WO2011057673A1

WO2011057673A1 - Animal tracking and surveillance system

Info

Publication number: WO2011057673A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/065163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Felicitas Grauer
Original assignee: Felicitas Grauer
Priority date: 2009-11-13
Filing date: 2009-11-13
Publication date: 2011-05-19

Abstract

Animal tracking and surveillance system and corresponding method for tracking an animal (100) comprising a surveillance camera (11) directed towards the animal, said surveillance camera (11) being connected to a central tracking and surveillance unit (200); an animal identifying subsystem (500) with an identifier tag (15) worn by the animal and a tag reader (13) connected to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200);and a monitoring station (201), connected to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200), for constant monitoring of the animal; and a storage unit (203) for storing data received from the surveillance camera (11) and said tag reader (13); wherein : said central tracking and surveillance unit (200) comprises a processing unit (205) provided with a trigger; and wherein when an event recorded by said surveillance camera (11) activates said trigger, an alert message is transmitted to a remote device (600) by a data transceiver (207) via a communication network (300).

Description

Animal tracking and surveillance system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to animal tracking and surveillance systems, especially to tracking and surveillance systems for large and highly valuable animals such as race horses for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various surveillance systems are known in the art for very different purposes. CCTV and other surveillance systems have been and are being installed on a large scale for security, crime-fighting, traffic monitoring, weather forecasting and other purposes.

[0003] With time, a need has surfaced for surveillance of animals, especially larger, stable-based animals. Currently several surveillance systems have been installed in barns/ stables for the observation of animals. However, all of these systems are only adaptations of general-purpose surveillance systems with no special features making them suitable for observing animals. At best they are adapted to environments where dust or humidity can not be avoided. Some systems have been adapted to be employed in remote locations without land-based communication infrastructure. However there is no dedicated surveillance system known that is purpose-build for the surveillance and tracking of animals, especially stable animals with features designed for observation of the health and/or safety of these animals. [0004] On the other hand, various systems are known for tracking of valuables. However, most of these systems are developed for tracking objects, not living beings. Some form of tagging has been used for the tracking of animals, but no dedicated system has been yet developed. The tracking of such animals presents various difficulties which have not been addressed in available systems, since these were not developed especially for such a purpose.

[0005] A further disadvantage of the currently available surveillance systems is that they require continuous attention and rely on the vigilance of a human operator. [0006] Quite often there is a need for surveillance without the physical presence on-site. Certain remote surveillance systems are known where a "live-feed" is broadcast over a communication network. However, most of these systems generate a great amount of unnecessary bandwidth use by continuously broadcasting regardless of any relevant whether an event is taking place or not.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The objective of the present invention is thus to provide an integrated tracking and surveillance system dedicated for the tracking and surveillance of animals, especially large, stable based animals. A combined tracking and surveillance system brings multiple benefits such as continuous surveillance of a particular animal no matter its location as opposed to prior art surveillance systems which observe a defined location only. Thus, the system of the present invention can make the surveillance of an animal completely independent of its location, the tracking being performed automatically and transparent to the operator. Furthermore, a remote surveillance option has to be provided which uses the least amount of bandwidth possible.

[0008] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a tracking and surveillance system that reduces if not completely eliminates the need for continuous attention of a human operator.

[0009] An even further objective of the present invention is to provide an animal tracking and surveillance system which is able to provide constant monitoring of the state of health of the animal.

[0010] An auxiliary objective of the present invention is to ensure that the animal can be tracked and surveyed during transportation as well.

[0011] A further objective of a further embodiment of the present invention is to ensure that only authorized personnel has access to the animal .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The above-identified objectives of the present invention are solved by an animal tracking and surveillance system comprising a

surveillance camera directed towards the animal, said surveillance camera being connected to a central tracking and surveillance unit; an animal identifying subsystem with an identifier tag associated with or worn by the animal and a tag reader connected to said central tracking and surveillance unit; and a monitoring station for constant monitoring of the animal connected to a storage unit for storing data received from the surveillance camera and said tag reader; wherein said central tracking and surveillance unit comprises a processing unit provided with a trigger; and when an event recorded by said surveillance camera activates said trigger, an alert message is transmitted to a remote device by a data transceiver via a communication network. The requirement of providing the option of remote surveillance without waste of bandwidth is achieved by broadcasting surveillance data and said alert only when an event activates a trigger. This way hours and hours of broadcasting of static images is eliminated, reducing not only the bandwidth use but also the burden on the end user.

[0013] The above-identified objectives of the present invention are also solved by a method for tracking an animal, with a surveillance system, comprising the steps of connecting a surveillance camera directed towards the animal to a central tracking and surveillance unit; connecting a tag reader, of an animal identifying subsystem with an identifier tag associated with the animal, to said central tracking and surveillance unit; connecting a monitoring station to said central tracking and surveillance unit, for constant monitoring of the animal; storing data received from the surveillance camera and said tag reader in a storage unit; providing a trigger in a processing unit of said central tracking and surveillance unit; and transmitting an alert message to a remote device by a data transceiver via a communication network when an event recorded by said surveillance camera activates said trigger. [0014] The animal tracking and surveillance system of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art in that the animal identifying subsystem communicates with the central tracking and

surveillance unit so that the surveillance of the particular animal by the monitoring station is continuous regardless of the relocation of the animal to a new location.

[0015] The above-identified even further objective of the present invention is solved by an animal tracking and surveillance system

characterized in that said surveillance camera records a temperature image of the animal wherein said temperature image of the animal is processed by the processing unit in order to determine health indicators related to the animal. Said temperature image can also be used for night-vision purposes so that the animal can be watched even when it is dark.

[0016] The above-identified auxiliary objective of the present invention, i.e. to ensure that the animal can be tracked and surveyed during

transportation as well, is solved by the animal tracking and surveillance system characterized in that said central tracking and surveillance unit receives surveillance data, from a further surveillance camera and a further tag reader mounted in an animal transporter, by the data transceiver via said communication network when said animal is being transported in said animal transporter. [0017] The above-identified even further objective of the present invention, i.e. to ensure that only authorized personnel has access to the animal, is solved by the animal tracking and surveillance system characterized in that said surveillance camera and said animal identifying subsystem are located within a stable where the animal is held; and said stable comprises a lock connected to said central tracking and surveillance unit said lock allowing access into said stable only when authorization is given.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment the objective is solved in that said stable comprises individual stalls for a single animal, and wherein each stall comprises a surveillance camera; an animal identifying subsystem and a lock allowing access into said stall only when authorization is given to the particular animal identified by said tag reader associated with the particular stall . According to this particular embodiment of the present invention, the locks of each stall are reprogrammed when animals are moved from one stall to the other ensuring that the authorization to gain access is always to an animal and not to a fixed stall.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment a set of triggers is implemented in the processing unit in order to be able to distinguish different situations, instances or events.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS [0020] The feature, that the surveillance of a particular animal is continuous regardless of an eventual relocation of the animal offers a major advantage over the prior art surveillance systems where a certain monitor or surveillance channel always monitors a particular location.

[0021] The trigger or the set of triggers implemented in the processing unit of the central tracking and surveillance unit and the alerts generated when one of these triggers is activated allows a significant reduction of monitoring personnel that would normally be needed to constantly monitor said monitoring station. With the correct set of triggers, the animal tracking and surveillance system of the present invention only requires human intervention when relevant events occur activating one of the triggers. This greatly reduces not only the personnel costs but in a further embodiment also the archiving needs, which could thus be limited to time frames when a relevant event actually occurs.

[0022] A further advantage of the present invention is that by

broadcasting surveillance data and said alert only when an event activates a trigger, hours and hours of broadcasting of static images is eliminated, reducing not only the bandwidth use but also the burden on the end user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will in the following be described in detail by means of the description and by making reference to the drawings. Which show :

Fig. 1 Schematic block diagram depicting a stall for an animal equipped with a surveillance camera and an animal identifying subsystem;

Fig. 2 Schematic block diagram depicting a preferred embodiment of the animal tracking and surveillance system according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 Schematic block diagram depicting a particularly preferred

embodiment of the animal tracking and surveillance system, according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Certain terms will be used in this patent application, the formulation of which should not be interpreted to be limited by the specific term chosen, but as to relate to the general concept behind the specific term. When the present specification refers to an animal, especially larger animals are meant which are kept in stalls within barns, such as horses for example. The terms animal identifying subsystem with an identifier tag and tag reader refer to any suitable identifying means, such as barcodes - barcode readers, RFIDs - RFID readers, etc. The term monitoring station shall be used to refer to any kind of surveillance suitable apparatus, such as an array of monitoring screens, CCTV systems or the like. When the term trigger or set of triggers is used, it shall mean in the context of the present invention, a rule or set of rules which defines a certain event or threshold for certain monitored values that will require particular attention of monitoring personnel. An alert message shall mean any type of notification, visual, audible, sensatory or other type of alert. A remote device, in the context of the present invention, shall mean any kind of device capable of receiving said alert message via a communication network and produce said visual, audible, sensatory or other type of alert, for example a mobile phone, PDA, a netbook or notebook computer provided with communication equipment. Communication network shall mean any type of network suitable for transmitting said alert message to a remote device, such as ad-hoc communication networks or established networks of telecommunication providers via wired or wireless connections. A stable or barn shall mean any type of building where the animals to be tracked and monitored by the animal tracking and surveillance system of the present invention are being kept. An animal transporter shall mean, in the context of the present invention, any kind of vehicle or attachment to a vehicle suitable for the transportation of animals such as trailers for example.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram depicting a stall 70 equipped with a surveillance camera 11 and an animal identifying subsystem 500 of the animal tracking and surveillance system 100. The animal tracking and surveillance system 100 comprises a surveillance camera 11 directed towards the animal which resides in a stall 70. The surveillance camera 11 is connected to a central tracking and surveillance unit 200 via suitable connection means such as a wired or wireless communication line. The surveillance camera 11 constantly records a video image of the animal and forwards the live feed to the central tracking and surveillance unit 200. The animal tracking and surveillance system 100 further comprises an animal identifying subsystem 500 with an identifier tag 15 worn by the animal and a tag reader 13 connected to a central tracking and surveillance unit 200 via suitable connection means such as a wired or wireless communication line.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram depicting a preferred embodiment of the animal tracking and surveillance system 100 according to the present invention. A stable 700 is shown with multiple stalls 70 for animals, horses on the figures. Each stall 70 is equipped with a dedicated surveillance camera 11 and an animal identifying subsystem 500 with a tag reader 13 and an identifier tag 15 worn by an animal present in the stall 70. The animal identifying subsystems 500 and the surveillance cameras 11 of each stall 70 are connected via suitable communication lines, or a common communication line for all animal identifying subsystems 500 to the central tracking and surveillance unit 200. The data received from the surveillance cameras 11 and animal identifying subsystems 500 of each stall 70 is forwarded by the central tracking and surveillance unit 200 to a monitoring station 201 for constant monitoring of the animal and to a storage unit 203 for permanently storing the data for archiving purposes. [0027] The central tracking and surveillance unit 200 comprises a processing unit 205 provided with a set of triggers. These triggers are rules or set of rules which define a certain event or threshold for certain monitored values that will require particular attention of monitoring personnel or a veterinary. In the most basic embodiment just one rule and one trigger are implemented. The triggers can be defined according to the kind of animal being monitored and fine tuned based on standard values and previous experience. As an example, a trigger could be activated when image processing of the data received from a surveillance camera 11 reveals that a horse is laying on the floor. This will activate a trigger set up for horses and alert a veterinary. On the other hand the same event, an animal laying on the ground will not activate any trigger in case of a cow for instance for which it is normal to lie down. Another example of a trigger could be a threshold temperature of the animal, detected by image processing of a thermal image form said surveillance camera 11. Should an animal have fever, the trigger with the threshold temperature for that specific animal will be activated .

[0028] When a trigger is activated by an event, as described above, an alert message will be transmitted to a remote device 600 by a data

transceiver 207 via a communication network 300, i.e. any type of

notification, visual, audible, sensatory or other type of alert. The alert may also comprise a video sequence during the occurrence of the trigger- activating event. This added feature might help the operator/ veterinary to better diagnose the incident/ health problem. Thus thefts, vandal acts, sabotage and health problems can be better investigated/ diagnosed.

Depending on the capabilities of the remote device 600 more advanced alerts can be received and analyzed remotely. Of course there is always the archive on the storage unit 203 available if needed, which contains the archive of the continuous surveillance and data feed and animal identifying subsystem 500 of each stall 70 of the stable 700.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the stable 700 is fitted with a lock connected to the central tracking and surveillance unit 200, said lock allowing access to the stable 700 only to authorized personnel. [0030] In an even further preferred embodiment of the present invention, each stall 70 comprises a lock connected to the central tracking and surveillance unit 200, said lock allowing access into said stall 70 only when access is granted to the animal in the particular stall 70 identified by the tag reader 13 corresponding to the stall 70. [0031] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram depicting a particularly preferred embodiment of the animal tracking and surveillance system 100 in a usage scenario where the animal is being relocated. The stall 70 equipped with a tag reader 13 and a surveillance camera 11 monitors the animal. An authorized caretaker is allowed access to the stall 70 by opening the associated lock. The caretaker is given a tag reader 13, of portable type, to ensure the right animal is being in his/her care. The animal is then transferred into an animal transporter 400. When said transfer takes place, the further tag reader 43 mounted in the animal transporter 400 identifies the animal based on the identifier tag 15 and the further surveillance camera 41 takes over the monitoring of the animal during relocation/ journey in the animal transporter 400. A further transceiver 47 of the animal transporter 400 will transmit surveillance and tracking data, from the further surveillance camera 41 and further tag reader 43 respectively, to the central tracking and surveillance unit 200 via the communication network 300.

[0032] When the animal is transferred back to a stall 70, the same sequence of procedures as described above is repeated in reversed order.

[0033] It is to be emphasized, that the animal tracking and surveillance system 100 of the present invention ensures that the animal is first of all only accessibly by an authorized caretaker, and furthermore that the animal is continuously tracked and monitored, regardless of whether it is still in the stall 70, in transit from the stall 70 to the animal transporter 400 or in the animal transporter 400. This provides significant improvement in the security and well being of the animal .

[0034] It will be understood that many variations could be adopted based on the specific structure hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

REFERENCE LIST: animal tracking and surveillance system 100 surveillance camera 11 tag reader 13 identifier tag 15 central tracking and surveillance unit 200 monitoring station 201 storage unit 203 processing unit 205 data transceiver 207 communication network 300 animal transporter 400 further surveillance camera 41 further tag reader 43 further transceiver 47 animal identifying subsystem 500 remote device 600 stable 700

Claims

Animal tracking and surveillance system (100) comprising :

a surveillance camera (11) directed towards the animal, said surveillance camera ( 11) being connectable to a central tracking and surveillance unit (200);

an animal identifying subsystem (500) with an identifier tag (15) associated with the animal and a tag reader (13) connectable to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200); and

a monitoring station (201), connectable to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200), for constant monitoring of the animal; and a storage unit (203) for storing data received from the surveillance camera (11) and said tag reader (13),

wherein :

said central tracking and surveillance unit (200) comprises a processing unit (205) provided with a trigger; and

provided with means which, when an event recorded by said surveillance camera ( 11) activates said trigger, transmit an alert message to a remote device (600) by a data transceiver (207) via a communication network (300).

Animal tracking and surveillance system (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said surveillance camera (11) records a temperature image of the animal wherein said temperature image of the animal is processed by the processing unit (205) in order to determine health indicators related to the animal.

Animal tracking and surveillance system (100) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said central tracking and surveillance unit (200), based on data received from said tag reader (13), identifies surveillance data associated with a particular animal. Animal tracking and surveillance system (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said central tracking and surveillance unit (200) receives surveillance data, from a further surveillance camera (41) and a further tag reader (43) mounted in an animal transporter (400), by the data transceiver (207) transmitted by a further transceiver (47) of the animal transporter (400) via said communication network (300) when said animal is being transported in said animal transporter (400).

Animal tracking and surveillance system (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 4 characterized in that:

said surveillance camera (11) and said animal identifying subsystem (500) are located within a stable (700) where the animal is held;

said stable (700) comprises a lock connected to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200); and

said lock allowing access into said stable (700) only when

authorization is given .

Animal tracking and surveillance system (100) according to claim 5 characterized in that: said stable (700) comprises individual stalls (70) for a single animal, and wherein each stall (70) comprises a surveillance camera (11), an animal identifying subsystem (500) and a lock, allowing access into said stall (70) only when authorization is given to the particular animal identified by said tag reader (13) associated with the particular stall (70).

Method for tracking an animal, with a surveillance system (100), comprising the steps of:

connecting a surveillance camera (11) directed towards the animal to a central tracking and surveillance unit (200);

connecting a tag reader (13), of an animal identifying subsystem

(500) with an identifier tag (15) associated with the animal, to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200); connecting a monitoring station (201) to said central tracking and surveillance unit (200), for constant monitoring of the animal;

storing data received from the surveillance camera (11) and said tag reader (13) in a storage unit (203);

- providing a trigger in a processing unit (205) of said central tracking and surveillance unit (200); and

transmitting an alert message to a remote device (600) by a data transceiver (207) via a communication network (300) when an event recorded by said surveillance camera (11) activates said trigger.