# US 10,872,365 B2 · Supply-chain side assistance

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- Number: US 10,872,365 B2
- Document ID: US10872365B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/568,040
- Filed: 2019-09-11
- Published: 2020-01-02
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2004-09-30
- Assignees: Uber Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Uber Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; Mark A. Malamud; John D. Rinaldo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872365B2

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0605: {Pooling transaction partners, e.g. group buying or group selling}
- G06F 9/453: {Help systems}
- G06Q 30/0207: Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
- G06Q 30/0241: Advertisements
- H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06)
- H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system that identifies an item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to a signal indicative of the item, obtains a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source; and aggregates the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a supply-chain for supplying items from a source to final delivery, a computer-implemented method for enhancing supply-chain assistance, comprising:
providing a plurality of locations and conveyances, wherein each location and conveyance has its own independent domain and a computer system in communication with a network and operably coupled to one or more sensors associated with the location or conveyance and configured to provide signals indicative of aspects of items;
receiving a signal from the one or more sensors indicative of an aspect of the items or location of the items on a premises of the location, the one or more sensors comprising at least one sensor parameter operable to receive the aspect of the items and provide the signal indicative of the aspect of the items, the aspect of the items comprising at least one of an optical aspect of the items, an acoustic aspect of the items, a magnetic aspect of the items, an electromagnetic aspect of the items, an alphanumeric aspect of the items, and an electronically transmitted designator aspect of the items, wherein the signal is received in an absence of a received user input;
identifying items having a presence in a geographic locale using the signal when the items are present in the location or conveyance;
storing associated information for the items, the associated information including (i) when a particular item was present, and (ii) storing conditions associated with the presence of the particular item, wherein the storing conditions comprise temperature, vibration, or shock limitations;
receiving a supply chain assistance request with respect to the particular item from a requesting user;
in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, obtaining, over the network, a first instance of supply-chain assistance, the first instance providing a first history of the particular item at a first one of the plurality of locations or conveyances during the presence of the particular item in the supply chain, and corresponding to the particular item from a first one of the independent domains of the plurality of locations and conveyances, the first history comprising an identification of the items, when the items are present in the location or conveyance, and the associated information;
in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, obtaining a second instance of supply-chain assistance, the second instance providing a second history of the particular item at a second one of the plurality of locations or conveyances during the presence of the particular item in the supply chain, and corresponding to the particular item from a second one of the independent domains of the plurality of locations and conveyances, the second history comprising the identification of the items, when the items are present in the location or conveyance, and the associated information; and
aggregating the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance into a user interface for the requesting user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the items having the presence within the geographic locale includes identifying at least one of a product, a raw material, or a manufactured good having a presence within the geographic locale.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the items having the presence within the geographic locale includes identifying an item having a presence within at least one of a distribution center premises, a retail store storage premises, or a warehouse premises.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the items having the presence within the geographic locale includes identifying an item having a presence within at least one of a seagoing vessel, a surface vehicle, or an aircraft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first instance of supply-chain assistance is obtained over a network that includes at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, a private network, a public network, or the Internet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second domain is independent from the first domain.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first instance of supply-chain assistance is obtained from a third party database.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first instance of supply-chain assistance is obtained from at least one of a trade association and a regulatory agency.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first instance of supply-chain assistance corresponds to at least one of security interest information, commercial interest information, product recall information, sales promotion information, retail coupon information, retail rebate information, retail pricing information, retail merchandising information, grey market status information, stolen property status information, advertising campaign information, transportation information, storage information, handling information.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein aggregating the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance includes translating one or both of the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance using a mutually agreed protocol.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein aggregating the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance includes translating one or both of the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance from a first native data format.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising: broadcasting the aggregated first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance.

### Claim 13

A system for enhancing supply-chain assistance in a supply-chain for supplying items from a source to final delivery, the system comprising:
a computing device operably coupled to one or more sensors configured to provide signals indicative of aspects of items associated with a location or conveyance of a plurality of locations and conveyances, wherein each location and conveyance has its own independent domain and the computing device is operable to access a network;
a memory storing instructions that when executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to:
receive a signal from the one or more sensors indicative of an aspect of the items or location of the items on a premises of the location, the one or more sensors comprising at least one sensor parameter operable to receive the aspect of the items and provide the signal indicative of the aspect of the items, the aspect of the items comprising at least one of an optical aspect of the items, an acoustic aspect of the items, a magnetic aspect of the items, an electromagnetic aspect of the items, an alphanumeric aspect of the items, and an electronically transmitted designator aspect of the items, wherein the signal is received in an absence of a received user input;
identify items having a presence in a geographic locale using the signal when the items are present in the location or conveyance;
store associated information for the items, the associated information including (i) when a particular item was present, and (ii) storing conditions associated with the presence of the particular item, wherein the storing conditions comprise temperature, vibration, or shock limitations;
receive a supply chain assistance request with respect to the particular item from a requesting user;
in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, obtain, over the network, a first instance of supply-chain assistance, the first instance providing a first history of the particular item at a first one of the plurality of locations or conveyances during the presence of the particular item in the supply chain, and corresponding to the particular item from a first one of the independent domains of the plurality of locations and conveyances, the first history comprising an identification of the items, when the items are present in the location or conveyance, and the associated information;
in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, obtain a second instance of supply-chain assistance, the second instance providing a second history of the particular item at a second one of the plurality of locations or conveyances during the presence of the particular item in the supply chain, and corresponding to the particular item from a second one of the independent domains of the plurality of locations and conveyances, the second history comprising the identification of the items, when the items are present in the location or conveyance, and the associated information; and
aggregate the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance into a user interface for the requesting user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein identifying the items having the presence within the geographic locale includes identifying at least one of a product, a raw material, or a manufactured good having a presence within the geographic locale.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein identifying the items having the presence within the geographic locale includes identifying an item having a presence within at least one of a distribution center premises, a retail store storage premises, or a warehouse premises.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein identifying the items having the presence within the geographic locale includes identifying an item having a presence within at least one of a seagoing vessel, a surface vehicle, or an aircraft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the second domain is independent from the first domain.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first instance of supply-chain assistance corresponds to at least one of security interest information, commercial interest information, product recall information, sales promotion information, retail coupon information, retail rebate information, retail pricing information, retail merchandising information, grey market status information, stolen property status information, advertising campaign information, transportation information, storage information, handling information.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein aggregating the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance includes translating one or both of the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain using a mutually agreed protocol.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein aggregating the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance includes translating one or both of the first instance of supply-chain assistance and the second instance of supply-chain assistance from a first native data format.