SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF GOODS

• US 20170351994A1
• Filed: 07/31/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coreorient Oy
• Original Assignee: Coreorient Oy
• Inventors: Waris, Heikki Pekka, Paloheimo, Harri Lauri
• Granted Patent: US 10,699,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

A system and method for managing transportation and storage of packages by crowd sourcing to individuals, including a server; first device and second devices having a proximity interface, with one device including a mobile device of a crowdsourced individual; and a package control device attached to a package. The server and first and second devices having a processor, a memory and a communication network interface. The server and the package control device having transport and storage information, including authentication information to authorize package handover. The server communicates the transport and storage information via the communication network interface with the first or second device, which communicates same over the proximity interface with the package control device. The first or the second device compares the authentication information communicated by the server and the package control device, and authorizes the handover of the package.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for managing transportation and storage of packages by crowdsourcing to individuals, the system comprising:

a server;

a first device;

a second device;

a package control device;

a package;

the server having a processor, a memory and a communication network interface;

the first and second devices having a processor, a memory, a communication network interface and a proximity interface;

the server and the package control device having transport and storage information;

wherein the first or the second device is a mobile device of a crowdsourced individual,

the package control device is attached to the package,

the transport and storage information comprises authentication information employed to authorize a handover of the package,

the server communicates the transport and storage information over the communication network interface with the first or the second device,

the first or the second device communicates the transport and storage information over the proximity interface with the package control device,

the first or the second device compares the authentication information communicated by the server and the package control device, and

the first or the second device authorizes the handover of the package.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the package control device comprises a label with a package identifier,

the authentication information comprises the package identifier,

the proximity interface comprises an optical interface or a short range wireless interface,

the package identifier comprises a barcode, a QR-code, printed or written symbols, an RFID tag or a Bluetooth device,

the first or the second device receives the package identifier from the package control device over the proximity interface, and

the first or the second device determines the authorization of the handover by comparing the package identifier communicated by the server and the package identifier received from the package control device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the package control device is a device having circuitry, a memory, and a short range wireless interface,

the package control device authenticates the transport and storage information using a server key, and

the package control device authorizes the handover of the package.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the first or the second device or the package control device comprising a sensor device;

the first or the second device or the package control device comprising a security device;

the sensor device comprising a clock, a location sensor, an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor or a camera;

the security device comprising a lock or an alarm;

wherein the first or the second device or the package control device determines the handover of the package with the sensor device, and

the first or the second device or the package control device deactivates the security device if the handover is authorized.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the server having a compliance enforcement process;

the transport and storage information comprising compliance information;

the compliance information comprising information of an authorized timing or an authorized location of a handover;

wherein the compliance enforcement process in the server generates compliance information for the transport and storage of the package,

the first or the second device or the package control device performs compliance measurements,

the server or the first or the second device or the package control device generates evaluated compliance information by comparing the compliance information and the compliance measurements,

the compliance enforcement process in the server determines the reliability of the first or the second device based on the evaluated compliance information, and

the server or the first or the second device authorizes a planned handover based on the reliability of the first or the second device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third device;

the third device having a processor, a memory and a proximity interface;

the authentication information comprising authentication information of the third device;

wherein the third device communicates authentication information over the proximity interface with the first or the second device or the package control device, and

the first or the second or the third device authorizes the handover of the package.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first or the second device is a storage device,

the storage device comprises a stationary storage, a storage container, a transport vehicle or a driverless vehicle,

the storage device attaches the package when receiving the package in a handover,

the storage device detaches the package when releasing the package in a handover, and

the attachment of the package to the storage comprises a wire, a strap, a lock, a proximity sensor, a camera or an alarm.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

proximity information;

the proximity information comprising threshold information of proximity distance or timing of proximity entry or exit,

wherein the first or the second device determines the proximity information, and

the first or the second device determines the handover by comparing the proximity information and threshold proximity information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is a process in the first or the second device,

the transport and storage information communicated by the server with the first or the second device comprises transport offer, transport request or transport performance information, and

the server determines the authentication information employed to authorize a handover of the package by comparing the transport offer and the transport request and the transport performance information.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface process;

the user interface process comprising the presentation of the movement or direction of the user of the first or the second device relative to the package;

wherein the first or the second device executes the user interface process to perform the authorized handover of the package.

11. A computer implemented method for managing transportation and storage of packages by crowdsourcing to individuals, the method comprising:

providing a server;

providing a first device;

providing a second device;

providing a package control device;

providing a package;

providing in the server a processor, a memory and a communication network interface;

providing in the first and second devices a processor, a memory, a communication network interface and a proximity interface,

wherein the first or the second device is a mobile device of a crowdsourced individual;

providing in the server and the package control device transport and storage information,

wherein the transport and storage information comprises authentication information employed to authorize a handover of the package;

attaching the package control device to the package;

communicating with the server the transport and storage information over the communication network interface with the first or the second device;

communicating with the first or the second device the transport and storage information over the proximity interface with the package control device;

comparing with the first or the second device the authentication information communicated by the server and the package control device; and

authorizing with the first or the second device the handover of the package.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the package control device comprises a label with a package identifier,

the authentication information comprises the package identifier,

the proximity interface comprises an optical interface or a short range wireless interface,

the package identifier comprises a barcode, a QR-code, printed or written symbols, an RFID tag or a Bluetooth device,

further comprising receiving with the first or the second device the package identifier from the package control device over the proximity interface, and

determining with the first or the second device the authorization of the handover by comparing the package identifier communicated by the server and the package identifier received from the package control device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the package control device is a device having circuitry, a memory, and a short range wireless interface;

further comprising authentication with the package control device the transport and storage information using a server key, and

authorizing with the package control device the handover of the package.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the first or the second device or the package control device comprising a sensor device;

the first or the second device or the package control device comprising a security device;

the sensor device comprising a clock, a location sensor, an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor or a camera;

the security device comprising a lock or an alarm;

determining with the first or the second device or the package control device the handover of the package with the sensor device, and

deactivating with the first or the second device or the package control device the security device if the handover is authorized.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the server having a compliance enforcement process;

the transport and storage information comprising compliance information;

the compliance information comprising information of an authorized timing or an authorized location of a handover;

generating with the compliance enforcement process in the server compliance information for the transport and storage of the package,

performing with the first or the second device or the package control device compliance measurements,

generating with the server or the first or the second device or the package control device evaluated compliance information by comparing the compliance information and the compliance measurements,

determining with the compliance enforcement process in the server the reliability of the first or the second device based on the evaluated compliance information, and

authorizing with the server or the first or the second device a planned handover based on the reliability of the first or the second device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a third device;

the third device having a processor, a memory and a proximity interface;

the authentication information comprising authentication information of the third device;

communicating with the third device authentication information over the proximity interface with the first or the second device or the package control device, and

authorizing with the first or the second or the third device the handover of the package.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first or the second device is a storage device,

the storage device comprising a stationary storage, a storage container, a transport vehicle or a driverless vehicle,

attaching with the storage device the package when receiving the package in a handover,

detaching with the storage device the package when releasing the package in a handover, and

the attachment of the package to the storage comprising a wire, a strap, a lock, a proximity sensor, a camera or an alarm.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

proximity information;

the proximity information comprising threshold information of proximity distance or timing of proximity entry or exit,

determining with the first or the second device the proximity information, and

determining with the first or the second device the handover by comparing the proximity information and threshold proximity information.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the server is a process in the first or the second device,

communicating with the server the transport and storage information with the first or the second device comprises transport offer, transport request or transport performance information, and

determining the server the authentication information employed to authorize a handover of the package by comparing the transport offer and the transport request and the transport performance information.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a user interface process;

the user interface process comprising the presentation of the movement or direction of the user of the first or the second device relative to the package;

executing with the first or the second device the user interface process to perform the authorized handover of the package.