Devices, systems and methods for tracking and auditing shipment items

• US 9,613,332 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BluePoint Mobile Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blue Point Tec LLC
• Inventors: West, Thomas P., Monroe, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TALLMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/590,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20160034846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7605 on discs or drums H04N5/781, H04N5/805, H04N5/83, H04N5/85 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for tracking and auditing shipment items are provided by capturing video of the shipment items handled in a facility. In certain embodiments, tracking devices are disclosed that can be integrated in a platform for material handling vehicle and manufacturing systems. In certain embodiments, tracking devices can provide tracking and auditing of shipment items by using a method of capturing video of shipment items as they are being handled. In certain embodiments, tracking devices can be coupled to video cameras. The video to be captured may be determined based on the information collected and/or commands received in relation to the items. In some embodiments, the method can create metadata and associate video and item information for shipment items handled in a facility. The video and metadata can be accessed through a communication network at a later time for tracking, auditing and other purposes.

Claims

1. A material transport system for tracking shipment items handled in a facility, the system comprising:

a materials handling vehicle that is configured to perform at least one physical operation for loading, unloading, inspecting, or moving shipment items in a facility;

a power supply that is mounted on the materials handling vehicle, wherein the power supply is configured to power the materials handling vehicle; and

a tracking device that is mounted on the materials handling vehicle configured to dynamically retrieve video of the shipment items handled in the facility in coordination with the at least one physical operation performed by the materials handling vehicle, the tracking device being coupled to at least one video camera configured to continuously record video content data in a loop overwriting a buffer using an adaptive video capture procedure, wherein the adaptive video capture procedure selectively generates a concatenated video file from the continuously recorded video content data by dynamically and without manual intervention extracting distinct first and second durations of video content data from the buffer based on the at least one physical operation being performed by the materials handling vehicle and combining the video content data associated with the extracted first and second durations, thereby minimizing memory required to capture video for the handled shipment items,

the tracking device comprising;

a storage medium;

an integrated power and data connector configured to supply power and data to the at least one video camera;

a hardware processor coupled to the storage medium and the integrated power and data connector;

an inverter configured to convert a direct current from the power supply into an alternating current to power the hardware processor;

wherein the hardware processor is configured to;

communicate with a shipment instruction device,

initiate recording from the at least one video camera and cause continued recording for the duration of the buffer until a triggering event is caused, wherein the triggering event comprises a scanning of an optical code located on at least one of the shipment items using an optical code recognition receiver,

in response to the triggering event;

receive action information and item information on the at least one shipment item from the shipment instruction device,

wherein the action information on the at least one shipment item;

corresponds to the at least one physical operation that is performed by the materials handling vehicle, and is associated with the distinct first and second durations of video content data using the adaptive video capture procedure,

determine the first and the second durations of video content data using the adaptive video capture procedure based on the received action information and item information associated with the at least one physical operation,

retrieve first video content data associated with the first duration of the video content data from the buffer,

restart recording from the at least one video camera for the second duration of the video content data by automatically resetting the buffer, thereby dynamically overwriting existing video content data including the first video content data,

retrieve second video content data associated with the second duration of the video content data from the buffer,

associate the action information and item information with the first and second video content data, and

generate the concatenated video file by combining the retrieved first and second video content data using the adaptive video capture procedure and attaching the action information and item information as metadata to the concatenated video file,

cause the concatenated video and the metadata to be stored on the storage medium; and

a transceiver coupled to the hardware processor, configured to transmit the concatenated video file and the metadata to a remote server.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one input/output port coupled to the hardware processor and configured to communicate with a console.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary power source coupled to the hardware processor and configured to supply uninterruptible power to the tracking device and the at least one video camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated power and data connector is a power over Ethernet connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical code is a bar code.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical code is a quick response code.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the item information includes an identifier, dimensions and geographical location.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second durations of video content data are further based on a location where the at least one video camera is placed on the materials handling vehicle.