Machine-readable delivery platform for automated package delivery

• US 10,650,342 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Shucker, Brian Daniel, Trew, Brandon Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle I
• Application Number:
  US16/268,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20190171994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

A user requests a package delivery from a package delivery system. The package delivery system provides the user with a machine-readable code for display at the delivery location. An aerial delivery device receives, from the package delivery system computing device, information associated with the delivery location of the package. The information comprises information matching the information in the machine-readable code associated with the delivery location and a delivery address. The delivery device secures the package for transporting to the delivery location and transports the package to the delivery address. The delivery device locates the machine-readable code on a display at the delivery address and verifies that the information from the machine-readable code is associated with the package. The delivery device deposits the package on the display.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to deliver packages to specified locations, comprising:

by a package delivery computing system;

transmitting delivery information associated with a delivery location to a delivery device with instructions to deliver a package at a particular location where an image is displayed; and

receiving, from the delivery device, a visual image of the package at the delivery location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery information associated with the delivery location further comprises a GPS location of the delivery location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery information associated with the delivery location further comprises an address associated with the delivery location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery information associated with the delivery location further comprises instructions to locate the image at the delivery location and to deposit the package at the particular location where the image is displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the package delivery computing system, the image to a user associated with the delivery location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the image is transmitted to a user computing device associated with the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is a QR code, or a barcode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the package delivery system, a confirmation from the delivery device that the package has been deposited at the delivery location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is a logo, a picture, or an icon.

10. A system to deliver packages to specified locations, comprising:

a storage device associated with a delivery device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage device to cause the system to;

transmit delivery information associated with a delivery location to a delivery device with instructions to deliver a package at a particular location where an image is displayed; and

receive, from the delivery device, a visual image of the package at the delivery location.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the delivery information associated with the delivery location further comprises a GPS location of the delivery location.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the delivery information associated with the delivery location further comprises an address of the delivery location.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the image is a QR code, a barcode, a logo, a picture, or an icon.

14. A computer program product to deliver packages to specified user locations, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computer cause the computer to;

transmit delivery information associated with a delivery location to a delivery device with instructions to deliver a package to a particular location where an image is displayed; and

receive, from the delivery device, a visual image of the package at the delivery location.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising computer-executable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by the computer cause the computer to transmit the image to a user associated with the delivery location.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the delivery location further comprises a GPS location of the delivery location.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the delivery location further comprises an address of the delivery location.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the image is a QR code or a barcode.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising computer-executable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by the computer cause the computer to receive a confirmation from the delivery device that the package has been deposited at the delivery location.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the image is a logo, a picture, or an icon.