Patents Assigned to APS Technology Group, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8181868
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal's operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: APS Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Thomas, John Charles Alvarez, Leroy E. Scheppmann, II
  • Patent number: 7922085
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal's operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: APS Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Thomas, John Charles Alvarez, Leroy E. Scheppmann, II
  • Publication number: 20110017693
    Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer-program products for tracking and locating shipping containers in rail car unloading operations in a railway switchyard using a rail mounted gantry crane. The systems, methods, and computer program products configured to establish the position of shipping containers loaded on rail cars within a rail yard. The position of the shipping containers can be conveyed in terms of relative or absolute coordinates. The systems, methods, and computer program products can use a variety of inputs, rules, and calculations to establish the final resting places of containers mounted on rail cars. The position information may be used to provide various functionality, including creating a log or record of the location of containers or to guide rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes to unload and work the train(s) of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: APS Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Thomas, Allen Thomas, Leroy Scheppmann, II
  • Patent number: 7508956
    Abstract: The invention provides for systems and methods for location-identification and monitoring of objects, such as shipping containers, at a transit terminal using an automated vision based tracking system. Such a system is ideally suited to provide minimal error rates, low cost implementation, real-time data and automatic merging of data with corresponding object identification systems and terminal operating systems. The systems and methods of the present invention provide for location-tracking of objects without the need to retrofit the objects with a tagging or marker device. The vision-based system incorporates the use of multiple imaging devices and a hand-off method for tracking the location of the objects over extended distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: APS Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy E. Scheppmann
  • Publication number: 20080252417
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the transfer of cargo, such as a shipping container, to and from a transporter, such as a truck. Identification codes are provided on the cargo and the transporter to aid in the identification of the cargo and the transporter. One or more identification code receiving devices, such as a camera, may be associated with a cargo moving apparatus, such as a crane, and configured to automatically capture the transporter identification code and the cargo identification code as the cargo is being transferred to or from the transporter. The transporter identification code and the cargo identification code can be associated with each other along with other information about the transfer in order to monitor the transfer. In this regard, identification information may be communicated to a shipping terminal's operating system to provide real-time information about one or more transfers occurring within a shipping terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: APS Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Thomas, John Charles Alvarez, Leroy E. Scheppmann
  • Publication number: 20050027435
    Abstract: The invention provides for systems and methods for location-identification and monitoring of objects, such as shipping containers, at a transit terminal using an automated vision based tracking system. Such a system is ideally suited to provide minimal error rates, low cost implementation, real-time data and automatic merging of data with corresponding object identification systems and terminal operating systems. The systems and methods of the present invention provide for location-tracking of objects without the need to retrofit the objects with a tagging or marker device. The vision-based system incorporates the use of multiple imaging devices and a hand-off method for tracking the location of the objects over extended distances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: APS Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy Scheppmann