Methods, apparatus, and systems for managing logistics information related to a container having a scale

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239802-A1
Application number	US-201614993486-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing logistics information related to a container using a container interface display apparatus. A scanner on the container interface display apparatus identifies an item during loading of the container. An association between the container and the item is recorded in memory of the container interface display apparatus as part of managed logistics information related to the container. A scale within the container detects a weight of the item and sends a signal to the container interface display apparatus indicating the detected weight of the item (which is also recorded in memory as part of the managed logistics information related to the container). Electronic logistics monitor information (e.g., at least a portion of the managed logistics information) is then generated on the display screen of the container interface display apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An improved system for managing logistics information related to a loading operation for a shippable item, the system comprising:
a container used for transporting the shippable item, wherein the container further comprises
a storage space within the container, and
an integrated scale disposed within the storage space to support the shippable item once loaded within the container, wherein the integrated scale generates a signal reflecting a weight of what is supported on the scale; and
a container interface display apparatus removably disposed on an exterior wall of the container, the container interface display apparatus further comprising
a housing removably attached to the exterior wall of the container,
a processing unit disposed within the housing,
a scanner disposed at least partially within the housing, the scanner being operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the scanner is operative to receive an identification signal identifying the shippable item during loading of the container,
interface circuitry coupled to the processing unit and disposed within the housing with a connection to the interface circuitry accessible through the housing, wherein the connection of the interface circuitry is operatively coupled to the integrated scale of the container, the interface circuitry being operative to receive the generated signal from the integrated scale indicating a detected weight of the shippable item once loaded onto the integrated scale,
a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory maintaining at least a logistics information management program code section for execution by the processing unit, wherein the memory is further operative to maintain the managed logistics information related to the loading operation comprising at least (a) an association between the container and the shippable item and (b) the detected weight of the shippable item,
a display screen coupled to the processing unit, wherein the display screen is disposed on the housing in a configuration oriented away from the exterior wall of the container for interaction with logistics personnel loading the container, and
a wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the wireless communication interface provides the processing unit with access to a wireless communication path;
a managing node device in operative communication with the wireless communication interface of the container interface display apparatus over the wireless communication path, wherein the managing node device further comprises a logistics data store device for maintaining information related to the loading operation; wherein the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, when executing the logistics information management program code section, is operative to
identify the shippable item based upon the identification signal received by the scanner,
record the association in memory as part of the managed logistics information after identifying the shippable item,
record the detected weight in memory as part of the managed logistics information based upon the signal received from the integrated scale,
cause the display screen to provide electronic logistics monitor information on the display screen, wherein the electronic logistics monitor information comprises at least a portion of the managed logistics information maintained in the memory,
cause the wireless communication interface to transmit a message to the managing node device, wherein the message relates to the managed logistics information related to the container; and
wherein the managing node device is operative to
receive the message from the container interface display apparatus, and
update the logistics data store device with the managed logistics information as communicated in the message.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the managed logistics information provided on the display screen indicates item-level information on the contents presently loaded within the container.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the managed logistics information provided on the display screen indicates container-level information on what is loaded within the storage space.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the container-level information further comprises at least a current weight of what is loaded within the storage space.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the scanner is operative to capture at least one of a reflected barcode scan signal or an emitted identification device signal as the identification signal identifying the shippable item.

6 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a depth sensing device disposed above the storage space and operative to communicate with the container interface display apparatus through the interface circuitry;
wherein the depth sensing device is further operative to
map the storage space once the shippable item is loaded within the storage space to generate dimensional data reflecting an occupied status of the storage space, and
notify the container interface display apparatus of the occupied status of the storage space based upon the generated dimensional data;

wherein the interface circuitry receives the notification from the depth sensing device and communicates the notification to the processing unit; and
wherein the processing unit is further operative to
receive the communication from the interface circuitry regarding the notification,
determine the occupied status of the storage space based upon the communication,
record the occupied status of the storage space in the memory as part of an update to the managed logistics information related to the container, and
cause the wireless communication interface to transmit an occupied status message to the managing node device, wherein the occupied status message relates to the update to the managed logistics information related to the container.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the managed logistics information further comprises container shipping information.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the container shipping information comprises an inventory of what is intended to be loaded into the container.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the container shipping information comprises location specific information of where the item should be loaded within the container.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the location specific information may relate to the weight of the item.

11 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one user input device coupled to the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, wherein the at least one user input device allowing the logistics personnel to selectively provide input that alters which of the managed logistics information is shown on the display screen as the portion of the managed logistics information.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container used for transporting the shippable item comprises one from a group consisting of a unit load container (ULD) for transport on an aircraft, a storage container area integrated as part of a vehicle; a tractor trailer pulled with a truck; an intermodal container for intermodal shipment.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic logistics monitor information comprises barcode data.

14 . An improved system for managing logistics information related to a loading operation for a shippable item, the system comprising:
a container used for transporting the shippable item, the container further comprising
a storage space within the container for m

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Burch V Reuben F
• Scott Mark E

Classifications

• H04W4/70

  Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] · CPC title

• G06Q10/0838 Primary

  Historical data · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• B65D2590/0083

  Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems · CPC title

• G01F17/00

  Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies (measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B) · CPC title