Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for dynamically monitoring transport of a plurality of packages potentially containing regulated goods so as to ensure compliance with one or more regulations within a plurality of jurisdictions. The embodiments utilize one or more computer processors or one or more executable portions to: receive transport data associated with the transport of at least one of the plurality of packages and regulatory data associated with the at least one jurisdiction in which transport occurs; determine whether the one of the plurality of packages contains at least one regulated good; if the presence of at least one regulated good is determined, validate consignor data and the transport data; whereby in response to an unsuccessful validation, at least one report is generated to prevent or otherwise mitigate transport of the one of the plurality of packages in the at least one identified jurisdiction.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a fleet management system is provided for capturing, storing, and analyzing telematics data to improve fleet management operations. The fleet management system may be used, for example, by a shipping entity (e.g., a common carrier) to capture telematics data from a plurality of vehicle sensors located on various delivery vehicles and to analyze the captured telematics data. In particular, various embodiments of the fleet management system are configured to analyze engine idle data in relation to other telematics data in order to identify inefficiencies, safety hazards, and theft hazards in a driver's delivery process. The fleet management system may also be configured to assess various aspects of vehicle performance, such as vehicle travel delays and vehicle speeds.

Abstract: Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for creating, modifying, and viewing geographic areas and their corresponding routes and items of work. For example, an interface can be provided with a map display area and a route display area. The map display area and the route display area can be synchronized to create new routes, modify existing routes, and/or view information about various routes and/or items of work.

Abstract: Data encoded in multiple languages, such as single byte languages and multi-byte languages, may be generated and stored in a single indexable information/data profile in a database. The information/data profile may comprise indexable information/data fields configured for storing information/data in a standardized language encoding and non-indexable information/data fields configured for storing information/data in a language different from the standardized language. The standardized language may be generated by translating the information/data stored in the non-indexable information/data fields to enable indexing of the entire information/data profile. The information/data profile may be utilized to generate various information/data outputs, such as shipping labels including at least one of the standardized language or the other language while enabling the information/data profile to be indexed based at least in part on the standardized language.

Abstract: An elevated delivery platform having a delivery surface that can be placed at a location off the ground to better facilitate delivery of parcels by unmanned aerial vehicles, such as delivery drones, is provided. By placing the elevated delivery platform in an area above the ground, such as atop a home or a pole, a drone is more capable of making deliveries because it avoids obstacles nearer to the ground that typically make drone delivery challenging. The elevated delivery platform raises and lowers parcels to a position where they can easily be retrieved. Some systems also provide a deployable cover to protect parcels from adverse weather conditions while awaiting pickup or following delivery. The elevated delivery platform can be used as part of a drone delivery system that can also include a containment unit, a computer application, or any combination of these aspects.

Abstract: Various systems and methodologies may be utilized to determine whether a particular shipment/item is eligible for delivery between a manual delivery vehicle and a final destination location via an autonomous delivery vehicle. To ensure autonomous deliveries are performed in a resource effective manner, shipments/items deemed eligible for autonomous delivery may be vetted by comparing the destination for the autonomous delivery shipment/item against one or more manual delivery destinations (serviced by the manual delivery vehicle operator), and ultimately identifying an optimal launch location for the autonomous delivery vehicle to leave the manual delivery vehicle to complete the autonomous delivery. If the autonomous delivery location does not satisfy applicable autonomous delivery criteria, the autonomous delivery shipment/item may be reclassified for manual delivery by the manual delivery vehicle operator.

Abstract: Systems, and methods of shifting objects using a vehicle and at least one drone are provided. The vehicle and drone are configured to communicate using communication components to coordinate movement of the at least one drone relative to the wheeled object. The system for shifting objects may include sensors for detecting characteristics of the environment. The system may include shifting the object to a second location based on the characteristics detected.

Abstract: The present systems and methods describe a computer system that collects user shipping preferences, including, for example, the shipping speeds (e.g., standard three to five day shipping) a user selects on various retailer websites. The system is configured to determine the one or more preferred shipping methods for the user based on the collected shipping preferences and to save the preferred shipping methods to memory (e.g., the user commonly prefers standard shipping). When the user visits an online retailer, the system, detects a shipping field (e.g., where the user may select or input a shipping preference), accesses the saved preferred shipping method (e.g., the user prefers standard shipping), and populates the shipping field with the saved preferred shipping method (e.g., the system automatically selects “standard shipping” for the user).

Abstract: Systems, media, and methods for collecting front-end information from a customer to establish a delivery/pickup location for delivery/pickup of a parcel by unmanned vehicles are provided. In some embodiments, a customer may be guided though a registration process that includes establishing release/retrieve zones for unmanned delivery/pickup. In some cases, release/retrieve zones may be determined using a map provided to the customer. Areas to establish release/retrieve zones may be suggested to the customer, or in some cases, the customer may suggest potential release/retrieve zones. It may be determined whether a release/retrieve zone is suitable based on customer configurations and consents. Some embodiments include establishing a release/retrieve zone using augmented reality. In some cases, customers may wish to designate off-limits areas, including no-fly zones, to prohibit certain unmanned vehicles from entering the off-limits areas.

Abstract: Various embodiments of present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-program products containing executable code for processing a package for shipping with a common carrier. Various embodiments include a wireless computing device that may be one of several types of devices such as smartphones, mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, laptop computers, gaming devices, electronic tablets, or other types of similar devices that may be used to facilitate the shipping and expedited tracking of objects having a tracking number via multimedia capture and processing.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for providing notification of items for pickup at a location. The apparatus may include at least one memory and a processor(s) configured to automatically send an electronic message to a network device requesting pickup of an item(s) at a location of a user of the apparatus responsive to detecting pressing of a button on an exterior of the apparatus. The processor is also configured to receive an acknowledgement message from the network device denoting (i) confirmation that the network device received the electronic message requesting pickup of the item(s) at the location of the user and (ii) scheduled pickup of the item(s) from the location of the user at an estimated time. The processor is further configured to generate a visible indication regarding the pickup of the item(s) in response to detecting receipt of the acknowledgement message. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention generally relate to systems and methods for identifying suspicious orders for controlled substances based on performing checks on a received order using historical information on previous orders. According to various embodiments, these checks may include: (1) comparing the order quantity for the received order with the order quantity history for the customer who placed the order for the controlled substance; (2) comparing the order quantity and the days since the last order was shipped to the customer for the same controlled substance with the order quantity history and the days between orders for the particular customer and controlled substance; (3) comparing the order quantity with order quantity history for orders received by customers of the same type for the controlled substance; and (4) comparing the order quantity with order quantity history for any customer for the particular controlled substance.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, system, methods and computer program products are configured for providing at least one customized communication to a recipient of one or more packages shipped by a consignor via a common carrier. One or more computer processors are configured to: receive at least a portion of customized content; retrieve at least a portion of consignee data, the portion comprising one or more parameters established by the recipient; compare the one or more components of the customized content with the one or more parameters established by the recipient so as to identify one or more correlations there-between; in response to identifying at least one correlation, generate at least one customized communication for provision to the recipient, the at least one customized communication containing at least a portion of the customized content; and in response to identifying no correlations, generate at least one standard communication containing no customized content.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, computing entities can establish direct communications with one another using a variety of protocols and standards. Such direction communications can be monitored or attempted to be established to determine whether an item is allowed or disallowed for delivery.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for facilitating synchronized delivery of shipments/items scheduled to be delivered to multiple serviceable points located nearby one another. Various embodiments identify nearby serviceable points based on an identification of serviceable points being logically clustered. Accordingly, various embodiments store a record for a serviceable point comprising data identifying the serviceable point and data identifying a second serviceable point. Thereafter, shipping data for a first shipment to be delivered to the serviceable point is received, and the record for the serviceable point is accessed to retrieve the data identifying the second serviceable point. A second shipment scheduled to be delivered to the second serviceable point is identified, and an indication is provided that the first and second shipments are eligible for synchronized delivery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a parcel position error based on a comparison of load data and configuration data are provided. Embodiments describe a number of methods of determining the parcel position error such as by determining a parcel path from the load data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for dispensing a travel path applicant. For example, a computing entity can monitor the location of a maintenance vehicle and/or its travel path to dispense travel path applicants accordingly.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide prognostic vehicle diagnosis methodologies for monitoring the relative health of various vehicle components over time, to enable replacement of those vehicle components prior to component failure. Sensors monitoring those vehicle components transmit generated telematics data to a computing entity configured to generate a telematics data signature based on the sensor-generated data, and to compare the telematics data signature against a reference data signature to ascertain the relative health of the vehicle component. If the telematics data signature satisfies a failure threshold identified within the reference signature, the computing entity initiates a replacement process at least in part by generating an alert for a maintenance personnel.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling objects being loaded or unloaded from a storage structure or vehicle, such as a trailer. In example embodiments, a plurality of parcels may be stored in or on a trailer that is attached to a cab of a delivery vehicle. Upon arrival at a deposit location, the trailer loaded with the one or more parcels may be removably secured to a an adjustable platform designed to be raised to a predetermined angle for unloading of the one or more parcels. Once the adjustable platform is raised to the predetermined angle, a plurality of adjustable dividing mechanisms may be configured to pivot, allowing for the movement of a controlled volume of the one or more parcels onto the receiving platform.