Back to results
US 8,947,254 B2Granted
Systems and methods for managing information associated with boxes used in the delivery of packages
AssigneeFedex Corporate Services, Inc.
InventorsMark E. Caldwell, Erika J. Raeth, James S. Staggs, Kevin B. Reasons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed methods and systems for managing drop boxes. Events reflecting outputs from one or more sensors are detected. Information that is a function of the detected event is forwarded to a drop box management system. This information, along with additional information received by the drop box management system, is utilized to generate instructions including display instructions for each drop box. Displays of drop boxes are then updated based on the instructions.
Claims13
A method for managing information at a drop box comprising:
- detecting an event reflected in an output from one or more sensors associated with the drop box, the event reflecting a delay in a pickup schedule associated with the drop box;
- outputting information to a drop box management system as a function of the event;
- and
- dynamically updating a display associated with the drop box as a function of the outputted information and instructions received from the drop box management system, wherein the display is updated to reflect the event and a pickup time associated with the drop box, the pickup time being a rescheduled pickup time based on the delay.
1 more element
A method for processing information at a drop box management system comprising:
- receiving information at the drop box management system, the information comprising information associated with an event reflected in an output from one or more sensors, the one or more sensors respectively associated with one or more drop boxes;
- generating instructions for a selected drop box among the one or more drop boxes based on the received information;
- and
- providing the instructions to the selected drop box for updating a display associated with the selected drop box, the display being updated as a function of the received information and the provided instructions,
- wherein the display is updated to reflect the event and a pickup time associated with the drop box, the event reflecting a delay in a pickup schedule associated with the selected drop box, and the pickup time being a rescheduled pickup time based on the delay.
2 more elements
A method for managing displays associated with one or more drop boxes comprising:
- detecting an event reflected in an output from one or more sensors associated with each drop box among the one or more drop boxes;
- outputting drop box information from each drop box to a drop box management system as a function of the event;
- receiving information at the drop box management system, the received information including the outputted drop box information or location information reflecting travel of one or more couriers;
- generating instructions for a respective drop box among the one or more drop boxes based on the received information;
- providing the instructions to the respective drop box;
- receiving the instructions at the respective drop box;
- and
- dynamically updating a display associated with the respective drop box as a function of the drop box information outputted by the respective drop box and the instructions received from the drop box management system,
- wherein the display is updated to reflect the event and a pickup time associated with the respective drop box, the event reflecting a delay in a pickup schedule associated with the respective drop box, and the pickup time being a rescheduled pickup time based on the delay.
6 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs comprising instructions, when executed by a computing device, cause the device to:
- detect an event reflected in an output from one or more sensors associated with each drop box among one or more drop boxes;
- output drop box information from each drop box to a drop box management system as a function of the event;
- receive information at the drop box management system, the received information including the outputted drop box information or location information reflecting travel of one or more couriers;
- generate instructions for a respective drop box among the one or more drop boxes based on the received information;
- provide the instructions to the respective drop box;
- receive the instructions at the respective drop box;
- and
- dynamically update a display associated with the respective drop box as a function of the drop box information outputted by the respective drop box and the instructions received from the drop box management system,
- wherein the display is updated to reflect the event and a pickup time associated with the respective drop box, the event reflecting a delay in a pickup schedule associated with the respective drop box, and the pickup time being a rescheduled pickup time based on the delay.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- one or more drop boxes;
- and
- a drop box management system, wherein
- each drop box among the one or more drop boxes and the drop box management system includes one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to:
- detect an event reflected in an output from one or more sensors associated with each drop box among the one or more drop boxes;
- output drop box information from each drop box to the drop box management system as a function of the event;
- receive information at the drop box management system, the received information including the outputted drop box information or location information reflecting travel of one or more couriers;
- generate instructions for a respective drop box among the one or more drop boxes based on the received information;
- provide the instructions to the respective drop box;
- receive the instructions at the respective drop box;
- and
- dynamically update a display associated with the respective drop box as a function of the drop box information outputted by the respective drop box and the instructions received from the drop box management system,
- wherein the display is updated to reflect the event and a pickup time associated with the respective drop box, the event reflecting a delay in a pickup schedule associated with the respective drop box, and the pickup time being a rescheduled pickup time based on the delay.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.