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US 11,887,205 B2Granted
Beacon enabled distribution items
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsRyan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, Jr., James E. Lee, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods of tracking distribution items using hardware components on or in the distribution items. Shippers and recipients of distribution items can track or locate a distribution item, especially a high value item, if the distribution item is lost, misrouted, or delayed.
Claims20
A system for automatically tracking the status of a distribution item comprising:
- a plurality of distribution items at a plurality of distribution facilities and a plurality of beacons each of the plurality of distribution items having one of the plurality of beacons thereon;
- one or more sensors arranged at each of the plurality of distribution facilities configured to detect a plurality of identifier signals emitted from the beacon on each of the plurality of distribution items;
- a central hub having a memory, the central hub configured to:
- receive, at a plurality of distribution facilities, a plurality of beacons and a plurality of distribution items, each of the plurality of distribution items having one of the plurality of beacons thereon;
- detect, by sensors at each of the plurality of distribution facilities, a plurality of identifier signals emitted by the beacons, each of the plurality of beacons emitting one of the plurality of identifier signals;
- associate, in a memory each identifier signal of the plurality of identifier signals with a unique serial number corresponding to one of the plurality of beacons, and with an identifier of a distribution facility of the plurality of distribution facilities where the identifier signal was detected;
- receive a computer readable code identifying a specific unique serial number associated with one of the plurality of distribution items,
- query the memory to determine the corresponding identifier of the distribution facility associated with the specific unique serial number, and
- activate the beacon associated with the received specific unique serial number to emit an alert.
6 more elements
A method of automatically tracking the location of a distribution item comprising:
- receiving, at a plurality of distribution facilities, a plurality of beacons and a plurality of distribution items, each of the plurality of distribution items having one of the plurality of beacons thereon;
- detecting, by sensors at each of the plurality of distribution facilities, a plurality of identifier signals emitted by the beacons, each of the plurality of beacons emitting one of the plurality of identifier signals;
- associating, in a memory, each identifier signal of the plurality of identifier signals with a unique serial number corresponding to one of the plurality of beacons, and with an identifier of a distribution facility of the plurality of distribution facilities where the identifier signal was detected;
- receiving, in a user interface, a computer readable code identifying a specific unique serial number associated with one of the plurality of distribution items;
- querying the memory to determine the corresponding identifier of the distribution facility associated with the specific unique serial number;
- activating the beacon associated with the specific unique serial number to emit an alert;
- and
- identifying a location of the beacon in the one of the plurality of distribution facilities from the alert.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.