Decentralized tracking of packages on a conveyor
First Claim
1. A method of tracking packages on a multi-zone conveyor having a subject zone and a downstream zone, the method comprising:
- receiving, with subject zone circuitry that is dedicated to the subject zone, first package tracking data, wherein the first package tracking data represents a first package;
in response to receiving the first package tracking data, storing the first package tracking data in a subject zone loading registry;
detecting the presence of the first package in the subject zone;
in response to detecting the first package in the subject zone,reassigning the first package tracking data from the subject zone loading registry to a subject zone registry;
receiving, with the subject zone circuitry, second package tracking data, wherein the second package tracking data represents a second package; and
storing the second package tracking data in the subject zone loading registry.
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Abstract
A decentralized tracking system is discussed herein. The decentralized tracking system can be comprised of two or more tracking elements and be used to track packages moving on a conveyor system. Each tracking element can operate independently, despite being highly sophisticated and dynamically coordinated with one or more other tracking elements. The conveyor system can be a modular and/or accumulation conveyor system that has sorting functionality. The decentralized tracking system can be used to divert packages for sortation by, for example, embedding a destination zone into the package'"'"'s tracking data and/or preprogramming conveyor zones to sort specific packages based on a package identifier.
41 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of tracking packages on a multi-zone conveyor having a subject zone and a downstream zone, the method comprising:
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receiving, with subject zone circuitry that is dedicated to the subject zone, first package tracking data, wherein the first package tracking data represents a first package; in response to receiving the first package tracking data, storing the first package tracking data in a subject zone loading registry; detecting the presence of the first package in the subject zone; in response to detecting the first package in the subject zone, reassigning the first package tracking data from the subject zone loading registry to a subject zone registry; receiving, with the subject zone circuitry, second package tracking data, wherein the second package tracking data represents a second package; and storing the second package tracking data in the subject zone loading registry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A package tracking element for a conveyor system, comprising:
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a sensor configured to sense a package; a data storage component, wherein the data storage component includes a loading registry and a zone registry; communications circuitry configured to receive tracking data that represents a package; and decentralized tracking circuitry that is configured to; receive the tracking data; store the tracking data in the loading registry; receive position data from the sensor that indicates the package is being detected by the sensor; and in response to receiving the position data, reassign the tracking data from the loading registry to the zone registry. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A redirection apparatus for a conveyor system, comprising:
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a sensor that detects a package; a data storage component, wherein the storage component includes a loading registry and a zone registry; communications circuitry configured to facilitate downloading of tracking data that represents the package; decentralized tracking circuitry that is configured to; receive the tracking data; store the tracking data in the loading registry; receive position data from the sensor that indicates the package is being detected by the sensor; and in response to receiving the position data; delete the tracking data from the loading registry; and store the tracking data in the zone registry; and redirection circuitry that is configured to; determine whether the package is to be redirected by parsing the tracking data; and in response to determining that the package is to be redirected, send a redirection command to a mechanical transducer. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification