signal, by pet collar or tag; 
     (9) Zone containment and independent noise deterrence with administration of correction signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (10) Zone-dependent noise deterrence, with administration of warning signal only by pet collar or tag; 
     (11) Zone-dependent noise deterrence, with administration of warning signal, followed by correction signal, by pet collar or tag; and 
     (12) Zone-dependent noise deterrence, with administration of correction signal only. 
     Any of the foregoing exemplary operating modes may be omitted or supplemented with additional response, expiration, and/or sensor-dependent features, as may be readily implemented in a processor-readable instruction set stored in a pet tag or collar according to the present invention. Modes of operation of an electronic pet collar or tag may also be updated and controlled via a radio frequency base station as disclosed herein. 
     An animal (e.g., pet) collar  35  having an electronic pet tag  50  is shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C . The collar  35  includes securable clasp portions  32 ,  33  affixed to a strap  31 . Portions of the strap  31  may be inserted through hole-defining mounting tabs  55 A,  55 B secured to a body  51  of the collar. Preferably, the tabs  55 A,  55 B are formed of a continuous piece of durable material (e.g., steel) that extends through the body  51  to minimize possibility of separation of either tab  55 A,  55 B from the body  51 . The electronic tag  50  has affixed thereto a pet identification plate  52 , which may include a pet name, address, telephone number, email address, and similar identifying information. The electronic tag  50  further includes lamp windows (or lamps)  53 A,  53 B that may be activated upon escape of a pet wearing the tag  50  from a specified area (e.g., as detected by a base station upon severing of communications between the base station and the electronic tag), in order to increase visibility of the pet (e.g., to help locate the pet, and further to enable motorists to steer clear of the pet in low light conditions). 
     The electronic tag  50  includes multiple shock terminals  56 A- 56 D removably mounted to receptacles  57 A- 57 D. Four shock terminal  56 A- 56 D are preferably provided to distribute contact force over a significant area and thereby reduce contact stress that may otherwise lead to pet skin abrasion. Removable mounting of the shock terminals  56 A- 56 D permits such terminals to be interchanged with terminals of different length, width, tip shape, and the like, depending on the hair length and type of the pet to promote, and also depending on the sensitivity of the pet&#39;s skin to the size and/or shape of the terminals  56 A- 56 D. In one embodiment, the shock terminals may be removed and replaced with non-conducting caps (not shown) to promote appeal of the electronic tag  50  to pet owners not comfortable with the possibility that electric shock may be administered to a pet wearing the tag  50 . The body  51  may be coated with rubberized material (e.g., rubberized paint) to hold on to dog dander for more comfortable fit. A removable battery cover  54  is preferably a screw-type cover with an associated gasket or O-ring (not shown) to promote water-tight sealing of the body  51 . A battery (e.g., rechargeable lithium ion 3V, or other conventional one or more batteries) may be disposed within the body  51  behind the battery cover  54 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of the electronic pet tag  50 . A battery  62  (or other charge storage element) may be recharged with at least one optional recharging terminal  61 . In one embodiment, two or more of the shock terminals  56 A- 56 D may be used as recharging terminals in order to charge the battery with via a mating charging base (not shown). A power conditioning element  21  may provide any desirable power conditioning and/or regulating utility, and supply power to the microprocessor  60 . Although only a microprocessor  60  is shown in direct electrical communication with the power conditioning element  63 , it is to be appreciated that electrical power may be conducted to any of various electrically operated elements in the electronic tag  50 , whether or not through the microprocessor  60 . A computer-readable or processor-readable instruction set (e.g., operating instructions) for execution by the microprocessor  60  may be stored on a memory element  66 . Operating instructions for the electronic tag  50  may be updated via an optional update port  67  (e.g., a miniature USB port or similar interface), or alternatively via a RF receiver  72 . The update port  67  may further be used to read or extract information logged to the memory  66 , as the memory  66  may be used to store information received from various sensors  65 A,  65 B and/or signal receivers  70 ,  72 ,  75 . Operating instructions for the electronic tag  50  that may be updated via the RF receiver  72  in communication with the RF base station include, but are not limited to, user-selectable settings and modes of operation of the electronic tag, including “anti-bark” mode, “permissive bark” mode, or any other suitable predefined or user-defining modes or settings including those mentioned therein. 
     Various sensors  65 A,  65 B may be associated with the electronic tag  50  to sense conditions experienced by the tag  50  and/or physiological conditions of a pet wearing the electronic tag  50 . While only two sensors  65 A,  65 B are shown, it is to be appreciated that additional sensors (or fewer sensors) may be provided. In certain embodiments, the sensors  65 A,  65 B may be arranged to sense any one or more of temperature, pressure, moisture, motion, acceleration, noise, pulse/heartbeat, and the like. Signals from the sensors  65 A,  65 B may be used to trigger alarms and/or implement other actions. For example, sensing of excess temperature by the sensors  65 A,  65 B may indicate that a pet is located in a dangerously hot environment (e.g., a hot car interior). Sensing of moisture by the sensors  65 A,  65 B may indicate that a pet has fallen into a pool or lake. Sensing of movement and/or acceleration by the sensors  65 A,  65 B may indicate that the pet is awake, whereas lack of motion and/or acceleration for a specified period may indicate that the pet is asleep. Signals from multiple sensors of different types (e.g., at least two of movement, acceleration, noise, vibration, etc.) may be used in combination to verify whether a pet is barking, with one exemplary embodiment involving noise sensing in combination with acceleration or motion sensing. Sensing of noise with the sensors  65 A,  65 B may be used to augment signals received from a piezoelectric element  70  (useful for both bark detection and administering vibration) to discriminate between barks and other sounds (e.g., whines, growls) emitted by a pet wearing an electronic tag  50 , and/or confirm whether a bark or other sound is emanating from the pet wearing the electronic tag  50 . Output of a sensor of one type may be used to at least temporarily affect operation or signal processing (e.g., sensitivity, sampling rate, filtering, amplification, etc.) of another sensor to verify whether a pet wearing an electronic collar or tag is actually barking. For example, upon sensing of motion indicative of a bark, an accelerometer may output a signal that is used to affect operation of a noise (sonic) sensor arranged to sense a bark or to affect processing of signals generated by the noise sensor, whereby to at least temporarily the sensitivity of the noise sensor may be increased, filtration of the noise signal may be affected, or sampling rate of the noise sensor may be affected, or any other suitable change to sensor operation or signal processing may be employed, in order to enhance bark detection. Actions such as triggering of alarms, triggering of (e.g., user) notification events, activation of lights  53 , depowering of the tag  50 , logging data (or logging data at higher frequency), and the like may be implemented in response to receipt of signals from the sensors  65 A,  65 B. 
     The electronic tag  50  includes an IR receiver  70  (e.g., for communication with a directional ZDU  10  as described hereinabove, and a RF receiver  72  and RF transmitter  73  operatively coupled with the microprocessor  60  and arranged for wireless two-way communication with any of (1) a RF base station and (2) a RF remote controller. Various information communicated from the electronic tag to a base station includes tag status, battery life, and sensor information. In one embodiment, content and frequency of transmission of sensor information from an electronic pet tag  50  to a base station, or logging of such information, may be configured by a user. The RF receiver  72  and RF transmitter  73  may be optionally combined in an integrated transceiver, and may be associated with an optional antenna (not shown). In one embodiment, the RF receiver  72  and RF transmitter  73  operate at 433 MHz. The electronic tag  50  may further include an associated Global Positioning System (GPS) element  75  arranged to receive satellite signals. In one embodiment, the GPS element  75  may be integrated into the electronic tag  50 . In another embodiment, the GPS element  75  may be mechanically coupleable to the electronic tag. In one embodiment, the GPS element may interface with the electronic tag via the shock terminals  56 A- 56 D or another electrical interface (not shown). 
     The electronic tag  50  further includes a shock element  68  (such as may be coupled to the shock terminals  68 A- 68 D), a piezoelectric element  70  (useable as both a vibration (bark) detection sensor and a vibration administering element), one or more lights  53 , and an audio output element  69  such as a tone generator or speaker. 
     Operation of the electronic tag  50  in conjunction with a ZDU  10  adapted to output an infrared beam has been described hereinabove. The RF communication functions of the electronic tag  50  are particularly useful for communicating with a RF base station and a RF remote controller, as described below. 
     In one embodiment, an electronic tag  50  includes a sensor adapted to sense a condition correlative of movement or stasis of the pet and generate a sensor output signal, wherein the pet collar or tag is adapted to automatically alter operating status to reduce power consumption of the pet collar or tag responsive to receipt of a sensor output signal correlative of stasis of the pet. Such a sensor may include a motion sensor or acceleration sensor. Upon detection of a condition suggesting that a pet is sleeping, operating status of an electronic pet tag  50  may be altered, such that two-way RF communication between the collar  50  and a base station (e.g., a base station  80  as discussed below) may be reduced in update frequency to reduce power consumption of the electronic pet tag  50 . Reduction in communication frequency reduces power consumption and thereby prolongs battery life. Power savings may be quite substantial, since many pets (e.g., dogs and cats) may spend between 50-70% of the time sleeping. Upon sensing of movement of the pet (e.g., according to a temporal or amplitude threshold), the tag  50  may be returned to a normal operating condition, e.g., with short intervals between communication updates with the base station. 
     Various external views of a RF base station  80  are provided in  FIGS. 8A-8G . The base station  80  includes a body structure  81 , an antenna  82 , an antenna interface  83 , at least one user input element  85 , at least one user-perceptible output element  86 , a power input port  89 , and at least one network port  88 . In one embodiment, the network port  88  comprises an Ethernet port; a network port  88  may further comprise a telephone cable port. A speaker opening or vent  84  may be defined in the body structure  81  to allow propagation of alarm noise outside the body structure  81 . Pads  78  and mounting holes  79  may be defined in a bottom surface of the base station  80 . 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of the base station  80 . At least one power input terminal  89  receives power from a power source (e.g., AC outlet or battery pack). A power conditioning element  91  may provide power conditioning and/or regulating utility, including AC/DC power conversion. Although only a microprocessor  90  is shown in direct electrical communication with the power conditioning element  91 , it is to be appreciated that electrical power may be conducted to any of various electrically operated elements in the base station  80 , whether or not through the microprocessor  90 . At least one input element  85  and at least one output element  86  are arranged to communicate with the microprocessor  90 . An alarm generator  95  may output an audible alarm, output a visible alarm, and/or trigger a remote alarm, such as notification of one or more users, home alarm monitoring companies, animal shelters, law enforcement agencies, and third parties (e.g., via a network interface  88 ). 
     A computer-readable or processor-readable instruction set (e.g., operating instructions) for execution by the microprocessor  90  may be stored on a memory element  96 . Operating instructions for the base station  80  may be updated via a network interface  88  an optional update port  97  (e.g., USB port, miniature USB port, or the like). The update port  97  may further be used to read or extract information logged to the memory  96 , as the memory  96  may be used to store information received from the RF receiver and/or from an external network via the network interface  88 . 
     A RF transmitter  93  and a RF receiver  92  (optionally integrated within a RF transceiver) are further arranged to communicate with the microprocessor  25 , and may communicate wirelessly in two-way fashion with one or more electronic pet tags  50  as described herein. In one embodiment, the RF transmitter  93  and RF receiver  92  may simultaneously communicate with up to eight different electronic pet tags as described herein. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing various elements of a pet containment and monitoring system  105  including the base station  80  and multiple electronic pet tags  50 A,  50 B. The base station  80  may be coupled with a power source  99 , such as an AC outlet or a battery. While the electronic pet tags  50 A,  50 B are in sufficient proximity to the base station  80 , such tags  50 A,  50 B are in two-way wireless RF communication with the base station  80 . If any electronic pet tag  50 A,  50 B should go out of communication range with the base station  80  (e.g., for a threshold period, possibly on the order of twenty to thirty minutes, to guard against false alarms), such event may indicate that a pet wearing the tag  50 A,  50 B has escaped a specified area (e.g., a home or yard), and trigger the base station  80  to activate one or more alarms, initiate automatic notification procedures, and/or initiate tracking procedures. 
     In one embodiment, a base station includes an audible alarm that may be manually acknowledged, deactivated, or reset with a user input element  85 . Acknowledgement, maintenance, or reset alarm conditions may be indicated with one or more user-perceptible output elements  86  (e.g., LED lamp(s)). 
     Notification procedures may be configured by a user upon initial set-up and registration of the base station  80 . The base station  80  automatically synchronizes with one or more electronic pet tags in proximity upon power-up, and identifying information for each electronic tag is communicated automatically to the base station  80 . An output element  86  (e.g., lamp) of the base station may provide one or more signals indicative of electronic pet tag synchronization status, electronic tag battery status, network communication status, and the like. The base station  80  may include a static IP address or other network identifier. The base station  80  may automatically register itself and synchronized electronic pet tags with a website. A user may utilize a communication device such as a personal computer, portable phone, or PDA to connect to a website providing one or more templates or form eliciting the following: (A) pet information (including pet description, pet photos, pet microchip information, and veterinary information), (B) user contact information and communication preferences (e.g., order of contact, format of electronic contact, priority of contact), and (C) third party contact information (e.g., home alarm monitoring company). 
     Any of various stationary or mobile terminals  101 ,  102  remotely located from the base station  80  may be contacted via at least one communication network  98  (e.g., Internet, telephone network, WiFi, WiMax, etc.) as part of an automatic notification procedure. Third parties susceptible to receiving notifications include, but are not limited to, one or more system users (e.g., owners of the pet to which the electronic pet tag is attached), family members or neighbors of system users, alarm monitoring companies, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, law enforcement agencies, electronic pet tag manufacturers, and third party monitoring agencies. Notifications are preferably sent automatically without requiring human intervention. In one embodiment, communication is sent as a text message, SMS, and/or electronic mail to one or more users. In one embodiment, communication is sent via telephone including a recorded or machine-generated message. In one embodiment, pet identifying information (e.g., including vital pet information, and preferably including one or more pet photographs) and owner contact information is automatically transmitted to animal shelters within a desired vicinity of the user within a specified time period of loss of communications between the base station and electronic pet tag. In one embodiment, a “lost pet” flyer or poster is automatically generated and transmitted to or otherwise accessed by a user. 
     If an electronic pet tag should return to normal communication with the base station, an alarm may be cleared automatically, and communications indicating that the pet is safe may be automatically generated and distributed according to a communication procedure using contact information and preferences defined by a user. Additionally, or alternatively, an alarm may be cleared, reset, or overridden by a user via manual intervention at the base station, and such event may similarly trigger automated communications indicative of the alarm and/or pet status. In one embodiment, a website maintains and displays an automatically incrementing counter identifying the number of lost pets recovered by use of electronic pet tags  50  and base stations  80  as described herein, through use of data communicated by base stations to the website owner or operator. 
     Tracking procedures that may be initiated upon severing of contact between a base station  81  and an electronic pet tag  50  include initiation of GPS communication with a pet tag. Under circumstances when a pet is safely located in a home or fenced yard, communication between a GPS satellite and a GPS element  75  associated with an electronic pet tag  50  would be unnecessary and would dramatically shorten battery life of the pet tag  50 A,  50 B. By selectively activating a GPS element only when a pet has escaped a house or yard, as detected by a wireless RF base station  80 , the benefits of GPS tracking may be employed only as necessary without unduly shortening battery life. 
     Two-way communication may be established between not only the base station  81  and each electronic pet tag  50 A,  50 B (e.g., via RF communication), but also between the base station  81  and remote electronic terminals  101 ,  102  (e.g., via the network  98  including wired or wireless access), and also between the base station  81  and one or more accessories  103 ,  104  (e.g., via wireless or wired communication). Any combination of communication paths may therefore be established. via the base station  81 , (i) between remote electronic terminals  101 ,  102  and electronic pet tags  50 A,  50 B, (ii) between accessories  103 ,  104  and electronic pet tags  50 A,  50 B, and (iii) between remote electronic terminals  101 ,  102  and accessories  103 ,  104 . Such communication paths may be used for any of remote data transfer, remote monitoring, remote control, remote updating (e.g., for software updates), and the like. 
     In one embodiment, data relating to information received from an electronic pet tag  50  is saved and may be transmitted to a user by way of a base station  80  and communication network. Such information may be presented in any desirable format, including tables, charts, and graphs, with respect to time. Trends may be established and monitored for pet location, pet barking time, pet barking frequency, pet barking duration, pet barking intensity, pet movement, pet sleeping, pet temperature, and the like. Periodic reports may be generated, and alarms may be configured for conditions that deviate from established trends, with automatic issuance of notifications to user terminals of any suitable type. 
     Desirable accessories for use with the system  105  include both pet-related accessories (e.g., pet doors, automated pet feeding apparatuses, automated pet watering apparatuses, pet monitoring cameras) and pet-independent accessories (e.g., lamps, home appliances, HVAC systems, entertainment systems, home alarm systems, garage doors, entry gates, premises monitoring cameras, garden sprinkler systems, outdoor lighting systems, remote automotive starting systems). In one embodiment, accessories may be operated by electronic pet tags as worn by pets in proximity to such accessories (e.g., pet access doors). In one embodiment, accessories may be selectively operated by electronic pet tags as worn by pets, depending upon condition of one or more sensors associated with such pet tags. For example, a dog may be kept in a fenced backyard without access to a garage via a pet door under normal circumstances, but if the dog barks or whines for a specified duration, then a sensor associated with a pet tag worn by the dog may identify same and enable opening of the pet door to provide the pet with access to an indoor space and avoid potential complaints from neighbors due to pet noise. In another example, a moisture sensor associated with an electronic pet tag may sense that an outdoor pet is getting wet (indicative of ambient rain) and therefore enable opening of a pet door to provide the pet with access to an indoor space. 
     In one embodiment, one or more electronic information device readers are operatively arranged to communicate with an implanted electronic information device (e.g., RFID tag) implanted in a pet, and to communicate information read from an implanted information device to a base station  80  as described herein or other network-based monitoring device (e.g., a home alarm monitoring system). An electronic information device reader (e.g., RFID transmitter adapted to stimulate resonant emission of information from an implanted passive RFID tag) may be positioned in proximity to a door or other point of access to a desired space. In one embodiment, such an electronic information device reader may be integrated with a doormat, doorbell, doorstop, or pet door. Such a reader may alternatively be integrated into to a ZDU or ZDU-like unit (as described herein) arranged for connection to an electrical outlet proximate to a point of access to a desired space. Movement of a pet containing the implanted electronic information device proximate to the electronic information device reader may cause the implanted electronic information device to emit a signal that may be read by the reader. Such information may be transmitted via communication network to a base station  80  or other network-based monitoring device (e.g., a home alarm monitoring system) to provide or supplement information regarding pet location, and to activate one or more alarms, initiate automatic notification procedures, and/or initiate tracking procedures. 
     In one embodiment, an electronic pet tag  50  as described herein may communicate via two-way RF with a remote controller useful to facilitate pet training.  FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing various elements of a pet training system including an electronic remote controller  110  arranged for wireless communication with at least one electronic pet tag  50 A,  50 B. A remote controller may include a tag selector switch (not shown) to enable selective communication with multiple electronic pet tags. In one embodiment, a remote controller is adapted for use with only one electronic pet tag  50 A at a time following establishment of synchronous communication therewith. The remote controller  110  may be used to control operation of an electronic pet tag as described herein (e.g., including bark control features, warning administration, correction administration) thereby affecting behavior of a pet wearing same. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing functional relationships between various elements of a remote controller  110  arranged for wireless communication with at least one electronic pet tag as described herein. The remote controller  110  includes a battery  112  or other charge storage element and at least one charging terminal  114  adapted to receive power from an external power source (not shown) and supply same to the battery  112 . A power conditioning element  111  may provide power conditioning and/or regulating utility. Although only a microprocessor  120  is shown in direct electrical communication with the power conditioning element  111 , it is to be appreciated that electrical power may be conducted to any of various electrically operated elements in the remote controller  110 , whether or not through the microprocessor  120 . Operating instructions for the microprocessor  120  may be updated via the memory reader  127  and/or RF receiver  122 . 
     Multiple input elements  125 A,  125 B and at least one indicator  138  and/or display  136  are arranged to communicate with the microprocessor  120 . At least one input element  125 A,  125 B may be operable to adjust warning and/or correction level or duration (e.g., using a slider, dial, or digital selector). At least one input element  125 A,  125 B may be arranged to enable selective administration of warning and/or correction signals by the electronic pet tag. At least one input element  125 A,  125 B may be arranged to generate a reward signal. An ultrasonic emitter  139  may be provided to selectively emit a signal causing animals (whether or not wearing an electronic pet tag  50 ) proximate to the remote controller  110  to disengage in unwanted or aggressive behavior (such as fighting). At least one indicator  138  (and/or the display  136 ) may be used to identify status or operating mode of the electronic pet tag, and/or warning or correction level. The display  136  may constitute a LCD display facilitating viewing of text, images, and/or video. The display  136  may further include a video decoder and/or video driver (not shown). 
     The remote controller  110  includes a RF transmitter  123  and a RF receiver  122  arranged to communicate with the microprocessor  120 . A computer-readable or processor-readable instruction set (e.g., operating instructions) for execution by the microprocessor  120  may be stored on an internal memory element  126 . A memory reader  127  or similar memory interface may be provided to enable communication with a removable memory element  127 A (e.g., flash memory card or stick). 
     In one embodiment, the internal memory  126  and/or removable memory  127 A include media-based training instructions, such as text instructions, audio instructions, and/or video instructions to enable a user to listen to perceive instructions and follow direction to training a pet. Such instructions may be embodied in a pre-loaded training guide.  126 ,  127 A memory may further store digital entertainment media such as music files and the like. An audio decoder  130  (e.g., for decoding digital audio files in .MP 3 , .WAV, or similar formats) may be provided to facilitate playback from either memory element  126 ,  127 A of files containing audio information. An AM/FM tuner  131  may also be provided. Outputs of the audio decoder  130  and AM/FM tuner  131  may be provided to an audio output element  132 , which may provide amplification and/or signal conversion utility to provide audio-containing output signals to any of a wired port  133  or headphone jack, wireless port  134  (e.g., Bluetooth, zigBee, or the like), and/or an integral speaker  135 . The audio output element thereby facilitates delivery to a user of an audible signal including pet training instructions upon playback of stored pet training instructions from either memory element  126 ,  127 A. 
     While the invention has been has been described herein in reference to specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that the utility of the invention is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present invention, based on the disclosure herein. Any of various elements or features recited herein are contemplated for use in combination with other features or elements disclosed herein, unless specified to the contrary. Correspondingly, the invention as hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, within its spirit and scope.