| Pet registration, search, and retrieval system -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Pet registration, search, and retrieval systemRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Computer-to-computer Session/connection Establishing, Network Resources Access ControllingPet registration, search, and retrieval system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060143302, Pet registration, search, and retrieval system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/644,764, filed Aug. 23, 2000, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,172, filed Jan. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,465, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein, both of which priority is claimed. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to pets and methods for reuniting lost pets with their owners. More particularly, the invention relates to a nationwide, web-based pet registration, search, and retrieval system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It has been estimated that millions of pets are lost each year in the U.S. alone. Current methods for reuniting lost pets with their owners are either largely ineffective, too costly, or too complicated. For example, one such method requires a pet owner to purchase a personalized pet tag for their pet having the pet owner's name, address, and phone number printed thereon. A person who finds a pet with such a tag can then read the tag and call the pet's owner. This method is effective as long as the information on the tag is current; however, if the pet owner moves and/or changes phone numbers, the pet tag must be replaced with a more current tag or else it is useless. Furthermore, many tag-based methods require multiple tags, including a rabies vaccination tag, a municipal licensing tag, and the registration tag used by the pet identification system itself. [0004] Other methods for locating lost pets include implanting identifying microchips in the pets or tattooing the pets. Both of these methods are expensive and painful for the pets and do not permit a finder of a pet to search for and contact the pet's owner at any time of day. Moreover, with the microchip methods, the finder of the pet must first determine that the pet has an implanted microchip and then locate a veterinarian or other animal facility that has a microchip scanner that can read the implanted microchip. [0005] Several Internet web sites exist that assist in locating lost pets. These sites use a variety of methods such as posting pictures and descriptions of lost pets and information regarding where pets were lost. Unfortunately, the descriptions and information posted on these sites is often too limited and subjective to permit an exact match between a lost pet and its owner. Moreover, pet owners who lose their pets often do not add descriptions of their lost pets to these sites until days after their pets have been lost. If a person finds a pet and accesses one of the sites before the pet owner adds a description of the lost pet to the site, the finder will be unable to locate the pet owner. [0006] Another limitation in the pet field is lack of compliance with municipal pet licensing laws. Many municipalities require pet licensing based on prerequisite proof of rabies vaccination. Although pet licensing generates some revenue, the costs of administration at the municipal level are significant. Furthermore, compliance is typically low, possibly due to the inconvenience of traveling to the local licensing office or a lack of awareness of the licensing requirement. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a distinct advance in the art of lost pet location methods and systems. More particularly, the present invention provides a nationwide, web-based pet registration, search, and retrieval system that is highly effective, inexpensive, and easy to use, and that allows for simultaneous municipal licensing. [0008] The present invention is preferably implemented with a host computer that may be accessed by users via a communications network such as the Internet. Pet owners may register their pets with the host computer by providing information relating to their pets and contact information such as their name, address, and phone numbers. Registration is preferably performed in conjunction with rabies vaccination, and may include municipal licensing. This information is then manually or electronically entered into the host computer where it is stored in a searchable database. If the pet owners move and/or change phone numbers, they may contact the host computer at any time and update their contact information. [0009] A person who finds a lost pet may access the host computer in an attempt to locate the pet's owner. The host computer prompts the finder to enter certain information relating to the pet and then compares the entered information in the database to the information that was previously entered by the pet owners. If a match is found, the host computer provides the finder with the contact information for the pet owner. [0010] In preferred forms, the method of the present invention is used in conjunction with conventional pet vaccination procedures and utilizes a single, multi-purpose tag that both provides rabies vaccination information and indicates that a pet is registered with the host computer. Specifically, when a pet owner has his or her pet vaccinated, the veterinarian provides the multi-purpose rabies tag and encourages the pet owner to register their pet with the host computer. The pet owner may do so by manually filling out a form provided by the veterinarian or some other distribution source or by electronically entering the information while online with the host computer. When registering their pet, an owner may also be prompted to provide additional information such as their name, address, phone numbers, e-mail address, the pet's name, the type of pet (i.e., dog, cat, other), the breed of the pet, and the date the pet was vaccinated. Some or all of this information is then stored in the searchable database described above. [0011] The tag preferably contains rabies information on a first side, typically including the veterinarian's name and phone number as well as a series of alpha-numeric digits, and registration information on a second side, including an Internet URL whereat information may be obtained for reuniting a lost registered pet with their owner. [0012] The multi-purpose rabies tag is worn just like the conventional one-sided rabies tag. The tag instructs persons who may find the pet to contact the host computer. The host computer then prompts the person who found the pet to enter information from the tag, including the alpha-numeric digits and the veterinarian's name and phone number. The host computer then compares the information entered by the finder of the pet to the information previously entered by the pet owners to try to find a match. If a match is found, the host computer provides the finder of the pet with the contact information for the owner of the pet so that the finder may contact the owner. [0013] The present invention provides numerous advantages over conventional lost pet location methods. For example, the present invention provides a nationwide, web-based pet registration, search, and retrieval system that may be accessed by anyone, from anywhere, and at any time to locate the owner of a lost pet. Furthermore, the pet needs wear only the single, multi-purpose tag. Thus, the method is highly-effective, inexpensive, and easy to use, and therefore is attractive to all pet owners and the animal health industry. [0014] Additionally, because the present invention encourages pet owners to register their pets with the host computer before the pets are lost, a person who finds a lost pet may locate the owner of the pet immediately after the pet is found. Moreover, because the contact information for pet owners is stored on the host computer rather than being printed on a tag worn by the pets, and because pet owners may periodically update the contact information on the host computer if they move and/or change phone numbers, the contact information is always current. Therefore, pet owners do not have to order new pet tags each time their contact information changes. [0015] The system also allows owners to register their pets with a participating municipality at the same time the owner registers with the lost pet identification system. The multi-purpose tag complies with all state and municipal requirements. This online municipal registration scheme should increase pet owner compliance by making the licensing procedure fast and easy. Municipal licensing fees can be collected on behalf of and forwarded to the municipality. [0016] These and other important aspects of the present invention are described more fully in the detailed description below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0017] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: [0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of certain computer hardware that may be 25 used to implement a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram broadly depicting the steps performed by a pet owner when registering his or her pet with the host computer. Continue reading about Pet registration, search, and retrieval system... Full patent description for Pet registration, search, and retrieval system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Pet registration, search, and retrieval system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Pet registration, search, and retrieval system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Systems and methods for establishing and validating secure network sessions Next Patent Application: Methods and apparatuses for transferring data Industry Class: Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomputer data transferring or plural processor synchronization ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Pet registration, search, and retrieval system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.17738 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
