PET accessory with wireless telephonic voice transmitter

Abstract

The present invention is a system for communicating a voice signal or audio message initiated over potentially great distances and deliverable to an unattended animal, and comprises a base unit and a wireless receiver. Voice signals or commands for delivering an audio message is sent over a telephone line, paging system, or other global communication network to the base unit which includes a transmitter. The transmitter sends via wireless communication the voice signal or an audio message from the transmitter to a local receiver secured to a pet collar or the like. The system transmits live audio signals (converted from voice inputs using the telephone connection) in real time over great distances, and may also send pre-recorded messages to the pet using telephone touch tone signals to select and initiate the deliver of the messages to the pet. The receiver is preferably worn on the pet and includes a speaker and wireless receiver for converting the wireless signals sent by the transmitter into audio signals emitted by the speakers.

1 . A pet communication system comprising: 
 a wireless audio receiver having an antenna, a speaker, an amplifier, and means for securing the wireless audio receiver to a live animal; and    a transmitter having a wireless signal generator that communicates with the wireless audio receiver to send said wireless signals wherein said wireless signals carry audio information, and an incoming telephone call receiving system for connection with a remote telephone, wherein said wireless signal generator sends said wireless signals to the wireless audio receiver in response to commands received from said remote telephone, and said wireless audio receiver automatically broadcasts said audio information received from said wireless signal generator.    
   
   
       2 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein said transmitter includes a memory for storing audio messages, and further includes a message delivery command recognition software that forwards a selected audio message to the wireless receiver for playback to the animal based upon a message deliver command.  
   
   
       3 . The pet communication system of  claim 2  wherein said message delivery command is conveyed from a user at the remote telephone using a tone produced using a key pad on the remote telephone.  
   
   
       4 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless audio receiver includes a housing in the shape of a dog bone.  
   
   
       5 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless audio receiver includes a rechargeable power supply.  
   
   
       6 . The pet communication system of  claim 5  wherein the wireless audio receiver includes electrical connectors coupled to said rechargeable batter and cooperate with a battery charger, and further comprising a cradle sized to receiver at least a portion of the wireless audio receiver and including an electrical recharging system with terminals aligned to mate with said electrical connectors of said wireless audio receiver when said wireless audio receiver is seated in said cradle, a coupling of the electrical terminals with said electrical connectors completing an electrical circuit to recharge said wireless audio receiver's rechargeable power supply.  
   
   
       7 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  further comprising internet access and an internet command translator coupled to the internet, that receives message delivery commands over the internet, and sends said wireless signals to the wireless audio receiver in response to commands received over the internet.  
   
   
       8 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein the range of the wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiver is approximately one mile.  
   
   
       9 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  further comprising a paging system for locating the wireless audio receiver including an alarm initiation mechanism located on the transmitter and an alarm signal transmitter to transmit wireless alarm signals to the wireless audio receiver in response to activation of said alarm initiation mechanism, and an alarm on the wireless audio receiver for generating an audio signal in response to receiving said wireless alarm signals from said alarm signal transmitter, said pet communication system including an alarm deactivator.  
   
   
       10 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein the means for securing the wireless audio receiver to an animal comprises a strap having fastening means for removably holding the receiver on an animal collar.  
   
   
       11 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein the transmitter includes an audible ringer that is emitted when an incoming telephone call is received, said audible ringer simulating a barking dog.  
   
   
       12 . The pet communication system of  claim 1  wherein said wireless signals are carried by a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal.  
   
   
       13 . A pet communication system comprising: 
 a base station including:    a telephone call receiving device; and    a transmitter for broadcasting wireless signals converted from voice signals received by said telephone call receiving device; and    a receiver communicating wirelessly with the base station and comprising:    an antenna;    a speaker;    an amplifier; and    a power supply;    wherein the receiver receives said wireless signals broadcast by the base station, and automatically converts said wireless signals to audio output that is amplified and delivered to said speaker for reproduction of said voice signals to an animal.    
   
   
       14 . The pet communication system of  claim 13  wherein said base station includes memory for storing a pre-recorded audio message, and said base station further includes touch tone recognition software for deciphering commands transmitted using a telephone keypad along a telephone connection, and sending said pre-recorded audio message via wireless communication to said receiver for playback by said receiver on its speaker.  
   
   
       15 . The pet communication system of  claim 13  wherein said base station comprises an Internet connection and software for receiving commands using said Internet connection, and a wireless signal generator broadcasting wireless signals to said receiver in response to a command received using said Internet connection.  
   
   
       16 . The pet communication system of  claim 13  wherein the receiver includes a housing and a releasable connector for securing the receiver housing to an animal.  
   
   
       17 . The pet communication system of  claim 13  wherein the housing is formed into the shape of a dog bone.  
   
   
       18 . The pet communication system of  claim 13  wherein the receiver's power supply is rechargeable.  
   
   
       19 . The pet communication system of  claim 18  further comprising a cradle adapted to receive at least a portion of said receiver therein and including a recharging component for recharging the receiver's power supply.  
   
   
       20 . The pet communication system of  claim 13  further comprising a paging system for locating the receiver including an alarm initiation mechanism located on the base station and an alarm signal transmitter to transmit an alarm signal to the receiver in response to activation of said alarm initiation mechanism, and an audio alarm on the receiver activated in response to receiving said alarm signal.  
   
   
       21 . A pet communication system comprising: 
 a receiver means for receiving wireless signals corresponding to audio signals, and converting the audio signals into voice playback, and connector means for releasably attaching the receiver to an animal; and    a transmitter means for transmitting audio signals wirelessly to said receiver means, said transmitter means further comprising telephone connection means for establishing a telephone connection with a remote telephone and converting speech communicated via said telephone connection to audio signals for transmission to said receiver means.    
   
   
       22 . A pet communication system comprising: 
 a telephone answering system adapted to receive incoming telephone calls and record voice input carried over a telephone connection for subsequent transmission;    a wireless signal transmitter for converting said voice input into wireless signals, and transmitting said wireless signals to a local audio receiver;    a local audio receiver including wireless signal conversion means for converting said wireless signals to sound waves corresponding to said voice input; and    means for releasably attaching the audio receiver to an animal.    
   
   
       23 . A method for communicating audio from a remote location via a telephone to a local animal comprising: 
 providing a base station proximal to said animal and adapted to establish a telephone connection with a remote telephone;    converting audio signals communicated via said remote telephone along said telephone connection to wireless RF signals; and    providing a receiver to be carried on said animal and in wireless communication with said base station, said receiver converting said wireless RF signals from said base station to sound waves corresponding to said audio signals.    
   
   
       24 . A method for communicating an audio message to a pet remotely comprising: 
 connecting to the pet an audio broadcast device for automatically converting RF signals to audio signals at a prescribed frequency through a speaker to simulate an original voice message;    recording a voice message from a remote location into a digital file that can be sent over the Internet;    sending said digital file over the Internet to a home base capable of extracting said digital file; and    converting said extracted digital file to an RF signal for automatic broadcast by said audio broadcast device to said pet.