Innovating the Open Range: 701x Inc. Wins North Dakota Patent of the Month for June 2026

The landscape of precision agricultural technology has been significantly advanced by a newly issued patent. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently published Patent No. 12,616,169, titled “Livestock ear tag system,” which was officially awarded to 701x Inc..

This groundbreaking invention addresses critical operational bottlenecks in the livestock tracking industry, particularly regarding device sustainability and continuous data transmission in isolated rural areas. By integrating specialized hardware components into a highly efficient form factor, the system provides ranching operations with an autonomous method to monitor and safeguard their herds without relying on manual infrastructure.

Why the Livestock Ear Tag System is So Innovative

Traditional livestock tracking devices often suffer from severe limitations, such as excessive weight that harms animal ears, short battery life, or a complete reliance on terrestrial cellular networks that fail in remote rural regions. Patent No. 12,616,169 addresses these legacy challenges through a highly unique structural design and technical blueprint:

Ergonomic Flexible Substrate: The tag features a flexible substrate designed to adapt comfortably to the ear of the animal. It separates components into a dual-zone design, featuring a first end with a solar panel and a second end with a rigid housing for the electronics assembly. This balances weight distribution and prevents ear tearing, keeping the entire device at an ultra-lightweight 51.5 grams.
Upward-Facing Solar Panel Configuration: The solar panel is positioned on a specific protruding segment of the flexible member to maintain an optimal, upward-facing orientation for maximum sunlight exposure, ensuring reliable power generation regardless of the animal’s movements.
Intelligent Power Management: To counter periods of prolonged bad weather or shade, the system utilizes a smart feature-backoff algorithm. This power-conscious configuration allows the tag to operate dynamically for over a month in total darkness before entering a dormant state.
Dual Cellular and Satellite Connectivity: Equipped with advanced integrated SIM (iSIM) technology, the tag seamlessly toggles between cellular and satellite networks. This ensures 24/7 coverage in the most remote pastures without requiring heavy, expensive base stations or external antennas.
Comprehensive Biometric and Behavioral Tracking: Acting like a smartwatch for livestock, the integrated sensor housing continuously tracks location, motion, and vital signs. It automatically registers behavior such as grazing, resting, ruminating, or walking, and can immediately broadcast alerts for out-of-fence scenarios, predator attacks, illness, or bull mounting activity.

Winning the June 2026 North Dakota Patent of the Month

Each month, standout intellectual property is recognized for its technical sophistication and economic potential. For the month of June 2026, the State of North Dakota has awarded its prestigious Patent of the Month honor to 701x Inc. for this groundbreaking system. Agriculture is a foundational pillar of North Dakota’s economy, and managing large herds across vast, rugged landscapes presents constant operational hurdles for local ranchers.

This patent captures the true spirit of North Dakota innovation by providing a practical, high-tech solution engineered right in Fargo. By eliminating repetitive manual data entry and replacing scattered paper logs with an automated digital workflow, 701x Inc. helps local cattle producers protect their animals and boost profitability. The award celebrates how homegrown precision agtech is leading the global transition toward autonomous ranching and sustainable food supply chains.

U.S. R&D Tax Credit Eligibility for Practical Applications

The continuous development and deployment of the practical applications associated with this patent represent an ideal candidate for the United States Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit under IRC Section 41. To qualify, an enterprise must satisfy a rigorous four-part test. First, the project must exhibit a permissible purpose aimed at creating or improving the functionality, reliability, or quality of a product or software application. Second, technical uncertainty must exist at the outset regarding the product’s ultimate design or the capability to achieve the desired outcome. Third, the company must engage in a systematic process of experimentation, involving prototyping, software modeling, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and algorithmic optimization to resolve those uncertainties. Fourth, the research must be technological in nature, relying on hard sciences such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. By consistently iterating on the physical design of the 51.5-gram flexible tag, refining the power-backoff software algorithms, and building out the cloud-based Edge AI livestock analytics platform, agricultural technology companies can successfully claim qualified research expenses (QREs). These eligible expenses include internal engineering wages, raw prototyping supplies, and third-party testing costs, substantially lowering their overall tax liability while accelerating domestic innovation.