Systems, apparatus, non-transient computer readable media, and methods for detecting an operational safety condition within a logistics container using a scanning sensor node
First Claim
1. A scanning sensor apparatus disposed above a storage space within a container that detects an operational safety condition within the container, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing configured to mount within the container and above the storage 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 safety condition program code section for execution by the processing unit;
a scanner operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the scanner is exposed to the storage space within the container from above the storage space, wherein the scanner is configured to monitor the storage space from above the storage space;
a sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the sensor detects if the container is in a closed state;
a wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit; and
wherein the processing unit, when executing the safety condition program code section, is operative toidentify a type of the container,cause the scanner to map a perceived footprint of the identified container,receive mapping data from the scanner, wherein the mapping data represents the perceived footprint,determine the container is in the closed state when the perceived footprint of the container mapped by the scanner exceeds a known footprint associated with the identified type of the container,cause the scanner to monitor the storage space while the container is in the closed state,receive information from the scanner related to monitoring of the storage space while the container is in the closed state,detect a movement within the container while the container is in the closed state based upon the received information from the scanner, the movement being indicative of the operational safety condition, andprovide the wireless communication interface with an alert to be transmitted to a managing node, the alert being associated with the operational safety condition within the container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for detecting an operational safety condition within a container using a scanning sensor node deployed within the container and above a storage space within the container. For example, the method uses the scanning sensor node to sense if the container is in a closed state and monitors the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state. The method then has the scanning sensor node detecting a movement within the container based upon the monitoring of the storage space while in the closed state. Such a detected movement is indicative of the operational safety condition. The method then has the scanning sensor node transmitting an alert to a managing node over a wireless communication interface of the scanning sensor node, where the alert is associated with the operational safety condition within the container.
60 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A scanning sensor apparatus disposed above a storage space within a container that detects an operational safety condition within the container, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing configured to mount within the container and above the storage 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 safety condition program code section for execution by the processing unit; a scanner operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the scanner is exposed to the storage space within the container from above the storage space, wherein the scanner is configured to monitor the storage space from above the storage space; a sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the sensor detects if the container is in a closed state; a wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit, when executing the safety condition program code section, is operative to identify a type of the container, cause the scanner to map a perceived footprint of the identified container, receive mapping data from the scanner, wherein the mapping data represents the perceived footprint, determine the container is in the closed state when the perceived footprint of the container mapped by the scanner exceeds a known footprint associated with the identified type of the container, cause the scanner to monitor the storage space while the container is in the closed state, receive information from the scanner related to monitoring of the storage space while the container is in the closed state, detect a movement within the container while the container is in the closed state based upon the received information from the scanner, the movement being indicative of the operational safety condition, and provide the wireless communication interface with an alert to be transmitted to a managing node, the alert being associated with the operational safety condition within the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An improved method for detecting an operational safety condition within a container using a scanning sensor node deployed within the container and above a storage space defined within the container, the method comprising:
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identifying a type of the container by the scanning sensor node; mapping a perceived footprint of the identified container by a scanner disposed on the scanning sensor node, the scanner being oriented within the container to at least map the storage space from above the storage space; sensing, by the scanning sensor node, if the container is in a closed state when the perceived footprint of the container mapped by the scanner exceeds a known footprint of the identified type of the container; monitoring, by the scanning sensor node, the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state; detecting, by the scanning sensor node, a movement within the container while the container is in the closed state based upon the monitoring of the storage space while the container is in the closed state, the movement being indicative of the operational safety condition; and transmitting an alert to a managing node over a wireless communication interface of the scanning sensor node, the alert associated with the operational safety condition within the container. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor of a scanning sensor node performs an improved method for detecting an operational safety condition within a container using a scanning sensor node deployed within the container and above a storage space defined within the container, the method comprising:
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identifying a type of the container by the scanning sensor node; mapping a perceived footprint of the identified container by a scanner disposed on the scanning sensor node, the scanner being oriented within the container to at least map the storage space from above the storage space; sensing, by the scanning sensor node, if the container is in a closed state when the perceived footprint of the container mapped by the scanner exceeds a known footprint of the identified type of the container; monitoring, by the scanning sensor node, the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state; detecting, by the scanning sensor node, a movement within the container while the container is in the closed state based upon the monitoring of the storage space while the container is in the closed state, the movement being indicative of the operational safety condition; and transmitting an alert to a managing node over a wireless communication interface of the scanning sensor node, the alert associated with the operational safety condition within the container. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification