Method and device for determining information on an animal and/or animal milk

1 . A method for determining information on an animal and/or animal milk, wherein a sensor unit ( 4 ) detects data relating to the health, well-being and/or behavior of the animal and/or

data relating to the quality or composition of the animal milk and/or

data relating to a physical, chemical, biological and/or morphological property of the animal milk and transmits said data wirelessly to a central data station ( 10 ) with the aid of a transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ),

characterized in that

activation and/or signalling for the data transmission are/is effected separately from the actual data transmission.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the signaling and/or the data transmission are/is effected using a radiofrequency filed, an infrared frequency field and/or ultrasonic frequency field.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the signaling and the data transmission are effected on physically or logically different channels.

4 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data are detected in an animal-specific manner, in particular in an udder-quarter-specific manner.

5 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 4 ) and/or the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) are/is supplied with energy from a battery and/or rechargeable battery ( 8 ), in particular the sensor unit ( 4 ) and/or the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) are/is configured as transponder.

6 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy for the sensor unit ( 4 ) and/or the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) is generated by a generator ( 9 ) electrically connected thereto, wherein in particular the energy is obtained from the milk vacuum, from an ultrasonic field, from the kinetic energy of the sensor unit, and/or from the kinetic energy of the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ).

7 . the method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signaling is effected after an adjustable waiting time.

8 . the method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data are transmitted in time division multiplexed, frequency division multiplexed and/or code division multiplexed fashion.

9 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data are transmitted in data packets in packet-switched fashion, in particular using an ALOHA access method, or else the ZIGBEE standard.

10 . The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data are detected during milking.

11 . The method as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 10 , in which h the activation is effected in a manner dependent on at least one predetermined parameter, in particular at predetermined points in time.

12 . A device ( 1 ) for determining information on an animal an/or animal milk, comprising

at least one sensor unit ( 4 ) for detecting

data relating to the health, well-being and/or behavior of the animal and/or

data relating to the quality or composition of the animal milk and/or

data relating to a physical, chemical, biological and/or morphological property of the animal milk, and at least one transmitting an/or receiving unit ( 6 ) which communicates with the sensor unit ( 4 ) and by means of which the data can be transmitted wirelessly to a central data station ( 10 )

characterized in that

the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) has at least one traffic channel for the transmission of data and at least one signaling channel for the activation and/or signaling of the data transmission.

13 . The device as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) is set up as a mobile station.

14 . The device as claimed in claim 12 or 13 , characterized by at least one milking cup ( 2 ) and at least one milk hose ( 3 ), wherein the milking cup ( 2 ) can be connected to a milk line ( 5 ) via the milk hose ( 3 ), and the sensor unit ( 4 ) is arranged at the milking cup ( 2 ), the milk hose ( 3 ) and/or at a connecting piece ( 7 ) between milking cup ( 2 ) and milk line ( 5 ).

15 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 12 , 13 or 14 , characterized in that the traffic channel and the signaling channel are physically different.

16 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 12 to 15 , characterized in that the traffic channel and/or the signaling channel are/is set up for radio frequencies, infrared frequencies and/or ultrasound.

17 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 12 to 16 , characterized in that the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) has at least one of the following features (b1) to (b3):

(b1) the transmitting an/or receiving unit ( 6 ) has a battery or a rechargeable battery ( 8 );

(b2) the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) has a generator ( 9 ) for obtaining energy, wherein in particular the generator ( 9 ) can utilize the energy

of a vacuum in the milk,

of an ultrasonic field,

of a kinetic energy of the sensor unit ( 4 ), and/or

of a kinetic energy of the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 );

(b3) the transmitting and/or receiving unit ( 6 ) has a timing circuit for setting waiting times until the activation of the signaling channel and/or traffic channel.

18 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 12 to 17 , characterized in that the transmitting an/or receiving unit ( 6 ) is configured as a passive transponder.

19 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 12 to 18 , characterized in that the traffic channel and/or the signaling channel have/has a time division multiplexor, a frequency division multiplexer and/or a code division multiplexer.

20 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 11 to 19 , characterized in that the transmitting an/or receiving unit ( 6 ) supports a packet-switched network, in particular a packet-switched network with an ALOHA access.

21 . A milking installation, in particular a milking robot, comprising a multiplicity of milking cups ( 2 ), milk hoses ( 3 ) and at least one milk line ( 5 ), characterized by a device ( 1 ) as claimed in one of claims 11 to 19 .

22 . A herd management installation comprising a device as claimed in one of claims 12 to 20 and/or a milking installation as claimed in claim 21 .