US 12,329,129 B2
Monitoring livestock
Jacquelin Labrecque, St-Bernard (CA); Frank Gouineau, Levis (CA); Pierre Savatte, Pays-de-la-loire (FR); Dimitri Estrade, Levis (CA); and Joel Rivest, Quebec (CA)
Assigned to Groupe Ro-Main Inc., St. Lambert-de-Lauzon (CA)
Filed by Groupe Ro-Main Inc., St. Lambert-de-Lauzon (CA)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/584,192.
Application 17/230,525 is a division of application No. 16/560,299, filed on Sep. 4, 2019, granted, now 11,178,852, issued on Nov. 23, 2021.
Application 18/584,192 is a continuation of application No. 18/159,219, filed on Jan. 25, 2023, abandoned.
Application 18/159,219 is a continuation of application No. 17/230,525, filed on Apr. 14, 2021, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/848,942, filed on May 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/748,774, filed on Oct. 22, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/746,790, filed on Oct. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0251759 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01K 29/00 (2006.01); A01K 1/02 (2006.01); A01K 1/08 (2006.01); A01K 5/02 (2006.01); A01K 7/06 (2006.01); A01K 11/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06T 7/20 (2017.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06V 20/20 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01); G10L 25/51 (2013.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); G06V 30/224 (2022.01); H04L 65/60 (2022.01)
CPC A01K 29/005 (2013.01) [A01K 1/0209 (2013.01); A01K 1/0218 (2013.01); A01K 1/08 (2013.01); A01K 5/02 (2013.01); A01K 7/06 (2013.01); A01K 11/001 (2013.01); A01K 11/006 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01); G06T 7/0008 (2013.01); G06T 7/20 (2013.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06V 20/20 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01); G10L 25/51 (2013.01); H04N 7/18 (2013.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); G06V 30/224 (2022.01); H04L 65/60 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of counting livestock comprising pigs or poultry for generating an inventory of the livestock and comprising:
directing the group of livestock from a first confinement container or pen in which the livestock are contained through a single alleyway to a remote confinement container or pen in a direction of travel so that all of the group of livestock are transferred to the remote location through the single alleyway;
mounting at least one camera at the alleyway to obtain images of a portion of the alleyway including any livestock in the portion of the alleyway;
passing the livestock through the portion of the alleyway;
arranging the portion with a width such that the livestock can pass at least two abreast;
arranging the portion so that the livestock are free to move in the direction of travel and can turn to move in an opposite direction against the direction of travel before all livestock of the group complete their movement though the single alleyway between the confinement pen and the remote location;
in a processor carrying out an analysis of the images to generate said inventory of livestock in the group which have all moved through the single alleyway to the remote location;
wherein the analysis generating the inventory takes into account errors caused by livestock which turn in the portion of the alleyway to move in the opposite direction temporarily before continuing to complete the travel through the portion of the single alleyway to the remote location;
and wherein the analysis generating the inventory takes into account errors caused animals being side by side when passing through the portion of the single alleyway;
and forming the inventory into an accounting document.