Detecting a plurality of package types within a node-enabled logistics receptacle

• US 10,102,494 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Kevin H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, Emmett K.
• Application Number:
  US14/492,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 705333
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00256 Delivery operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/02 Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/102 Straps, bands, strings or other elongate elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 : Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 : Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 : using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 : using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 : Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 : ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 : specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 : for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 : Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 : using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 : characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 : characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 : TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 : with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods, computer-readable medium, and apparatus are described for detecting a plurality of package types in the custody of a node-enabled logistics receptacle in a wireless node network. The receptacle detects a first type of package by receiving a signal broadcast from a node within a first node-enabled package prior to sensing a deposit of the first package. The receptacle also detects a second type of package (not a node-enabled package) by sensing a deposit of a second package without receiving a signal broadcast from a node within the second package. The node-enabled logistics receptacle then logs the detections of the first type of package and the second type of package. Then, the node-enabled logistics receptacle notifies another network device within the wireless node network about the logged detection of the first type of package and the second type of package.

Claims

1. A node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus in a wireless node network that detects a plurality of package types, comprising:

a logistics receptacle for receiving and temporarily maintaining custody of one or more packages being shipped, the receptacle having an entrance opening through which the packages are received and an internal storage region where the packages are temporarily and securely maintained until an authorized pickup;

a node assembled with the logistics receptacle, the node further comprising

a node processing unit,

a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit and logged detection information about the plurality of package types,

at least one communication interface coupled to the node processing unit, the at least one communication interface being collectively operative to communicate with another network device in the wireless node network, and

a sensor coupled to the node processing unit and mounted to the logistics receptacle; and

wherein the node processing unit, when executing the code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to

detect a first type of package by receiving a signal broadcast from a node within a first package as the first package approaches the logistics receptacle and before the first package is deposited within the logistics receptacle and prior to sensing a deposit of the first package with the logistics receptacle, wherein the signal is broadcast from the node within the first package without being programmatically requested to respond by the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the first type of package is a node-enabled package,

detect a second type of package by sensing a deposit of a second package with the logistics receptacle without receiving a signal broadcast from a node within the second package, wherein the second type of package is not a node-enabled package, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to detect the first type of package by being operative to receive, via the at least one communication interface, the signal broadcast from the node within the first package where detection by the at least one communication interface occurs within a predetermined time interval prior to when the sensor senses the deposit of the first package within the logistics receptacle,

log the detections of the first type of package and the second type of package as the detection information stored on the node memory storage, and

cause the at least one communication interface to transmit a notification to another network device within the wireless node network about the logged detection of the first type of package and the second type of package.

2. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to receive the signal broadcast from the node within the first package by being operative to associate the node within the first package with the node assembled with the receptacle.

3. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to detect the second type of package by being operative to sense the deposit of the second package within the node-enabled logistics receptacle based upon a sensor signal provided by the sensor to the node processing unit.

4. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 3, wherein the node assembled with the logistics receptacle further comprises an external sensor that monitors an area outside but next to the logistics receptacle.

5. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor further comprises a motion detector coupled to the node assembled with the receptacle, wherein the motion detector senses movement of the first package and the second package as the packages are deposited within the interior storage region and provides the sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the sensed movement.

6. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor further comprises an impact sensor coupled to the node assembled with the receptacle, wherein the impact sensor registers a change in pressure exerted against a bottom surface of the interior storage region in response to an object deposited within the interior storage region and provides the sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the sensed impact.

7. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor further comprises a measurement scale coupled to the node assembled with the receptacle, wherein the measurement scale measures a weight of an object deposited within the interior storage region and provides the sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the measured weight.

8. A node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus in a wireless node network that detects a plurality of package types, comprising:

a logistics receptacle for receiving and temporarily maintaining custody of one or more packages being shipped, the receptacle having

an entrance opening configured to receive one or more of the packages, and

an internal storage region where the packages are temporarily and securely maintained until an authorized pickup;

a node assembled with the logistics receptacle, the node further comprising

a node processing unit,

a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit and logged detection information about the plurality of package types,

at least one communication interface coupled to the node processing unit, the at least one communication interface being collectively operative to communicate with another network device in the wireless node network;

an entrance sensor disposed proximate the entrance opening of the logistics receptacle, the entrance sensor being operatively coupled to the node processing unit and providing an entrance sensor signal to the node processing unit indicative of activity at the entrance opening; and

wherein the node processing unit, when executing the code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to

detect a first type of package by receiving a package signal from a first package over the communication interface as the first package approaches the logistics receptacle and before the first package is deposited relative to the logistics receptacle, the package signal being broadcast from a first transceiver-based node within the first package without being programmatically requested to respond by the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to detect the first type of package by being operative to receive, via the at least one communication interface, the package signal broadcast from the first transceiver-based node within the first package within a predetermined time interval prior to when the entrance sensor senses the deposit of the first package relative to the logistics receptacle,

receive a first indication based on the entrance sensor signal from the entrance sensor indicating a sensed deposit of the first package relative to the logistics receptacle after detecting the package signal from the first package,

receive a second indication based on the entrance sensor signal from the entrance sensor indicating a sensed deposit of a second package relative to the logistics receptacle without receiving a signal broadcast from the second package over the at least one communication interface, wherein the second type of package is not a node-enabled package and the sensed deposit of the second package is a detection of the second type of package,

log the detections of the first type of package and the second type of package as the detection information stored on the node memory storage, and

cause the at least one communication interface to transmit a notification to another network device within the wireless node network about the logged detection of the first type of package and the second type of package.

9. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 8, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to receive the signal broadcast from the node within the first package by being operative to generate association data indicative of a logical association between the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle.

10. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 9, wherein the node processing unit is operative to generate the association data indicative of the logical association between the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle by being operative to generate the association data indicative of a previously authorized association between the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle so that the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle are permitted to securely exchange information about the first package.

11. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an internal storage sensor disposed within the internal storage region, the internal storage sensor being operatively coupled to the node processing unit and providing an internal storage sensor signal to the node processing unit indicative of activity within the internal storage region;

and

wherein the node processing unit is further operative to

receive a first indication based on the internal storage sensor signal from the internal storage sensor about the sensed deposit of the first package relative to the logistics receptacle after detecting the package signal from the first package, wherein the detection of the package signal from the first package and the first indication based on the entrance sensor signal and the first indication based on the internal storage sensor signal collectively reflects the detection of the first type of package, and

receive a second indication based on the internal storage sensor signal from the internal storage sensor about the sensed deposit of the second package relative to the logistics receptacle without receiving a signal broadcast from the second package over the at least one communication interface, wherein the second indication based on the entrance sensor signal and the second indication based on the internal storage sensor signal collectively reflects the detection of the second type of package.

12. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internal storage sensor comprises an impact sensor coupled to the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the impact sensor registers a change in pressure exerted against a bottom surface of the interior storage region in response to an object deposited within the interior storage region and provides the internal storage sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the sensed impact.

13. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internal storage sensor comprises a measurement scale coupled to the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the measurement scale measures a weight of an object deposited within the interior storage region and provides the internal storage sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the measured weight.

14. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an external sensor disposed on the logistics receptacle and focused on an area externally next to the logistics receptacle, the external sensor being operatively coupled to the node processing unit and providing an external sensor signal to the node processing unit indicative of activity externally next to the logistics receptacle;

and

wherein the node processing unit is further operative to

receive a first indication based on the external sensor signal from the external sensor about the sensed deposit of the first package relative to the logistics receptacle after detecting the package signal from the first package, wherein the detection of the package signal from the first package and the first indication based on the entrance sensor signal and the first indication based on the external sensor signal collectively reflects the detection of the first type of package, and

receive a second indication based on the external sensor signal from the external sensor about the sensed deposit of the second package relative to the logistics receptacle without receiving a signal broadcast from the second package over the at least one communication interface, wherein the second indication based on the entrance sensor signal and the second indication based on the external sensor signal collectively reflects the detection of the second type of package.

15. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first indication based on the external sensor signal from the external sensor indicates deposit of the first package externally next to the logistics receptacle, and wherein the external sensor signal reflects that the first package has been stationary for a predetermined period of time;

and

wherein the second indication based on the external sensor signal from the external sensor indicates deposit of the second package externally next to the logistics receptacle, and wherein the external sensor signal reflects that the second package has been stationary for the predetermined period of time.

16. A node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus in a wireless node network that detects a plurality of package types, comprising:

a logistics receptacle for receiving and temporarily maintaining custody of one or more packages being shipped, the receptacle having

an entrance opening configured to receive one or more of the packages, and

an internal storage region where the packages are temporarily and securely maintained until an authorized pickup;

a node assembled with the logistics receptacle, the node further comprising

a node processing unit,

a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit and logged detection information about the plurality of package types,

at least one communication interface coupled to the node processing unit, the at least one communication interface being collectively operative to communicate with another network device in the wireless node network;

an entrance sensor disposed proximate the entrance opening of the logistics receptacle, the entrance sensor being operatively coupled to the node processing unit and providing an entrance sensor signal to the node processing unit indicative of activity at the entrance opening;

an internal storage sensor disposed within the internal storage region of the logistics receptacle, the internal storage sensor being operatively coupled to the node processing unit and providing an internal storage sensor signal to the node processing unit indicative of activity within the internal storage region;

an external sensor disposed on the logistics receptacle and focused on an area externally next to the logistics receptacle, the external sensor being operatively coupled to the node processing unit and providing an external sensor signal to the node processing unit indicative of activity externally next to the logistics receptacle; and

wherein the node processing unit, when executing the code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to

detect a first type of package by receiving a package signal from a first package over the communication interface as the first package approaches the logistics receptacle and before the first package is deposited relative to the logistics receptacle, the package signal being broadcast from a first transceiver-based node within the first package without being programmatically requested to respond by the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to detect the first type of package by being operative to receive, via the at least one communication interface, the package signal broadcast from the first transceiver-based node within the first package within a predetermined time interval prior to when the node processing unit receives a first package deposit indication,

after receiving the package signal via the communication interface, receive the first package deposit indication based on either (a) the entrance sensor signal from the entrance sensor and the internal storage sensor signal from the internals storage sensor or (b) the external sensor signal from the external sensor, wherein the received first package deposit indication identifying a sensed deposit of the first package relative to the logistics receptacle after detecting the package signal from the first package,

receive a second package deposit indication based on either (a) the entrance sensor signal from the entrance sensor and the internal storage sensor signal from the internals storage sensor or (b) the external sensor signal from the external sensor, wherein the received second package deposit indication identifying a sensed deposit of a second package relative to the logistics receptacle without receiving a signal broadcast from the second package over the at least one communication interface, wherein the second type of package is not a node-enabled package and the sensed deposit of the second package is a detection of the second type of package,

log the detections of the first type of package and the second type of package as the detection information stored on the node memory storage, and

cause the at least one communication interface to transmit a notification to another network device within the wireless node network about the logged detection of the first type of package and the second type of package.

17. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 16, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to receive the signal broadcast from the node within the first package by being operative to generate association data indicative of a logical association between the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle.

18. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 17, wherein the node processing unit is operative to generate the association data indicative of the logical association between the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle by being operative to generate the association data indicative of a previously authorized association between the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle so that the first transceiver-based node within the first package and the node assembled with the logistics receptacle are permitted to securely exchange information about the first package.

19. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 16, wherein the internal storage sensor comprises an impact sensor coupled to the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the impact sensor registers a change in pressure exerted against a bottom surface of the interior storage region in response to an object deposited within the interior storage region and provides the internal storage sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the sensed impact.

20. The node-enabled logistics receptacle apparatus of claim 16, wherein the internal storage sensor comprises a measurement scale coupled to the node assembled with the logistics receptacle, wherein the measurement scale measures a weight of an object deposited within the interior storage region and provides the internal storage sensor signal to the node processing unit related to the measured weight.