U.S. patent application number 14/868037 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-21 for animal indicator apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Garmin Switzerland GmbH. Invention is credited to Bradley C. Trenkle, Timmy R. Walker.
Application Number | 20160014999 14/868037 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51350228 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160014999 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trenkle; Bradley C. ; et
al. |
January 21, 2016 |
ANIMAL INDICATOR APPARATUS
Abstract
An animal indicator apparatus that tracks the locations of an
animal and alerts nearby persons when the animal approaches a
boundary includes a location determining component operable to
determine a current geographic location of the apparatus; memory
for storing cartographic data representative of at least one
boundary; an indicator and a processor. The processor triggers the
indicator when the current geographic location of the apparatus is
near the location of the boundary.
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: |
51350228 |
Appl. No.: |
14/868037 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13769562 |
Feb 18, 2013 |
9173380 |
|
|
14868037 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/454 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 15/021 20130101;
A01K 27/009 20130101; G08B 21/0261 20130101; G08B 21/0269 20130101;
A01K 11/008 20130101; G01C 21/367 20130101; A01K 29/005
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 11/00 20060101
A01K011/00; G01C 21/36 20060101 G01C021/36; A01K 27/00 20060101
A01K027/00 |
Claims
1. An animal indicator apparatus operable to be worn by an animal,
the apparatus comprising: a location determining component operable
to determine a current geographic location of the apparatus; memory
operable to store cartographic data including data representative
of a plurality of roads; an indicator including a light-emitting
device; and a processor coupled with the location determining
component, the memory, and the indicator, the processor operable to
activate the indicator when the current geographic location of the
apparatus is near the location of one of the roads.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications
component coupled with the processor and operable to transmit
location information corresponding to the current geographic
location of the apparatus when the current geographic location of
the apparatus approaches the location of one of the roads.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location determining
component comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and
utilizes received GPS signals to determine the current geographic
location of the apparatus.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising; a housing to house
at least portions of the location determining component, the
indicator, the memory, and the processor; and a collar operable to
couple with the housing and be secured around the animal's
neck.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a user interface
operable to select one or more of the roads, wherein the processor
is operable to activate the indicator when the current geographic
location of the apparatus is near the location of one of the
selected roads.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a user interface
operable to select one or more road classifications, wherein the
processor is operable to activate the indicator when the current
geographic location of the apparatus is near the location of one of
the roads corresponding to the selected road classifications.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device
includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data representative of a
plurality of roads includes geographic coordinates corresponding to
the roads.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further including
boundary data including geographic coordinates corresponding to one
or more geographic boundaries.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the boundary data indicates
boundaries between public land and private land.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartographic data is
user-defined.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications
component coupled with the processor and operable to transmit
location information corresponding to the current geographic
location of the apparatus to a portable navigation unit for
comparison of the location information with at least one boundary
stored in the memory of the portable navigation unit.
13. An animal indicator apparatus operable to be worn by an animal,
the apparatus comprising: a location determining component operable
to determine a current geographic location of the apparatus; memory
operable to store cartographic data including boundary data
representing geographic boundaries for (a) a plurality of roads and
(b) boundaries between public and private land; an indicator
including a light-emitting device; a processor coupled with the
location determining component, the memory, and the indicator, the
processor operable to activate the indicator when the current
geographic location of the apparatus is near one of the geographic
boundaries; and a housing configured to worn about the animal's
neck, the housing supporting the location determining component,
the memory, the indicator, and the processor.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indicator includes a
plurality of light-emitting devices.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further
operable to deactivate the indicator when the current geographic
location of the apparatus is away from one of the geographic
boundaries.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is operable to
active the indicator when the current geographic location of the
apparatus is within about 100 feet of one of the geographic
boundaries.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to
active the indicator when the current geographic location of the
apparatus is within about 10 feet of one of the geographic
boundaries.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cartographic data is
user-defined.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the location determining
component comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and
utilizes received GPS signals to determine the current geographic
location of the apparatus.
20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a communications
component coupled with the processor and operable to transmit
location information corresponding to the current geographic
location of the apparatus when the current geographic location of
the apparatus approaches one of the geographic boundaries.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of, and claims
priority benefit to, co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent
application entitled "ANIMAL INDICATOR APPARATUS," application Ser.
No. 13/769,552, 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
the dogs' locations while hunting or training.
SUMMARY
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved
animal indicator apparatus that tracks the locations of an animal
and alerts nearby persons when the animal approaches a boundary. An
embodiment of the indicator apparatus is configured to be worn by a
dog or other animal and generally includes a location determining
component operable to determine a current geographic location of
the apparatus; memory for storing cartographic data representative
of at least one boundary; an indicator; and a processor. The
processor triggers the indicator when the current geographic
location of the apparatus approaches the location of the boundary.
For example, the boundary may be a road or parking lot, and the
indicator may be a light emitting device. The processor may trigger
the light emitting device whenever the animal wearing the indicator
apparatus approaches the road or parking lot to alert motorists and
other nearby persons of the presence of the animal.
[0004] 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
[0005] Embodiments of the present technology are described in
detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal indicator
apparatus configured in accordance with various embodiments of the
present invention shown coupled to a dog with a body harness;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
indicator apparatus coupled to a dog with a dog collar;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of a portable navigation unit
configured in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing some of the components of
the navigation unit of FIG. 3;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing some of the components of
the indicator apparatus of FIG. 1 or 2;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a person using the
navigation unit to communicate with the indicator apparatus;
[0012] FIG. 7 is schematic diagram of a Global Positioning System
(GPS) that may be used by various embodiments of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a sample screen display of the navigation unit
showing a representation of the location of a tracked animal and a
status of the indicator; and
[0014] FIG. 9 a flow chart showing steps that may be performed by
or with the indicator apparatus.
[0015] The drawing figures do not limit the present technology 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
technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following detailed description of embodiments of the
invention references the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are
intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail
to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other
embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without
departing from the scope of the claims. The following detailed
description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The
scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended
claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such
claims are entitled.
[0017] 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.
[0018] Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with
an animal indicator apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In some
configurations, the animal indicator apparatus 100 may be coupled
with a portable navigation unit 200 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in
FIG. 6, the animal indicator 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.
[0019] As described in more detail below, the indicator apparatus
100 tracks the locations of an animal and alerts motorists and
other nearby persons when the animal approaches a boundary. For
example, the indicator apparatus may include a light emitting
device that is triggered whenever the animal indicator apparatus
approaches a road, parking lot, or other boundary to alert
motorists and other nearby persons of the presence of the animal.
The alerted motorists and other persons may thereby take
appropriate action regarding the animal.
[0020] Embodiments of the indicator apparatus 100 and navigation
unit 200 will now be described in more detail. Referring initially
to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6, the indicator 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 indicator apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the
indicator apparatus 100 transmits the location of the animal A and
other information to the portable navigation unit 200. However, the
animal indicator apparatus 100 and portable navigation unit 200 are
not necessarily used in combination, as the animal indicator
apparatus 100 and/or portable navigation unit 200 may function and
exist independently of each other. For example, in some
configurations, the indicator apparatus 100 may be a stand-alone
device operable to provide location-based indicating functionality
without communication or reference to external devices. Such
functionality may be desirable, for example, in remote areas where
device-to-device communication may be difficult or impossible.
[0021] In various embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the indicator
apparatus 100 may be configured as an animal training collar worn
about the animal's neck. However, in other configurations, the
indicator apparatus 100 may be configured as a
generally-conventional dog collar without stimulation, training, or
wireless communication elements. A specific embodiment of the
indicator 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; an
indicator 104 that may be triggered to alert nearby persons of the
presence of the animal; a processor 106 coupled with the location
determining component and the indicator; and memory 108 coupled
with the processor 106. The indicator apparatus may also include,
or be connected with, a stimulation element 109, a primary
communications element 110, a secondary communications element 112,
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.
[0022] 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 indicator apparatus 100. In some configurations, the GNSS
receiver may be configured to receive signals from a plurality of
satellite constellations, such as both GPS and GLONASS. 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 GNSS
[0023] 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 indicator apparatus 100, including the location determining
component 102, is shown receiving GPS satellite signals from the
various satellites 120.
[0024] The location determining component 102 may also include
various processing and memory elements to determine the geographic
location of the indicator apparatus 100 itself or it may provide
information to the processor 106 to enable the processor 106 to
determine the geographic location of the indicator apparatus 100.
Thus, the location determining component 102 need not itself
calculate the current geographic location of the indicator
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.
[0025] 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.
[0026] The location determining component 102 need not directly
determine the current geographic location of the indicator
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.
[0027] In various configurations, the indicator apparatus 100 may
include one or more sensors to sense conditions such as speed,
acceleration, velocity, temperature, orientation, attitude,
humidity, sound, light, combinations thereof, and the like. The one
or more sensors may be configured to determine a gait or position
of the animal. For example, the processor 106 may use information
provided by the one or more sensors to determine if the animal is
barking, upright, running, walking, prone, treeing an animal, and
the like. Additionally or alternatively, information from the
sensors may be provided to the navigation unit 200 for analysis
and/or display.
[0028] The indicator 104 may be any device capable of drawing
attention to the indicator apparatus 100 and hence the animal A
wearing the indicator apparatus 100.
[0029] In one embodiment, the indicator 104 includes a
light-emitting device consisting of one or more high intensity
light-emitting diodes or other lights. The light emitting device
may emit a single color light or multiple colors. In some
embodiments, the processor 106 and/or other circuitry can alter the
color, intensity, and/or duty cycle of the light-emitting device as
described in more detail below.
[0030] The indicator 104 may also include an audible device such as
a horn, speaker, or alarm or a combination of a light-emitting
device and an audible device. The indicator 104 may include any
number and/or combination of devices that can alert nearby persons
of the presence of the indicator apparatus and hence the animal
wearing the indicator apparatus.
[0031] The indicator 104 may be positioned anywhere on the
indicator apparatus 100 such that it can be easily seen, heard, or
otherwise observed by nearby persons. For example, when the sensor
includes a light-emitting device, it may be mounted on top of the
housing 116 and may protrude from the top of a harness or collar as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the light-emitting device may be
positioned on top of, around, or on or within any other location of
the indicator apparatus 100 to allow the indicator apparatus 100,
and therefore the animal, to be clearly visible to nearby people.
Thus, for example, a plurality of high intensity light-emitting
diodes may be arranged around the indicator apparatus 100 such that
the indicator apparatus 100 is visible from all directions.
Similarly, one or more of the light-emitting diodes or other lights
may be directed outward and away from the indicator apparatus 100
to draw desired attention to the animal. In various configurations,
the indicator 104 may be located in a housing discrete from the
housing 116. For example, the housing 116 may contain the processor
106, location determining component 102, the processor 106, the
memory 108, the communications elements, and other related hardware
while the indicator 104 is positioned in a second housing in
electrical communication (wired or wireless) with the housing 116.
Such a configuration enables the housing 116 to be placed on the
top of the dog collar while the indicator 104 is positioned on the
bottom of the dog collar, or vice versa. Similarly, the housing 116
may be configured as a vest, as described below, while the
indicator 104 is positioned on a neck-worn collar.
[0032] The processor 106 is coupled with the location determining
component 102, the indicator 104, the memory 108, the stimulation
element 109, the communications elements 110, 112, and other
indicator 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 indicator 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.
[0033] As explained in more detail below with reference to the flow
diagram, the processor 106 may monitor the current location of the
indicator apparatus 100 and trigger the indicator 104 when the
apparatus approaches a boundary. The processor 106 may determine a
current geographic location of the indicator 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 106 may
also receive location information from another device through the
communications elements 110 or 112.
[0034] 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 indicator 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.
[0035] The memory 108 may store cartographic data such as
coordinates and/or other location information for one or more
boundaries. The boundaries may be any locations or areas where it
may be desirable to draw attention to the presence of an animal
wearing the indicator apparatus 100. The boundaries may be, for
example, roads, parking lots, pedestrian paths (trails, sidewalks,
walkways, etc.), driveways, or other areas where cars and other
vehicles frequently travel. The boundaries may correspond to
cartographic data categories associated with the stored
cartographic data such that it is not necessary for the memory 108
to include a separate and independent database of boundaries. That
is, the boundaries may simply correspond to categories of
cartographic features stored within the memory 108, such as all
roads. Such functionality eliminates the need to create a specific
database of boundaries as the boundaries may be automatically
identified by the indicator apparatus 100 using readily-available
cartographic data. The boundaries may also include parks,
playgrounds, yards, and other areas where it may be desirable to
draw attention to the presence of animals.
[0036] In some configurations, the boundaries may include land
ownership boundaries, such as boundary information for public and
private land and boundary information for private land with
different owners. Such boundary information enables various
functionality to be provided, as discussed below, as the animal
crosses into public land or private land.
[0037] In some configurations, the boundaries may be determined
based on user input or user preferences. For example, the person P
or other user may enter geographic coordinates for the boundaries
into the navigation unit 200 or another computer and then transfer
the information to the memory 108 of the indicator apparatus 100
via the primary or secondary communications elements 110, 112.
Alternatively, the person P or other user may select the boundaries
from a map displayed by the navigation unit 200 and/or another
computer and then transfer them to the indicator apparatus 100 via
the primary or secondary communications elements. Location
information for boundaries may also be transmitted to the indicator
apparatus 100 from other similar indicator devices or from the
navigation units that communicate with the other indicator
devices.
[0038] Additionally or alternatively, the boundaries may be
automatically identified by the indicator apparatus 100 and/or
navigation unit 200. For example, based on user preferences or
default settings, the indicator apparatus 100 may automatically
identify boundaries corresponding to any roads or other selected
cartographic categories. That is, the user may simply identify, via
the indicator apparatus 100, navigation unit 200, or other
interfacing device such as a web site, what cartographic categories
should trigger illumination of the indicator apparatus 100. Such
functionality eliminates the need for the user to manually
designate all boundaries while ensuring that the animal will be
highly visible to motorists when traversing roads or other
identified cartographic features. In some configurations, the
cartographic categories may include road classifications. For
example, the road classifications may indicate the size, expected
speed, width, and/or other characteristics of roads represented by
the cartographic data. Thus, the road classifications may indicate
if a given road is a highway, a two-lane road, a paved road, an
unpaved road, etc.
[0039] Location information for boundaries may also be stored in
memory remote from the indicator apparatus, such as in the memory
208 of the navigation unit 200. In this case, comparisons to the
boundaries are also performed remotely as described below.
[0040] The memory 108 may also store a computer program, code
segments, or other data for instructing the processor 106 and other
indicator apparatus 100 elements to perform the steps described
below. Further, the memory 108 may store various data recorded,
detected, or otherwise generated by the indicator apparatus 100,
such as current and previous geographic locations of the indicator
apparatus 100, operational characteristics of the indicator
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.
[0041] The primary communications element 110 is coupled with the
processor 106 and is operable to transmit information and/or data
from the indicator 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 indicator 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.
For instance, in some configurations, the primary communications
element 110 may employ cellular communication technology.
[0042] The primary communications element 110 may include an
antenna 122 to facilitate transmission of data and information from
the indicator 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.
[0043] 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 indicator
apparatus 100 elements to enable the antenna 122 to be easily
replaced should it become damaged during use and to further enable
the indicator 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 indicator apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the antenna
122 may also be enclosed entirely within the housing 116.
[0044] The primary communications element 110 may only transmit
data and information from the indicator 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.
[0045] 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, and/or other
conventional wireless data transfer protocols to efficiently
transfer data between the indicator 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 indicator 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 location data for
boundaries and other data and information from the navigation unit
200 for configuration purposes.
[0046] The power source 114 provides electrical power to components
of the indicator apparatus 100. 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.
[0047] The housing 116 houses and encloses at least portions of the
processor 106, the location determining component 102, the memory
108, the indicator 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 indicator apparatus 100 to be utilized in potentially
inclement conditions, such as those encountered outdoors while
hunting. In some configurations, as discussed above, the indicator
104 may be positioned in a second housing discrete from the housing
116.
[0048] 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 indicator 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. The configuration of the housing and indicator 104 also
ensures that the indicator 104 is visible from all directions
regardless of the position or posture of the animal A. Similarly,
in configurations where the indicator apparatus 100 lack tracking
or communications functionality, the housing 116 may take the form
of a conventional dog collar.
[0049] In some configurations, the indicator apparatus 100 may be
equipped with a user interface 107 to allow users to interface with
the apparatus 100 without using a second device such as the
navigation device 200. For example, the user interface 107 may
enable the person P or other users, third parties, or other devices
to enter location information for boundaries, boundary preferences,
boundary categories, and the like. For example, the user interface
107 may allow the user to enter boundary coordinates such as
latitude or longitude or boundary preferences such as the
categories of cartographic features that may be used by the
apparatus 100 to automatically determine boundaries. The user
interface 107 may comprise one or more functionable inputs such as
buttons, switches, scroll wheels, etc, a touch screen display,
lights such as LED elements 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. In one configuration, the user may
depress one or more buttons associated with the user interface 107
to select a desired cartographic category for boundary formation
and receive a selection confirmation from one or more displays,
lights, or speakers associated with the user interface 107. A
display associated with the user interface 107 may additionally or
alternatively provide other device information, such as status,
battery level, boundary settings, current and previous apparatus
location, combinations thereof, and the like.
[0050] 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), olfactory (scents such as
citronella), optical, 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.
[0051] 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 indicator 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 indicator 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.
[0052] 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
indicator 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 indicator
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.
[0053] 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
indicator apparatus 100 by providing the user with an accurate
bearing to the indicator 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.
[0054] The user interface 210 enables the person P or other users,
third parties, or other devices to enter location information for
boundaries to be uploaded to the indicator apparatus or otherwise
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.
[0055] 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.
[0056] The primary communications element 212 enables the
navigation unit 200 to receive information and/or data transmitted
by the indicator 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 indicator apparatus 100, or may be operable to both receive
and transmit signals.
[0057] 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 indicator
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.
[0058] The primary communications element 212 may include an
antenna 222 as shown in FIG. 3 to facilitate reception of signals
transmitted by the indicator 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.
[0059] 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 indicator apparatus 100 and
a GPS antenna 224 to receive GPS satellite signals for use by the
location determining component 202 and/or processor 206.
[0060] The secondary communications element 214 is generally
similar to the secondary communications element 112 of the
indicator apparatus 100 and is operable to communicate with the
indicator 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 indicator 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, IRDA, and/or
other conventional wireless data transfer protocols to efficiently
transfer data between the indicator apparatus 100 and the
navigation unit 200.
[0061] The power source 216 provides electrical power to various
navigation unit 200 elements and 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.
[0062] 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.
[0063] 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.
[0064] Embodiments of the present invention may also comprise one
or more computer programs stored in the memory 108 or 208 or other
computer-readable medium residing on or accessible by the indicator
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. More specific, although not
inclusive, examples of the computer-readable medium would include
the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a
portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a
read-only memory (ROM), an erasable, programmable, read-only memory
(EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact
disk read-only memory (CDROM).
[0065] Certain operational aspects of the above-described indicator
apparatus 100 and navigation unit 200 will now be described with
reference to the screen display of FIG. 8 and the flow chart of
FIG. 9. Some of the blocks of the flow chart 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 chart. For example, two
blocks shown in succession in FIG. 9 may in fact be executed
substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed
in the reverse order depending upon the functionality involved.
[0066] FIG. 9 depicts a method 900 and/or portions of a computer
program in which the indicator apparatus 100 determines the
locations of an animal such as the illustrated dog A and alerts
nearby persons when the animal approaches a boundary. More
specifically, in one embodiment, the processor 106 compares the
current location of the apparatus 100 to the locations of
boundaries stored in the memory 108 or elsewhere and triggers the
light emitting device or other indicator 104 whenever the animal
indicator apparatus 100 approaches a boundary to alert motorists
and/or other nearby persons of the presence of the animal. The
boundary locations may correspond to classes of cartographic
features, such as all roads, to enable the apparatus 100 to
automatically determine the locations of boundaries.
[0067] The current geographic location of the indicator apparatus
100, and thus the animal A to which the indicator apparatus 100 is
mounted, is acquired as shown in step 902. The current geographic
location of the indicator apparatus 100 may be acquired and
determined using the location determining component 102. Thus, for
instance, the current geographic location may be determined in step
902 by receiving GPS signals and computing the current geographic
location from the received GPS signals. The geographic locations of
the apparatus 100 may alternatively 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 indicator
apparatus 100 utilizing information and data stored within the
memory 108.
[0068] Although only shown in one step of FIG. 9, the current
location of the indicator apparatus 100 may be continuously or
periodically acquired to provide an accurate and updated
representation of the location of the indicator apparatus 100. 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 indicator apparatus
100 may be utilized for tracking. In some configurations, the
update interval may be dynamic and vary depending on the proximity
of the indicator apparatus 100 to one or more of the boundaries.
For example, if the apparatus 100 is miles from any boundary, the
update interval may be greatly reduced.
[0069] In some configurations, the indicator apparatus 100 may be
adapted for general tracking purposes--e.g., enabling the location
of the animal to be generally tracked by the navigation unit 200 or
other devices. In such configurations, data content transmitted by
the indicator apparatus 100 may vary or change depending on the
location of the indicator apparatus 100 in relation to the
boundaries. For example, as the indicator apparatus 100 approaches
a boundary, information in addition to location may be transmitted
to the navigation unit 200 and/or other devices to allow the user
to better ascertain the behavior of the animal. Similarly, when the
indicator apparatus 100 is far from a boundary, less information
may be transmitted to conserve resources.
[0070] The geographic location of the indicator apparatus 100 is
then compared to the boundaries in step 904. When location
information for the boundaries is stored in the memory 108 of the
indicator apparatus 100, the processor 106 accesses the memory 108
and compares the current geographic location of the indicator
apparatus to the boundaries. When location information for the
boundaries is stored remotely, such as in the memory 208 of the
navigation unit 200, the processor 106 transmits location
information for the current geographic location of the indicator
apparatus to the remote device for comparison. As described below,
some embodiments of the invention compare the current geographic
location of the apparatus 100 to specific and precise locations of
boundaries, whereas other embodiments compare the location to areas
near boundaries.
[0071] As discussed above, the boundary locations may correspond to
classes of cartographic features, such as all roads or selected
road classifications, to enable the apparatus 100 to automatically
determine the locations of boundaries. Thus, the location
information for the boundaries may correspond to location
information for cartographic features stored within the memory 108,
such as location information for roads. Thus, the current
geographic location of the apparatus 100 may be compared with the
current geographic location of certain cartographic features (e.g.,
boundaries) in step 904.
[0072] Step 906 then determines if the most recent geographic
location of the indicator apparatus 100 is near any of the
boundaries in step 906. "Near," as used herein, may include
locations that are on the boundaries, within the boundaries, or
within close physical proximity to the boundaries such that the
indicator 104 may be seen by a person located on or within the
boundaries. In some embodiments, the processor 106 determines if
the most recent geographic location of the indicator apparatus has
crossed or is actually within one of the boundaries. In other
embodiments, the processor 106 may determine if the most recent
geographic location of the indicator apparatus is within a
prescribed distance, such as 5 feet, 10 feet, 100 feet, etc., of
one of the boundaries.
[0073] As mentioned above, these comparisons may also be performed
remotely from the indicator apparatus such as by the processor 206.
In such cases, the remote device that performs the comparison may
enable or disable the indicator 104 via signals sent to the primary
or secondary communication elements 110, 112.
[0074] If step 906 determines that the most recent geographic
location of the indicator apparatus is not within or near any of
the boundaries, step 908 disables the indicator if it is currently
activated. The method then returns to step 902 to acquire new
location information for the most recent location of the indicator
apparatus.
[0075] However, if step 906 determines that the most recent
geographic location of the indicator apparatus is within or near
any of the boundaries, step 910 triggers the indicator, or keeps it
energized if it is already activated. In some embodiments, the
processor 108 simply activates the indicator 104 if the indicator
apparatus 100 reaches or crosses a boundary. In other embodiments,
the processor 106 may activate the indicator 104 when the indicator
apparatus is near the boundary, such as 100 feet, of a boundary. In
still other embodiments, the processor may increase the intensity
or frequency of the light-emitting device and/or change or
alternate the color of the light-emitting device as the current
geographic location of the apparatus approaches the location of the
boundary to draw attention to the animal. The apparatus 100 may
utilize user-defined parameters, such as a boundary distance, to
determine the point at which the indicator 104 is activated when
approaching a boundary and the behavior of the indicator 104 as it
nears the boundary.
[0076] For example, in one embodiment, the processor 106 may
activate the light emitting device or other indicator 104 at a low
intensity level when the indicator apparatus 100 is within a first
distance from the boundary, at a medium intensity level when the
indicator apparatus is within a second distance from the boundary,
and at a high intensity level when the indicator apparatus is
within a third distance from the boundary. In one embodiment, the
first, second, and third distances are about 100 feet, 50 feet, and
20 feet, respectively, and the low, medium, and high intensity
levels are about 33%, 66%, and 100% of the rated capacity of the
indicator, respectively. Different distances and intensity levels
may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
Furthermore, the distances and intensity values may be set and/or
changed by a user of the navigation unit 200.
[0077] In another embodiment, the processor 106 may activate the
light emitting device in a steady state (not blinking) when the
indicator apparatus is within a first distance from the boundary,
at a first duty cycle or blinking rate when the indicator apparatus
is within a second distance from the boundary, and at a second duty
cycle or blinking rate when the indicator apparatus is within a
third distance from the boundary. In this embodiment, the first,
second, and third distances may also be about 100 feet, 50 feet,
and 20 feet, respectively, and the first and second duty cycles may
be about 66% and 33%, respectively. Again, the distances and duty
cycles may be user configured and may be changed.
[0078] In yet another embodiment, the processor 106 may activate
the light emitting device with a first color such as green when the
indicator apparatus 100 is within a first distance from the
boundary, with a second color such as yellow when the indicator
apparatus is within a second distance from the boundary, and with a
third color such as red when the indicator apparatus is within a
third distance from the boundary. Again, the first, second, and
third distances may be about 100 feet, 50 feet, and 20 feet,
respectively and may be changed.
[0079] In some configurations, the indicator 104 may be turned off
as the indicator apparatus 100 approaches a boundary and be
activated when the apparatus 100 is away from the boundaries. Such
reverse functionality may be useful for police animals, or other
service animals, to be less conspicuous when tracking fugitives or
entering sensitive areas.
[0080] The processor 106 may also simultaneously vary the
intensity, frequency, and/or color of the light emitting device as
a function of the distance from the boundary. For example, the
processor 106 may activate the light emitting device at a low
intensity level, in a first color, and at a first duty cycle when
the indicator apparatus is within a first distance from the
boundary, at a medium intensity level, in a second color, and at a
second duty cycle when the indicator apparatus is within a second
distance from the boundary, and at a high intensity level, in a
third color, and at a third duty cycle when the indicator apparatus
is within a third distance from the boundary. Likewise, the
processor may decrease the intensity or frequency of the
light-emitting device and/or change or alternate the color of the
light-emitting device as the current geographic location of the
apparatus gets further from the location of the boundary to
gradually stop drawing attention to the animal.
[0081] In some configurations, the distance from the boundary at
which the light emitting device is activated may vary and/or depend
on GPS accuracy. For example, if the location determining component
102 indicates that GPS accuracy (position error) is 100 feet, the
distance at which the light emitting device may be extended to
account for the possible 100 feet position error to ensure that the
indicator apparatus 100 is illuminated as the animal cross the
boundary. Thus, in the above example, the indicator apparatus 100
may be illuminated at 120 feet from the boundary, instead of a
default 20 foot distance, due to reduced GPS accuracy. Similarly,
the distance may be decreased as GPS accuracy improves.
[0082] In some embodiments, the processor 106 may also trigger the
stimulation element 109 when the animal A approaches or crosses a
boundary. The processor may also increase an intensity of the
stimulation element 109 as the animal gets closer to the boundary
and deactivate the stimulation element entirely if the animal heads
away from the boundary. Thus, the indicator apparatus 100, and/or
the navigation unit 200, may automatically issue a recall command,
via application of the stimulation element 109, to cause the animal
to return and move away from the boundary. In some configurations,
instead of automatically applying stimulation, the indicator
apparatus 100 may transmit an alert to the navigation unit 200,
and/or the navigation unit 20 may automatically generate such an
alert, to notify the user that the animal is approaching a boundary
and provide an opportunity for the user to initiate a recall
command before the animal reaches the boundary.
[0083] Information relating to the location of the indicator
apparatus 100 when the indicator 104 is energized may also be
stored within the memory 108 or other memory as depicted in step
912. In some embodiments, location information for each time the
indicator is activated is stored as a waypoint in memory.
[0084] As the animal wearing the indicator apparatus 100 crosses
multiple boundaries, a database or other organized listing of
geographic locations at which the indicator 104 was activated may
be formed or otherwise stored within the memory 108 or other
memory. By storing information for a plurality of 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 crossed a road so that the user may avoid taking the dog
to the same area in the future. Or, the user may attempt to train
the dog to avoid the road or other boundary in the future.
[0085] In step 914, information relating to the locations of the
indicator apparatus 100 when the indicator is triggered 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 indicator apparatus 100 are in close
proximity and rapid transfer of information is desirable.
[0086] The information may be transmitted as soon as it is stored
or only at user-defined or pre-defined intervals, such as every 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 indicator apparatus 100.
[0087] Even when the indicator 104 is not triggered step 914 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.
[0088] After the indicator 104 is triggered in step 910, the method
returns to step 902 to acquire location information for the most
recent location of the indicator apparatus. If the animal remains
in or near the boundary, the indicator 104 may remain activated as
described above. However, if the animal leaves the boundary or
moves away from it, the indicator may be turned off or changes
states as described above.
[0089] The navigation unit 200 may store the received location
information within its memory 208. All information and data
received from the indicator 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.
[0090] 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 indicator apparatus 100.
[0091] For instance, the processor 206 may consider the received
current geographic locations of the indicator apparatus 100, access
a database of cartographic information stored within the memory
208, and retrieve cartographic information corresponding to the
indicator apparatus 100 location. Such cartographic information may
include a map of the area surrounding the current indicator
apparatus 100 location. Similarly, the processor 206 may access
cartographic information corresponding to previously acquired
geographic locations or predicted future locations of the indicator
apparatus 100.
[0092] The navigation unit 200 may also generate and display a
representation of the indicator apparatus location 100 each time
the indicator 104 is triggered. The processor 206 may generate such
representations on a map to enable the user to easily identify the
location of the animal and indicator apparatus 100 when the animal
approaches a boundary. The 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 running dog may be displayed at the location where the
animal approaches a boundary as shown in FIG. 8. The representation
may also indicate the location of the animal and the presence of
the boundary in text as shown in FIG. 9.
[0093] The processor 206 may also present the location information
at which boundaries are reached in list or table form to enable a
user to quickly view a number of locations. The information may
also be grouped such that location information for the same
boundaries is displayed together.
[0094] The navigation unit 200 may access cartographic information
each time information is received from the indicator apparatus 100.
Such a configuration ensures that the processor 206 generates
accurate representations of the area in proximity to the indicator
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 indicator apparatus 100 location.
[0095] The navigation unit 200 may also display a representation of
the current location of the indicator apparatus 100 that is
independent of the current location of the navigation unit 200 such
that the absolute position of the indicator 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 indicator apparatus 100 on a map as shown in FIG.
8. Use of absolute positions to represent the location of the
indicator 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.
[0096] 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 indicator 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 indicator
apparatus 100.
[0097] 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 FIG. 8, 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 indicator apparatus location. Further, in some embodiments
the processor 206 may generate a route to the current indicator
apparatus 100 location using the accessed cartographic
information.
[0098] The generated and displayed representations may also include
relational information regarding the current and previous locations
of the indicator 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
indicator 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.
[0099] In some embodiments, the generated and displayed
representations may also include supplemental tracking information
formed utilizing a plurality of received indicator apparatus 100
locations. For instance, the supplemental tracking information may
include the speed and acceleration of the indicator apparatus 100,
a plot or display of previous indicator apparatus 100 locations, a
projected future path or route of the indicator apparatus 100
and/or animal, the direction, bearing, or heading of the indicator
apparatus 100, etc.
[0100] 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.
* * * * *