SENSOR BASED LOGISTICS SYSTEM

• US 20110074587A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Jacobs, James Randy, Ainsworth, Miley E., Milman, Kenneth L., Perry, Zachary S., Hamm, Mark D., West, Michael R., Murphy, William S., Ost, Daniel A., Greer, James B., Skaaksrud, Ole Petter
• Granted Patent: US 8,299,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking one or more items. The method may include periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items, and periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information. The method may also include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information. The method may also include transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties. The method may further include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking and reporting information regarding one or more items, the method comprising the steps, performed by a computer, of:

periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items;

periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information;

receiving the sensor information at a tracking center;

determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information; and

periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties,

wherein the determination if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodic transmission of the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties occurs based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting sensor information comprises detecting information regarding at least one of location information, temperature information, or humidity information.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising triggering an alarm in response to the sensor information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein triggering comprises triggering the alarm when the sensor device detects sensor information that exceeds the one or more threshold conditions.

5. A computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for tracking one or more items, the method comprising:

periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items;

periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information;

receiving the sensor information at a tracking center;

determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information; and

periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties,

wherein the determination if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodic transmission of the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties occurs based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein detecting sensor information comprises detecting information regarding at least one of location information, temperature information, or humidity information.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising triggering an alarm in response to the sensor information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein triggering comprises triggering the alarm when the sensor device detects sensor information that exceeds the one or more threshold conditions.

9. A system for tracking one or more items, comprising:

at least one sensor device for detecting sensor information associated with the one or more items; and

a tracking center for receiving the sensor information, transmitted from the at least one sensor device, and storing the received sensor information,

wherein the tracking center determines if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and periodically transmits the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties, and

the tracking center determines if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodically transmits the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties occurs based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor information includes information regarding at least one of location information, temperature information, or humidity information.

11. The system of claim 9, comprising an alarm unit which is triggered in response to the reported sensor data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the alarm unit comprises an alarm unit which is triggered when the sensor device detects sensor information that exceeds the one or more threshold conditions.