In-vehicle package location identification at load and delivery times
First Claim
1. A delivery vehicle package locating system, the system comprising:
- a pularity of shelves for storing a plurality of packages, including at least a first shelf and a second shelf adjacent to the first shelf, wherein;
each shelf comprises a plurality of indicator lights in a row;
the first shelf comprises a plurality of emitting lights in a row along a first edge of the first shelf; and
the second shelf comprises a plurality of light sensors in a row on a second edge of the second shelf, wherein each light sensor on the second edge of the second shelf corresponds to an emitting light on the first edge of the first shelf;
a shelf control system communicatively coupled, via a shelf communication interface, to the plurality of indicator lights, the plurality of emitting lights, and the plurality of light sensors, and comprising a shelf processor and a shelf memory storing program codes;
wherein the shelf control system is operable to;
determine a width and a shelf-location of a package loaded on the first shelf based upon light from a plurality of the emitting lights on the first edge of the first shelf being blocked from corresponding light sensors on the second edge of the second shelf by the package; and
send the width and the shelf-location information for the package to a computer system; and
the computer system, comprising;
a computer communication interface; and
a computer control system communicatively coupled to the computer communication interface, and comprising a computer processor and a computer memory storing program codes;
wherein the computer system is operable to;
receive delivery-location information for the package;
receive package identification information for the package;
receive the width and the shelf-location information for the package from the shelf control system;
correlate and store the delivery-location information, the package identification information, and the width and the shelf-location information for the package;
determine vehicle-location information based upon current location of the delivery vehicle; and
send the shelf-location information for the package to the shelf control system responsive to determining that the vehicle-location information corresponds with the delivery-location information for the package; and
wherein the shelf control system is further operable to;
receive the shelf-location information for the package from the computer system; and
activate the indicator lights corresponding to the width and shelf-location of the package responsive to receiving the shelf-location information for the package from the computer system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shelving and package locating system for delivery vehicles includes one or more shelves for storing packages within a delivery vehicle during delivery. Each package is associated with both a geographic delivery address and an assigned location on a particular shelf within the delivery vehicle. A GPS unit determines the location of the delivery vehicle during delivery, and a computer provides the shelf location of a particular package when that package'"'"'s delivery-location information substantially corresponds to vehicle location information. Several embodiments exist for registering the location of the package in the vehicle at load time, such as scanned location indicia, light sensors on shelves, pressure sensors on shelves, pressure sensors on the floor of the vehicle, and light spot. Several embodiments exist for locating the package in the vehicle at delivery time, such as a pick-to-light system that employs variable length lighting and a light pointer system that generates a light spot.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A delivery vehicle package locating system, the system comprising:
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a pularity of shelves for storing a plurality of packages, including at least a first shelf and a second shelf adjacent to the first shelf, wherein; each shelf comprises a plurality of indicator lights in a row; the first shelf comprises a plurality of emitting lights in a row along a first edge of the first shelf; and the second shelf comprises a plurality of light sensors in a row on a second edge of the second shelf, wherein each light sensor on the second edge of the second shelf corresponds to an emitting light on the first edge of the first shelf; a shelf control system communicatively coupled, via a shelf communication interface, to the plurality of indicator lights, the plurality of emitting lights, and the plurality of light sensors, and comprising a shelf processor and a shelf memory storing program codes; wherein the shelf control system is operable to; determine a width and a shelf-location of a package loaded on the first shelf based upon light from a plurality of the emitting lights on the first edge of the first shelf being blocked from corresponding light sensors on the second edge of the second shelf by the package; and send the width and the shelf-location information for the package to a computer system; and the computer system, comprising; a computer communication interface; and a computer control system communicatively coupled to the computer communication interface, and comprising a computer processor and a computer memory storing program codes; wherein the computer system is operable to; receive delivery-location information for the package; receive package identification information for the package; receive the width and the shelf-location information for the package from the shelf control system; correlate and store the delivery-location information, the package identification information, and the width and the shelf-location information for the package; determine vehicle-location information based upon current location of the delivery vehicle; and send the shelf-location information for the package to the shelf control system responsive to determining that the vehicle-location information corresponds with the delivery-location information for the package; and wherein the shelf control system is further operable to; receive the shelf-location information for the package from the computer system; and activate the indicator lights corresponding to the width and shelf-location of the package responsive to receiving the shelf-location information for the package from the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A delivery vehicle package locating system, the system comprising:
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one or more shelves for storing a plurality of packages, wherein each shelf comprises; a plurality of indicator lights disposed in a row along each of the one or more shelves; and pressure sensors associated with surface area locations of the one or more shelves; a shelf control system communicatively coupled, via a shelf communication interface, to the plurality of indicator lights and the pressure sensors, and comprising a shelf processor and a shelf memory storing program codes; wherein the shelf control system is operable to; determine a width and a shelf-location of a package loaded on one of the shelves, wherein the width and the shelf location of the package is determined based upon weight of the package triggering a plurality of the pressure sensors of the one shelf; and send the width and the shelf-location information for the package to a computer system; and the computer system, comprising; a computer communication interface; and a computer control system communicatively coupled to the computer communication interface, and comprising a computer processor and a computer memory storing program codes; wherein the computer system is operable to; receive delivery-location information for the package; receive package identification information for the package; receive the width and the shelf-location information for the package from the shelf control system; correlate and store the delivery-location information, the package identification information, and the width and the shelf-location information for the package; determine vehicle-location information based upon current location of the delivery vehicle; and send the shelf-location information for the package to the shelf control system responsive to determining that the vehicle-location information corresponds with the delivery-location information for the package; and wherein the shelf control system is further operable to; receive the shelf-location information for the package from the computer system; and activate a plurality of the indicator lights corresponding to the width and shelf-location of the package responsive to receiving the shelf-location information for the package from the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A delivery vehicle package locating system, the system comprising:
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one or more shelves for storing a plurality of packages; one or more light pointers, wherein each light pointer comprises; a light pointer communication interface; a light source; and a light pointer control system communicatively coupled to the light pointer communication interface and the light source, and comprising a light pointer processor and a light pointer memory storing program codes; wherein the light pointer control system is operable to; identify a shelf-location for storing a package on one of the shelves during delivery, wherein the shelf-location is identified using a light spot generated by the light source for loading the package on the one shelf; and send the shelf-location information for the package to a computer system; and the computer system, comprising; a computer communication interface; and a computer control system communicatively coupled to the computer communication interface and comprising a computer processor and a computer memory storing program codes; wherein the computer system is operable to; receive delivery-location information for the package; receive package identification information for the package; receive the shelf-location information for the package; and correlate and store the delivery-location information, the package identification information, and the shelf-location information for the package. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification