SHARING LOCATION INFORMATION WITH A RECIPIENT

• US 20170337510A1
• Filed: 05/19/2017
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shroff, Sumeet Pradeep, Takahashi, Kenny Takano, Horne, Jeffrey J., Hoffmann, Thomas V., Donohue, Michael J., So, Ferdinand, Pulfrey, Julian, Kerr, Michael, Augsburger, Larry, Brown, Todd, Ruggles, Susan, Hennessy, Shane, Brelesky, John
• Granted Patent: US 11,151,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for tracking an item delivery are provided. In one embodiment, an item is associated with a vehicle (e.g., manned or unmanned terrestrial vehicle, nautical vehicle, and/or aerial vehicle) by updating item data in a database. An item tracking session is then generated based on the item data. Upon the determination that session availability trigger has occurred, access to the item tracking session is provided to a user. Data representing an updated location of the delivery vehicle is then used to update the item data to indicate the current location of the item as the updated location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an item delivery, the method comprising:

associating the item with a vehicle by updating item data in a database;

generating an item tracking session based on the item data identifying a current location of the item;

determining a session availability trigger has occurred;

providing access to the item tracking session to a user in response to determination that the session availability trigger has occurred;

receiving data representing an updated location of the vehicle; and

updating the item data and the item tracking session to indicate the current location of the item is the updated location of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing item transit progress against access level criteria; and

modifying data available via the tracking session upon determining that one or more access level criteria are satisfied.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the item tracking session identifying the current location of the item comprises renderable map data identifying the current location of the item;

wherein updating the item tracking session to indicate the current location of the item is the current location of the vehicle further comprises;

determining multiple access views of the renderable map data, wherein the multiple views comprise at least a wide view of the renderable map data associated with a first range of locations of the vehicle, a moderate view of the renderable map data associated with a second range of locations of the vehicle, and a close view of the renderable map data associated with a third range of locations of the vehicle;

determining that the vehicle is within the second range of locations;

providing the renderable map data corresponding to the moderate view of the map to the user;

determining that the vehicle is within the third range of locations; and

providing the renderable map data corresponding to the close view of the map to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the renderable map data further comprises an icon representing the location of the item, wherein the icon is a first size on the map representing the location of the vehicle and wherein updating the item tracking session further comprises:

determining that the vehicle is within the second range of locations;

changing the icon to a second size in the renderable map data, wherein the second size provides a more specific location than the first size;

determining that the vehicle is within the third range of locations; and

changing the icon to a third size in the renderable map data, wherein the third size provides a more specific location than the first size.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the item tracking session to indicate the current location of the item is the current location of the vehicle further comprises one of:

updating the item tracking session continuously;

updating the item tracking session at least once during a first time period, wherein the first time period comprises a range of one minutes to five minutes;

or

updating the item tracking session at least once during a second time period, wherein the second time period comprises a range of five minutes to fifteen minutes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to the item tracking session to the user comprises:

generating a map access link, wherein selection of the map access link by the user provides renderable map data to the user;

generating a map available notification, wherein the map available notification comprises the map access link; and

delivering the map available notification to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification is delivered to the user using one or more of an email, a short message service, or a notification in a user delivery profile.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the session availability trigger has occurred comprises one or more of:

determining the item is associated with the vehicle;

determining the item is within a delivery time window;

or receiving a request to view the item tracking session from the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a tracking completion signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

restricting the user'"'"'s access to the item tracking session upon receiving a tracking completion signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a tracking completion signal comprises receiving one or more of:

a delivery completed notification;

a delivery not completed notification;

a tracking error notification;

or

a tracking time out notification.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a delivery action request from the user, wherein the delivery action request indicates a desired user change to the item delivery, wherein the desired user change comprises one or more of;

a user selection to intercept the vehicle to accept delivery of the item;

a user selection of a new delivery address for the item;

a user selection to accept delivery of the item at a retail location;

or

a user selection to accept delivery of the item at an access point;

determining that the delivery action request has been granted;

determining that the desired user change to the item delivery has been completed; and

updating the item tracking session according to completed desired change.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a manned terrestrial vehicle, an unmanned terrestrial vehicle, and an unmanned aerial vehicle.

14. An apparatus for tracking an item delivery comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

associate the item with a vehicle by updating item data in a database;

generate an item tracking session based on the item data identifying a current location of the item;

determine a session availability trigger has occurred;

provide access to the item tracking session to a user in response to determination that the session availability trigger has occurred;

receive data representing an updated location of the vehicle; and

update the item data and the item tracking session to indicate the current location of the item is the updated location of the vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

compare item transit progress against access level criteria; and

modify data available via the tracking session upon determining that one or more access level criteria are satisfied.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the item tracking session identifying the current location of the item comprises renderable map data identifying the current location of the item;

wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine multiple access views of the renderable map data, wherein the multiple views comprise at least a wide view of the renderable map data associated with a first range of locations of the vehicle, a moderate view of the renderable map data associated with a second range of locations of the vehicle, and a close view of the renderable map data associated with a third range of locations of the vehicle;

determine that the vehicle is within the second range of locations;

provide the renderable map data corresponding to the moderate view of the map to the user;

determine that the vehicle is within the third range of locations; and

provide the renderable map data corresponding to the close view of the map to the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the renderable map data further comprises an icon representing the location of the item, wherein the icon is a first size on the map representing the location of the vehicle and wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine that the vehicle is within the second range of locations;

change the icon to a second size in the renderable map data, wherein the second size provides a more specific location than the first size;

determine that the vehicle is within the third range of locations; and

change the icon to a third size in the renderable map data, wherein the third size provides a more specific location than the first size.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

update the item tracking session continuously;

update the item tracking session at least once during a first time period, wherein the first time period comprises a range of one minutes to five minutes;

or

update the item tracking session at least once during a second time period, wherein the second time period comprises a range of five minutes to fifteen minutes.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate a map access link, wherein selection of the map access link by the user provides renderable map data to the user;

generate a map available notification, wherein the map available notification comprises the map access link; and

deliver the map available notification to the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the notification is delivered to the user using one or more of an email, a short message service, or a notification in a user delivery profile.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein to determine session availability trigger has occurred the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine the item is associated with the vehicle;

determine the item is within a delivery time window;

or

receive a request to view the item tracking session from the user.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive a tracking completion signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

restrict the user'"'"'s access to the item tracking session upon receiving a tracking completion signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive one or more of:

a delivery completed notification;

a delivery not completed notification;

a tracking error notification;

or

a tracking time out notification.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the program code may be further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a delivery action request from the user, wherein the delivery action request indicates a desired user change to the item delivery, wherein the desired user change comprises one or more of;

a user selection to intercept the vehicle to accept delivery of the item;

a user selection of a new delivery address for the item;

a user selection to accept delivery of the item at a retail location;

or

a user selection to accept delivery of the item at an access point;

determine that the delivery action request has been granted;

determine that the desired user change to the item delivery has been completed; and

update the item tracking session according to completed desired change.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a manned terrestrial vehicle, an unmanned terrestrial vehicle, and an unmanned aerial vehicle.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tracking an item delivery, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program code instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to:

associate the item with a vehicle by updating item data in a database;

generate an item tracking session based on the item data identifying a current location of the item;

determine a session availability trigger has occurred;

provide access to the item tracking session to a user in response to determination that the session availability trigger has occurred;

receive data representing an updated location of the vehicle; and

update the item data and the item tracking session to indicate the current location of the item is the updated location of the vehicle.