Node-enabled delivery notification using elements of a wireless node network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11227255-B2
Application number	US-201715679561-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2017
Priority date	Nov 29, 2013
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for improved delivery notification using a wireless node network having an ID node related to an item being shipped, a courier master node, a mobile delivery point master node related to a mobile delivery point (e.g., a vehicle), and a server. The mobile delivery point master node detects a signal from the ID node as the ID node approaches the mobile delivery point master node, and responsively determines shipping information related to the ID node, an intended recipient of the shipped item, and the courier master node currently associated with the ID node. The mobile delivery point master node then transmits information on the mobile delivery point master node's current location at the mobile delivery point to the courier master node, and transmits a notification to the identified recipient to inform the intended recipient about the item being substantially near the mobile delivery point.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for delivery notification using a wireless node network having at least an ID node, a courier master node, a mobile delivery point master node, and a server, the method comprising:
detecting, by the mobile delivery point master node, a wireless signal from the ID node that identifies the ID node as the ID node approaches the mobile delivery point master node, the mobile delivery point master node being related to a mobile delivery point, the ID node being disposed with and related to an item being shipped;
determining, by the mobile delivery point master node, shipping information related to the ID node, an intended recipient of the item being shipped, and the courier master node currently associated with the ID node;
transmitting location information by the mobile delivery point master node to the courier master node, wherein the location information comprises a current location of the mobile delivery point master node at the mobile delivery point; and
prior to the item being delivered to the mobile delivery point, transmitting a notification from the mobile delivery point master node to the identified recipient, the notification informing the intended recipient about the item being substantially near the mobile delivery point,
wherein the determining step further comprises:
notifying the server that the mobile delivery point master node and the ID node are associated; and
receiving, by the mobile delivery point master node, responsive information from the server about the shipping information, the intended recipient, and the courier master node currently associated with the ID node, and
wherein the notifying step further comprises notifying the server that the mobile delivery point master node has established an active association with the ID node reflecting an authorized connection between the mobile delivery point master node and ID node.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
associating the ID node and the mobile delivery point master node to acknowledge delivery of the item being shipped; and
notifying the server by the mobile delivery point master node about the acknowledged delivery.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a subsequent notification from the mobile delivery point master node to the identified recipient, the subsequent notification informing the intended recipient that the item has been delivered to the mobile delivery point.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile delivery point comprises a vehicle, and wherein the transmitted location information further comprises context data related to the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the context data related to the vehicle comprises at least one of a vehicular identification, a vehicular color, a vehicular type, a vehicular model, a vehicular make, a parking level, and a parking space number.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is related to the intended recipient and is accessible by delivery personnel associated with the courier master node.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining, by the mobile delivery point master node, an identification of the ID node based upon the detected signal from the ID node, and wherein the determining step further comprises determining the shipping information, the intended recipient, and the courier master node based upon the identification of the ID node.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting the notification further comprises forwarding, by the mobile delivery point master node, the notification to the server to cause the server to send the notification to the intended recipient.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining, by the mobile delivery point master node, that the ID node is within a predetermined range of the mobile delivery point by instructing the ID node to alter an RF transmission power level as the ID node approaches the mobile delivery point before transmitting the notification to the intended recipient.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting updated location information by the mobile delivery point master node to the courier master node.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a warning notification by the mobile delivery point master node to the courier master node if the ID node is determined, by the mobile delivery point master node, to be moving away from the mobile delivery point master node.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor performs a method for delivery notification using a wireless node network having at least an ID node, a courier master node, a mobile delivery point master node, and a server, the method comprising:
detecting, by the mobile delivery point master node, a wireless signal from the ID node that identifies the ID node as the ID node approaches the mobile delivery point master node, the mobile delivery point master node being related to a mobile delivery point, the ID node being disposed with and related to an item being shipped;
determining, by the mobile delivery point master node, shipping information related to the ID node, an intended recipient of the item being shipped, and the courier master node currently associated with the ID node;
transmitting location information by the mobile delivery point master node to the courier master node, wherein the location information comprises a current location of the mobile delivery point master node at the mobile delivery point;
and prior to the item being delivered to the mobile delivery point, transmitting a notification from the mobile delivery point master node to the identified recipient, the notification informing the intended recipient about the item being substantially near the mobile delivery point,
wherein the determining step further comprises:
notifying the server that the mobile delivery point master node and the ID node are associated; and
receiving, by the mobile delivery point master node, responsive information from the server about the shipping information, the intended recipient, and the courier master node currently associated with the ID node, and
wherein the notifying step further comprises notifying the server that the mobile delivery point master node has established an active association with the ID node reflecting an authorized connection between the mobile delivery point master node and ID node.

13. A method for delivery notification using a wireless node network having at least an ID node, a courier master node, a mobile delivery point master node, and a server, the method comprising:
detecting, by the mobile delivery point master node, a wireless signal from the ID node that identifies the ID node as the ID node approaches the mobile delivery point master node, the mobile delivery point master node being related to a mobile delivery point, the ID node being disposed with and related to an item being shipped;
determining, by the mobile delivery point master node, shipping information related to the ID node, an intended recipient of the item being shipped, and the courier master node currently associated with the ID node;
transmitting location information by the mobile delivery point master node to the courier master node, wherein the location information comprises a current location of the mobile delivery point master node at the mobile delivery point; and
prior to the item being delivered to the mobile delivery point, transmitting a notification from the mobile delivery point master node to the identified recipient, the notification informing the intended recipient about the item b

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