Systems, apparatus, non-transient computer readable media, and methods for detecting an operational safety condition within a logistics container using a scanning sensor node

• US 10,546,163 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation), Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Burch, V, Reuben F., Cawein, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Kevin H
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Bathy, Ibrahim N
• Application Number:
  US14/993,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• 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

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.

Claims

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 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.

2. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanner further comprises a plurality of scanning elements configured to monitor the storage space for movement within the storage space from above the storage space.

3. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises a light sensitive sensor oriented towards an opening in the container and configured to detect the light as originating from outside the container, wherein the container is in the closed state when the light sensitive sensor detects the light from the opening at less than a threshold level.

4. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 3, wherein processing unit is operative to receive a signal from the sensor as an indication whether the container is in the closed state.

5. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is operative to receive a signal from the sensor indicating an amount of light detected;

and assess the indicated amount of light detected relative to the threshold level as an indication whether the container is in the closed state.

6. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is operative to cause the scanner to monitor the storage space by being further operative to cause the scanner to periodically map a change in the storage space of the container over time.

7. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement further comprises a changed location of one or more items loaded within the storage space while the container is in the closed state.

8. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 7, wherein the operational safety condition comprises a safety warning related to the changed position of the one or more items.

9. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operational safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.

10. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement indicates that a person located within the storage space is moving while being within the storage space and while the container is in the closed state.

11. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the operational safety condition comprises a safety warning not to ship the container.

12. The scanning sensor apparatus of claim 11, wherein the operational safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.

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:

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.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing step further comprises receiving light on a sensor on the scanning sensor node, the light originating from outside the container and the received amount of the light below a threshold level being indicative of the closed state of the container.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing step further comprises detecting light on a light sensitive sensor disposed on the scanning sensor node, the light sensitive sensor being oriented towards an opening in the container and configured to detect the light as originating from outside the container, wherein the container is in the closed state when the light sensitive sensor detects the light from the opening at less than a threshold level.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring step further comprises using a scanner on the scanning sensor node to periodically map a change in the storage space of the container over time.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the movement further comprises a changed location of one or more items loaded within the storage space while the container is in the closed state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operational safety condition comprises a safety warning related to the changed position of the one or more items.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the operational safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the movement indicates that a person located within the storage space is moving while being within the storage space and while the container is in the closed state.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the operational safety condition comprises a safety warning not to ship the container.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the operational safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.

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:

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.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the sensing step further comprises receiving light on a sensor on the scanning sensor node, the light originating from outside the container and the received amount of the light below a threshold level being indicative of the closed state of the container.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the sensing step further comprises detecting light on a light sensitive sensor disposed on the scanning sensor node, the light sensitive sensor being oriented towards an opening in the container and configured to detect the light as originating from outside the container, wherein the container is in the closed state when the light sensitive sensor detects the light from the opening at less than a threshold level.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the monitoring step further comprises using a scanner on the scanning sensor node to periodically map a change in the storage space of the container over time.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the movement further comprises a changed location of one or more items loaded within the storage space while the container is in the closed state.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the operational safety condition comprises a safety warning related to the changed position of the one or more items.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the operational safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the movement indicates that a person located within the storage space is moving while being within the storage space and while the container is in the closed state.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the operational safety condition comprises a safety warning not to ship the container.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the operational safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.