METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR STORING ANDIROV]DlNG-JNFORMAIION- RELAIED TO-COMEANiONAN

_. OfLD OF THEJNVENIlON.

(000 IJ Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and a systems for storing and providing information related to companion animals, and, more particularly, to methods and systems for remotely storing arid providing identification information and health information of companion animals.

BACKCJROUND OF THE INVENTION.

\ 00021 Companion animals, or pets, are often very important to their owners, and are often the source of concern regarding both the safety and health of the animals One of the biggest feats for an owner is his companion animal being lost. To help identify iost animals, various methods have been used, including collar tags imprinted with information related to the animal and/or the owner. Tags, however, can easily be removed or separated from the animal. Tattooing companion animals with a number, such as the companion animal owner ^' s social security number, is another method of identifying companion animals, especially dogs.

(0003} Another means available to identify a companion animal is a system that includes the implanting of a microchip, transponder (electronic tag) or other similar identification device into the animal. When a lost animal is found, the animal can be scanned using, for example, a radio frequency identification UiFID) reader, which reads an identification number on the tag. The implanted tag thus provides a permanent, unique identifier that remains in place, so the when the companion animal

is found, it can easily be identified and the owner can be notified See, e.g., U.S. Pat No 5,2 ! i ,129, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0004} If the found companion anima! is injured or requires medical treatment, the companion animal may be taken to a local emergency care center or animal hospital. The emergency care center, however, will typically not have access to medical records of the animal and therefore may not be able to provide the best medical care required for the animal A similar situation may arise when an owner is traveling away from home, for example, on vacation, with a companion animal. If the animal becomes ill or otherwise requires medical assistance, the owner may bring his/her animal to the nearest vet or animal shelter. The workers at these locations, however, wilt not have access to the medical records of the animal, and thus, may not be able to provide the best medical treatment to the animal.

|00θ5| Thus, there is a need to provide an easy and automated system and method for remotely accessing medical providers, companion animal owners and others for information pertaining to medical conditions, treatments and procedures such as vaccinations, diseases and other health records of the companion animal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION'

[0006} Embodiments of the invention t>olve these and other needs by providing systems and methods for storing and providing information related to companion animals. Electronic records for companion animals are stored in a remote central database of a companion animal service provider. The electronic records can be associated with an identifier that relates to an encoded electronically readable tag implanted in a companion animal The central database can electronically receive from

a companion animal health care provider data related to the identification and the health of the animal A set of alphanumeric codes can be assigned to one or more of the health data and stored in an electronic record of the database Furthermore, a secure remote access to a portion of the electronic record can be provided to the companion animal owner, a companion animal health service provider or another party authorized to receive identity of the companion animal and/or authorized to provide health treatment to the animal .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

(0007 J FlGs 1 and IA are block diagrams showing a system for storing and providing information related to a companion animal, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

(0008 J FlG 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for storing and providing information related to a companion animal, in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and

(0009 j FlG 3 is a front v iew of a companion animal identification card providing codes related to health records of a companion animal, in accordance with embodiments of the invention ]QfJAlLJD _. røSCjyPTO

|00J0| With reference to FϊG 1 , there is shown a system in accordance with embodiments of the invention By way of the system, an owner 1 10 can bring his companion animal to an animal health care provider center 116. Health care provider center ! 16 can be. for example, a vet's office, animal shelter, or other facility wherein a companion animal can receive health care assistance A microchip, including a unique

id, can be implanted into the companion animal at the companion animal health care provider center i I 6. and Information related to the unique id, i e the identity, as well as information related to the health of the companion animal, can be stored in a companion arπmaS database 1 18 ni a server or other computing device (not shown) of the companion animal health care provider center 1 16 The information tela ted tυ the unique id, as well as information i elated to the health and the identity of the companion animal can he periodically uploaded and stored at companion anima! service center 102 in central database 106 Portions of the identification information and health records of the companion animal can then be remotely accessed by the owner I iθ, or another person or a sen ice with authorization 11 1, who finds a iost companion animal (001 1 } Referring to FiG I A, system 100 is in greater detail Companion animal service center 102 can include one or more processors 104, communicatively coupled to a global compute, implemented netwoik, such as the Internet, or aπ> other type of network, such as an Intranet, Virtual PrK ate Network (VPN), local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), etc . and a central database 106 Companion animal service center 102 can also mciudc- call centei I OS, which is described in further detail below An animal health care provider center 1 12 can include a microprocessot controlled programmable device 1 14 such as a scanner for scanning/reading encoded electronically readable unique identifiers implanted in companion animals Companion animal health care provider center 1 16 comprises a companion animal database 1 18 for storing information about the companion animal that are treated or inspected by a health care provider in the companion animal health care provider's office in the center The ceπiei alt>o eompiiscs of the microprocessor- controlled programmable deuce 1 14 which ma) preferably be user programmable

Microprocessor-controlled device 1 14 can be a persona! computer, handheld device, or other microprocessor-based device.

[0012} In certain embodiments, the information in the companion animal database i ϊ H can include data related to the companion animal such as a companion animal profile, companion animal health-ielated data, a companion animal owner profile and a companion animal health care provider profile

[0013} The companion animal profile can include one or more of a companion animal ^' s picture or image, name, gendei, age. weight, breed, color, birth date, license date and any additional general information associated with the companion animal The companion animal profile may also include a unique alphanumeric identification code if, for example, the companion animal h implanted with an encoded, electronically -leadabie oi othei similar identifier, ^uch as an RFlD tag

(0014 j The companion animal health-related data can include medical records, including vaccination history and iabies hi&toiy, history of health tieatmenl, prescription medicine history, allergies, spaying/neutering and drug dosing, and any other additional information related to the health of the companion animal Related date information can also be included

(00151 ] The companion animai owner profile cars include a companion animal owner's name and contact information

10016| The companion animal health care prouder profile can include, for example, a companion animal health care provider name, clinic name and contact information

[0017J The microprocessor controlled device ! 14. such as, for example, an KIrID reader, can be used to scan the encoded, eiectronicallweadabϊe tag (or other similar identifier), such as an RFU) tag, which may be implanted in the companion animal by the companion animal health care provider at the center 116 The tag can include a microchip, and can be configured as a passive electronic dex iee thai emits a radio fiequency only when activated by the scanner See e g , U S Pat No 5,952,935, the contents of which ate heiebv incorporated by reference herein ϋach tag can be designed with the express purpose of storing and transmitting a unique alphanumeric identifier (ID) Thus, each of these tags has a unique identifier (ID) assigned to differentiate one companion animal from another The IDs scanned by the microprocessor controlled device 1 14 mav be manually inputted into the companion animal profile stored in the companion animal database 1 18 of the companion animal health care provider center 1 16 The IDs can also be automatically inserted info the companion animal database 118 by electronically linking the microprocessor controlled \ ia a server (not shown) at the health care provider center 1 \b. The ID represents a companion animal ^' s identification, which can be ιu>ed by the companion animal sen- ice center 102 to correlate with the information related to the companion animal as is described below

(001&J Alternatively, the unique identifier may be associated with a bioinctric code which uniquely identifies the animal l he biometric code may correspond to the

companion animal through bioπietπc or physical characteristics such as those related to a retina, iris, fingerprint, hand geometry, facial pattern, voice or other characteristic of the animal

[0019 j The central database 106 of the companion animal service center 102 can include electronic records of the companion animals, which are associated with the unique IDs of the tags A server 109 at the companion animal service center S 02 receives electronically, over the Internet, from the companion database 1 18 of the health care center I 16, the data related to the companion animal. As discussed above, this data can include a companion animal profile, companion animal health related data, companion animal owner profile and companion animal health care provider profile. The companion animal profile and the companion animal health care provider profile can be loaded on to the database 106 associated with the electronic record established for each companion animal listed in the database The companion animal health data can be assigned alphanumeric codes by a processor 104 in the server, in accordance with pre-deftned conventions For example, an indication of prior treatment for (leas could be assigned a code of "OL" Further, these codes together with their associated health data, along with the companion animal profile, companion animal owner profile and companion animal health care provider profile can be stored in the database 106 The alphanumeric codes can be used as a shortcut or abbreviated form of the companion animal health records for transmission to a remote location to facilitate treatment of a companion animal This data is stored in the database with its corresponding electronic record of the unique ID established for each companion animal

(0020J In some embodiments, if iheie is. nυ electronic record found in the database 104 matching with one or more of a plurality of companion animal related data, a record may be established for this data without the unique ID This allows one or more companion animals to be associated to the companion animal related data, even if the animals have not been implanted with, an identifier Subsequently, if one oi more companion animals ate implanted with an identifier in the companion animal health care provider ^' s office, the\ cart be scanned by the microprocessor controlled device U 4 and their unique lD(s) can be entered into the companion animal database 1 ϊ S

[0021 } Moreover, the data related to the companion animal in the companion animal database US can be modified and updated periodically with not only the unique ID, but also other infoimatiυn related to the companion animal profile health data, companion animal ownei piofile and the companion animal health care piovidei profile Thus, in some embodiments, the companion animal service center 102 receives this updated data on regular basis, including, optionally, by an automated process that ma\ run at regular ititervab, which is, then stored in the centra! database 106. For example, if the updated data has a unique number which was not assigned, it can subsequently be matched with a corresponding electronic record in the database 106 In another example, if the updated data includes additions _* to υi raodiiications of the health data, it can again be lewewεd fa) the piocessoi to assign an alphanumeric code and further stored in its corresponding electronic record in the database 106 The set vice center 102 further provides to the companion animal owners S U ⁾ and to the companion animal health care piovidei 1 16 access to the data related to the companion animal in the central database I Oo

10022| In some embodiments of the invention, the companion animal sen. ice center 102 receives data related to the same companion animal from multiple health care provider centers 1 16 As discussed above, this data is loaded in the central database 106 associated with the electronic record established for that same companion animal with the health data being preferably assigned alphanumeric codes Furthermore as discussed above, this data id a ted to the same companion animal received from the multiple health care provider centers l lt> is modified and updated periodically

[0023} In embodiments of the invention, the companion animal health caie provider center 1 16 includes an entry portal (not .shown) The portal can includes a microprocessor controllable device 1 14 which automatically scans the companion animal encoded computer readable identifier (microchip) when the companion animal enters the center I ! (> Thus, the portal allows for the automatic scanning of the identifier when the companion animal enters the facility/center 1 16

[0024J With reference to FlG 2, a method for storing and providing information related to a companion animal is shown At t>tep 200 at least one oi mote electronic records are established for the companion animal, which arc stored in the database 104 Then at least one oi moie unique IDs _* aie assigned to the clectionic records at step 202 As mentioned above, these unique IDs can be associated with electronically readable tags to be implanted into the companion animal, for example, by the companion animal health care provider in the companion animal health care provider ^" s office These unique IDs aie inputted into the companion animafs piofile in the companion animal database 1 18 aftet implantation At step 204, a plurality of

data related to companion animal such as companion animal profile, companion animal owner ^' s profile and companion animal health care provider profile which are stored in the companion animal database 1 SS, are extracted At step 206, the unique ID in the companion animal ^' s profile is then matched with the unique ID in the electronic record. Upon match, {he data is stored in the electronic record with its corresponding unique ID at step 208. Then at step 210, a plurality of data related to the health of the companion animal is received from the companion animal database 118. Upon receipt of such data, at step 212., it is processed and at least some of the data is summarized in summary codes, such as alphanumeric codes, which are assigned to the health data. Thereafter, at step 214 ₅ the alphanumeric codes with their corresponding data are stored in their corresponding electronic records established in the central database 106. Upon storage, at step 216. remote access to at least a portion of the data related to the companion animal in the electronic records are provided to the companion animal owner 110 and/or companion animal health care provider 116.

[0025} While the above-described flow diagram comprises steps of first extracting the data related to the companion animal comprising companion animal profile, companion animal owner profile and companion animal health care provider profile, and then extracting health data of the companion animal, alternatively, all this data may preferably be extracted simultaneously.

[0026} Also, in one of the preferred embodiments, the data related to the companion animal provided from the health care provider center 116 can alternatively be manually inputted into the central database 106 of the service center 102. This manual inputting may preferably occur due to the fact that there is no companion

animal database I I ϊJ in the center U 6 Tn another preferred embodiment the owner 1 10 can preferably prov ide ail the data related to the companion animal directly to the service center 102 to be uploaded into the database 106

[0027 j A portion of the data can include health data with corresponding alphanumeric codes, companion animal profiler, companion animal owner profiles and the companion animal health caie provider profiles Note that, in .some embodiments, the companion animal owner UO may be authorized to edit data related to companion animal profile and {he companion animal owner profile, but otherwise be restricted in his, her ability to alter the data The companion animal owner 1 10 can send a request \ia the companion animal center 102 to edit data on the companion animal profile and or companion animal owner profile Such data will be updated in the electronic record in the database 106

|0028| The companion animal service center 102 provides various services to companion animal owners registered with the service, which ma\ be on a for-fee basis, such as an annual fee, and/or monthly, or other basis These serv ices can include customized e-mails, home delivery service of the medications, pet insurance, safe and speedy animal recovery, on-line companion animal health information, companion animal id, companion animal emejgenc) ceniei. municipal licensing, discounts Io companion animal ielated pi oducts/sei vices and marketing to the iegislered and unregistered companion animal owners Some of these services are described in gteater detail herein below

(0029 j Customized e-mails can provide comprehensive information and tips regarding the companion animal such as companion animal ^' s "milestones ^"' , companion animal care tips, useful accessories, companion animal owner's data and more. The customized e-mails may also prov ide for appointment scheduling with the companion animal health care provider The customized e-mails may further piovide for reminders for scheduled companion animal health care provider appointments, medicine dosage, prescription refills, etc T hese reminders are requested by the companion animai owner 1 )0 to the service center !02 The request is processed by the processor 104 in the service center 102 based upon the electronic record of the companion animal in the central database 106 which is extracted and updated from the companion animal database 1 18 in the center 1 16 as discussed above

(0030J In conjunction with pet recovery services, access to a companion animal ^' s health data allows animal health care providers 1 12 such as shelters, vets, animal hospitals etc., to appropriately treat found companion animals As part of the recovery services, upon receipt of notification from the companion animal owner 1 10 that the companion animal is lost including any information on companion animal's disappearance, the center 102 notifies all the participating health care providers and or pet rescuers within a specific distance. The pet rescuers may preferably comprise of people who volunteer to search for lost companion animals in their free time. A server 109 at center 102 may notify via various communication means such an e-mail, phone, fax, page etc The notification will preferably include companion animal ^' s disappearance and a portion of the companion animal ^' s profile including companion animal's photo that may he critical to assist in the identification of the companion

animal The portion of the companion animal ^' s profile is extracted from the electronic record of the database 1Ot* The center 102 may preferably forward the photo and the critical data to the registered companion animal owners listed in the database iO6 residing within a certain distance from the location where the companion animal was lost The center 102 may optional!) create a printable poster of the companion animal including the companion animal's photo and the companion animal profile and forward the same to the companion animal owner 110 electronically, for printing b\ the owner in his/her home or by printing by the center 102 through electronic exchange of media, foi posting in the area where the companion animal was lost. Again, the photo and the companion animal owner profile is extracted from the electronic record of the companion animal in the central database 106 Desirably, if a companion animal is found by the animal health care prov ider \ 12 such as a shelter or vet, the companion animal is scanned by a mi cfoproeesssoi -controlled 1 14 in the provider 1 12 location to read the unique SD to identify the companion animal fhe Companion animal service center 102 receive a communication from the animal health care provider 1 12 regarding the found companion annual with the unique ID The processor 104 in the center 102 will match the unique ID with the electronic records in the database 106 to obtain the contact information of the companion animal owner profile of the found companion animal and the companion animal owner 110 will be notified The companion animal owner 1 10 may be notified via \ arious communication means such as e-mail, phone, fav pager, etc as preferahh Net up by the owner in the companion owner ^' s profile If recjuired, the center 102 will also be able to retrieve the health data on the companion animal from the central database 106 and forward the

health data to the animal health care provider 112 to treat the companion animal w ith any necessary medical care

[003 J j lhe companion animal health data can comprise a companion animal ^' s profile, companion animal owner ^' s profile and companion animal ^' s medical treatment As di.scus.sed above, this companion animal health information is receh ed by the center 102 from the remote companion animal database 118, located in the health care center I !ό and further processed by the processor 104 and stored in the electronic records of the central database 106 The companion animal seivice will pro\ide this companion animal health information online via the center 102 to the registered companion animal ownei 1 10 l he companion animal owners 110 ma> pieferabl> alter or modify their companion animal ^' s profile and the companion animal owner ^' s profile b\ logging onto a server at the center 102 of the companion animal service. These modifications are received online by the center 102 and further updated and stored on to the centra! database 10o, therebv providing current information related to the companion animal [0032 j \n example of a companion animal caid 300, in accordance with some embodiments, is shown in FIG 3, and is preferably a wallet-sized card which comprises a data set of pertinent information related to the companion animal T his companion animal ID card comprises a companion animal ^' s picture (image) 302, and a portion of the health data with corresponding codes 304 The companion animal ID card may also preferably provide name and toll free telephone number 306 of the companion animal service and any additional pertinent information related to the companion animal Note, as discussed above, the companion animal owner 1 10 has access online via a Web server at the center 102 to the same pertinent information as

provided on the companion animal id card. The processor 104 extracts the pertinent information from the electronic record of the central database 106 and generates the companion animal ID card. In some embodiments, a printer designed for use with cards can be used. The companion animal ID card is very useful to the companion animal owner J iO when away from home with his/her companion animal and the companion animal needs to be treated by the animal health care provider 1 12 other than the companion animal ^" s health care provider. The companion animal owner 110 can show the companion animal id card to the animal health care provider ! 12 which will gives the health data needed to treat the companion animal. Alternatively, the companion animal owner 1 I O can access the internet and obtain the same pertinent health data provided on the companion animal id. Upon treatment of the companion animal, the companion animal owner 1 10 is provided with a document by the animal health care provider 1 12 including the details of the treatment This document is submitted by the companion animal owner i 10 to the companion animal service center 102 which in turn updates the health records in the electronic, record for the companion animal in the central database 106 It is important to note that the health data is only updated upon receipt of the official document from the authorized health care provider. Optionally, if the companion animal health care provider treating the companion animal is also a vet ^' s clinic or health care center I lό, then the companion animal ^' s health data will preferably be automatically updated in the electronic record of the central database 106.

(0033 j In another aspect of the system, companion animal emergency care service with 24-hour access is provided by an on-call companion animal health care provider such as a veterinarian who provides emergency treatment advice and referral

to the local emergency clinic Thus, in case of a companion animal emergency, the companion animal owner 1 10 will communicate with the emergency center 108 of the companion animal service center 102. The emergency center 108 will in turn put the companion animal owner 1 10 in touch with an on-eall veterinarian The emergency center 108 can also preferably retrieve the health data related to the companion animal from the electronic record of the central database 106 and provide the data to the on- eall veterinarian, and if needed to the local emergency clinic The emergency care service thus provides the 24-hour care to treat the companion animal.

[0034} Another service provided by the companion animal service to the companion animal owners i 10 is a facilitated method of obtaining a municipal license for their companion animals. A municipal license typically is a muni cipalit\ -required registration, typically requiring annual renewal for a companion animal that requires providing public health information on rabies vaccination history, spaying record and more to the municipality. Upon request from the companion animal owner 1 10, a server 109 at center {02 will automatically fill out a licensing application fotm by extracting required data from the electronic record in the central database 106 for that companion animal This automatic filling out of the form may preferably be performed by the processor 104. Optionally, a user can manually fill out the form by retrieving data from the electronic record in the central database 106 for that companion animal. The sener 109 at center 102 will initially verify with the companion animal database 1 18 in the center 1 16 to confirm that the data is updated prior to extracting from the central database 106. Companion animal service then submits the licensing application form and other information to the municipality for approval Furthermore.

based on the license date in the companion animal ^' s profile data, the Companion animal service will also automatically renew the license each year and further communicate with the companion animal owners 110 regarding the license renewal This automated municipal licensing saves time and hassle for the companion animal owners and ensures thai the companion animal owners are in compliance with the law. Alternatively, companion animal service can provide the companion animal owner 1 10 with the licensing application form with instructions to fill out the form so the companion animal owners can preferably obtain the municipal license on their own. In sonic embodiments, a completed form, populated with information about the owner and companion animal, can be generated

[0O35J Discounts on companion animal related products/services offerings may be provided by the companion animal service to the companion animal owners 110 based on the companion animal profile and health data stored in the electronic record of the central database iOό. The companion animal service center 102 may provide discoumVcoupoπs on products based on the companion animal ^' s piofϊle and health data retrieved from the database 10t> and additionally provide link to various online services to purchase these products. The companion animal sen ice center 102 may also desirably retrieve companion animal owner's contact information (address) from the companion animal owner's profile in the central database 106. The server 109 at center 102 will use this information to provide coupons on stores (carrying companion animal related products} near the address of the companion animal owner UO. Additionally, the companion animal service center 102 may preferably provide marketing services to the companion animal owner 1 10 on behalf of the companion animal health care

provider. For example, the companion animal service center 102 may preferably provide discounts on services such as dental exams, examinations, spaying neutering, senior screening, etc

[0036 j The companion animal owners described throughout the present application are the owners registered or enrolled with the companion animal health care service. However, there may be one or more companion animal health care owners not enrolled in the companion animal service. The contact information of these unregistered companion animal owners are retrieved from the companion animal owner ^' s profile in the electronic record of the central database 106 Using this contact information, these unregistered companion animal owners are provided with information and incentives to enroll in the companion animal sen,- ice. (0037J Note that although the present invention described herein is referred to as companion animal, it can be preferably be any animal or even a human being,

[0038} In accordance with certain embodiments, any device described herein as a server can be a computer, or any computing device capable of performing the services as described above. Processors, as used herein, are any devices or pans of computers fi e., central processing units) capable of interpreting and executing computer programs _* , as is known to those of s»kill in the art. As used herein, the terms central database, database, and/or companion animal database can comprise of preferably one more databases or any other storage medium that electronically or otherwise stores data, as is known to those of skill in the art.

(0039 j While the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with the above embodiments, many variations and modifications, as will be evident in those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention are thus not to be limited to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above, as such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.