APPARATUS, NON-TRANSIENT COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA, AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY QUANTIFYING SPACE WITHIN A LOGISTICS CONTAINER USING A SCANNING SENSOR NODE DISPOSED WITHIN THE CONTAINER
First Claim
1. An improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:
- detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container;
in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and
storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved methods, non-transient computer readable media, and apparatus are described for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space from above the space. For example, a general method involves detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node. The initiating condition reflects at least an anticipated change within the container (such as an opening of the container, movement, ceased movement, loading/unloading operation, or closing of the container). In response to the activation sensor driven detection of the initiating condition, the scanning sensor node captures a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container and stores the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:
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detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container; in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor of a scanning sensor node performs an improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using the scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:
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detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container; in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A scanning sensor apparatus disposed within a container to automatically quantify space within the container, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing configured to mount within the container above the space within the container; a processing unit disposed within the housing; a memory disposed within the housing, the memory being operatively coupled to the processing unit and maintaining at least a scanning program code section for execution by the processing unit; a depth sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the depth sensor is exposed to the space within the container from above the space, wherein the depth sensor operates to capture a snapshot scan relative to the space within the container from above the space; an activation sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the activation sensor monitors an environmental condition of the space within the container; and wherein the processing unit, when executing the scanning program code section, is operative to receive an initiating condition signal from the activation sensor, wherein the initiating condition signal reflects at least an anticipated change to the monitored environmental condition of the space within the container, in response to receiving the initiating condition signal, cause the depth sensor to capture the snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container; and access the memory to store the captured snapshot scan data within the memory. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification