METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING THE DELIVERY OF AN OBJECT TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION

• US 20180260595A1
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, Brinton, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 10,311,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

System and method for collecting object identification data from a plurality of objects that interact with a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, where the vehicle interacts with specific objects at specific geographical positions. An identification sensor is attached to a particular object that is to be delivered to specific location. A record for the object is generated, the record including the identification of the object, the position of the vehicle when the interaction between the object and the vehicle occurs, and the time of the interaction. The record also include a specific target location for delivery of the object. Exemplary interactions include loading/unloading an object from the vehicle. The record may also include additional data about a parameter of the object (such as the object'"'"'s weight, volume, or temperature). An alert is sent to a driver of the vehicle when he approaches a location that is adjacent to the delivery location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of unloading a shipped object at the correct location comprising:

affixing a machine readable token to a plurality of objects, each object having a specific target delivery location;

placing the plurality of objects in a delivery vehicle;

storing in a memory of a computer the specific target delivery location of each object placed in the delivery vehicle;

tracking a current GPS location of the delivery vehicle;

sending a notification alert to a driver of the delivery vehicle when the delivery vehicle is approaching a GPS location that is adjacent to the specific target delivery location for one object of the plurality of objects currently in the delivery vehicle;

removing the object from the delivery vehicle having the specific target delivery location that is closely adjacent to the current GPS location of the delivery vehicle for that particular object;

scanning the token that is affixed to the object as it is removed from the delivery vehicle;

storing in the memory of the computer an indication that the object has been removed from the delivery vehicle; and

storing in the memory of the computer the GPS location of the vehicle at the time the object was removed from the delivery vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

outputting an error alert if the GPS location of delivery vehicle is not adjacent to the specific target delivery location for that particular object during the step of scanning the token affixed to the object as it is removed from the delivery vehicle.