Concepts for identifying an asset sort location

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9658310-B2
Application number	US-201514741100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2015
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating the sorting of assets to sort locations. In various embodiments, a sort employee scans an asset indicia using a user device, which stores asset data corresponding to the stored asset. As the sort employee nears a sort location (e.g., a delivery vehicle) with the asset and the user device, the user device automatically communicates wirelessly with a sort location receiver to associate the asset data with data indicative of the sort location where the user deposits the asset. In various embodiments, a device may determine whether the user device is proximate the appropriate sort location for the item, and may generate an alert upon a determination that the user device is proximate an incorrect sort location.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location, the system comprising:
a user device configured to be carried by a user; and
one or more location devices associated with a sort location, wherein each of the one or more location devices comprises:
a location device memory; and
one or more location device computer processors configured to:
store location data indicative of the identity of the sort location; and
transmit at least a portion of the location data to the user device; and

the user device comprising:
a user device memory; and
one or more user device computer processors configured to:
receive asset identifier data from an asset indicia, wherein the asset indicia is associated with an asset;
store the asset identifier data corresponding to the asset; and
upon being brought within a communication area associated with the sort location, receive the transmitted portion of the location data from the one or more location devices; and
after receiving at least a portion of the location data transmitted from the one or more location devices, transmit the asset identifier data and the location data.

2. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more user device computer processors are further configured to, at least one of:
after receiving at least a portion of the location data transmitted from the one or more location devices, receive data indicating whether the sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; or
after receiving at least a portion of the location data transmitted from the one or more location devices, determine whether the sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset.

3. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 2 , further comprising:
a control system operatively connected to at least the user device, the control system comprising:
a control system memory; and
one or more control system computer processors configured to:
receive the transmitted portion of the asset identifier data and the location data;
determine, based at least in part on the transmitted asset identifier data and the location data, whether the sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset;
upon a determination that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location for the asset, generate mistake data indicative of the determination;
upon a determination that the sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset, generate confirmation data indicative of the determination; and
transmit the data indicative of the determination to the user device.

4. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 2 , wherein the one or more user device computer processors are further configured to generate an alert indicating that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location upon a determination that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location.

5. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 2 , wherein the one or more user device computer processors are further configured to generate an alert indicating that the sort location is the appropriate sort location upon a determination that the sort location is the appropriate sort location.

6. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 1 , wherein the one or more user device computer processors are further configured to:
upon being brought within a communication area associated with the sort location, establish a communication connection with the one or more location devices.

7. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 3 , wherein the one or more control system computer processors are further configured to generate an alert indicating that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location upon a determination that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location.

8. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 3 , wherein the one or more control system computer processors are further configured to generate an alert indicating that the sort location is the appropriate sort location upon a determination that the sort location is the appropriate sort location.

9. A system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location, the system comprising:
one or more location devices associated with a sort location; and
a user device configured to be carried by a user, the user device comprising:
a user device memory; and
one or more user device computer processors configured to:
receive asset identifier data from an asset indicia, wherein the asset indicia is associated with an asset;
store the asset identifier data corresponding to the asset; and
upon being brought within a communication area associated with the sort location, transmitting at least a portion of the asset identifier data to the one or more location devices;

each of the one or more location devices comprising:
a location device memory; and
one or more location device computer processors configured to:
store location data indicative of the identity of the sort location;
receive at least a portion of the asset identifier data transmitted from the user device; and
after receiving at least a portion of the asset identifier data transmitted from the user device, associate the asset identifier data and the location data.

10. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 9 , wherein:
the one or more location device computer processors are further configured to, at least one of:
after receiving at least a portion of the asset identifier data transmitted from the user device, receive data indicating whether the sort location is an appropriate sort location for the asset; or
after receiving at least a portion of the asset identifier data transmitted from the user device, determine whether the sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset.

11. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 10 , wherein the one or more location device computer processors are further configured to generate an alert indicating that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location upon a determination that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location.

12. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 10 , wherein the one or more location device computer processors are further configured to generate an alert indicating that the sort location is the appropriate sort location upon a determination that the sort location is the appropriate sort location.

13. The system for associating a sorted asset with a sort location of claim 9 , further comprising:
a control system operatively connected to at least the location device, the control system comprising:
a control system memory; and
one or more control system computer processors configured to:
receive the portion of the asset identifier data and the location data;
determine, based at least in part on the received asset identifier data and the location data, whether the sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset;
upon a determination that the sort location is not the appropriate sort location for the asset, generate mistake data indicative of the determination;
upon a determination that the sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset, generate confirmation data indicative of the determination; and
transmit the generated mistake data or confirmation data to the location device; and

wherein the one or more locat

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Loverich Scott Alan
• Abebe Ted
• Lagrosa Lawrence A
• Kerslake Richard Allen
• Gray Jonathan C
• Skonberg Carl M

Classifications

• G01S5/0295 Primary

  Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals · CPC title

• G06Q10/06313 Primary

  Resource planning in a project environment · CPC title

• G01S5/0018

  Transmission from mobile station to base station · CPC title

• G06Q10/0835

  Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers · CPC title

• G01S5/0045

  Transmission from base station to mobile station (G01S5/009 takes precedence) · CPC title