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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10762465-B2
Application number	US-201414488604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 29, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed:

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 dev

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Skaaksrud Ole-Petter

Classifications

• G01S2205/01

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• H04L67/01

  Protocols · CPC title

• H04L45/22

  Alternate routing · CPC title

• G05D1/43

  Control of position or course in two dimensions [2D] · CPC title

• G05D1/226

  Communication links with the remote-control arrangements · CPC title