Patent ID: 7710263

Claim:
An escape notification system for monitoring the presence of a selected pet within a defined area, said escape notification system being adapted to selectively communicate through a communication network, said escape notification system comprising: a base unit including: a controller in communication with the communication network; a transmitter in communication with said controller; a receiver in communication with said controller; a location inquiry signal generator in communication with said controller for generating a location inquiry signal upon receipt of a location alert signal, said transmitter adapted to broadcast said location inquiry signal; a transmitting antenna in communication with said base unit and broadcasting a containment signal; and a pet unit worn by said pet, said pet unit comprising: a processing unit; a receiver in communication with said processing unit and adapted to receive said containment signal and said location inquiry signal, said processing unit generating said location alert signal upon receipt of said containment signal, said processing unit generating a location inquiry response signal upon receipt of said location inquiry signal, said base unit receiver being adapted to receive said location inquiry response signal, said base unit controller being adapted to discriminate whether said location inquiry response signal has been received in response to said location inquiry signal and to activate the communication network in the event said location inquiry response signal has not been received in response to said location inquiry signal; and a transmitter in communication with said processing unit for transmitting said location alert signal.