Patents by Inventor Ralph Wiechers
Ralph Wiechers 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).
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Patent number: 11809182Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for averting a danger. The method is performed by a control apparatus for an unmanned vehicle, and the method involves obtaining a plurality of pieces of sensor information. At least partially depending on the obtained pieces of sensor information it is determined whether a danger exists. If it is determined that a danger exists, then at least one averting measure for averting the danger is determined, and the at least one averting measure is performed or caused to be performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
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Patent number: 11423350Abstract: A method is disclosed that involves the following steps. A control apparatus of a vehicle is used to obtain a piece of collection and/or delivery position information for a collection/or delivery position for collecting and/or delivering a shipment. The collection and/or delivery position is at least partly dependent on a position of a shipment recipient and/or shipment deliverer. The control apparatus brings about the at least partly autonomous movement of the vehicle to the collection and/or delivery position. The control apparatus brings about the provision of the shipment for collection and/or the holding, for obtainment, of the shipment at the collection and/or delivery position by the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Patent number: 11256222Abstract: A server obtains a message that an authorization for requesting an action via a first apparatus is allocated, wherein the action can be caused by a separate control unit. The server compiles information that identifies the action and that allows the first apparatus to check the authorization. The compiled information is transmitted to a second apparatus. The first apparatus can obtain a message from the second apparatus, which is used to request the causing of the action. The first apparatus checks the authorization for the request on the basis of the obtained message and whether the action is an action that is to be caused by the first apparatus or by the control unit. If it is established that authorization exists and that the action is to be caused by the control unit, then the first apparatus transmits a request to the control unit to cause the action.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Patent number: 11250678Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a method for averting a danger performed by a control apparatus. The method involves a step of obtaining a plurality of pieces of sensor information. At least partially depending on the obtained pieces of sensor information, it is determined whether a danger exists. A support offer request message is transmitted if it is determined that the danger exists. At least one first support offer message is received from a first support apparatus in response to the support offer request message. At least partially depending on the received first support offer message, it is determined whether a first support measure of the first support apparatus is suitable for averting the danger. The first support measure is then prompted if it is determined that the first support measure is suitable for averting the danger.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
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Publication number: 20210224737Abstract: The disclosure relates, inter alia, to a method comprising the steps of providing, by a user apparatus, an activable user interface for stipulating a delivery and/or pickup position, capturing of a position of the user apparatus when the user interface is activated, and communication of delivery and/or pickup position information associated with the captured position from the user apparatus to a delivery service apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Ralph Wiechers, Matthias Busecke
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Patent number: 10956953Abstract: A method including: receiving information from which it follows that a position of a shipment relative to a predetermined station at which the shipment respectively arrives during a delivery process for the shipment has changed, wherein the shipment contains a good to be paid for; and initiating a process in which a person is provided with the opportunity to make a payment for the good, in response to the receipt of the information. Also a method including: generating information from which it follows that a position of a shipment relative to a predetermined station at which the shipment respectively arrives during a delivery process for the shipment has changed, wherein the shipment contains a good to be paid for; and outputting the information to an apparatus that is configured to initiate a process in which a person is provided with the opportunity to make a payment for the good.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Patent number: 10896400Abstract: A method, performed by an access control apparatus, that includes the following steps: obtaining a request to set up a communication link, wherein the request contains authorization information; checking the authorization of the request to set up a communication link at least in part on the basis of the authorization information; and causing setup of and/or setting up a communication link to a first user apparatus only if the result of the checking is that the request to set up a communication link is authorized.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Patent number: 10246053Abstract: This disclosure relates to, inter alia, a method for checking the authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle. A step of the method includes obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information. A position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is captured. The authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is checked in dependence on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle, and the captured environmental parameter. The receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is opened or caused to open only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2017Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
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Patent number: 10185328Abstract: A method for passing on at least one consignment from a transferring vehicle to a receiving vehicle in which the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle are made to roughly approach one another, in which, after the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle have been made to roughly approach one another, they are made to approach one another precisely while approximating the speeds and the directions of travel of the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle to one another, in which, while the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle are traveling with speeds and directions of travel which are approximate to one another, the at least one consignment is transferred from the transferring vehicle to the receiving vehicle, and in which, after the transfer of the at least one consignment has taken place, the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle move away from one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20180181912Abstract: In embodiments of a method, data of a consignment is gathered, or such data is obtained. The consignment is provided with at least one piece of information that enables determining of plausibility information indicative of a content to be authenticated of the consignment. Data representing the content of the consignment is gathered, or such data is obtained. A piece of authenticating information is generated, or the determined plausibility information and the gathered data representing the content of the consignment are output for generating such authenticating information. The authenticating information indicates the authenticity of the content of the consignment at least partially based on the plausibility information and the data representing the content of the consignment. Also disclosed are embodiments of an apparatus for performing and/or controlling this method, a system with one or more such apparatuses, and a computer program for performing and/or controlling this method by a processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Christian Ibach, Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20180144300Abstract: A method is disclosed that involves the following steps. A control apparatus of a vehicle is used to obtain a piece of collection and/or delivery position information for a collection/or delivery position for collecting and/or delivering a shipment. The collection and/or delivery position is at least partly dependent on a position of a shipment recipient and/or shipment deliverer. The control apparatus brings about the at least partly autonomous movement of the vehicle to the collection and/or delivery position. The control apparatus brings about the provision of the shipment for collection and/or the holding, for obtainment, of the shipment at the collection and/or delivery position by the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20180113452Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for averting a danger. The method is performed by a control apparatus for an unmanned vehicle, and the method involves obtaining a plurality of pieces of sensor information. At least partially depending on the obtained pieces of sensor information it is determined whether a danger exists. If it is determined that a danger exists, then at least one averting measure for averting the danger is determined, and the at least one averting measure is performed or caused to be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
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Publication number: 20180114422Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a method for averting a danger performed by a control apparatus. The method involves a step of obtaining a plurality of pieces of sensor information. At least partially depending on the obtained pieces of sensor information, it is determined whether a danger exists. A support offer request message is transmitted if it is determined that the danger exists. At least one first support offer message is received from a first support apparatus in response to the support offer request message. At least partially depending on the received first support offer message, it is determined whether a first support measure of the first support apparatus is suitable for averting the danger. The first support measure is then prompted if it is determined that the first support measure is suitable for averting the danger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
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Publication number: 20180099641Abstract: This disclosure relates to, inter alia, a method for checking the authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle. A step of the method includes obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information. A position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is captured. The authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is checked in dependence on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle, and the captured environmental parameter. The receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is opened or caused to open only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventors: Ralph Wiechers, Christian Ibach
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Patent number: 9916558Abstract: A method for autonomously delivering and/or collecting at least one shipment using at least one distribution vehicle is described, in which a distribution vehicle approaches a customer vehicle at least partially autonomously and at least partially via the public road traffic, in which the distribution vehicle at least partially autonomously causes opening of a closure unit of the customer vehicle, in which, when the closure unit is open, the distribution vehicle at least partially autonomously places a shipment into the customer vehicle and/or at least partially autonomously removes a shipment from the customer vehicle, which, after placing and/or removing the shipment, the distribution vehicle at least partially autonomously causes closing of the closure unit of the customer vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20170132692Abstract: A method with the steps of obtaining first information by a deliverer, wherein the first information includes: delivery consent information from which it follows that a person consents to the delivery of a shipment identifiable using the delivery consent information despite the absence of the person, wherein the shipment contains a good which must be paid for; paid information from which it follows that a payment for a good contained in a shipment identifiable at least using the paid information has been performed; or payment information with which a payment for a good contained in a shipment is permitted to be performed at a person's expense without further involvement of the person; and delivering the shipment or displaying second information, wherein obtaining the first information is a necessary condition for performing the delivering of the shipment or the displaying the second information.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20170132691Abstract: A method including: receiving information from which it follows that a position of a shipment relative to a predetermined station at which the shipment respectively arrives during a delivery process for the shipment has changed, wherein the shipment contains a good to be paid for; and initiating a process in which a person is provided with the opportunity to make a payment for the good, in response to the receipt of the information. Also a method including: generating information from which it follows that a position of a shipment relative to a predetermined station at which the shipment respectively arrives during a delivery process for the shipment has changed, wherein the shipment contains a good to be paid for; and outputting the information to an apparatus that is configured to initiate a process in which a person is provided with the opportunity to make a payment for the good.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20170068250Abstract: A method for passing on at least one consignment from a transferring vehicle to a receiving vehicle in which the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle are made to roughly approach one another, in which, after the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle have been made to roughly approach one another, they are made to approach one another precisely while approximating the speeds and the directions of travel of the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle to one another, in which, while the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle are traveling with speeds and directions of travel which are approximate to one another, the at least one consignment is transferred from the transferring vehicle to the receiving vehicle, and in which, after the transfer of the at least one consignment has taken place, the transferring vehicle and the receiving vehicle move away from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20170024693Abstract: A method, performed by an access control apparatus, that includes the following steps: obtaining a request to set up a communication link, wherein the request contains authorization information; checking the authorization of the request to set up a communication link at least in part on the basis of the authorization information; and causing setup of and/or setting up a communication link to a first user apparatus only if the result of the checking is that the request to set up a communication link is authorized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers
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Publication number: 20170024687Abstract: A method for transferring at least one person-related shipment in which at least one already person-related shipment for collection with a vehicle linked to the person-related shipment is deposited in a transfer device, and in which a vehicle linked to the person-related shipment travels to the transfer device, and in which the authorization of the vehicle linked to the person-related shipment and/or the authorization of a collector authorized to accept the person-related shipment is checked by the transfer device, and in which the person-related shipment, in the event of a successful authorization check by the transfer device, is transferred to the vehicle linked to the person-related shipment, so that the collector can accept the person-related shipment from the vehicle, and/or is transferred into the vehicle linked to the person-related shipment, particularly into the interior, onto a loading area and/or a trunk of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Ralph Wiechers