Graphical shepherding

1 . A wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance, comprising:

a housing;

an electrical power source contained within said housing;

at least one animal stimulation apparatus electrically coupled with said housing and powered by said electrical power source;

a wireless location determination apparatus contained within said housing, powered by said electrical power source, and configured to operatively generate current position identifying information representative of a current position of said housing;

an electrical processor coupled to said wireless location determination apparatus and operative to receive said current position identifying information therefrom;

memory electrically accessible by said electrical processor;

a data table that is stored in said electrically accessible memory; and

a plurality of guidance zone values stored in said data table, with each guidance zone value stored in said data table identifying a one of a safe zone associated with a first behavioral guidance stimulation, an alert zone circumscribing said safe zone associated with a second behavioral guidance stimulation different from said first behavioral guidance stimulation, and an out-of-bounds zone circumscribing said alert zone associated with a third behavioral guidance stimulation different from said first and second behavioral guidance stimulations;

said electrical processor configured to operatively compare said received current position identifying information to said data table to generate a first represented current position within said data table and to generate a second represented current position that is subsequent to said first represented current position and further configured to vary an output of said at least one animal stimulation apparatus responsive to said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position, and further configured to determine when said housing is outside of said safe zone and said alert zone, and to control an output of said at least one animal stimulation apparatus to provide positive stimulus when said housing is determined to be outside of said alert zone and said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position is indicative of movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone;

wherein said electrical processor is further configured to read a future position guidance zone value located in a path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table that are defined in direction by a displacement from said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position and defined in location sequentially extending away from both of said second represented position and said first represented current position, and subsequent to said read of said future position guidance zone value, said electrical processor is configured to compare said read future position guidance zone value with said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone, and responsive to said compare if said read future position guidance zone value does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone to determine that said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position is indicative of movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone.

2 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 1 , wherein said electrical processor is configured to operatively deliver a stimulus different from said positive stimulus when said housing is outside of said at least two assisted guidance zones and said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position is indicative of movement in a direction that will remain outside of said alert zone.

3 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 1 , wherein said electrical processor is further configured to read each future position guidance zone value located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone.

4 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 1 , wherein said electrical processor is configured to read every n th data point located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table starting at a first point, until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone.

5 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 4 , wherein said electrical processor is configured to read every n th data point located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table starting at a second point offset from said first point by less than n data points, until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone.

6 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 4 , wherein said electrical processor is configured to set a value for n that is equal to the width of said alert zone.

7 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 3 , wherein said electrical processor is configured to read every data point located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table sequentially, until a first one of said read future position guidance zone value does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone.

8 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 1 , wherein said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table comprises a linear path.

9 . The wireless location assisted zone guidance system configured to assist in the training and management of an animal and providing an extended area of behavioral guidance of claim 1 , wherein said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table defines a path longitudinal axis and a path width transverse to said longitudinal axis, and said path width increases as the distance from said second represented current position increases, thereby allowing for an increased amount of uncertainty farther from said second represented current position.

10 . A method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone, comprising the steps of:

electronically storing a behavioral guidance region having a plurality of distinct behavioral guidance zones including a safe zone, said alert zone, and an out-of-bounds zone in an electronically accessible memory as a two-dimensional data table having a first dimension index and a second dimension index;

electronically saving a unique set of behavioral modification actions associated with each one of said plurality of distinct behavioral guidance zones in said electronically accessible memory;

electronically determining said current geographic location relative to said behavioral guidance region;

electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement from a first represented position in said data table to a second represented position in said data table and a movement intent from said first represented position relative to said alert zone; and

producing positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus when said current geographic location is determined to be within said out-of-bounds zone and said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position is indicative of movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone;

wherein said step of electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement and a movement intent relative to said alert zone further comprises the steps of:

electronically reading a future position guidance zone value located in a path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table that are defined in direction by a displacement from said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position and defined in location sequentially extending away from both of said second represented position and said first represented current position;

electronically comparing said read future position guidance zone value with said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone subsequent to said read of said future position guidance zone value; and

electronically determining responsive to said compare that if said read future position guidance zone value does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone that said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position is indicative of movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone.

11 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 10 , wherein said step of electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement and a movement intent relative to said alert zone further comprises the steps of:

repeating each of said steps electronically reading, electronically comparing, and electronically determining to read each of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone; and

electronically ascertaining whether all of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone;

responsive to said electronically ascertaining that all of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone, producing a stimulus different from said positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus, and otherwise producing said positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus.

12 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 10 , wherein said step of electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement and a movement intent relative to said alert zone further comprises the steps of:

repeating each of said steps electronically reading, electronically comparing, and electronically determining to read every nth one of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table, where n is an integer greater than one, until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone;

electronically ascertaining whether all of every nth one of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone; and

responsive to said electronically ascertaining that all of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone, producing a stimulus different from said positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus, and otherwise producing said positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus.

13 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 10 , wherein said step of electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement and a movement intent relative to said alert zone further comprises the steps of:

repeating each of said steps electronically reading, electronically comparing, and electronically determining to read every nth one of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table, where n is an integer greater than one, until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone;

electronically ascertaining whether all of every nth one of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone;

responsive to said electronically ascertaining that all of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone, reduplicating each of said steps electronically reading, electronically comparing, and electronically determining to read every nth+1 position one of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table, until a first one of said read future position guidance zone values does not equal said guidance zone value representing said out-of-bounds zone;

electronically re-ascertaining whether all of every nth one of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone;

responsive to said electronically re-ascertaining that all of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table represent said out-of-bounds zone, producing a stimulus different from said positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus, and otherwise producing said positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus.

14 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 12 , wherein n is an integer that is equal to a width of said alert zone.

15 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 11 , wherein said step of repeating further comprises reading each of said future position guidance zone values located in said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table sequentially.

16 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 10 , wherein said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table comprises a linear path.

17 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 10 , wherein said path of sequential future position guidance zone values stored in said data table defines a path longitudinal axis and a path width transverse to said longitudinal axis, and said path width increases as the distance from said second represented current position increases, thereby allowing for an increased amount of uncertainty farther from said second represented current position.

18 . A method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone, comprising the steps of:

electronically storing a behavioral guidance region having a plurality of distinct behavioral guidance zones including a safe zone, said alert zone, and an out-of-bounds zone in an electronically accessible memory as a two-dimensional data table having a first dimension index and a second dimension index;

electronically saving a unique set of behavioral modification actions associated with each one of said plurality of distinct behavioral guidance zones in said electronically accessible memory;

electronically determining said current geographic location relative to said behavioral guidance region;

electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement from a first represented position in said data table to a second represented position in said data table and a movement intent from said first represented position relative to said alert zone; and

producing positive stimulus within said at least one animal stimulation apparatus when said current geographic location is determined to be within said out-of-bounds zone and said second represented current position relative to said first represented current position is indicative of movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone;

wherein said step of electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement and a movement intent relative to said alert zone further comprises the steps of:

electronically first calculating said movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone using a first calculation technique; and

electronically second calculating said movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone using a second calculation technique different from said first calculation technique.

19 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 18 , wherein said first calculation technique and said second calculation technique are each selected from the group of: a safe zone center calculation, a calculation of displacement from a closest border point by scanning of rings, and a read of future position data table contents looking for a value different from an out-of-bounds zone value.

20 . The method of electronically retrieving behavioral modification actions associated with a current geographic location and movement direction including shepherding wayward dogs to selectively shepherd said wayward dog back into an alert zone of claim 19 , wherein said step of electronically detecting a direction of at least one of a movement and a movement intent relative to said alert zone further comprises the step of automatically selecting said first calculation technique and said second calculation technique responsive to at least one of:

a geometry of said alert zone;

a pre-selected training goal; and

a pre-assigned priority based upon which of said first calculation technique and said second calculation technique is returning a result indicating said movement from said out-of-bounds zone into said alert zone.