Pet Containment Collar Using Satellite Positioning Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet containment and tracking systems face challenges such as complex installation, limited flexibility in containment area shape, susceptibility to environmental obstructions, and lack of feedback in case of escape, due to their reliance on buried wires or open-loop satellite positioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a device with a positioning unit generating satellite positioning data, a processor determining containment or tracking mode, and a communication unit sending alerts, allowing for customizable containment areas and accurate tracking of pets outside the defined zone, using a combination of GNSS, AHRS, and cellular communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buried wire fence systems are used for pet containment, then the containment area can be defined, but the installation becomes difficult and expensive requiring professional installation and buried wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the containment boundary definition from physical buried wires and relocates it to virtual coordinates stored in memory. The collar receives coordinate data defining the containment perimeter and determines containment status by comparing its own GPS coordinates against these stored boundaries, eliminating the need for physical wire installation while maintaining reliable containment definition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical buried wire system with an electronic/GPS-based solution. Instead of physical wires embedded in the ground that require digging and professional installation, the system uses satellite positioning data and electronic coordinate storage to define and enforce containment boundaries, dramatically simplifying installation while maintaining containment effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If wireless containment systems with circular signal projection are used, then installation is simplified, but the containment area is limited to circular shapes and signal may project onto unwanted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic containment boundary definition where the containment perimeter is not fixed to a geometric shape but is defined by arbitrary coordinate points stored in memory. The system can adapt to any yard shape by simply updating the coordinate data, allowing irregular polygons, non-circular shapes, and custom boundaries that match the actual property lines without being constrained by signal projection geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from signal-based circular geometry to coordinate-based arbitrary polygon geometry. By storing latitude/longitude coordinates that define the containment perimeter and comparing the collar's position against these coordinates, the system can create containment areas of any shape while maintaining precise boundary enforcement without signal projection limitations.
3Ease of operation
If GPS satellite positioning systems are used for containment, then installation is simplified and flexibility is improved, but positioning accuracy is reduced due to inherent satellite positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through alert notification to the owner when the pet breaches the containment boundary. The system continuously monitors the collar's position relative to the stored coordinate boundaries and provides real-time feedback to the owner via alerts when the pet exits the defined containment area, enabling timely intervention and maintaining containment effectiveness despite positioning tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary correction by pre-processing GPS coordinates to establish containment boundaries with built-in tolerance margins. The coordinate data stored in memory accounts for potential positioning errors by creating boundaries that incorporate safety margins, and the system pre-calculates breach conditions to trigger alerts before the pet can actually escape, compensating for GPS accuracy limitations.
4Device complexity
If open loop containment systems are used, then the system operation is simple, but there is no feedback to the owner if the pet escapes the containment area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by notifying the owner when the pet breaches the containment boundary. The alert notification system provides real-time information to the owner about containment status, transforming the open-loop system into a closed-loop system where escape events are detected and communicated, enabling the owner to respond appropriately while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy installation and reconfiguration of containment areas, provides accurate tracking and alerts if the pet escapes, and reduces positioning errors through advanced satellite and attitude data processing, ensuring effective containment and location monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a positioning unit for generating position data corresponding to a position of the subject; the position data including satellite positioning data
Implementation Method 2
a communication unit for transmitting an alert to an electronic device of the owner when the subject exits the containment area
Data Source
AI summary
A device disposed on a subject to maintain the subject within a containment zone and track the subject if the subject exits the containment zone. The device includes a positioning unit for generating position data including satellite positioning data. There is a processor unit to determine from the position data if the subject is inside or outside of the containment zone. The processor unit operates in a containment mode when the subject is inside the containment zone and in a tracking mode when the subject exits the containment zone. A correction unit issues a stimulus when the subject exits the containment zone and terminates the stimulus when the processor unit enters the tracking mode from the containment mode. There is a communication unit which transmits an alert to an electronic device of an operator when the processor unit transitions from the containment to tracking mode.