Methods, apparatus, and systems for transmitting a corrective pickup notification for a shipped item accompanying an ID node moving with a courier away from a master node

An improved system for transmitting a corrective pickup notification related to an item being shipped based upon detected node movement, the system comprising:

• a logistics server that maintains a copy of shipping information related to the item being shipped and an ID node associated with the item being shipped;
• and
• a first master node disposed at a first logistics location, the first master node being in communication with the logistics server and in communication with the ID node associated with the item being shipped, the first master node comprising,
• a node processing unit,
• a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit of the first master node, the node memory storage maintaining delivery notification code for execution by the node processing unit,
• location circuitry coupled to the node processing unit of the first master node, the location circuitry being operative to detect a current location of the first master node that is the first logistics location,
• a first communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to access a first wireless communication path connecting the first master node with at least the ID node associated with the item being shipped, and
• a second communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to access a second wireless communication path connecting the first master node with the logistics server, the first wireless communication path being distinct from the second wireless communication path;
• wherein the logistics server is operative to transmit the shipping information to the first master node using a message transmitted over the second wireless communications path;
• and
• wherein the node processing unit of the first master node, when executing the delivery notification code, is operative to
• receive the shipping information from the logistics server over the second communication interface;
• identify an intended pickup master node that is distinct from the first master node from the shipping information received from the logistics server;
• identify a location of the ID node over a period of time;
• detect whether the location of the ID node over the period of time indicates the item is moving away from the first logistics location of the first master node;
• identify a courier master node accompanying the ID node as the ID node moves away from the first logistics location;
• automatically sense an adverse pickup condition related to the item when the identified courier master node does not correspond to the intended pickup master node and the detected location of the ID node over the period of time indicates the item is moving away from the first logistics location of the first master node;
• and
• transmit the corrective pickup notification to a second logistics related device based upon the adverse pickup condition sensed.

A master node apparatus disposed at a first logistics location that transmits a corrective pickup notification related to an item being shipped based upon detected movement, 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 current location of the master node apparatus that is the first logistics location;
• a communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to access a first wireless communication path connecting the master node apparatus with at least an ID node associated with the item being shipped;
• and
• wherein the node processing unit, when executing the delivery notification code maintained on the node memory storage, is operative to
• receive shipping information related to the item;
• identify an intended pickup master node that is distinct from the first master node from the shipping information;
• identify a location of the ID node associated with the item;
• detect whether the location of the ID node over a period of time indicates the item is moving away from the first logistics location;
• identify a courier master node accompanying the ID node as the ID node moves away from the first logistics location;
• automatically sense an adverse pickup condition related to the item when the identified courier master node does not correspond to the intended pickup master node and the detected location of the ID node over the period of time indicates the item is moving away from the first logistics location;
• and
• transmit the corrective pickup notification to a second logistics related device based upon the adverse pickup condition sensed.

An improved movement-based method for transmitting a corrective pickup notification related to an item being shipped, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first master node at a first location, shipping information related to the item;
• identifying, by the first master node, an intended pickup master node that is distinct from the first master node from the shipping information;
• identifying, by the first master node, a location of an ID node associated with the item;
• detecting, by the first master node, whether the location of the ID node over a period of time indicates the item is moving away from the first location;
• identifying, by the first master node, a courier master node accompanying the ID node as the ID node moves away from the first location;
• automatically sensing, by the first master node, an adverse pickup condition related to the item when the identified courier master node does not correspond to the intended pickup master node and the detected location of the ID node over the period of time indicates the item is moving away from the first location;
• and
• transmitting, by the first master node to a second logistics device, the corrective pickup notification based upon the adverse pickup condition sensed.