Wireless notification systems and methods for electronic rodent traps

Abstract

A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to each other and to a PC or wireless device. According to one embodiment, each trap is equipped with an RF transceiver and the rodent trapping devices form a mesh network with one another in which the trapping devices act as repeaters so that if one trap loses connectivity with the PC, information from that trap can be transmitted to the PC via another trap. According to an alternative embodiment, the traps individually report directly to the base station or to the base station via one or more repeaters, the repeaters enabling the range of the direct individual reporting configuration to be greatly increased.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 177,561 filed Feb. 11, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 13 / 626,224, filed Sep. 25, 2012, the priority of which application is hereby claimed.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is related to the field of pest control and pest trap monitoring and, more particularly, to a remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method having electronic rodent traps with wireless communication capability enabling remote monitoring of trap status.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Rodent trap monitoring has typically required that the user come in close proximity to the trap to determine whether or not a rodent has been dispatched or the trap deactivated. Physically checking rodent traps can be inconvenient, particularly when the traps are located in a barn, attic, basement, crawl space, etc. Trap monitoring can also be v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]According to another embodiment, rather than having the plurality of traps form a peer-to-peer network in which the trapping devices communicate with one another and thereby themselves act as repeaters, the system may be configured such that the traps each report independently of the other traps in the system without meshing with one another. By eliminating the need for the traps to form a mesh arrangement, each trap's battery life is conserved and other benefits are achieved.

[0037]A further object of the present invention is to provide a direct reporting remote notification electronic rodent trapping system in accordance with the preceding eight objects in which the electronic rodent trapping devices are configured to communicate with an Ethernet device having internet connection that sends updates to the website, or with a cellular device which sends information to / from the website, eliminating the need for a PC.

Problems solved by technology

Physically checking rodent traps can be inconvenient, particularly when the traps are located in a barn, attic, basement, crawl space, etc.

Trap monitoring can also be very time consuming for users such as professional rodent control companies who place traps at multiple sites and then must physically visit each site on a regular basis to monitor the status of the traps and ensure traps are in an operational-ready state.

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