Patents by Inventor Charles P. McLellan

Charles P. McLellan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240123471
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20240029489
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for using a mobile device to assist with the efficient and secure delivery of item. The mobile device can assist an item deliver to lock or unlock secure item delivery receptacles. The mobile device can also notify an item deliverer about particular delivery conditions associated with particular delivery endpoints. The mobile device can further help the item deliverer to determine whether or not he or she is delivering the item to the correct location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Gabriel Michael Yessin, William Albert Tartal
  • Patent number: 11872597
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20230362821
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing device efficiency by monitoring and replacing batteries. The system includes a mobile computing device and a data repository, where the data repository is configured to detect a unique device identification, a unique battery identification, a geographic location of the device, and battery information such as the current life of the battery and the number of times the battery has been charged. The mobile computing device in the system communicates the data repository to a processor. The processor calculates when a new battery is needed and the system ships a replacement battery to the facility closest to the location of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Sheetal J. Sonis
  • Publication number: 20230296791
    Abstract: A system and method for improving accuracy of a mobile delivery device traversing a route. The system includes a mobile delivery device, a geolocation circuit and an inertial navigation system in communication with the mobile device, and a processor configured to compare accuracy indicators to thresholds to determine when to switch sensing the position of the mobile delivery device between the geolocation circuit and the inertial navigation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Anoosha Koohi, Charles P. McLellan
  • Patent number: 11743828
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing device efficiency by monitoring and replacing batteries. The system includes a mobile computing device and a data repository, where the data repository is configured to detect a unique device identification, a unique battery identification, a geographic location of the device, and battery information such as the current life of the battery and the number of times the battery has been charged. The mobile computing device in the system communicates the data repository to a processor. The processor calculates when a new battery is needed and the system ships a replacement battery to the facility closest to the location of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Sheetal J. Sonis
  • Patent number: 11710360
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for using a mobile device to assist with the efficient and secure delivery of item. The mobile device can assist an item deliver to lock or unlock secure item delivery receptacles. The mobile device can also notify an item deliverer about particular delivery conditions associated with particular delivery endpoints. The mobile device can further help the item deliverer to determine whether or not he or she is delivering the item to the correct location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Gabriel Michael Yessin, William Albert Tartal
  • Publication number: 20230098768
    Abstract: A system and method for the use of geo-fences to coordinate and track delivery of items. In some embodiments, the system comprising a mobile delivery device comprising a vector calculation module configured to determine a motion vector associated with the mobile delivery device, a geo-location module configured to determine a geo-location associated with a mobile delivery device, and a geo-fence database configured to determine a size of at least one geo-fence associated with at least one location and determine whether the mobile delivery device is within the geo-fence. In some embodiments, the size of the geo-fence is determined at least in part on the motion vector determined by the vector calculation module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Venkat Mouli
  • Patent number: 11521159
    Abstract: A system and method for the use of geo-fences to coordinate and track delivery of items. In some embodiments, the system comprising a mobile delivery device comprising a vector calculation module configured to determine a motion vector associated with the mobile delivery device, a geo-location module configured to determine a geo-location associated with a mobile delivery device, and a geo-fence database configured to determine a size of at least one geo-fence associated with at least one location and determine whether the mobile delivery device is within the geo-fence. In some embodiments, the size of the geo-fence is determined at least in part on the motion vector determined by the vector calculation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Venkat Mouli
  • Publication number: 20220036675
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for using a mobile device to assist with the efficient and secure delivery of item. The mobile device can assist an item deliver to lock or unlock secure item delivery receptacles. The mobile device can also notify an item deliverer about particular delivery conditions associated with particular delivery endpoints. The mobile device can further help the item deliverer to determine whether or not he or she is delivering the item to the correct location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Gabriel Michael Yessin, William Albert Tartal
  • Publication number: 20210362196
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Patent number: 11167319
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Patent number: 11151824
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for using a mobile device to assist with the efficient and secure delivery of item. The mobile device can assist an item deliver to lock or unlock secure item delivery receptacles. The mobile device can also notify an item deliverer about particular delivery conditions associated with particular delivery endpoints. The mobile device can further help the item deliverer to determine whether or not he or she is delivering the item to the correct location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Gabriel Michael Yessin, William Albert Tartal
  • Publication number: 20210192444
    Abstract: A scanning device mounting apparatus includes a mounting component, which may be magnetic; a hose coupled to the mounting component at a first distal end of the hose; an adjusting component coupled to a second distal end of the hose; and a cradle coupled to the adjusting component. The cradle can hold a scanning device, and the scanning device mounting apparatus is configured to position the scanning device in a manner that allows the scanning device to scan the labels on items that are being moved under or near the scanning device, such as packages or other items that are being loaded onto a delivery vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Steven R. QUINN, Han T. DINH, Charles P. MCLELLAN
  • Publication number: 20210181359
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking mobile devices. The system can include a data center and a plurality of mobile devices in communication with the data center via the network. Each mobile device can include at least one sensor configured to periodically generate tracking data records, a memory, and a processor in communication with the at least one sensor and the memory. The mobile devices can transmit sets of tracking data records to the data center using reduced bandwidth relative to the original records by implement compression algorithms that can include delta encoding and/or numeric base conversion of number valued fields, as well as additional compression techniques that may be reversed at the data center to reconstruct the original records or otherwise decompress the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Collier C. Apgar
  • Publication number: 20210108935
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for analyzing a route traveled by an item carrier is disclosed. The system comprises a memory circuit and a hardware processor. The memory circuit is configured to store location data points and acceleration data points received from sensors. The hardware processor is configured to receive the location and the acceleration data points from the sensors, store the location and acceleration data points in the memory circuit, and filter the stored location data points to remove a subset of location data points that represent or indicate scatter. The hardware processor is configured to identify the route traveled by the item carrier, filter the stored acceleration data points, identify a state of the item carrier for each of the filtered acceleration data points based on an analysis of the filtered acceleration data points, and verify the identified state of the item carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Anoosha Koohi, Charles P. McLellan
  • Patent number: 10967405
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Patent number: 10946417
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Patent number: 10819694
    Abstract: A system and method of validating an upgrade of authentication credentials includes authenticating a first user being associated with a first entity, receiving input identifying a customer name for the online account, receiving input indicating a type of identification to be presented at the validation event, receiving input indicating a transaction code associated with the validation event, and receiving input indicating a location of the validation event, and further includes authenticating a second user being associated with a second entity, providing to the second user a list of validation events for a location, receiving input selecting a validation event in the list of validation events, presenting one or more of the customer name, transaction code, and type of identification associated with the selected validation event, and receiving input indicating a result of the validation event, where a credential or token is created and assigned based on the validation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Timothy M. Moran, Jane E. Quenk, Douglas Paul Glair, Charles P. McLellan
  • Publication number: 20200294337
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for using a mobile device to assist with the efficient and secure delivery of item. The mobile device can assist an item deliver to lock or unlock secure item delivery receptacles. The mobile device can also notify an item deliverer about particular delivery conditions associated with particular delivery endpoints. The mobile device can further help the item deliverer to determine whether or not he or she is delivering the item to the correct location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Charles P. McLellan, Gabriel Michael Yessin, William Albert Tartal