The Five-Pillar
Patent Portfolio
GPSip, Inc. holds 33 granted patents across five distinct technology pillars — a comprehensive IP estate protecting the world’s most advanced GPS-based animal behavioral-guidance and containment system.
Five Independent Technology Pillars
Each pillar addresses a separate layer of the product architecture and is independently patented. Together they create deep, layered protection across the full technology stack.
ShepherdZone™ GPS
Lookup-Table Architecture
Replaces real-time geometry with a pre-computed double-indexed array of lat/lng offsets mapped to behavioral zone codes.
Expires 2034 – 2035Shepherding®
Behavioral Algorithm
Direction-aware feedback system — correction only on outward motion, positive reinforcement on re-entry. Includes predictive, graphical, and ramped-stimulation variants.
Expires 2034 – 2044Humane Stimulation
& Collar Hardware
Woven-conductor contact grid, fur-impedance sensing, and differential-capacitance gating. Stimulation fires only when the collar is properly worn — built for regulatory compliance.
Expires 2035Power & Tracking
Optimization
Dynamic GPS sampling intervals tuned to zone proximity, velocity, and position uncertainty. Enables multi-day battery life. Protected in the U.S. and Europe.
Expires 2035 – 2039Secure Offset-Based
Transmission
Transmits a numerical offset from a shared secret reference point — never raw GPS coordinates. Simultaneous privacy, bandwidth, and battery advantages across U.S. and European patents.
Expires 2039 – 2043ShepherdZone™ GPS Lookup-Table Architecture
The foundational boundary system behind ShepherdZone™. Rather than computing real-time distance from a virtual fence polygon, GPSip's system pre-computes a double-indexed lookup table of lat/lng offsets that resolve directly to behavioral zone codes. This low-power, low-compute, high-speed architecture replaces expensive on-device geometry calculations with a single array lookup — enabling fast, reliable boundary decisions on embedded hardware. The earliest patent priority date in this family is March 15, 2013. This foundational family is now protected in all three jurisdictions — the United States, Canada (CA 2,942,913), and Europe, where EP 3,119,193 was granted by the European Patent Office on August 19, 2026 across 38 designated contracting states.
| # | Patent No. | Coverage | Filed | Priority | Granted | Expires | Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 9,795,118 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance system | 2014-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2017-10-24 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 2 | US 9,961,884 | Compatible with large and small land zones | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2018-05-08 | 2034-12-27 | US | In Force |
| 3 | US 10,064,390 | Multi-zone containment area | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2018-09-04 | 2035-05-01 | US | In Force |
| 4 | US 10,080,346 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance system | 2014-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2018-09-25 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 5 | US 10,165,755 | Region lookup — auto-select boundary by start position | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-01-01 | 2035-04-12 | US | In Force |
| 6 | US 10,405,520 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance — continuation | 2018-09-25 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-09-10 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 7 | US 10,455,810 | Region lookup — activation of guidance regions | 2018-12-31 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-10-29 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 8 | US 10,470,437 | Pre-computed lookup table guidance system | 2018-01-03 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-11-12 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 9 | US 11,019,807 | Compatible with large and small land zones — scalar conversion | 2018-04-04 | 2013-03-15 | 2021-06-01 | 2035-08-12 | US | In Force |
| 10 | CA 2,942,913 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance — Canadian grant | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2023-03-21 | 2035-03-17 | CA | In Force |
| 11 | EP 3,119,193 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance system — European grant (ShepherdZone™) | 2015-03-17 | 2014-03-17 | 2026-08-19 | 2035-03-17 | EP | In Force |
Shepherding® Behavioral Algorithm
The intelligence layer. GPSip's Shepherding algorithm conditions animal behavior by delivering feedback only when the animal is moving outward — and rewarding return movement. This direction-of-travel gating is fundamental: it distinguishes a humane guidance system from a simple shock fence. The family spans predictive pre-breach detection, graphical zone representation, predictive ramped stimulation (US 12,557,787, granted February 2026), remote-activation triggering from a paired mobile training aid (US 12,653,154, granted June 2026), and a Graphical Shepherding divisional covering future-position path calculation (US 12,696,874, granted August 2026) — extending protection to 2044.
| # | Patent No. | Coverage | Filed | Priority | Granted | Expires | Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | US 10,251,371 | Predicting departure prior to actual departure | 2015-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | 2019-04-09 | 2036-09-18 | US | In Force |
| 13 | US 10,292,365 | Shepherding of wayward dogs — direction-aware | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-05-21 | 2035-07-02 | US | In Force |
| 14 | US 10,342,218 | GPS dog fence — guidance with positive reinforcement | 2016-03-10 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-07-09 | 2035-08-10 | US | In Force |
| 15 | US 11,246,291 | Shepherding — direction-of-travel gating | 2019-05-21 | 2013-03-15 | 2022-02-15 | 2034-10-24 | US | In Force |
| 16 | US 12,004,485 | Shepherding — displacement and direction combined | 2022-02-14 | 2013-03-15 | 2024-06-11 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 17 | US 12,171,192 | Graphical shepherding — UI zone representation | 2022-02-14 | 2022-02-14 | 2024-12-24 | 2043-03-04 | US | In Force |
| 18 | US 12,557,787 | Predictive ramped stimulation | 2024-02-27 | 2023-02-27 | 2026-02-24 | 2044-05-08 | US | In Force |
| 19 | US 12,653,154 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance — remote activation trigger | 2024-08-12 | 2023-08-11 | 2026-06-16 | 2044-08-12 | US | In Force |
| 20 | US 12,696,874 | Graphical shepherding — divisional, future-position path calculation | 2024-12-22 | 2022-02-14 | 2026-08-04 | 2042-04-01 | US | In Force |
Humane Stimulation & Collar Hardware
The hardware and safety layer. GPSip's collar system uses a woven multi-conductor contact grid paired with fur-impedance sensing and differential-capacitance gating. Stimulation is automatically suppressed when the collar is not properly seated against the animal's skin — a direct response to regulatory requirements in the EU, Canada, and Australia. This pillar contains 6 patents; US 7,677,204 was strategically allowed to expire at its natural term end in 2022, a planned portfolio management decision. The five remaining patents remain fully active.
| # | Patent No. | Coverage | Filed | Priority | Granted | Expires | Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | US 7,677,204 | Dog training device — woven multi-conductor contact grid † | 2007-09-12 | 2007-09-12 | 2010-03-16 | 2022-03-16 | US | Expired |
| 22 | US 10,165,756 | Rapid collar mount and non-necrotic stimulation | 2015-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | 2019-01-01 | 2035-11-02 | US | In Force |
| 23 | US 10,624,319 | Rapid collar mount with impedance sensor | 2018-12-31 | 2014-03-18 | 2020-04-21 | 2035-03-18 | US | In Force |
| 24 | US 10,893,662 | Animal sensory stimulation with fur impedance detection | 2020-04-21 | 2014-03-18 | 2021-01-19 | 2035-03-18 | US | In Force |
| 25 | US 11,516,994 | Fur differential impedance detection — capacitance gating | 2021-01-19 | 2014-03-18 | 2022-12-06 | 2035-04-18 | US | In Force |
| 26 | EP 3,905,878 | Collar unit — rapid collar mount and non-necrotic stimulation (European grant) | 2018-12-31 | — | 2026-06-10 | 2038-12-31 | EP | In Force |
Power & Tracking Optimization
The efficiency layer. GPSip's system dynamically adjusts the rate at which GPS position is requested based on the animal's real-time zone proximity, velocity, and GPS uncertainty. When the animal is well inside a safe zone, position requests slow significantly to conserve battery. As the animal approaches a boundary, requests accelerate. This adaptive sampling framework enables multi-day battery life without sacrificing boundary precision. Protected in both the U.S. and Europe.
| # | Patent No. | Coverage | Filed | Priority | Granted | Expires | Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | US 10,172,325 | Dynamically variable position request intervals — foundational | 2015-03-18 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-01-08 | 2035-03-13 | US | In Force |
| 28 | US 10,820,575 | Dynamically variable position request intervals — continuation | 2019-01-08 | 2013-03-15 | 2020-11-03 | 2034-03-17 | US | In Force |
| 29 | EP 3,908,107 | Dynamic position request — European grant (unitary effect) | 2019-03-15 | 2018-03-16 | 2025-06-25 | 2039-03-15 | EP | In Force |
Secure Offset-Based Transmission
The privacy and security layer. Rather than transmitting raw GPS coordinates, GPSip's system encodes the animal's position as a numerical offset from a shared secret reference point known only to authorized parties. This approach simultaneously solves location privacy, reduces transmission payload size, and conserves battery — without sacrificing real-time precision. The family is protected across the U.S. and Europe, with expirations extending to 2043, and holds significant cross-market optionality in livestock, asset tracking, and personal safety applications.
| # | Patent No. | Coverage | Filed | Priority | Granted | Expires | Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | US 11,713,968 | Secure transmission of location — offset from secret reference | 2019-03-16 | 2018-03-17 | 2023-08-01 | 2040-04-03 | US | In Force |
| 31 | US 12,007,490 | Secure transmission — adds noise obfuscation layer | 2020-09-18 | 2019-09-18 | 2024-06-11 | 2043-04-05 | US | In Force |
| 32 | US 12,104,909 | Secure transmission — additional refinements | 2019-03-16 | 2018-03-17 | 2024-10-01 | 2039-03-16 | US | In Force |
| 33 | EP 3,769,044 | Secure transmission of location — European grant | 2019-03-15 | 2018-03-17 | 2024-10-16 | 2039-03-15 | EP | In Force |
Complete Patent Schedule
All 33 granted patents. Patent numbers link to Google Patents. Expiration dates reflect USPTO-adjusted patent terms (PTA) where applicable.
| # | Patent No. | Coverage | Filed | Priority | Granted | Expires | Jurisdiction | Pillar | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 9,795,118 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance system | 2014-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2017-10-24 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 2 | US 9,961,884 | Compatible with large and small land zones | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2018-05-08 | 2034-12-27 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 3 | US 10,064,390 | Multi-zone containment area | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2018-09-04 | 2035-05-01 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 4 | US 10,080,346 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance system | 2014-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2018-09-25 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 5 | US 10,165,755 | Region lookup — auto-select boundary by start position | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-01-01 | 2035-04-12 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 6 | US 10,405,520 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance — continuation | 2018-09-25 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-09-10 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 7 | US 10,455,810 | Region lookup — activation of guidance regions | 2018-12-31 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-10-29 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 8 | US 10,470,437 | Pre-computed lookup table guidance system | 2018-01-03 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-11-12 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 9 | US 11,019,807 | Compatible with large and small land zones — scalar conversion | 2018-04-04 | 2013-03-15 | 2021-06-01 | 2035-08-12 | US | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 10 | CA 2,942,913 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance — Canadian grant | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2023-03-21 | 2035-03-17 | CA | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 11 | EP 3,119,193 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance system — European grant (ShepherdZone™) | 2015-03-17 | 2014-03-17 | 2026-08-19 | 2035-03-17 | EP | Pillar 1 | In Force |
| 12 | US 10,251,371 | Predicting departure prior to actual departure | 2015-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | 2019-04-09 | 2036-09-18 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 13 | US 10,292,365 | Shepherding of wayward dogs — direction-aware | 2015-03-17 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-05-21 | 2035-07-02 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 14 | US 10,342,218 | GPS dog fence — guidance with positive reinforcement | 2016-03-10 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-07-09 | 2035-08-10 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 15 | US 11,246,291 | Shepherding — direction-of-travel gating | 2019-05-21 | 2013-03-15 | 2022-02-15 | 2034-10-24 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 16 | US 12,004,485 | Shepherding — displacement and direction combined | 2022-02-14 | 2013-03-15 | 2024-06-11 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 17 | US 12,171,192 | Graphical shepherding — UI zone representation | 2022-02-14 | 2022-02-14 | 2024-12-24 | 2043-03-04 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 18 | US 12,557,787 | Predictive ramped stimulation | 2024-02-27 | 2023-02-27 | 2026-02-24 | 2044-05-08 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 19 | US 12,653,154 | Wireless location assisted zone guidance — remote activation trigger | 2024-08-12 | 2023-08-11 | 2026-06-16 | 2044-08-12 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 20 | US 12,696,874 | Graphical shepherding — divisional, future-position path calculation | 2024-12-22 | 2022-02-14 | 2026-08-04 | 2042-04-01 | US | Pillar 2 | In Force |
| 21 | US 7,677,204 | Dog training device — woven multi-conductor contact grid † | 2007-09-12 | 2007-09-12 | 2010-03-16 | 2022-03-16 | US | Pillar 3 | Expired |
| 22 | US 10,165,756 | Rapid collar mount and non-necrotic stimulation | 2015-03-18 | 2014-03-18 | 2019-01-01 | 2035-11-02 | US | Pillar 3 | In Force |
| 23 | US 10,624,319 | Rapid collar mount with impedance sensor | 2018-12-31 | 2014-03-18 | 2020-04-21 | 2035-03-18 | US | Pillar 3 | In Force |
| 24 | US 10,893,662 | Animal sensory stimulation with fur impedance detection | 2020-04-21 | 2014-03-18 | 2021-01-19 | 2035-03-18 | US | Pillar 3 | In Force |
| 25 | US 11,516,994 | Fur differential impedance detection — capacitance gating | 2021-01-19 | 2014-03-18 | 2022-12-06 | 2035-04-18 | US | Pillar 3 | In Force |
| 26 | EP 3,905,878 | Collar unit — rapid collar mount and non-necrotic stimulation (European grant) | 2018-12-31 | — | 2026-06-10 | 2038-12-31 | EP | Pillar 3 | In Force |
| 27 | US 10,172,325 | Dynamically variable position request intervals — foundational | 2015-03-18 | 2013-03-15 | 2019-01-08 | 2035-03-13 | US | Pillar 4 | In Force |
| 28 | US 10,820,575 | Dynamically variable position request intervals — continuation | 2019-01-08 | 2013-03-15 | 2020-11-03 | 2034-03-17 | US | Pillar 4 | In Force |
| 29 | EP 3,908,107 | Dynamic position request — European grant (unitary effect) | 2019-03-15 | 2018-03-16 | 2025-06-25 | 2039-03-15 | EP | Pillar 4 | In Force |
| 30 | US 11,713,968 | Secure transmission of location — offset from secret reference | 2019-03-16 | 2018-03-17 | 2023-08-01 | 2040-04-03 | US | Pillar 5 | In Force |
| 31 | US 12,007,490 | Secure transmission — adds noise obfuscation layer | 2020-09-18 | 2019-09-18 | 2024-06-11 | 2043-04-05 | US | Pillar 5 | In Force |
| 32 | US 12,104,909 | Secure transmission — additional refinements | 2019-03-16 | 2018-03-17 | 2024-10-01 | 2039-03-16 | US | Pillar 5 | In Force |
| 33 | EP 3,769,044 | Secure transmission of location — European grant | 2019-03-15 | 2018-03-17 | 2024-10-16 | 2039-03-15 | EP | Pillar 5 | In Force |
† US 7,677,204 was strategically allowed to expire at natural term end on 2022-03-16 — a planned portfolio management decision. The remaining 32 patents are active. A new utility application covering a grid-based contact with versatile signal coupling is currently progressing through prosecution.
Patent Expiration Runway
The portfolio is not a cliff — it is a long-duration income stream with staggered expirations across five distinct windows.
ShepherdZone™ lookup-table and Shepherding families — the foundational patent estate, anchored by the 2013 priority date.
Hardware, continuation, and sampling families across Pillars 3 and 4, plus the European ShepherdZone™ grant (EP 3,119,193) and the Canadian counterpart.
European grants and the foundational Secure Transmission patent — EP 3,905,878, EP 3,769,044, EP 3,908,107, US 11,713,968.
Graphical Shepherding divisional (US 12,696,874) — 2022 parent priority plus 46 days of term adjustment.
Newest generation — Graphical Shepherding (US 12,171,192), predictive ramped stimulation (US 12,557,787), and remote activation (US 12,653,154, expires 2044).
Ownership & IP Structure
All 33 patents are held by GPSip, Inc. No mortgages, liens, or security interests are known to encumber the portfolio. All inventors have executed assignments to GPSip, Inc.
GPSip, Inc.
The sole owner of all 33 granted patents. GPSip retains rights to license the portfolio in all fields of use beyond the current exclusive license.
Safe Retrieve, LLC
Holds an exclusive license from GPSip, Inc. for the SkyShepherd® animal behavioral-guidance and containment application — manufacturing, sales, and commercialization.
Lead Inventor
Sole or lead inventor on all 33 granted patents. Background in aircraft systems, UAV, and E911 — with deep expertise in GPS/GNSS signal processing.
GPSip maintains active continuation chains on all major families. The foundational priority dates of 2013-03-15 and 2014-03-18 anchor the estate, and active prosecution continues to extend and deepen coverage across all five pillars.