TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH CLIENT ASSISTANCE TO HAND-DELIVER A PACKAGE

• US 20200134561A1
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Hedges, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US16/173,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20200134561A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

A transport system includes vehicle-controls for automated-control of a host-vehicle, a communication-device to receive destinations for the host-vehicle and convey fees to a client, and a controller-circuit in communication with the vehicle-controls and the communication-device. The controller-circuit is configured to receive a first-destination of a package, receive a second-destination of the client, convey a base-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination without stopping at the first-destination, convey a reduced-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination that includes stopping proximate to the first-destination and the client delivering the package to the first-destination. If the client agrees, the system operates the vehicle-controls of the host-vehicle to transport the client and stop at a location proximate to the first-destination, then wait while the client hand-delivers the package to the first-destination, and then transport the client to the second-destination.

Claims

1. A transport system, said system comprising:

vehicle-controls operable for automated-control of a host-vehicle;

a communication-device operable to receive destinations for the host-vehicle and convey fees to a client; and

a controller-circuit in communication with the vehicle-controls and the communication-device, said controller-circuit configured to

receive a first-destination of a package;

receive a second-destination of the client;

convey a base-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination without stopping at the first-destination;

convey a reduced-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination that includes stopping proximate to the first-destination and the client delivering the package to the first-destination;

receive an agreement for the reduced-fee from the client; and

in response to receiving the agreement, operate the vehicle-controls of the host-vehicle to transport the client and stop at a location proximate to the first-destination, then wait while the client hand-delivers the package to the first-destination, and then transport the client to the second-destination.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes a digital-map;

and the controller-circuit is configured to access the digital-map to determine the reduced-fee in accordance with a travel-delay caused by delivering the package.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes a digital-map;

and the controller-circuit is configured to access the digital-map to determine the reduced-fee in accordance with a walking-distance between the first-destination and where the host-vehicle stops proximate to the first-destination.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes a camera operable to render an image of the client while the client hand-delivers the package;

and the controller-circuit is configured to store the image.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes a profile of the client, wherein the profile indicates that the client has previously agreed to hand-deliver packages;

and the controller-circuit is configured to select the client when the client has requested transportation and one or more packages are ready for delivery.

6. A controller-circuit for a transport system, said controller-circuit comprising:

a first-port configured to communicate with vehicle-controls operable for automated-control of a host-vehicle;

a second-port configured to communicate with a communication-device operable to receive destinations for the host-vehicle and convey fees to a client; and

a processor in communication with the vehicle-controls and the communication-device, said processor to

receive a first-destination of a package;

receive a second-destination of the client;

convey a base-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination without stopping at the first-destination;

convey a reduced-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination that includes stopping proximate to the first-destination and the client delivering the package to the first-destination;

receive an agreement for the reduced-fee from the client; and

in response to receiving the agreement, operate the vehicle-controls of the host-vehicle to transport the client and stop at a location proximate to the first-destination, then wait while the client hand-delivers the package to the first-destination, and then transport the client to the second-destination.

7. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 6, wherein the controller-circuit includes a third-port configured to communicate with a digital-map;

and the processor is configured to access the digital-map to determine the reduced-fee in accordance with a travel-delay caused by delivering the package.

8. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 6, wherein the controller-circuit includes a third-port configured to communicate with a digital-map;

and the processor is configured to access the digital-map to determine the reduced-fee in accordance with a walking-distance between the first-destination and where the host-vehicle stops proximate to the first-destination.

9. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 6, wherein the controller-circuit includes a fourth-port configured to communicate with a camera operable to render an image of the client while the client hand-delivers the package;

and the processor is configured to store the image.

10. The controller-circuit in accordance with claim 6, wherein the controller-circuit includes a third-port configured to communicate with a profile of the client, wherein the profile indicates that the client has previously agreed to hand-deliver packages;

and the processor is configured to select the client when the client has requested transportation and one or more packages are ready for delivery.

11. A method to operate a transport system, said method comprising:

receiving a first-destination of a package;

receiving a second-destination of a client;

conveying a base-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination without stopping at the first-destination;

conveying a reduced-fee to the client for transportation to the second-destination that includes stopping proximate to the first-destination and the client delivering the package to the first-destination;

receiving an agreement for the reduced-fee from the client; and

in response to receiving the agreement, operating the vehicle-controls of the host-vehicle to transport the client and stop at a location proximate to the first-destination, then wait while the client hand-delivers the package to the first-destination, and then transport the client to the second-destination.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the method includes accessing a digital-map to determine a travel-delay caused by delivering the package;

and

determining the reduced-fee in accordance with the travel-delay.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the method includes accessing a digital-map to determine a walking-distance between the first-destination and

where the host-vehicle stops proximate to the first-destination;

and determining the reduced-fee in accordance with the walking-distance.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the method includes rendering an image of the client with a camera while the client hand-delivers the package;

and

storing the image.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the method includes accessing a profile of the client to determine if the client has previously agreed to hand-deliver packages;

and

selecting the client when the client has requested transportation and one or more packages are ready for delivery.