Patents Assigned to Deutsche Post AG
  • Publication number: 20170124488
    Abstract: In a group of apparatuses, each apparatus is associated with a particular unit. A first apparatus of the group receives information regarding a service to be provided and transmits a message regarding the service to a plurality of other apparatuses of the group. The first apparatus determines, on the basis of rules, whether the service to be provided can be provided by a unit or by a combination of units. The determination can be based on the information regarding the service to be provided and on information pertaining to the current performance capability of the units. The latter can be determined by the first apparatus on the basis of stored information and feedback from the other apparatuses. If the service can be provided, then the first apparatus books capacities on the apparatus with which the unit that can provide the service is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Bernd Hartmann
  • Patent number: 9637306
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an air cargo container (1) comprising a rectangular, planar bottom side (2) for accommodating a transported product (8), a rectangular, planar top side (6), at least four connecting profiles (10) and an least triangular, planar intermediate element (12) made of a flexible material, wherein the connecting profiles (10) each connect one corner (11) of the bottom side (2) and one corner (11) of the top side (6) with one another in order to form sides (3) of the air cargo container (1), a guide device (19) is disposed on each of at least three connecting profiles (10) and/or a guide device (19) is disposed on each of two opposing edges (21) of the bottom side (2) and on at least one edge (21) of the top side (6) or on each of two opposing edges (21) of the top side (6) and on at least one edge (21) of the bottom side (2) such that the guide devices (19) define a plane, and the intermediate element (12) comprises a snap-fitting means (20) at each corner (14), wherein said snap-fittin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Frank Steinert, Mark Veasey
  • Publication number: 20170100749
    Abstract: An apparatus receives data from at least one detection device which regularly detects single items on a sorting surface of a conveying system. Here, a separately actuatable drive element is assigned in each case to a plurality of partial surfaces of the sorting surface. The device regularly determines a region on the sorting surface taken up by the respective single item on the basis of the obtained data by means of triangulations for as long as the single item is situated on the sorting surface. The device determines control commands for actuating the drive elements, which are assigned to a partial surface and correspond to a specific region on the sorting surface taken up by the respective single item, on the basis of a destination at the sorting surface provided for the respective single item. Then, the device actuates the drive elements with the determined control commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Ingo Tzschichholtz
  • Publication number: 20170096301
    Abstract: A method for conveying piece goods from a stack, using a finger unit with two flexible flank elements which extend jointly from one end of the finger unit, wherein the two flexible flank elements are in each case flexibly connected to one another by way of a multiplicity of webs such that the finger unit is adjustable from a curved position into a straightened position and back, wherein the finger unit is pressed against the stack in a gripping direction such that one flank element is impressed by one item of piece goods, wherein the finger unit is adjusted from a straightened position into a curved position and, in the process, the finger unit grips the item of piece goods, and wherein the gripped item of piece goods is moved by the finger unit from the stack in a transport direction perpendicular to the gripping direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • 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: 20170068250
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Publication number: 20170024688
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Publication number: 20170024693
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Publication number: 20170024687
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Publication number: 20170010592
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Patent number: 9530013
    Abstract: A first installation stores key identifications with allocation to a respective user and a second installation stores secret keys which each can be found by means of a key identification. The first installation authenticates a user who logs onto the first installation via a user device, creates a temporary identifier, allocates the identifier to the user and transmits the identifier to the user device. The second installation receives a request for a secret key from the user device together with the identifier and requests a key identification from the first installation, wherein the received identifier is transmitted. The first installation determines a user allocated to the received identifier, identifies a key identification stored for the determined user and transmits the key identification to the second installation. This second installation determines a secret key based on the received key identification and transmits the secret key to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Mike Bobinski, Michael Voucko
  • Patent number: 9531675
    Abstract: A device comprises a first integrated network card (105), a second integrated network card (106), a memory (103), which stores a driver for the second network card (106) and a setup program, and a USB connection (107) internally connected to the second integrated network card (106) and to the memory (103). The setup program, when executed by a processor (201) of an external device (200) connected to the device (100) via the USB connection (107), is configured to cause the external device (200) to install the driver for the second network card (106) in the external device (200). A system comprises such a device (100) and the external device (200). A method is provided for a corresponding installation of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Christian Persch
  • Publication number: 20160364777
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing reverse e-commerce (Rev-eCom) webpages that allow consumers to easily evaluate products, construct offers, and complete purchases from merchants globally are provided. Such system and method utilize user preferences for language, currency, shipping method, etc., information contained on merchant website, and information from third party services in order to provide information from a merchant to the user in parameters that allow the user to properly evaluate the products and the actual costs in their currency that will be required to complete a purchase and delivery from a cross-border merchant. The customer may then make the offer to buy based on information from the constructed webpage. This allows the online user to be in full control of the logistic services he/she requires or prefers. The merchant then has the ability to receive a verified offer and to accept such offer made based on the user preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventor: Frank Josefiak
  • Patent number: 9517845
    Abstract: The invention relates to an unload access system for an unit load device, comprising a framework, the framework delimiting a cargo space arranged on a ground load deck and the framework comprising an unload deck for unloading shipments out of the unit load device, whereby the unload deck is arranged distant above the ground load deck and extends in an offset plane adjacent to the cargo space, the unload deck comprises a movable platform, and the platform extends coplanar with the unload deck and is movable between a retracted position and a maximum extracted position, whereby in the maximum extracted position the platform overlaps at least partly the cargo space by extending into the cargo space and in the retracted position the platform does not overlap the cargo space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Jason Laib, Travis Cobb, Mark Webster, Mark Veasy
  • Publication number: 20160342943
    Abstract: The disclosure relates, inter alia, to a method for causing of unlocking and locking of at least one door of a vehicle for delivery of a shipment, particularly a package and/or a letter, into the vehicle. The method includes the steps of obtaining a piece of access authorisation information at a control apparatus; causing of the unlocking of the door of the vehicle, at least in part on the basis of the obtained piece of access authorisation information, by the control apparatus; obtaining one or more pieces of delivery event information, associated with a delivery event, at the control apparatus; and causing of the locking of the door of the vehicle by the control apparatus only if the obtained pieces of delivery event information are associated with one or more predetermined delivery events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Ralph Wiechers, Matthias Busecke
  • Publication number: 20160342944
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Ralph Wiechers, Matthias Busecke
  • Publication number: 20160275733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for deactivating the locking of at least one door of an accommodating device, said method comprising: effecting the unlocking of the at least one door, measuring the time since at least one event detected by an access-monitoring device of the accommodating device has occurred, and effecting, if the at least one door is open and the measured time exceeds a specified time threshold value, the deactivation of the locking of the at least one door in such a way that the at least one door cannot be locked. The invention further relates to an access-monitoring device, a computer program, an accommodating device, a system, and a use of the accommodating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Christian Carstens, Christoph Dautz, Jochen Jansen, Ramin Benz
  • Publication number: 20160275740
    Abstract: Provided is a locking unit for a housing, comprising at least two doors for locking each housing opening. The locking unit has a locking element module for each of the doors, said module having at least one locking body and a locking drive for actuating the locking body. The locking drive has a common drive element for the locking element modules, which drive element can be moved about a displacement path, and which, in a first displacement position, brings the locking body, for only one of the doors or only a first group of doors, of the doors into an unlocking position, and in a second displacement position, brings the locking body for all doors into an unlocking position. The invention also relates to a housing comprising a locking unit of this type, and to a method for unlocking one or more doors of a housing of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Horst Hild, Ramin Benz, Christoph Dautz, Christian Carstens
  • Publication number: 20160275735
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method including the steps of: detection of a presence of an access authorization verification apparatus in surroundings of an access control apparatus by first communication means of the access control apparatus, and prompting, when the presence of the access authorisation verification apparatus in the surroundings of the access control apparatus is detected, of a change of operating mode for second communication means of the access control apparatus. In addition, the disclosure relates to an access control apparatus, a computer program, a recording apparatus, a system and a use for an access authorisation verification apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Christian Carstens, Christoph Dautz, Jochen Jansen, Ramin Benz, Christian Eisenhart
  • Publication number: 20160275741
    Abstract: Provided is a method, performed by an access authorisation verification apparatus, involving the steps of: obtaining a piece of information from a transmission; identifying a transmission data record using the piece of information obtained from the transmission, wherein the transmission data record comprises address information associated with the transmission; determining an access control apparatus on the basis of a comparison of the address information of the transmission data record with respective address information that is associated with the access control apparatuses and stored on the access authorisation verification apparatus; allowing selection and/or confirmation of an access control apparatus for the determined access control apparatus by a user of the access authorisation verification apparatus; and communicating access authorization information to the access control apparatus in order to gain access to a room associated with the access control apparatus, so that the transmission can be placed
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Christian Carstens, Christoph Dautz, Jochen Jansen, Ramin Benz, Stanislav Bulygin, Marcus Lippert