Methods and systems for managing shipped objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12567017-B2
Application number	US-202318488658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2023
Priority date	Aug 7, 2013
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

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 system for shipping a physical object, comprising:
a storage device that stores instructions; a sensor device configured to sense one or more parameters associated with the physical object; and at least one processor that executes the instructions to:
receive, using the sensor device, sensor device data associated with a journey of the object;
input the received sensor device data to a machine learning model trained using one or more historical patterns designated as being indicative of one or more alert conditions;
predict, by executing the machine learning model, a potential alert condition based on the one or more alert conditions;
upon predicting the potential alert condition, modifying settings of the sensor device to receive sensor device data in increased transmission rates;
generate, for display on a graphical user interface of a customer computing device, based on the potential alert condition, an electronic alert notification including at least one of an alternative option or a recommendation; and
display, on the customer computing device, the potential alert condition and the alert notification on the graphical user interface; receive, on the graphical user interface of the customer computing device, a selection of the at least one alternative option or recommendation; and modify the journey based on the received selection.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine learning model is iteratively updated to predict the potential alert condition based on the historical patterns.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise analyzing data to simulate the effects of seasonal weather patterns based on at least one of package contents, sensor device temperature readings, historical weather data, weather forecast data, and historical reports of heat damage.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the machine learning model is trained using the analyzed data.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine learning model simulates the effects of modifying a journey.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine learning model detects undesirable shipping results.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor preprograms data associated with the journey, wherein the data comprises at least one of data ranges, data limits, data trends, or data patterns based on the predicted potential alert condition.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor monitors the sensor data.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the monitored sensor data in the storage device and using a clock to time-stamp the monitored sensor data.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor device further includes first sensor devices that send the monitored sensor data to a second sensor device.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the second sensor device transmits aggregated monitored sensor data received from the first sensor devices.

12 . A method for shipping a physical object, comprising:
receiving, using a sensor device, sensor device data associated with a journey of the object; inputting the received sensor device data to a machine learning model trained using one or more historical patterns designated as being indicative of one or more alert conditions; predicting, by executing the machine learning model, a potential alert condition based on the one or more alert conditions; upon predicting the potential alert condition, modifying settings of the sensor device to receive sensor device data in increased transmission rates; generating, for display on a graphical user interface of a customer computing device, based on the potential alert condition, an electronic alert notification including at least one of an alternative option or a recommendation; and displaying, on the customer computing device, the potential alert condition and the alert notification on the graphical user interface; receive, on the graphical user interface of the customer computing device, a selection of the at least one alternative option or recommendation; and modify the journey based on the received selection.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the machine learning model is iteratively updated to predict the potential alert condition based on the historical patterns.

14 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising analyzing data to simulate the effects of seasonal weather patterns based on at least one of package contents, sensor device temperature readings, historical weather data, weather forecast data, and historical reports of heat damage.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the machine learning model is trained using the analyzed data.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the machine learning model simulates the effects of modifying a journey.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the machine learning model detects undesirable shipping results.

18 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising preprogramming data associated with the journey, wherein the data comprises at least one of data ranges, data limits, data trends, or data patterns based on the predicted potential alert condition.

19 . The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising monitoring the sensor data.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the monitored sensor data in the storage device and using a clock to time-stamp the monitored sensor data.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the sensor device includes first sensor devices and a second sensor device transmits aggregated monitored sensor data received from the first sensor devices.

22 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises determining the recommendation is further based on a user's needs.

23 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the received sensor device data is received during the journey of the object.

Assignees

• Federal Express Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06Q10/083 Primary

  Shipping · CPC title