Mobile telephone dog training tool and method

Abstract

A mobile telephone adapts to use as a gundog training tool by interfacing with a dog collar using a wireless communication device, such as a WWAN text or IP interface, a WLAN interface or a radio transceiver that couples to the mobile telephone and is accessible to a training application running on the mobile telephone. The dog collar includes a GPS receiver to provide position information to the mobile telephone and a shock device to provide training stimulus to the dog. A wireless headset interfaces with the mobile telephone to provide audible indications of position to an end user, such as a dog point and tone indicators of directions to the dog. A wireless handset interfaces with the mobile telephone to accept inputs for application to the collar, such as training stimulus.

Claims

1. A method for dog training, the method comprising: determining GPS position information with a GPS receiver interfaced with a processor disposed at a collar coupled to a dog, the collar including a transmitter to send the GPS position information as a wireless signal through other than a mobile telephone wireless wide area network; sending the GPS position information from the collar to a mobile telephone through the wireless signal with the transmitter; presenting the GPS position information to an end user through the mobile telephone; and sending audio information from the mobile telephone to an earpiece with another wireless signal, the audio information played as audible noise in the earpiece and indicating a position of the collar relative to the mobile telephone; wherein the audible noise further comprises an audible alert comprising a tone altering in interval to indicate movement of the mobile telephone in the direction of the collar.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises sending said tone having an interval that: increases as position of the collar relative to the mobile telephone decreases; and, decreases as the position of the collar relative to the mobile telephone increases.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein sending the GPS position information comprises sending the GPS position with a WLAN communication from the collar to the mobile telephone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio information comprises an indication that the dog has gone on point.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the GPS position information further comprises a visual image captured by a camera communicatively interfaced with the collar and sent from the collar to the mobile telephone with a WLAN communication.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: gathering information with a processor at the mobile telephone; sending the information from the mobile telephone to the collar through a wireless communication; and presenting the information to the dog with the collar.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the information comprises an electric shock for application to the dog with the collar and sent from the mobile telephone to the collar.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the information comprises an audible command for presentation by a speaker communicatively interfaced with the collar and sent as VoIP information through a WLAN communication.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the GPS position information further comprises a bird point by the dog sent from the collar to the mobile telephone for presentation to an end user as said audible alert wherein said earpiece is in a headset wirelessly interfaced with the mobile telephone.

10. A method for dog training, the method comprising: determining GPS position information with a GPS receiver interfaced with a processor disposed at a collar coupled to a dog, the collar including a transmitter to send the GPS position information as a wireless signal through other than a mobile telephone wireless wide area network; sending the GPS position information from the collar to a mobile telephone through the wireless signal with the transmitter; presenting the GPS position information to an end user through the mobile telephone; and sending audio information from the mobile telephone to an earpiece with another wireless signal, the audio information played as audible noise in the earpiece and indicating a position of the collar relative to the mobile telephone; wherein sending audio information from the mobile telephone to said earpiece with another wireless signal further comprises sending a tone having an interval that: increases as position of the collar relative to the mobile telephone decreases and decreases as the position of the collar relative to the mobile telephone increases.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts an example of a mobile telephone dog training system deployed in a hunting environment;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a mobile telephone dog training system;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts an adapter to accept a mobile telephone for interacting with a dog collar; and

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a lock and tone process for guiding a hunter to a dog on point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Mobile telephones provide a dog training tool by interacting with a wireless communication module included on a collar on the dog. Depending upon the needs and desires of the dog's master, the mobile telephone provides short or long range training assistance, such as presentation of a GPS location of the dog relative to the master and stimulation to the dog from a shock collar or other training aid located on the collar. A training application running on the mobile telephone provides training functions that coordinate communications with one or more dog collars and with one or more other mobile telephones. For example, an ad hoc network within a hunting boundary is defined by plural training applications running on plural mobile telephones to provide enhanced coordination of dog training activities. The training application leverages capabilities generally included in mobile telephones so that advanced features are provided without costly specialized hardware. Mobile telephones, also known as cell phones or cellular phones, will work with a remote dog collar as envisioned herein by using existing wireless capabilities of the mobile telephone to communicate directly with a dog collar by a radio communication from the mobile phone directly to the dog collar and from the dog collar directly to the mobile phone. Generally, a mobile telephone has a form factor that provides a telephone handset, a touchscreen display to present information and accept inputs, and at least a WWAN transceiver to communicate wirelessly with a mobile telephone service provider network, such as with voice telephone communications, text message communications and data Internet communications like a web browser. In addition, a mobile telephone usually includes an 802.11 transceiver in the 2.4 and/or 5 GHz band to communicate through a wireless local area network (WLAN) and to communicate via short range wireless personal area network (WPAN) Bluetooth interfaces and a 60 GHz short range antenna for WPAN peripheral communications. Other types of mobile computing devices that include similar capabilities may also be used with the dog collar describe herein, such as tablet computing devices equipped with WWAN and WLAN capabilities.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 1, an example is depicted of a mobile telephone dog training system deployed in a hunting environment. Plural hunters 10 are deployed within a hunt boundary 12, each with a mobile telephone 14 that communicates through at least one wireless network. A base station 16 located at a truck 18 may be a mobile telephone or other computing device, such as a laptop or tablet computer, having an oversized antenna and amplified wireless signal to act as a relay or repeater station between mobile telephones 14 or between network communications, such as a WWAN and WLAN communication. Although the example embodiment uses mobile telephones 14 with hunters 10, in alternative embodiments, other computing devices may be used. Examples of mobile telephones 14 include APPLE iPhones, SAMSUNG GALAXY phones or other types of smartphones. Examples of base station 16 include APPLE iPADs, ANDROID-based tablets or other portable computer systems, such as clamshell laptop devices. In one example embodiment, hunt boundary 12 is the training area of a kennel so that base station 16 is a fixed desktop computer system.

(8) One or more dogs 20 are deployed in hunting boundary 12, such as to hunt one or more areas of cover 22 for game birds like quail or pheasant. Each dog has a collar 24 that includes a communication module for communicating with mobile telephones 14 and each collar has a training module for providing a training function coordinated with mobile telephones 14. Communications between mobile telephones 14, base station 16 and collars 24 are supported in a number of different manners depending on the types of communication bands and protocols that are supported by mobile telephones 14 and collars 24. In one embodiment, a wireless local area network (WLAN) device, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) device and a wireless personal area network device (WPAN) are selectively included on each of mobile telephones 14 and collars 24 by assembly of one or more appropriately configured wireless communication modules to collar 24. Wireless communication coordinated through one or several of these wireless communication devices provides training applications running on mobile telephones 14 and base station 16 with training information for each other and collars 24, such as GPS positions, and with a medium for sending training commands, such as shock collar stimulus.

(9) One example of wireless communications is communicating training information and commands between a collar 24 and a mobile telephone 14 through an IEEE 802.11(n) ad hoc or server/client WLAN interface. For instance, a training application on a mobile telephone 14 acts as a server and one or more collars 24 act as clients that send the server GPS position information, images from a camera aligned with a direction of a point for the dog 20 wearing the collar 24, a point alert from detection of lack of motion with an accelerometer in the collar 24, or other types of training information. The mobile telephone 14 server sends training commands to the one or more collars 24 that issue an electric shock or other stimulation at the collar, issue an oral command from a speaker on the collar, such as with a VoIP interface or with stored oral commands in a memory on the collar 24, or issue other types of commands. In an outdoor line-of-sight environment, an 802.11(n) WLAN interface has a range of approximately 250 m. If a collar 24 becomes out-of-range from one mobile telephone 14, then a second mobile telephone 14 that receives communications with the collar 24 and the other mobile telephone 14 can relay the training information and commands between the out-of-range collar and mobile telephone. Further, a WLAN interface between two or more mobile telephones 14 allows VoIP communication between the mobile telephones 14 so that hunters verbally communicate with each other. Although the example embodiment describes the use of 802.11(n) in the 5 GHz frequency range, in alternative embodiments, 802.11(b) or (g) may be used with a possible increased range in the 2.4 GHz frequency range. In one example embodiment, a secured 802.11 network protected by a key or with HTTPS protocol may be used to avoid intrusion by others in the WLAN.

(10) If a collar 24 becomes out of range for a WLAN interface with 802.11(n), WWAN communications may be used both with and without coordination by a cell phone tower 26. For instance, in remote areas mobile telephone service is sometimes not available or not reliable. In a situation where cell phone tower 26 is available, training applications on each mobile telephone 14 may use an Internet Protocol (IP) interface through a mobile telephone provider circuit to perform the same types of communications as are available through WLAN communications as described above. For instance, a VoIP, SKYPE or FACETIME communication will allow images and/or commands to be communicated between a collar 24 and a mobile telephone 20. As an alternative, text messages may be used to communicate information, such as with simple text, in an XML format or as a script executable by the training application. As an example, a collar 24 sends a text message with a GPS position at predetermined time intervals, such as every 10 seconds. As an alternative example, to save battery power at collar 24, a text message with a GPS position is sent based upon at least a predetermined change in position. For instance a text message is sent every 10 seconds unless the collars position has not changed by more than 10 feet, in which case no text message is sent until a position change of greater than 10 feet is detected or a greater time period has elapsed, such as another minute. This saves battery power during rest periods or when a dog is on point. Text messages may include attachments sent from a collar, such as an image captured by a camera associated with a collar. Text messages sent to a collar may include commands, such as a direction for the dog to turn, which is issued as an audible command by a speaker to have the dog 20 move in a desired direction. In one embodiment, a collar 24 intercepts IP packets or text messages sent from a mobile telephone by knowing the mobile telephone's network communication security codes so that the IP packet or text message need not transfer through a phone circuit at all. In alternative embodiments, other types of direct two-way communications may be accomplished between a mobile telephone 14 and a collar 24 with the WWAN or the WLAN frequency and protocol in the absence of mobile telephone service through a cell tower 26, such as through coordination with a mobile telephone service provider. One example is to re-program a WNIC of a mobile telephone to provide analog signals in the WWAN or WLAN frequencies to allow the mobile telephone to be used like a touch to talk service that mimics walkie talkie behavior or a remote control (RC) transceiver device. As one example, a WWAN type service may be provided with a WIMAX type of protocol, which provides approximately 1 mile of range.

(11) A WPAN has a short range, such as that provided by 60 GHz frequency range protocols, Bluetooth or similar short range communication devices that support peripherals like wireless headsets for mobile telephones. In one example, a wireless headset is used by the training application running on the mobile telephone to issue audible information for a hunter or accept commands from a hunter. For instance, a lock tone is provided when the training application receives an indication from a collar that a dog as gone to point. The tone beeps at varying frequencies and with other alterations in sound to guide the hunter to the point, such as higher frequency tones when the mobile telephone is moving closer to the collar and lower frequency tones when the mobile telephone is moving further from the collar. A flush tone issues when the hunter reaches the location of the point as a warning to the hunter and as a warning to other hunters who have mobile telephones wirelessly interfaced with the hunter's mobile telephone or the dog's collar. As another example, a wireless handset coupled with an armband accepts inputs to buttons programmable by the hunter to accomplish training tasks, such as issuing stimulation from a shock device. As another example, a wireless camera mounted on top of the dog's head communicates images to a collar 24 so that the camera need not have a wired connection to the collar 24.

(12) Hunt boundary 12 may be predefined before a hunt so that collars 24 will issue audible warnings if a dog attempts to leave the boundary, followed by stimulation. The boundaries and a map of the hunt area are stored on mobile telephone 14 ahead of time, such as from the Internet, in case phone service is not available to download a map during a hunt, such as at a remote location outside of the range of a mobile telephone service provider network. Hunt boundaries 12 may be programmed in memory of each collar 24 for an automated wireless fence around the hunt area enforced by logic at the collar or may be monitored automatically by a training application so that warnings and stimulations are sent through the WLAN or other communication medium as needed based upon a collar's position. In alternative embodiments, a base station 18 may be used to define a wireless fence at a hunter's home for use of the system when not hunting. For instance, the base station activates a home boundary loaded in memory of the collar so that logic on the collar can issue a stimulation if the position of the collar approaches, reaches or exceeds the home boundary. The boundary may be re-programmed as desired through a WLAN interface between the base station and collar. Breach of the boundary can also be programmed to notify the dog owner via mobile telephone that the escape has occurred and reduce the amount of time required to retrieve the wandering dog and the associated stress.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts a mobile telephone dog training system 28. Mobile telephone 14 is a smartphone having a CPU 30 and memory 32 that cooperate to execute instructions and present information as visual images at a touchscreen display 34. A communications module 36 cooperates with CPU 30 to perform smartphone communications. A WWAN communication device establishes communication with a WWAN, such as a mobile telephone service provider network that supports telephone circuit, text and Internet-type data interfaces. A WLAN communication device 40 establishes communication with a WLAN, such as an 802.11 network that supports Internet-type data interfaces. A WPAN communication device 42 establishes communication with a WPAN, such as Bluetooth or a 60 GHz band in a tri-band or WiGig network interface. Mobile telephone 14 includes a variety of other devices commonly found in smartphones, such as speaker 44 that outputs audible sounds, a microphone 46 that captures audible sounds and a GPS receiver 48 that determines a position of the device from GPS signals.

(14) Mobile telephone 14 adapts for use as a dog training system by executing instructions of a training application 50 stored in memory 32, which coordinates the use of hardware and software of mobile telephone 14 for performing dog training functions. For example, training application 50 coordinates communication with dog collar 24 through communication module 36. In the example embodiment, dog collar 24 has a removably coupled wireless communication module 52 that couples to a training module 54 so that an end user can select the type of communications that the mobile telephone will have with collar 24. For instance, wireless communication module 52 may have single or plural types of receivers or transceivers for supporting different types of communications selected by an end user with different frequency bands and communication protocols. In one example embodiment, wireless communication module 52 is an analog or digital receiver, transmitter or transceiver radio in the amateur UHF or VHF radio bands that communicates with an adapter for the mobile telephone 14 as set forth in FIG. 3. In another example embodiment, wireless communication module 52 is a WWAN receiver, transmitter or transceiver that communicates in the WWAN band and protocol of mobile telephone 14. In another example embodiment, wireless communication module 52 is a WLAN receiver, transmitter or transceiver that communicates in a WLAN band and protocol of mobile telephone 14. Various combinations of receivers and transmitters may be couple to training module 14 as desired by an end user, including plural separate communication modules 52 each of which provide a different type of communication. For example, in one embodiment a WWAN transmitter permits sending of text messages to mobile telephone 14 with GPS position information while a WLAN receiver permits reception of shock collar stimulus commands. As another example, a WWAN receiver obtains a time stamp from a cell tower also in use by mobile telephone 14 so that the timeliness of commands sent through a WLAN interface can be verified at collar 24this prevents delayed application of a shock stimulus sent by a WLAN command, which could otherwise correct a dog when the dog is no longer performing an inappropriate action.

(15) Training module 54 may include a variety of components that support training functions in cooperation with training application 50. The training functions may be in one contiguous housing assembled from several separate housings to allow selection by an end user of desired functions. One example component is a GPS receiver 56, which determines the position of collar 24 from a GPS signal and provides the position information to mobile telephone 14 through wireless communication module 52. Training application 50 presents the GPS position of collar 24 at display 34 on a map 58 along with the position of mobile telephone 14 so that the end user can determine the relative position of collar 24 by looking at display 34. Another example component is an accelerometer 60, which detects movement of collar 24 and issues a point alert in the event of a lack of movement under predetermined conditions, such as for a predetermined time period, so that wireless communication module 52 communicates a point alert to mobile telephone 14. Another example component is a camera 62, which captures still or moving images of an area relative to collar 24 where a dog points and provides the images to mobile telephone 14 through wireless communications module 52. In one example embodiment, camera 62 is coupled to a dog separately from collar 24 and communicates images to collar 24 with a WPAN so that wireless communications module 52 can forward the images to mobile telephone 14. Another example component is a speaker 64, which provides audible commands, such as either recorded voice or whistle tweets stored in memory of collar 24, that a dog wearing collar 24 can hear. Speaker 24 may present audible commands, either recorded voice or whistle tweets, provided through a VoIP interface with mobile telephone 24 and communicated through wireless communication module 52. For instance, an end user can speak a command audibly captured at mobile telephone 14 and played at speaker 64 or may press a button that issues an audible command from memory of mobile telephone 14. Alternatively, speaker 64 may present audible commands, either recorded voice or whistle tweets, in response to texts or other data that retrieves the commands from a memory 66, such as a turn or a whoa command. Another example component is a shock device 68 that applies a shock to a dog that is wearing collar 24 in response to a command received through wireless communication device 52. In alternative embodiments, alternative types of positive or negative reinforcements may be used, such as a clicker that issues clicks, a squirter that squirts a fluid, a vibrator that vibrates, etc. . . .

(16) Mobile telephone 14 includes WPAN communication that supports interactions with local peripheral devices to give a hunter hands-off interactions with collar 24. For example, a wireless headset 70 includes an earpiece 72 to play audible sounds in an end user's ears and a microphone 74 to capture commands by the hunter. Headset 70 interacts with a Bluetooth or other types of WPAN interfaces to communicate with mobile telephone 14. Another example is a wireless handset 76 that has an armband or other coupling device to make control buttons 80 accessible to a hunter in a convenient location distal mobile telephone 14. For instance, armband 78 couples to a hunter's wrist or gun to provide a collar selector that selects one of plural collars 24 at which to output a shock correction while the hunter's mobile telephone rests in a pocket or safe location. As another example, handset 76 keeps a body count of birds by species to help a hunter avoid violating a game bag limit. As the hunter gets a bird, the hunter hits a button associated with the species to allow training application 50 to track the number of the species taken. When a limit is reached, the hunter receives an audible warning in earpiece 72: You have reached your pheasant bag limit, don't shoot! Handset 76 can also be used to track other hunting information including location of points or flushes, water sources, or other geographic features which can be downloaded after the hunt for further analysis. In one example embodiment, the sound of a gun shot picked up by a microphone is recognized by training application 50 and automatically marked. At an appropriate time after the gun shot, the hunter is invited to speak a memo of what happened, which is save in association with the location. The inquiry may also include a request to update the body count. In one example embodiment, if the hunter responds to a body count inquiry with shutup, no additions are made to the body count and the hunter is reminded that he should attend church on Sundays instead of hunt.

(17) An example of the mobile telephone dog training system 28 in use follows, but is intended only as an example of how one embodiment of the system may be used. A hunter plans a hunt and stores the hunt boundary in a map 58 of memory 32 of mobile telephone 14 that the hunter retrieves from the Internet. The morning of the hunt, the hunter attaches first and second wireless communication modules 52 to collar 24 and puts the collar on his hunting dog. One wireless communication module 52 receives and transmits WWAN communications and the other receives and transmits 802.11(n) WLAN communications. The dog is released to hunt and disappears in cover. A moment later, accelerometer 60 detects that the dog has stopped moving and gone on point. The WLAN communication module 52 attempts to send a point alert to the hunter but fails to receive a response from training application 50. In response, the WWAN wireless communications module sends a text with the point alert to the hunter's telephone number. The hunter's mobile telephone 14 intercepts the text on its way to the cell tower and also receives the text message from the cell tower and, in response, issues a point alert through a WPAN to an ear piece 72 of wireless headset 70. The text includes the position of the point included from a GPS component 56 of collar 24 so that training application 50 provides the hunter with audible guidance towards the point position. As the hunter approaches, training application 50 initiates a video conference with camera 62 to capture an image of the point through WLAN communication device 40. If the point is on a skunk or snake, the hunter touches a control button 80 on a handset 76 secured to his wrist with an armband 78 to issue a shock from shock device 68. In one embodiment, the image includes infrared information to help distinguish varmints from birds. If the point is on a bird, the hunter issues a WHOA command from memory 66 or through a voice WLAN interface with speaker 64, such as a VoIP interface. As the hunter approaches the point position, a flush alert is issued to all mobile telephones interfaced with the WLAN so that all hunters are prepared. For instance, a training application running on each mobile phone monitors the dog position and the hunter position with WLAN communication and issues a flush alert when the hunter reaches a predetermined location proximate the dog. After the flush, training application 50 tracks the body count so that the hunter does not exceed his allowed bag limit.

(18) Referring now to FIG. 3, an adapter 82 is depicted to accept a mobile telephone 14 for interacting with a dog collar 24. Adapter 82 forms an opening to accept mobile telephone 14 with a connector 84 aligned to couple with a port 86 so that a controller 88 can interface with training application 50. Training application 50 provides information and instructions to controller 88 for sending and receiving communications with transceiver 92 of adapter 82, such as in a frequency band not available with the transceivers of mobile telephone 14. Adapter 82 includes a battery 90 to boost the charge life of mobile telephone 14 and a transceiver 92 to act as an intermediary between mobile telephone 14 and collar 24. Transceiver 92 offers improved radio communication range and reliability in a number of different ways depending on the user preference and the environment. For example, transceiver 92 provides increased range of communications from WLAN communications device 40 by amplifying or boosting WLAN signals. Alternatively, transceiver 92 communicates in a different radio band, such as a lower frequency band having greater range than the WLAN frequency band, with analog or digital signals to act as an intermediary communication medium when out of WLAN communication range. In one embodiment, training application 50 automatically detects the adapter and selects the radio band and protocol to use for communication based upon the range to collar 24. For instance, training application 50 uses a WLAN interface when the GPS position indicates collar 24 is within WLAN range and uses the intermediary frequency of adapter 82 when the GPS position indicates collar 24 is is out of WLAN range. Adapter 82 provides a more robust system for hunters who desire to spend extra money on the extra feature; however, for many infrequent hunters who use collar 24 for yard work and occasional hunting trips, a WLAN range of 250 M provides adequate range and reliability. In one embodiment, adapter 82 includes a waterproof protective case to hold mobile telephone 14 in a secure manner. In one embodiment, a larger sized adapter works for tablet type of devices that can include WWAN and WLAN capabilities. In another alternative embodiment, adapter 82 includes a WPAN so that it can boost the range of a mobile telephone 14 that is maintained separately and not inserted into adapter 82. For example, a hunter can strap adapter 82 on his back with an extended antenna for better range and the adapter communicates through a WPAN with a mobile telephone in the hunter's pocket as if the mobile telephone were coupled in adapter 82.

(19) Referring now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram depicts a lock and tone process for guiding a hunter to a dog on point. The process begins at step 94 with detection of a point, such as with an accelerometer or lack of change of GPS position. At step 96, an audible point alarm is issued and an image of the point is presented at the mobile telephone display. In one embodiment, the alert and image is presented from the mobile telephone by a WPAN communication to glasses that the hunter is wearing along with a translucent map or a square or dot that indicates the location of collar 24 relative to the lens of the glasses. The hunter is thus able to see a map of the dog's position and an indication with a red dot or target box of where the hunter should look to see the dog through the glasses. At step 98, a determination is made of whether the point is a valid point on a game bird species or an invalid point, such as a point on a non-bird animal (a snake or skunk). If not a valid point, the process goes to step 100 to issue a correction, such as a shock stimulus, and returns to step 94. If a valid point at step 98, the process continues to step 102 to provide directions to the location of the point. If at step 104 a determination is made that mobile telephone position has moved further from the point position, the process continues to step 106 to issue a lower tone sound and then returns to step 102. If at step 104 a determination is made that the mobile telephone position has moved closer to the point position, the process continues to step 108 to issue a higher tone sound and then returns to step 102. Alternatively, directions at step 102 can present as computer generated audible directions, such as turn left or right, or flush in 10 yards.

(20) Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.