Smart phone based electronic fence system

A controller for an electronic fence system, comprising:

• first communication circuitry configured to communicate with a smart phone using a first communication protocol to exchange data and control communication signals to support an electronic fence system;
• second communication circuitry configured to communicate with a trainer worn by an animal using a second communication protocol to exchange data and control communication signals to support the electronic fence system;
• wherein:
• the first communication protocol is one of a Bluetooth, IrDA, I.E.E.E. 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN), or proprietary communication protocol;
• the second communication protocol is characterized by a relatively lower frequency, relative to the Bluetooth and 802.11 WLAN protocol frequencies;
• the controller receives fence boundary information and communicates with the trainer to prompt the trainer to stimulate the animal based upon the trainer's location in relation to the fence boundary information.

A method for an electronic fence system, comprising:

• a smart phone receiving a command associated with an electronic fence system;
• converting the command to a control command or fence boundary data by:
• examining digital information based upon the command;
• comparing the digital information to a list of electronic fence control commands;
• selecting at least one electronic fence control command from the list of electronic fence commands or generating fence boundary data in a specified format;
• and
• transmitting the converted command or fence boundary data to a fence system controller to process the converted command or fence boundary data.

A receiver to be worn by animal of an electronic fence system, comprising:

• a global positioning satellite (GPS) communication interface for receiving GPS data from at least one GPS satellite;
• at least one of a wireless communication interface or a port interface configured to be directly coupled to a device or memory device or to a tether or cable;
• communication circuitry configured to communicate:
• over a wireless communication channel;
• through a direct connection to a controller, a smart phone or a memory device;
• or
• via a cable or tether coupled to a controller, smart phone, computing device or memory device;
• and
• electronic fence logic block configured to receive electronic fence stimulation logic and defined electronic fence boundary parameters and configured to stimulate an animal based upon the stimulation logic and the fence boundary parameters and further based upon an estimated location that is further based upon received GPS data.