Integrated apparatus and method to combine a wireless fence collar with GPS tracking capability
An integrated apparatus and method is provided for a collar that is configured to operate as part of a wireless fence system that contains and monitors the location of a dog within containment area defined by the wireless fence system and further configured to provide GPS tracking capability when the dog has escaped from the containment area. As long as the dog remains in the area defined by the wireless fence, the collar operates solely in a wireless fence mode, communicating with the transmitters used as part of the wireless fence system. The GPS tracking function remains “asleep” and is not activated unless and until the dog escapes. Once GPS mode is activated, fence mode is shut down and operation of the GPS enables the dog owner or other individual to receive SMS messages and/or email with information on the dog's location on a smart-phone, tablet or PC.
1. A method comprising,
monitoring communications of at least one transmitter, the monitoring the communications comprising a first state and a second state, the first state comprising receiving one or more communications from the at least one transmitter, the one or more communications including location information of a mobile object, the receiving the one or more communications including using the location information to monitor a position of the mobile object, wherein the monitored position comprises a first location and a second location;
initiating tracking of the mobile object when at least one of the monitored position comprises the second location and the monitored communications comprises the second state, the tracking comprising instructing a tracking component to determine location data of the mobile object, the tracking comprising delivery of power to the tracking component, the tracking comprising transmitting the location data to a communications gateway.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second state comprises failure to receive one or more polling packets from the at least one transmitter, wherein the one or more communications comprise the one or more polling packets.
3. The method of claim 1 , ceasing the tracking of the mobile object when the monitored position comprises the first location.
4. The method of claim 3 , the ceasing the tracking comprising ceasing the delivery of power to the tracking component.
5. The method of claim 1 , the initiating the tracking comprising starting a timer defining a timeout period.
6. The method of claim 5 , providing one or more audible signals in a proximity to the mobile object during the timeout period.
7. The method of claim 5 , providing at least one electrical stimulus to the mobile object during the timeout period.
8. The method of claim 5 , the initiating the tracking comprising initiating the tracking upon expiration of the timeout period.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location data comprises GPS positional data of the mobile object.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location comprises a location within a boundary.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second location comprises a location outside the boundary.
12. A method comprising,
a first component monitoring communications of at least one transmitter, the monitoring the communications comprising a first state and a second state, the first state comprising receiving one or more communications from the at least one transmitter, the one or more communications including location information of a mobile object, the receiving the one or more communications including using the location information to monitor a position of the mobile object, wherein the monitored position comprises a first location and a second location, wherein the first component resides within a housing;
the first component initiating tracking of the mobile object when at least one of the monitored position comprises the second location and the monitored communications comprises the second state, the tracking comprising the first component instructing a second component to determine location data of the mobile object, the tracking comprising the first component instructing delivery of power to the second component, wherein the second component resides within the housing, the tracking comprising the second component transmitting the location data to at least one remote computing device.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second state comprises failure to receive one or more polling packets from the at least one transmitter, wherein the one or more communications comprise the one or more polling packets.
14. The method of claim 12 , the first component ceasing the tracking of the mobile object when the monitored position comprises the first location.
15. The method of claim 14 , the ceasing the tracking comprising the first component instructing cessation of power to the second component.
16. The method of claim 12 , the initiating the tracking comprising starting a timer defining a timeout period.
17. The method of claim 16 , the first component providing one or more audible signals in a proximity to the mobile object during the timeout period.
18. The method of claim 16 , the first component providing at least one electrical stimulus to the mobile object during the timeout period.
19. The method of claim 16 , the initiating the tracking including initiating the tracking upon expiration of the timeout period.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first component comprises a fence module, wherein the fence module comprises a first power source.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second component comprises a GPS module, wherein the GPS module comprises a second power source.
22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first component is electrically coupled to the second component.
23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first component is electrically connected to the second component.
24. The method of claim 12 , wherein the location data comprises GPS positional data of the mobile object.
25. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first location comprises a location within a boundary.
26. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second location comprises a location outside the boundary.
27. A method comprising,
monitoring communications of at least one transmitter, the monitoring the communications comprising a first state and a second state, the first state comprising receiving one or more communications from the at least one transmitter, the one or more communications including location information of a mobile object, the receiving the one or more communications including using the location information to monitor a position of the mobile object, wherein the monitored position comprises a first location and a second location;
initiating tracking of the mobile object when at least one condition is met, wherein the at least one condition includes the monitored position comprising the second location, the tracking comprising instructing a tracking component to determine location data of the mobile object, the tracking comprising delivery of power to the tracking component, the tracking comprising transmitting the location data to a communications gateway;
ceasing the tracking of the mobile object when the monitored position comprises the first location, the ceasing the tracking comprising ceasing delivery of power to the tracking component.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the at least one condition includes the monitored communications comprising the second state.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the second state comprises failure to receive one or more polling packets from the at least one transmitter, wherein the one or more communications comprise the one or more polling packets.