GB2584816A

GB2584816A - Animal chipping apparatus, and methods for use

Info

Publication number: GB2584816A
Application number: GB1904230.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roper Joanne; Pony Sam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-27
Filing date: 2019-03-27
Publication date: 2020-12-23
Also published as: GB201904230D0

Abstract

An implantable animal identification microchip capsule 2 contains a scannable NFC unit 4 and RFID chip 3. Identifying a chipped animal comprises scanning the animal using a device configured as both an NFC scanner and telecommunications device for wireless and/or cellular networking, e.g. a smartphone, transmitting the scan result to a remote portal or server, and receiving and displaying a response message from the server. Details of the scan and/or response may be recorded using blockchain technology running on the device, e.g. as part of a smartphone app.

Description

Animal chipping apparatus, and methods for use

FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for scanning a chipped animal in order to ascertain ownership details.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for chipping an animal.

The present invention further relates to a method for identifying a chipped animal by scanning.

BACKGROUND

Microchipping' or 'chipping' is a procedure where a scannable transponder roughly the size of a grain of rice is injected or implanted under the skin of an animal. The transponder contains a data element (e.g. a microchip) and communication means such as an antenna to allow information to be transmitted when the transponder is scanned. The data element holds a certain amount of limited information, usually the animal's identification number (a 15-digit alphanumeric string), which can be read when the transponder is scanned.

In some countries, 'microchipping' is legally compulsory for certain animals, and the location of the chip may be controlled by having the legislation refer to, for example, an internationally recognised standard such as international standard ISO 15639-1: 'injection site companion animals'. The transponders themselves are normally manufactured to the standards required by ISO-11784 and ISO-11785. The implantation procedure is normally carried out by a vet or trained microchip implanter.

As outlined above, the microchip usually or nearly always contains information to allow the animal to be identified. This is normally in the form of an identification number or 15-digit code. When the transponder is scanned, the number is transmitted to the scanner or reader. Details associated with the number, such as the owner's name and address, are stored in a separate centralised database (i.e. not on the chip itself), and these details are associated with the identification number within the database and can be accessed by an authorised person, by entering the number into the database.

When a missing pet is found, or a stolen animal recovered, an animal professional (for example a vet or dog warden) uses a scanner to scan the pet, to ascertain the code. Once they have the code, they can contact the relevant personnel who staff a database, and provide them with the number in order to see if the animal is registered on their database. If so, they can then take the next necessary step such as getting the owner details, so that the owner can be contacted.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

SUMMARY

In is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for chipping an animal which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice..

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for scanning a microchipped pet in order to ascertain ownership details which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

It is a yet still further object of the present invention to provide a method for identifying a chipped animal which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with 20 a useful choice..

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and indicative independent claims means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting each statement in this specification and indicative independent claims that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in [TO BE COMPLETED ONCE THE CLAIMS ARE FINALISED] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description 20 which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the device by way of example, and in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a transponder unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the steps carried out by a device scanning the 25 transponder unit, in order to assist with identifying the animal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention, and variations thereof, will now be described in detail with reference to the figures.

An embodiment of an apparatus for chipping an animal is shown in figure 1. The apparatus in this embodiment comprises a transponder unit 1, which is configured for insertion under the skin of an animal such as a pet.

The transponder unit 1 comprises an outer casing 2, which in this embodiment is formed from toughened glass or a similar material, and which is roughly the same size and shape as a grain of rice. The casing 2 is configured to hold two scannable data elements: an RFID microchip 3, and an NFC (Near Field Communication) E-rod 4.

The RFID microchip 3 in this embodiment is a standard scannable microchip that can be scanned by an RFID reader such as the Avid MiniTracker, a Halo microchip scanner, or similar. The chip 3 in this embodiment is configured to hold a 15-digit alphanumeric string, which will be displayed on an RFID reader when the chip 3 is scanned.

The NFC E-rod 4 is a standard scannable item, that can be scanned using an NFC scanner. As well as dedicated scanners, many off-the-shelf mobile telephone devices also have this capability. The NFC E-rod 4 in this embodiment is configured to hold the same 15-digit alphanumeric string as the RFID microchip 3. This number will be displayed on an NFC reader when the NFC E-rod 4 is scanned.

In use, the transponder unit 1 is inserted under the skin of an animal in the standard, 15 known manner.

Now that the animal has been 'chipped' or 'microchipped', it can be scanned in two ways.

Firstly, the pet or other animal can be scanned using an RFID scanner, in the known manner described above.

Secondly, the pet or other animal can be scanned using an NFC scanner, which could be a dedicated scanner of this type, or a device such as a mobile phone or similar that has this functionality.

Both of these methods will provide a readout of the 15-digit string encoded onto the relevant data element (an RFID reader will read or scan the RFID microchip 3 when 25 the RFID reader is used to scan the animal, and an NFC scanner will read or scan the NFC E-rod 4 when the NFC scanner is used to scan the animal).

The standard, known, method for identifying the animal and it's owners would then be to contact the relevant personnel at a database (e.g. by telephone or e-mail) and to provide them with the number, to see if this number is associated with an animal registered on their database. Examples of these databases are the SmartTrace database, PetLog, Identibase, or any other similar database.

However, in the present invention, and as outlined above, an NFC reader or NFC scanning device can be used, which is provided with further functionality as outlined below.

The NFC scanning device is in this embodiment a mobile device such as a mobile 5 phone or similar, which is equipped in it's off-the-shelf form with an NFC reader or NFC scanner as standard. An app or similar software is loaded onto the mobile phone, to act as an interface for the NFC reader.

When the NFC scanning device is used to scan an animal which is chipped with a transponder unit 1, it will read the code in the NFC E-Rod 4. This step is shown in box 5 in figure 2. The app is configured so that in the preferred embodiment, this code will be displayed on the screen of the device, as shown in box 6 of figure 2. However, the app is configured to also interact with the communication hardware within the mobile device, to use this hardware to send and receive signals/messages to interrogate a central, remote portal with the alphanumeric string that was retrieved using the scan, as shown in box 7, and to then receive a return message from the portal and to display this on the screen of the device, as shown in box 8.

The scanned and retrieved 15-digit alphanumeric number from the transponder unit 1 is transmitted to the portal using the mobile device, and the portal will return either a positive or a negative result. It will return a positive result if there is an entry associated with the number in a database linked to the central portal, and a negative result if it cannot locate an associated entry. That is, it will return a true/false result ('true' if there is a result, and 'false' if there is no result), informing the user that there is an entry, or informing them that no data could be located on the databases associated with the central portal.

If a 'live' entry is located, then the app will display this, along with details of the database and contact details for the database (e.g. a phone number and/or e-mail). The app of the preferred embodiment also prompts the user to contact the database.

In the preferred embodiment, the app is constructed and programmed so as to run a blockchain. This allows every scan that is made via the app to be date-and time-stamped. The app will record the scanned microchip number and user location and also record retrieved data from a database associated with the portal, to establish emergency contact number and pet information.

In use, a person with a mobile device with the app installed can carry out their own scan of an animal that appears to be lost or stolen. They do not have to take the animal to a vet or a warden or other person or organisation that has access to a suitable RFID scanner -they can carry out the scan themselves, and, if a positive result is returned, they can contact the database themselves in order to facilitate further action.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for chipping an animal, comprising: a scannable NFD chip holding a data identification number; a casing configured to contain the NFD chip, and for insertion under the skin of 5 an animal in a scannable location.
2. An apparatus for chipping an animal as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a scannable RFID chip holding a data identification number, the casing configured to to contain the NFD chip and the RFID chip.
3. An apparatus for scanning a chipped animal, comprising: an NFC scanning means, configured for Near Field Scanning; a communication means, configured for two-way communication with a remote portal; a user display; a CPU, configured to run software that allows the results of scans carried out by 15 the scanning means to be communicated to the communication means and transmitted onwards in a form that will be recognised by the remote portal, and a return message from the remote portal to be displayed to a user on the user display; in use, the NFC scanning means sending data relating to the results of a scan of an NFD chip to the communication means, the communication means transmitting 20 this to the remote portal and receiving and displaying a return message on the display screen.
4. An apparatus for scanning a chipped animal as claimed in claim 3 wherein the NFC scanning means and the communication means comprise a mobile device integrally fitted with an NFC scanner and one or more of: a wireless transmitter/receiver: a transmitter/receiver configured for connection to a cellular network for voice calls and/or text messaging.
5. An apparatus for scanning a chipped animal as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 further comprising a recording means configured to record one or more of: the result of a scan; the apparatus location; return messages from the remote portal.
6. An apparatus for scanning a chipped animal as claimed in claim 5 wherein the recording means comprises blockchain software running on the CPU.
7. A method of identifying a chipped animal comprising the steps of: (i) scanning an animal using a device configured as an NFC scanner and as a communication device that utilises one or both of a wireless network and/or a cellular network, the device configured to automatically transmit the result of the scan to a remote portal and to receive and display a message from the portal in return; (ii) contacting the database using the details returned from the portal.
8. A method of identifying a chipped animal as claimed in claim 7 comprising the further step of recording the date and time of each scan.
9. A method of identifying a chipped animal as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 comprising the further step of recording the result of the scan.
10. A method of identifying a chipped animal as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 comprising the further step of recording the user location.
11. A method of identifying a chipped animal as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 further comprising the step of recording details returned from the portal
12. A method of identifying a chipped animal as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 15 wherein recordal of the information is carried out using blockchain.