Wireless Rodent Trap Status Monitoring via RF Base Station
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rodent trap monitoring requires physical proximity, leading to inconvenient and time-consuming checks, especially for multiple traps, and can result in false positive notifications due to environmental conditions, necessitating a remote monitoring system to address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system with wireless communication capabilities, using RF transceivers and a peer-to-peer network with a base station and repeaters, allowing trap status monitoring and automatic rearming without user intervention, and sending notifications only when warranted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical monitoring of traps is used, then trap status can be directly observed, but user convenience deteriorates and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical monitoring system with an electronic wireless communication system. Traps equipped with RF transceivers automatically transmit status data to a central base station, eliminating the need for manual physical inspection. This substitution of mechanical monitoring with electronic automation directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining accurate status detection while eliminating time loss associated with manual checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The trap system performs self-monitoring and self-reporting through integrated sensors and wireless transmitters. Each trap autonomously detects its own status (triggered/not triggered, battery level) and communicates this information without external intervention. This self-service capability allows multiple traps to be monitored simultaneously without requiring user time investment, resolving the contradiction between accurate monitoring and time efficiency.
2Reliability
If physical checking of traps is required, then accurate status confirmation is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary between the traps and the user. The base station receives wireless communications from multiple traps and presents the information through a user interface (computer screen, mobile device). This intermediary layer maintains reliable status confirmation by accurately transmitting trap data while dramatically improving ease of operation by allowing remote monitoring without physical proximity to traps in difficult-to-access locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual physical inspection with electronic data transmission and display. Wireless RF communications substitute for physical travel to trap locations, and digital status indicators substitute for visual inspection of mechanical trap components. This substitution maintains reliable status confirmation while vastly improving operational convenience, especially for traps in attics, basements, or other hard-to-reach areas.
3Loss of information
If traps send notifications on activation, then user awareness is improved, but false positive notifications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where trap status data is continuously monitored and analyzed before generating notifications. The base station receives raw activation signals from traps and processes this information through logic that distinguishes between genuine rodent triggers and false activations caused by environmental factors. This feedback loop maintains user awareness of actual trap status while filtering out false positives, improving notification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of trap activation data before notifying the user. Instead of immediately alerting users to every activation event, the base station pre-processes the information to determine whether the activation represents a genuine rodent capture or a false trigger from environmental conditions. This preliminary action ensures that users receive accurate, reliable notifications only when warranted, reducing false positives while maintaining user awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote notification electronic rodent trapping system and method is provided having a plurality of rearming electronic rodent trapping devices configured to wirelessly communicate trap information to a base station that is in communication with a cloud server. When a trap is activated by a rodent trigger it changes from a set state to a kill alert state and initiates a killing cycle. The trap waits a first time period and then sends a notification signal to the base station of trap activation which the base station forwards to the cloud server. The cloud server waits a second predetermined time period before sending a pushed notification to a remote user of the trap's kill alert state. If the trap rearms prior to expiration of the second time period, it alerts the base station which notifies the cloud server. The cloud server updates trap status to the set state and does not send a notification to the user.