Patents by Inventor Michael Zettler

Michael Zettler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240140724
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a device for data processing and a computer system for controlling a control device of a conveyor system to achieve an alignment and/or a defined spacing of piece goods, wherein the control of the control device is determined by an agent acting according to Reinforcement Learning methods. An individual, local state vector of predefined dimension that is the same for all the piece goods is created for each of the piece goods and an action vector is selected from an action space according to a strategy that is the same for all piece goods for the current state vector of this piece good. These action vectors are projected onto the conveying elements, wherein conflicts are resolved. After a cycle time has elapsed, state vectors are created again for each piece good and evaluated with rewards and the strategy is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Zettler, Marc Christian Weber, Daniel Hein, Clemens Otte, Martin Schall, Frank Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 11587019
    Abstract: A computer implemented method allows the storage of tracked data records in a blockchain in order to incentivize airlines, ground handlers, IT Suppliers and airports to invest in tracking points for tracking baggage. The usage of tracking data records is determined by a smart contract. The smart contract causes a specific entry in a wallet and each entry represents the usage of tracking data records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ilian Pashov, Oliver Stroebel, Michael Zettler
  • Publication number: 20210370352
    Abstract: A method and a system for detecting consignments or items which cannot be conveyed by a conveying system cost-effectively detect non-conveyable items for a materials handling system. A conveyor section and a light grid or curtain or comparable measuring assembly are configured and disposed in such a way that a consignment or item can be conveyed on the conveyor section through the light grid or curtain, so that a data structure characterizing the consignment or item can be generated by the light grid or curtain and fed into the detection system. The detection system is adapted to judge whether the consignment or item is conveyable or not based on the data structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Jörg ROTTLAND, Eberhard RÖHM, Michael ZETTLER
  • Publication number: 20210103904
    Abstract: In order to prevent stamps or indicia from being forged and in order to bill a logistics service between different postal service providers correctly to the user, a computer-implemented method for franking postal articles is implemented. The article's progress is recorded by readers and, together with the accompanying franking identification, is stored in blocks of a blockchain as a transaction. In doing so, the assignment of the readers to a postal service provider is recorded. The logistics service provided is billed correctly to the user by analyzing the transactions stored in the blockchain that are to be allocated to at least one postal service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Bayer, Michael Bueker, Monika Sturm, Michael Zettler, Jan Dodel, Holger Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20210035061
    Abstract: A computer implemented method allows the storage of tracked data records in a blockchain in order to incentivize airlines, ground handlers, IT Suppliers and airports to invest in tracking points for tracking baggage. The usage of tracking data records is determined by a smart contract. The smart contract causes a specific entry in a wallet and each entry represents the usage of tracking data records.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: ILIAN PASHOV, OLIVER STROEBEL, MICHAEL ZETTLER
  • Patent number: 9600941
    Abstract: An image, which can be analyzed by a computer and shows at least one face of an item, is generated for an item that is to be transported at a predefined time. By automatic analysis of the image, the arrangement determines, for at least one of a plurality of predetermined optically detectable features, the value of the feature for the image of the item. The identification feature value vector generated is automatically compared with stored registration feature value vectors. A record for a particular item contains six registration feature value vectors and each of the six registration feature value vectors specifies a value for each predefined optically detectable feature for each one of six faces of the item. When the identification feature value vector matches a stored registration feature value vector with sufficient accuracy, a message is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Gisbert Berger, Thomas Breuer, Bernd Hartmann, Andreas Marschner, Thomas Schoellhorn, Michael Zettler
  • Publication number: 20160210587
    Abstract: A method documents the delivery process for objects, in particular packages or letters, in which method, in the time span between receiving the objects for the purpose of transporting them and the final delivery of the objects at the target location, the objects are each detected individually and stored, in the form of a data set in a database and, after delivery of each object at the target location, the object is designated as delivered. Accordingly, within the framework of individually detecting the objects, target geodata which define the respective target locations are added to the respective data sets. When the objects are delivered at the target location, delivery geodata which define the location of the delivery are determined by a mobile detection device. The association of the delivered object with one of the data sets stored in the database requires that the target geodata correspond to the delivery geodata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: GISBERT BERGER, JOERG-ANDREAS ILLMAIER, MICHAEL ZETTLER
  • Publication number: 20150254906
    Abstract: An image, which can be analyzed by a computer and shows at least one face of an item, is generated for an item that is to be transported at a predefined time. By automatic analysis of the image, the arrangement determines, for at least one of a plurality of predetermined optically detectable features, the value of the feature for the image of the item. The identification feature value vector generated is automatically compared with stored registration feature value vectors. A record for a particular item contains six registration feature value vectors and each of the six registration feature value vectors specifies a value for each predefined optically detectable feature for each one of six faces of the item. When the identification feature value vector matches a stored registration feature value vector with sufficient accuracy, a message is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Gisbert Berger, Thomas Breuer, Bernd Hartmann, Andreas Marschner, Thomas Schöllhorn, Michael Zettler
  • Patent number: 8973814
    Abstract: A method delivers an item to a target point. The item is a distinguishable item. A data set for the item is generated in a central data storage unit. This data set contains identification feature values for the item. The item is conveyed to a predetermined target point. At the target point, the item is provided, at least temporarily, with an optically detectable delivery marking. At least one computer-accessible image of the item is generated by a portable image recording device. The image shows the item together with the delivery marking. With the aid of the image, the data set for the item, which is stored in the central data storage unit, is determined. The data set is supplemented with a computer-accessible marking of the delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolf-Stephan Wilke, Michael Zettler
  • Patent number: 8706290
    Abstract: A method for transporting a set of items includes predetermining a destination point for each item of the set and for each further item which passes through the sorting system, generating for each item a current image of the item from a predetermined viewing direction, determining the predetermined destination point of the item, and initiating a transport of the item to the destination point. The method includes further transmitting a computer-readable description of the set to a data processing system which is connected to the sorting system. The description includes a reference image of the item from the viewing direction. For each item which passes through the sorting system, the method includes automatically deciding by the data processing system whether or not the item belongs to the set, wherein the data processing system compares the generated current image of the item with the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Zettler
  • Publication number: 20130146656
    Abstract: A method delivers an item to a target point. The item is a distinguishable item. A data set for the item is generated in a central data storage unit. This data set contains identification feature values for the item. The item is conveyed to a predetermined target point. At the target point, the item is provided, at least temporarily, with an optically detectable delivery marking. At least one computer-accessible image of the item is generated by a portable image recording device. The image shows the item together with the delivery marking. With the aid of the image, the data set for the item, which is stored in the central data storage unit, is determined. The data set is supplemented with a computer-accessible marking of the delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Wolf-Stephan Wilke, Michael Zettler
  • Publication number: 20090045105
    Abstract: A method for transporting a set of items includes predetermining a destination point for each item of the set and for each further item which passes through the sorting system, generating for each item a current image of the item from a predetermined viewing direction, determining the predetermined destination point of the item, and initiating a transport of the item to the destination point. The method includes further transmitting a computer-readable description of the set to a data processing system which is connected to the sorting system. The description includes a reference image of the item from the viewing direction. For each item which passes through the sorting system, the method includes automatically deciding by the data processing system whether or not the item belongs to the set, wherein the data processing system compares the generated current image of the item with the reference image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Zettler