Methods and systems for managing shipped objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10984368-B2
Application number	US-201313961518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2013
Priority date	Aug 7, 2013
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for managing shipped physical objects. The methods and systems comprise receiving data associated with a journey of the shipped object and determining, using a processor, alert conditions based on the received data. Alert conditions are representative of risk of damage, loss, or delay associated with the shipped object. In addition, the methods and systems comprise transmitting one or more alternative options for mitigating the alert condition to a user, receiving a selection of one of the alternative options, and modifying the journey based on the received selection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for shipping a physical object, comprising:
receiving data associated with a journey of the object, wherein the data is associated with a sensor device configured to sense one or more parameters associated with the shipped object during the journey;
identifying at least one pattern in the received data;
predicting, using a processor, whether a potential alert condition will occur by comparing the at least one pattern with previously recognized patterns having associated alert conditions, wherein the previously recognized patterns reflect historical data and the alert condition is representative of a risk of damage, loss, or delay associated with the shipped object during the journey;
determining, using the processor, a set of options for mitigating the alert condition, including one or more characteristics associated with each of the determined mitigating options;
transmitting, to a user device, information reflecting the determined mitigating options, and the one or more characteristics associated with each of the determined mitigating options;
transmitting, to the user device, a notification including at least one of the previously recognized patterns that caused the processor to predict that the potential alert condition will occur;
displaying, on the user device, information reflecting the one or more characteristics associated with each of the determined mitigating options, including probabilities of success associated with the mitigating options and advantages or drawbacks of the mitigating options;
receiving, from the user device, a selection of one of the mitigating options; and
modifying the journey using a different mode of transportation selected based on the received selection.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including determining one or more recommendations from the set of options, wherein:
the one or more recommendations highlight a mitigating option having the highest probability of success; and
a graphical indication of the one or more recommendations graphically highlights the mitigating option having the highest probability of success.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probability of success comprises a likelihood that the one or more mitigating options will mitigate the alert condition.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the journey using a different mode of transportation further includes one or more of:
transferring the object to a different carrier,
transferring the object to a different trip,
transferring the object to a different type of vehicle, or
changing shipping speed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a component of a server operated by a shipping carrier, and the user device is associated with a customer of the shipping carrier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert condition is detected before the journey begins.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert condition is detected while the journey is in progress.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the alert condition comprises recognizing, in the received data, a trend or pattern indicative of the alert condition.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
simulating the effects of weather forecasts or seasonal weather patterns on the object,
wherein determining the mitigating options comprises determining at least one mitigating option to mitigate the simulated effects.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
simulating the effect of at least one of the mitigating options on the journey; and
presenting the simulated effect of the at least one of the mitigating options.

11. A server configured to manage a shipped physical object, comprising:
one or more memory devices configured to store executable instructions; and
one or more processors configured to execute the stored executable instructions to:
receive data associated with a journey of the shipped object, wherein the data is associated with a sensor device configured to sense one or more parameters associated with the shipped object;
identify at least one pattern in the received data;
predict whether a potential alert condition will occur by comparing the at least one pattern with previously recognized patterns having associated alert conditions , wherein the previously recognized patterns reflect historical data and the alert condition is representative of a risk of damage, loss, or delay associated with the shipped object;
transmit, to a user device, information reflecting a set of options using the data model for mitigating the alert condition;
transmit, to the user device, a notification including at least one of the previously recognized patterns that caused the one or more processors to predict that the potential alert condition will occur;
cause a display, on the user device, of information reflecting the one or more of the determined mitigating options, including probabilities of success associated with the mitigating options and advantages or drawbacks of the mitigating options;
receive, from the user device, a selection of the one of the mitigating options; cause the sensor device to alter a rate at which the sensor device senses the one or more parameters based on the received selection; and
modify the journey based on the selection.

12. The server of claim 11 , wherein:
the one or more processors is further configured to execute the stored executable instructions to determine one or more recommendations from the set of options;
the one or more recommendations highlight a mitigating option having the highest probability of success; and
the information reflecting the one or more recommendations graphically highlights the mitigating option having the highest probability of success.

13. The server of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to modify the journey by:
transferring the object to a different carrier,
transferring the object to a different trip, transferring the object to a different type of vehicle, or
changing shipping speed.

14. The server of claim 11 , wherein the server is operated by a shipping carrier, and the user device is associated with a customer of the shipping carrier.

15. The server of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors detect the alert condition before the journey begins.

16. The server of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors detect the alert condition while the journey is in progress.

17. The server of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
recognize, in the data, a trend or pattern indicative of the alert condition.

18. The server of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
simulate the effects of weather forecasts or seasonal weather patterns on the shipped object,
wherein the one or more processors determining the plurality of mitigating options comprises determining at least one mitigating option to mitigate the simulated effects.

19. The server of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
simulate the effect of at least one of the mitigating options on the journey; and
present the simulated effect of the at least one of the mitigating options.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method for managing a shipped physical object, comprising:
receiving data associated with a journey of the shipped object, wherein the data is associated with a sensor devi

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Williams Amber Moriah
• Mays Amy
• Shirokova Cheri Bailey
• Veitenheimer John Marshall
• Shoup Jessica Jordan
• Ajmera Surendra

Classifications

• G06Q10/083 Primary

  Shipping · CPC title