NZ715131B2 - A method, a device and a system for detecting a state of an animal - Google Patents

A method, a device and a system for detecting a state of an animal Download PDF

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Publication number
NZ715131B2
NZ715131B2 NZ715131A NZ71513114A NZ715131B2 NZ 715131 B2 NZ715131 B2 NZ 715131B2 NZ 715131 A NZ715131 A NZ 715131A NZ 71513114 A NZ71513114 A NZ 71513114A NZ 715131 B2 NZ715131 B2 NZ 715131B2
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New Zealand
Prior art keywords
predefined
signal
time period
value
predefined time
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NZ715131A
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NZ715131A (en
Inventor
John Gerard Daly
Edmond Patrick Harty
Liam Eoghan Mullane
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Dairymaster
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Priority claimed from PCT/IE2014/000009 external-priority patent/WO2014199361A1/en
Publication of NZ715131A publication Critical patent/NZ715131A/en
Publication of NZ715131B2 publication Critical patent/NZ715131B2/en

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01KANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K11/00Marking of animals
    • A01K11/006Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01KANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K29/00Other apparatus for animal husbandry
    • A01K29/005Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2503/00Evaluating a particular growth phase or type of persons or animals
    • A61B2503/40Animals
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/02Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
    • A61B2562/0219Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A61B5/0015Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network characterised by features of the telemetry system
    • A61B5/0022Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1113Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
    • A61B5/1114Tracking parts of the body
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1118Determining activity level
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1121Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1123Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/72Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/7235Details of waveform analysis
    • A61B5/7246Details of waveform analysis using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/72Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/7271Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis
    • A61B5/7278Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/72Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/7271Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis
    • A61B5/7282Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61DVETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS
    • A61D17/00Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals
    • A61D17/002Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus

Abstract

device (5) attached to the neck (6) of an animal (2) comprises an accelerometer (28) which produces first and second signals indicative of movement of the animal (2) and the raised and lowered states of the head of the animal. A microprocessor (30) in the device (5) processes the first and second signals to detect at least one detectable state of the animal. Data indicative of the states of the animal is stored by the microprocessor (30) in the device (5) and periodically transmitted to a cloud computer server which further processes the data to determine various health states and other issues of the animal, wherein the method for detecting the at least one detectable state of the animal, comprises: computing a mean magnitude value of the first signal indicative of movement of the head of the animal from the acceleration sensor during each first predefined time period of a plurality of first predefined time periods, counting the numbers of positive and negative peaks of the first signal during each first predefined time period, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value lie within a predefined range of absolute magnitude values, computing the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during each first predefined time period as the sum of the absolute magnitude values of the maximum positive peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value and the maximum negative peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period, and detecting the at least one detectable state of the animal during each first predefined time period in response to at least one of the value of the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. signals to detect at least one detectable state of the animal. Data indicative of the states of the animal is stored by the microprocessor (30) in the device (5) and periodically transmitted to a cloud computer server which further processes the data to determine various health states and other issues of the animal, wherein the method for detecting the at least one detectable state of the animal, comprises: computing a mean magnitude value of the first signal indicative of movement of the head of the animal from the acceleration sensor during each first predefined time period of a plurality of first predefined time periods, counting the numbers of positive and negative peaks of the first signal during each first predefined time period, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value lie within a predefined range of absolute magnitude values, computing the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during each first predefined time period as the sum of the absolute magnitude values of the maximum positive peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value and the maximum negative peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period, and detecting the at least one detectable state of the animal during each first predefined time period in response to at least one of the value of the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.

Description

- \‘é ,. 3,.
"A method, a device and a system for detecting a state of an animal" The present invention relates to a method for detectingthe state of an animal, and the invention also - relates to a device for detecting the state of the animal. Further, the invention relates to a system for detecting the state of an animal.
Devices and methods for detecting the state of an animal are known. Such s, typically, are electronic devices and they may include sensors, for monitoring, for example, the temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and the like of an animal. Other such devices are provided for detecting when an animal is in a state of relatively high activity in order to tate in the detection of oestrus in the animal.
Attempts have been made to provide methods and devices for detecting other states of an animal, for example, for detecting when an animal is feeding or ruminating. r, to date such methods and devices lack accuracy.
There is therefore a need for a method for detecting at least one state of an animal, for example, ruminating, g, g or the like, which addresses lack of accuracy issues of known methods and devices. There is also a need for a device and a system for ing at least one of such states of an . animal which addresses cy issues of known methods and devices.
The present invention is directed towards providing such a method, a device and a system.
According to the invention there is ed a method for detecting at least one detectable state of an animal, the method comprising: computing a mean magnitude value of a first signal indicative of movement of the head of the ’ animal from an ration sensor attached to the animal during each first predefined time period of a plurality of first predefined time periods, counting the numbers of positive and negative peaks of the first signal during each first predefined time period, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value lie within a predefined range of absolute magnitude values, computing the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during each first predefined time period as the sum of the absolute magnitude values of the m positive peak value with reference to . the mean magnitude value and the maximum negative peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period, and 2014/000009 detecting the at least one detectable state of the animal during each first predefined time period in response to at least one of the value of the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values during the corresponding first predefined time period. the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. in one aspect of the invention lower and upper absolute magnitude values of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period are defined as respective functions of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. ably. the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies within a first predefined range of percentage values of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. in one embodiment of the invention the first predefined range of percentage values within which the IOWer te magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period is 0.1% to 1% of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the ponding first predefined time . Preferably. the first predefined range of percentage values within which the lower absolute ude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period is 0.3% to 0.7% of the mean ude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Advantageously, the lower absolute ude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period is approximately 0.5% of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In another aspect of the invention the upper absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of te magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies within a second predefined range of percentage values of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In another embodiment of the invention the second predefined range of percentage values within which the upper te magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of thefirst signal for each first predefined time period is 7% to 13% of'the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time . Preferably, the second predefined range of percentage values within which the upper absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first ined time period is 8% to 12% of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first ned time period. Advantageously, the upper absolute ude value of the predefined range of te magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period is approximately 10% of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one embodiment of the invention one of the deteCtable states of the animal is ruminating. and ruminating is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to at least one of: the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie withinthe predefined range of te magnitude values ing a predefined ruminating threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed m peak to peak value-of the first signal lying between a lower predefined peak to peak threshold value and an upper predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period. in another embodiment of the invention ruminating is detected in any one of the first predefined time s in response to the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding a predefined ruminating threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal lying between the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value and the upper ined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one aspect of the invention the predefined ruminating threshold count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
In another aspect of the inVention the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the ed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Preferably. the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one embodiment of the invention the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 1% and 7% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the ponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of- 2% and 6% of puted mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Advantageously, the lower ined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is approximately 4% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. in another aspect of the invention the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the upper predefined peak to peak old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In another embodiment of the ion the upperpredefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 16% to 22% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time . Preferably, the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 18% to 21% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Advantageously, the upper ined peak to peak old value for each first predefined time period is approximately 19.5% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In another embodiment-of the invention one of the detectable states of the animal is g, and resting is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to at least one of the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of te magnitude values not exceeding the ruminating predefined threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the ed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal not exceeding a resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first ned time period.
In a further embodiment of the invention one of the detectable states of the animal is resting, and resting is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the count of the ve and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values not exceeding the ruminating predefined old count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal not exceeding the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one aspect of the invention the resting predefined peak to peak old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one embodiment of the invention the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not greater than 30% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not greater than 23% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Advantageously, the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is approximately 20% of the computed mean ude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one embodiment of the invention one of the detectable states of the animal is a feeding state, and g is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in se to at least one of the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal being greater than or equal to the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period, and either one of the following: the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the te magnitude values of which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding a predefined feeding threshold count during the ponding first predefined time period, and a second signal from a head status sensor ed to the animal indicative of raised and d states of the head of the animal being indicative of the head of the animal being in the lowered state during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one aspect of the invention the ration sensor comprises the head status sensor. and the acceleration sensor produces the second signal indicative of the raised and lowered states of the head of the animal.
In another aspect of the invention the mean magnitude value of the second signal is computed during each firstpredefined time period, and the raised and lowered states of the head of the animal is detected in response to the computed mean magnitude value of the second signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. in one ment of the invention the head of the animal is detected as being in the lowered state in response to the computed mean. magnitude value of the second signal being one of greater than and lower than a predefined mean magnitude value.
In another aspect of the invention the ned mean magnitude value of the second signal for each first predefined. time period is defined as a function of the respective magnitude values of the second signal ponding to the head of the animal being in the lowest of the lower states and the highest of the raised states.
Preferably,- the predefined mean magnitude value of the second signal for each first predefined time period is a value indicative of the head of the animal being at a level sufficient for grazing or feeding from a trough at ground level.
In one aspect of the invention the predefined feeding old count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
W0 2014/199361 PCT/‘IE2014/000009 In a further embodiment of the invention one of the detectable states ‘of the animal is an active state, and the active state is detected at the end of any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the animal being detected as not being ting, resting or feeding.
In a still further embodiment of the invention one of the detectable states of the animal is a high activity state, and the high activity state is detected during any one of the first predefined time periods in se to the count of the positive and ve peaks of the first signal. the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed a first ined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period ing a first predefined peak threshold count during that corresponding first predefined time period.
In one aspect of the invention the first ined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is d as a function of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the firstpredefined peak old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the computed mean magnitude value the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one embodiment of the invention the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not less than 30% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the correspondingfirst predefined time period. Preferably, the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not less than 33% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time period. ageously, the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is approximately 35% of the computed mean threshold value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. in another embodiment of the invention the first predefined peak threshold count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period. in one embodiment of the invention one of the detectable states of the animal is a medium activity state, and the medium activity state is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to one WO 99361 the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed the first predefined peak threshold value lying between a second predefined peak threshold count and one less than the first predefined peak threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the count of the ve and negative peaks of the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed a second predefined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period exceeding a third predefined peak threshold count during that corresponding first time period. in one aspect of the invention the second predefined peak threshold count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period In another aspect of the ion the third predefined peak threshold count is a function of the duration of the first ined time period.
In a further aspect of the invention the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the ed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the ponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a tage value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time pefiod, In one embodiment of the invention the second ined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first ined time period is greater than 5% of the computed mean magnitude. value of the, first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Preferably, the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is greater than 8% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. Advantageously, the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is approximately 10% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In anotherembodiment of the invention one of the detectable states of the animal is a low activity state. and the low activity state is detected in response to the ed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal exceeding the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the count of the positive and negative peaks, the absolute ude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed the second predefined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period being less than the third ned peak threshold count during that corresponding first time period.
In another embodiment ofthe invention thefirst signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of sampled values indicative of the magnitude of the first signal at respective sampling points during each first predefined time .
In another embodiment of the invention the mean magnitude value of the first signal is computed for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period, in a further embodiment of the invention the absolute values of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal are computed for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time period.
In a still further embodiment of the invention the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal is ' computed for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time period.
Preferably, the second signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of sampled values indicative of the magnitude of the second signal at respective sampling points during each first predefined time period.
Advantageously, the mean magnitude value of the second signal is computed for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the second signal during the corresponding first predefined time .
In one embodiment of the ion the acceleration sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to produce the first signal indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along a first axis thereof, and the second signal indicative of ration to which the accelerometer is subjected along a second axis thereof perpendicular to the first axis.
Preferably, the accelerometer is attached to the animal with the first axis thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the back of the neck of the animal. and in a generally upwardly, downwardly direction.
Advantageously, the rometer is attached to the animal with the second axis thereof extending substantially parallel to the back of the neck of the animal. Ideally, the accelerometer is attached to the neck of the animal.
In one embodiment of the invention the rometer is ed to the animal by a securing ligature extending around the neck of the animal in one embodiment of the invention the acceleration sensor is located in a housing.
Preferably. a signal processor is ed in the housing for processing the first and second signals and for determining the state of the animal during the respective first predefined time periods. in one embodiment of the invention the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding . Preferably, the numbers ofthe first ined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding States at the end of each of a ity of second predefined time periods. Advantageously, the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identityof the corresponding states and is ed. Ideally, the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding states and is analysed by a computing means.
In one embodiment of the invention the ing means is a remotely located computing means.
Preferably, the stored data relating to the numbers of first predefined time periods the animal is in the respective states cross-referenced with the respective states during the second predefined time periods is wirelessly communicated to the remotely d computing means. Advantageously, the stored data relating to the numbers of first predefined time s the animal is in the respective states cross- nced with the respective states during the second predefined time periods is wirelessly communicated to the remotely located computing means by a relay station.
In one aspect of the invention the computing means comprises one of a cloud computer server and a computer.
In another embodiment of the invention the first predefined time period lies in the range of 5 seconds to 25 seconds. Preferably, the first predefined time period is approximately 11.5 seconds.
In another embodiment of the invention the second ined time period is of duration up to 60 minutes.
Preferably, the second predefined time period is of duration of imately 15 minutes.
In a further embodiment of the ion the sampling rate at which the first and second signals are sampled lies in the range of 6 Hz to 50 Hz. Preferably, the sampling rate at which the first and second signals are d is imately 11 Hz.
Preferably, the first predefined time periods run consecutively one after the other. Advantageously, the second predefined time s run consecutively one after the other.
In one embodiment of the invention data indicative of at least one predefined location visited by the animal is stored. Preferably, the time at which the animal visited the at least one predefined location is stored.
Advantageously, the duration of the visit to the at least one predefined location is stored.
In one aspect of the invention the identity of the at least one predefined location is ined from an identification signal received when the animal is adjacent the at least one predefined location. Preferably, the identification signal is received wirelessly. Advantageously, the identification signal is ted nt the at least one predefined location.
In one embodiment of the invention the identification signal is derived from a means adjacent the at least one predefined location capable of producing or configuring a signal to be indicative of the at least one predefined location. Preferably, the means for ing or configuring the signal to be indicative of the at least one predefined location comprises a means for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of the at least one predefined location.
In one aspect of the invention data indicative of a plurality of respective predefined locations visited by the animal is stored. ably, data indicative of a plurality of the respective times and the respective durations of the visits to the respective ones of the predefined locations are stored.
In another aspect of the invention the data indicative of the predefined locations, and ably the times at which the ined locations are visited, and advantageously, the durations of the visits to the predefined locations are transmitted to one of the base station and the cloud computer server.
In a further aspect of the ion the data indicative of the ons visited by the animal, the times at which the ined locations are visited and the ons of the visits to the respective predefined locations are stored for each second predefined time period, and advantageously, are transmitted along with the data stored relating to the states of the animal for each of the second predefined time periods.
The invention also provides a device for detecting at least one detectable state of an animal, the device being configured for locating on or in the animal and comprising an acceleration sensor, and a signal processor, the signal processor being configured to compute a mean magnitude value of a first signal indicative of movement of the head of the animal from the acceleration sensor attached to the animal during each first predefined time period of a plurality of first predefined time periods, count the numbers of positive and negative peaks of the first signal during each first predefined time period, the absolute ude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value lie within a predefined range of absolute magnitude values, compute the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during each first predefined time period as the sum of the absolute ude values of the maximum positive peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value and the maximum negative peak value with reference to the mean magnitude W0 2014/199361 E2014/000009 value of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time period, and detect the at least one detectable state of the animal during each first predefined time period in response to at least one of the value of the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of te magnitude values during the corresponding first predefined time , the ed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
In one embodiment of the invention the device comprises a housing. and preferably, the acceleration sensor is located in the housing.
In one aspect of the invention the signal processor is located in the housing. - Preferably, the signal processor is configured to store and cross-reference the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states with the identity of the corresponding states.
In one ment of the invention the signal processor is configured to store data indicative of at least one predefined location visited by the .
Preferably, the time at which the animal visited the at least one predefined location is stored. , Advantageously, the duration of the visit to the at leastone predefined location is stored.
Preferably, the identity of the at least one predefined location is determined from an fication signal received when the animal is adjacent the at least one predefined location. in another embodiment of the invention the device comprises a memory chip for storing an identifying code for identifying the device.
In a further embodiment of the invention the device comprises a wireless transceiver for transmitting data stored in the device relating to the numbers of the first predefined time periods that the animal is in the respective states cross-referenced with the corresponding states for ion by a remote computing means. Preferably, the wireless transmitter is selectively operable in a high power mode and a low power mode.
In another embodiment of the invention the device comprises an NFC module for facilitating communicating in an NFC ol between the device and a powered mobile smart device.
In a further embodiment of the ion the device comprises a receiver for receiving an identification signal indicative of a predefined location visited by the animal.
Further the invention provides a system for determining at least one detectable state of an animal, the system comprising the device according to the invention, and a remote computing means configured to wirelessly e data from the device indicative of the state of the animal.
Preferably, the remote computing means comprises one of a cloud computer server and a computer.
Advantageously, a relay station is provided for relaying data wirelessly received wirelessly from the device to the remote computing means.
Preferably, the relay station comprises a wireless itter for communicating with the .
Advantageously, the relay station comprises a GSM module for communicating with the computing means.
The ages of the invention are many. One of the advantages, and in particular, one of the most important advantages of the invention is that it provides a , a method and a system for detecting at least one state of an animal which detects the state with a vely high degree of accuracy. Another advantage of the invention is that the device according to the invention is a relatively low power device, and ingly, operates with a vely long y life. Indeed, it is envisaged that under normal use the device according to the invention could have a battery life of up to ten‘years. The fact that in general, transmission of data from the device only occurs when the device is in vely close proximity to the relay station, the power required to drive the transceiver for communicating data with the relay station is relatively low. Furthermore, by virtue of the minimal processing of the sampled values of the first and second s, the power requirement for processing the first and second signals by the microprocessor on board the device is also relatively low. Further energy saving by the device is achieved by virtue of the sequence with which the various states of the animal are detected.
The provision of the Near Field Communications module allows for uploading and downloading data to and from the device by a smart phone or other powered smart device with minimal usage of energy.
The provision of the wireless transceiver in the device to be operable in both a high power mode and a low power mode further facilitates in minimising the energy requirement of the . The provision of the receiver for receiving ty data of respective predefined locations visited by an animal to which the device is attached allows for monitoring the locations visited by an animal, and the data relating to the locations visited by the animal also facilitates in determining the health and other issues of the-animal.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, which are given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a system according to the invention for detecting detectable states of an animal, Fig. 2 is a block representation of a device also according to the invention for detecting detectable states of an animal of the system of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of an animal with the device of Fig. 2 attached thereto.
Fig. 4 is a side ional view of a portion of the animal similar to Fig. 3 with the device attached to the animal, and with the portion of, the animal in a different state to that of Fig. 3, .
Figs. 5a to 5e are flowcharts of a e carried out by the device of Fig. 2 for detecting detectable states of the animal, and Figs. 6a to 6d are graphical representations of signals produced by the device of Fig. 2 and processed by the device of Fig. 2.
Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a system according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for determining detectable states of a plurality of animals 2, which in the case are cows, and'may be dairy cows. In this embodiment of the ion the detectable states of the animals 2 include the states of ruminating, resting, feeding and active states, which include a state of high activity in which the animal is highly active, a state of low activity in which the level of activity of the animal is relatively low, but would be more active than if the animal were ruminating, resting or feeding, and a state of medium activity in which the level of activity of the animal is substantially midway between the state of '15 high ty and the state of low activity. The system 1 comprises a plurality of devices also according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference l 5, for attaching to the animals, one device 5 being provided for each animal. In this embodiment of the invention the devices 5 are configured for attaching to the neck 6 of the animals 2 for detecting acceleration of the animals, and also for detecting the raised and lowered state of the head 7 of the animals. It has been found that by monitoring the acceleration of an animal and the raised and lowered states of the head of an animal, detectable states of an , such as ting, resting, feeding and active states can be detected as will be described in detail below.
The system 1 as well as comprising the devices 5 also comprises a remote computer 10, which may be a cloud er server or atively may be a personal er, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or the like of a farmer. The computer 10 may also comprise a mobile smart phone, with ing capacity, or indeed, the computer 10 may comprise any other suitable computing device. In this embodiment of the invention the computer comprises a cloud computer server 10.
One or more relay stations 12 are d strategically around a field or fields in which the animals 2 are free to roam, or in an animal house or a milking parlour and the like in which the animals are housed or located. In l, a single relay station 12 would be provided adjacent a drinking trough or a milking r where the animals 2 would visit with known regularity. In this embodiment of the invention only one relay stations 12 is provided. The relay station 12 is configured to receive data transmitted by the devices 5, and to relay the transmitted data to the cloud computer server 10. The relay station 12 comprises a wireless eiver 14 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the devices 5 as will be described below. A GSM module 15 is also located in the relay station 12 for communicating between the relay station 12 and the cloud computer server 10, and for relaying data received from the devices 5 to the cloud computer server 10, as also will be described below. The relay station 12 also comprises computing power to support and control the operation of the transmitter 14 and the GSM module 15, and to store data received from the devices 5 referenced with the identity of the devices 5 for subsequent relaying to the cloud computer server 10. Such ing power may be provided by a rocessor, a logic controller or any other er or signal processor.
Turning now to the devices 5, and referring in particular to Fig. 2, each device 5 ses a housing 20 which is adapted for securing to the neck 6 of the animal 2 by a ligature, namely, a strap 21 which extends around the neck 6 of the animal 2. The strap 21 is adapted for securing the device 5 to the neck 6 of the animal 2 with the g 20 of the device 5 adjacent one side of the neck 6 of the animal 2 and also just behind the head 7 of the animal 2, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and with the device retained relatively tightly to the neck of the animal 5 so that the orientation of the housing 20 s the orientation of the neck 6 of the animal 2, for a reason to be bed below. Strap engaging brackets 24 are provided on the housing 20 through which the strap 21 is passed for securing the housing to the strap 21..
An acceleration sensor, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises a three-axis accelerometer 28 ng X, Y and Z axes, respectively, extending orthogonally relative to each other is located within the housing 20 of each device 5. The accelerometer 28 of each device is oriented in the housing 20 so that when the device 5 is ed to the neck 6 of the animal 2 by the strap 21, theY-axis of the accelerometer extends substantially parailel to the back 29 of the neck Got the animal, and the X-axis s substantially perpendicularly to the back 29 of the neck 6 of the animal 2 in a generally upwardly downwardly direction. The Z-axis of the accelerometer 28 extends substantially horizontally in a direction transversely of the neck 6 of the animal. As discussed above the device 5 is held relatively tightly to the neck 6 of the animal 2, so that the Y-axis of accelerometer 28 remains substantially parallel to the back 29 of the neck 6 of the animal, as the head of the animal is raised and lowered. Similarly, the X-axis of the accelerometer remains substantially perpendicular to the back of the neck of the animal as the animal raises and lowers its head.
The rometer 28 produces a first signal which is indiCative of acceleration to which the accelerometer 28 is subjected along the XLaxis, which in turn is indicative of acceleration of the head 7 and neck 6 of the animal 2. and which accordingly is indicative of the movement of the head 7 and neck 6 of the animal 2 as well as general motive movement of the . The accelerometer 28 es a second signal which is indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer 28 is subjected along the Y- axis, which in turn is indicative of the raised and lowered states of the head 7 of the animal 2. in this embodiment of the invention signals produced by the accelerometer 28, which are indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer 28 is subjected along the Z-axis is not used, although it is envisaged that in some ments of the invention, as will be discussed briefly below, the third signal produced by the rometer 28 may be used.
A signal processor, in this embodiment of the invention a microprocessor 30 is located within the g of each device 5 and is programmed to continuously sample the first and second signals from the accelerometer 28 at a ined sampling rate, which in this embodiment of the invention is approximately 11 Hz during consecutive first predefined time periods, each of approximately 11.5 seconds duration. As the sampled values of the first and second signals are read by the microprocessor 30, they are sequentially written into a buffer 31 during each first predefined time period. The buffer 31 is also d in the housing 20. At the end of each first predefined time period, the microprocessor 30 reads the, d values of the first and second signals which were sampled during that first predefined time period from the buffer 31 and processes the read sampled values as will be described below. From the processed sampled values of the first and second signals which are processed at the end of eachfirst predefined time period, the microprocessor 30 is configured to detect which of the states the animal had been in for that first predefined time period.
' The microprocessor 30 is configured to form six counters for ng the numbers of first predefined time periods that the animal 2 is in the respective states of ruminating. resting, feeding, high activity, medium activity and low activity states during consecutive second predefined time periods. Each second predefined time period in this ment of the invention is of duration of 15 s. The counters are identified by the reference numerals 34 to 39 for counting the ruminating, resting, feeding, high activity, medium activity and low activity states, respectively. At the end of each seCond predefined time period the counts of the counters 34 to 39 are stored in a memory chip 40,located in the housing 20. The counts of the rs 34 to 39 are stored in the memory chip 40 cross-referenced with the times of the respective second predefined time periods.
An identifying code of the corresponding device 5 is stored in the memory chip 40, and data relating to the ' states of the corresponding animal 2 When being transmitted from the device 5 is cross-referenced with the identifying code of the device 5.
A communicating means, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises a ss transceiver 41, a short range wireless receiver 42 and a ss Near Field Communications module 43 are located in the housing 20 of each device 5. The transceiver 41 is adapted for two-way communications between the device 5 and the relay station 12, and transmits data indicative of the stored states of the corresponding animal 2 to the transceiver 14 of the relay station 12 in response to a wake-up signal ed from the transceiver 14 of the relay station 12, when the animal 2 comes within range of the relay station 12, for subsequent transmission to the cloud computer server 10 through the GSM module 15. In this embodiment of the invention the wireless transceiver 41 is le under the l of the microprocessor 30 in two power modes, namely, a low power mode for transmitting data to the relay station 12 in response to the wake-up signal from the relay station 12, when the animal and in turn the device 5 is Within range of the relay station 12, and a high power mode for transmitting data to the transceiver 14 of the relay station 12 when the device is outside the normal range of the relay station.
The microprocessor 30 is configured so that on a wake-up signal from the relay station 12 being received by the transceiver 41 when the animal is within range of the relay station 12, the microprocessor 30 es the transceiver 41 in the low power mode, and transmits data indicative of the states-of the animal during the second predefined time periodsstored in the memory chip 40 since the last transmission to the relay station 12 for uent relaying to the cloud computer server 10. The transceiver 41 is operable in the high power mode for transmitting data indicative of the states of the animal directly to the relay station 12 in response to the microprocessor 30 detecting from the processed data from the first and second signals that an emergency may exist in the state of the animal. in order to minimise the energy requirement of the device 5, the microprocessor 30 is programmed only to transmit the data tive of the states of the animal during the second predefined time periods stored in the memory chip 40 in se to the wake-up signal from the relay station 12 film time which has d since the last transmission of data indicative of the states of the animal during the second predefined time periods is greater than a ined elapsed time period. In other words, after a transmission of the data indicative of the states of the animal during the second predefined time periods WO 99361 by the device 5, the microprocessor 30 commences timing the predefined elapsed time period,and during the timing of that predefined elapsed time period, the micrdprocessor 30 does not respond to any of the wake-up signals received from the relay station 12 until that predefined elapsed time period has timed out.
Once the predefined elapsed time period has timed out, the microprocessor 30 is then responsive to the next one of the wake-up signal which it receives from the relay state and transmits the e data indicative of the states of the animal during the second predefined time periods since the last transmission was made. The ined elapsed time period may be of any suitable or desired on, and typically would be of duration in the range of 1 hour to 12 hours, and more typically, would be of duration in the range of 4 to 8 hours.
It is envisaged in some embodiments of the invention the transceiver _41 may be of the type which operates in a single power mode only, and in which case, in general, the transceiver would be a vely low power consumption transceiver, and would have a relatively short transmission and receiving range, although it is envisaged in n cases that the transceiver 41 may have a relatively long ission and receiving range. However, it is also envisaged that in certain cases, two wireless transceivers may be provided, one of which would have a relatively long transmission range, and a second transceiver which would have a relatively short transmission range, and would operate with a significantly lower power requirement than the transceiver with the relatively long transmission range.
The Near Field Communications module .43 is configured fortwo-way communications with a portable hand-held d device, for example, a mobile smart phone 44 which is programmed for and is capable of communicating in a Near Field Communications protocol. The smart phone 44 is programmed , with a software application, , an app, in order to facilitate two—way communications in the Near Field Communications ol with the Near Field Communications module 43 and with the microprocessor 30. The ication range of the Near Field Communications module 43is approximately 40mm to 50mm The microprocessor 30 and the Near Field Communications module 43 are configured to facilitate programming and reprogramming of the microprocessor 30 through the Near Field Communications module 43 by the smart phone 44 operating under the control of the app.
Additionally, the microprocessor 30 and the Near Field Communications module 43 are configured so that the identifying code of the device 5 which is stored in the memory chip 40 for fying the device 5 can be read out of the memory chip 40 through the Near Field Communications module 43 and into the smart phone 44 to facilitate cross-referencing of the identifying code of the device 5 with an identifying code of the animal, which would identify the animal _2 to which the device 5 is attached. The identifying code of WO 99361 the animal may be, for example, the identification number of the animal by which the animal is identified by an ear tag or other suitable identifying tag. This enables the identity of the animal to be crossreferenced with the identifying code stored in the memory chip 40. The identifying code of the device 5 is cross-referenced with the identity of the cow in both the smart phone 44 and in the cloud computer server . Additionally, the smart phone 44 may store the identifying code of the device cross-referenced with the identity of the animal. and any other nt data relating to the animal under the control of the app with which the smart phone 44 is programmed, such other data relating to the animal may be downloaded from the cloud computer sewer 10, or from a cloud database of the cloud computer server 10 in which such other data related to the animal is stored. The Near Field Communications module 43 is also configured so that data may be aded from and uploaded to the device 5 by the smart phone 44 under the control of the app with which the smart phone 44 is mmed. Such data which may be downloaded from the device 5 to the smart phone 44 may include the states of the animal cross- referenced with the ponding second predefined time periods over a desired length of time, and also cross-referenced with the identifying code of the device 5 and the identifying code of the animal 2.
The wireless recehier 42 comprises an inductively coupled low frequency signal receiver coil which typically operates at 120 kHz to 140 kHz. The receiver 42 is provided for receiving fication signals from short range wireless transmitters 45 located at predefined locations 46 visited by the animal. The microprocessor 30 is programmed so that on g an identification signal of a predefined location 46 received by the receiver 42 from the itter 45 at that location. the microprocessor 30 records the identity of the location 46 from the received identification signal, the time at which the identification signal is received, and the duration of reception of the identification signal. The identity of the location 46, the time of the visit to the location 46 by the animal and the duration of the visit by theanimal to the location 46 is stored by the microprocessor 30 in the memory chip 40 for subsequent transmission through the transceiver 41 to the relay station 12, or through the Near Field Communications module 43. The transmitters 45 which are d at the predefined locations 46, for example, drinking troughs, feeding. troughs and other locations to which a visit by the animal would be of interest are transmitters with a relatively short range, typically no more than a few metres, depending on the size and length of the drinking trough or feeding trough or other such location 46, as the case may be, and are configured to ssly and intermittently transmitan identification signal containing data identifying the corresponding ined location 46 for ion by the receiver 42 of the device 5 when the animal 2 comes within _ range of the transmitter 45. Typically, the transmitters 45 transmit their respective identification signal at one-second intervals at a frequency in the range of 120 kHz to 140kHz corresponding to thereceiving frequency to which the receiver 42 is tuned.
The microprocessor 30 transmits the stored data relating to the locations visited by the animal, the times at 'which the locations were visited and the durations of each visit along with the data relating to the states of the animal during the nt second predefined time periods to the relay station 12 for a subsequent relay to the cloud computer server 10.
A battery 47 powers the device 5.
The microprocessor 30 of each device 5 is configured by a software programme, a routine of which is illustrated in Figs. 5a to 5e for detecting the state of the corresponding animal 2 at the end of each first ined time period. The microprocessor 30 is configured by the routine of Fig. 5 of the re mme, so that at the end of each first predefined time period the sampled values of the first and second signals from the accelerometer 28 sampled during that first predefined time period are processed to firstly ascertain if the animal is ting. If the animal is found not to be ruminating, the sampled values of the first and second s sampled during that first predefined time period are further processed to detect if the animal is g. if the animal is found not to be ruminating or g, the sampled values of the first and second signals are further processed by the rocessor 30 to ascertain if the animal is feeding. If the animal is not detected as ruminating, resting or feeding, the sampled values of the first and second signals sampled during that first predefined time period are then further processed to ascertain if the animal is in one of the three activity states, , a state of high activity, a state of medium activity and a state of low activity, as will be described below.
Graphical representations of the first and second signals sampled from the accelerometer 28 are illustrated by the graphs A and B, respectively, of Figs. 6a to 6d, which illustrate the first and second signals during parts of different first predefined time s. In Figs. 6a to 6d time is plotted on the horizontal X-axis of the graphs. Acceleration to which the accelerometer 28 is subjected along its X-axis and Y-axis is plotted in arbitrary units on the vertical Y-axis of the graphs. in Fig 6a the graphs A and B are typically representative of values of the first and second signals, respectively, which are indicative of an'ganimal ruminating. in Fig. 6b the graphs A and B are lly representative of values of the first and second signals, respectively, which are indicative .of an animal resting. In Fig. 6c the graphs A and B are typically representative of values of the first and second signals, respectively, which are indicative of an animal feeding. in Fig. 6d the graphs A and B are typically representative of values of the first and second signals. respectively, which are indicative of an animal in the three activity states. The parts of the graphs A and B ofrperiod 3 of Figs. 6d are indicative of an animal in a state of high ty, while the parts of the graphs A and B of period 1 are tive of an animal in a state of medium activity, and the parts of the graphs A and B of period 2 are indicative of an animal in a state of low ty.
Turning now specifically to Figs. 5a to 5e, block 50 starts the e for detecting the state of the animal at the cement of each second predefined time period of 11.5 seconds, and resets the counters 34 to 39 to zero. The e then moves to block 51. which checks if the t first predefined time period has ended. If not, the routine returns to block 51. if block 51 determines that the current first predefined time period has ended, the routine moves to block 52. Block 52 reads the sampled magnitude values of the first signal from the buffer 31, which had been stored in the buffer 31 during the first predefined time period which t ended, consecutively into the microprocessor 30. Block 53 computes a moving mean magnitude value of the magnitude of the sampled values of the first signal. Block 52 reads the sampled values of the” first signal in blocks of sampled values. for example, in blocks of sampled values of from five to seven consecutive sampling points. During reading of the blocks of the sampled values of the sampling points of the first signal, the routine shuttles between blocks 52 and 53 to compute the mean magnitude value of the magnitude of the sampled values of the first signal for each of the blocks of sampled values of the first signal, in order that the computed mean magnitude value is a moving mean magnitude value.
On completion of the computation of the mean magnitude value of the sampled valuessampled from the first signal during the just ended first predefined time period by block 53, block 53 also stores the computed mean magnitude value of thesampled values of the first signalfor the just ended first predefined time period in memory of the microprocessor 30. On the mean magnitude value of the first _ signal being stored in the microprocessor 30 by block 53, the routine moves to block 54.
Block 54 countsthe number of the ve and negative peaks of the sampled values of the firstsignal above and below the computed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal during the just ended first predefined time period, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the just computed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal are within a predefined range of absolute ude values. The upper and lower absolute magnitude values of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values are defined as respective ons of the computed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal for the just ended first predefined time period, and ideally, are defined as percentage values of the computed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signals. The percentage values of the computed mean magnitude value which represent the upper and lower values of the predefined range of absolute ude values are dependent on the type of animal to which the device 5 is attached and also on the type of cow. It has been found that for a dairy cow when ruminating, typical absolute magnitude values of the positive and ve peaks of the sampled values of the first signal range n a lower absolute magnitude value of approximately 0.5% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal and an upper absolute magnitude value of approximately 10% of thegcomputed mean magnitude value of the corresponding first signal for the first predefined time period.
Referring in particular to Fig. 6a, it can be seen from graph A, which represents a plot of the sampled values of the first signal during a part of one of the first predefined time period that the mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal for that first predefined time period has been computed to be an arbitrary value of imately 200 arbitrary units. in this embodiment of the ion a reading of 200 arbitrary units equates to one G force, namely, the acceleration due to gravity. This is the magnitude value of the first signal when the X-axis of the accelerometer 28 is extending substantially vertically, in other words, when the back 29 of the neck 6 of the animal 2 is extending substantially ntally. Prior to counting the positive and negative peaks which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude , block 54 computers the lower and upperabsolute magnitude values of the predefined range of te magnitude values as 0.5% and 10%, respectively, of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal, which had been computed by block 53 for the just ended first predefined time period.
Accordingly, since for the just ended first predefined time period block 53 computed the mean magnitude value to be 200 ary units, block 54 for thisjust ended first predefined time period es the lower and upper te ude values of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values as 1 arbitrary unit, and 20 arbitrary units, tively, which are stored for this just ended first predefined time period in - memory in the microprocessor 30. Block 54 then counts the number of positive and negative peaks, the absolute values of which lie n 1 arbitrary unit and 20 arbitrary units, However, in general, it is envisaged that the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values may lie from 01% to 1% of the computed mean magnitude value, while the upper absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values may lie in the range of 7% to 13% of the computed mean magnitude value, although the invention is not limited to any such ranges of lower and upper absolute magnitude values of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values, since as discussed above, the upper and lower absolute magnitude values of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values vary depending on the type of animal, and may also vary depending on the type of accelerometer.
On completing the count of the number of positive and negative peaks, the te magnitude values of which with reference to the computed mean magnitude value are within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values, block 54 stores the count of the number of the positive and negative peaks in the microprocessor 30 for the just ended first predefined time period.
The routine then moves to block 55. Block 55‘computes the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal during the just ended first predefined time period as the sum of the absolute magnitude values of the maximum positive peak with reference to the mean ude value of the first signal, and the absolute ude value of the m negative peak with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal. in other words, the negative peak with the maximum absolute value with reference to the mean magnitude value. Block 55 then stores the computed maximum peak to peak value in memory of the microprocessor 30. The e then moves to block 56.
Block 56 compares the ed maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal with lower and upper predefined peak to peak ruminating threshold values.
The lower and upper predefined peak to peak old values are defined as functions of the computed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal during each first predefined time period, and in this embodiment of the invention are defined as respective percentage values of the computed mean magnitude value for each first predefined time period. It has been found that the lower and upper predefined peak to peak threshold values depend-on the type of animal. it has also been found that in this embodiment of the invention for s which are ruminating the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal does not fall below a lower peak to peak value in the range of 1% to 7% of the mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal, and does not exceed an upper peak to peak value in the range of 16% to 22% of the mean magnitude value of the first . ln this embodiment of the invention it has been found that for dairy cows when ruminating the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal lie within lower and upper peak to peak values of 4% and 19.5% respectively, of the mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal.
Accordingly, in this embodiment of the invention the lower predefined peak to peak ruminating old value is set at 4% of the computed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal and the WO 99361 upper predefined peak to peak ruminating threshold value is set at 19.5% of the mean ude value of the sampled values of the first signal for each first predefined time period. Since block 53 ed the mean magnitude value for this just ended first predefined time period to be 200 arbitrary units, block 56 computes the lower and upper ined peak to peak ruminating threshold values for this first predefined time period as 8 arbitrary units and 39 arbitrary units, respectively, which are stored in memory of the microprocessor 30.
Block 56 then compares the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal computed by block 55 with the just ed lower and upper predefined peak to peak ruminating threshold values.
If block 56 determines that the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal during the just ended first predefined time period lies between the lower and upper predefined'peak to peak ruminating old value, the routine moves to block 57. If block 56 determines that the m peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal is greater than the upper predefined peak to peak ruminating threshold value or less than the lower predefined peak to peak ruminating threshold value, the routine moves to block 58, which is described below.
Block 57 compares the count of the peak values determined by block 54 with a predefined ruminating threshold count. The predefined ruminating threshold count is predefined and stored in the microprocessor 30. it has been found that during any one of the first predefined time periodsof 11.5 seconds when a dairy cow is ruminating, the count of positive and negative peak values determined by block 54 would not be less than fifty peaks, and in this embodiment of the invention the predefined ruminating threshold count is set and stored in the microprocessor 30 as a count of fifty. r, it will be appreciated that the predefined ting threshold count may vary upwardly or downwardly from fifty, depending on the animal, and indeed, the type of cow. Needless to say, the predefined ruminating threshold count will vary depending on the duration of first ined time period. However, for a first predefined time period of 11.5 seconds, the count of positive and negative peakvalues of the sampled values of the first signal determined by block 54 for a ruminating dairy cow will exceed fifty. However, the invention is not to be limited to a predefined ruminating threshold count of fifty peaks.
If block 57 determines that the count of peak to peak values determined by block 54 exceeds the first predefined ruminating threshold count, the routine moves to block 59. Block 59 detects that the animal is ruminating and moves to block 75. which is described below. If block 57 determines that thecount of positive and negative peak values, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value are within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values, which is ed by block 54, does not exceed the predefined ruminating threshold count of fifty, the subroutine moves to block 58.
While the mean magnitude value of the first signal for the just ended first ined time period of Fig. 6a has been computed by block 53 as being 200 arbitrary units for this example of ruminating, the mean magnitude value of the first signal may be of other values besides 200 ary units during ting of an animal.
Block 58 compares the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal computed by block 55 with a predefined peak to peak resting threshold value. it has been found that if the count of positive and negative peak values, the absolute magnitude value of which with nce to the mean magnitude value are within the first predefined range of absolute magnitude values as determined by block 54 does not exceed the predefined ruminating threshold count of fifty, it is possible that the animal is resting. It has also been found that if the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal does not exceed the predefined peak to peak resting threshold value, the animal would be resting.
The predefined peak to peak resting threshold value varies from type of animal to type of animal, and , from type of cow to type of cow. In this embodiment of the invention the predefined peak to peak resting threshold value is defined as a function of the computed mean magnitude value of the d values of the first signal during each first predefined time period, and preferably, is defined as a percentage value of the computed mean magnitude value of the d values of the first signal during each first ned time period. It has been found that in a resting animal the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal will not exceed 30% of the computed mean magnitude value. In this embodiment of the invention it has been found that the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal do not exceed a predefined value of 20% of the computed mean ude value for a resting dairy cow. Since block 53 computed the mean ude value at 200 arbitrary units block 58 computes the predefined peak to peak resting threshold value to be 40 arbitrary units which is stored in memory in the microprocessor 30. Block 58 then compares the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal computed by block 55 with the computed predefined peak to peak resting threshold value.
Accordingly, if block 58 determines that the maximum peak to peak value computed by block 55 does not exceed the predefined peak to peak resting threshold value, the routine moves to block 60. which determines that the animal is resting. The routine is then moved to block 77, which is described below. If block 58 determines that the maximum peak to peak value of the sampled values of the first signal computed by block 55 during the just ended first ined time period does exceed the predefined peak to peak resting threshold value, the routine moves to block 61.
Graph A of Fig. 6b is a part of a typical graph enting the first signal from another first predefined time period of a resting animal. As can be seen from graph A of Fig, 6b block 53 would have computed the mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal of graph A to be in the order of 210 arbitrary units. Block 54 would have ed the lower and upper absolute magnitude values ofthe predefined range of absolute magnitude values based on the ed mean magnitude valIJe of 210 arbitrary units. Block 54 would then have counted the number of positive and negative peaks of the first signalwhich were within that predefined range of absolute magnitude . Block 55 would have computed the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal based on the computed mean magnitude ' value of 210 arbitrary units. In processing the sampled values of the first signal of graph A through blocks 56 and 57} the microprocessor would have detected that the animal was not ruminating. The routine would then have moved to block 58 which would have computed the predefined peak to peak resting threshold value based on the computed mean magnitude value of 210 ary units. and block 58 would have determined that the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal of graph A of Fig. 6b was less than computed predefined peak to peak resting threshold value. and the e would have moved to block 60, which would have detected that the animal was resting.
Returning now to block 61, block 61 reads into the microprocessor 30 the sampled magnitudevalues of the second signal consecutivelyfrom the buffer 31. which had been stored in the buffer 31 during the first predefined time period which t ended. The reading in of the sampled magnitude values of the second signal from the buffer 31 to the microprocessor 30. may be carried out at any suitable stage in the routine, either at this stage, or earlier in the routine, for example, before or after the g of the sampled ude values of the first signal into the microprocessor 30. The routine then moves to block 62, which computes the mean magnitude value of the sampled ude values of the second signal, I i and the routine moves to block 63.
Block 63 compares the mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the second signal which has been computed by block 62 with a predefined mean magnitude value to ascertain the raised or lowered state of the head of the animal. The value of the second signal when the back 29 of the neck of the animal 2 is extending substantially horizontally is zero ary units, since the second axis of the accelerometer 28 would also be extending substantially horizontally. It has been found in this embodiment of the ion. that with the monitoring device 5 attached to the neck 6 of an animal, with the second axis of the rometer extending substantially parallel to the back of the neck of the animal, when the head of the animal is in a lowered state sufficient for grazing or feeding from a ground level trough, the mean » magnitude value of the second signal should be greater than 60 arbitrary units. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the invention the predefined mean magnitude value of 60 arbitrary units is stored in the microprocessor 30. Accordingly, if block 63 determines that the mean magnitude value of the second signal computed by block 62 s the predefined mean magnitude value of 60 arbitrary units, the routine moves to block 64, which detects the animal as feeding. The routine then moves to block 78, which is described below.
Referring now to Fig. 60, graphs A and B of Fig. 6c are parts of typical graphs of the first and second signals, tively of a part of another first predefined time period in which the animal is feeding. Block 53 would have computed the mean magnitude value of the second signal, namely, graph B of Fig. 6b to have a mean value greater than 100 arbitrary units, which is greater than the predefined mean magnitude value of 60 arbitrary units of the second signal, and thus, block 63 would have determined the mean magnitude value of the second signal to have exceeded the predefined mean ude value of 60 arbitrary units,and the routine would have moved to block 64 and determined that the animal was feeding.
If however block 63 determines that the mean ude value of the second signal computed by block 62 is less than the predefined mean magnitude value, indicating that the head of the animal is either raised above a normal grazing level, or at avlevel at which the head of the animal would be if feeding from a ground level trough, the routine moves to block 65.
Block 65 compares the count of positive and negative peak values of the first , the absolute magnitude values of which with nce to the mean ude value of the first signal are within the first predefined range of absolute magnitude values, which has already been determined by block 54, with a ned g threshold count. It has been found that in certain cases, an animal can be feeding even when the head of the animal is not in the lowered state. For example, in certain feeding systems, particularly those used in intensive rearing of animals, the animal feed is presented to the animal at a level at which the head of the animal could be in a raised state. Accordingly, block 65 is provided to detect such feeding. It has been found that if the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal which is computed by block 55 exceeds the predefined resting old value, the animal could be feeding. It has also been found that if the count of positive and negative peak values of the first signal as determined by block 54 exceeds a predefined feeding threshold count. the animal would be g. In this embodiment of the invention the predefined feeding threshold count is similar to the predefined ruminating threshold count for each first predefined time period, and thus, in this case the predefined feeding threshold count is also stored in memory of the microprocessor 30 as fifty. However, as discussed above with reference to the predefined ruminating threshold count, the predefined feeding threshold count is also dependent on the on of the first predefined time period, and may also vary depending onthe type of animal. It will also be appreciated that the predefined feeding threshold count and the predefined ruminating threshold count may be different for some .
Accordingly, if block 65 determines that the count of the positive and. negative peak values of the first signal computed by block 54 s the predefined feeding threshold count of fifty, the routine moves to block 64, which as discussed above, detects that the animal is feeding. lf block 65 determines that the count of the ve and negative peak values of the first signal computed by block 54 does not exceed the predefined feeding threshold count of fifty, the routine moves to block 66.
At this stage, the animal has been determined as being neither ruminating, resting nor feeding. Thus, the only other state of the animal would be an active state. in this embodiment of the invention the routine is configured to identify three active states of the , namely, a high activity state, a medium activity state; and a low activity state.
Block 66 counts the number of positive and negative peaks of the sampled values of the first signal of the just ended first predefined time period, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value exceeds a first predefined peak threshold value. The reason for counting the number of ve and negative peaks, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the ed mean ude value exceed the first predefined peak threshold value is to determine if the animal is in a high activity state. It has been found that when an animal is in a state of highactivity, the absolute magnitude value of a number of the positive and ve peaks of the sampled values of the first signal during each first ined time period will exceed a first predefined peak threshold value, which will vary depending on the type of animal, and indeed on the type of cow.
The first predefined peak threshold value is defined as a function of the ed mean magnitude value of the sampled values of the first signal during each first predefined time period. Preferably, the first predefined peak threshold value is defined as a tage value of the computed mean magnitude value. It has been found that in an animal in a state of high activity, a number of the positive and negative peaks of the sampled values of the first signal during each first predefined time period will be greater than % of the computed mean magnitude value. In this case, it has been found that for a dairy cow in a state of high activity, the absolute magnitude value of many of the ve and negative peak values of the sampled values of the first signal will be greater than 35% of the computed mean magnitude value.
Accordingly, in this case, for each first predefined time period the first predefined peak threshold value is '10 computed by block 66 to be 35% of the computed mean magnitude value and stored in the . microprocessor 30. From the graph A of Figs. 6a to 6d, 350 arbitrary units ents a value of approximately 35% of the computed mean magnitude value, namely, 70 arbitrary units, and this value for the first predefined peak old value is stored in memory in the microprocessor for this just ended first predefined time period.
On tion of the count by block 66, the routine moves to block 67. Block 67 checks if the count of the positive and negative peaks from block 66 is greater than or equal to a first predefined peak threshold count. The first predefined threshold count is predefined and stored in the microprocessor 30, and is dependent on the duration of the first ned time period, and also on the type of animal, and in the case of cows on the type of cow. In general, it has been found that for a first predefined time period of 11.5 seconds, if the count of the positive and negative peak values determined by block 66 is greater than or equalto a first predefined peak threshold count of three, then the animal is in a state of high activity.
Accordingly, the first predefined peak threshold count is set and stored in the microprocessor 30 at three. lf block 67 determines that the count of the positive and negative peaks from block 66 is greater than or equal to the first predefined peak old count of three, the routine moves to block 68, which detects the animal as being in a state of high activity, and the routine moves to block 79, 'which is described below. lf block 67 determines that the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal of block 66 is not greater than or equal to the first predefined peak threshold count of three, the subroutine ' moves to block 69.
Referring now to Fig. 6d, which as discussed above illustrates graphs A and B which are representative of first and second signal, respectively, for parts of three ent first predefined time periods. Graph A of Fig. 6d during period 3 is a typical representation of the first signal for an animal in a state of high activity.
As can be seen block 53 would have computed the mean magnitude value of the sample values of Fig. 1 for graph A of the third period of Fig. 6d to be 200 arbitrary units, and as can be seen there are at least three peaks of the positive and negative peak which exceed the first predefined peak threshold value which would have been computed based on the computed mean magnitude value of 200 arbitrary units, which would have produced a first predefined peak threshold value of 70 arbitrary units. Thus, in this first predefined time period, block 67 would have moved the subroutine to block 68 which would detect the animal as being in the high activity state. ing now to block 69, block 69 checks if the count of ve and negative peaks of the first signal from bldck 66 lies n a second predefined peak old count and one less than the first predefined peak threshold count. in this case, the second predefined peak threshold count is one, and block 69 checks if the count of positive and negative peaks of the first signal from block 66 is one or two.
It has been found that an animal is in a state of medium activity if the'count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal from block 66 lies n one and one less than the first predefined peak threshold count. lf block 69 determines that the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal from block 66 is equal to one or two, the e moves to block 70, which detects the animal as being in a .state of medium activity. The routine then moves from block 70 to block 80, which will be described below.
If block 69 determines that the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal from block 66 is not equal to one or two, the routine moves to block 71, in order to determine if the animal could still be in a state of medium activity based on alternative parameters se applied in block 69.
Block 71 counts the number of positive and negative peaks of the sampled values of the first signal sampled during the just ended first predefined time , the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value exceeds a second ined peak threshold value. it has been found that an animal would also in a state of medium activity, if the absolute magnitude of a number of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal were greater than a second predefined peak old value, which is defined as a'function of the computed mean magnitude value. and preferably as a percentage of the computed mean magnitude value. It has been found that an animal is also in a medium active state if the absolute magnitude values of a number of the positive and negative peaks of the samples values of the first signal are greater than a second predefined peak threshold value of 10% of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal. However, this value of the second predefined peak threshold value depend on the type of animal and in the case of cows, on the type of cows. in the just ended first predefined time period of Fig. 6a, the computed mean magnitude value computed by block 53 is computed as 200 arbitrary units, block 71 computes the second predefined peak threshold value for this just ended predefined time period of Fig. 1 to be 20 arbitrary units. Block 71 then counts the number of positive and negative peaks of the sampled values of the first signal during the just ended first ined time , the absolute ude peak values exceed 20 arbitrary units.
On completion of the count by block 71,the routine moves to block 72, which checks if the count of the positive and ve peak values of the first signal counted by block 71 is greater than or equal to a third predefined peak threshold count. The third predefined peak threshold count will vary from animal to animal and indeed from cow to cow, and also will vary depending on the duration of the first predefined time period. However, in this case, it has been found that a third predefined peak threshold count of 12 would indicate that an animal is in a state of medium activity. In this embodiment of the invention the third predefined peak threshold count is computed and stored at a value of 12 in the microprocessor 30.
If block 72 determines that the count of the ve and negative peaks computed by block 71 is r than or equal to the third predefined peak threshold count, the e moves to block 70, which as y described, detects the animal as being in a medium active state.
In the event that block 72 determines that the count of the positive and negative peak values counted by block 71 is not greater than or equal to the third predefined peak threshold count, the routine moves to block 73, which detects the animal as being in a state of low activity. The routine then moves to block 81, which will be described below.
Referring again to Fig. 6d, graph A of period 1 of Fig. 6d represents a first signal of a part of another first predefined time period in which the animal is in a state of medium activity. in the first predefined time period of the first period of Fig. 6d block 53 would have computed a mean magnitude‘value of the sample values of the first signal to be in the order of 200 arbitrary units. 35% of the mean magnitude value of 200 units would have been 70 units, and 10% of the mean magnitude value would have been 20 units. Thus, in this case the first predefined peak threshold value would have been computed to be 70 arbitrary units, and the second predefined peak threshold value would have been computed to be 20 arbitrary units. in graph A of period 1 of Fig. 6d the graph includes two peaks which exceed 70 arbitrary units, and 12 peaks WO 20147199361 which exceed 20 ary units. Accordingly, under both criteria, namely, that of block 69 and 72 the animal would have been detected as being in a state of medium ty during the first predefined time period of period 1 of Fig. 6d. However, it is to be understood that once either block 69 or block 72 detect that the animal is in a state of medium'activity the animal is deemed to be in the'state of medium activity.
Turning now to block 75, block 75 increments the counter 34 by one, which counts the number of first predefined time periods during each second ned time period during which the animal is ruminating.
The routine then moves to block 76, which is described below.
Turning now to block 77, block 77 increments the counter 35 by one, which counts the number of first predefined time periods during the second predefined time period that the animal is detected as being in a g state. The routine then moves to block 76,. which has already been described.
Turning now to block 78, block 78 increments the counter 36 by one, which counts the number of first predefined time periods that the animal has been ed as feeding during the second predefined time period. The routine then moves to block 76, which has already been described.
Turning now to block 79, block 79 increments the counter 37 by one, which counts the number of first predefined time periods during the second predefined time period that the animal is in the state of high activity. The routine then moves from block 76, which has already been described.
Turning now to block 80, block 80 ents the counter 38 by one, which counts the number of first predefined time periods during the second predefined time period that the animalis in a state of medium activity. The routine then moves to block 76, which has already been described.
Turning now to block 81,- block 81 increments the r 39 by one, which counts the number of first predefined time s in which the animal has been detected in a state of low activity during the second predefined time period. The e then moves to block 76, which has already been described.
Turning now to block 76, block 76 checks if the current second predefined time period has ended. it block 76 determines that the current second predefined time period has ended, the routine moves to block 82.
Block 82 stores the counts from blocks 75 and 77 to 81', which are the counts in the counters 34 to 39 at the end of that second predefined time period. Block 82 stores the counts of the counters 34 to 39 cross- referenced with the ponding states of the animal during that second predefined time period. and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding second predefined time period. Block 82 then returns the routine to block 50. If, however, block 76 determines that the t second predefined time period has not yet ended, block 76 returns the routine to block 51.
Turning now to the recovery of data from each device 5. In normal operation of the devices 5, no data is transmitted by the devices 5 until the animal 2 to which the device 5 is attached comes within range of the relay n 12. On receiving a wake-up signal from the transceiver 14 of the relay station 12 through the transceiver 41 of the device 5, the microprocessor 30 of that device operates the transceiver 41 in the low power mode, and transmits through the transceiver 41 thestored data relating to the states of the animal 2 during each one of the second predefined time periods, and the number of the first predefined time periods the animal 2 was in each of those states for each of the second predefined time periods since the last transmission of data from the device 5 ed. onally, the stored data since the last transmission relating to the identity of the respective locations visited by the animal. the times at which the visits took place, and the duration of the respective visits is also itted by the device 5 through the transceiver 41 along with the data relating to the states of the animal. The transmitted data is received by the eiver 14 of the relay station 12, which in turn relays thedata to the cloud computer server 10 through the GSM module 15.
Prior to transmission from the device 5 the data is packaged for ission by the microprocessor 30 into data packets, with the data packets comprising the identifying code of the device 5 stored in the memory chip 40 along with the data relating to the states of the animal 2 and the onsvvisited by the animal 2. Typically the relay station 12 will be d at a location which will be visited by the animals at least twice per day, so that the stored data relating to each animal in the corresponding device 5 will be transmitted to the relay station 12, and in turn relayed to the cloud computer 10 at least twice per day In the event that a period greater than a predefined time period of, for example, n hours has elapsed since the last transmission from any one of the devices 5 has been received by the cloud computer server , the cloud computer server 10 through the GSM module 15 requests the relay station 12 to transmit a wake-up signal identifying that device 5 of sufficient strength to be received by the transceiver 41 of that device 5, in order to activate the microprocessor 30 of that device 5 to transmit the stored data relatingto the states of the animal and the locations visited by the animal since the last transmission from that device was made. On receipt of the wake-up signal, the microprocessor 30 of that device 5 operates the transceiver 41 in the high power mode, and transmits through the transceiver 41 the stored data relating to the states of the animal 2 during each one of the second predefined time periods and the Stored data relating to the locations visited by the animal 2 since the last transmission of data from that device 5 was made. On receipt of the transmitted data by the relay station 12 the received data is relayed to the cloud computer server 10 by the relay station 12 through the GSM module 15.
By operating the transceiver 41 in the low power mode for transmissions of data to the relay station 12 when the devices 5 are within range of the relay station 12, significant power saving is achieved both in the devices 5 and the relay station 12, and in particular in the devices 5. Accordingly, provided that the intervalbetween transmissions of data indicative of the states of the animal made by the devices 5 to the relay n 12, and in turn to the cloud computer server 10 are less than the predefined time periods of, for example, fifteen hours, the transmissions of the data tive of the states of the animal 2 are made with. the transceiver 41 operating in the low powered mode.
In the event that the microprocessor 30 determines that during a number of consecutive second predefined time periods the state of the animal has remained in a state of high ty, which could be indicative of the onset of oestrus, or over an abnormally long period of time the animal has ed in a resting state, which could be indicative of an injured or an ill animal, the microprocessor 30 is programmed to e the transceiver 41 in the high powered mode and to output an alert signal through the transceiver 41 for reception by the relay station 12 for relaying to the cloud computer server 10. The alert signal es the identifying code of the device 5 together with a signal alerting to the continuous highly active state or the uous resting state of the animal. g now to the cloud computer server 10. The cloud computer server 10 is programmed to determine various health states of the animal 2, for example, the‘onset of s, which would be determined by comparing the high activity state of the animal 2 to historical activity states of the animal 2 and tothe activity states of other animals in the same herd or group of s, which are in a similar environment to that of that particular animal 2. In the event of the animal being in the state of high activity greater than its normal active state and being greater than the state of high activity of the other s in the herd or . group, then the onset of oestrus could be determined, as could other reproductive issues, for. example, . cystic n diseases. Lameness or other injuries or illnesses would be determined in the case of an . animal resting for excessively long time periods. Lack of ruminating and/or feeding of an animal would indicate an animal as being in poor health.
W0 2014ll99361 The data relating to the identity of the locations d by each animal, the times of the visits and the durations of the visits is also processed by the cloud er server 10 to also identify the health state of the animal. For e, if an animal has not visited a drinking trough for an extended period, this could also be an indication of ill health of the animal. if an animal is found not to have visited a feeding trough, for example, where nutrients in concentrated form areprovided for the animals, corrective action could be taken to ensure that that particular animal received appropriate nutrients.
In use, each animal 2 of a herd or group of animals is provided with one of the devices 5 attached to the neck 6 of the corresponding animal 2 by the ponding strap 21 as already described. lly, as the devices 5 are being attached to the animals 2, the fying codesof the respective devices 5 are sequentially read from the memory chips 40 of the devices 5 by the smart phone 44 which is programmed with the appropriate app. The identifying codes of the devices 5 are read out from the memory chips 31 by the smart phone 44 through the NFC modules 43 of the respective devices 5 in NFC protocol. The identifying codes of the respective devices 5 are stored and cross-referenced in the smart phone 44 with identifying codes of the corresponding animals 2. The identifying codes of the animals maybe codes assigned to the animals by the farmer, or alternatively, may be national identifying codes issues by the State which identify the tive animals. The cross-referenced identifying codes of the devices 5 and the ponding s 2 are uploaded to the cloud computer server 10 by the smart phone 44 and stored also in the cloud computer server 10 so that the cloud computer server 10 can readily identify the animals fromthe corresponding identifying codes of the tive devices 5. if any programming or reprogramming of the microprocessors 30 in the respective devices 5 is required, thenecessary programming and reprogramming is carried out by the smart phone 44 operating under the control of the app through the NFC s 43 of the respective devices 5.
The microprocessor 30 of each device 5 uously samples the first and second signaisfrom the rometer 28 as already described, and at the end of each first predefined time period determines the state of the animal for that first predefined time period; be it ruminating, resting, feeding, or be it in one of the three ty states. The number of times the animal is in the respective states during each Second predefined time period is stored in the memory chip 31 cross-referenced with the corresponding states for subsequent transmission by the device 5. As the animal 2 visits the locations at which transmitters 45 are located, and a signal identifying the location is received by the receiver 42 of the corresponding device 5, the identity of the location is read by the microprocessor 30, and is stored in the memory chip 31, together with the time of the visit to the location and the duration of the visit to the locatiOn. It will be appreciated that the data relating to the states of the animal and the locations visited by the animal may be stored in memory of the microprocessor 30 or in a separate memory chip to the memory chip 40, instead of the memory chip 40.
As each animal 2 comes within range of the transceiver 14 of the relay n 12, the device 5 of that animal is activated in response to the wake-up signal transmitted by the transceiver 14 of the relay station 12, and the device 5 transmits through the transceiver 41 ing in the low powered mode the data lo relating to the states of the animal 2 during the second predefined time periods since the last transmission from that device 5 was made, as well as the data relating to the locations d by the animal 2 since the last transmission from that device was made. The data relating to the state of the animal 2 and the locations visited by the animal 2 received by the transceiver 14 of the relay station 12 is then relayed h the GSM module 15 of the relay station 12 to the cloud er server 10. The cloud computer server 10 then carries out further analysis of the received data to ine the state of the health of the animal 2 from the received data and other issues relating to the animal.
If the microprocessor 30 of any of the devices 5 ines that the corresponding animal 2 remains in a highly active state during a predefined number of utive second predefined time s which could '20 be indicative of oestrus, the transceiver 41 is operated in the high power mode, and the alert signal is transmitted for reception by the relay station 12, which is then relayed to the cloud computer server 10 by the relay station 12. The alert signal includes the identifying code of the device 5 and data relating to the highly active state of the animal 2 over the relevant predefined number of second predefined time periods. if the microprocessor 30 of any of the devices 5 determines that the corresponding animal remains in a resting state continuously for a predefined number of consecutive second predefined time periods, which could beindicative of an injured, lame or ill animal, the microprocessor 30 operates the transceiver 41 in the high power mode to transmit the alert signal, which in this case includes the identifying code of the device 5 and data relating to the resting state of the animal over the relevant predefined number of second predefined time periods for reception by the relay station 12. The relay station 12 then relays the alert signal to the cloud computer server 1 0.
On receipt of the alert signal or signals from corresponding ones of the device 5, the cloud computer WO 99361 server analyses the alert signals, and the data contained therein, and ines whether an emergency state exists in the relevant animal 5. If so, the cloud computer server 10 alerts the farmer by any suitable communication means, for example, by an SMS message transmitted to the smart phone 44 or a mobile phone of the farmer over a telecommunications network, or by a voice message transmitted to a mobile phone or a landline phone of the farmer. if on analysing the data periodically received from any of the devices 5 relating to the states of the corresponding animals, and the locations visited by the corresponding animals, the cloud computer server detects any issues relating to any of the s 2 which should be brought to the attention of the farmer, an appropriate message is transmitted by the cloud er 10 by any suitable means for reception by the farmer, which may be an SMS message or a voice message itted by a telecommunications network to the smart phone 44 a mobile phone or a ne phone of the farmer.
Additionally, or alternatively, messages from the cloud computer server 10 to be communicated to the farmer may be communicated via the internet to the smart mobile phone 44 of the farmer, or to a computer of the farmer, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or indeed any other le computer device.
The cloud computer server 10 is also configured to permit ading of data by a farmer to the smart K 20 phone 44 of the farmer, and/or to a computer of the farmer, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or the like. Such data which would be downloadable from the cloud computer server 10 to the farmer would be similar to that uploaded to the cloud computer server by the relay station 12, as'well as data relating toand/or resulting from analysis carried out by the cloud computer server 10 on the data'received from the s 5.
All data stored in the devices 5 is downloadable directly onto the smart phone 44 or indeed any smart device, for example, a tablet computer or the like by NFC protocol. To download data stored in any one of the devices 5 to the smart phone 44 or any other such smart , the smartphone 44 or smart device operating under the l of the app is brought into close proximity within 50mm of the device 5 from which the data is to be downloaded. An activation signal is produced by the smart phone 44 and is transmitted in an NFC protocol for reception by the NFC module 43 of the device 5. On receipt of the activation signal, the microprocessor 30 is ed to download the data in an NFC protocol through the NFC module 43 to the smart phone 44 or smart device. The data relating to the states of the animal and the locations visited by the animal which is stored in the memory chip Bl is packaged in data packets which include the identity code of the device 5 and the data relating to the states of the animal and the locations visited by the animal 2 as already described prior to downloading to the smart phone 44 or smart device.
Other data relating to the animals may be uploaded to the devices 5 of the corresponding animals 2 by the smart phone 44, and this data may also be uploadable to the cloud er server 10.
While the signals indicative of the acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along the X and Y axes only have been used in detecting the states of the animal, it is envisaged that the signals tive of the acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along the three axes at right angles to each other, namely, the X, Y and Z axes, may be used in detecting the states of the . It is ged that an animal lying on its side could be detected from signals indicative of the acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along the Z-axis. It is also envisaged that a more accurate indication of the activity of the animal could be determined by using the s from the rometer indicative of the ration to which the accelerometer is subjected along both the X’and the Z axes. In particular, it is possible that by using the s indicative of the acceleration to which the rometer is subjected along the X and Z axes, it may be le to differentiate between motive movement of the animal, and other movement of the animal, such as movement of the head and neck of the animal relative to the trunk of the animal.
It is also envisaged that by reading signals from the accelerometer indicative of the acceleration to which the-accelerometer is subjected along the Z-axis, if the devices are secured to the animal with the Z-axis appropriately located and extending substantially horizontally and transversely relative to the neck of the animal, the signals read from the accelerometer indicative of the acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along the Z-axis would be indicative of mal lying on its side if the animal were lying on its side. This data could also be subsequently analysed by the cloud computer server, and if the animal were detected to be lying on its side for extended s, this could-be an indication of an injury or ill . health of the animal.
While the devices 5 have been described as comprising an acceleration sensor provided by a three axis accelerometer, any other suitable acceleration sensor could be provided, for example, a single axis accelerometer would be sufficient for producing the first signal indicative of movement ofthe head of the W0 2014;199361 animal, or a two axis accelerometer would be sufficient for ing both the first and second signals.
Alternatively, a single axis accelerometer may be provided for ing the first signal, and any suitable sensor may be provided for producing the second signal which is indicative of the raised or lowered state of the head of the animal, for example, it is envisaged that a tilt switch could be provided for producing a signal indicative of the state of the head of the . onally, it will be appreciated that while the devices according to the invention have been described as comprising a microprocessor for sing the signals read from the accelerometer, in certain Cases, it is ged that the microprocessor may be dispensed with, and the processing of the s produced by the accelerometer would be carried out remotely, for example, in the cloud computer, a mobile smart phone or the like, or in a computer in the relay station or in a base station computer. in which case, it is envisaged that the raw data produced by the accelerdmeter would be transmitted unprocessed by the devices to the relay station, the cloud computer server, mobile smart phone or other such remote device.
Additionally, the rocessor 30 in the s could be of sufficient capacity, and could be programmed to carry out r analysis on board on the devices whereby the states of the animals during the second predefined time periods, and the locations visited by the animal during the second predefined time periods would be further analysed in order to determine the health, and other issues relating tothe relevant animal. In which case. the further processed data would be transmitted to the relay station 12 and in turn relayed to the cloud computer server. Alternatively, the devices may be configured to communicate with a remote computer,for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a smart mobile phone of the farmer to e the farmer with the analysis of the relevant data, and to alert the farmer to any emergencies.
It will also be appreciated that while the devices have been described as being secured to the side of the neck of the animal by a strap, the devices may be secured in any suitable position on the neck of the animal. Indeed, it is envisaged that the devices may be secured to the head or on any other suitable part of the animal.
It will also be appreciated that while the system has been described as comprising a single relay station, in certain cases, a plurality of the relay stations may be provided spaced apart at suitable ons in a field or fields. Alternatively, the relay station may be omitted, and each device would be provided with a GSM module or other suitable communicating means to icate with the cl0ud computer server.
While it is desirable, it is not essential that the devices should comprise an NFC module, and the receiver 42 could also be dispensed with if a record of predefined locations visited by the animal is not required.
It will be appreciated that while the devices, the method and the system ing to the invention have been described for detecting a number of specific states of a cow. the devices,method and system may be provided for detecting only one or some of the specific states described. indeed, it is also envisaged that the devices, the method and system according to the invention may be provided for detecting additional other states of a cow or animal. Needless to say, it will be appreciated that the device, the method and the system according to the invention may be used for ing states of any other animals besides cows. it is also ged that the devices may be secured to the animals by other means besides a strap, far example, in certain cases, it is envisaged that the devices may be implanted in the animals at appropriate ons, and when ted could be located relatively closely to the skin of the animal in order to facilitate Near Field Communications with the devices.
While the devices 5 have been described as ing transmitted identification signals of the respective predefined locations on visiting of such predefined locations by an animal, it is envisaged that instead of transmitters for itting identification signals being provided at each predefined location, an RFID device may be provided at each predefined on, which on transmission of a signal by the transceiver 41 of the s 5 would reflect and alter the transmitted signal so that the reflected signal would include the identification of the corresponding predefined location.
Additionally, it is envisaged that in order to save power, the devices 5 may be ed to minimise the number of transmissions of data from the devices 5 to the relay station. This would be carried out by preventing transmissions to the relay, station unless a predefined time period had elapsed since the last transmission had been made by the device 5.
While the relay station has been described as communicating with a cloud computer server through a GSM module, any other suitable icating means for communicating between the relay station and the cloud computer may be provided, indeed, it is also envisaged that instead of or as well as communicating with a cloud computer server, the relay station, or indeed the devices themselves may be W0 99361 configured to communicate directly with a computer of the farmer, for example, with a desktop computer. a laptop er, a tablet computer or the like which could be housed in the house of the farmer or the office of the farmer. In which case, the computer of the farmer would be appropriately programmed and configured to produce similar data to that produced by the cloud computer server. and the computer of the farmer would also be configured to communicate directly with the smart phone or other smart mobile device for uploading data to the computer of the farmer, or for downloading data from the computer of the farmer.
It is also envisaged that instead of the Near Field Communications Module, other suitable communication modules which are capable of communicating with a mobile smart device within a relatively short range could be provided in the devices. Such a communication module which would be suitable for communicating with a smart phone or other smart phone mobile device would be a Bluetooth low energy communication module.
While the routine described with reference to Figs. 5a to tie has been bed with the steps of the routine being carried out in a particular order, it will be y apparent to those d in the art that the steps ‘of the routine may be carried out in any other suitable or desired orderwithout departing from the scope of the invention. v

Claims (177)

Claims 1.
1. A method for detecting at least one able state of an animal, the method comprising: computing a mean magnitude value of a first signal indicative of movement of the head of the animal from an acceleration sensor attached to the animal during each first ined time period of a 5 plurality of first predefined time periods, ng the numbers of positive and negative peaks of the first signal during each first predefined time period, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value lie within a predefined range of te magnitude values, computing the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during each first predefined time 10 period as the sum of the absolute magnitude values of the maximum positive peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value and the maximum negative peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period, and detecting the at least one detectable state of the animal during each first predefined time period in response to at least one of 15 the value of the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values during the corresponding first predefined time , the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
2. A method as d in Claim 1 in which lower and upper absolute magnitude values of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period are d as respective functions of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 2 in which the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies within a first predefined range of percentage values of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time .
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 in which the first predefined range of percentage values within which the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of te magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period is 0.1% to 1% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 in which the first predefined range of percentage values within which the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of 5 the first signal for each first predefined time period is 0.3% to 0.7% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time period.
6. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 in which the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period 10 is 0.5% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
7. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6 in which the upper absolute ude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first ined time period 15 lies within a second predefined range of percentage values of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 7 in which the second predefined range of percentage values within which the upper absolute ude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of 20 the first signal for each first predefined time period is 7% to 13% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time .
9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 in which the second predefined range of percentage values within which the upper absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute ude values of 25 the first signal for each first predefined time period is 8% to 12% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
10. A method as d in any one of Claims 7 to 9 in which the upper absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period 30 is 10% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one of the detectable states of the animal is ruminating, and ruminating is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to at least one of: the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the ined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding a predefined ruminating threshold count during the 5 corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal lying between a lower predefined peak to peak threshold value and an upper ined peak to peak old value during the corresponding first predefined time period. 10
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 in which ruminating is detected in any one of the first predefined time s in response to the count of the positive and ve peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding the predefined ruminating threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and 15 the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal lying n the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value and the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period.
13. A method as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 in which the predefined ting threshold count is a 20 function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 in which the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first ined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time 25 period.
15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 14 in which the lower ined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first 30 predefined time period.
16. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 15 in which the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 1% to 7% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
17. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 16 in which the lower predefined peak to peak 5 old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 2% to 6% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
18. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 17 in which the lower ined peak to peak 10 old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is 4% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
19. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 18 in which the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value 15 of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the ponding first ined time period.
20. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 19 in which the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of 20 the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
21. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 20 in which the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 16% to 22% of 25 the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
22. A method as d in any one of Claims 11 to 21 in which the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 18% to 21% of the value of the 30 computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
23. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 22 in which the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value for each first predefined time period is 19.5% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time .
24. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 23 in which one of the able states of the animal is resting, and resting is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to at 5 least one of the count of the positive and ve peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values not exceeding the ruminating predefined threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal not exceeding a resting ined 10 peak to peak old value during the ponding first predefined time period.
25. A method as claimed in Claim 24 in which resting is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined 15 range of absolute magnitude values not exceeding the ruminating predefined threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal not exceeding the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period. 20
26. A method as claimed in Claim 24 or 25 in which the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
27. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 26 in which the resting predefined peak to peak 25 threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
28. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 27 in which the resting predefined peak to peak 30 threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not greater than 30% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
29. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 28 in which the resting ined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not greater than 23% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
30. A method as d in any one of Claims 24 to 29 in which the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is 20% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first ined time period. 10
31. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 30 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is a feeding state, and feeding is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to at least one of the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal being greater than or equal to the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first ined time period, and either 15 one of the following: the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding a predefined feeding threshold count during the corresponding first ined time period, and a second signal from a head status sensor attached to the animal indicative of a raised state and 20 a lowered state of the head of the animal being indicative of the head of the animal being in the lowered state during the corresponding first predefined time period.
32. A method as claimed in Claim 31 in which the acceleration sensor comprises the head status sensor, and the acceleration sensor es the second signal indicative of the raised and lowered 25 states of the head of the animal.
33. A method as claimed in Claim 31 or 32 in which the mean magnitude value of the second signal is computed during each first predefined time period, and the raised and lowered states of the head of the animal is detected in response to the computed mean magnitude value of the second signal during the 30 corresponding first predefined time period.
34. A method as d in Claim 33 in which the head of the animal is detected as being in the lowered state in se to the computed mean magnitude value of the second signal being one of greater than and lower than a predefined mean ude value.
35. A method as claimed in Claim 33 or 34 in which the predefined mean magnitude value of the second signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the respective magnitude 5 values of the second signal ponding to the head of the animal being in a lowest state of the lowered state and a highest state of the raised state.
36. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 33 to 35 in which the predefined mean magnitude value of the second signal for each first predefined time period is a value indicative of the head of the 10 animal being at a level ient for grazing or feeding from a trough at ground level.
37. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 36 in which the predefined feeding threshold count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period. 15
38. A method as claimed in any of Claims 31 to 37 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is an active state, and the active state is ed at the end of any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the animal being ed as not being ruminating, resting or feeding.
39. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 38 in which one of the detectable states of the 20 animal is a high ty state, and the high activity state is detected during any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed a first predefined peak old value during the corresponding first predefined time period exceeding a first predefined peak threshold count during that corresponding first predefined time period.
40. A method as claimed in Claim 39 in which the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the ed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. 30
41. A method as claimed in Claim 39 or 40 in which the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
42. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 39 to 41 in which the first ined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not less than 30% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. 5
43. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 39 to 42 in which the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not less than 33% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
44. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 39 to 43 in which the first predefined peak threshold 10 value of the first signal for each first ined time period is 35% of the value of the computed mean threshold value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
45. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 39 to 44 in which the first predefined peak threshold count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
46. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 39 to 45 in which one of the able states of the animal is a medium activity state, and the medium activity state is detected in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to one of the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first , the absolute magnitude values of 20 which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed the first ined peak threshold value lying between a second predefined peak threshold count and one less than the first predefined peak threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the te magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed a second predefined peak 25 threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period exceeding a third predefined peak threshold count during that corresponding first time period.
47. A method as claimed in Claim 46 in which the second predefined peak threshold count is a on of the duration of the first predefined time period.
48. A method as claimed in Claim 46 or 47 in which the third predefined peak threshold count is a on of the duration of the first predefined time period.
49. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 48 in which the second predefined peak old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time
50. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 49 in which the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first ined time period is d as a percentage value of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time .
51. A method as d in any one of Claims 46 to 50 in which the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is greater than 5% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. 15
52. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 51 in which the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is greater than 8% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
53. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which the second predefined peak 20 threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is 10% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
54. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 53 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is a low activity state, and the low activity state is detected in se to 25 the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal exceeding the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the count of the positive and negative peaks, the te magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed the second predefined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period being less than the third predefined peak 30 threshold count during that corresponding first time period.
55. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 54 in which the acceleration sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to produce the first signal indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along a first axis thereof, and the second signal indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along a second axis thereof perpendicular to the first axis.
56. A method as claimed in Claim 55 in which the accelerometer is attached to the animal with the 5 first axis thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the back of the neck of the animal, and in a lly upwardly, rdly direction.
57. A method as claimed in Claim 55 or 56 in which the accelerometer is attached to the animal with the second axis thereof extending substantially parallel to the back of the neck of the animal.
58. A method as d in any one of Claims 55 to 57 in which the accelerometer is attached to the neck of the animal.
59. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 55 to 58 in which the accelerometer is attached to the 15 animal by a securing ligature extending around the neck of the animal.
60. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 59 in which the first signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of sampled values indicative of the magnitude of the first signal at respective sampling points during each first predefined time period.
61. A method as claimed in Claim 60 in which the mean ude value of the first signal is computed for each first ined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. 25
62. A method as d in Claim 60 or 61 in which the absolute values of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal are ed for each first predefined time period from the d magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. 30
63. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 60 to 62 in which the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal is computed for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
64. A method as d in any one of Claims 60 to 63 in which the second signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of sampled values indicative of the ude of the second signal at respective sampling points during each first predefined time period. 5
65. A method as claimed in Claim 64 in which the mean magnitude value of the second signal is computed for each first predefined time period from the d magnitude values of the second signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
66. A method as claimed in Claim 64 or 65 in which the first and second signals are sampled at a 10 sampling rate lying in the range of 6 Hz to 50 Hz.
67. A method as claimed in Claim 66 in which the sampling rate at which the first and second signals are sampled is 11 Hz. 15
68. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 67 in which the acceleration sensor is located in a housing.
69. A method as claimed in Claim 68 in which a signal sor is provided in the housing for processing the first and second signals and for determining the state of the animal during the respective 20 first predefined time periods.
70. A method as d in any one of Claims 31 to 69 in which the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and referenced with the ty of the corresponding states.
71. A method as claimed in Claim 70 in which the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding states at the end of each of a plurality of second predefined time periods. 30
72. A method as claimed in Claim 71 in which the second predefined time period is of duration up to 60 minutes.
73. A method as claimed in Claim 71 or 72 in which the second predefined time period is of duration of 15 minutes.
74. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 71 to 73 in which the second predefined time periods run consecutively one after the other.
75. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 71 to 74 in which the stored data ng to the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states crossreferenced with the identity of the corresponding states is analysed. 10
76. A method as claimed in Claim 75 in which the stored data relating to the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is ed as being in the respective states cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding states is analysed by a computing means.
77. A method as claimed in Claim 76 in which the computing means is a remotely located computing 15 means.
78. A method as claimed in Claim 77 in which the stored data relating to the numbers of first predefined time periods the animal is in the respective states cross-referenced with the respective states during the second predefined time periods is wirelessly communicated to the remotely located computing 20 means.
79. A method as claimed in Claim 77 or 78 in which the stored data relating to the numbers of first predefined time s the animal is in the tive states cross-referenced with the respective states during the second predefined time periods is wirelessly communicated to the ly located computing 25 means by a relay station.
80. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 76 to 79 in which the computing means ses one of a cloud computer server and a er. 30
81. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first predefined time period lies in the range of 5 seconds to 25 seconds.
82. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first predefined time period is 11.5 seconds.
83. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first predefined time periods run consecutively one after the other.
84. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which data indicative of at least one predefined location visited by the animal is stored.
85. A method as claimed in Claim 84 in which the time at which the animal visited the at least one 10 predefined location is stored.
86. A method as claimed in Claim 85 in which the duration of the visit to the at least one predefined location is stored. 15
87. A method as claimed in Claim 86 in which the identity of the at least one predefined location is determined from an identification signal received when the animal is adjacent the at least one predefined location.
88. A method as claimed in Claim 87 in which the identification signal is ed wirelessly.
89. A method as claimed in Claim 87 or 88 in which the identification signal is generated nt the at least one predefined location.
90. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 87 to 89 in which the identification signal is derived 25 from a means adjacent the at least one predefined location capable of ing or configuring a signal to be tive of the at least one predefined location.
91. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 87 to 90 in which the means for producing or configuring the signal to be tive of the at least one predefined location comprises a means for 30 wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of the at least one ined location.
92. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 87 to 91 in which data indicative of a plurality of respective predefined locations visited by the animal is stored.
93. A method as claimed in Claim 92 in which data indicative of a plurality of the respective times and the respective durations of the visits to the respective ones of the predefined locations are stored. 5
94. A method as claimed in Claim 92 or 93 in which the data indicative of the predefined locations, and at least one of the times at which the predefined locations are visited, and the durations of the visits to the predefined locations is transmitted to a base station.
95. A method as d in any one of Claims 92 to 94 when dependent on Claim 71 in which the 10 data indicative of the locations visited by the animal, the times at which the predefined locations are visited and the durations of the visits to the respective ined locations is stored for each second predefined time period, and is transmitted along with the data stored relating to the states of the animal for each of the second predefined time periods. 15
96. A device for detecting at least one detectable state of an animal, the device being configured for locating on or in the animal and comprising an acceleration sensor, and a signal processor, the signal processor being configured to compute a mean magnitude value of a first signal tive of movement of the head of the animal from the acceleration sensor attached to the animal during each first predefined time period of a plurality 20 of first predefined time periods, count the numbers of positive and negative peaks of the first signal during each first predefined time period, the absolute ude values of which with nce to the mean ude value lie within a predefined range of absolute magnitude values, compute the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during each first predefined time 25 period as the sum of the absolute magnitude values of the maximum positive peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value and the maximum negative peak value with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period, and detect the at least one detectable state of the animal during each first ined time period in response to at least one of 30 the value of the count of the positive and negative peak values of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute ude values during the corresponding first predefined time period, the ed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
97. A device as claimed in Claim 96 in which lower and upper absolute ude values of the predefined range of te magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period are 5 d as respective functions of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
98. A device as claimed in Claim 97 in which the lower absolute magnitude value of the ined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies within a first 10 predefined range of percentage values of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
99. A device as claimed in Claim 98 in which the first predefined range of tage values within which the lower absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the 15 first signal for each first predefined time period is 0.1% to 1% of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
100. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 97 to 99 in which the upper absolute magnitude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of the first signal for each first predefined time 20 period lies within a second predefined range of percentage values of the value of the mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
101. A device as claimed in Claim 100 in which the second predefined range of percentage values within which the upper absolute ude value of the predefined range of absolute magnitude values of 25 the first signal for each first predefined time period is 7% to 13% of the value of the mean ude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
102. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 101 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is ruminating, and the signal processor is configured to detect ruminating in any one of the first 30 predefined time periods in response to at least one of: the count of the positive and ve peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding a predefined ruminating threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed m peak to peak value of the first signal lying between a lower predefined peak to peak threshold value and an upper ined peak to peak old value during the corresponding first predefined time period. 5
103. A device as claimed in Claim 102 in which the signal processor is configured to detect ting in any one of the first predefined time s in response to the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values exceeding the predefined ruminating threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time , and 10 the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal lying between the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value and the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value during the ponding first predefined time period.
104. A device as claimed in Claim 102 or 103 in which the predefined ruminating threshold count is a 15 function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
105. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 102 to 104 in which the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time 20 period.
106. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 102 to 105 in which the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first 25 predefined time period.
107. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 102 to 106 in which the lower predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 1% to 7% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined 30 time period.
108. A device as d in any one of Claims 102 to 107 in which the upper predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
109. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 102 to 108 in which the upper predefined peak to peak 5 threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a tage value of the value of the computed mean ude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time .
110. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 102 to 109 in which the upper predefined peak to peak 10 threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period lies in the range of 16% to 22% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
111. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 102 to 110 in which one of the detectable states of the 15 animal is resting, and the signal processor is configured to detect resting in any one of the first predefined time s in response to at least one of the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values not exceeding the ruminating predefined threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and 20 the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal not exceeding a resting predefined peak to peak old value during the corresponding first predefined time period.
112. A device as claimed in Claim 111 in which the signal processor is configured to detect resting in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to 25 the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal which lie within the predefined range of absolute ude values not exceeding the ruminating predefined threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the computed m peak to peak value of the first signal not exceeding the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period.
113. A device as claimed in Claim 111 or 112 in which the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the ed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
114. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 111 to 113 in which the resting ined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first 5 predefined time period.
115. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 111 to 114 in which the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value of the first signal for each first ined time period is not greater than 30% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined 10 time period.
116. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 111 to 115 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is a g state, and the signal processor is configured to detect feeding in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to at least one of 15 the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal being greater than or equal to the resting predefined peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period, and either one of the following: the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of which lie within the predefined range of absolute magnitude values ing a predefined feeding 20 threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and a second signal from a head status sensor attached to the animal indicative of raised and lowered states of the head of the animal being indicative of the head of the animal being in the d state during the corresponding first predefined time period. 25
117. A device as claimed in Claim 116 in which the acceleration sensor comprises the head status sensor, and the acceleration sensor is configured to produce the second signal indicative of the raised and lowered states of the head of the .
118. A device as claimed in Claim 116 or 117 in which the signal processor is configured to compute 30 the mean magnitude value of the second signal during each first predefined time period, and the raised and lowered states of the head of the animal is detected in response to the ed mean magnitude value of the second signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
119. A device as claimed in Claim 118 in which the signal processor is configured to detect the head of the animal as being in the lowered state in se to the computed mean magnitude value of the second signal being one of greater than and lower than a predefined mean magnitude value. 5
120. A device as claimed in Claim 118 or 119 in which the predefined mean magnitude value of the second signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the respective magnitude values of the second signal corresponding to the head of the animal being in the lowest of the lower states and the highest of the raised states. 10
121. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 118 to 120 in which the predefined mean ude value of the second signal for each first predefined time period is a value indicative of the head of the animal being at a level sufficient for grazing or feeding from a trough at ground level.
122. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 116 to 121 in which the predefined feeding threshold 15 count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
123. A device as d in any one of Claims 116 to 122 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is an active state, and the signal processor is configured to detect the active state at the end of any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the animal being detected as not being ruminating, 20 g or feeding.
124. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 116 to 123 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is a high activity state, and the signal processor is ured to detect the high activity state during any one of the first predefined time periods in response to the count of the positive and negative peaks of 25 the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed a first predefined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period exceeding a first predefined peak old count during that corresponding first predefined time period. 30
125. A device as d in Claim 124 in which the first predefined peak old value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
126. A device as claimed in Claim 124 or 125 in which the first ined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the value of the computed mean magnitude value the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period. 5
127. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 124 to 126 in which the first predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is not less than 30% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
128. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 124 to 127 in which the first predefined peak threshold 10 count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period.
129. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 124 to 128 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is a medium activity state, and the signal processor is configured to detect the medium ty state in any one of the first predefined time periods in response to one of 15 the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the te ude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed the first predefined peak old value lying between a second predefined peak threshold count and one less than the first predefined peak threshold count during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the count of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal, the absolute magnitude values of 20 which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed a second predefined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period exceeding a third predefined peak threshold count during that corresponding first time period.
130. A device as claimed in Claim 129 in which the second predefined peak threshold count is a 25 on of the duration of the first predefined time period.
131. A device as claimed in Claim 129 or 130 in which the third predefined peak old count is a function of the duration of the first predefined time period. 30
132. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 129 to 131 in which the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a function of the value of the computed mean ude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
133. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 129 to 132 in which the second predefined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is defined as a percentage value of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the ponding first 5 predefined time period.
134. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 129 to 133 in which the second ined peak threshold value of the first signal for each first predefined time period is greater than 5% of the value of the computed mean magnitude value of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
135. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 129 to 134 in which one of the detectable states of the animal is a low activity state, and the signal processor is configured to detect the low activity state in response to the computed maximum peak to peak value of the first signal exceeding the resting predefined 15 peak to peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period, and the count of the positive and ve peaks, the absolute magnitude values of which with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal exceed the second predefined peak threshold value during the corresponding first predefined time period being less than the third predefined peak threshold count during that corresponding first time period.
136. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 116 to 135 in which the acceleration sensor comprises an accelerometer ured to produce the first signal indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along a first axis thereof, and the second signal indicative of acceleration to which the accelerometer is subjected along a second axis thereof dicular to the first axis.
137. A device as claimed in Claim 136 in which the device is configured to be attached to the animal with the first axis of the accelerometer extending substantially perpendicularly to the back of the neck of the , and in a generally upwardly, downwardly direction. 30
138. A device as claimed in Claim 136 or 137 in which the device is ured to be attached to the animal with the second axis of the accelerometer ing substantially parallel to the back of the neck of the animal.
139. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 116 to 138 in which the signal processor is configured to sample the first signal to obtain a ity of sampled values indicative of the magnitude of the first signal at respective sampling points during each first predefined time period. 5
140. A device as claimed in Claim 139 in which the signal processor is configured to compute the mean magnitude value of the first signal for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
141. A device as claimed in Claim 139 or 140 in which the signal processor is configured to compute 10 the absolute values of the positive and negative peaks of the first signal with reference to the mean magnitude value of the first signal for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
142. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 139 to 141 in which the signal processor is configured 15 to compute the maximum peak to peak value of the first signal for each first predefined time period from the sampled magnitude values of the first signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
143. A device as d in any one of Claims 139 to 142 in which the signal sor is configured to sample the second signal to obtain a plurality of sampled values indicative of the magnitude of the 20 second signal at respective sampling points during each first predefined time period.
144. A device as claimed in Claim 143 in which the signal processor is configured to compute the mean ude value of the second signal for each first predefined time period from the sampled ude values of the second signal during the corresponding first predefined time period.
145. A device as d in any one of Claims 96 to 144 in which the signal sor is configured to store and cross-reference the numbers of the first predefined time s the animal is ed as being in the respective states with the identity of the corresponding states. 30
146. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 145 in which the numbers of the first predefined time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding states at the end of each of a plurality of second predefined time periods.
147. A device as claimed in Claim 145 or 146 in which the device comprises a wireless transceiver for transmitting data stored in the device relating to the s of the first predefined time periods that the animal is in the respective states cross-referenced with the corresponding states for reception by a remote computing means.
148. A device as d in Claim 147 in which the wireless itter is selectively operable in a high power mode and a low power mode.
149. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 148 in which the numbers of the first predefined 10 time periods the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with the identity of the corresponding states and is analysed.
150. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 149 in which the numbers of the first predefined time s the animal is detected as being in the respective states is stored and cross-referenced with 15 the identity of the ponding states and is analysed by a computing means.
151. A device as claimed in Claim 150 when ent on Claim 147 in which the computing means comprises the remote computing means. 20
152. A device as claimed in Claim 151 in which the remote computing means comprises one of a cloud computer server and a computer.
153. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 152 in which the signal processor is configured to store data indicative of at least one predefined location visited by the animal.
154. A device as claimed in Claim 153 in which the time at which the animal visited the at least one predefined location is stored.
155. A device as claimed in Claim 154 in which the duration of the visit to the at least one predefined 30 location is stored.
156. A device as claimed in Claim 155 in which the identity of the at least one predefined location is determined from an identification signal received when the animal is adjacent the at least one predefined location.
157. A device as claimed in Claim 156 in which the identification signal is received wirelessly. 5
158. A device as claimed in Claim 156 or 157 in which the device comprises a receiver for receiving an identification signal indicative of a predefined location visited by the animal.
159. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 156 to 158 in which the identification signal is generated adjacent the at least one predefined location.
160. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 156 to 159 in which the identification signal is derived from a means adjacent the at least one predefined location capable of producing or configuring a signal to be indicative of the at least one ined location. 15
161. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 156 to 160 in which the means for ing or configuring the signal to be indicative of the at least one predefined location comprises a means for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of the at least one predefined location.
162. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 156 to 161 in which data indicative of a plurality of 20 respective predefined locations visited by the animal is stored.
163. A device as claimed in Claim 162 in which data tive of a plurality of the respective times and the respective durations of the visits to the respective ones of the predefined ons are stored. 25
164. A device as claimed in Claim 162 or 163 when dependent on Claim 152 in which the data tive of the predefined locations, the times at which the predefined locations are visited, and the durations of the visits to the predefined locations is transmitted to one of a base station and the cloud computer server. 30
165. A device as claimed in Claim 164 when dependent on Claim 146 in which the data indicative of the locations visited by the animal, the times at which the predefined locations are d and the durations of the visits to the respective predefined locations is stored for each second predefined time , and is transmitted along with the data stored relating to the states of the animal for each of the second predefined time periods.
166. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 165 in which the device comprises a memory chip for storing an identifying code for identifying the device.
167. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 166 in which the device comprises an NFC module for facilitating communicating in an NFC protocol n the device and a powered mobile smart device. 10
168. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 167 in which the device is configured to be attached to the neck of the animal.
169. A device as claimed in Claim 168 in which a securing ligature is provided for attaching the device to the neck of the animal.
170. A device as claimed in Claim 168 or 169 in which the device is configured for attaching to the side of the neck of the animal.
171. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 170 in which the device comprises a g, 20 and the acceleration sensor is located in the housing.
172. A device as claimed in Claim 171 in which the signal processor is d in the housing.
173. A system for determining at least one detectable state of an , the system comprising the 25 device as claimed in any one of Claims 96 to 172, and a remote computing means configured to wirelessly e data from the device indicative of the state of the animal.
174. A system as claimed in Claim 173 in which the remote computing means comprises one of a cloud computer server and a computer.
175. A system as claimed in Claim 173 or 174 in which a relay station is provided for ng data wirelessly received wirelessly from the device to the remote computing means.
176. A system as claimed in Claim 175 in which the relay station comprises a ss transmitter for communicating with the device.
177. A system as claimed in Claim 175 or 176 in which the relay station comprises a GSM module for 5 communicating with the computing means. WO 99361 V- V ~<r N ‘— P - to -v F SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 99361 Gravity
NZ715131A 2013-06-14 2014-06-16 A method, a device and a system for detecting a state of an animal NZ715131B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IES2013/0193 2013-06-14
IES20130193 2013-06-14
IES20130194 2013-06-14
IES2013/0194 2013-06-14
PCT/IE2014/000009 WO2014199361A1 (en) 2013-06-14 2014-06-16 A method, a device and a system for detecting a state of an animal

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NZ715131A NZ715131A (en) 2020-10-30
NZ715131B2 true NZ715131B2 (en) 2021-02-02

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