Sensor based logistics system

• US 8,299,920 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamm, Mark D., Greer, James B., Ost, Daniel A., Ainsworth, Miley E., Murphy, William S., Perry, Zachary S., Skaaksrud, Ole Petter, Milman, Kenneth L., West, Michael R., Jacobs, James Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/566,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.26, 340/539.32, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/426.1, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 340/286.07, 340/517, 455/12.1, 455/432.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 320/101, 119/174, 701/36, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking one or more items. The method may include periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items, and periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information. The method may also include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information. The method may also include transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties. The method may further include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing information regarding shipments, the method comprising the steps of:

periodically receiving from sensor devices condition information associated with shipments, the condition information detected by each sensor device and selected based on a device profile;

associating a sensor information sharing profile with each of a plurality of parties; and

periodically transmitting selected condition information from the sensor devices to select parties based on the sensor information sharing profile associated with each party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving condition information comprises receiving information regarding at least one of location information, temperature information, or humidity information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering an alarm in response to the condition information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the triggering comprises triggering the alarm when the sensor devices detect condition information that exceed one or more threshold conditions.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for managing information regarding shipments, the method comprising:

periodically receiving from sensor devices condition information associated with shipments, the condition information detected by each sensor device and selected based on a device profile;

associating a sensor information sharing profile with each of a plurality of parties; and

periodically transmitting selected condition information from the sensor devices to select parties based on the sensor information sharing profile associated with each party.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein receiving condition information comprises receiving information regarding at least one of location information, temperature information, or humidity information.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, further comprising triggering an alarm in response to the condition information.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the triggering comprises triggering the alarm when the sensor devices detect condition information that exceed one or more threshold conditions.

9. A system for managing information regarding shipments, comprising:

at least one sensor device for detecting condition information associated with the shipments;

a receiver for receiving the condition information from the at least one sensor device; and

a processor for storing the received condition information,

wherein the processor;

associates a sensor information sharing profile with each of a plurality of parties; and

periodically transmits selected condition information from the sensor devices to select parties based on the sensor information sharing profile associated with each party.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition information includes information regarding at least one of location information, temperature information, or humidity information.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an alarm unit which is triggered in response to the received condition information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the alarm unit is triggered when the sensor devices detect condition information that exceed one or more threshold conditions.