Concepts for identifying an asset sort location

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11686808-B2
Application number	US-202017111031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2020
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating the sorting of assets to sort locations. In various embodiments, a sort employee scans an indicia using a user device, which stores asset data corresponding to the stored asset. As the sort employee nears a sort location (e.g., a delivery vehicle) with the asset and the user device, the user device automatically communicates wirelessly with a sort location receiver to associate the asset with data indicative of the sort location where the user deposits the asset. In various embodiments, a device may determine whether the user device is proximate the appropriate sort location for the item, and may generate an alert upon a determination that the user device is proximate an incorrect sort location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A handheld user device comprising one or more memory storage areas and one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors of the handheld user device are configured to:
receive asset identifier data from an asset indicia, wherein the asset indicia is associated with an asset;
store the asset identifier data corresponding to the asset;
receive a data signal via a each location device of plurality of location devices, wherein each location device is associated with a corresponding sort location and wherein each data signal indicates the corresponding sort location;
determine a signal strength for each location device of the plurality of location devices associated with a first sort location;
compare the signal strength of each location device of the plurality of location devices against a configurable threshold signal strength; and
based at least in part on determining that the signal strength for one or more of the plurality of location devices satisfies the configurable threshold signal strength:
identify the handheld user device to be at the first sort location; and
associate the first sort location with the asset identifier data.

2. The handheld user device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit the asset identifier data and data identifying the first sort location.

3. The handheld user device of claim 1 , further comprising a scanner configured to receive the asset identifier data by scanning the asset indicia from the asset.

4. The handheld user device of claim 1 , wherein the data signal is broadcast from the corresponding location device from the plurality of location devices within a corresponding communication area, and
wherein the data signal is received while the handheld user device is located within the corresponding communication area.

5. The handheld user device of claim 4 , wherein the corresponding communication area overlaps with the first sort location.

6. The handheld user device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; and
generate an alert indicating whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset.

7. The handheld user device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive data indicating whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; and
generate an alert indicating whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset.

8. A computer-implemented method for associating a sorted asset with a sort
location, wherein the method comprises:
receiving, via a user device, asset identifier data from an asset indicia, wherein the asset indicia is associated with an asset;
storing, via the user device, the asset identifier data corresponding to the asset;
receiving, via the user device, a data signal via a location device of a plurality of location devices, wherein each location device is associated with a corresponding sort location and wherein the data signal indicates a corresponding sort location, the corresponding sort location being a common carrier location where assets are organized for arrival at respective destinations for the assets, or other common carrier locations, as part of one or more shipping operations;
determining, via the user device, a signal strength for each location device of the plurality of location devices associated with a first sort location;
comparing, via the user device, the signal strength of each location device of the plurality of location devices against a configurable threshold signal strength; and
based on determining that the signal strength of at least one of the plurality of location devices satisfies the configurable threshold signal strength:
identifying the user device to be at the first sort location; and
associating the first sort location with the asset identifier data.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising steps for transmitting the asset identifier data and data identifying the first sort location.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the asset identifier data comprises scanning the asset indicia from the asset.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data signal is broadcast from corresponding location devices within a corresponding communication area, and
wherein the location data signals are received while the user device is located within the corresponding communication area.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the corresponding communication area overlaps with the first sort location.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising steps for:
determining whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; and
generating an alert indicating whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising steps for:
receiving data indicating whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; and
generating an alert indicating whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset.

15. A computer program product operable on a user device, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
an executable portion configured to receive asset identifier data from an asset indicia, wherein the asset indicia is associated with an asset;
an executable portion configured to store the asset identifier data corresponding to the asset;
an executable portion configured to receive a data signal via a location device of a plurality of location devices, wherein each location device is associated with a corresponding sort location, and wherein each data signal indicates a corresponding sort location;
an executable portion configured to determine a signal strength for each location device of the plurality of location devices associated with a first sort location;
an executable portion configured to compare the signal strength of each location device of the plurality of location devices against a configurable threshold signal strength; and
an executable portion configured to, based on determining that the signal strength of at least one of the plurality of location devices satisfies the configurable threshold signal strength:
identify the user device to be at the first sort location; and
associate the first sort location with the asset identifier data.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising an executable portion configured to transmit the asset identifier data and data identifying the first sort location.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , the data signal is broadcast from corresponding location devices within a corresponding communication area, and
wherein the location data signals are received while the user device is located within the corresponding communication area.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the corresponding communication area overlaps with the first sort location.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising:
an executable portion configured to determine whether the first sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; and
an executable portion configured to generate an alert indicating whether

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Loverich Scott Alan
• Abebe Ted
• Lagrosa Lawrence A
• Kerslake Richard Allen
• Gray Jonathan C
• Skonberg Carl M

Classifications

• Y04S10/50

  Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications · CPC title

• G01S5/0045

  Transmission from base station to mobile station (G01S5/009 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01S5/0295 Primary

  Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals · CPC title

• G06Q10/0835

  Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers · CPC title

• G06K7/10297

  arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00) · CPC title