Apparatus, non-transient computer readable media, and methods for automatically quantifying space within a logistics container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container

• US 9,576,166 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Burch, Reuben F. V, Cawein, William
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US14/992,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/439
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/18 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/254 Extract, transform and load [ETL] procedures, e.g. ETL data flows in data warehouses
• 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 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Improved methods, non-transient computer readable media, and apparatus are described for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space from above the space. For example, a general method involves detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node. The initiating condition reflects at least an anticipated change within the container (such as an opening of the container, movement, ceased movement, loading/unloading operation, or closing of the container). In response to the activation sensor driven detection of the initiating condition, the scanning sensor node captures a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container and stores the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.

Claims

1. An improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using a scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:

detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container;

in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and

storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step of capturing the snapshot scan further comprises capturing the snapshot scan using a depth sensor on the scanning sensor node, wherein the snapshot scan of the space indicates an approximate available volume left to be filled within a storage portion of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the anticipated change within the container further comprises at least one from the group consisting of an opening of the container, a movement of contents maintained within the container, ceased movement within the container, a loading operation related to the container, an unloading operation related to the container, and a closing of the container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting movement within the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting an environmental change related to the container as the initiating condition using at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting the environmental change further comprises detecting a threshold level of at least one from the group comprising light within the container, temperature within the container, humidity within the container, concussive force related to the container, atmospheric chemical composition change within the container, auditory level change related to the container, barometric pressure within the container, and smoke particle concentration within the container.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container from above the space and within the container.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of periodically capturing further comprises periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, the one or more additional snapshot scans until the scanning sensor node detects a terminating condition from within the container using the activation sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the terminating condition comprises a lack of movement detected within the container over a defined monitoring period.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

detecting a second initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the second initiating condition reflecting at least a further anticipated change within the container after detecting the terminating condition; and

periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, further additional snapshot scans of the space within the container until the scanning sensor node detects a second terminating condition from within the container using the activation sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when a current of the further additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when a current of the one or more additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when the snapshot scan reflects a desired load status of the container.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor of a scanning sensor node performs an improved method for automatically quantifying space within a container using the scanning sensor node disposed within the container and exposed to scan the space within the container from above the space, the method comprising:

detecting an initiating condition from within the container using an activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the initiating condition reflecting at least an anticipated change within the container;

in response to detecting the initiating condition using the activation sensor, capturing a snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container using the scanning sensor node; and

storing the snapshot scan within a memory of the scanning sensor node.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein step of capturing the snapshot scan further comprises capturing the snapshot scan using a depth sensor on the scanning sensor node, wherein the snapshot scan of the space indicates an approximate available volume left to be filled within a storage portion of the container.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the anticipated change within the container further comprises at least one from the group consisting of an opening of the container, a movement of contents maintained within the container, ceased movement within the container, a loading operation related to the container, an unloading operation related to the container, and a closing of the container.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting movement within the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting the initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting an environmental change within the container as the initiating condition using at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein detecting the environmental change further comprises detecting a threshold level of at least one from the group comprising light within the container, temperature within the container, humidity within the container, concussive force related to the container, atmospheric chemical composition change within the container, auditory level change related to the container, barometric pressure within the container, and smoke particle concentration within the container.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising the step of periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container from above the space and within the container.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the step of periodically capturing further comprises periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, the one or more additional snapshot scans until the scanning sensor node detects a terminating condition from within the container using the activation sensor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the terminating condition comprises a detected lack of movement within the container over a defined monitoring period.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

detecting a second initiating condition from within the container using the activation sensor on the scanning sensor node, the second initiating condition reflecting at least a further anticipated change within the container after detecting the terminating condition; and

periodically capturing, using the scanning sensor node, further additional snapshot scans of the space within the container until the scanning sensor node detects a second terminating condition from within the container using the activation sensor.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when a current of the further additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when a current of the one or more additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising generating, by the scanning sensor node, a notification when the snapshot scan reflects a desired load status of the container.

27. A scanning sensor apparatus disposed within a container to automatically quantify space within the container, the apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to mount within the container above the space within the container;

a processing unit disposed within the housing;

a memory disposed within the housing, the memory being operatively coupled to the processing unit and maintaining at least a scanning program code section for execution by the processing unit;

a depth sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the depth sensor is exposed to the space within the container from above the space, wherein the depth sensor operates to capture a snapshot scan relative to the space within the container from above the space;

an activation sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the activation sensor monitors an environmental condition of the space within the container; and

wherein the processing unit, when executing the scanning program code section, is operative to

receive an initiating condition signal from the activation sensor, wherein the initiating condition signal reflects at least an anticipated change to the monitored environmental condition of the space within the container,

in response to receiving the initiating condition signal, cause the depth sensor to capture the snapshot scan of the space within the container from above the space and within the container; and

access the memory to store the captured snapshot scan data within the memory.

28. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 27, wherein the housing is further configured to removably detach from the container after being mounted within the container.

29. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 27, wherein the snapshot scan data indicates an approximate available volume left to be filled of the space within a storage portion of the container captured by the depth sensor.

30. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 27, wherein the anticipated change within the container further comprises at least one from the group consisting of an opening of the container, a movement of contents maintained within the container, ceased movement within the container, a loading operation related to the container, an unloading operation related to the container, and a closing of the container.

31. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 27, wherein the activation sensor comprises at least one from the group comprising a motion sensor that detects movement within the container as the environmental condition, a light sensor that detects a threshold level of light within the container as the environmental condition, a temperature sensor that detects a threshold level of temperature within the container as the environmental condition, a humidity sensor that detects a threshold level of humidity within the container as the environmental condition, a kinetic force sensor that detects a concussive force related to the container as the environmental condition, a chemical sensor that detects an atmospheric chemical composition change within the container as the environmental change, a microphone that detects an auditory level change related to the container as the environmental change, a pressure sensor that detects a barometric pressure within the container as the environmental change, and a smoke sensor that detects a smoke particle concentration within the container as the environmental change.

32. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 27, wherein the processing unit is further operative to cause the depth sensor to periodically capture one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container from above the space and within the container.

33. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processing unit is further operative to cause the depth sensor to periodically capture the one or more additional snapshot scans until receiving a terminating condition signal from the activation sensor.

34. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing unit is further operative to access the memory to store in the memory at least a most recent of the one or more additional snapshot scans.

35. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

receive a second initiating condition from the activation sensor after receiving the terminating condition signal from the activation sensor, the second initiating condition reflecting at least a further anticipated change to the monitored environmental condition of the space within the container;

in response to receiving the second initiating condition signal, cause the depth sensor to periodically capture further additional snapshot scans of the space within the container;

cause the depth sensor to cease capturing the further additional snapshot scans of the space within the container upon receiving a second terminating condition signal from the activation sensor; and

access the memory to store in the memory at least a most recent of the one or more additional snapshot scans.

36. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a wireless communication interface disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the processing unit;

and

wherein the processing unit is further operative to generate a notification message when a current of the further additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container, and cause the wireless communication interface to transmit the notification message.

37. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 32 further comprising a wireless communication interface disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the processing unit;

and

wherein the processing unit is further operative to generate a notification message when a current of the one or more additional snapshot scans reflects a desired load status of the container.

38. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a wireless communication interface disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the processing unit;

and

wherein the processing unit is further operative to generate a notification message when the snapshot scan reflects a desired load status of the container and cause the wireless communication interface to transmit the notification message.

39. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 38, wherein the wireless communication interface is operative to transmit the notification message to at least one of a server system or an operator node device.

40. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 39, wherein the operator node device comprises one from a group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computing device, a laptop computer, and a terminal computing device.