Apparatus for Protecting a Delivered Parcel

• US 20180220104A1
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Published: 08/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Hall, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/419,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20180220104A1
• 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: G06V 20/10 Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/424 Postal images, e.g. labels or addresses on parcels or postal envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a delivered parcel is described. The apparatus includes a processor, communicatively connected to a network interface connection, a camera, and a non-transitory storage medium. The non-transitory storage medium includes a monitor module, a notice module, a parcel lock module, a detect module, an alert module, and a parcel unlock module. The monitor module monitors the field of vision of the camera for the placement of a parcel. The notice module notifies a control user associated with the apparatus that a parcel has arrived. The parcel lock module indicates that the parcel is being monitored for movement. The detect module detects movement of the parcel. The alert module alerts the control user when a parcel moves. The parcel unlock module indicate that the parcel is allowed to move.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting a delivered parcel, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a network interface connection, communicatively connected to the processor;

a camera, communicatively connected to the processor; and

a non-transitory storage medium connected to the processor, the non-transitory storage medium comprising;

a monitor module, to monitor a field of vision of the camera for the placement of a parcel;

a notice module, to notify a control user associated with the apparatus that a parcel has arrived;

a parcel lock module, to indicate that the parcel is being monitored for movement;

a detect module, to detect movement of the parcel;

an alert module, to alert the control user when a parcel moves; and

a parcel unlock module, to indicate that the parcel is allowed to move.

2. The apparatus in claim 1, further comprising a parcel placement illumination device, to illuminate where a parcel may be placed

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-transitory storage medium further comprises a parcel placement module, to illuminate an anticipated parcel placement region.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the parcel illumination device and camera provide night vision of an area viewable to the camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a speaker.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-transitory storage medium further comprises a deterrent module, to deter potential parcel thieves.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory storage medium further comprises a parcel recognition module, to recognize a parcel in view of the camera.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parcel recognition module recognizes an anticipated parcel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory storage medium further comprises a facial recognition module, to recognize the face of an approved parcel retrieval person.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory storage medium further comprises a receive module, to receive identification information of an anticipated parcel.

11. A method for protecting a delivered parcel, the method comprising:

monitoring a field of vision of the camera for the placement of a parcel;

notifying a control user associated with the apparatus that a parcel has arrived;

indicating that the parcel is being monitored for movement detecting movement of the parcel;

alerting the control user when a parcel moves; and

indicating that the parcel is allowed to move.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, from a control user, a command to lock a parcel for monitoring;

and

locking the parcel for monitoring, the locking parcel for detecting movement.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising deterring, using an alert output device, the package from being moved.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting movement of the parcel includes deterring the package from being moved.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising unlocking the parcel, allowing the parcel to be removed without an alarm.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising recognizing a parcel removal person based on facial recognition.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising recognizing a parcel removal person based on the identity of a wireless technology device.

18. The method of claim 11, illuminating, using an illumination device, an anticipated parcel delivery zone, indicating to a parcel delivery person a place to deliver the parcel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the illumination device comprises a number of lasers.

20. The method of claim 11, monitoring a field of vision of the camera for the placement of a parcel further comprises sensing the proximity of the parcel when the parcel is delivered.