Automated technique for configuring storage space

• US 10,300,832 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Folks, Jonathon, Baker, John J., Jeong, Jun Wooung, Kooker, Andrew W., Ogden, Craig, Satas, Lukas, Yates, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Romain, Pinel E
• Application Number:
  US15/706,609
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 2961813, 296 6503
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/143 taking a position opposite to the original one
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3011 the back-rest being hinged on the cushion, e.g. "portefeuille movement"
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3061 along vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3079 in a recess
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/363 characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/423 from transport of persons to transport of goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs

Abstract

A method for storing cargo items includes determining characteristics of a cargo space, where the cargo space includes at least one seat and the at least one seat is capable of being moved between a first position within the cargo space and a second position within the cargo space. A set of cargo items including one or more cargo items to be positioned in the cargo space is determined. A configuration of the cargo space is determined based at least in part on the set of cargo items, where the configuration of the cargo space includes the second position of the at least one seat. A layout of the set of cargo items within the cargo space is determined based at least in part on the set of cargo items and the determined configuration, and the at least one seat is moved from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A method for storing cargo items, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a first sensor;

determining, using the one or more processor and based on data received from the first sensor, characteristics of a cargo space, wherein the cargo space includes at least one seat, wherein the at least one seat is capable of being moved between a first position within the cargo space and a second position within the cargo space;

determining, using the one or more processors, a set of cargo items including one or more cargo items to be positioned in the cargo space;

determining, using the one or more processors, a configuration of the cargo space based at least in part on the set of cargo items, wherein the configuration of the cargo space includes the second position of the at least one seat;

determining, using the one or more processors, a layout of the set of cargo items within the cargo space based at least in part on the set of cargo items and the determined configuration; and

providing, using the one or more processors, a signal to cause movement of the at least one seat from the first position to the second position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of cargo items includes determining the size and shape of the one or more cargo items, and wherein the configuration of the cargo space or the layout of the set of cargo items are determined based at least in part on the size and shape of the one or more cargo items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of cargo items includes determining a mass of at least one cargo item in the set of cargo items, and wherein the configuration of the cargo space or the layout of the set of cargo items are determined based at least in part on the mass of the at least one cargo item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of cargo items is determined at least in part by a user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of cargo items is determined at least in part by detecting at least one of the cargo items using a second sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second sensor is included in a smartphone.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the cargo space includes space in a vehicle, and wherein vehicle includes the second sensor.

8. A device, comprising:

a first sensor;

one or more processors;

a memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

determining, based on data from the first sensor, characteristics of a cargo space, wherein the cargo space includes at least one seat, wherein the at least one seat is capable of being moved between a first position within the cargo space and a second position within the cargo space;

determining a set of cargo items including one or more cargo items to be positioned in the cargo space;

determining a configuration of the cargo space based at least in part on the set of cargo items, wherein the configuration of the cargo space includes the second position of the at least one seat;

determining a layout of the set of cargo items within the cargo space based at least in part on the set of cargo items and the determined configuration; and

providing a signal to cause movement of the at least one seat from the first position to the second position.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein determining the set of cargo items includes determining the size and shape of the one or more cargo items, and wherein the configuration of the cargo space or the layout of the set of cargo items are determined based at least in part on the size and shape of the one or more cargo items.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein determining the set of cargo items includes determining a mass of at least one cargo item in the set of cargo items, and wherein the configuration of the cargo space or the layout of the set of cargo items are determined based at least in part on the mass of the at least one cargo item.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the set of cargo items is determined at least in part by a user input.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the set of cargo items is determined at least in part by detecting at least one of the cargo items using a second sensor.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second sensor is included in a smartphone.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the cargo space includes space in a vehicle, and wherein vehicle includes the second sensor.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a first sensor, cause the electronic device to:

determine, based on data from the first sensor, characteristics of a cargo space, wherein the cargo space includes at least one seat, wherein the at least one seat is capable of being moved between a first position within the cargo space and a second position within the cargo space;

determine a set of cargo items including one or more cargo items to be positioned in the cargo space;

determine a configuration of the cargo space based at least in part on the set of cargo items, wherein the configuration of the cargo space includes the second position of the at least one seat;

determine a layout of the set of cargo items within the cargo space based at least in part on the set of cargo items and the determined configuration; and

provide a signal to cause movement of the at least one seat from the first position to the second position.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein determining the set of cargo items includes determining the size and shape of the one or more cargo items, and wherein the configuration of the cargo space or the layout of the set of cargo items are determined based at least in part on the size and shape of the one or more cargo items.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein determining the set of cargo items includes determining a mass of at least one cargo item in the set of cargo items, and wherein the configuration of the cargo space or the layout of the set of cargo items are determined based at least in part on the mass of the at least one cargo item.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the set of cargo items is determined at least in part by a user input.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the set of cargo items is determined at least in part by detecting at least one of the cargo items using a second sensor.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the second sensor is included in a smartphone.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the cargo space includes space in a vehicle, and wherein vehicle includes the second sensor.