Apparatus, systems, and methods for enhanced interaction with a node-based logistics receptacle and a parcel customer operating a mobile user device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12579504-B2
Application number	US-202318497819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2023
Priority date	Dec 22, 2022
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

A system for enhanced interaction with a node-based logistics receptacle. The system includes a wireless accessory sensor node disposed on the receptacle that monitors at least one of the storage receptacle components of the receptacle to generate internal sensor data, includes a bridge node disposed on the receptacle, and includes an external sensor that is in communication with the bridge node and that is operative to monitor a local environment proximate the receptacle to generate external sensor data. The bridge node includes a processor configured to detect a wireless communication signal, identify the wireless communication signal as corresponding to one of a plurality of anticipated drop off entities, receive the external sensor data, generate carrying confirmation data related to whether a parcel customer is carrying a delivery item, transmit a drop off verification message, receive a drop off verification response message, and transmit an alternative drop off information message.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for enhanced interaction with a node-based logistics receptacle and a parcel customer operating a mobile user device, the node-based logistics receptacle having a plurality of storage receptacle components, the system comprising:
a wireless accessory sensor node disposed on the node-based logistics receptacle, the wireless accessory sensor node having at least one internal sensor that collectively monitors at least one of the storage receptacle components of the node-based logistics receptacle and generates internal sensor data reflecting an interaction with the at least one of the storage receptacle components of the node-based logistics receptacle; and a bridge node disposed on the node-based logistics receptacle, the bridge node comprising
a bridge node processor,
a bridge node memory coupled to the bridge node processor, the bridge node memory maintaining monitoring and management code for execution by the bridge node processor,
a communication interface coupled to the bridge node processor, the communication interface being operative to communicate with at least a backend server; and
an external sensor in communication with the bridge node, the external sensor being operative to monitor a local environment proximate the node-based logistics receptacle and generate external sensor data relative to the local environment proximate the node-based logistics receptacle; and wherein the bridge node processor, when executing the monitoring and management code, is programmatically operative to:
detect, using the communication interface, a wireless communication signal broadcast from the mobile user device operated by the parcel customer,
identify the wireless communication signal as corresponding to one of a plurality of anticipated drop off entities,
receive the external sensor data generated by the external sensor related to the local environment proximate the node-based logistics receptacle,
generate carrying confirmation data related to whether the parcel customer is carrying a delivery item based upon the external sensor data received from the external sensor,
transmit, using the communication interface, a drop off verification message to the mobile user device operated by the parcel customer when the carrying confirmation data indicates the parcel customer is carrying the delivery item, the drop off verification message requesting the parcel customer to verify that the parcel customer intends to place the delivery item with the node-based logistics receptacle,
receive, using the communication interface, a drop off verification response message from the mobile user device operated by the parcel customer, the drop off verification response message indicating the parcel customer does not intend to place the delivery item with the node-based logistics receptacle, and
transmit, using the communication interface, an alternative drop off information message to the mobile user device operated by the parcel customer in response to the drop off verification response message, the alternative drop off information message providing alternative drop off information related to at least one alternative drop off point for the delivery item.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises location information for the at least one alternative drop off point.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises address information for the at least one alternative drop off point.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises a distance to the at least one alternative drop off point.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the distance to the at least one alternative drop off point is less than a distance to at least another alternative drop off point.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one alternative drop off point comprises a closest one from a plurality of alternative drop off points relative to a location of the node-based logistics receptacle.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises directions to the at least one alternative drop off point.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises location information for a second node-based logistics receptacle as the at least one alternative drop off point.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises traffic data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises weather data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises crime data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises seasonal activity data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises wait time data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wait time data comprises historic wait time data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises operational timing data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operational timing data comprises data identifying when items are accepted relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operational timing data comprises closing time data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operational timing data comprises last pickup time data relative to the at least one alternative drop off point.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises information for a staffed facility as the at least one alternative drop off point.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the alternative drop off information comprises information on a plurality of alternative drop off points, a first of the alternative drop off points identifying a staffed facility and a second of the alternative drop off points identifying a second node-based logistics receptacle.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the information on the first of the alternative drop off points further comprises location information on the staffed facility; and
wherein the information on the second of the alternative drop off points further comprises location information on the second node-based logistics receptacle.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the information on the first of the alternative drop off points further comprises closing time data on the staffed facility; and
wherein the information on the second of the alternative drop off points further comprises last pickup time data on the second node-based logistics receptacle.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the information on the first of the alternative drop off points further comprises wait time data on the staffed facility.

24 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge node memory further maintains the alternative drop off information related to at least one alternative drop off

Assignees

• Federal Express Corp

Inventors

• Skaaksrud Ole-Petter

Classifications

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• H04L41/082

  the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality · CPC title

• H04L41/0816

  the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events · CPC title

• H04L41/069

  using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications · CPC title