Systems, methods and computer program products for monitoring the behavior, health, and/or characteristics of an animal
Systems, methods, and computer code products monitor the behavior, health, and/or characteristics of an animal. In one implementation, the animal is positioned inside a waste container placed on a system that is adapted to determine, record and communicate, over a network, various animal health parameters. These parameters can be processed to determine trends, statistics and changes of animal physiological functions. The results can be used to access animal health conditions and issue warnings, alarms, messages, and other notifications to designated caretakers. These notifications may be displayed, for example by computers and/or mobile devices. Data retrieval and review capability can provide improved understanding of an animal's health conditions and facilitate early illness detection.
1 . A system for monitoring the behavior of an animal, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to detect the presence of the animal;
a measuring device configured to measure a characteristic of the animal whenever presence of the animal is detected;
a storage device configured to store the measured characteristics of the animal; and
a processor configured to calculate derived data from the measured characteristics,
wherein the storage device is further configured to store threshold alert data and wherein the processor is configured to compare either the measured characteristic or derived data to the stored threshold alert data and to send an alert when the measured characteristic or derived data crosses the threshold alert data.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an identification sensor configured to identify the animal as a specific animal from a plurality animals after presence of the animal is detected.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the measured characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
the animal's weight;
the weight of the animal's waste;
the weight of a platform before the presence of the animal was detected;
the combined weight of the platform and the animal after the presence of the animal was detected;
the weight of a platform after the departure of the animal was detected;
the weight of the food consumed by the animal;
the weight of the water consumed by the animal;
the date when presence of the animal is detected;
the time when presence of the animal is detected;
the time when departure of the animal is detected; and
the duration of time between detection of the presence of the animal and the departure of the animal.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the derived data is selected from the group consisting of:
the daily frequency with which presence of the animal is detected;
the cumulative daily weight of the animal's waste;
the cumulative daily weight of the food consumed by the animal;
the cumulative daily weight of the water consumed by the animal;
the average daily weight of the animal;
the maximum and the minimum daily weight of the animal;
the cumulative daily duration of time between each detection of the presence of the animal and the departure of the animal;
the average, maximum and minimum rates of food and water consumption, expressed in weight of food and water consumed per unit of time;
the cumulative daily number of times the presence of the animal is detected;
the amount of time since the last time presence of the animal is detected; and
the average daily time interval between instances where presence of animal is detected.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor, measuring device, and storage device are assembled in a stand-alone apparatus.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a remote cloud device.
7 . A method for monitoring the behavior of an animal, the method comprising:
detecting the presence of the animal;
measuring a characteristic of the animal whenever presence of the animal is detected;
storing the measured characteristics of the animal;
calculating derived data from the measured characteristics; and
comparing the measured characteristic and/or derived data to stored threshold alert data and sending an alert when the measured characteristic and/or derived data crosses the threshold alert data.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising identifying the animal as a specific animal from a plurality of animals after presence of the animal is detected.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the measured characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
the animal's weight;
the weight of the animal's waste;
the weight of a platform before the presence of the animal was detected;
the combined weight of the platform and the animal after the presence of the animal was detected;
the weight of a platform after the departure of the animal was detected;
the weight of the food consumed by the animal;
the weight of the water consumed by the animal;
the date when presence of the animal is detected;
the time when presence of the animal is detected;
the time when departure of the animal is detected; and
the duration of time between detection of the presence of the animal and the departure of the animal.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the derived data is selected from the group consisting of:
the daily frequency with which presence of the animal is detected;
the cumulative daily weight of the animal's waste;
the cumulative daily weight of the food consumed by the animal;
the cumulative daily weight of the water consumed by the animal;
the average daily weight of the animal;
the maximum and the minimum daily weight of the animal;
the cumulative daily duration of time between each detection of the presence of the animal and the departure of the animal;
the average, maximum and minimum rates of food and water consumption, expressed in weight of food and water consumed per unit of time;
the cumulative daily number of times the presence of the animal is detected;
the amount of time since the last time presence of the animal is detected; and
the average daily time interval between instances where presence of animal is detected.
11 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer code executable by a processor, the computer program product comprising:
computer code for detecting the presence of an animal;
computer code for measuring a characteristic of the animal whenever presence of the animal is detected;
computer code for storing the measured characteristics of the animal;
computer code for calculating derived data from the measured characteristics; and
computer code for comparing the measured characteristic and/or derived data to stored threshold alert data and for sending an alert when the measured characteristic and/or derived data crosses the threshold alert data.
12 . The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising computer code for identifying the animal as a specific animal from a plurality animals after presence of the animal is detected.
13 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the measured characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
the animal's weight;
the weight of the animal's waste;
the weight of a platform before the presence of the animal was detected;
the combined weight of the platform and the animal after the presence of the animal was detected;
the weight of a platform after the departure of the animal was detected;
the weight of the food consumed by the animal;
the weight of the water consumed by the animal;
the date when presence of the animal is detected;
the time when presence of the animal is detected;
the time when departure of the animal is detected; and
the duration of time between detection of the presence of the animal and the departure of the animal.
14 . The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the derived data is selected from the group consisting of:
the daily frequency with which presence of the animal is detected;
the cumulative daily weight of the animal's waste;
the cumulative daily weight of the food consumed by the animal;
the cumulative daily weight of the water consumed by the animal;
the average daily weight of the animal;
the maximum and the minimum daily weight of the animal;
the cumulative daily duration of time between each detection of the presence of
the animal and the departure of the animal;
the average, maximum and minimum rates of food and water consumption, expressed in weight of food and water consumed per unit of time;
the cumulative daily number of times the presence of the animal is detected;
the amount of time since the last time presence of the animal is detected; and
the average daily time interval between instances where presence of animal is detected.