System and method for context-sensitive delivery notification

• US 9,082,099 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dmitriy Kolchin
• Original Assignee: Dmitriy Kolchin
• Inventors: Kolchin, Dmitriy
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Allen J
• Application Number:
  US14/334,780
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 705/335
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

A method for context-sensitive delivery involves determining, by a computing device, an anticipated delivery time, receiving, by the computing device, from a first delivery-sensing depository, an indication that the first delivery-sensing depository has received a delivery at a time differing from the anticipated delivery time, and alerting, by the computing device, a user regarding the detected delivery.

Claims

1. A method for context-sensitive delivery notification, the method comprising:

detecting, by a first delivery-sensing depository incorporating a first mailbox and at least one first sensor adapted to detect the delivery of parcels, a delivery of a first parcel in the mailbox, using the at least one first sensor;

transmitting, by the first delivery-sensing depository, information indicating the detection to a computing device;

receiving, by the computing device, from at least one second delivery-sensing depository incorporating a second mailbox and at least one second sensor adapted to detect the delivery of parcels, an indication that the at least one second delivery-sensing depository has detected at least one second delivery of a second parcel using the at least one second sensor;

calculating, by the computing device, a probable route of a postal carrier making the at least one second delivery at the at least one second delivery-sensing depository, the probable route including the location of the first delivery-sensing depository and the location of the at least one second delivery-sensing depository;

predicting, by the computer device, using the calculated probable route, a delivery time at the first delivery-sensing depository;

determining, by the computing device, that the detected delivery occurred at a time differing from the predicted delivery time; and

alerting, by the computing device, a user regarding the detected delivery.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising capturing, by the first delivery-sensing depository, using the at least one first sensor, data concerning a postal carrier performing the detected delivery.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, at least one instruction describing a feature of a postal carrier associated with a dangerous parcel;

determining, by the computing device, that the captured data matches the feature; and

alerting, by the computing device, the user that the parcel may be dangerous.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising capturing, by the first delivery-sensing depository, using the at least one first sensor, data concerning a delivery vehicle performing the detected delivery.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, at least one instruction describing a feature of a delivery vehicle associated with a dangerous parcel;

determining, by the computing device, that the captured data matches the feature; and

alerting, by the computing device, the user that the parcel may be dangerous.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

capturing, by the first delivery-sensing depository, data regarding a delivered parcel; and

alerting, by the computing device, the user responsively to the captured data.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein capturing further comprises capturing, using a camera coupled to the first delivery-sensing depository, an image of the parcel.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein capturing further comprises determining, using a scale coupled to the first delivery-sensing depository, the mass of the parcel.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein capturing further comprises scanning, using a code scanner coupled to the first delivery-sensing depository, a code attached to the parcel.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein alerting the user responsively to the captured data further comprises providing the captured data to the user.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein alerting the user further comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, at least one instruction describing a feature associated with a dangerous parcel;

determining, by the computing device, that the captured data matches the feature; and

alerting, by the computing device, the user that the parcel may be dangerous.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein alerting the user further comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, at least one instruction describing a set of features associated with safe parcels;

determining, by the computing device, that the captured data does not match any feature of the set of features; and

alerting, by the computing device, the user that the parcel may be dangerous.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the set of features is a set of codes, and determining further comprises scanning a code attached to the parcel and comparing the scanned code to each code in the set of codes.

14. A system for context-sensitive delivery notification, the system comprising:

at least one delivery-sensing depository incorporating a mailbox and at least one first sensor adapted to detect the delivery of parcels, the at least one delivery-sensing depository configured to transmit information indicating the detection; and

a computing device configured to receive the transmitted information, to receive, from at least one second delivery-sensing depository incorporating a second mailbox and at least one second sensor adapted to detect the delivery of parcels, an indication that the at least one second delivery-sensing depository has detected at least one second delivery of a second parcel using the at least one second sensor, to calculate a probable route of a postal carrier making the at least one second delivery at the at least one second delivery-sensing depository, the probable route including the location of the first delivery-sensing depository and the location of the at least one second delivery-sensing depository to predict by the computer device, using the calculated probable route, a delivery time at the first delivery-sensing depository, to determine that the detected delivery occurred at a time differing from the predicted delivery time, and to alert a user regarding the detected delivery.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising at least one user-interfacing device.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the delivery-sensing depository further comprises a solar power source.