Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2001-11-27
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572700, C340S572100, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S010100, C340S010330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method of uniquely identifying animals for data collection, records management and retrieval purposes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of identifying animals which involves the use of a universal identification scheme capable of uniquely identifying individual animals anywhere in the world such that data may collected for the animals over their entire life cycle (defined as the period from birth to death and all post-death processing).
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Animal identification and registry has been an area of increasing concern over recent years. Generally speaking, animal identification and registry involves collecting data for each animal throughout its entire life cycle such that the individual characteristics and history of the animal can be tracked. This data may include, but is not necessarily limited to, date and place of birth, ancestry, sex, geographic movement, health and treatment history, and other production records. The livestock and food processing industries, in particular, has been heavily involved in this area in an effort to increase productivity and profitability in livestock management, as well as develop a strategy for identifying, tracing and managing the risks in the area of food safety and infectious disease outbreaks in livestock.
A significant challenge exists, however, in that there is currently no uniform system for identifying the animals to be tracked. Instead, a multitude of animal identification and registry conventions have evolved over time which vary widely depending upon, for example, the geographic location of the livestock operation and/or the manufacturer of the particular animal tracking system. The lack of uniformity based on geographic location is evident, by way of example, in the United States, wherein each state determines its own animal identification scheme for livestock farms located within the state. This lack of uniformity is problematic in that it becomes increasingly difficult to trace back information concerning a specific animal. In this fashion, the usefulness of the collected data is compromised, which undercuts the goal of increasing productivity. It also increases the time required to trace back human exposure and potential issues of food safety while limiting the spread of infectious diseases which, in certain circumstances, can lead to additional exposure to preventable health risks for humans and the spread of confinable diseases for animals which in turn could lead to the disposal of large numbers of animals. As will be appreciated, this is not only disadvantageously costly, but also problematic in terms of the additional health risks presented to humans and animals alike. Managing the risk is clearly associated with data collection and information management systems that a well run animal operation should already have in place.
The present invention is directed at overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for identifying animals. The first step involves providing a unique universal identification character sequence (UUICS). The unique universal identification character sequence includes a first block of characters representing a primary geographic location, a second block of characters representing a secondary geographic location within the primary geographic location, a third block of characters representing a tertiary geographic location within the secondary geographic location, a fourth block of characters representing a quaternary geographic location within the tertiary geographic location within which an animal is disposed, and a fifth block of characters representing a unique identifier for the animal within the quaternary geographic location. The second step of the method involves equipping each animal within the quaternary geographic location with a carrier carrying a unique universal identification character sequence for the animal.
In accordance with another broad aspect of the present invention, a method of identifying animals is provided comprising the steps of: (a) assigning a first block of characters to an animal representing a primary geographic location wherein the animal is disposed; (b) assigning a second block of characters to the animal representing a secondary geographic location within the primary geographic location wherein the animal is disposed; (c) assigning a third block of characters to the animal representing a tertiary geographic location within the secondary geographic location wherein the animal is disposed; (d) assigning a fourth block of characters to the animal representing a quaternary geographic location within the tertiary geographic location wherein the animal is disposed; (e) assigning a fifth block of characters to the animal representing a unique identifier for the animal disposed within the quaternary geographic location; (f) combining the characters in steps (a)-(e) to produce a unique universal identification character sequence for the animal within the quaternary geographic location; and (g) equipping the animal with a carrier carrying the unique universal identification character sequence for the animal.
In a still further broad aspect of the present invention, a method of identifying animals is provided, wherein the animals are disposed within a quaternary geographic location which forms part of a tertiary geographic location which forms part of a secondary geographic location which forms part of a primary geographic location. The method comprises the first step of providing a unique universal identification character sequence for each animal within the quaternary geographic location. The second step of the method involves equipping each of the animals with a carrier carrying the unique universal identification character sequence.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5252962 (1993-10-01), Urbas et al.
patent: 5936542 (1999-08-01), Kleinrock et al.
patent: 5973598 (1999-10-01), Beigel
patent: 6061344 (2000-05-01), Wood, Jr.
Payne James S.
Semmer John M.
Weiser John P.
Nguyen Tai T.
Spangler Jonathan
Wu Daniel J.
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