Patents by Inventor Chad R. James

Chad R. James has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10165755
    Abstract: An assisted zone guidance system automatically activates a stored assisted guidance region based upon collar position at initiation, relative location of one or more assisted guidance regions, and possible query results. The assisted guidance regions are stored within a look-up table that is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to geographic locations. The value retrieved from the indexed array is used to either create a new assisted guidance region, select an assisted guidance region that contains the current collar location, or if the collar is not within a region to select an adjacent assisted guidance region. Each assisted guidance region contains a plurality of guidance zones that each have an associated set of characteristics used to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: GPSIP, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson, Gregory M. Anderson, Patrick J. Krekelberg
  • Patent number: 10080346
    Abstract: A look-up table is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to ordinate and abscissa data points representing geographic locations. Each data point offset in the table corresponds to a predefined geographic offset. The look-up table contains machine-stored values at each table location, with each value representing a particular one of several guidance zones. The real-time determination of the guidance zone is made by first determining present location using GPS or other wireless location signals. The corresponding table location is identified by calculating latitudinal and longitudinal offsets from a reference point, and using these offsets as the two indices to access a double-indexed array. The value retrieved from the indexed array identifies the guidance zone. Each guidance zone has an associated set of characteristics used to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GPSIP, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10064390
    Abstract: Individual zones are defined within a multi-zone assisted guidance region by storing a zone GPS data point target width, assigning GPS data points located within a perimeter and within the target width to a second zone, allotting GPS data points located interior of and distinct from the second zone and within the target width to a first zone; and finally ascribing unassigned GPS data points located interior of and distinct from the first zone to a safe zone. If there is not enough total width between perimeter points in a region to provide all zones at the target width, a data point width of more exterior zones are preferentially electronically maintained at the target width and more interior zones are reduced or eliminated. In addition, adjacent guidance zones have unique stimulation that acts through different neurological access channels to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GPSIP, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson, Gregory M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9961884
    Abstract: A look-up table is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to ordinate and abscissa data points representing geographic locations. Each data point offset in the table corresponds to a predefined geographic offset. The look-up table contains machine-stored values at each table location, with each value representing a particular one of several guidance zones. Each guidance zone is associated with behavioral guidance provided to an animal. Real-time determination of a current guidance zone is made by first determining present location. The corresponding table location is identified by calculating latitudinal and longitudinal offsets from a reference point, and using these offsets as the two indices to access a double-indexed array. The offsets are selectively subjected to a scalar conversion to accommodate large land areas while limiting the amount of memory required to store the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GPSIP, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Patrick J. Krekelberg
  • Publication number: 20180055011
    Abstract: A look-up table is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to ordinate and abscissa data points representing geographic locations. Each data point offset in the table corresponds to a predefined geographic offset. The look-up table contains machine-stored values at each table location, with each value representing a particular one of several guidance zones. The real-time determination of the guidance zone is made by first determining present location using GPS or other wireless location signals. The corresponding table location is identified by calculating latitudinal and longitudinal offsets from a reference point, and using these offsets as the two indices to access a double-indexed array. The value retrieved from the indexed array identifies the guidance zone. Each guidance zone has an associated set of characteristics used to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9795118
    Abstract: A look-up table is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to ordinate and abscissa data points representing geographic locations. Each data point offset in the table corresponds to a predefined geographic offset. The look-up table contains machine-stored values at each table location, with each value representing a particular one of several guidance zones. The real-time determination of the guidance zone is made by first determining present location using GPS or other wireless location signals. The corresponding table location is identified by calculating latitudinal and longitudinal offsets from a reference point, and using these offsets as the two indices to access a double-indexed array. The value retrieved from the indexed array identifies the guidance zone. Each guidance zone has an associated set of characteristics used to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GPSIP, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20170156294
    Abstract: A look-up table is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to ordinate and abscissa data points representing geographic locations. Each data point offset in the table corresponds to a predefined geographic offset. The look-up table contains machine-stored values at each table location, with each value representing a particular one of several guidance zones. The real-time determination of the guidance zone is made by first determining present location using GPS or other wireless location signals. The corresponding table location is identified by calculating latitudinal and longitudinal offsets from a reference point, and using these offsets as the two indices to access a double-indexed array. The value retrieved from the indexed array identifies the guidance zone. Each guidance zone has an associated set of characteristics used to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20150216142
    Abstract: A look-up table is defined by at least one reference point, and rows and columns that are offset from the reference. The table rows and columns correspond to ordinate and abscissa data points representing geographic locations. Each data point offset in the table corresponds to a predefined geographic offset. The look-up table contains machine-stored values at each table location, with each value representing a particular one of several guidance zones. The real-time determination of the guidance zone is made by first determining present location using GPS or other wireless location signals. The corresponding table location is identified by calculating latitudinal and longitudinal offsets from a reference point, and using these offsets as the two indices to access a double-indexed array. The value retrieved from the indexed array identifies the guidance zone. Each guidance zone has an associated set of characteristics used to provide behavioral guidance to an animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: GPSip, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Landers, Kevin L. Nieuwsma, Chad R. James, Michael D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9043993
    Abstract: A system and method used in the training of animals includes applying signals in two parts to the animal. The first part is a first conditioned stimulus cue signal having a first duration. The commencement of this signal is followed by the commencement of an unconditioned stimulus signal of a second duration. The commencement of the unconditioned stimulus signal may be either before the end of the first conditioned stimulus cue signal, simultaneous with the end of the first conditioned stimulus cue signal, or after a time interval of no signals between the end of the first conditioned stimulus cue signal and the commencement of the unconditioned stimulus signal. The signals may be electrical stimulation, vibration, sound, light, or odor. The first conditioned stimulus cue signal is used to catch the animal's attention; and the unconditioned stimulus signal is selected to be behaviorally significant to the animal for use in training of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Chad R. James, Robert A. Petersen, Steven C. Thoeny
  • Patent number: 5911199
    Abstract: An animal training device comprises a housing which is designed to be attached to an animal collar at a point on the collar diametrically opposite the point where a leash may be attached. The housing has a rear face, adjacent the neck of an animal when it is worn on the collar of such animal, and a front face. At least one pair of electrodes extends from the rear face of the housing; and a pressure sensitive transducer is located on the front face of the housing for engagement by the collar. An electronic circuit is located in the housing; and it is coupled between the pressure sensitive transducer and the electrodes to provide electrical stimulus pulses of varying intensity across the electrodes in response to changes on the pressure sensitive transducer, once the pressure crosses a pre-established threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Eltrex 4, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Farkas, Chad R. James, Eric H. Stapp