Methods, apparatus, and systems for generating a corrective pickup notification for a shipped item using a mobile master node

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016232484-A1
Application number	US-201514978201-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Feb 9, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Improved methods, apparatus, and systems for generating a corrective pickup notification for a shipped item using a mobile master node are described. For example, a mobile master node involved with a delivery of the item (such as a courier's mobile master node) identifies an intended delivery location related to the item. Location circuitry within the mobile master node then detects a current location of the mobile master node. The mobile master node uses the intended delivery location and the current location of the mobile master node to automatically sense an adverse delivery condition related to the item (such as an incorrect location for delivery of the item, moving away from the intended delivery location, or incorrect delivery times for the item based upon deadlines and time ranges for delivery). In response to and based upon the sensed adverse delivery condition, the mobile master node then generates the corrective delivery notification.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An improved system for generating a corrective delivery notification for an ID node enabled item being shipped, the system comprising:
a logistics server that maintains a copy of shipping information related to the item being shipped and the ID node associated with the item being shipped; a mobile master node in operative wireless communication with the server and the ID node, the mobile master node further comprising:
a node processing unit;
a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining delivery notification code for execution by the node processing unit;
location circuitry coupled to the node processing unit, the location circuitry being operative to detect a location of the mobile master node;
a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to access a first wireless communication path to the server; and
a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to access a second wireless communication path to the ID node; and
wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node, when executing the delivery notification code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to
receive the shipping information from the server via the first communication interface,
store the shipping information within the node memory storage of the mobile master node,
identify an intended delivery location associated with the item from the stored shipping information related to the item,
cause the location circuitry to detect a current location of the mobile master node;
automatically determine an adverse delivery condition related to the item based upon the intended delivery location and the detected current location of the mobile master node, and
generate a corrective delivery notification based upon the determined adverse delivery condition related to the item.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the shipping information further comprises an intended delivery time parameter related to the item; and
wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node is operative to automatically determine the adverse delivery condition based upon the intended delivery location, the detected current location of the mobile master node, and the intended delivery time parameter.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the intended delivery time parameter comprises at least one from a group consisting of a delivery deadline for the item being shipped and a delivery time range for the item being shipped.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node is further operative to receive the shipping information from the server over a secure connection established between the server and the first communication interface of the mobile master node.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the secure connection comprises an encrypted exchange of the shipping information from the server to the node processing unit of the mobile master node over the first communication interface.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node is operative to automatically determine the adverse delivery condition by being further operative to automatically sense the adverse delivery condition as an incorrect location for delivery of the item as a result of comparing the identified intended delivery location and the current location of the mobile master node as detected by the location circuitry.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node is further operative to compare the detected current location of the mobile master node to a proximity distance threshold parameter maintained within the node memory storage to automatically sense the incorrect location for delivery of the item, the proximity distance threshold being related to the identified intended delivery location.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node is operative to automatically determine the adverse delivery condition by being further operative to automatically sense the adverse delivery condition as a movement of the mobile master node away from the intended delivery location based upon the identified intended delivery location and the detected current location of the mobile master node.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node interacts with the location circuitry of the mobile master node to determine a movement direction associated with the mobile master node over a period of time; and
wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node is operative to automatically sense movement of the mobile master node away from the intended delivery location based upon a comparison of the determined movement direction and the detected current location of the mobile master node relative to the intended delivery location.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile master node is associated with a courier involved with the delivery of the item.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the mobile master node further comprises a speaker operatively coupled to the node processing unit of the mobile master node; and
wherein the node processing unit is operative to automatically prompt the courier with the corrective delivery notification by being further operative to generate an alert sound on the speaker.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the mobile master node further comprises a user interface operatively coupled to the node processing unit of the mobile master node; and
wherein the node processing unit is operative to automatically prompt the courier with the corrective delivery notification by being further operative to generate electronic feedback for the courier on the user interface of the mobile master node.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic feedback for the courier on the user interface of the mobile master node further comprises a display of at least an instruction not to deliver the item based upon the adverse delivery condition.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic feedback for the courier on the user interface further comprises a display of at least an instruction to alter a current direction of movement based upon the adverse delivery condition.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the instruction to alter the current direction of movement comprises an instruction to move to a specified location.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the specified location comprises a prior location of the mobile master node.

17 . A mobile master node apparatus involved with a delivery of an item being shipped, the apparatus comprising:
a node processing unit; a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining delivery notification code for execution by the node processing unit; location circuitry coupled to the node processing unit, the location circuitry being operative to detect a location of the mobile master node apparatus; a communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to access a wireless communication path; and wherein the node processing unit, when executing the delivery notification code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to
identify an intended delivery location associated with the item from shipping information related to the item,
cause the location circuitry to detect a current location of the mobile master node apparatus;
automatically

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Skaaksrud Ole-Petter

Classifications

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q10/0835

  Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers · CPC title

• H04L67/10

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• G06Q10/0836

  Recipient pick-ups · CPC title