MULTI-OPTION COMMUNICATION METHODS OF FAULT NOTIFICATION IN PET CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS

Abstract

An animal confinement system including at least one transmitter, a loop antenna associated with each transmitter, a loop monitor associated with each loop antenna, a remote communication device and a communication device. The transmitter sends a signal to the loop antenna. The loop monitor senses at least one attribute of the signal. The communication device is communicatively connected with the loop monitor. The communication device communicates at least one attribute to the remote communication device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematicized view of one embodiment of a communication system of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is another schematicized view of another embodiment of a communication system of a pet containment apparatus of the present invention.

Claims

1. An animal confinement system, comprising: at least one transmitter;a loop antenna associated with each said at least one transmitter, said transmitter sending a signal on said loop antenna;a loop monitor associated with each said loop antenna, said loop monitor sensing at least one attribute of said signal;a remote communication device; anda communication device communicatively connected with said loop monitor, said communication device communicating said at least one attribute to said remote communication device.

2. The animal confinement system of claim 1, wherein said remote communication device is one of a computer, a cell phone, a telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

3. The animal confinement system of claim 2, wherein said remote communication device is a computer.

4. The animal confinement system of claim 2, wherein said remote communication device is a cell phone.

5. The animal confinement system of claim 1, wherein said communication device includes a memory location containing an address of a location of the animal confinement system.

6. The animal confinement system of claim 5, wherein said communication device includes an other memory location containing at least one fault designation of the animal confinement system.

7. The animal confinement system of claim 6, wherein said fault designation and said location is communicated to said remote communication device.

8. The animal confinement system of claim 1, wherein said remote communication device and said communication device coact to update software in at least one of said communication device, said loop monitor and said transmitter.

9. An animal containment system, comprising: an antenna;a signal generator coupled to said antenna, said signal generator sending a signal by way of said antenna;an antenna monitor detecting at least one attribute of said signal; anda remote communication device configured to receive information about said at least one attribute.

10. The animal confinement system of claim 9, wherein said remote communication device is one of a computer, a cell phone, a telephone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

11. The animal confinement system of claim 10, wherein said remote communication device is a computer.

12. The animal confinement system of claim 10, wherein said remote communication device is a cell phone.

13. The animal confinement system of claim 9, wherein said remote communication device receives an address of a location of the animal confinement system.

14. The animal confinement system of claim 13, wherein said remote communication device receives at least one fault designation of the animal confinement system.

15. The animal confinement system of claim 9, further comprising a communication device communicatively coupled to said antenna monitor, said remote communication device and said communication device coact to update software in at least one of said communication device, said antenna monitor and said signal generator.

16. A method of monitoring an animal containment system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal on a loop antenna;sensing at least one attribute of said signal; andcommunicating information about said attribute to a remote device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said attribute includes at least one fault indicator of the animal containment system.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of communicating a software update to a loop antenna monitor, said loop antenna monitor monitoring said signal.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of communicating a location of the animal containment system to said remote device.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sending a command from said remote device to a loop antenna monitor, said loop antenna monitor monitoring said signal.