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CN-122028789-A - System and method for monitoring a plurality of animals

CN122028789ACN 122028789 ACN122028789 ACN 122028789ACN-122028789-A

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for monitoring a plurality of animals (e.g., farm animals). The system includes a plurality of monitoring devices, a plurality of gateway devices, and a remote computing device. The system is configured to automatically and continuously transmit data from the monitoring devices and receive data from one or more gateway devices within the first communication technology range and transmit data from the plurality of gateway devices to the remote computing device when the plurality of gateway devices are disposed at or near the point of interest and the plurality of monitoring devices are attached to the corresponding animals, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to analyze the received data to identify the target animals.

Inventors

  • Steven. Wilson
  • DEAN PHILLIPS

Assignees

  • X视野数码私人有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240827
Priority Date
20230828

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A system for monitoring a plurality of animals, the system comprising: A plurality of monitoring devices, each configured to be attached to an animal, and comprising a processor and a network interface for continuous transmission of data via a wireless first communication technology; A plurality of gateway devices, each gateway device configured to be arranged at or near a point of interest, to communicate with a plurality of said monitoring devices through said first communication technology on the one hand, and to communicate with a remote computing device through a second communication technology on the other hand; The remote computing device is configured to receive data from a plurality of the gateway devices over the second communication technology; Wherein the system is configured to automatically and continuously transmit data from the monitoring devices and to be received by one or more gateway devices within the first communication technology range and to be transmitted from the gateway devices to the remote computing device when the plurality of gateway devices are disposed at or near the point of interest and the plurality of monitoring devices are attached to the corresponding animals, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to analyze the received data to identify the target animals.
  2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is configured to determine whether intervention is required for the target animal.
  3. 3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the remote computing device is configured to determine a real-time location of the monitoring device of the identified target animal and provide information related to the identified animal.
  4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to automatically generate and transmit instructions to control operation of the monitoring device of the identified animal and/or a point of interest at or near the location of the animal if the remote computing device determines that intervention is required for the animal.
  5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is configured to, if the remote computing device determines that intervention for the identified animal is required, the remote computing device: Identifying at least one gateway device within the first communication technology range of the monitoring device attached to the identified animal, and The instructions are transmitted to the at least one identified gateway device to cause the gateway device to control operation at the animal's monitoring device and/or related point of interest.
  6. 6. The system of claim 3, wherein the remote computing device is configured to transmit the information to one or more portable computing devices.
  7. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein each monitoring device is configured to also receive data via the first communication technology.
  8. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication technology is bluetooth and each monitoring device is configured to periodically broadcast data such that one or more gateway devices within range of the broadcast data receive the data.
  9. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein each monitoring device is configured to obtain information indicative of at least one health parameter of an animal associated with the monitoring device, the information being automatically transmitted to one or more gateway devices within the first communication technology range, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to automatically identify a target animal and/or determine whether intervention is required for the animal using at least the obtained information indicative of the at least one health parameter.
  10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein each monitoring device is configured to measure at least one of body temperature, heart rate, and galvanic skin response of an animal associated with the monitoring device.
  11. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein each gateway device is configured to detect and/or calculate a signal strength from data received by monitoring devices within range of the first communication technology and to transmit information related to the signal strength to the remote computing device, the remote computing device using the information to determine a real-time location of the monitoring device.
  12. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each gateway device is configured to detect a signal direction from data received by monitoring devices within range of the first communication technology, wherein the remote computing device uses information related to the signal strength and the signal direction to determine a real-time location of each monitoring device.
  13. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device uses data received from a plurality of the gateway devices to determine information indicative of at least one of a speed of movement of the animal, a direction of movement of the animal, an acceleration of movement of the animal, and a position of the animal relative to the ground.
  14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote computing device uses at least the determined information to identify the target animal and/or automatically determine whether intervention is needed for the animal.
  15. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein each monitoring device comprises a signal element activatable to provide a visual or audible signal at the monitoring device, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to cause a gateway device proximate to an associated identified animal to activate the signal element attached to the monitoring device of the animal.
  16. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein each monitoring device comprises a light emitting element that is activatable by the remote computing device through a gateway device.
  17. 17. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to determine at least one of a plurality of preset responsive actions if the remote computing device determines that intervention is required for the animal, wherein the remote computing device provides information related to the preset responsive actions, and/or generates and transmits instructions related to the preset responsive actions to control the operation of the monitoring device and/or point of interest.
  18. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device compares the received data of animals with data of comparable animals to identify a target animal and/or automatically determine if intervention is needed for the animal.
  19. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is configured to compare the received data with historical data and/or normalized data of the animal and/or comparable animals to identify the target animal and/or automatically determine whether intervention is needed for the animal.
  20. 20. The system of claim 18 or 19, wherein the remote computing device is configured to analyze the data received over a period of time to identify patterns in the data and compare the patterns to historical data patterns that have heretofore led to intervention.

Description

System and method for monitoring a plurality of animals Technical Field The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring a plurality of animals, such as farm animals including, but not limited to, cattle, pigs and sheep. Background According to the data of Australian agriculture, water conservancy and environment Department (DAWE), the number of animals passing through sea and air transport outlets in Australia per year exceeds 230 ten thousand, and the current health condition and well-being monitoring and related reporting processes of animals are finished by manpower to a great extent, so that the repeatability is high, the resources are consumed, and the cost is high. Most of the test data are collected manually from individual animals, either on farm or during transport (including live stock export). Not only is this approach inefficient, but some tests require restricting animal activity, which can result in an increased stress level in the animal. From a technical perspective, radio frequency identification (Radio Frequency Identification, RFID) tags have been used to know the location and eating patterns of animals as they pass through gates and other readers on specific equipment within a farm. RFID chips are small and relatively low cost, but cannot transmit real-time data, and have a relatively short communication distance, so that data can be recorded only at a specific time and place. In addition, the cost of the RFID scanner is relatively high, which limits the maximum layout number and distribution range of the scanner, thereby affecting the monitoring accuracy of the RFID monitoring system. It would be of great practical significance if at least one embodiment of the invention could be improved upon the known conventional art, or at least could provide a viable alternative. Any documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been discussed in the present specification are not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present application as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Disclosure of Invention Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system for monitoring a plurality of animals, the system comprising: A plurality of monitoring devices, each configured to be attached to an animal, and comprising a processor and a network interface for transmitting data via a wireless first communication technology; A plurality of gateway devices, each gateway device configured to be arranged at or near a point of interest, to communicate with a plurality of said monitoring devices through said first communication technology on the one hand, and to communicate with a remote computing device through a second communication technology on the other hand; The remote computing device is configured to receive data from a plurality of the gateway devices over the second communication technology; Wherein the system is configured to automatically transmit data from the monitoring devices and to be received by one or more of the gateway devices within the first communication technology range and to be transmitted from the gateway devices to the remote computing device when the plurality of gateway devices are disposed at or near the point of interest and the plurality of monitoring devices are attached to the corresponding animals, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to analyze the received data to identify the target animals. In some embodiments of the invention, the remote computing device is configured to determine whether an intervention, such as a medical intervention, needs to be taken on the target animal. The remote computing device may also be configured to determine a real-time location of the monitoring device of the identified target animal and provide information related to the identified animal. The information may include, but is not limited to, real-time location and identification information of the target animal. In one embodiment, the system may be configured such that if the remote computing device determines that intervention is required for the identified animal, the remote computing device automatically generates and transmits instructions to control the operation of the animal's monitoring device and/or the point of interest at or near the animal's location. Embodiments of the present invention are applicable to all animals, one particular application scenario includes farm animals such as livestock (cattle, pigs, and sheep). The inventors have found that the monit