WO2014040999A1 - A system and a method for monitoring temperature of an animal - Google Patents

A system and a method for monitoring temperature of an animal Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014040999A1
WO2014040999A1 PCT/EP2013/068752 EP2013068752W WO2014040999A1 WO 2014040999 A1 WO2014040999 A1 WO 2014040999A1 EP 2013068752 W EP2013068752 W EP 2013068752W WO 2014040999 A1 WO2014040999 A1 WO 2014040999A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
animal
temperature
monitoring
temperature value
control means
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2013/068752
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Albert James MOYLAN
Michael Quinlan
Original Assignee
Gavico Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gavico Limited filed Critical Gavico Limited
Publication of WO2014040999A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014040999A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A61B5/0015—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network characterised by features of the telemetry system
    • A61B5/002—Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A61B5/0015—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network characterised by features of the telemetry system
    • A61B5/0022—Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/01—Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
    • A61B5/6813—Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part
    • A61B5/6814—Head
    • A61B5/6815—Ear
    • A61B5/6817—Ear canal
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H40/00—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/60—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/67—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for remote operation
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2503/00—Evaluating a particular growth phase or type of persons or animals
    • A61B2503/40—Animals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00—Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/02—Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
    • A61B2562/0271—Thermal or temperature sensors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and a method for monitoring temperature of an animal.
  • the invention is also directed towards providing a method for detecting the temperature of an animal, and in particular, for detecting the temperatures of respective animals in a herd of animals.
  • a system for monitoring temperature of an animal comprising an animal mountable element adapted for mounting on an animal, and a base station communicable with the animal mountable element, the animal mountable element comprising a temperature monitoring means for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, a control means for reading the signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal, and for producing a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, and a communicating means operable under the control of the control means for communicating the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal wirelessly for reception by the base station.
  • the temperature monitoring means comprises a thermistor adapted for locating on the animal, and preferably, for locating on the animal in heat conducting engagement with the animal.
  • the thermistor is located on a distal end of a probe wire in electrical communication with the thermistor, and preferably, the probe wire is adapted as an antenna which advantageously, is co-operable with the communicating means for communicating data to the base station.
  • the probe wire on which the thermistor is located comprises a pair of wires, and advantageously, the respective wires of the probe wires communicate with the thermistor, and advantageously, communicate with the control means via a pair of electrically conductive paths.
  • the thermistor is adapted for locating in the tympanic canal in an ear of the animal, and preferably, the probe is of sufficient length so that the thermistor enters the mucous membrane in the tympanic canal in order that the thermistor is naturally sealed in place in the tympanic canal.
  • control means is adapted to read signals from the temperature monitoring means at first predefined time intervals, and preferably, the first predefined time intervals are programmable. In another embodiment of the invention, the control means is adapted for uploading data read from the temperature monitoring means to the base station at second predefined time intervals, and preferably, the second predefined time intervals are programmable.
  • each first predefined time interval lies in the range of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and advantageously, the duration of each first predefined time interval may be reduced or increased in response to a previously read signal from the temperature monitoring means.
  • each second predefined time interval lies in the range of 2 minutes to 30 minutes, and advantageously, the duration of each second predefined time interval may be reduced or increased in response to data uploaded at the end of a previous second predefined time interval.
  • each uploading of data by the control means to the base station is initiated by the control means.
  • the communicating means of the animal mountable element is adapted for two-way communicating, and advantageously, the duration of at least the second predefined time interval is read by the control means from the base station.
  • the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals are read from the base station during each upload of data by the control means from the animal mountable element to the base station, and ideally, data indicative of the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals is embedded in an acknowledgement of the uploaded data transmitted by the base station for reception by the animal mountable element.
  • the communicating means comprises a transceiver, which ideally comprises a radio transceiver.
  • the control means comprises a storing means for storing a threshold temperature value, and an alert temperature value, and advantageously, the threshold temperature and the alert temperature values are programmable, and preferably, are read by the control means of the animal mountable element from the base station, and advantageously, are read from the base station during uploading of the data, and preferably, the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are embedded in the acknowledgement from the base station when acknowledging uploaded data received from the animal mountable element.
  • control means of the animal mountable element is adapted for comparing each signal indicative of the temperature of the animal read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored threshold temperature value and with the alert temperature value, and if the temperature of the signal read from the temperature monitoring means exceeds or falls below the threshold temperature value, depending on whether the threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores the read temperature value, and preferably, each stored temperature value is time and date stamped.
  • control means is adapted for storing the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means at the commencement of each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, the stored first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means is time and date stamped.
  • control means is adapted for storing the last temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means during each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, each stored last temperature value read is time and date stamped and stored.
  • control means is adapted for uploading the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during each second predefined time interval at the end of the second predefined time interval.
  • control means is adapted to compare each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored alert temperature value, and if the read temperature value exceeds or falls below the stored alert temperature value depending on whether the stored alert temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means is adapted to time and date stamp and store the read temperature value which exceeds or falls below the stored alert temperature value, as the case may be, and to immediately transmit that temperature value for reception by the base station.
  • control means is adapted for transmitting an identifier code with each upload of data identifying the animal mountable element.
  • control means comprises a data processing means, and preferably, a data processor.
  • control means comprises a microcontroller which is programmed as a data processor, and to store the time and date stamped temperature values.
  • the microcontroller is adapted to store the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals, and advantageously, the microcontroller is adapted to store the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and ideally, the microcontroller is configured so that the first and second predefined time intervals and the predefined threshold and alert temperature values may be varied.
  • the microcontroller is adapted to read acknowledgement data from the base station.
  • the microcontroller is adapted to store the identifier code of the animal mountable element.
  • the animal mountable element comprises a housing defining a hollow interior region, which preferably, is a water-tight hollow interior region, and advantageously, the control means and the communicating means are located in the hollow interior region.
  • the animal mountable element is battery powered, and preferably, the battery is located in the hollow interior region of the housing.
  • the thermistor and the probe wire of the thermistor extends from the hollow interior region of the housing externally of the housing, and advantageously, the probe wire extends through an opening in the housing, and advantageously, the probe wire is sealably located in the opening through the housing.
  • the housing is substantially tag shaped, and is adapted for securing to an ear of the animal, with the probe extending therefrom into the tympanic canal.
  • a plurality of the animal mountable elements are provided for respective animals of a herd of animals, each animal mountable element being adapted to communicate with the base station.
  • the base station is adapted to relay data received from the animal mountable element to a website, and preferably, the base station is adapted to relay the data received from the animal mountable element to the website via a GPRS network.
  • the data relayed to the website is read and analysed by a central monitoring station.
  • the invention provides an animal mountable element for use in the system according to the invention for monitoring temperature of an animal.
  • the invention also provides a method for monitoring temperature of an animal, the method comprising providing an animal mountable element adapted for mounting on an animal, and providing a base station communicable with the animal mountable element, providing the animal mountable element with a temperature monitoring means for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, providing a control means for reading a signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal, and operating the control means to read the signal from the temperature monitoring means and to produce a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, providing communicating means operable under the control of the control means for transmitting data wirelessly for reception by the base station, and operating the communicating means to transmit the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal for reception by the base station.
  • control means is operated to read signals from the temperature monitoring means at first predefined time intervals, and preferably, the first predefined time intervals are programmable. In another embodiment of the invention, the control means is operated to upload data read from the temperature monitoring means to the base station at second predefined time intervals, and preferably, the second predefined time intervals are programmable.
  • each uploading of data by the control means to the base station is initiated by the control means.
  • the duration of the second predefined time interval is read by the control means from the base station.
  • the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals are read from the base station during each upload of data by the control means from the animal mountable element to the base station, and ideally, data indicative of the first and second predefined time intervals is embedded in an acknowledgement of the uploaded data transmitted by the base station for reception by the animal mountable element.
  • control means stores a threshold temperature value, and an alert temperature value
  • the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are programmable, and preferably, are read by the control means of the animal mountable element from the base station, and advantageously, are read from the base station during uploading of the data, and preferably, the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are embedded in the acknowledgement from the base station when acknowledging uploaded data received from the animal mountable element.
  • control means of the animal mountable element compares each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and if the temperature read from the temperature monitoring means exceeds or falls below the threshold temperature value, depending on whether the threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores the read temperature value, and preferably, the read temperature value is stored time and date stamped.
  • control means stores the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means at the commencement of each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means is stored time and date stamped.
  • control means stores the last temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means during each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, each last temperature value read is stored time and date stamped.
  • control means uploads the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during each second predefined time interval at the end of the second predefined time interval.
  • control means compares each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the alert temperature value, and if the read temperature value exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value depending on whether the alert temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores, times and date stamps the read temperature value which exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value and uploads that temperature value immediately upon determining that that temperature value exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value.
  • control means uploads an identifier code to the base station with each upload of data identifying the animal mountable element.
  • the base station relays data received from the animal mountable element to a website via a GPRS network.
  • control means is activatable when the animal mountable element is brought into proximity with an external beacon means.
  • the system and method includes the use of an initialisation means in which the control means is prevented from operating until first initialised by the initialisation means which optionally includes means for generating an external field or beam.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a system according to the invention for monitoring temperature in a plurality of animals
  • Fig. 2 is a block representation of an animal mountable element also according to the invention for use in the system of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a system according to the invention for monitoring temperature in a plurality of animals
  • Fig. 2 is a block representation of an animal mountable element also according to the invention for use in the system of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is a block representation of a base station for use in the system of Fig. 1.
  • a system according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for monitoring the temperatures of a plurality of animals 2, in this cases, cows, and for relaying the monitored temperatures to a website 3 for subsequent analysis by a central monitoring station (not shown).
  • the system 1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of animal mountable elements which are also according to the invention, and are indicated generally by the reference numeral 5.
  • Each animal mountable element 5 as will be described below is adapted for mounting in an ear of the animal 2 for monitoring the temperature in the tympanic canal of the ear.
  • a base station 7 is provided for mounting in a field or other such area where the animals are located, with which the respective animal mountable elements 5 communicate for uploading data indicative of the temperatures of the respective animals to the base station 7.
  • the base station 7 uploads the data received from the animal mountable elements 5 indicative of the temperatures of the respective animal to the website 3.
  • Each animal mountable element 5 comprises a housing 10 which typically is of a plastics material, and generally would be injection moulded and defines a water-tight hollow interior region 1 1 .
  • the housing 10 is only illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2.
  • the housing 10 is of substantially tag shape, and is adapted for securing to an ear of the animal 2 in a manner in which a tag is typically secured to the ear of an animal.
  • Each animal mountable element 10 comprises a control means, namely, a microcontroller 14 located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 for controlling operation of the animal mountable element 5.
  • a temperature monitoring means for monitoring the temperature of the animal 2 comprises a thermistor 15 which is located on a distal end 16 of a pair of probe wires 17 which terminate in and electrically communicate with the thermistor 15.
  • the probe wires 17 extend outwardly from the housing 10 of each animal mountable element 5 through an opening (not shown) therein, and are of length to extend into the tympanic canal of the ear of the animal so that the thermistor 15 enters the mucous membrane in the tympanic canal where it is naturally sealed in place by the mucous membrane.
  • a seal (not shown) is located in the opening 19 in order to seal against the probe wires 17 of the thermistor 15 in order to maintain the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 water-tight.
  • the probe wires 17 are connected to an amplifier 20 which is located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 of the corresponding animal mountable element 5 through a pair of corresponding electrically conductive paths, namely, electrically conductive wires.
  • the amplifier 20 amplifies signals from the thermistor 15 which are indicative of the temperature of the animal 2, and scales the signals. Additionally, the amplifier 20 of each animal mountable element 5 introduces an offset to the signals from the thermistor 15 so that the signal range is within minimum and maximum limits of an analog to digital converter stage (not shown) which is contained in the microcontroller 14.
  • a wireless communicating means which in this embodiment of the invention comprises an ISM band radio transceiver 23 is also located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of each housing 10 for communicating data between the animal mountable element 5 and the base station 7 as will be described below.
  • a battery 25 of each animal mountable element 5 is located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the corresponding housing 10, and a power controller 26 located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 is coupled to the battery 25 and controls power from the battery 25 to the amplifier 20, the microcontroller 14 and the radio transceiver 23.
  • the probe wires 17 of the thermistor 15 are configured to function as an antenna 28 of the radio transceiver 23.
  • the base station 7 comprises a housing 30, of any suitable robust material, for example, a plastics material such as ABS material, polycarbonate or the like, which defines a watertight hollow interior region 32.
  • the housing 30 may also be of metal.
  • a control means comprising a microcontroller 33 is located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30 for controlling operation of the base station 7.
  • a communicating means comprising an ISM band radio transceiver 34 is located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30, and is operable under the control of the microcontroller 33 for communicating with the transceiver 23 of each animal mountable element 5.
  • An antenna 35 extends from the transceiver 34 through an opening (not shown) in the housing 30 and is sealable in the opening (not shown) in the housing 30 for maintaining the hollow interior region 32 water-tight.
  • a data memory 37 which may be provided by any suitable electronic memory is located in the housing 30 for storing data indicative of the temperatures of the respective animals 2 for relaying to the website 3. The data memory 37 is both writable to and readable by the microcontroller 33.
  • a GPRS modem 39 located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30 is operable under the control of the microcontroller 33 for transmitting data over the internet to a website 3 over a GPRS network for subsequent reading and analysis by the central monitoring station (not shown).
  • An antenna 40 provides for communication between the GPRS modem 39 and the website 3.
  • a battery 41 located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30 powers the microcontroller 33, the transceiver 34 and the GPRS modem 39 through a power controller 42.
  • the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is operated under the control of suitable software, and at first predefined time intervals operates the power controller 26 to power up the amplifier 20, and the microcontroller 14 at the first predefined time intervals reads the digitised signal from the analogue to digital converter (not shown) which is a digitised version of the amplified signal from the thermistor 15 which has been amplified, scaled and offset by the amplifier 20.
  • the time duration of each first predefined time interval is dependent on the reason for which the temperature of the animal is being monitored, and typically, lies in the range of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and is variable as will be described in more detail below.
  • the microcontroller 14 is programmed by the software to read value of the digitised signal from the thermistor 15 to determine the temperature of the animal, and to compare the read digitised signal with a corresponding digitised threshold temperature value stored in memory of the microcontroller 14 to ascertain if the temperature value of the read digitised signal from the thermistor 15 is greater or less than the stored threshold temperature value, depending on whether the stored threshold temperature value is a maximum or a minimum temperature value. For example, if the stored threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value, then the microcontroller 14 is programmed to determine if the digitised signal from the thermistor 15 exceeds the stored threshold temperature value.
  • the microcontroller 14 is programmed to determine if the digitised temperature from the thermistor 15 is below the stored threshold temperature value. If the microcontroller 14 determines that the digitised temperature read from the thermistor 15 exceeds or is below, as the case may be, the stored threshold temperature value, the microcontroller is programmed to time and date stamp and store the read digitised temperature value. Otherwise, the read digitised temperature value is not stored.
  • the microcontroller 14 is also programmed to compare each read digitised temperature value from the thermistor 15 with a stored alert temperature value which is stored in a suitable memory in the microcontroller 14, and depending on whether the stored alert temperature value is a maximum or a minimum temperature value, if the read digitised temperature value from the thermistor 15 exceeds or falls below, as the case may be, the stored alert temperature value, the microcontroller 14 is programmed to time and date stamp and store the read digitised temperature value in the memory in the microcontroller 14, and to immediately upload the read digitised temperature value to the base station 7.
  • the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is also programmed at the end of respective second predefined time intervals to upload the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during corresponding second predefined time interval.
  • the time duration of each second predefined time interval is dependent on the reason for which the temperature of the animal is being monitored, and typically, lies in the range of 2 minutes to 30 minutes, and is variable as will be described below.
  • the microcontroller is programmed to time and date stamp and store the first and last digitised temperature value read from the thermistor 15 at the beginning and end, respectively, of each second predefined time interval irrespective of their values.
  • the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element assembles a package of data which will be described in more detail below, and which includes an identifier code identifying the animal mountable element 5 and includes all the time and date stamped stored temperature values which were stored by the microcontroller 14 during that second predefined time interval.
  • the microcontroller 14 operates the radio transceiver 23 to upload the data package to the base station 7.
  • the base station 7 on receiving the data package stores the time and date stamped temperature values cross-referenced with the identity code of the animal mountable element 5 received from each animal mountable element 5 in the data memory 37 for subsequent transmission to the website 3 at appropriate time intervals via the GPRS modem 39 under the control of the microcontroller 33 of the base station 7.
  • the microcontroller 33 in the base station 7 is programmed to upload an acknowledgement through the transceiver 34 of each data package received from the respective animal mountable elements 5.
  • each data package received from each animal mountable element 5 is the address of the animal mountable element to which the acknowledgement is to be uploaded, the respective durations of the first and second predefined time intervals at which the temperature is to be read from the thermistor 15 of the corresponding animal mountable element 5 and at which the data is to be uploaded by the corresponding animal mountable element 5 to the base station 7. Also embedded in each acknowledgement is data indicative of the threshold temperature value for the corresponding animal mountable element 5 and data indicative of the alert temperature value for the corresponding animal mountable element 5.
  • the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 On receiving the data indicative of the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals and data indicative of the threshold and alert temperature values embedded in the acknowledgement uploaded to the respective animal mountable elements 5, the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is programmed to store the data indicative of the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals and the data indicative of the threshold and alert temperature values over the corresponding stored data values. Accordingly, since the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is programmed to upload data to the base station 7 at the second predefined time intervals, the uploading of data by each animal mountable element 5 is initiated by the animal mountable element 5, rather than by the base station 7.
  • Each data package uploaded by each of the animal mountable elements 5 at the end of each second predefined period is as follows:
  • Each acknowledgement uploaded by the base station 7 to each of the animal mountable elements 5 comprises the following data package:
  • IDB base-station identifier
  • NMEAS total number of measurements since last successful upload
  • SMPL thermistor sample rate in minutes between readings
  • THRESH temperature difference required before data is stored
  • the system 1 In use, with the animal mountable elements 5 secured to an ear of a corresponding animal 2 and with the thermistor located in the mucous membrane of the tympanic canal of the ear and with the base station 7 located in a field or other enclosure in which the animals are located, the system 1 is ready for use.
  • each animal mountable element 5 transmits a data package without temperature data, but with the identity of the animal mountable element 5 for reception by the base station 7.
  • the data packages transmitted by the animal mountable elements 5 are acknowledged by the base station 7 with an acknowledgment data package for each of the animal mountable elements 5 which include data indicative of the durations of the first and second predetermined time intervals and data indicative of the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value for the corresponding animal mountable element 5.
  • the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals in the acknowledgment packages transmitted by the base station 7 to the respective animal mountable elements 5 may vary from animal to animal depending on the reasons for which the temperature of the animal is being monitored. Such reasons for monitoring the temperature of an animal may be to monitor the health of the animal, to monitor if the animal is in heat, or for other such purposes. In healthy animals, the durations of both the first and second predefined time intervals may be relatively long, while in less healthy animals, the durations of the respective first and second predefined time intervals may be shorter.
  • the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals would be reduced in the acknowledgement data package to the animal mountable element 5 of such an animal, and the microcontroller 14 of the corresponding animal mountable element 5 would be so programmed by the data in the acknowledgement data package.
  • the threshold temperature values and the alert temperature values for the respective animals may vary, depending on the animal, and depending on the condition to be monitored in the animal.
  • the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value for an animal may be either maximum temperature values or minimum temperature values.
  • the microcontroller 14 when comparing the read temperature value with the stored threshold and alert temperature values will only time and date stamp and store those read values which exceed the threshold temperature value, and time and date stamp and store and immediately transmit those read temperature values which exceed the alert temperature value.
  • the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value be minimum temperature values, then the microcontroller 14 of the animal mountable element 5 will only time and date stamp and store those temperature values which fall below the threshold temperature value, and will only time and date stamp and store and immediately transmit those read temperature values which fall below the stored alert temperature value.
  • each animal mountable element 5 at the end of each first predefined time interval powers up the amplifier 20 and reads digitized signals from the analog to digital converter (not shown) which converts the amplified signals indicative of the temperature of the animal feed from the thermistor 15 to the amplifier 20.
  • the read digitised temperature values are compared by the microcontroller 14 with the stored threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and if appropriate are time and date stamped and stored in the memory in the microcontroller 14.
  • the read digitised temperature values exceed or fall below, as the case may be, the stored alert temperature value, then the read digitised temperature value is time, date stamped and stored in the memory in the microcontroller 14 and immediately transmitted to the base station 7, which in turn transmits the temperature value to the website 3.
  • the temperature value transmitted to the website 3 can then be read by the central monitoring station (not shown) and appropriate remedial action can be taken in respect of the animal the temperature of which has exceeded or fallen below, as the case may be, the stored alert temperature value. Additionally, at the beginning and end of each second predefined time interval, the microcontroller 14 time and date stamps and stores the first and last digitised temperature value read from the thermistor 15.
  • the microcontroller 14 At the end of each second predefined time interval, the microcontroller 14 assembles a data package which includes the identity code of the animal mountable element 5, the time and date stamped stored temperature values which were stored during that second predefined time interval, and powers up the transceiver 23 for uploading the data package to the base station 7.
  • the base station 7 On reception of the data package by the base station 7, the base station 7 assembles an acknowledgement data package which includes the address of the animal mountable element 5 from which the data package has just been received, together with embedded data indicative of the durations of the first and second time intervals and data indicative of the threshold and alert temperature values for programming the microcontroller 14 of that animal mountable element 5 for the next second predefined interval.
  • the data packages received by the base station from the animal mountable elements 5 are then transmitted at appropriate times to the website 3 to be read and analysed by the central monitoring station (not shown).
  • the central monitoring station (not shown) analyses trends in the temperatures of the animals for determining various conditions of the animals, for example, the health of the animals, whether any of the animals are in heat or otherwise, or any other symptoms of distress or otherwise of the animals.
  • the temperature monitoring means has been described as comprising a thermistor, any other suitable temperature monitoring means may be provided.
  • the probe wires of the thermistor have been described as forming an antenna for the transceiver of each animal mountable element, while this is advantageous, it is not essential.
  • the animal mountable elements 5 may be adapted for securing to any other part of the animal besides an ear of the animal, and furthermore, it will be appreciated that the animal mountable elements 5 may be adapted for monitoring the temperature of any other animal besides a cow.
  • a disadvantage of wireless-based tags is the need for the tag to remain within range of the base station. If the tag goes outside the base station's range data is lost. Logging data during this time is a partial solution but data upload to the base-station is still required at some stage. A solution is to ensure that the tag moves close to the base station at certain times (e.g. once per day). In a practical situation allowances need to be made for the fact that the tag might be moving relatively quickly past the base-station when, for example, cows are arriving at the milking parlour. In this case the frequency at which the tag attempts to contact the base-station must be increased. But the higher 'wake-up' frequency places an additional burden on the tag power source.
  • the solution provided by the present invention is to make the tag sensitive to a beacon that will 'wake' it from its low power consumption mode when it is close to a base-station and initiate data upload.
  • the procedure entails the following. Typically the tag will attempt to make contact with the base station every 10 minutes. If it fails to make contact it will log the data in its memory. Other than making temperature measurements the tag will remain in a very low power consumption mode between upload attempts. However, the presence of a beacon will wake the tag when it is within a short distance from the base station whereupon the tag uploads its data, logged or otherwise.
  • the beacon consists preferably of an inductive field generated by a coil but it could also be an infra-red emitter, the near-field transmission from a wireless transmitter, an ultrasonic emitter, or any detectable field or beam.
  • the beacon is located to ensure the tag comes close to it at least once per day and typical locations would include milking parlours, drinking troughs, etc.
  • a further difficulty with wireless-based tags is the need to prevent data transmission when the device is not installed and/or when it is being transported.
  • This invention solves this by preventing transmission until it is initialised by the proximity of an external device.
  • the external device Preferably the external device generates an inductive field but could be a light beam or an acoustic beam.
  • the tag After manufacture the tag is placed in a dormant state and will only begin to transmit when it is 'awakened' by the external field or beam.
  • the delay between uploads of data is bypassed and the upload takes place immediately.

Abstract

A system (1) for monitoring temperature of an animal, including an animal mountable element (5) adapted for mounting on an animal (2), and a base station (7) communicable with the animal mountable element (5). The animal mountable element (5) comprises a temperature monitoring means (15) for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal and a control means (14) for reading the signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal. The control means (14) produces a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, a communicating means (23) operable under the control of the control means (14) communicates the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal wirelessly for reception by the base station (7).

Description

A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MONITORING TEMPERATURE OF AN ANIMAL
The present invention relates to a system and a method for monitoring temperature of an animal.
In animal husbandry, in particular in farming, a large amount of resources are dedicated to ensuring animal health, by, for example, ensuring that animals are adequately fed, and by monitoring various parameters of animals in order to detect ill animals. An important parameter for the detection of illness in animals is the temperature of the animal. By monitoring the temperature, it is possible to detect fevers and other illnesses, as well as heat, the onset of birth and indeed general distress in an animal. Various systems are available for detecting temperature of an animal, however, all suffer from various disadvantages. There is therefore a need for an improved system for measuring the temperature of an animal, and in particular for measuring the temperatures of respective animals in a herd of animals. The invention is also directed towards providing a method for detecting the temperature of an animal, and in particular, for detecting the temperatures of respective animals in a herd of animals.
According to the invention, there is provided a system for monitoring temperature of an animal, the system comprising an animal mountable element adapted for mounting on an animal, and a base station communicable with the animal mountable element, the animal mountable element comprising a temperature monitoring means for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, a control means for reading the signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal, and for producing a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, and a communicating means operable under the control of the control means for communicating the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal wirelessly for reception by the base station.
In one aspect of the invention, the temperature monitoring means comprises a thermistor adapted for locating on the animal, and preferably, for locating on the animal in heat conducting engagement with the animal. In another embodiment of the invention, the thermistor is located on a distal end of a probe wire in electrical communication with the thermistor, and preferably, the probe wire is adapted as an antenna which advantageously, is co-operable with the communicating means for communicating data to the base station.
In another aspect of the invention, the probe wire on which the thermistor is located comprises a pair of wires, and advantageously, the respective wires of the probe wires communicate with the thermistor, and advantageously, communicate with the control means via a pair of electrically conductive paths.
In another aspect of the invention, the thermistor is adapted for locating in the tympanic canal in an ear of the animal, and preferably, the probe is of sufficient length so that the thermistor enters the mucous membrane in the tympanic canal in order that the thermistor is naturally sealed in place in the tympanic canal.
In another aspect of the invention, the control means is adapted to read signals from the temperature monitoring means at first predefined time intervals, and preferably, the first predefined time intervals are programmable. In another embodiment of the invention, the control means is adapted for uploading data read from the temperature monitoring means to the base station at second predefined time intervals, and preferably, the second predefined time intervals are programmable.
In one aspect of the invention the duration of each first predefined time interval lies in the range of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and advantageously, the duration of each first predefined time interval may be reduced or increased in response to a previously read signal from the temperature monitoring means.
In another aspect of the invention the duration of each second predefined time interval lies in the range of 2 minutes to 30 minutes, and advantageously, the duration of each second predefined time interval may be reduced or increased in response to data uploaded at the end of a previous second predefined time interval.
In another embodiment of the invention, each uploading of data by the control means to the base station is initiated by the control means. Preferably, the communicating means of the animal mountable element is adapted for two-way communicating, and advantageously, the duration of at least the second predefined time interval is read by the control means from the base station. Advantageously, the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals are read from the base station during each upload of data by the control means from the animal mountable element to the base station, and ideally, data indicative of the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals is embedded in an acknowledgement of the uploaded data transmitted by the base station for reception by the animal mountable element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the communicating means comprises a transceiver, which ideally comprises a radio transceiver. Advantageously, the control means comprises a storing means for storing a threshold temperature value, and an alert temperature value, and advantageously, the threshold temperature and the alert temperature values are programmable, and preferably, are read by the control means of the animal mountable element from the base station, and advantageously, are read from the base station during uploading of the data, and preferably, the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are embedded in the acknowledgement from the base station when acknowledging uploaded data received from the animal mountable element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control means of the animal mountable element is adapted for comparing each signal indicative of the temperature of the animal read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored threshold temperature value and with the alert temperature value, and if the temperature of the signal read from the temperature monitoring means exceeds or falls below the threshold temperature value, depending on whether the threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores the read temperature value, and preferably, each stored temperature value is time and date stamped.
Advantageously, the control means is adapted for storing the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means at the commencement of each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, the stored first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means is time and date stamped.
In another aspect of the invention, the control means is adapted for storing the last temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means during each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, each stored last temperature value read is time and date stamped and stored.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the control means is adapted for uploading the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during each second predefined time interval at the end of the second predefined time interval.
In another embodiment of the invention, the control means is adapted to compare each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored alert temperature value, and if the read temperature value exceeds or falls below the stored alert temperature value depending on whether the stored alert temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means is adapted to time and date stamp and store the read temperature value which exceeds or falls below the stored alert temperature value, as the case may be, and to immediately transmit that temperature value for reception by the base station.
Advantageously, the control means is adapted for transmitting an identifier code with each upload of data identifying the animal mountable element.
In another aspect of the invention, the control means comprises a data processing means, and preferably, a data processor.
In another embodiment of the invention, the control means comprises a microcontroller which is programmed as a data processor, and to store the time and date stamped temperature values. Advantageously, the microcontroller is adapted to store the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals, and advantageously, the microcontroller is adapted to store the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and ideally, the microcontroller is configured so that the first and second predefined time intervals and the predefined threshold and alert temperature values may be varied. Advantageously, the microcontroller is adapted to read acknowledgement data from the base station.
Preferably, the microcontroller is adapted to store the identifier code of the animal mountable element.
In another embodiment of the invention, the animal mountable element comprises a housing defining a hollow interior region, which preferably, is a water-tight hollow interior region, and advantageously, the control means and the communicating means are located in the hollow interior region. In another embodiment of the invention, the animal mountable element is battery powered, and preferably, the battery is located in the hollow interior region of the housing. Advantageously, the thermistor and the probe wire of the thermistor extends from the hollow interior region of the housing externally of the housing, and advantageously, the probe wire extends through an opening in the housing, and advantageously, the probe wire is sealably located in the opening through the housing.
In another embodiment of the invention, the housing is substantially tag shaped, and is adapted for securing to an ear of the animal, with the probe extending therefrom into the tympanic canal. In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of the animal mountable elements are provided for respective animals of a herd of animals, each animal mountable element being adapted to communicate with the base station.
Preferably, the base station is adapted to relay data received from the animal mountable element to a website, and preferably, the base station is adapted to relay the data received from the animal mountable element to the website via a GPRS network. Advantageously, the data relayed to the website is read and analysed by a central monitoring station. Additionally, the invention provides an animal mountable element for use in the system according to the invention for monitoring temperature of an animal.
The invention also provides a method for monitoring temperature of an animal, the method comprising providing an animal mountable element adapted for mounting on an animal, and providing a base station communicable with the animal mountable element, providing the animal mountable element with a temperature monitoring means for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, providing a control means for reading a signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal, and operating the control means to read the signal from the temperature monitoring means and to produce a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, providing communicating means operable under the control of the control means for transmitting data wirelessly for reception by the base station, and operating the communicating means to transmit the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal for reception by the base station.
In another aspect of the invention, the control means is operated to read signals from the temperature monitoring means at first predefined time intervals, and preferably, the first predefined time intervals are programmable. In another embodiment of the invention, the control means is operated to upload data read from the temperature monitoring means to the base station at second predefined time intervals, and preferably, the second predefined time intervals are programmable.
In another embodiment of the invention, each uploading of data by the control means to the base station is initiated by the control means.
Preferably, at least the duration of the second predefined time interval is read by the control means from the base station. Advantageously, the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals are read from the base station during each upload of data by the control means from the animal mountable element to the base station, and ideally, data indicative of the first and second predefined time intervals is embedded in an acknowledgement of the uploaded data transmitted by the base station for reception by the animal mountable element. Advantageously, the control means stores a threshold temperature value, and an alert temperature value, and advantageously, the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are programmable, and preferably, are read by the control means of the animal mountable element from the base station, and advantageously, are read from the base station during uploading of the data, and preferably, the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are embedded in the acknowledgement from the base station when acknowledging uploaded data received from the animal mountable element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control means of the animal mountable element compares each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and if the temperature read from the temperature monitoring means exceeds or falls below the threshold temperature value, depending on whether the threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores the read temperature value, and preferably, the read temperature value is stored time and date stamped.
Advantageously, the control means stores the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means at the commencement of each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means is stored time and date stamped.
In another aspect of the invention, the control means stores the last temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means during each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, each last temperature value read is stored time and date stamped.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the control means uploads the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during each second predefined time interval at the end of the second predefined time interval.
In another embodiment of the invention, the control means compares each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the alert temperature value, and if the read temperature value exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value depending on whether the alert temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores, times and date stamps the read temperature value which exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value and uploads that temperature value immediately upon determining that that temperature value exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value. Advantageously, the control means uploads an identifier code to the base station with each upload of data identifying the animal mountable element.
Preferably, the base station relays data received from the animal mountable element to a website via a GPRS network.
In a further aspect of the invention, the control means is activatable when the animal mountable element is brought into proximity with an external beacon means.
Preferably, the system and method includes the use of an initialisation means in which the control means is prevented from operating until first initialised by the initialisation means which optionally includes means for generating an external field or beam.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a system according to the invention for monitoring temperature in a plurality of animals, Fig. 2 is a block representation of an animal mountable element also according to the invention for use in the system of Fig. 1 , and
Fig. 3 is a block representation of a base station for use in the system of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a system according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for monitoring the temperatures of a plurality of animals 2, in this cases, cows, and for relaying the monitored temperatures to a website 3 for subsequent analysis by a central monitoring station (not shown). The system 1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of animal mountable elements which are also according to the invention, and are indicated generally by the reference numeral 5. Each animal mountable element 5 as will be described below is adapted for mounting in an ear of the animal 2 for monitoring the temperature in the tympanic canal of the ear. A base station 7 is provided for mounting in a field or other such area where the animals are located, with which the respective animal mountable elements 5 communicate for uploading data indicative of the temperatures of the respective animals to the base station 7. The base station 7 uploads the data received from the animal mountable elements 5 indicative of the temperatures of the respective animal to the website 3.
Each animal mountable element 5 comprises a housing 10 which typically is of a plastics material, and generally would be injection moulded and defines a water-tight hollow interior region 1 1 . The housing 10 is only illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2. The housing 10 is of substantially tag shape, and is adapted for securing to an ear of the animal 2 in a manner in which a tag is typically secured to the ear of an animal. Each animal mountable element 10 comprises a control means, namely, a microcontroller 14 located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 for controlling operation of the animal mountable element 5.
A temperature monitoring means for monitoring the temperature of the animal 2 comprises a thermistor 15 which is located on a distal end 16 of a pair of probe wires 17 which terminate in and electrically communicate with the thermistor 15. The probe wires 17 extend outwardly from the housing 10 of each animal mountable element 5 through an opening (not shown) therein, and are of length to extend into the tympanic canal of the ear of the animal so that the thermistor 15 enters the mucous membrane in the tympanic canal where it is naturally sealed in place by the mucous membrane. A seal (not shown) is located in the opening 19 in order to seal against the probe wires 17 of the thermistor 15 in order to maintain the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 water-tight.
The probe wires 17 are connected to an amplifier 20 which is located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 of the corresponding animal mountable element 5 through a pair of corresponding electrically conductive paths, namely, electrically conductive wires. The amplifier 20 amplifies signals from the thermistor 15 which are indicative of the temperature of the animal 2, and scales the signals. Additionally, the amplifier 20 of each animal mountable element 5 introduces an offset to the signals from the thermistor 15 so that the signal range is within minimum and maximum limits of an analog to digital converter stage (not shown) which is contained in the microcontroller 14. The signals from the amplifier 20 are digitised by the analogue to digital converter stage (not shown) of the microcontroller 14 and are read by the microcontroller 14 in order to determine the temperature of the animal 2 read from the thermistor 15. A wireless communicating means, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises an ISM band radio transceiver 23 is also located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of each housing 10 for communicating data between the animal mountable element 5 and the base station 7 as will be described below. A battery 25 of each animal mountable element 5 is located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the corresponding housing 10, and a power controller 26 located in the hollow interior region 1 1 of the housing 10 is coupled to the battery 25 and controls power from the battery 25 to the amplifier 20, the microcontroller 14 and the radio transceiver 23. In this embodiment of the invention, the probe wires 17 of the thermistor 15 are configured to function as an antenna 28 of the radio transceiver 23.
Before describing the animal mountable elements 5 in further detail, the base station 7 will be described. The base station 7 comprises a housing 30, of any suitable robust material, for example, a plastics material such as ABS material, polycarbonate or the like, which defines a watertight hollow interior region 32. The housing 30 may also be of metal. A control means comprising a microcontroller 33 is located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30 for controlling operation of the base station 7.
A communicating means comprising an ISM band radio transceiver 34 is located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30, and is operable under the control of the microcontroller 33 for communicating with the transceiver 23 of each animal mountable element 5. An antenna 35 extends from the transceiver 34 through an opening (not shown) in the housing 30 and is sealable in the opening (not shown) in the housing 30 for maintaining the hollow interior region 32 water-tight. A data memory 37 which may be provided by any suitable electronic memory is located in the housing 30 for storing data indicative of the temperatures of the respective animals 2 for relaying to the website 3. The data memory 37 is both writable to and readable by the microcontroller 33. A GPRS modem 39 located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30 is operable under the control of the microcontroller 33 for transmitting data over the internet to a website 3 over a GPRS network for subsequent reading and analysis by the central monitoring station (not shown). An antenna 40 provides for communication between the GPRS modem 39 and the website 3. A battery 41 located in the hollow interior region 32 of the housing 30 powers the microcontroller 33, the transceiver 34 and the GPRS modem 39 through a power controller 42.
Returning now to the animal mountable elements 5, the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is operated under the control of suitable software, and at first predefined time intervals operates the power controller 26 to power up the amplifier 20, and the microcontroller 14 at the first predefined time intervals reads the digitised signal from the analogue to digital converter (not shown) which is a digitised version of the amplified signal from the thermistor 15 which has been amplified, scaled and offset by the amplifier 20. The time duration of each first predefined time interval is dependent on the reason for which the temperature of the animal is being monitored, and typically, lies in the range of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and is variable as will be described in more detail below.
The microcontroller 14 is programmed by the software to read value of the digitised signal from the thermistor 15 to determine the temperature of the animal, and to compare the read digitised signal with a corresponding digitised threshold temperature value stored in memory of the microcontroller 14 to ascertain if the temperature value of the read digitised signal from the thermistor 15 is greater or less than the stored threshold temperature value, depending on whether the stored threshold temperature value is a maximum or a minimum temperature value. For example, if the stored threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value, then the microcontroller 14 is programmed to determine if the digitised signal from the thermistor 15 exceeds the stored threshold temperature value. On the other hand, if the stored threshold temperature value is a minimum temperature value, then the microcontroller 14 is programmed to determine if the digitised temperature from the thermistor 15 is below the stored threshold temperature value. If the microcontroller 14 determines that the digitised temperature read from the thermistor 15 exceeds or is below, as the case may be, the stored threshold temperature value, the microcontroller is programmed to time and date stamp and store the read digitised temperature value. Otherwise, the read digitised temperature value is not stored.
The microcontroller 14 is also programmed to compare each read digitised temperature value from the thermistor 15 with a stored alert temperature value which is stored in a suitable memory in the microcontroller 14, and depending on whether the stored alert temperature value is a maximum or a minimum temperature value, if the read digitised temperature value from the thermistor 15 exceeds or falls below, as the case may be, the stored alert temperature value, the microcontroller 14 is programmed to time and date stamp and store the read digitised temperature value in the memory in the microcontroller 14, and to immediately upload the read digitised temperature value to the base station 7. The microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is also programmed at the end of respective second predefined time intervals to upload the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during corresponding second predefined time interval. The time duration of each second predefined time interval is dependent on the reason for which the temperature of the animal is being monitored, and typically, lies in the range of 2 minutes to 30 minutes, and is variable as will be described below.
Additionally, the microcontroller is programmed to time and date stamp and store the first and last digitised temperature value read from the thermistor 15 at the beginning and end, respectively, of each second predefined time interval irrespective of their values.
At the end of each second predefined time interval, the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element assembles a package of data which will be described in more detail below, and which includes an identifier code identifying the animal mountable element 5 and includes all the time and date stamped stored temperature values which were stored by the microcontroller 14 during that second predefined time interval. The microcontroller 14 operates the radio transceiver 23 to upload the data package to the base station 7. The base station 7 on receiving the data package stores the time and date stamped temperature values cross-referenced with the identity code of the animal mountable element 5 received from each animal mountable element 5 in the data memory 37 for subsequent transmission to the website 3 at appropriate time intervals via the GPRS modem 39 under the control of the microcontroller 33 of the base station 7. The microcontroller 33 in the base station 7 is programmed to upload an acknowledgement through the transceiver 34 of each data package received from the respective animal mountable elements 5.
Embedded in the acknowledgement of each data package received from each animal mountable element 5 is the address of the animal mountable element to which the acknowledgement is to be uploaded, the respective durations of the first and second predefined time intervals at which the temperature is to be read from the thermistor 15 of the corresponding animal mountable element 5 and at which the data is to be uploaded by the corresponding animal mountable element 5 to the base station 7. Also embedded in each acknowledgement is data indicative of the threshold temperature value for the corresponding animal mountable element 5 and data indicative of the alert temperature value for the corresponding animal mountable element 5.
On receiving the data indicative of the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals and data indicative of the threshold and alert temperature values embedded in the acknowledgement uploaded to the respective animal mountable elements 5, the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is programmed to store the data indicative of the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals and the data indicative of the threshold and alert temperature values over the corresponding stored data values. Accordingly, since the microcontroller 14 of each animal mountable element 5 is programmed to upload data to the base station 7 at the second predefined time intervals, the uploading of data by each animal mountable element 5 is initiated by the animal mountable element 5, rather than by the base station 7. This, thus, considerably saves power usage in the respective animal mountable elements 5, since the animal mountable elements 5 do not have to listen for a signal from the base station 7 to initiate the uploading of data therefrom. Each data package uploaded by each of the animal mountable elements 5 at the end of each second predefined period is as follows:
SOT| No. Bytes|IDT0|IDT1 |IDB|NMEAS|BA_NoT0|C0|T1 |C1 |T2|
C2|T3|C3|T4|C4|PREVIOUS DATA|PREVIOUS DATA| PREVIOUS DATA|CKSM|EOT
Each acknowledgement uploaded by the base station 7 to each of the animal mountable elements 5 comprises the following data package:
ACK|IDT0|IDT1 |IDB|UTI|SMPL|THRES|ALERT|CKSUM where the following abbreviations in the data packages uploaded by the animal mountable elements 5 and the base station 7 have the following meaning:
IDT = tag identifier (16 bit),
This allows the base-station to differentiate between many tags. IDB = base-station identifier,
BA_No = bad ACK count,
This is incremented each time an upload attempt is made but no ACK is received from the base station
NMEAS = total number of measurements since last successful upload,
In cases of failed upload attempts (no ACK received) the data is stored for subsequent transmission and this tells the base station how many such measurements are contained in the transmission.
UTI = time to next upload in minutes,
T = time stamp,
C = temperature reading,
CKSM + CHECKSUM
SOT= start of transmission.
SMPL = thermistor sample rate in minutes between readings,
THRESH = temperature difference required before data is stored,
ALERT temperature difference that requires immediate upload (overriding UTI),
EOT = end of transmission.
In use, with the animal mountable elements 5 secured to an ear of a corresponding animal 2 and with the thermistor located in the mucous membrane of the tympanic canal of the ear and with the base station 7 located in a field or other enclosure in which the animals are located, the system 1 is ready for use.
Initially, each animal mountable element 5 transmits a data package without temperature data, but with the identity of the animal mountable element 5 for reception by the base station 7. The data packages transmitted by the animal mountable elements 5 are acknowledged by the base station 7 with an acknowledgment data package for each of the animal mountable elements 5 which include data indicative of the durations of the first and second predetermined time intervals and data indicative of the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value for the corresponding animal mountable element 5.
The durations of the first and second predefined time intervals in the acknowledgment packages transmitted by the base station 7 to the respective animal mountable elements 5 may vary from animal to animal depending on the reasons for which the temperature of the animal is being monitored. Such reasons for monitoring the temperature of an animal may be to monitor the health of the animal, to monitor if the animal is in heat, or for other such purposes. In healthy animals, the durations of both the first and second predefined time intervals may be relatively long, while in less healthy animals, the durations of the respective first and second predefined time intervals may be shorter. Additionally, if the monitored temperature of any of the animals should deteriorate, the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals would be reduced in the acknowledgement data package to the animal mountable element 5 of such an animal, and the microcontroller 14 of the corresponding animal mountable element 5 would be so programmed by the data in the acknowledgement data package. The threshold temperature values and the alert temperature values for the respective animals may vary, depending on the animal, and depending on the condition to be monitored in the animal.
Additionally, in some cases, it is envisaged that the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value for an animal may be either maximum temperature values or minimum temperature values. In the event of the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value being a maximum temperature value, then the microcontroller 14 when comparing the read temperature value with the stored threshold and alert temperature values will only time and date stamp and store those read values which exceed the threshold temperature value, and time and date stamp and store and immediately transmit those read temperature values which exceed the alert temperature value. On the other hand, should the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value be minimum temperature values, then the microcontroller 14 of the animal mountable element 5 will only time and date stamp and store those temperature values which fall below the threshold temperature value, and will only time and date stamp and store and immediately transmit those read temperature values which fall below the stored alert temperature value.
Thereafter, each animal mountable element 5 at the end of each first predefined time interval powers up the amplifier 20 and reads digitized signals from the analog to digital converter (not shown) which converts the amplified signals indicative of the temperature of the animal feed from the thermistor 15 to the amplifier 20. The read digitised temperature values are compared by the microcontroller 14 with the stored threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and if appropriate are time and date stamped and stored in the memory in the microcontroller 14. On the other hand, if the read digitised temperature values exceed or fall below, as the case may be, the stored alert temperature value, then the read digitised temperature value is time, date stamped and stored in the memory in the microcontroller 14 and immediately transmitted to the base station 7, which in turn transmits the temperature value to the website 3. The temperature value transmitted to the website 3 can then be read by the central monitoring station (not shown) and appropriate remedial action can be taken in respect of the animal the temperature of which has exceeded or fallen below, as the case may be, the stored alert temperature value. Additionally, at the beginning and end of each second predefined time interval, the microcontroller 14 time and date stamps and stores the first and last digitised temperature value read from the thermistor 15.
At the end of each second predefined time interval, the microcontroller 14 assembles a data package which includes the identity code of the animal mountable element 5, the time and date stamped stored temperature values which were stored during that second predefined time interval, and powers up the transceiver 23 for uploading the data package to the base station 7. On reception of the data package by the base station 7, the base station 7 assembles an acknowledgement data package which includes the address of the animal mountable element 5 from which the data package has just been received, together with embedded data indicative of the durations of the first and second time intervals and data indicative of the threshold and alert temperature values for programming the microcontroller 14 of that animal mountable element 5 for the next second predefined interval.
The data packages received by the base station from the animal mountable elements 5 are then transmitted at appropriate times to the website 3 to be read and analysed by the central monitoring station (not shown).
On reading the data from the website which has been produced by the animal mountable elements 5 with the identity of the animal mountable elements 5 and in turn the identity of the animals cross-referenced with the respective monitored temperatures thereof, the central monitoring station (not shown) analyses trends in the temperatures of the animals for determining various conditions of the animals, for example, the health of the animals, whether any of the animals are in heat or otherwise, or any other symptoms of distress or otherwise of the animals. While the temperature monitoring means has been described as comprising a thermistor, any other suitable temperature monitoring means may be provided. Additionally, while the probe wires of the thermistor have been described as forming an antenna for the transceiver of each animal mountable element, while this is advantageous, it is not essential.
It will also be appreciated that the animal mountable elements 5 may be adapted for securing to any other part of the animal besides an ear of the animal, and furthermore, it will be appreciated that the animal mountable elements 5 may be adapted for monitoring the temperature of any other animal besides a cow.
A disadvantage of wireless-based tags is the need for the tag to remain within range of the base station. If the tag goes outside the base station's range data is lost. Logging data during this time is a partial solution but data upload to the base-station is still required at some stage. A solution is to ensure that the tag moves close to the base station at certain times (e.g. once per day). In a practical situation allowances need to be made for the fact that the tag might be moving relatively quickly past the base-station when, for example, cows are arriving at the milking parlour. In this case the frequency at which the tag attempts to contact the base-station must be increased. But the higher 'wake-up' frequency places an additional burden on the tag power source.
The solution provided by the present invention is to make the tag sensitive to a beacon that will 'wake' it from its low power consumption mode when it is close to a base-station and initiate data upload. The procedure entails the following. Typically the tag will attempt to make contact with the base station every 10 minutes. If it fails to make contact it will log the data in its memory. Other than making temperature measurements the tag will remain in a very low power consumption mode between upload attempts. However, the presence of a beacon will wake the tag when it is within a short distance from the base station whereupon the tag uploads its data, logged or otherwise.
The beacon consists preferably of an inductive field generated by a coil but it could also be an infra-red emitter, the near-field transmission from a wireless transmitter, an ultrasonic emitter, or any detectable field or beam. The beacon is located to ensure the tag comes close to it at least once per day and typical locations would include milking parlours, drinking troughs, etc.
A further difficulty with wireless-based tags is the need to prevent data transmission when the device is not installed and/or when it is being transported. This invention solves this by preventing transmission until it is initialised by the proximity of an external device. Preferably the external device generates an inductive field but could be a light beam or an acoustic beam. After manufacture the tag is placed in a dormant state and will only begin to transmit when it is 'awakened' by the external field or beam. When the tag has been activated by an external field or beam, the delay between uploads of data is bypassed and the upload takes place immediately.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1 . A system for monitoring temperature of an animal, the system comprising an animal mountable element adapted for mounting on an animal, and a base station communicable with the animal mountable element, the animal mountable element comprising a temperature monitoring means for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, a control means for reading the signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal, and for producing a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, and a communicating means operable under the control of the control means for communicating the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal wirelessly for reception by the base station.
2. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the temperature monitoring means comprises a thermistor adapted for locating on the animal, and preferably, for locating on the animal in heat conducting engagement with the animal.
3. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 2, in which the thermistor is located on a distal end of a probe wire in electrical communication with the thermistor, and the probe wire is adapted as an antenna which is co-operable with the communicating means for communicating data to the base station.
4. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 3, in which the probe wire on which the thermistor is located comprises a pair of wires, and the respective wires of the probe wires communicate with the thermistor, and communicate with the control means via a pair of electrically conductive paths.
5. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 2, 3, or 4, in which the thermistor is adapted for locating in the tympanic canal in an ear of the animal, and the probe is of sufficient length so that the thermistor enters the mucous membrane in the tympanic canal in order that the thermistor is naturally sealed in place in the tympanic canal.
6. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is adapted to read signals from the temperature monitoring means at first predefined time intervals, which are programmable.
7. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 6, in which the control means is adapted for uploading data read from the temperature monitoring means to the base station at second predefined time intervals which are programmable.
8. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the duration of each first predefined time interval lies in the range of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and in which the duration of each first predefined time interval may be reduced or increased in response to a previously read signal from the temperature monitoring means.
9. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which the duration of each second predefined time interval lies in the range of 2 minutes to 30 minutes, and in which the duration of each second predefined time interval may be reduced or increased in response to data uploaded at the end of a previous second predefined time interval.
10 A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, in which each uploading of data by the control means to the base station is initiated by the control means.
1 1 . A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, in which the communicating means of the animal mountable element is adapted for two-way communicating, and the duration of at least the second predefined time interval is read by the control means from the base station.
12. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 1 1 , in which the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals are read from the base station during each upload of data by the control means from the animal mountable element to the base station, and data indicative of the duration of the first and second predefined time intervals is embedded in an acknowledgement of the uploaded data transmitted by the base station for reception by the animal mountable element.
13. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the communicating means comprises a transceiver, and ideally a radio transceiver.
14. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means comprises a storing means for storing a threshold temperature value, and an alert temperature value, the threshold temperature and the alert temperature values are programmable, are read by the control means of the animal mountable element from the base station, are read from the base station during uploading of the data, and the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are embedded in the acknowledgement from the base station when acknowledging uploaded data received from the animal mountable element.
15. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means of the animal mountable element is adapted for comparing each signal indicative of the temperature of the animal read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored threshold temperature value and with the alert temperature value, and if the temperature of the signal read from the temperature monitoring means exceeds or falls below the threshold temperature value, depending on whether the threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores the read temperature value, and each stored temperature value is time and date stamped.
16. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is adapted for storing the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means at the commencement of each second predefined time interval, and the stored first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means is time and date stamped.
17. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is adapted for storing the last temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means during each second predefined time interval, and each stored last temperature value read is time and date stamped and stored.
18. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is adapted for uploading the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during each second predefined time interval at the end of the second predefined time interval.
19. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is adapted to compare each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored alert temperature value, and if the read temperature value exceeds or falls below the stored alert temperature value depending on whether the stored alert temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means is adapted to time and date stamp and store the read temperature value which exceeds or falls below the stored alert temperature value, as the case may be, and to immediately transmit that temperature value for reception by the base station.
20. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is adapted for transmitting an identifier code with each upload of data identifying the animal mountable element.
21 . A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means comprises a data processing means.
22. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means comprises a microcontroller which is programmed as a data processor, and to store the time and date stamped temperature values, the microcontroller is adapted to store the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals, and the microcontroller is adapted to store the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and ideally, the microcontroller is configured so that the first and second predefined time intervals and the predefined threshold and alert temperature values may be varied.
23. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the microcontroller is adapted to read acknowledgement data from the base station.
24. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the microcontroller is adapted to store the identifier code of the animal mountable element.
25. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the animal mountable element comprises a housing defining a hollow interior region, which is a water-tight hollow interior region, and the control means and the communicating means are located in the hollow interior region.
26. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the animal mountable element is battery powered, and preferably, the battery is located in the hollow interior region of the housing.
27. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the thermistor and the probe wire of the thermistor extends from the hollow interior region of the housing externally of the housing, and the probe wire extends through an opening in the housing, and the probe wire is sealably located in the opening through the housing.
28. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 25 to 27, in which the housing is substantially tag shaped, and is adapted for securing to an ear of the animal, with the probe extending therefrom into the tympanic canal.
29. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of the animal mountable elements are provided for respective animals of a herd of animals, each animal mountable element being adapted to communicate with the base station.
30. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the base station is adapted to relay data received from the animal mountable element to a website, and the base station is adapted to relay the data received from the animal mountable element to the website via a GPRS network.
31 . A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the data relayed to the website is read and analysed by a central monitoring station.
32. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means is activatable when the animal mountable element is brought into proximity with an external beacon means.
33. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including initialisation means, in which the control means is prevented from operating until first initialised by the initialisation means.
34. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 33, in which the initialisation means comprises means for generating an external field or beam.
35. An animal mountable element for use in the system according to the invention for monitoring temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
36. A method for monitoring temperature of an animal, the method comprising providing an animal mountable element adapted for mounting on an animal, and providing a base station communicable with the animal mountable element, providing the animal mountable element with a temperature monitoring means for producing an electronic signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, providing a control means for reading a signal from the temperature monitoring means indicative of the temperature of the animal, and operating the control means to read the signal from the temperature monitoring means and to produce a data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal, providing communicating means operable under the control of the control means for transmitting data wirelessly for reception by the base station, and operating the communicating means to transmit the data signal indicative of the temperature of the animal for reception by the base station.
37. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 36, in which the control means is operated to read signals from the temperature monitoring means at first predefined time intervals, and preferably, the first predefined time intervals are programmable.
38. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 36 or 37, in which the control means is operated to upload data read from the temperature monitoring means to the base station at second predefined time intervals, which are programmable.
39. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 38, in which each uploading of data by the control means to the base station is initiated by the control means.
40. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 39, in which at least the duration of the second predefined time interval is read by the control means from the base station, optionally the durations of the first and second predefined time intervals are read from the base station during each upload of data by the control means from the animal mountable element to the base station, and ideally, data indicative of the first and second predefined time intervals is embedded in an acknowledgement of the uploaded data transmitted by the base station for reception by the animal mountable element.
41 . A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 40, in which the control means stores a threshold temperature value, and an alert temperature value, which are programmable, and are read by the control means of the animal mountable element from the base station, and are read from the base station during uploading of the data, the threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value are embedded in the acknowledgement from the base station when acknowledging uploaded data received from the animal mountable element.
42. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 41 , in which the control means of the animal mountable element compares each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the stored threshold temperature value and the alert temperature value, and if the temperature read from the temperature monitoring means exceeds or falls below the threshold temperature value, depending on whether the threshold temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores the read temperature value, and the read temperature value is stored time and date stamped.
43. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 42, in which the control means stores the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means at the commencement of each second predefined time interval, and advantageously, the first temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means is stored time and date stamped.
44. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 43, in which the control means stores the last temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means during each second predefined time interval, and each last temperature value read is stored time and date stamped.
45. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 44, in which the control means uploads the stored time and date stamped temperature values stored during each second predefined time interval at the end of the second predefined time interval.
46. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 45, in which the control means compares each temperature value read from the temperature monitoring means with the alert temperature value, and if the read temperature value exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value depending on whether the alert temperature value is a maximum temperature value or a minimum temperature value, the control means stores, times and date stamps the read temperature value which exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value and uploads that temperature value immediately upon determining that that temperature value exceeds or falls below the alert temperature value.
47. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 46, in which the control means uploads an identifier code to the base station with each upload of data identifying the animal mountable element.
48. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 47, in which the base station relays data received from the animal mountable element to a website via a GPRS network.
49. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 48, in which the control means is activatable when the animal mountable element is brought into proximity with an external beacon means.
50. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in any one of Claims 36 to 49 including initialisation means, in which the control means is prevented from operating until first initialised by the initialisation means.
51 . A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal as claimed in Claim 50, in which the initialisation means comprises means for generating an external field or beam.
52. A system for monitoring the temperature of an animal substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
53. A method for monitoring the temperature of an animal substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/EP2013/068752 2012-09-12 2013-09-10 A system and a method for monitoring temperature of an animal WO2014040999A1 (en)

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