METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR DETECTING AND RESOLVING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SHIPPED OBJECTS

• US 20140330737A1
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Amber Moriah, Swearingen, Chris, Shirokova, Cheri Bailey
• Granted Patent: US 11,080,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/333
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for resolving a risk associated with a shipped physical object. The methods and servers comprise associating a time with a geographical region. The methods and servers also comprise receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object. In addition, the methods and servers comprise determining that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region. The sensor devices report location data to a server at a first time interval, wherein the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with a time and a geographical region. The sensor devices also receive an indication of a panic mode. In addition, the sensor devices also report location data to the server at a second time interval, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

Claims

1. A method for a shipped physical object, comprising:

associating a time with a geographical region;

receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object; and

determining, using a processor, that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the set of locations fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the set allocations does not contain a location within the geographical region before the time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the set of locations fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the set of locations only contains locations within the geographical region before the time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the time based on an expected arrival time to the geographical region or an expected departure time from the geographical region.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the expected arrival time or the expected departure time based on past travel routes between a most recent location associated with the physical object and the geographical region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set of locations associated with the physical object comprises receiving location data from a sensor device that is within or the physical object.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing a user interface;

enabling a panic button in the user interface based on the determination that the set of locations fails to satisfy the condition; and

enabling a panic mode based on a determination that the panic button is selected.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the set of locations associated with the physical object comprises receiving location data from a sensor device that is within or near the physical object, the method further comprising:

receiving location data from the sensor device at firs e interval;

transmitting an indication of the enabled panic mode to the sensor device; and

receiving, location data from the sensor device at a second time interval associated with the panic muck, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the set of locations associated with the physical object comprises receiving location data from a sensor device that is within or near the physical object, the method further comprising:

reducing a delay at which location data is provided to the user interface in response to the enabled panic mode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical region is a destination or an intermediary shipping facility.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical object is a set of one or more packages, containers, shipped articles, or transport vehicles.

12. A server for a shipped physical object comprising:

a processor; and

memory having instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform operations comprising;

associating a time with a geographical region;

receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object; and

determining, using a processor, that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the determination that the set of locations fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the set of locations does not contain a location within the geographical region before the time.

14. The server of claim 12, wherein the determination that the set of locations fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the set of locations only contains locations within the geographical region before the time.

15. The server of claim 12, wherein the memory has additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the server to:

determine the time based on an expected arrival time to the geographical region or an expected departure time from the geographical region.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the memory has additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the server to:

determine the expected arrival time or the expected departure time based on past travel routes between a most recent location associated with the physical object and the geographical region.

17. The server of claim 12, wherein receiving the set of locations associated with the physical object comprises receiving location data from a sensor device that is within or near the physical object.

18. The server of claim 12, wherein the memory has additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the server:

provide a user interface;

enable a panic button in the user interface based on the determination of the risk associated with the physical object; and

enable a panic mode based on a determination that the panic button is selected.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein receiving the set of locations associated with the physical object comprises receiving location data from a sensor device that is within or near the physical object, wherein the memory has additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the server to:

receive location data from the sensor device at a first time interval;

transmit an indication of the enabled panic mode to the sensor device; and

receive location data from the sensor device at a second time interval associated with the panic mode, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

20. The server of claim 18, wherein receiving the set of locations associated with the physical object comprises receiving location data from a sensor device that is within or near the physical object, wherein the memory has additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the server to:

reduce a delay at which location data is provided to the user interface in response to the enabled panic mode.

21. The server of claim 12, wherein the geographical region is a destination or an intermediary shipping facility.

22. The server of claim 12, wherein the physical object is a set of one or more packages, containers, shipped articles, or transport vehicles.

23. A sensor device comprising:

a sensor;

a transceiver;

a processor; and

memory having instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause t le sensor device to perform operations comprising;

reporting location data, captured by the sensor, to a server using the transceiver at a first time interval, wherein the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with a time and a geographical region;

receiving, using the transceiver, an indication of a panic mode; and

reporting location data, captured by the sensor, to the server using the transceiver at a second time interval, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

24. The sensor device of claim 23, wherein the location data failing to satisfy the condition comprises the location data Wing to contain a location within the geographical region before the time.

25. The sensor device of claim 23, wherein the location data failing to satisfy the condition comprises the location data only containing locations within the geographical region before the time.

26. The sensor device of claim 23, wherein the time is based on an expected arrival time to the geographical region or an expected departure time from the geographical region.

27. The sensor device of claim 26, wherein the expected arrival time or the expected departure time is based on past travel routes between a most recent location associated with the physical object and the geographical region.

28. The sensor device of claim 23, wherein the geographical region is a destination or an intermediary shipping facility.