System and method for applying an animal identification tag

Abstract

A system and method applying an animal identification tag, wherein a unique identification code is automatically read from the identification tag and wherein, upon application of the tag to an animal, time/date information relating to the application is also automatically read.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for recording information relating to the attachment of an EID to an animal, comprising the steps of: 
 determining a unique identification code associated with the EID;    attaching the EID to the animal, thereby associating the unique identification code with the animal;    responsive to attaching the EID to the animal, automatically determining time/date information indicating when the EID was attached to the animal; and    associating the time/date information with the unique identification code.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of relaying the associated time/date information and unique identification code to a database.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the relaying step is accomplished by wireless link.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of determining, responsive to attaching the EID to the animal, the physical location of the animal at the time the EID is attached.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising the further step of associating the physical location of the animal at the time the EID is attached with the time/date information and unique identification code.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising the further step of relaying the associated physical location of the animal at the time the EID is attached, time/date information and unique identification code to a database.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the relaying step is accomplished by wireless link.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the further step of automatically determining by obtaining a global positioning system coordinate set, responsive to attaching the EID to the animal, the physical location of the animal at the time the EID is attached.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising the further step of associating the physical location of the animal at the time the EID is attached with the time/date information and unique identification code.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising the further step of relaying the associated physical location of the animal at the time the EID is attached, time/date information and unique identification code to a database.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the relaying step is accomplished by wireless link.  
     
     
         12 . A system for recording information relating to the attachment of an EID to an animal, comprising an applicator, the applicator functional to automatically detect a unique identification code of the EID temporarily placed in proximity thereto, the applicator further functional to automatically detect, upon actuation of the applicator and a resulting attachment of the EID to an animal, time/date information relating to the resulting attachment, the applicator still further functional to transmit the unique identification code and the time/date information to a database.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a database, communicatively interconnected to the applicator, for receiving and storing the unique identification code and the time/date information.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the applicator includes a removable data cassette removably attached thereto, the removable data cassette functional to automatically detect the unique identification code of the EID temporarily placed in proximity thereto, the removable data cassette further functional to automatically detect, upon actuation of the applicator and the resulting attachment of the EID to an animal, time/date information relating to the resulting attachment.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the removable data cassette automatically detects the time/date information relating to the attachment upon actuation of a trigger, the trigger being actuated by actuation of the applicator.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the transmission of the unique identification code and the time/date information to the database is accomplished over a wireless link.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a GPS transponder for determining, upon actuation of the applicator, a GPS coordinate set for the applicator at a time of the actuation.