Abstract: Apparatus, systems, non-transient media, and methods are described that use a removable scanning sensor node for managing a load operation related to a container. For example, the method has the scanning sensor node identifying an item to be shipped within the container and mapping the space within the container after the item has been placed within the container using the node as temporarily disposed within the container and oriented to map the container's space from above the space. The method then has the scanning sensor node determining an occupied capacity within the container based upon mapping data associated with the mapped space and transmitting a notification to a managing node in communication with the removable scanning sensor node. The transmitted notification relates to the occupied capacity within the container as determined by the scanning sensor node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a customs review system for building a customs approval database and system suitable for reviewing and verifying values and/or commodities of product parcels passing through customs. The customs review system can receive and store a stock keeping unit (SKU) for a product parcel in the customs approval database. The customs review system can also receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) related to the SKU and automatically associate the SKU with the URL in the customs approval database. In response to associating the SKU and the URL, the customs review system can make the product parcel as pre-approved or rejected for shipment to customs. The customs review system can search the customs approval database for the SKU of the product parcel and validate or invalid the product parcel being submitted for shipment and importation based on the search.

Abstract: An item exchange locker station may include a station-level user interface accessible from outside the station enclosure to receive identifying information of a deliverer or a retriever seeking to enter the station and to transmit the identifying information to an off-site data server for the identifying information to be validated against a database. The station may also include lockers disposed within the station enclosure, the lockers including a locker access door, and a locker locking mechanism configured to alternatively lock and unlock to impede and permit, respectively, opening of the locker access door. The station may also include a locker-level controller configured to receive locker unlocking instructions from the off-site data server upon validation of the identifying information.

Abstract: A delivery data server includes at least one processor that executes a delivery data server application to bidirectionally communicate delivery data with a first user of a first client device via a network. The delivery data includes delivery menu data sent to the first client device and delivery location data received from the first client device that indicates a service address associated with a user of the first client device and a delivery location associated with the service address for receiving at least one delivery to the service address. The delivery data server application processes the delivery location data to direct the at least one delivery to the service address.

Abstract: In some examples, a smart container may enable crowdsourced delivery of items from a pickup location to a delivery location. The container may include a location sensor and a communication interface to enable the container to provide its location to at least one of a service computing device, a courier device, a sender device, or a recipient device. In some cases, a service provider may employ public transport vehicles to transport the container along a portion of a delivery route. One crowdsourced courier may pick up the container for placement on the public transport vehicle and another crowdsourced courier may pick up the container from the public transport vehicle and deliver the container to the delivery location. Further, the container may include multiple compartments, and recipients who receive a shipment in the container may be solicited to deliver the container to a delivery location of a next recipient.

Abstract: A hybrid system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments, including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having a control desk and several lockable compartments of different sizes, wherein the electronic locker unit comprises a shape measurement module located inside each compartment for acquiring the shipment content's shape.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for image assisted delivery. A computing device may identify a delivery location based at least in part on an image file received from a first client device. The computing device may then generate a series of directions from a current location of a second client device to the delivery location. The computing device may subsequently send the series of directions to the second client device. Finally, the computing device may send the image file received from the first client device to the second client device.

Abstract: Apparatus for managing transportation vehicles includes a plurality of containers each attached to a respective one of the vehicles and containing a memory, a wireless transmitter, a receiver and a writer for storing data in the memory, where data includes a secure section of data defining for the vehicle cargo packing slip information and a non-secure section of data defining for the vehicle safety information relating to the current vehicle contents. The apparatus further includes a first reader for receiving the data in the secure section and second portable reader for receiving the data in the non-secure section where the second reader is arranged to provide to a person in possession of the second reader only data from the non-secure section defining for the vehicle said safety information relating to the current vehicle contents and not the data from the secure section.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, computer program products, and apparatuses for processing package delivery exceptions. In one embodiment, a method for processing an item delivery exception for an item that is to be delivered by a carrier is provided. The method comprises receiving an exception request associated with the item; notifying a delivery vehicle driver of the exception request; receiving input indicating a unique RFID identifier, wherein the unique RFID identifier identifies an exception RFID tag attached to the item; associating the unique RFID identifier with the unique item identifier; after receiving a request to locate the item, activating an RFID reader array, wherein the RFID reader array is located at a facility associated with the carrier; and based at least in part on the detection of the item by at least one RFID reader of the RFID reader array, calculating an estimated location of the item.

Abstract: Techniques for managing notifications may be described. In an example, the notifications may relate to an item and may be provided to a user device. An active device may be associated with the item. The active device may store a token for communication with a local area network associated with a location. Based on the communication, a determination may be made that the item may be in proximity to the location. Corresponding notifications may be sent to the user device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that provide for validating products to be delivered to customers via unmanned aerial vehicles. Each UAV includes sensors configured to detect at least one actual physical characteristic and/or actual identifying characteristic of a product being loaded into the UAV and/or being transported by the UAV to a delivery destination. The actual physical characteristic information and/or the actual identifying information detected by the sensors is compared to predefined physical characteristic information and/or predefined identifying information stored in an electronic database in order to validate that the product that is being loaded into the UAV and/or being transported by the UAV is not damaged and corresponds to the order being fulfilled. If validation of one or more products is not successful, the UAV is restricted from delivering such products to the delivery destination.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for detecting an operational safety condition within a container using a scanning sensor node deployed within the container and above a storage space within the container. For example, the method uses the scanning sensor node to sense if the container is in a closed state and monitors the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state. The method then has the scanning sensor node detecting a movement within the container based upon the monitoring of the storage space while in the closed state. Such a detected movement is indicative of the operational safety condition. The method then has the scanning sensor node transmitting an alert to a managing node over a wireless communication interface of the scanning sensor node, where the alert is associated with the operational safety condition within the container.

Abstract: A method for recharging an electric vehicle includes receiving, by a control module and from the vehicle in transit along a route having a number of stops for passenger pickup, a current charge level and a current location. The stops include recharging stations for recharging the vehicle. The method includes receiving from a next stop, an anticipated stop time at the next stop for the vehicle. The method includes determining a power output to be supplied to the vehicle by a recharging station at the next stop based on the current charge level. The power output comprises an amount of power to be supplied at the next stop, the amount of power for satisfying a minimum amount of charge to enable the vehicle to arrive at a subsequent stop after the next stop. The method includes transmitting, to the recharging station at the next stop, the power output.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.

Abstract: Presented are methods and systems to universally assess composite utility consumption (1) in which a plurality of real-time and batch sensor readings such as from multiple disparate utility sensor data inputs (3) may be acquired and stored such as into a local device (2) or a central data warehouse (6). A composite utility estimated cost generator (9) can generate missing or uncorrelated data and a collected composite utility data information correlator (11) can correlate the data so it can be applied to determine some type of composite utility cost information. For real-time calculation, a disparate utility rate information accessor (8) can obtain multiple items of disparate rate information and this can use with correlated data to create a composite utility consumption and spend so a user can manage and control utility usage for a home, building, facility, plant, specific equipment, or the like.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for parking guidance and parking services provided through wireless beacons. A location may include a nearby or attached parking structure having wireless beacons established throughout the parking structure, such as near an entrance and individual parking spaces of the parking structure. The beacons may provide communication services with a device for the user. When the user arrives at the parking structure, the user may be informed of available parking spaces, payments for parking services based on a loyal customer status, or other parking feature for the parking structure. The wireless beacons may monitor the parking structure and the individual parking spaces to determine a best space for the user. Moreover, once the user leaves the vehicle, the user may provide additional payment for parking time and utilize courier and locker services for purchased items through the wireless beacons.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fingerprint recognition-based event admission are provided. A user may use a user device to purchase a ticket for an event and provide a fingerprint scanned on the user device to a fingerprint validation system. The fingerprint validation system may associate the purchased ticket with the user and store the fingerprint template associated with the user as a reference template. When the user arrives at an entrance of the event, the user may scan a fingerprint at a fingerprint scan device at the entrance. Fingerprint validation system may compare the received fingerprint template with stored fingerprint reference templates, validate that the user is associated with a purchased ticket, and grant access to the event.