Image processing and item transport

• US 9,626,639 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shyp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shyp, Inc.
• Inventors: Gibbon, Kevin, Rummel, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hausmann, Michelle
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENTEZARI, MICHELLE M
• Application Number:
  US14/826,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20150348282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30242 Counting objects in image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/647 by matching two-dimensional images to three-dimensional objects

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to new and useful systems and methods for processing digital images of items to facilitate item transport and/or handling. In some embodiments, a method is provided for operating an image processing and item transport system having a computing system that includes a digital image processing component. In some embodiments, the method can involve the digital image processing component acquiring a digital image and processing the digital image to obtain a digital representation of an item represented in the digital image, to estimate a dimensional size and/or weight of the item represented in the digital image, and to convert the digital image to a format suitable for outputting. In some embodiments, the method can include processing the estimated dimensional size and/or weight to identify personnel and/or equipment capable of transporting the item represented in the digital image, and outputting a transport instruction identifying the personnel and/or equipment capable of transporting the item represented in the digital image.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service being capable of data communications over a communications network, the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service being configured to;

maintain shipping information for a plurality of previous shipments, the shipping information including information that indicates at least a shipping company that shipped the previous shipments, the shipping information further including package weight, a package dimensional size, an origin location, a shipping destination, a transit time, a service level, and/or shipping price for some or all of the previous shipments;

maintain user information for a plurality of users, the user information including user identification information for enabling the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service to exchange electronic communications with users, the user information further including payment information for enabling the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service to collect payment from users; and

maintain courier information for a plurality of couriers, the courier information including courier identification information for enabling the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service to exchange electronic communications with couriers, the courier information further including courier capacity and location information; and

a location-aware, network-connected handheld user device, including;

an image-capture component for capturing a digital image of an item to be shipped;

a location component for determining location information that corresponds to a location of a user;

a communications component for facilitating data communications over the communications network;

a user-input component for receiving user input;

a user-output component for providing visual output;

memory for storing executable instructions; and

a processor being provided in communication with the image-capture component, the location component, the communications component, the user-input component, the user-output component, and the memory; and

an on-demand shipping client application being stored in the memory of the handheld user device, wherein the on-demand shipping client application, when executed by the processor of the handheld user device, is configured to;

output, via the user-output component of the handheld user device, at least one graphical user interface that enables the user to provide, via the user-input component, user input that;

causes the image-capture component of the handheld user device to capture a digital image of the item to be shipped, the digital image being captured prior to packaging of the item; and

corresponds to a shipping destination for the item to be shipped;

query the location component of the handheld user device for location information that corresponds to the current location of the user; and

output, via the communications component of the handheld user device, the digital image of the item to be shipped, the user input that corresponds to the shipping destination, and the location information that corresponds to the current location of the user;

the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service being configured to;

obtain from the handheld user device, via the communications network, the digital image of the item to be shipped and the location information that corresponds to the current location of the user;

use a digital image processing component to process the digital image to determine a physical characteristic of the item to be shipped, the physical characteristic including a weight and/or a dimensional size;

query the courier capacity and location information to identify a courier from the plurality of couriers, wherein the courier is identified based at least in part on a capacity to handle the physical characteristic of the item to be shipped and the current location of the user;

transmit to the courier, via the communications network, a dispatch notification that includes the digital image of the item to be shipped, information that indicates the physical characteristic of the item to be shipped, and information that indicates the current location of the user; and

receive from the courier, via the communications network, a courier response that indicates whether the courier accepts or declines the dispatch notification, wherein the courier response is based at least in part on an evaluation of (i) the item to be shipped as represented in the digital image that was captured prior to packaging and (ii) the information that was determined using the digital image processing component and that indicates the physical characteristic of the item to be shipped, wherein the evaluation of the item as represented in the digital image enables the courier to at least partially verify (a) the information that was determined using the digital image processing component and/or (b) that the item does not include an irregular dimension for which the courier would not have capacity to handle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service is further configured to:

use the image processing component to process the digital image to determine whether multiple items are represented in the digital image.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, if multiple items are represented in the digital image, processing the digital image to determine the physical characteristic involves determining the dimensional size and/or weight of each of the multiple items represented in the digital image.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service is further configured to:

process the dimensional size and/or weight of each of the multiple items represented in the digital image to determine whether the multiple items can be packed together for transport.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing and on-demand pickup dispatching service is further configured to:

use the image processing component to process the digital image to detect identifying information about the item represented in the digital image;

wherein processing the digital image to detect identifying information about the item represented in the digital image involves comparing the digital representation of the item represented in the digital image to stored digital representations of previously shipped items;

wherein the identifying information describes a physical characteristic of the item represented in the digital image and/or or a category of items to which the item represented in the digital image belongs.