# US 7,610,879 B2 · Wireless identity tracing system for tracing animals and food products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,879 B2 - Document ID: US7610879B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/522,637 - Filed: 2003-07-28 - Published: 2006-06-15 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2002-07-26 - Inventors: Sarah Margaret Gardner; Natividade Albert Lobo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610879B2 ## CPC - A01K 11/008: {incorporating global positioning system [GPS]} - A01K 11/007: {Boluses} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract An animal electronic data collecting device is disclosed which includes a radio transmitter and a radio receiver, a processor for controlling operation of the device, and memory for storing information including a first identifier associated with the device. The processor is arranged to transmit a signal, using the radio transmitter, and to receive, using the radio receiver, one or more signals, each representing a second identifier from other devices, and the processor is arranged to store in the memory each second identifier. The default operating condition of the device is for the radio receiver to be in a receive condition and, upon receipt of a wakeup call, the processor is arranged to place the radio transmitter into a transmit condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An animal electronic data collecting device comprising: a radio transmitter; a radio receiver; memory for storing information including a first identifier associated with said device; and a processor for controlling the operation of said device, wherein said processor is arranged to transmit a signal, by means of said radio transmitter, and to receive, by means of said radio receiver, one or more signals, each representing a second identifier from other devices, said processor being arranged to store in said memory each second identifier; wherein the default operating condition of said device is for said radio receiver to be in a receive condition and, upon receipt of a wakeup call, said processor is arranged to place said radio transmitter into a transmit condition; and wherein said processor is further arranged to periodically place said radio transmitter into a transmit condition to cause said radio transmitter to transmit said first identifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said time interval between periodic transmission is a function of the time since the last receipt of a second identifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device as defined in claim 1, wherein, upon receipt of a wakeup call, said processor is arranged to place said radio transmitter into a transmit condition when said wakeup call includes a second identifier that is not already stored in said memory of said device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said device is further arranged to send data from said memory to a remote device in response to a specific request from said remote device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said device is arranged to store a received second identifier in a first part of said memory and to store said received identifier in a second part of said memory at a time determined by the time elapsed since the receipt of said second identifier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said device is further arranged to send data from said first and/or second parts of said memory to a remote device in response to a specific request from said remote device. ### Claim 7 A method of gathering data on animals and/or animal products, said method comprising; receiving at a device one or more signals, each representing a second identifier from other devices; storing in memory a received second identifier; and transmitting a signal from said device including a first identifier associated with said device; periodically placing said radio transmitter into a transmit condition to transmit said first identifier, wherein the default operating condition of said device is for said device to be in a condition to receive signals and, on receipt of a wakeup call, said device is placed into a condition to transmit signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the time interval between periodic transmission is a function of the time since the last receipt of a second identifier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method as defined in claim 7, wherein, upon receipt of a wakeup call, said device is placed into a condition to transmit signals when said wakeup call includes a second identifier that is not already stored in said memory of said device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising: sending data from said memory to a remote device in response to a specific request from said remote device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A method as claimed in defined in claim 7, further comprising: storing a received second identifier in a first part of said memory and storing said received identifier in a second part of said memory at a time determined by the time elapsed since the receipt of said second identifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising: sending data from said first and/or second parts of said memory to a remote device in response to a specific request from said remote device. ### Claim 13 An animal electronic data collecting device comprising: a radio transmitter; a radio receiver; memory for storing information including a unique first identifier associated with said device; and a processor operatively connected to said radio transmitter to cause the transmission of radio signals therefrom, said processor also being operatively connected to said radio receiver to obtain radio signals from any other device which are received by said radio receiver, said radio signals received from each said other device representing a unique second identifier from each said other device, said processor being operatively connected to said memory to store in said memory each unique second identifier received from said at least one other device; wherein said processor will, upon the occurrence of a wakeup signal, cause said radio transmitter to transmit radio signals from said device representing said unique first identifier from said device; and wherein said wakeup signal is generated periodically by said processor to cause said radio transmitter to periodically transmit radio signals from said device representing said unique first identifier from said device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said wakeup signal is also generated by said processor following the receipt of radio signals from any other device which are received by said radio receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said wakeup signal is only generated by said processor following the receipt of radio signals from any other device which are received by said radio receiver if the unique second identifier received from said at other device has not previously been stored in said memory. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the time interval between periodic generation of said wakeup signal and periodic transmission of radio signals from said device is a function of the time since the last receipt of a unique second identifier from another device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said processor is further arranged to send any unique second identifiers received from said other devices from said memory of said device to a remote device in response to a request from said remote device.