METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATING A LOGISTICS TRANSACTION USING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND ELEMENTS A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK
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Abstract
A node-enabled autonomous vehicle conducting a logistics transaction for a package includes an autonomous vehicle and a mobile master node on the vehicle. The vehicle moves, pursuant to control input, from a first location to a transaction location related to the logistics transaction. The mobile master node has a short range communication interface to communicate with other nodes in a wireless node network and a longer range communication interface to communicate directly with a server in the network. The vehicle'"'"'s mobile master node is operative to receive shipment information from the server that identifies the package and an identification of a node associated with the package; provide a control signal to a control input of the vehicle causing the vehicle to move to the transaction location; and automatically conduct the logistics transaction related to the package if the mobile master node successfully associates with a node associated with the package.
39 Citations
28 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A node-enabled autonomous vehicle that conducts a logistics transaction related to a package, comprising:
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an autonomous vehicle operative to move, in response to control input, from a first location to a transaction location related to the logistics transaction; a mobile master node integrated as part of the autonomous vehicle, the mobile master node being one of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, wherein the mobile master node further comprises; a node processing unit, a node memory coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit, a short-range communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and being operative to communicate with the nodes in the wireless node network; a longer range communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate directly with a server in the wireless network; and wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node, when executing the code maintained on the node memory, is operative to receive shipment information generated by the server, the shipment information identifying the package for the logistics transaction, the transaction location for the logistics transaction related to the package, and an identification of the second node associated with the package, provide a control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle causing the autonomous vehicle to move from the first location to the transaction location, and automatically conduct the logistics transaction related to the package if the mobile master node successfully associates with a node associated with the package. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification