System for designating a boundary or area for a pet technical field

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for designating a boundary for a pet is usable both outdoors and indoors. A collar device communicates with satellites or indoor location devices to define a boundary for containment of an animal or pet. The device also includes an altimeter for detecting an altitude of the pet, for example, when a pet may jump up onto a table, counter or bed, or when a pet may travel to a different floor of a home, building or other structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to pet containment systems and in particular, to a system and method of designating boundaries for a pet inside and outside a building.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Pet containment systems typically include a device worn by a pet on a collar that interacts wirelessly with a boundary-indicating device to provide an auditory and / or physical signal to the pet before the boundary is crossed. The boundary-indicating device may be a wire that is buried around the perimeter of a property. It may also be an antenna that sends signals to the device on the pet.[0003]Systems that use a boundary-indicating device such as a buried wire may be expensive to install and cause unwanted disruption to the landscape. Once a pet has crossed the wire, there is no further boundary on the pet's movement and further, there is a disincentive for the pet to return to the property due to an additional physical signal when approaching the boundary. Antenna-b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It is therefore a principle object, feature, aspect, or advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system, and method which improves over or solves problems and deficiencies in the state-of-the-art. Further objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention include apparatus, systems, or methods which encompass an animal feedback apparatus including a housing in which a processor, a memory, a radionavigation-satellite service (RNSS) sensor, an altimeter, a wireless communication device and a power source are at least partially disposed; a connector coupled to the housing, the connector configured to selectively attach to an animal; a feedback emitter in communication with the processor; wherein, the feedback emitter outputs a first feedback signal in response to a command from the processor if the RNSS sensor determines that a current position of the animal is near a set of coordinates stored in the memory; and wherein the feedback emitter outputs a second feedback signal in response to a command from the processor if the altimeter determines that a current position of the animal is near an elevation stored in the memory.

[0007]In a further embodiment, a method of delivering corrective feedback to an animal, includes providing a housing in which a processor, a memory, a radionavigation-satellite service (RNSS) sensor, an altimeter, a wireless communication device and a power source are at least partially disposed; providing a connector coupled to the housing, the connector configured to selectively attach to the animal; providing a feedback emitter in communication with the processor; sensing, with the RNSS sensor that a current position of the animal is near a set of coordinates stored in the memory and outputting a feedback signal with the feedback emitter; and sensing, with the altimeter that a current position of the animal is above a certain elevation and outputting a feedback signal with the feedback emitter.

[0008]In another embodiment, an animal feedback system includes a feedback device including a housing in which a processor, a memory, radionavigation-satellite service (RNSS) sensor, an altimeter, a wireless communication device and a power source are at least partially disposed; a connector coupled to the housing, the connector configured to selectively attach to an animal; and a feedback emitter in communication with the processor. The system further includes a plurality of indoor location devices further comprising a radio transmitter in communication with the wireless antenna; wherein, the feedback emitter outputs a feedback signal in response to a command from the processor if the processor determines that a current position of the animal relative to the indoor location device is near a set of coordinates stored in the memory; and wherein the feedback emitter outputs a feedback signal in response to a command from the processor if the altimeter determines that a current position of the animal is near an elevation stored in the memory.

[0009]In any of the above embodiments, the connector includes a collar configured to be removably secured around the animal's neck.

[0010]In any of the above embodiments, the feedback emitter includes at least one electrical probe coupled to the connector and in contact with the animal.

[0011]In any of the above embodiments, the feedback signal includes at least one of an electric shock or an audible signal.

Problems solved by technology

Systems that use a boundary-indicating device such as a buried wire may be expensive to install and cause unwanted disruption to the landscape.

None of these systems are reliably usable indoors, or provide an indication of a height of the pet, for example, when a pet may jump up onto a table, counter or bed, or when a pet may travel to a different floor of a home, building or other structure.

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