Systems and methods for animal containment, training, and tracking

Abstract

Systems for containing, training, and tracking animals (e.g., pets) utilize electronic animal tags or collars, including IR reception and two-way RF communication. An aimable IR directional zone defining unit includes selectable different modes of operation relative to an animal collar or tag. A RF base station arranged to communicat with an animal collar or tag includes is arranged to automaticlaly communicate with at least one terminal responsive to a receipt of a RF signal indicative of at least one of: condition of the animal, behavior of the animal, and proximity of the animal to the base station. The base station may further generate a user-perceptible alarm signal. A handheld remote controller adapted to communicate with the electronic animal collar or tag includes memory for digital media files, and an audio output element to deliver audible animal training instructions from the memory element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal collar or tag coupleable to an animal and adapted to communicate wirelessly with a radio frequency (RF) base station, the animal collar or tag comprising:
 a power storage element;   a microprocessor arranged to receive power supplied by the power storage element; and   a RF transmitter and a RF receiver operatively coupled with the microprocessor and adapted to communicate wirelessly with the RF base station.   
     
     
         2 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 1 , further comprising an infrared (IR) receiver operatively coupled with the microprocessor, wherein the infrared receiver is adapted to receive an IR beam output by a directional zone defining unit separate from the animal collar or tag. 
     
     
         3 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor adapted to sense a condition correlative of movement or stasis of the animal and generate a sensor output signal, wherein the animal collar or tag is adapted to automatically alter operating status to reduce power consumption of the animal collar or tag responsive to receipt or non-receipt of a sensor output signal correlative of movement or stasis of the animal. 
     
     
         4 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 3 , wherein the altered operating status includes reduction in communication frequency between the animal collar or tag and the RF base station. 
     
     
         5 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to sense at least one of movement, acceleration, and noise. 
     
     
         6 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: (i) a warning signal generating element adapted to generate a warning signal perceptible by an animal when wearing the animal collar or tag, and (ii) a correction signal generating element adapted to generate a correction signal perceptible by an animal when wearing the animal collar or tag. 
     
     
         7 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one sensor adapted to sense a condition indicative of barking by the animal when wearing the animal collar or tag and adapted to output a detection signal, wherein at least one of (a) a warning signal perceptible by the animal and (b) a correction signal perceptible by the animal is administered responsive to the detection signal. 
     
     
         8 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) communication element, wherein operation of the GPS communication element is responsive to receipt or non-receipt of a RF signal indicative of proximity of the animal to the RF base station. 
     
     
         9 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sensors of different types adapted to sense conditions indicative of barking by the animal when wearing the animal collar or tag, wherein an output signal of one sensor of the plurality of sensors is used in combination with an output signal of another sensor of the plurality of sensors to determine a condition of barking by the animal. 
     
     
         10 . The animal collar or tag of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sensors of different types adapted to sense conditions indicative of barking by the animal when wearing the animal collar or tag, wherein an output signal of one sensor of the plurality of sensors is used to affect at least one of operation or output signal processing of another sensor of the plurality of sensors to determine a condition of barking by the animal. 
     
     
         11 . A radio frequency (RF) base station adapted for RF wireless communication with an animal collar or tag wearable by an animal and including a mobile RF transmitter and a mobile RF receiver, the RF base station comprising:
 a base station microprocessor; and   a base station RF receiver and a base station RF transmitter operatively coupled with the base station microprocessor and adapted for wireless communication with the mobile RF transmitter and a mobile RF receiver, respectively;   wherein the base station is adapted to generate an alarm signal responsive to receipt or non-receipt of a RF signal indicative of at least one of: condition of the animal, behavior of the animal, and proximity of the animal to the base station.   
     
     
         12 . The RF base station of  claim 11 , comprising a network communication port arranged to automatically communicate with at least one network communication terminal responsive to a receipt or non-receipt by the RF base station of a RF signal indicative of at least one of: condition of the animal, behavior of the animal, and proximity of the animal to the base station. 
     
     
         13 . The RF base station of  claim 11 , comprising at least one of a sound generating element and a light generating element adapted to generate a human-perceptible signal following to receipt or non-receipt by the RF base station of a RF signal indicative of at least one of: condition of the animal, behavior of the animal, and proximity of the animal to the base station. 
     
     
         14 . The RF base station of  claim 11 , comprising a memory element adapted to store information received from at least one of the RF receiver and a network communication port. 
     
     
         15 . The RF base station of  claim 11 , adapted to communicate wirelessly with at least one of an animal-related accessory and an animal-independent accessory. 
     
     
         16 . The RF base station of  claim 11 , comprising a network communication port, wherein the RF base station is adapted to communicate with a remote electronic terminal via the network communication port and a communication network. 
     
     
         17 . The RF base station of  claim 11 , adapted to transmit a RF signal to an animal collar or tag wearable by an animal to update operating instructions for the animal collar or tag. 
     
     
         18 . The RF base station of  claim 17 , wherein the operating instructions comprises at least one mode of operation involving sensing of a condition indicative of barking by the animal when wearing the animal collar or tag to generate a detection signal, and responsive to the detection signal administering at least one of (a) a warning signal perceptible by the animal and (b) a correction signal perceptible by the animal.