Node-enabled management of delivery of a shipped item using elements of a wireless node network

• US 10,762,465 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• 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): Chen, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Bathy, Ibrahim N
• Application Number:
  US14/488,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• 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 and systems for managing a delivery of an item being shipped are described using a wireless node network having at least an ID node related to the item being shipped, a mobile user access device operative to function as a master node, and a server. The mobile user access device adapted to function as a master node in the network receives shipping information from the server. The shipping information is related to the item being shipped and an identification of the ID node. The mobile user access device then detects a signal broadcast from the ID node as the ID node comes within a communication range of the device. The ID node and mobile user access device are then associated to acknowledge the delivery of the item. Thereafter, the mobile user access device operating as the master node notifies the server about the acknowledged delivery.

Claims

1. An improved method for managing a delivery of an item being shipped using a wireless node network having at least an ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped, a mobile user access device operative to function as a master node, and a server, the method comprising:

receiving, by the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node, shipping information from the server, the shipping information being related to the item being shipped and an identification of the ID node;

detecting, by the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node, an unprompted advertising signal that includes an address of the ID node and a status of the ID node and that is broadcast from the ID node as the ID node comes within a communication range of the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node;

associating the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item, wherein the step of associating the ID node and the mobile user access device further comprises generating association data on the mobile user access device reflecting a new logical connection between the mobile user access device and the ID node and including the address of the ID node and an address of the mobile user access device; and

notifying the server by the mobile user access device operating as the master node, the notification being about the acknowledged delivery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing a preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item, wherein the preauthorized connection is established based on authority granted by the server prior to detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node to avoid the need for the master node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the establishing step further comprises establishing the preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item based upon a previously authorized acceptance condition that occurs automatically when the mobile user access device operating as the master node detects the signal broadcast as the unprompted advertising signal from the ID node.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the establishing step further comprises establishing the preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item based upon a previously authorized acceptance condition that occurs automatically when the mobile user access device operating as the master node is located within a threshold distance from the ID node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing a preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item for automatic payment on delivery purposes, wherein the preauthorized connection is established based on authority granted by the server prior to detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node to avoid the need for the master node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising notifying the server by the mobile user access device operating as the master node, the notification indicating the successfully established preauthorized connection and instructing the server to complete a payment transaction related to the item being shipped at a rate charged lower than if an active prompted connection was established for payment on delivery purposes between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing an active prompted connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item after receiving a prompted acknowledgment of the delivery of the item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing an active prompted connection for payment on delivery purposes between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising notifying the server by the mobile user access device operating as the master node, the notification indicating a successfully established active prompted connection for payment on delivery purposes and instructing the server to complete a payment transaction related to the item being shipped.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs an improved method for managing a delivery of an item being shipped using a wireless node network having at least an ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped, a mobile user access device operative to function as a master node, and a server, the method comprising:

receiving, by the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node, shipping information from the server, the shipping information being related to the item being shipped and an identification of the ID node;

detecting, by the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node, an unprompted advertising signal that includes an address of the ID node and a status of the ID node and that is broadcast from the ID node as the ID node comes within a communication range of the mobile user access device operative to function as the master node;

associating the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item, wherein the step of associating the ID node and the mobile user access device further comprises generating association data on the mobile user access device reflecting a new logical connection between the mobile user access device and the ID node and including the address of the ID node and an address of the mobile user access device; and

notifying the server by the mobile user access device operating as the master node about the acknowledged delivery.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing a preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item, wherein the preauthorized connection is established based on authority granted by the server prior to detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node to avoid the need for the master node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the establishing step further comprises establishing the preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item based upon a previously authorized acceptance condition that occurs automatically when the mobile user access device operating as the master node detects the signal broadcast as the unprompted advertising signal from the ID node.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the establishing step further comprises establishing the preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item based upon a previously authorized acceptance condition that occurs automatically when the mobile user access device operating as the master node is located within a threshold distance from the ID node.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing a preauthorized connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item for automatic payment on delivery purposes, wherein the preauthorized connection is established based on authority granted by the server prior to detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node to avoid the need for the master node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises notifying the server by the mobile user access device operating as the master node, the notification indicating the successfully established preauthorized connection and instructing the server to complete a payment transaction related to the item being shipped at a rate charged lower than if an active prompted connection was established for payment on delivery purposes between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing an active prompted connection between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item after receiving a prompted acknowledgment of the delivery of the item.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of associating further comprises establishing an active prompted connection for payment on delivery purposes between the ID node and the mobile user access device operating as the master node.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises notifying the server by the master node, the notification indicating a successfully established active prompted connection for payment on delivery purposes and instructing the server to complete a payment transaction related to the item being shipped.

19. A system for managing a delivery of an item being shipped using a wireless node network having at least an ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped, the system comprising:

a server; and

a master node in communication with the server, the master node further comprising;

a node processing unit,

a node memory coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit and shipping information related to the item being shipped, the shipping information comprising an identification of the ID node related to and traveling with the item being shipped,

a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the ID node over a short-range communication path, and

a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate with the server over a longer-range communication path; and

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

receive the shipping information from the server,

receive an unprompted advertising signal detected by the first communication interface that includes an address of the ID node a status of the ID node and that is broadcast from the ID node, the signal being detected as the ID node comes within a communication range of the first communication interface,

associate the ID node and the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item by generating association data to be stored on the node memory, the generated association data reflecting a new logical connection between the master node and the ID node and including the address of the ID node and an address of the master node, and

transmit a message over the second communication interface to notify the server about the acknowledged delivery.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the master node comprises a mobile user access device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the mobile user access device comprises one from the group comprising a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet device, a personal area network device, a smartphone device, and a smart wearable device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to associate the ID node and the master node by being further operative to establish a preauthorized connection between the ID node and the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item, wherein the preauthorized connection is established based on authority granted by the server prior to detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node to avoid the need for the master node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to associate the ID node and the master node by being further operative to establish a preauthorized connection between the ID node and the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item for automatic payment on delivery purposes, wherein the preauthorized connection is established based on authority granted by the server prior to detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node to avoid the need for the master node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the ID node.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to associate the ID node and the master node by being further operative to establish an active prompted connection between the ID node and the master node to acknowledge the delivery of the item after the master node receives input from a user of the master node, the input being a prompted acknowledgment of the delivery of the item.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to associate the ID node and the master node by being further operative to establish an active prompted connection for payment on delivery purposes between the ID node and the master node.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the node processing unit is further operative to notify the server over the second communication interface, the notification indicating a successfully established active prompted connection for payment on delivery purposes and instructing the server to complete a payment transaction related to the item being shipped.