U.S. patent application number 14/594478 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-07 for animal tracking apparatus and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Garmin Switzerland GmbH. Invention is credited to Bradley C. Trenkle, Timmy R. Walker.
Application Number | 20150123796 14/594478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51350775 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150123796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trenkle; Bradley C. ; et
al. |
May 7, 2015 |
ANIMAL TRACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
An animal tracking apparatus includes a location determining
component; a sensor operable to sense a condition of the animal;
memory; and a processor. The processor is operable to automatically
store location information corresponding to the current geographic
location of the apparatus in response to a sensed condition of the
animal. The processor is also operable to monitor the sensor to
identify a desired response to a received command and to store
response information corresponding to the response.
Inventors: |
Trenkle; Bradley C.;
(Prairie Village, KS) ; Walker; Timmy R.; (Prairie
Village, KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Garmin Switzerland GmbH |
Schaffhausen |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
51350775 |
Appl. No.: |
14/594478 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13769556 |
Feb 18, 2013 |
8947241 |
|
|
14594478 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/539.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 25/10 20130101;
A01K 15/021 20130101; A01K 11/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/539.13 |
International
Class: |
G08B 25/10 20060101
G08B025/10 |
Claims
1. A system for providing information regarding hunting grounds,
the system comprising: a memory; and a processor operable to:
receive animal tracking information from a plurality of users, the
received animal tracking information including location information
and sensed condition information corresponding to a plurality of
hunting dogs; store the received animal tracking information in the
memory; generate map information corresponding to the received
animal tracking information; and present the generated map
information through a web interface to one or more of the
users.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed condition information
indicates dog barking and the generated map information indicates
locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were sensed
barking.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed condition information
indicates going on point and the generated map information
indicates locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were
sensed going on point.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed condition information
includes at least one of a posture of the hunting dog, an
orientation of the hunting dog, a temperature of the hunting dog, a
barking of the hunting dog, or a heart rate of the hunting dog.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable
to analyze the received tracking data to provide a ranking of the
one or more hunting dogs.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensed information includes
stimulation information and the generated map information indicates
locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were subject to
stimulation.
7. A computer-implemented method for providing information
regarding hunting grounds, the method comprising: receiving animal
tracking information from a plurality of users via a communications
network, the received animal tracking information including
location information and sensed condition information corresponding
to a plurality of hunting dogs; storing the received animal
tracking information in a memory; generating map information
corresponding to the received animal tracking information; and
presenting the generated map information through a web site to one
or more of the users.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed condition information
indicates dog barking and the generated map information indicates
locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were sensed
barking.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed condition information
indicates going on point and the generated map information
indicates locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were
sensed going on point.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed condition information
includes at least one of a posture of the hunting dog, an
orientation of the hunting dog, a temperature of the hunting dog, a
barking of the hunting dog, or a heart rate of the hunting dog.
11. The method of claim 7, further including analyzing the received
tracking data to provide a ranking of the one or more hunting dogs
and sharing the ranking through the web site.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed information includes
stimulation information and the generated map information indicates
locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were subject to
stimulation.
13. A system for providing information regarding hunting grounds,
the system comprising: a plurality of animal tracking apparatuses
each operable to be worn by a hunting dog, each of the animal
tracking apparatuses operable to generate animal tracking
information including location information and sensed condition
information; and a web site operable to receive animal tracking
information generated by the plurality of animal tracking
apparatuses, generate map information corresponding to the received
animal tracking information, and present the generated map
information through a web interface to one or more users.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the web site is configured to
communicate with a personal computing device to receive the animal
tracking information.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the animal tracking
apparatuses are configured to communicate with one or more personal
computing devices to provide the animal tracking information
thereto.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the personal computing device
is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet
computer, a desktop computer, and a laptop computer.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensed condition
information indicates dog barking and the generated map information
indicates locations at which one or more of the hunting dogs were
sensed barking.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensed condition
information indicates going on point and the generated map
information indicates locations at which one or more of the hunting
dogs were sensed going on point.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensed condition
information includes at least one of a posture of the hunting dog,
an orientation of the hunting dog, a temperature of the hunting
dog, a barking of the hunting dog, or a heart rate of the hunting
dog.
20. The system of claim 13, wherein the web site is further
configured to analyze the received tracking data to provide a
ranking of the one or more hunting dogs.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of, and claims
priority benefit to, co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent
application entitled "ANIMAL TRACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD,"
application Ser. No. 13/769,556, filed Feb. 18, 2013, which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is often desirable to track animals for training purposes
and/or to ensure they do not get lost or otherwise harmed. For
instance, hunting dogs are often equipped with tracking devices
that communicate with handheld remotes so that handlers may monitor
their locations while hunting or training. Existing tracking
devices adequately track the locations of animals but provide
little additional information that may be useful when training
and/or tracking the animals.
SUMMARY
[0003] Embodiments of the present technology provide an animal
tracking apparatus that tracks the locations of animals and
monitors and provides other useful information.
[0004] An animal tracking apparatus constructed in accordance with
embodiments of the invention is configured to be worn by a dog or
other animal. The tracking apparatus generally includes a location
determining component operable to determine a current geographic
location of the apparatus; a sensor operable to sense a condition
of the animal wearing the apparatus; memory; and a processor. In
one embodiment, the processor is operable to receive from the
sensor information indicative of the sensed animal condition and to
acquire and store location information corresponding to the current
geographic location of the apparatus in response to the sensing of
the animal condition. The processor may store the location
information as a waypoint at which the condition of the animal was
sensed. The processor may also automatically store condition
information corresponding to the sensed animal condition and
associate the condition information with the location information
in the memory for later transmission and/or analysis.
[0005] In one embodiment, the sensor is a microphone or other sound
sensing device, and the sensed animal condition includes barking or
other sounds made by the animal. The processor may monitor an
output of the microphone and store location information for the
current location of the apparatus whenever barking is sensed. In
some embodiments, the processor may compare the sounds to a
threshold volume or duration or spectral content and store the
location information only when the sounds exceed the threshold or
match the spectral content.
[0006] An animal tracking apparatus constructed in accordance with
various embodiments of the invention comprises a location
determining component operable to determine a current geographic
location of the apparatus; a communication component operable to
receive a command from a remote unit; a sensor operable to sense a
response to the command made by the animal; memory; and a
processor. The processor is operable to monitor the sensor to
identify a response to a received command and to store response
information corresponding to the response in the memory. For
example, the processor may monitor the sensor to determine if the
animal stops and changes direction in response to a "return"
command. In some embodiments, the processor may monitor a time
duration between receipt of a command and the response of the
animal and store corresponding time information in the memory.
[0007] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present
technology will be apparent from the following detailed description
of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0008] Embodiments of the present technology are described in
detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal tracking apparatus
configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present
invention shown coupled to a dog with a body harness;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
tracking apparatus coupled to a dog with a dog collar;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of a portable navigation unit
configured in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing some of the components of
the navigation unit of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing some of the components of
the tracking apparatus of FIG. 1 or 2;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a person using the
navigation unit to communicate with the tracking apparatus;
[0015] FIG. 7 is schematic diagram of a Global Positioning System
(GPS) that may be used by various embodiments of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of computer and
communications equipment that may be used with embodiments of the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a sample screen display of the navigation unit
showing a representation of the location of a tracked animal and a
sensed condition of the animal;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a sample screen display of the navigation unit
showing representations of a location of a tracked animal and a
response to a command;
[0019] FIG. 11 a flow chart showing steps that may be performed by
or with the tracking apparatus; and
[0020] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing other steps that may be
performed by or with the tracking apparatus.
[0021] The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to
the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The following detailed description of the technology
references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific
embodiments in which the technology can be practiced. The
embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the technology in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the technology. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can
be made without departing from the scope of the present technology.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken
in a limiting sense. The scope of the present technology is defined
only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of
equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
[0023] In this description, references to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", or "embodiments" mean that the feature or features
being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the
technology. Separate references to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", or "embodiments" in this description do not
necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually
exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For
example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one
embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not
necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a
variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments
described herein.
[0024] Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with
an animal tracking apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a
portable navigation unit 200 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6,
the animal tracking apparatus 100 may be worn by or otherwise
attached to a dog or other animal A, and the portable navigation
unit 200 may be used by an owner of the animal, a trainer, or other
person P. Embodiments of the animal tracking apparatus 100,
portable navigation unit 200, and other components are described
below.
[0025] As described in detail below, embodiments of the tracking
apparatus 100 may sense a condition of the animal A and
automatically store location information corresponding to the
geographic location of the apparatus where the condition was
sensed. The tracking apparatus may store the location information
as a waypoint at which the condition of the animal was sensed. The
tracking apparatus may also store condition information
corresponding to the sensed animal condition and associate the
condition information with the location information in memory. For
example, the tracking apparatus 100 may sense barking or other
sounds made by the animal, and in response to the barking, store
location information for the location of the apparatus where the
barking was sensed.
[0026] Other embodiments of the tracking apparatus 100 may receive
a command from the navigation unit 200 or other external device and
sense a response made by the animal to the command. The tracking
apparatus 100 may then store information corresponding to the
command and the response in memory. For example, the tracking
apparatus 100 may receive a "return" command from the navigation
unit 200, determine if the animal stops and heads back toward the
user of the navigation unit 200 in a response to the "return"
command, and stores information for both the command and the
response in memory. In some embodiments, the tracking apparatus may
monitor a time duration between receipt of the command and the
response of the animal and store corresponding time information in
memory. These and other aspects of the technology are described in
more detail below.
[0027] Embodiments of the tracking apparatus 100 and navigation
unit 200 will now be described in more detail. Referring initially
to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6, the tracking apparatus 100 may be any
portable electronic device that can be worn by or otherwise
attached to a dog or other animal A and that is operable to
determine its current geographic location. Likewise the navigation
unit 200 may be any portable electronic device that can communicate
with the tracking apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the tracking
apparatus 100 transmits the location of the animal A and other
information to the portable navigation unit 200. However, the
animal tracking apparatus 100 and portable navigation unit 200 are
not necessarily used in combination, as the animal tracking
apparatus 100 and/or portable navigation unit 200 may function and
exist independently of each other.
[0028] One embodiment of the tracking apparatus 100 is shown
schematically in FIG. 5 and generally includes a location
determining component 102 operable to determine a current
geographic location of the apparatus; a sensor 104 operable to
sense a condition of the animal to which the apparatus is coupled;
a processor 106 coupled with the location determining component and
the sensor; and memory 108 coupled with the processor 106. The
tracking apparatus may also include, or be connected with, a
stimulation element 109. Embodiments of the tracking apparatus 100
may also include a primary communications element 110 and a
secondary communications element 112 operable to communicate with
the portable navigation unit 200 or another external device, a
power source 114 for powering the components of the apparatus 100,
and a housing 116 for housing or supporting the components of the
apparatus 100.
[0029] The location determining component 102 may be a Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver such as a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a GLONASS receiver, a Galileo
receiver, or a similar device and is adapted to provide, in a
substantially conventional manner, geographic location information
for the tracking apparatus 100. The location determining component
102 may be, for example, a GPS receiver much like those disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,485, which is incorporated herein in its
entirety by specific reference. In some embodiments, the location
determining component 102 may include a high sensitivity GPS
receiver to facilitate determination of the geographic locations of
the apparatus 100 when the apparatus 100 is shielded from the sky,
such as where the apparatus 100 is in heavy tree cover or brush.
However, the location determining component 102 may receive
cellular or other positioning signals utilizing other various
methods to facilitate determination of geographic locations without
being limited to GPS. In some configurations, the GNSS receiver may
be configured to receive signals from a plurality of satellite
constellations, such as both GPS and GLONASS.
[0030] The GPS is a satellite-based radio navigation system that
allows determination of navigation information, such as position,
velocity, time, and direction, for an unlimited number of users.
Formally known as NAVSTAR, the GPS incorporates a plurality of
satellites that orbit the earth. FIG. 7 shows one representative
view of a GPS denoted generally by reference number 118. A
plurality of satellites 120 are in orbit about the Earth E. The
orbit of each satellite is not necessarily synchronous with the
orbits of other satellites and, in fact, is likely asynchronous.
The tracking apparatus 100, including the location determining
component 102, is shown receiving GPS satellite signals from the
various satellites 120.
[0031] The location determining component 102 may also include
various processing and memory elements to determine the geographic
location of the tracking apparatus 100 itself or it may provide
information to the processor 106 to enable the processor 106 to
determine the geographic location of the tracking apparatus 100.
Thus, the location determining component 102 need not itself
calculate the current geographic location of the tracking apparatus
100 based upon received signals. The location determining component
102 also may include an antenna for receiving signals, such as a
GPS patch antenna or quadrifilar helical antenna. The antenna
utilized by the location determining component 102 may be enclosed
within the housing 116.
[0032] The location determining component 102 may be integral with
the processor 106 and/or the memory 108 such that the location
determining component 102 may be operable to perform the various
functions described herein. Thus, the processor 106 and location
determining component 102 need not be separate or otherwise
discrete elements.
[0033] The location determining component 102 need not directly
determine the current geographic location of the tracking apparatus
100. For instance, the location determining component 102 may
determine the current geographic location by receiving information
or data utilizing the communications elements 110, 112.
[0034] The sensor 104 is operable to sense a condition of the
animal A to which the apparatus is attached. Upon sensing a
condition, the sensor 104 provides a signal and/or data
corresponding to the sensed condition to the processor 106. The
sensor 104 may be operable to periodically or continuously sense
animal conditions such that the processor 106 may be provided with
periodic or constant animal condition information.
[0035] In various embodiments, the sensor 104 is a microphone or
other sound detecting device that is tuned or otherwise configured
to sense barking and/or other sounds emitted by the animal. As
explained in more detail below with reference to the flow diagrams,
the processor 106 may monitor an output of the microphone and store
location information for the current location of the apparatus
whenever barking is sensed. In some embodiments, the processor 106
may compare the sounds to a threshold volume or duration or to
spectral content (e.g., frequency, multiple frequencies a band of
frequency content, amplitudes of each frequency, and the like) and
automatically store the location information only when the sounds
exceed the threshold or match the content as is also described
below.
[0036] The sensor 104 may also, or alternatively, include an animal
temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the animal; a
biometric sensor to sense other biometric characteristics of the
animal such as heart rate and/or breathing rate; an orientation
sensor such as a tilt-compensated three-axis compass, gyroscope,
tilt sensor, or level switch to determine the orientation of the
housing 116 and the posture of the animal; and/or a movement sensor
such as an accelerometer to determine the velocity and/or
acceleration of the animal independent of the location determining
component 102. In some configurations, the sensor 104 may be the
location determining component 102, or be integrated with the
location determining component 102, to determine the current
geographic location of the animal. The tracking apparatus may also
include other sensors for sensing ambient conditions such as an
ambient temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the air
surrounding the tracking apparatus 100, an ambient humidity sensor
to sense the humidity of the air surrounding the tracking apparatus
100, a liquid sensor to sense if the tracking apparatus 100 is dry,
wet, or submerged in water, etc.
[0037] The tracking apparatus may also include a monitor for
monitoring the remaining capacity of the power source 114, a
contact sensor to sense if the housing 116 is in appropriate
contact with an animal collar or harness, a contact sensor to sense
if the housing 116 is intact or damaged, and/or a signal sensor
coupled with one or both of the communications elements 110, 112 to
sense the strength of a received signal.
[0038] The sensor 104 may include any number and/or combination of
sensing elements to sense a plurality of conditions. In some
embodiments, the sensor 104 may be integral with other tracking
apparatus 100 elements, such as the processor 106 or location
determining component 102.
[0039] The processor 106 is coupled with the location determining
component 102, the sensor 104, the memory 108, the communications
elements 110, 112, and other tracking apparatus 100 elements
through wired or wireless connections, such as a data bus, to
enable information to be exchanged between the various elements.
Further, the processor 106 may be operable to control functions of
the tracking apparatus 100 according to a computer program,
including one or more code segments, or other instructions
associated with the memory 108 or with various processor logic and
structure. The processor 106 may comprise various computing
elements, such as integrated circuits, microcontrollers,
microprocessors, programmable logic devices, etc, alone or in
combination, to perform the operations described herein.
[0040] As described above, the processor 106 may determine a
current geographic location of the tracking apparatus 100 by
receiving geographic location information from the location
determining component 102. Alternatively, the processor 106 may
independently determine geographic locations based on information
and/or data, such as received navigation signals, provided by the
location determining component 102, stored within the memory 108,
or acquired from other devices or elements. The processor may also
receive location information from another device through the
communications elements 110, 112.
[0041] The memory 108 is directly or indirectly coupled with the
processor 106 and is operable to store various data utilized by the
processor 106 and/or other elements of the tracking apparatus 100.
The memory 108 may include removable and non-removable memory
elements such as RAM, ROM, flash, magnetic, optical, USB memory
devices, combinations thereof, and/or other conventional memory
elements. The memory 108 may also be integral with the processor
106, such as in embodiments where the memory 108 comprises internal
cache memory.
[0042] The memory 108 may store various data associated with
operation of the tracking apparatus 100, such as a computer
program, code segments, or other data for instructing the processor
106 and other tracking apparatus 100 elements to perform the steps
described below. Further, the memory 108 may store various data
recorded, detected, or otherwise generated by the tracking
apparatus 100, such as current and previous geographic locations of
the tracking apparatus 100, current and previously sensed
conditions, operational characteristics of the tracking apparatus
100, etc. Further, the various data stored within the memory 108
may be associated within a database to facilitate retrieval of
information by the processor 106.
[0043] The primary communications element 110 is coupled with the
processor 106 and is operable to transmit information and/or data
from the tracking apparatus 100 to the navigation unit 200 or other
external devices. The primary communications element 110 may be
operable to transmit data and information over substantial
distances, such as a distance greater than a half mile, utilizing
radio frequency signals. In one embodiment, the primary
communications element 110 includes a VHF transmitter operable to
transmit data and information on various VHF bands. Use of a VHF
transmitter enables the tracking apparatus 100 to efficiently
transmit information with limited interference over long distances.
However, the primary communications element 110 may utilize any
radio or non-radio methods to communicate with external
devices.
[0044] The primary communications element 110 may include an
antenna 122 to facilitate transmission of data and information from
the tracking apparatus 100. In embodiments employing a VHF
transmitter, the antenna 122 may include a VHF helical whip antenna
to maximize the broadcast range of the primary communications
element 110. However, the antenna 122 may include any antenna
elements and is not limited to utilization of a VHF helical whip
antenna.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna 122 may protrude from
the housing to enable the antenna 122 to transmit data and
information over significant distances. The antenna 122 may be
removably coupled with the housing 116 and other tracking apparatus
100 elements to enable the antenna 122 to be easily replaced should
it become damaged during use and to further enable the tracking
apparatus 100 to be compactly transported when not in use. However,
in some embodiments the antenna 122 may be permanently coupled with
the housing 116 to reduce the complexity of the tracking apparatus
100. In some embodiments, the antenna 122 may also be enclosed
entirely within the housing 116.
[0046] The primary communications element 110 may only transmit
data and information from the tracking apparatus 100 or may be
operable to both transmit and receive information to and from
external devices or otherwise engage in bi-directional
communication. For instance, the primary communications element 110
may be operable to transmit data and to receive data from the
portable navigation unit 200 or other external device and store the
received data within the memory 108 for use by the processor
106.
[0047] The secondary communications element 112 is also coupled
with the processor 106 and is operable to communicate with the
portable navigation unit 200 or other external devices independent
of the primary communications element 110. The secondary
communications element 112 may use WiFi (802.11), Bluetooth,
ultra-wideband (UWB), Wi-Max, Wireless USB, ZigBee, IRDA, and/or
other conventional wireless data transfer protocols to efficiently
transfer data between the tracking apparatus 100 and the navigation
unit 200. Thus, in embodiments where the primary communications
element 110 employs VHF or other radio frequency signals that are
efficient for long-range communication but inefficient or
ineffective for rapid data transfer, the secondary communications
element 112 enables the tracking apparatus 100 and navigation unit
200 to rapidly exchange data to facilitate operation of the present
invention. For instance, the secondary communications element 112
may receive data and information from the navigation unit 200 and
store the received data and information within the memory 108 for
use by the processor 106. The secondary communications element 112
may also receive data and information from the navigation unit 200
for configuration purposes.
[0048] The power source 114 provides electrical power to components
of the tracking apparatus 100 such as the location determining
component 102, processor 106, memory 108, sensor 104, and/or
communications elements 110, 112. The power source 114 may comprise
conventional power supply elements, such as batteries, battery
packs, fuel cells, solar cells and solar power elements, etc. The
power source 114 may also comprise power conduits, connectors, and
receptacles operable to receive batteries, battery connectors, or
power cables. For example, the power source 114 may include both a
battery to enable portable operation and a power input for
receiving power from an external source such as an electrical
outlet.
[0049] The housing 116 houses and encloses at least portions of the
processor 106, the location determining component 102, the memory
108, the sensor 104, the power source 114, and the communications
elements 110, 112. The housing 116 may be substantially waterproof
and formed of durable and rigid materials to enable the tracking
apparatus 100 to be utilized in potentially inclement conditions,
such as those encountered outdoors while hunting.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 116 may be configured for
coupling with a body harness 124 or other belt-like apparatus that
is operable to be secured around the animal's mid-section.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing 116 may be
configured for coupling with a dog collar 126 to facilitate
securement of the tracking apparatus around the animal's neck. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the housing 116, the
antenna 122, the body harness 124, and the collar 126 ensures that
the antenna 122 is oriented properly, i.e. upwards, regardless of
the general position of the animal to which the housing 116 is
coupled.
[0051] The stimulation element 109 may provide stimulation to the
animal A to encourage a desired result. For example, the animal may
be trained to recognize stimulation(s) applied by the stimulation
element 109 and to perform a desired action in response to the
stimulation(s). In various configurations, the stimulation element
109 may be operable to provide varying levels of electrical
stimulation to the animal A. In addition to, or as an alternative
to electrical stimulation, the stimulation element 109 may be
operable to provide acoustic (tonal), optical, olfactory (scents
such as citronella), vibratory, or other forms of stimulation. For
instance, the stimulation element 109 may include a speaker,
lights, a vibratory element, and/or other training aids in order to
provide any desired form of stimulation to the animal. The
stimulation element 109 may be embedded in the harness 124 and/or
the collar 126.
[0052] Embodiments of the portable navigation unit 200 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The navigation unit 200
may be any portable electronic device that is operable to
communicate with the tracking apparatus 100 and display
information. An embodiment of the navigation unit 200 may include a
location determining component 202 operable to determine a current
geographic location of the unit; a sensor 204 operable to sense a
condition of the navigation unit 200; a processor 206; memory 208
coupled with the processor 206 and operable to store information; a
user interface 210; a primary communications element 212 and a
secondary communications element 214 operable to communicate with
the tracking apparatus 100; a power source 216 for powering various
unit 200 elements; a display 218 for displaying information
generated by the processor 206, and a housing 220 for housing
various navigation unit 200 elements.
[0053] The location determining component 202, processor 206, and
memory 208 are generally similar or identical to the location
determining component 102, processor 106, and memory 108 of the
tracking apparatus 100 discussed above and are therefore not
described in detail again. However, in some embodiments the
location determining component 202 and memory 208 may include
additional capabilities, such as additional processing power,
greater memory capacity, reduced component access time, or GPS
precision, beyond those provided by the components of the tracking
apparatus 100 due to the additional navigation features provided by
the navigation unit 200 discussed below. For instance, the memory
208 may comprise multiple memory elements, such as internal RAM,
internal flash memory, and removable flash memory elements.
[0054] The sensor 204 may include a tilt compensated three-axis
magnetic compass operable to determine the heading or general
orientation of the navigation unit 200. Determining the orientation
or heading of the navigation unit 200 facilitates tracking of the
tracking apparatus 100 by providing the user with an accurate
bearing to the tracking apparatus 100. In some embodiments the
sensor 204 may additionally include a MEMS-based pressure sensor to
sense ambient conditions around the navigation unit 200 or to
determine altitude, weather trends, etc.
[0055] The user interface 210 enables the person P or other users,
third parties, or other devices to share information with the
navigation unit 200. The user interface 210 may comprise one or
more functionable inputs such as buttons, switches, scroll wheels,
etc, a touch screen associated with the display 218, voice
recognition elements such as a microphone, pointing devices such as
mice, touchpads, trackballs, styluses, a camera such as a digital
still or video camera, combinations thereof, etc. Further, the user
interface 210 may comprise wired or wireless data transfer elements
such as removable memory including the memory 208, data
transceivers, etc, to enable the user and other devices or parties
to remotely interface with the navigation unit 200.
[0056] The user interface 210 may provide various information to
the user utilizing the display 218 or other visual or audio
elements such as a speaker. Thus, the user interface 210 enables
the user and navigation unit 200 to exchange information, including
tracking information, geographic entities, navigation unit and
tracking apparatus configuration, security information,
preferences, route information, points of interests, alerts and
alert notification, navigation information, waypoints, a
destination address, etc.
[0057] The primary communications element 212 enables the
navigation unit 200 to receive information and/or data transmitted
by the tracking apparatus 100 or another device. The primary
communications element 212 may be any device or combination of
devices operable to receive a signal, such as a receiver coupled
with an antenna. The primary communications element 212 may be
operable to only receive signals transmitted by other devices, such
as the tracking apparatus 100, or may be operable to both receive
and transmit signals.
[0058] The primary communications element 212 is compatible with
the primary communications element 110 to enable the navigation
unit 200 to easily receive data and information from the tracking
apparatus 100. For example, in embodiments where the primary
communications element 110 includes a VHF transmitter, the primary
communications element 212 may include a corresponding VHF
receiver. However, in some embodiments, the primary communications
element 212 may include a multi-band receiver and/or scanner
operable to identify and receive signals transmitted on multiple
frequencies or bands.
[0059] The primary communications element 212 may include an
antenna 222 as shown in FIG. 3 to facilitate reception of signals
transmitted by the tracking apparatus 100. In embodiments where the
communications element 212 comprises a VHF receiver, the antenna
222 may comprise a VHF helical whip antenna. The antenna 222 may be
permanently or removably coupled with the housing 220 or be
entirely enclosed therein.
[0060] The antenna 222 may be integral or discrete with an antenna
utilized by the location determining component 202. For instance,
as shown in FIG. 3, the navigation unit 200 may include both the
antenna 222 to receive signals from the tracking apparatus 100 and
a GPS antenna 224 to receive GPS satellite signals for use by the
location determining component 202 and/or processor 206.
[0061] The secondary communications element 214 is generally
similar to the secondary communications element 112 of the tracking
apparatus 100 and is operable to communicate with the tracking
apparatus 100 or other external device independent of the primary
communications element 212. The secondary communications element
214 is operable to transmit and receive information to and from the
tracking apparatus 100 independent of the primary communications
element 212. The secondary communications element 214 may be
operable to utilize WiFi (802.11), Bluetooth, ultra-wideband (UWB),
Wi-Max, Wireless USB, ZigBee, and/or other conventional wireless
data transfer protocols to efficiently transfer data between the
tracking apparatus 100 and the navigation unit 200.
[0062] The power source 216 provides electrical power to various
navigation unit 200 elements any may comprise conventional power
supply elements, such as batteries, battery packs, fuel cells,
solar cells and solar elements, etc. The power source 216 may also
comprise power conduits, connectors, and receptacles operable to
receive batteries, battery connectors, or power cables. For
example, the power source 216 may include both a battery to enable
portable operation and a power input for receiving power from an
external source such an automobile.
[0063] The display 218 is coupled with the processor 206 and/or
other navigation unit 200 elements and is operable to display
various information corresponding to the navigation unit 200, such
as tracking information, maps, locations, and other information as
is described below. The display 218 may be monochrome or color and
comprise display elements including, but limited to, CRT and LCD
devices. As described above, the display 218 may include a
touch-screen display to enable the user to interact with the
display 218 by touching or pointing at display areas to provide
information to the navigation unit 200.
[0064] The housing 220 may be handheld or otherwise portable to
facilitate transport of the navigation unit 200 between locations.
The housing 220 may be comprised of generally conventional,
substantially waterproof, and durable materials, such as ABS, other
plastics, metals, etc, to protect the enclosed and associated
elements when the navigation unit 200 is utilized in potentially
inclement conditions such as those encountered while hunting.
[0065] Embodiments of the present invention may also comprise one
or more computer programs stored in or on the memory 108 or 208 or
other computer-readable medium residing on or accessible by the
tracking apparatus 100 or navigation unit 200. The computer
programs may comprise listings of executable instructions for
implementing logical functions and can be embodied in any
non-transitory computer-readable medium for use by or in connection
with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as
a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other
system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, and execute the
instructions. In the context of this application, a
"computer-readable medium" can be the memory 108 or 208 or any
other non-transitory means that can contain, store, or communicate
the programs. The computer-readable medium can be, for example, but
not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electro-magnetic,
infrared, or semi-conductor system, apparatus, or device.
[0066] Certain operational aspects of the above-described tracking
apparatus 100 and navigation unit 200 will now be described with
reference to the screen displays of FIGS. 9 and 10 and the flow
charts of FIGS. 11 and 12. Some of the blocks of the flow charts
may represent a step or steps in a method or a module segment or
portion of code of computer programs of the present invention. In
some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the
various blocks may occur out of the order depicted in the flow
charts. For example, two blocks shown in succession in FIG. 11 or
12 may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the
blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order depending
upon the functionality involved.
[0067] FIG. 11 depicts a method 1100 and/or portions of a computer
program in which the tracking apparatus 100 senses a condition of
the animal A and then automatically acquires and stores location
information corresponding to the geographic location of the
apparatus at which the condition was sensed. The tracking apparatus
100 may store the location information as a waypoint at which the
condition of the animal was sensed and may also store condition
information corresponding to the sensed condition and associate the
condition information with the location information in memory. When
the sensor includes a microphone or other sound sensing device as
described above, the processor 106 may monitor an output of the
microphone and store location information for the location of the
apparatus 100 whenever barking or other noises are sensed. In some
embodiments, the processor 106 may compare the sounds to a
threshold volume or duration or a selected spectral content and
automatically store the location information only when the sounds
exceed the threshold or match the spectral content The locations of
the animal subsequent to sensing of the condition may similarly be
acquired and stored so that a track log of the animal's response to
the sensed condition may be established.
[0068] The method 1100 of FIG. 11 begins when an animal condition
is sensed as shown in step 1102. The sensed animal condition may be
acquired by the tracking apparatus 100 using the sensor 104 and may
be any animal condition that a trainer, hunter, or other person may
wish to observe or analyze. In one embodiment, the sensed condition
includes barking or other sounds made by the animal as detected by
a microphone or other sound sensing device. The sensed condition
may also comprise the posture of the animal, such as if the animal
is sitting, standing, treeing, or pointing. The sensed condition
may also be related to movement of the animal, such as if the
animal is moving, stationary, or running. The sensed condition may
also relate to the location, velocity, acceleration, or heading of
the animal. As should be appreciated, any condition or combination
of conditions may be sensed by the sensor 104 or otherwise acquired
in step 1102.
[0069] The sensor 104 may continuously or at regular intervals
sense animal conditions and generate signals, data, or other
information corresponding to the sensed conditions. In some
embodiments, animal conditions may be sensed and/or acquired at a
user-defined or pre-defined interval, such as every thirty seconds,
every minute, etc, to conserve the power source 114 and lengthen
the time in which the tracking apparatus 100 may be utilized for
tracking. In some configurations, the interval may be determined by
thresholds in movement, barking, and the like, instead of time.
[0070] In some embodiments, the processor 106 may attempt to
identify certain target animal conditions as shown in step 1104
such that location information is only stored for these target
animal conditions. For example, when the sensor 104 includes a
sound sensing device, the processor 106 may compare detected sounds
to a threshold volume, spectral content or duration and attempt to
identify sounds that exceed the threshold or match the spectral
content. In one embodiment, the processor 106 attempts to identify
detected sounds that exceed a decibel level of 60 dB, which is a
typical volume of dog barking. In other embodiments, the processor
106 attempts to identify sounds that match a frequency pattern (or
other spectral content) unique to dog barking. The processor 106
may be configured to identify sounds corresponding to particular
types of dog barking, such as nuisance barking, panic barking,
animal treed barking, and the like.
[0071] In still other embodiments, the processor 106 attempts to
identify sounds that occur for a pre-determined time interval such
as two seconds or more. This ensures that only desired animal
conditions result in the acquisition and storage of corresponding
geographic location information as described below. The threshold
or thresholds may be user-configurable to match characteristics of
a particular tracked animal and may be adjusted and/or changed.
[0072] The tracking apparatus 100 may also acquire sensed ambient
conditions and/or tracking apparatus 100 conditions in steps 1102
or 1104. For instance, as discussed above, the sensed condition or
conditions may include an ambient temperature, a remaining power
level of the tracking apparatus 100, etc.
[0073] In some embodiments, the processor 106 and sensor 104 may
cooperate to acquire one or more sensed conditions. For instance,
the sensor 104 may acquire the orientation of the housing 116 and
the processor 106 may determine the posture of the animal based on
the acquired orientation. Further, the processor 106 may use a
combination of information acquired from the location determining
component 102, the memory 108, and the sensor 104 to acquire sensed
conditions. For example, the processor 106 may compare a currently
sensed condition to a previously sensed condition, use information
acquired from the sensor 104 and the location determining component
102 to determine the status, posture, or movement of the animal,
etc. In some configurations, the sensed condition may be the
application of stimulation by the stimulation element 109.
[0074] After an animal condition is detected, the current
geographic location of the tracking apparatus 100 is acquired as
shown in step 1106. Thus, the current geographic location is
acquired (and then stored as described below) in response to the
detection of the animal condition. The current geographic location
of the tracking apparatus 100, and thus the animal to which the
tracking apparatus 100 is mounted, may be acquired and determined
using the location determining component 102. Thus, for instance,
the current geographic location may be determined in step 1106 by
receiving GPS signals (and/or other GNSS signals) and computing the
current geographic location from the received GPS signals. The
geographic locations of the apparatus 100 may be acquired and
determined utilizing other methods, such as by retrieving the
current geographic location from the memory 108 or from one or both
of the communications elements 110, 112. Similarly, the processor
106 may calculate the current geographic location of the tracking
apparatus 100 utilizing information and data stored within the
memory 108. In various configurations, the location of the animal
may be tracked using the location determining component 102 and
stored a period of time subsequent to detection of the animal
condition. Thus, the animal's response to the sensed condition may
be tracked.
[0075] In addition to acquiring the location of the tracking
apparatus 100 in response to the acquisition of a sensed animal
condition, the current location of the tracking apparatus 100 may
be continuously or periodically acquired to provide an accurate
representation of the location of the tracking apparatus 100
independent of sensed animal conditions. In some embodiments, the
current geographic location of the apparatus may be acquired at a
user-defined or pre-defined interval, such as every thirty seconds,
every minute, etc, to conserve the power source 114 and lengthen
the time in which the tracking apparatus 100 may be utilized for
tracking.
[0076] Information relating to the sensed animal condition acquired
in step 1102 and the corresponding location of the tracking
apparatus 100 acquired in step 1106 is then stored within the
memory 108 as depicted in step 1108. In some embodiments, the
location information for each sensed animal condition is stored as
a waypoint at which the animal condition was sensed. For example,
each time barking is detected, the processor 106 may automatically
acquire the current geographic location of the apparatus 100 and
store the location as a waypoint for the barking. The processor may
also store information representative of the barking or other
sensed condition and associate the information for the sensed
condition with the waypoint. The information may be stored within
the memory 108 for later use and analysis by the processor 106, the
navigation unit 200, and/or the user P. In some embodiments, step
1108 may be performed each time steps 1102 and 1106 are performed
such that information for every sensed animal condition and its
corresponding location is stored within the memory 108. In other
embodiments, only certain information is stored. For example, step
1108 may only store information after a selected number of animal
conditions (e.g. two or more) are sensed.
[0077] As multiple sensed animal conditions are acquired as
described above, a database or other organized listing of sensed
conditions and corresponding geographic locations may be formed or
otherwise stored within the memory 108. By storing information for
a plurality of sensed animal conditions and corresponding locations
within the memory 108, the user P or other person may later analyze
the stored data for tracking or training purposes. In embodiments
where the memory 108 is removable, the user may remove the memory
108 and couple the memory 108 with a computing element or the
navigation unit 200 to further analyze the stored information. For
example, a user may analyze the information to determine locations
where a dog frequently barked, sat, pointed, or exhibited any other
animal conditions such as a response to stimulation or training
commands. Such locations may indicate the presence of game or other
targets and/or the effectiveness of training.
[0078] In step 1110, information relating to the sensed animal
conditions and the corresponding locations of the tracking
apparatus 100 may be transmitted to the navigation unit 200 or
another external device. In some embodiments, the primary
communications element 110 is used to transmit the information so
that the information may be received from significant ranges, such
as those greater than a half mile. In other embodiments, it may be
desirable to transmit the information with the secondary
communications element 112, such as where the navigation unit 200
and tracking apparatus 100 are in close proximity and rapid
transfer of information is desirable. In other configurations, the
same communications element may be used to transmit the information
with varying signal power depending on desired range.
[0079] The information may be transmitted as soon as it is stored
or only at user-defined or pre-defined intervals, such as every 2.5
seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5
minutes, etc, to conserve the power source 114. The information may
also be transmitted only upon user prompt. The information may be
transmitted simultaneously or in rapid sequence. Thus, for
instance, every sixty seconds the primary communications element
212 may transmit all information for sensed animal conditions and
corresponding geographic locations that were stored within the
memory 108 within the previous sixty seconds. Such a configuration
reduces power consumption while still allowing the navigation unit
200 or other remote device to receive comprehensive information
regarding the tracking apparatus 100.
[0080] When no sensed animal condition is acquired, step 1110 may
still transmit information for the current geographic location of
the apparatus 100. This enables tracking of the animal independent
of the sensing of animal conditions.
[0081] The navigation unit 200 may store the received animal
condition information and the corresponding location information
within its memory 208. All information and data received from the
tracking apparatus 100 may be stored within the memory 208 in an
ordered listing or database to enable subsequent analysis. However
to reduce required memory capacity, in some embodiments, only
portions of the received information are stored within the memory
208, such as the locations and conditions received within the last
two hours, or any other interval.
[0082] The memory 208 of the navigation unit 200 may also store
cartographic information such as maps, terrain and elevation
information, points of interest, street and thoroughfare
information, navigation information, or any other information
corresponding to various locations. The processor 206 is operable
to access the memory 208 and cartographic information according to
the current geographic location of the tracking apparatus 100.
[0083] For instance, the processor 206 may consider the received
current geographic locations of the tracking apparatus 100, access
a database of cartographic information stored within the memory
208, and retrieve cartographic information corresponding to the
tracking apparatus 100 location. Such cartographic information may
include a map of the area surrounding the current tracking
apparatus 100 location. Similarly, the processor 206 may access
cartographic information corresponding to previously acquired
geographic locations or predicted future locations of the tracking
apparatus 100.
[0084] The navigation unit 200 may also generate and display a
representation of the tracking apparatus location 100 at the time
an animal condition is sensed as well as a representation of the
sensed condition. The processor 206 may generate such
representations on a map to enable the user to easily identify the
location of the animal and tracking apparatus 100 and the sensed
condition. The sensed condition and location information may be
represented with a graphical indication or an audible indication,
such as voice information relating to the acquired information. For
example, a graphic of a barking dog may be displayed at the
location where barking was sensed as shown in FIG. 9. The
representation may also indicate the sensed conditions and
corresponding locations utilizing text, such as an indication that
the dog is barking, the location of the barking, and a description
of the animal's posture as shown in FIG. 9.
[0085] The processor 206 may also present the information for the
sensed conditions and corresponding locations in list or table form
to enable a user to quickly view a number of sensed animal
conditions and corresponding locations. The information may also be
grouped such that information for the same or similar sensed
conditions is displayed together.
[0086] The navigation unit 200 may access cartographic information
each time information is received from the tracking apparatus 100.
Such a configuration ensures that the processor 206 generates
accurate representations of the area in proximity to the tracking
apparatus 100. However, to conserve navigation unit 200 resources,
in some embodiments cartographic information may be accessed only a
certain intervals, such as every 15 seconds, 30 seconds, etc. In
some embodiments, the navigation unit 200 may access cartographic
information stored on other devices. For example, the secondary
communications element 214 may access the Internet or other
external devices to retrieve cartographic information corresponding
to the acquired tracking apparatus 100 location.
[0087] The navigation unit 200 may also display a representation of
the current location of the tracking apparatus 100 that is
independent of the current location of the navigation unit 200 such
that the absolute position of the tracking apparatus 100 is
provided. "Absolute position" as utilized herein refers to a
position or location that is not dependent on the location of the
navigation unit 200, such as a particular latitude or longitude or
a position of the tracking apparatus 100 on a map as shown in FIGS.
9 and 10. Use of absolute positions to represent the location of
the tracking apparatus 100, in contrast to purely relational
representations based on the current location of the navigation
unit 200, enables the user to quickly and easily identify the
location of the animal utilizing cartographic information, such as
landmarks, street intersections, etc, instead of purely relational
information which may be of limited value to the user independent
of cartographic information.
[0088] As discussed above, the cartographic information may
additionally or alternatively include terrain and elevation
information. Consequently, the processor 206 may generate a
representation of the tracking apparatus 100 and animal showing the
animal on grass, near water, at a certain elevation, on a path, on
a road, etc. Such terrain and elevation information further assists
the user in tracking the animal by providing the user additional
information regarding the animal's current location. As should be
appreciated, any cartographic information accessed by the
navigation unit 200 may be utilized to generate and display the
representation of the current geographic location of the tracking
apparatus 100.
[0089] The generated and displayed information may also include a
representation of the current geographic location of the navigation
unit 200. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the current
geographic location of the navigation unit 200 may be displayed as
two concentric circles. By representing absolute unit and apparatus
locations utilizing cartographic information, the user P may easily
identify his or her own location, the location of the animal A, and
the best route from the current navigation unit location to the
current tracking apparatus location. Further, in some embodiments
the processor 206 may generate a route to the current tracking
apparatus 100 location using the accessed cartographic information.
The route may be dynamically updated as the position of the
navigation unit 200 and tracking apparatus 100 changes.
[0090] The generated and displayed representations may also include
relational information regarding the current and previous locations
of the tracking apparatus 100 and navigation unit 200. For
instance, the generated and displayed representations may include
information such as the bearing, direction, and/or distance to the
tracking apparatus 100 from the navigation unit 200. Use of both
relational and absolute location information enables the user to
efficiently track the animal based on cartographic or directional
information.
[0091] In some embodiments, the generated and displayed
representations may also include supplemental tracking information
formed utilizing a plurality of received tracking apparatus 100
locations. For instance, the supplemental tracking information may
include the speed and acceleration of the tracking apparatus 100, a
plot or display of previous tracking apparatus 100 locations, a
projected future path or route of the tracking apparatus 100 and/or
animal, the direction, bearing, or heading of the tracking
apparatus 100, etc.
[0092] Additional features provided by embodiments of the present
invention are depicted in the flow chart FIG. 12, which illustrates
a method 1200 and/or portions of a computer program in which one of
the communications elements 110, 112 of the tracking apparatus 100
receives a command from the navigation unit 200 or another remote
unit and the sensor 104 senses a response to the command made by
the animal. For instance, the command from the navigation unit 200
may cause activation of the stimulation element 109 to provide a
desired amount of stimulation to the animal. The processor 106 then
monitors the sensor 104 to identify a desired response to the
command and stores response information corresponding to the
response in the memory. In one configuration, the sensor 104 may
include the location determining component 102 and determine the
position, direction, and/or speed of the animal subsequent to
activation of the stimulation element 109. For example, after
receiving a command (e.g., return, recall, barking cessation,
listen to handler, trashbreaking, combinations thereof, and the
like) from the navigation unit 200, which causes appropriate
activation of the stimulation element 109, the processor 106 may
monitor the sensor 104 to determine if the animal correctly
responds in a response to the command (e.g., stops and changes
direction in response to a return command). In some embodiments,
the processor 106 may monitor a time duration between receipt of a
command and the corresponding response of the animal and store time
information corresponding to the time duration in the memory.
Similarly, the locations of the animal subsequent to application of
the "return" command may be monitored to determine the animal's
reaction to the stimulation applied by the stimulation element.
Such functionality enables the animal trainer to determine if the
animal is reacting appropriately to stimulation provided by the
stimulation element 109.
[0093] The method 1200 of FIG. 12 begins when the tracking
apparatus 100 receives a command as shown in step 1202. The command
may be sent from the navigation unit 200 or any other external
device and may be received by the communications element 110 or
112. The received command may trigger stimulation by the tracking
apparatus 100 or a device coupled with the tracking apparatus. For
example, the command may trigger stimulation via the stimulation
element 109 that the animal A is trained to recognize as a command
to return to its owner and/or handler. The command may also be a
voice command reproduced on a speaker of the tracking apparatus or
other form of stimulation.
[0094] A response to the command, if any, is then sensed in step
1204. The response may be sensed by the tracking apparatus 100
using the sensor 104. The sensed response may correspond to the
animal's movement, such as its heading, speed of travel, etc. The
sensed response may also correspond to the posture of the animal,
such as if the animal is sitting, standing, or pointing. The sensed
response may also include barking or other sounds made by the
animal, or the cessation of sounds, as detected by the microphone
or other sound sensing device. Thus, the sensed response (e.g.,
barking) may be independent of application of the command in
configurations where, for instance, the tracking apparatus 100 is
utilized to record locations where the tracked animal barks. Any
combination of responses may be sensed by the sensor 104 for
acquisition in step 1202.
[0095] In some embodiments, the processor 106 may attempt to
identify certain target responses as shown in step 1206. To do so,
certain commands may be correlated with certain responses in the
memory 108. The processor may access the memory and attempt to
identify a particular response when a particular command is
received. For example, a "return" command may be associated with a
response in which the animal runs toward the navigation unit 200.
The processor may attempt to identify such a response in step 1204
when a "return" command is received in step 1202.
[0096] The sensor 104 may continuously or at regular intervals
sense responses and generate signals, data, or other information
corresponding to the responses. In some embodiments, the processor
106 and sensor 104 may cooperate to acquire one or more sensed
responses. For instance, the sensor 104 may acquire the orientation
of the housing 116 and the processor 106 may determine the posture
of the animal based on the acquired orientation. Further, the
processor 106 may use a combination of information acquired from
the location determining component 102, the memory 108, and the
sensor 104 to acquire a sensed response. For example, the processor
106 may compare a currently sensed response to a previously sensed
response, use information acquired from the sensor 104 and the
location determining component 102 to determine the status,
posture, or movement of the animal, etc.
[0097] After a response to a command is detected, the geographic
location of the tracking apparatus 100 at the time of the response
is acquired as shown in block 1208. Thus, a geographic location is
acquired (and then stored as described below) in response to the
detection of a response to a command. In some embodiments, the
location of the apparatus is also acquired when a command is
received. The geographic locations of the tracking apparatus 100,
and thus the animal to which the tracking apparatus 100 is mounted,
may be acquired and determined as described above.
[0098] In addition to acquiring the geographic location of the
tracking apparatus in response to receipt of a command and/or a
sensed response to the command, the current geographic location of
the tracking apparatus 100 may be continuously or periodically
acquired to provide an accurate representation of the location of
the tracking apparatus 100 even when no commands are given or
responses are sensed.
[0099] The tracking apparatus 100 may also acquire the current date
and time at which a command is received and a response to the
command is detected as shown in step 1210. The time information may
be acquired with an internal clock of the processor 106 or from
other sources. The processor 106 may then calculate and store
information corresponding to the elapsed time between receipt of a
command and detection of a desired response to the command.
[0100] In step 1212, information relating to the received command,
the detected response, the corresponding geographic locations of
the tracking apparatus, and the corresponding time and date
information is stored within the memory 108. The geographic
locations may be stored as waypoints at which the commands were
received and/or the responses were detected. For example, each time
a command is received, the processor 106 may automatically acquire
the geographic location of the apparatus and store the location as
a waypoint. Similarly, each time a response to a command is
detected, the processor 106 may acquire and store the current
location of the tracking apparatus. The processor may also store
information representative of the command and response as well as
the elapsed time information along with the location information.
In some embodiments, step 1212 may be performed each time steps
1202 and 1204 are performed such that information for every
command, response, and corresponding location is stored within the
memory 208. A database or other organized listing of commands,
responses, time information and corresponding geographic locations
may be formed or otherwise stored within the memory 208.
[0101] In step 1214, information relating to the commands,
responses, locations, and times may be transmitted to the
navigation unit 200 or another external device. The primary
communications element 110 or the secondary communication element
112 may be used to transmit the information. Information
corresponding to the sensed conditions and corresponding current
geographic locations of the tracking apparatus 100 may be
transmitted as soon as it is stored, at user-defined or pre-defined
intervals or upon user prompting.
[0102] The navigation unit 200 may store all information received
from the tracking apparatus 100 within the memory 208 for use by
the processor 206 and/or user. All information and data received
from the tracking apparatus 100 may be stored within the memory 208
in an ordered listing or database to enable subsequent
analysis.
[0103] The memory 208 of the navigation unit may also store
cartographic information such as maps, terrain and elevation
information, points of interest, street and thoroughfare
information, navigation information, or any other information
corresponding to various locations. The processor 206 is operable
to access the memory 208 and cartographic information according to
the current geographic location of the tracking apparatus 100.
[0104] The navigation unit 200 may access cartographic information
each time information is received from the tracking apparatus 100.
Such a configuration ensures that the processor 206 generates
accurate representations of the area in proximity to the tracking
apparatus 100. However, to conserve navigation unit 200 resources,
in some embodiments cartographic information may be accessed only a
certain intervals, such as every 15 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.
[0105] The navigation unit 200 may also generate and display
representations of sent and/or received commands, the responses to
the commands, the elapsed time between a command and a response,
and the corresponding locations. For example, the navigation unit
200 may display the number of times a particular condition was
sensed (e.g., bark odometer, treed conditions, times on point), the
number of times and locations where a command was sent or received,
combinations thereof, and the like. In one configuration, the
navigation unit 200 may present a graphical map that indicates the
location where each condition was sensed (which may indicate the
location of coon trees, coveys, etc.) and the location of the
tracking apparatus 100 when commands were sent from the navigation
unit 200.
[0106] As shown in FIG. 10, the processor 206 may generate and
display a map representation of the location of the tracking
apparatus 100 when a response to a command was sensed to enable the
user to easily identify the location of the animal and tracking
apparatus 100 when the animal exhibits the response. The generated
and displayed representation may also include an indication of the
command and/or the response. The command or the response may be
represented utilizing a graphical indication, such as an image of a
dog returning to its handler and/or a heading indicator indicating
the animal's most recent position. For example, a graphic of a
running dog may be displayed at the location where a desired
response to a command was sensed as shown in FIG. 10. The
representation may also indicate the sent and/or received command,
the sensed response and corresponding locations utilizing text,
such as an indication that the dog is returning and a description
of the animal's location and heading as shown in FIG. 10.
[0107] The generated and displayed information may also include a
representation of the current geographic location of the navigation
unit 200 and other location and tracking information as explained
in detail below.
[0108] Other embodiments of the invention may be implemented with a
computer and communications system 300 shown in FIG. 8 and one or
more computer programs for operating components of the system 300.
One embodiment of the system 300 includes a computer or computer
system 302 that may be accessed by one more personal computing
devices 304A,B,C via a communications network 306. The devices in
the system 300 may be operated by any persons or entities.
[0109] The computer system 302 receives, stores, and provides
access to the information described in connection with the methods
1100 and 1200 and other information. The computer system 302 may
also implement one or more computer programs for performing some of
the functions described herein and may provide a web-based portal
that can be accessed by the personal computing devices 304A,B,C,
and other devices.
[0110] Embodiments of the computer system 302 may include one or
more servers. The computer system 302 includes or has access to
computer memory and other hardware and software for receiving,
storing, accessing, and transmitting information as described
below. The computer system 302 may also include conventional web
hosting operating software, searching algorithms, an Internet
connection, and may be assigned a URL and corresponding domain name
so that it can be accessed via the Internet in a conventional
manner.
[0111] The personal computing devices 304A,B,C may be any devices
used by users of the tracking apparatus 100 and/or the navigation
unit 200. The personal computing devices 304A,B,C may be desktop
computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, mobile phones, or
similar devices as shown. Each personal computing device may
include or can access an Internet browser and a conventional
Internet connection such as a wireless broadband connection so that
it can exchange data with the computer system 302 via the
communications network 306. One or more of the devices 304A,B,C may
also exchange data with the tracking apparatus 100 and/or the
navigation unit 200 via a wired or wireless data link as
illustrated. In some configurations, the tracking apparatus 100 and
navigation unit 200 may be operable to directly communicate with
the network 306 without utilizing device 304A or other intermediate
computing devices.
[0112] The communications network 306 may be the Internet or any
other communications network such as a local area network, a wide
area network, or an intranet. The communications network 306 may
include or be in communication with a wireless network 308 capable
of supporting wireless communications such as the wireless networks
operated by AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. The wireless network 306
may include conventional switching and routing equipment. The
communications network 306 and wireless network 308 may also be
combined or implemented with several different networks.
[0113] The components of the system 300 illustrated and described
herein are merely examples of equipment that may be used to
implement embodiments of the present invention and may be replaced
with other equipment without departing from the scope of the
present invention. Some of the illustrated components of the system
may also be combined.
[0114] Embodiments of the present invention may also comprise one
or more computer programs stored in or on computer-readable medium
residing on or accessible by the computer system 302 or the
personal computing devices 304A,B,C. The computer programs may
comprise listings of executable instructions for implementing
logical functions in the computers and can be embodied in any
non-transitory computer-readable medium for use by or in connection
with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as
a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other
system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, and execute the
instructions.
[0115] In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a
computer program stored on non-transitory computer readable medium
is provided for directing operation of the computer system 302 to
provide an Internet accessible portal for animal tracking and
training information. The computer program may comprise a code
segment for receiving location data representative of a location of
an animal tracking apparatus at the time an animal wearing the
animal tracking apparatus exhibited a condition; a code segment for
accessing cartographic data for an area near the location; a code
segment for creating a representation of the location with the
location data and the cartographic data; and a code segment for
permitting users to access the computer via a communications
network and display the representation of the location of the
animal tracking apparatus at the time the animal wearing the animal
tracking apparatus exhibited the condition.
[0116] The computer program may further comprise a code segment for
receiving condition information corresponding to the condition of
the animal and a code segment for displaying a representation of
the condition information alongside the representation of the
location. As described in connection with other embodiments of the
invention, the condition of the animal may include barking or other
sounds made by the animal.
[0117] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a
computer program stored on non-transitory computer readable medium
is provided for directing operation of the computer system 302. An
embodiment of the computer program comprises a code segment for
receiving location data representative of a location of a first
animal tracking apparatus at the time an animal wearing the first
animal tracking apparatus exhibited a condition; a code segment for
receiving location data representative of a location of a second
animal tracking apparatus at the time an animal wearing the second
animal tracking apparatus exhibited a condition; a code segment for
accessing cartographic data for an area that encompasses the
location of the first and second animal tracking apparatuses; a
code segment for creating a representation of the location of the
first animal tracking apparatus and of the location of the second
animal tracking apparatus using the location data and the
cartographic data; and a code segment for permitting users to
access the computer and display the representation of the location
of the first animal tracking apparatus at the time the animal
wearing the first animal tracking apparatus exhibited the condition
and of the location of the second animal tracking apparatus at the
time the animal wearing the second animal tracking apparatus
exhibited the condition. Of course, the computer program may be
utilized to receive, analyze, display, and the compare the
locations of multiple animals and associated sensed conditions.
[0118] The computer program may further comprise a code segment for
receiving condition information corresponding to the condition of
the first animal and a code segment for displaying a representation
of the condition information alongside the representation of the
location of the first animal. The computer program may further
comprise a code segment for receiving condition information
corresponding to the condition of the second animal and a code
segment for displaying a representation of the condition
information alongside the representation of the location of the
second animal.
[0119] The above-described computer programs may also receive,
store, display, and provide access to information relating to the
commands and associated responses of the methods 1200 described
above. Such functionality enables the training performance of the
animal to be evaluated to determine if the animal reacted
appropriately to applied stimulation. For example, the system 300
may used to determine if a particular animal, or a group of
animals, reacted appropriately to applied stimulation.
Additionally, such functionality enables users, each having
different animals, to share data regarding their animals, sensed
conditions, and/or training performance. Thus, a web site can be
provided where users can view maps containing track locations and
associated sensed conditions of various animals, thereby providing
insight into desirable hunting locations and practices. For
instance, a hunter could view of map of his or her preferred
hunting grounds to see where suitably-equipped hunting dogs, owned
by multiple users, encountered prey (e.g., through the locations of
the sensed conditions indicating barking, going on point, treeing
prey, and/or the like). Although the hunter may be unlikely to
share this information, events and competitions could aggregate
this, and similar, information to compare different dogs, to
determine which dog was first to tree an animal, to determine how
closely a laid down scent was tracked by dogs, to determine how
many times the dog lost a scent and rediscovered it, combinations
thereof, and the like.
[0120] The functionality provided through the web site and/or
system 300 may include social functionality similar to that
provided by Garmin Connect, Facebook, Twitter, and other social
media portals. Thus, sharing and distribution of the sensed
conditions and associated locations of various animals through the
system 300 enables users to gain helpful information regarding
equipped animals and geographic locations.
[0121] Although the technology has been described with reference to
the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is
noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made
herein without departing from the scope of the technology as
recited in the claims.
* * * * *