# US 2021/0276812 A1 · Method For Tracking Packages On A Conveyor Section > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276812 A1 - Document ID: US20210276812A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/183,845 - Filed: 2021-02-24 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-27 - Assignees: Deutsche Post AG - Applicants: Deutsche Post AG - Inventors: Ingo Tzschichholtz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276812A1 ## CPC - B65G 43/00: Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting - B65G 43/08: Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} - G05B 19/4189: {characterised by the transport system} - B65G 2203/0233: Position of the article - B65G 2203/0291: Speed of the load carrier - B65G 2203/044: Optical - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract In a method for tracking packages on a conveyor section, the tracking rate of packages is intended to be maximized. This is achieved by providing a method for tracking packages on a conveyor section, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a conveyor section having a conveyor surface for conveying a sequence of packages, the conveyor section comprising at least one photoelectric barrier for detecting the packages, b) detecting a photoelectric barrier pattern by means of the photoelectric barrier, the photoelectric barrier pattern being caused by the sequence of packages, c) detecting a conveyor speed of at least one subsection of the conveyor section, d) estimating an event sequence which has with the highest probability caused the photoelectric barrier pattern, while taking into account the conveyor speed of the conveyor section, by means of an algorithm, the algorithm comprising the following further steps: e) compiling a list of possible event sequences, f) sorting the event sequences with the aid of their occurrence probability, g) extending the most probable event sequence by all possible consecutive events, the probability of the event sequence being determined for each extension, h) incorporating the extensions as a new event sequence into the list of event sequences, i) repeating steps g) to h) until the most probable event sequence fully reflects the detected photoelectric barrier pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for tracking packages on a conveyor section, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a conveyor section having a conveyor surface for conveying a sequence of packages, the conveyor section comprising at least one photoelectric barrier for detecting the packages, b) detecting a photoelectric barrier pattern by means of the photoelectric barrier, the photoelectric barrier pattern being caused by the sequence of packages, c) detecting a conveyor speed of at least one subsection of the conveyor section, d) estimating an event sequence which has with the highest probability caused the photoelectric barrier pattern, while taking into account the conveyor speed of the conveyor section, by means of an algorithm, the algorithm comprising the following further steps: e) compiling a list of possible event sequences, f) sorting the event sequences with the aid of their occurrence probability, g) extending the most probable event sequence by all possible consecutive events, the probability of the event sequence being determined for each extension, h) incorporating the extensions as a new event sequence into the list of event sequences, i) repeating steps g) to h) until the most probable event sequence fully reflects the detected photoelectric barrier pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, whereby the step of estimating an event sequence which has with the highest probability caused the photoelectric barrier pattern is carried out by means of a Viterbi algorithm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, whereby the probability comprises a probability factor, the probability factor lying between 0 and 1, with a probability factor of 0, an event of the event sequence being excluded, with a probability factor of 1, the event of the event sequence has definitely taken place, and with a probability factor of 0