Patents Assigned to Deutsche Post AG
  • Publication number: 20210224737
    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: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Ralph Wiechers, Matthias Busecke
  • Publication number: 20210216619
    Abstract: A method comprising performing a process for authenticating a user of a compartment installation vis-à-vis a backend system managing the compartment installation. A necessary condition for performing the process for authenticating the user is that a proximity check has revealed that a mobile device of the user is situated at the location of the compartment installation, and/or that an occupancy check has revealed that the compartment installation contains at least one shipment assigned to the user. A corresponding apparatus, a corresponding system and a corresponding computer program are furthermore disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Frank Helferich, Thomas Baye, Christoph Dautz, Philipp Oberländer, Frank Reichwald
  • Publication number: 20210197971
    Abstract: A method for holding piece goods to be collected, and/or for gathering together piece goods to be dropped off. At least one piece goods module has a plurality of separate piece goods compartments at a collection point. The piece goods compartments each have a closure device adjustable from a closure position preventing access to the piece goods compartment into an opening position, which opens up access to the piece goods compartment and back. The piece goods module is transported by a drone by air from a distribution base to a transfer point and/or vice versa. The piece goods module is transported by a courier vehicle from the transfer point to the collection point and/or vice versa. At the collection point the at least one piece goods module is secured captively to a docking station and/or is separated from the docking station which is connected to the piece goods module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Felix Vorwerk, Matthäus Pruski
  • Publication number: 20210187992
    Abstract: A method is disclosed which is performed by at least one first apparatus. In the method, information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking is obtained. It is determined whether or not the franking is a counterfeit franking and/or a reused franking based on the obtained information or based on the obtained information and based on reference information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking. The at least one characteristic includes at least one of a physical characteristic of the franking, a visual characteristic of an image provided on the franking, and/or a characteristic based on at least one material of the franking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Ali Özyigit, Baris Cem Sal, Elisa Schneider, Marc Gittler
  • Patent number: 11014766
    Abstract: A description of a continuous conveyor is provided. The continuous conveyor includes a front segment, a central segment and a rear segment. At least the central segment has a conveying device for conveying objects and at least one height-adjustment device for adjusting the height of at least the conveying device from at least one lower, use position for conveying objects into an upper position. In a conveying position, the front segment, the conveying device of the central segment and the rear segment are arranged one behind the other in at least one conveying direction. Provision is made for a free space beneath the conveying device of the central segment in the upper position. The free space has a height of at least 160 cm, a width of at least 70 cm, and a depth corresponding to the width of the conveying device of the central segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Kai-Ulrich Ventz, René Schällig, Jana Mönster
  • Publication number: 20210139242
    Abstract: A piece goods cabinet including a plurality of piece goods modules is disclosed. Each piece goods module has a plurality of piece goods compartments. Each piece goods compartment is assigned a closure unit which is displaceable from a closed position into an open position. At least individual piece goods modules within the piece goods cabinet are arranged such that they can be displaced between at least two module positions, at least substantially in the vertical direction and/or at least substantially in at least one horizontal direction. In order that the displacement of piece goods modules of appropriate piece goods cabinets can be simplified further, provision is made for the at least individual displaceable piece goods modules to be connected to mover units of the piece goods cabinet, which are designed to displace the piece goods modules in the piece goods cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Uwe Radetzki
  • Patent number: 10990910
    Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery vehicle for delivering consignments at different locations on a delivery route, having at least one receiving device for receiving the consignment, having at least one sensor device for separately capturing delivery information for the consignments received via the receiving device, having at least one storage device for storing the received consignments during the delivery of other consignments, and having at least one conveying device for conveying the received consignments from the receiving device to storage positions in the storage device and from the storage positions in the storage device to a dispensing device for dispensing the consignments at the particular location for delivery of the consignments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Heike Bischoff, Sandra Drees, Boris Trendafilov, Holger Schneebeck, Antje Huber
  • Patent number: 10974915
    Abstract: Described is a consignment store for the separate acceptance, storing, and issuing of consignments. The consignment store has a handover device for the separate acceptance and handover of the consignments to separate carrier elements, a detecting device for detecting heights of the consignments, and a rack system with holding elements arranged one above the other in a vertical direction and which define holding levels. The holding and carrier elements are of corresponding design such that, on two adjacent holding levels, two carrier elements carrying one consignment can be held one above the other in a vertical direction, and such that, on a holding level, a carrier element can be held with a consignment taller than the spacing to the next holding level. A control device allocates carrier elements in a vertical direction one above the other to different holding elements/storage positions dependent on the detected height of the consignments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG Bonn
    Inventors: Christoph Dautz, Markus von Gostomski, Florian Markert, Jasmin Quill
  • Patent number: 10956953
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Patent number: 10947056
    Abstract: An adaptive roller conveyor for conveying objects, comprises a plurality of rollers and a control device, wherein the control device is connected with a sensor for detecting at least one parameter of an object, wherein at least one roller is connected with an adjustable brake device, wherein the brake device is connected with the control device, and wherein the control device is configured to control the brake device in dependence on the detected parameter to change the braking effect of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Oliver Prinz, Stephan Kolb
  • Patent number: 10929802
    Abstract: A method for locating at least one object transported in a load compartment of a delivery van, wherein the load compartment has a plurality of doors for removing the at least one object from the load compartment and the delivery van has a controller, includes determining a current position of the at least one object in the load compartment during a journey of the delivery van with a position determination device communicatively connected to the controller, and, for removing the at least one object from the load compartment, determining that door from the plurality of doors with the shortest distance to the current position, indicating the determined door with an indication device communicatively connected to the controller and/or opening the determined door and indicating the current position of the at least one object in the load compartment with the indication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventor: Felix Orth
  • Patent number: 10909790
    Abstract: Provided is a method involving obtaining an identifier at a control unit of a compartment system having compartments provided with respective locks and respective lock control units that are configured to communicate with the control unit; obtaining information indicating that one compartment has been closed, and causing storing of the identifier in the lock control unit assigned to the compartment. Also provided is a method comprising detecting, at a lock control unit assigned to a compartment of a compartment system comprising a control unit and compartments provided with respective locks and lock control units configured to communicate with the control unit, that the compartment has been closed; transmitting a piece of information identifying the lock control unit to the control unit if it has been detected that the compartment has been closed; obtaining an identifier from the control unit; and storing the identifier in the lock control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Jochen Jansen, Ramin Benz, Christoph Dautz, Christian Carstens, Dirk Schusdziara, Erwin Hirtreiter, Franz A. Schießl, Christian Eisenhart, Stanislav Bulygin
  • Publication number: 20210016324
    Abstract: A method performed by at least one apparatus is disclosed in which image data is obtained that represents an image of a surface of a consignment captured by an image sensor. At least partially on the basis of the image data, metadata associated with the image data is determined. The metadata represent a plurality of image features of the image represented by the image data. Each image feature of the image features represented by the metadata is an image component of the image represented by the image data. Distribution and/or sorting information is determined for the automated distribution and/or sorting of the consignment at least partially on the basis of the image features represented by the metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Bernd Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20210016979
    Abstract: A conveying device for converting a serially transported piece goods stream into a parallelly transported piece goods stream. A feed belt conveyor serially feeds the piece goods stream, and a plurality of discharge belt conveyors parallelly discharge the fed piece goods stream. The discharge belt conveyors are assigned to a longitudinal side of the feed belt conveyor. The directions of transport of the discharge belt conveyors are oriented parallel to one another and transversely to the direction of transport of the feed belt conveyor. The discharge belt conveyors are configured as telescopic belt conveyors. The longitudinal side of the upper strand of the feed belt conveyor that is assigned to the discharge belt conveyors is arranged lower than the opposite longitudinal side of the upper strand of the feed belt conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Alexander Winnebeck
  • Publication number: 20210018922
    Abstract: A method performed at a mobile transport unit is disclosed. In the method, parameters are determined by using sensors of the transport unit. The parameters include characteristics of the transport unit and/or characteristics of a consignment transported by the transport unit. In the method, the parameters are transmitted to a routing system, which determines a transport route for the transport unit, a need that waypoints/timing of an existing transport route of the transport unit has to be changed to obtain a changed transport route, or a need for a specific handling of the consignment. In the method, an instruction is received that is a routing instruction from the routing system pertaining to the determined transport route for the transport unit, to a transfer of the consignment from the transport unit to another transport unit, or to how the consignment shall be handled by the transport unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Anja Scheer, Christoph Dautz, Lutz Fischer
  • Publication number: 20210016735
    Abstract: A method is disclosed in which sensor information is obtained that is captured by at least one environment sensor of an unmanned vehicle. The sensor information represents at least one object parameter of an object that is moving relative to the unmanned vehicle. At least partly based on the at least one object parameter, it is determined whether a collision between the unmanned vehicle and the object is imminent. If it is determined that a collision between the unmanned vehicle and the object is imminent, at least partly based on the at least one object parameter, at least one triggering parameter is determined for triggering at least one crash cushion of the unmanned vehicle. The at least one crash cushion is triggered according to the at least one triggering parameter. The at least one crash cushion is triggered before the imminent collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Uwe Radetzki, Dong-Uck Kong, Boris Trendafilov, Heike Bischoff, Sandra Drees
  • Patent number: 10896400
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ralph Wiechers
  • Patent number: 10860975
    Abstract: The subject innovation relates to a system for optimizing collection trips and/or delivery trips of a courier service, comprising a computer system with a database for storing address data records and for providing the address data records for a navigation system which can at least be read in at least one of the courier vehicles belonging to the courier service, has a display screen for navigation information and comprises an input system in the courier vehicle, which input system is connected to the computer system and is intended for the input of at least one item of additional information relating to at least one address data record, wherein the computer system is suitable for inserting the additional information into the stored address data records. The subject innovation also relates to a method for using this system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventors: Boris Paul, Verena Wild, Thomas Schulte-Hillen, Keith Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20200377305
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a conveyor system transporting separated piece goods is disclosed. The conveyor system has a display device extending in sections along a transport path for the piece goods. The display device is designed to display at least one optical signal at different points of the transport path, and the display device is coupled to a control device. The control device determines information relating to the relationship of the actual conveyance of the piece good along the transport path with respect to the predetermined conveyance of the piece good along the transport path. An optical signal running along parallel to a piece good transported along the at least one transport path is displayed by the display device. The optical signal indicates the relationship of the actual conveyance of the piece good with respect to the predetermined conveyance of the piece good.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Manfred Krup, Arnd Kraemer
  • Patent number: 10853759
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method comprising outputting access authorization information, which is a necessary condition for access to a compartment of a compartment system. The specific compartment is known, and the access authorization information is generated at least using information identifying the compartment, such that the compartment is determinable by the compartment system using the access authorization information. The compartment system may be stateless with respect to the determination of the compartment using the access authorization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Christoph Dautz, Klaus Ebner, Marius Flesch