Patents Assigned to United Parcel Service
  • Patent number: 11164141
    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 associated with a common geographic descriptor. Accordingly, various embodiments receive shipping data for a first shipment to be delivered to a first serviceable point and a second shipment to be delivered to a second serviceable point. A first geographic descriptor is identified as associated with the first serviceable point and a second geographic descriptor is identified as associated with the second serviceable point, and a determination is made whether the first and second geographic descriptors are the same. Upon a determination that the first and second geographic descriptors are the same, an indication is provided that the first and second shipments are eligible for synchronized delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chris Bolton, Steven D. Brill, Matthew Collins, Anthony Creasy, Andrew Dotterweich, Joseph Guerrisi, Daniel Kettleson, Michael Mulholland, Robert J. Gillen, Greg Loppatto, John Hernandez, Butch Butler, Scott Lord
  • Patent number: 11157863
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for engaging a service provider to perform a delivery service to redirect a shipment to be delivered to an alternative intended destination upon receipt of a redirection request. Based on a monitored current location of a last mile delivery vehicle scheduled to deliver the shipment to an initial intended destination, a computing entity monitors the location of available service providers capable of meeting the last mile delivery vehicle to pick up the shipment and transport the shipment to the alternative intended destination. The computing entity may engage one of the service providers by transmitting a signal to a mobile computing entity carried by the service provider and may monitor the service provider's progress in meeting the last mile delivery vehicle and transporting the shipment to the alternative intended destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Juan Perez
  • Patent number: 11157861
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a mapping management computer system. According to various embodiments, the mapping management computer system may be configured for updating geographical maps by assessing map data and operational data including vehicle telematics data to identify portions of a vehicle path that do not correspond to known travel paths. In various embodiments, the system is configured to define these identified portions as new known travel paths corresponding to a public road, private road, parking lot lane, or the like, and update the map data to reflect the new known travel paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Davidson, John A. Olsen, III
  • Patent number: 11156471
    Abstract: A system is provided for hands-free handling of at least one asset by a user. The system includes a user device configured to be worn by a user and a control system remotely located relative to the user device and configured to exchange asset-related data with the user device, the asset-related data including at least one or more notifications related to the handling of the at least one asset by the user at the asset location. The user device contains a processor configured to determine location data associated with the at least one asset and including a location for the at least one asset, the determination being based, in part, upon the obtained asset identifier data; dynamically generate and display, at the user device, one or more navigational projections configured to guide the user to the asset location; and detect handling of the at least one asset by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Julio Gil
  • Patent number: 11151510
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for tracking an item delivery are provided. In one embodiment, an item is associated with a vehicle (e.g., manned or unmanned terrestrial vehicle, nautical vehicle, and/or aerial vehicle) by updating item data in a database. An item tracking session is then generated based on the item data. Upon the determination that session availability trigger has occurred, access to the item tracking session is provided to a user. Data representing an updated location of the delivery vehicle is then used to update the item data to indicate the current location of the item as the updated location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumeet Pradeep Shroff, Kenny Takano Takahashi, Jeffrey J. Horne, Thomas V. Hoffmann, Michael J. Donohue, Ferdinand So, Julian Pulfrey, Michael Kerr, Larry Augsburger, Todd Brown, Susan Ruggles, Shane Hennessy, John Brelesky
  • Patent number: 11151488
    Abstract: A first feature is displayed within a first view of a user interface. A first selection of the first feature is configured to display a first set of identifiers corresponding to one or more tasks. A second feature is displayed within the first view of the user interface. A second selection of the second feature is configured to display a second set of identifiers corresponding to a set of workers. Each worker of the set of workers is associated with the one or more tasks and a first time that the one or more tasks are scheduled to be completed by. A set of status indicators are displayed. Each status indicator of the set of status indicators indicates whether the one or more tasks have been completed by the first time for the each worker of the set of workers based at least in part on the associating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Bryant Halioris, Paul Overstreet, Brandon Scott Pry, Balakrishna Subramaniam
  • Patent number: 11144870
    Abstract: An unallocated item/product inventory is maintained in each of a plurality of delivery vehicles traversing service routes within a delivery service area. Upon receipt of an order for delivery of an item/product that may be selected from the item/product inventory maintained within a delivery vehicle and that is to be delivered to a destination location within the delivery service area, a delivery vehicle driver is instructed to deliver an item/product selected from the item/product inventory located on the delivery vehicle during the corresponding service route on the same day that the order was placed. A delivery label for the item/product is printed, and the delivery vehicle driver secures the printed delivery label to an item/product selected from the unallocated item/product inventory, and delivers the item/product to the destination location on the same day the order was placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Loubriel
  • Patent number: 11145020
    Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting commodity classifications for a shipment that increase the efficiency of clearing the shipment through a customs authority. Such systems and methods may utilize machine learning techniques to improve the accuracy of the predicted classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Black, Barry Bramble
  • Patent number: 11126950
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for verifying the content of shipments based at least in part on images representing the interior of the shipments generated by an imaging device. Embodiments comprise features for receiving shipment data identifying expected contents of a shipment, receiving image data comprising an image of an interior of the shipment, detecting one or more items in the image of the interior of the shipment, and determining whether the detected items match the expected content of the shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Barber, Jeffrey Cooper, Christopher T. Schenken
  • Patent number: 11120389
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to methods and systems for initiating shipment of a connected shipment/item via a computing entity. The computing entity detects the presence of a shipment/item within a communication range of the computing entity based on received wireless communications, and initializes executable instructions upon detection of the electronically connected shipment/item to initiate shipment of the shipment/item. The executable instructions cause the computing entity to store a shipment identifier for the shipment/item, request and store shipment information/data from a user for the shipment/item, and transmit the stored shipment/item information/data and the stored shipment identifier to a carrier computing entity to generate a shipment profile for the shipment/item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Gillen
  • Patent number: 11105887
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating the sorting of assets to sort locations. In various embodiments, a sort employee scans an asset indicia using a user device, which stores asset data corresponding to the stored asset. As the sort employee nears a sort location (e.g., a delivery vehicle) with the asset and the user device, the user device automatically communicates wirelessly with a sort location receiver to associate the asset data with data indicative of the sort location where the user deposits the asset. In various embodiments, a device may determine whether the user device is proximate the appropriate sort location for the item, and may generate an alert upon a determination that the user device is proximate an incorrect sort location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Alan Loverich, Ted Abebe, Lawrence A. Lagrosa, Richard Allen Kerslake, Jonathan C. Gray, Carl M. Skonberg
  • Patent number: 11090689
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for associating an asset with a sort location, the system comprising a conveyor belt assembly and a user device configured to be worn by a user. The conveyor belt assembly comprises: an acquisition device and a plurality of stripes defining a non-repeating pattern, the plurality of stripes comprising a plurality of unique sets of stripes. The acquisition device is configured to capture image data comprising asset identifier data and conveyor mechanism data, the conveyor mechanism data including one of the plurality of unique sets of stripes. The user device is configured to capture conveyor mechanism data including one of the plurality of unique sets of stripes; remotely receive asset identifier data associated with the user device captured conveyor mechanism data; and generate and display to the user, relative to the asset, at least one visual indicator of one or more sort instructions for the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Julio Gil
  • Patent number: 11087268
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention involve systems, methods, and computer program products utilized in facilitating alternative delivery options for customers. In certain embodiments, a consignee may meet a driver and receive an item at a location different from the delivery address associated with the item. The receipt of the item may be prior to the driver attempting to deliver the item to the designated shipping location or after an unsuccessful delivery attempt. The carrier, the driver, the carrier system, the mobile station, and/or the sensors located on the item may communicate with the consignee to arrange a mutually acceptable time and location to accomplish the delivery. In certain embodiments, the consignee may be responsible for arriving at a dynamic delivery location to retrieve the item while the driver is at the location performing other tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Barbush, Kenneth Bradley Gubler, Robert J. Gillen
  • Patent number: 11066000
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for engaging, lifting, and moving objects such as wheeled cargo trailers are provided. In one embodiment, a mobile apparatus includes a transport mechanism, a frame, and one or more lift assemblies. The lift assemblies may be adjusted using one or more attached actuators that position the lift assemblies and/or components thereof for engaging and lifting an object. The transport mechanism may be autonomously operated. A vision system may be used to locate and identify objects and/or guide the mobile apparatus into position to engage and lift the objects. An adapter for a pneumatic braking system of a wheeled cargo trailer is also provided. The adapter provides a pneumatic attachment for a pressurized air source that is separate from a glad hands connector attached to the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Stephens B. Woodrough, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11037262
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products are provided. In an example embodiment, a method is provided comprising receiving input identifying load information corresponding to a load to be inserted into a transportation plan. The transportation plan comprises a plurality of transportation schedules, each schedule comprising a plurality of transportation movements. The method further comprises identifying an available movement network comprising portions of transportation schedules having open capacity, each portion of a transportation schedule having open capacity being a potential leg of a path from the origin location to the destination location; determining potential solutions for transporting the load from the origin location to the destination location by combining one or more legs to determine a path of open capacity movements from the origin location to at least part way to the destination location; and providing one or more potential solutions for display via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Mohr, Anthony Michael Celmer, Kristina M. McGowan, Keith Alan Ware, James Murphy, Chi-yin Cheng, Lee Anthony Mitchell, Jessica Myers
  • Patent number: 11023846
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises receiving location information for an item. The location information indicates the current physical location of the item. The method further comprises determining whether the item is located within a first configurable distance of an establishment and responsive to determining that the item is located within the first configurable distance of the establishment, requesting first location information for the consignee of the item and second location information for the consignee of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gillen, David Sisco, Sara Zoromsky, Jeff Enyart, Kalin Robinson, David Carder
  • Patent number: 11004031
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for determining delivery or pick-up windows. In one embodiment a method is provided comprising determining whether sufficient historical information/data to determine an estimated pick-up/delivery time is received for each weekday when deliveries are made and in response to determining that the sufficient historical information/data is available for a first weekday, determining an estimated pick-up/delivery time for the first serviceable point and for the first weekday based on the sufficient historical information/data for the first serviceable point and for the first weekday. Similarly, in response to determining that the sufficient historical information/data is not available for a second weekday, determining an estimated pick-up/delivery time for the first serviceable point and for the second weekday based on the first historical information/data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumeet Pradeep Shroff, Issac Azar, Rosalie Piccione, Ed Hojecki, Brian Gerhard
  • Patent number: 10993569
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Julio Gil, Bala Ganesh, Thomas Ramsager
  • Patent number: 10963831
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to concepts for on-boarding potential new customers for a carrier, wherein each potential new client has unique requirements. A method for on-boarding new clients comprises steps for identifying the unique requirements of the potential new customer by comparing the new customer's business model against identified issues common to entities having similar business models. Based on the identified unique requirements of the potential new customer, instructions for implementing required special procedures are generated. A pricing strategy is generated based on the identified customer requirements and any special procedures necessary for implementation of the customer requirements. During implementation, the provided services are monitored, and reports and/or alerts are generated for the customer and/or the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Todd Snyder
  • Patent number: 10956853
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for providing dynamic real-time verification and validation of data associated with the receiving, loading, and positioning of a plurality of containers upon a transport vehicle. One or more computer processors are configured to: receive actual load data associated with at least one container; retrieve at least a portion of expected load data associated with the container for which actual load data has been received; verify the actual weight of the one of the plurality of packages and in response to a successful verification identifying no load weight discrepancies, validate the actual load position of the one of the plurality of packages. In response to a successful validation, at least one communication configured to facilitate at least one of further loading of the plurality of packages may be generated. If validation is unsuccessful, further loading may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shikha Arora, Todd Guilford, Wai Lam, Cindy Peck