Consignment drop-off at mobile transport units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12298770-B2
Application number	US-201916514663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Jul 16, 2019
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A method performed at a mobile transport unit is disclosed. In the method, parameters are determined by using sensors of the transport unit. The parameters include characteristics of the transport unit and/or characteristics of a consignment transported by the transport unit. In the method, the parameters are transmitted to a routing system, which determines a transport route for the transport unit, a need that waypoints/timing of an existing transport route of the transport unit has to be changed to obtain a changed transport route, or a need for a specific handling of the consignment. In the method, an instruction is received that is a routing instruction from the routing system pertaining to the determined transport route for the transport unit, to a transfer of the consignment from the transport unit to another transport unit, or to how the consignment shall be handled by the transport unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method performed by a mobile transport unit, the mobile transport unit being a truck comprising at least three lockable compartments, the method comprising:
determining, using one or more sensors of the mobile transport unit, one or more characteristics of a consignment that is to be transported or at least temporarily stored by the mobile transport unit and one or more characteristics of the mobile transport unit or of a part thereof;
transmitting, by the mobile transport unit, the one or more characteristics of the consignment and the one or more characteristics of the mobile transport unit to a routing system to enable the routing system to determine, at least based on the one or more characteristics of the consignment and the mobile transport unit, one or more of (i) to (iii):
(i) a transport route for the mobile transport unit, wherein the transport route comprises a sequence of at least two waypoints and an associated timing indicating when the at least two waypoints are reached, a predetermined dwell time at each of the at least two waypoints, and when the at least two waypoints are left, wherein the mobile transport unit rests at at least two waypoints of the at least two waypoints for the predetermined dwell time to allow consignments to be retrieved by recipients and to allow consignments to be dropped off by senders or deliverers regardless of whether any consignments are actually retrieved or dropped off;
the method further comprising receiving an instruction that is a routing instruction from the routing system, the routing instruction pertaining to the determined transport route;
(ii) a transport route for another mobile transport unit, wherein the transport route comprises a sequence of at least two waypoints and an associated timing indicating when the at least two waypoints are reached, a predetermined dwell time at each of the at least two waypoints, and when the at least two waypoints are left, wherein the other mobile transport unit rests at at least two waypoints of the at least two waypoints for the predetermined dwell time to allow consignments to at least one of be retrieved by recipients or be dropped off by senders or deliverers regardless of whether any consignments are actually retrieved or dropped off;
the method further comprising receiving an instruction that is a transfer-related instruction related to a transfer of the consignment from the mobile transport unit to the other mobile transport unit;
(iii) at least one of one or more waypoints or an associated timing of an existing transport route of the mobile transport unit or of another mobile transport unit needs to be changed to obtain a changed transport route, wherein the transport route comprises a sequence of at least two waypoints and the associated timing indicating when the at least two waypoints are reached, a predetermined dwell time at each of the at least two waypoints, and when the at least two waypoints are left, wherein the respective mobile transport unit to which the transport route pertains rests at at least two waypoints of the at least two waypoints for the predetermined dwell time to allow consignments to be retrieved by recipients and to allow consignments to be dropped off by senders or deliverers regardless of whether any consignments are actually retrieved or dropped off;
the method further comprising receiving an instruction that is a routing instruction from the routing system, the routing instruction pertaining to the changed transport route of the mobile transport unit; and

the method further comprising:
processing the instruction.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the consignment has been dropped off at the mobile transport unit by a sender of the consignment or by a delivery entity that failed in delivering the consignment to a recipient directly.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of a current loading status, a current position, a currently planned transport route, or other information on the mobile transport unit are provided via a communication network to assist an entity with a decision on whether to drop off a consignment at the mobile transport unit or not.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the routing system becomes aware of the consignment only when the consignment is dropped off at the mobile transport unit.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile transport unit changes its position at least once a day.

6. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the routing system is enabled to determine, at least based on the one or more characteristics of the consignment and the mobile transport unit: (iii) at least one of one or more waypoints or an associated timing of an existing transport route of the mobile transport unit or of another mobile transport unit needs to be changed to obtain a changed transport route;
the method further comprising receiving an instruction that is a routing instruction from the routing system, the routing instruction pertaining to the changed transport route of the mobile transport unit,
wherein the mobile transport unit is an autonomous driving vehicle, and wherein processing the routing instruction comprises steering the mobile transport unit along at least a part of the determined transport route or of the changed transport route.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the mobile transport unit or of a part thereof comprise one or more of a loading status, a temperature, a humidity, a characteristic of a gas or air contained in the mobile transport unit or in a part thereof.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the mobile transport unit comprises a plurality of lockable compartments, and wherein the loading status is representative of the occupancy of each of the plurality of lockable compartments.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the consignment pertain to one or more of a weight, a size, a form, a type, a temperature, a temperature requirement, a humidity requirement, a requirement concerning the composition of a surrounding gas or air, a susceptibility to damage, a compression requirement, a security requirement, a delivery priority, a delivery time requirement, a sender information, a recipient information.

10. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the routing system is enabled to determine, at least based on the one or more characteristics of the consignment and the mobile transport unit:
a specific handling of the consignment at the mobile transport unit; and
the method further comprising receiving an instruction that is a handling instruction from the routing system related to how the consignment shall be handled by the mobile transport unit,
wherein the specific handling of the consignment at the mobile transport unit pertains to one or more storage conditions of the consignment at the mobile transport unit, and wherein the handling instruction is directed to controlling or affecting the one or more storage conditions.

11. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the routing system is enabled to determine, at least based on the one or more characteristics of the consignment and the mobile transport unit:
a specific handling of the consignment at the mobile transport unit; and
the method further comprising receiving an instruction that is a handling instruction from the routing system related to how the consignment shall be handled by the mobile transport unit,
wherein the specific handling of the consignment at the mobile transport unit pertains to security, and wherein the handling instruction is directed to setting a security level un

Assignees

• Scheer Anja
• Dautz Christoph
• Fischer Lutz
• Deutsche Post Ag

Inventors

• Scheer Anja
• Dautz Christoph
• Fischer Lutz

Classifications

• G05D1/229

  Command input data, e.g. waypoints · CPC title

• G06Q10/0836

  Recipient pick-ups · CPC title

• B65G1/1371

  with data records · CPC title

• G05D1/0212 Primary

  with means for defining a desired trajectory (involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287) · CPC title

• G06Q10/08 Primary

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title