Methods, apparatus, and systems for generating a content-related notification using a container interface display apparatus

• US 11,017,346 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 05/25/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Burch, V, Reuben F., Scott, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elchanti, Zeina
• Application Number:
  US14/993,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/48 Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
• 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: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/18 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 for the management of goods or merchandise
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for generating a content related notification based upon managed logistics information related to a container using a container interface display apparatus. Such a container interface display apparatus records an update to the managed logistics information maintained in a memory of the container interface display apparatus and then accesses at least a portion of the managed logistics information maintained in the memory after recording the update. The container interface display apparatus then detects a notification event based upon the accessed portion of the managed logistics information. Such notification event is related to status information associated with the container or an item stored within the container. The container interface display apparatus then generates the content related notification related the notification event and dynamically displays information related to the content related notification on a display screen of the container interface display apparatus.

Claims

1. An enhanced logistics monitoring system for generating a content related notification based upon managed logistics information related to a container, the system comprising:

a container interface display apparatus removably disposed on one of a plurality of exterior walls of the container, the container interface display apparatus further comprising

a ruggedized housing capable of being removably mounted on the outside of the one of the plurality of the exterior walls of the container through a detachable coupling structure,

a processing unit disposed within the housing,

a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory maintains at least a logistics information management program code section for execution by the processing unit and the managed logistics information, the managed logistics information comprising container data including information identifying the container, contents data including information identifying what is stored in the container, and status information,

an internal sensor coupled to the processing unit and disposed within the container external to the ruggedized housing, wherein the processing unit is further operative to receive condition information from the internal sensor and store the condition information in the memory as part of the status information in the managed logistics information,

a display screen coupled to the processing unit, wherein the display screen is viewable outside the housing and disposed relative to the housing in a configuration oriented away from the one of the plurality of exterior walls of the container when the housing is mounted to the one of the plurality of exterior walls, and

a wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the wireless communication interface provides the processing unit with access to a wireless communication path; and

a second node device in operative communication with the wireless communication interface of the container interface display apparatus over the wireless communication path, wherein the second node device further comprises a logistics data store device for maintaining logistics operation related information involving the container;

wherein the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, when executing the logistics information management program code section, is operative to

maintain the received condition information in the memory as at least part of the status information reflected in the managed logistics information,

record an update to the managed logistics information in the memory,

access at least a portion of the managed logistics information in the memory after recording the update,

detect a notification event based upon the accessed portion of the managed logistics information, wherein the notification event is related to the status information and associated with the container or an item stored within the container,

generate the content related notification related to the notification event,

cause the display screen to provide information related to the content related notification on the display screen, wherein the information related to the content related notification provided on the display screen comprises an identification of the item stored within the container and a location in the container of the item stored within the container,

generate a notification message associated with the content related notification, and

cause the wireless communication interface to transmit the notification message to the second node device over the wireless communication path; and

wherein the second node device is operative to receive the notification message from the wireless communication interface of the container interface display apparatus, and update the logistics operation related information maintained in the logistics data store device based upon the notification message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition information indicates a detected environmental condition within the container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal sensor comprises a motion sensor;

and

wherein the condition information indicates a detected movement in what is stored within the container, wherein the detected movement is sensed by the motion sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal sensor comprises at least a depth sensor exposed to a storage space within the container;

and

wherein the condition information indicates a detected configuration change between at least two mapping scans of what is stored within the container, wherein the mapping scans are generated by the depth sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification event based on the item further comprises a delivery related parameter, and wherein the content related notification comprises an identification of the item and information related to the delivery related parameter.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the delivery related parameter comprises at least one from a group consisting of a delivery date, a delivery time, a delivery shipment category, a delivery service identifier, a delivery mode identifier, and a special handling identifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification event based on the status information further comprises a content status related parameter related to a storage space within the container.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the content status related parameter comprises at least one from a group consisting of information on a detected environmental change within the container, a detected movement within the container, a detected change in a configuration of what is stored within the container.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the information related to the content related notification provided on the display screen comprises one or more scannable objects associated with the item and the content related notification.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises one from a group consisting of a unit load container (ULD) for transport on an aircraft, a storage container area integrated as part of a vehicle, a tractor trailer, and an intermodal container for intermodal shipment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node device comprises a wireless managing node.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node device is further operative to transmit a logistics operation message to a third node device based upon the notification message, the logistics operation message being related to changes to a logistics operation on the container.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the logistics operation message indicates a prioritized unloading operation to be performed on the container as the logistics operation based upon the notification message.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the third node device is related to a delivery service entity that will perform the changed logistics operation based upon the logistics operation message, and wherein the logistics operation message comprises an update notification to the delivery service entity, wherein the update notification relates to the notification event and the item.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the third node device comprises a wireless delivery service entity managing node apparatus.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the third node device comprises a mobile wireless delivery service entity user access device used by logistics personnel associated with the delivery service entity.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second node device comprises a mobile wireless user access device disposed external to the container.

18. A container interface display apparatus for generating a content related notification based upon managed logistics information related to a container, the apparatus comprising

a ruggedized housing capable of removably mounting to an outside surface of one of a plurality of walls of the container through a detachable coupling structure;

a processing unit disposed within the housing;

a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory maintains at least a logistics information management program code section for execution by the processing unit and the managed logistics information, the managed logistics information comprising container data including information identifying the container, contents data including information identifying what is stored in the container, and status information;

an internal sensing device disposed outside the ruggedized housing and within the container;

interface circuitry disposed within the ruggedized housing and coupled to the processing unit, the interface circuitry having a connection through the ruggedized housing for the internal sensing device, wherein the connection of the interface circuitry is operatively coupled to the internal sensing device to receive condition information from the internal sensing device;

a display screen coupled to the processing unit, wherein the display screen is viewable outside the housing and disposed relative to the housing in a configuration oriented away from the one of the plurality of walls of the container when the housing is mounted to the one of the plurality of walls;

a wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the wireless communication interface provides the processing unit with access to a wireless communication path;

wherein the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, when executing the logistics information management program code section, is operative to

maintain the received condition information in the memory as at least part of the status information reflected in the managed logistics information,

record an update to the managed logistics information in the memory,

access at least a portion of the managed logistics information in the memory after recording the update,

detect a notification event based upon the accessed portion of the managed logistics information, wherein the notification event is related to the status information and associated with the container or an item stored within the container,

generate the content related notification related to the notification event, and

cause the display screen to provide information related to the content related notification on the display screen, wherein the information related to the content related notification provided on the display screen comprises an identification of the item stored within the container and a location in the container of the item stored within the container.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the condition information indicates a detected environmental condition within the container.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the internal sensing device comprises at least a motion sensor;

and

wherein the condition information indicates a detected movement in what is stored within the container, wherein the detected movement is sensed by the motion sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein internal sensing device comprises at least a depth sensor exposed to a storage space within the container;

and

wherein the condition information indicates a detected configuration change between at least two mapping scans of what is stored within the container, wherein the mapping scans are generated by the depth sensor on the internal sensing device.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the notification event based on the item comprises a delivery related parameter, and wherein the content related notification comprises an identification of the item and information related to the delivery related parameter.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the delivery related parameter comprises at least one from a group consisting of a delivery date, a delivery time, a delivery shipment category, a delivery service identifier, a delivery mode identifier, and a special handling identifier.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the notification event based on the status information further comprises a content status related parameter related to a storage space within the container.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the content status related parameter comprises at least one from a group consisting of information on a detected environmental change within the container, a detected movement within the container, a detected change in a configuration of what is stored within the container.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the information related to the content related notification provided on the display screen comprises one or more scannable objects associated with the item and the content related notification.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing unit is further operative to

generate a notification message associated with the content related notification;

and

cause the wireless communication interface to transmit the notification message to an external device over the wireless communication path.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the external device comprises a wireless managing node.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the container comprises one from a group consisting of a unit load container (ULD) for transport on an aircraft, a storage container area integrated as part of a vehicle;

a tractor trailer;

an intermodal container for intermodal shipment.

30. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising at least one user input device coupled to the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, wherein the at least one user input device receives input that alters which of the managed logistics information is shown on the display screen as the portion of the managed logistics information.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the external device comprises a mobile wireless user access device disposed external to the container.