Patents by Inventor Eric Rongley

Eric Rongley 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: 20250019172
    Abstract: A mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network is disclosed. The communication network may comprise the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The MITU may be configured to receive inventory demands and handle them based on analyzing its own inventory, the transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit the same to the first central system or the MITU, and the first central system or the MITU may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 12065310
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for controlling an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: direct a first transport system to a first location; determine a respective drop off location for each of the one or more autonomous storage units; determine a boarding order for the one or more autonomous storage units based at least in part on the respective drop off location for each of the one or more autonomous storage units; direct the one or more autonomous storage units to board the first transport system at the first location; and transport the one or more autonomous storage units from the first location to the one or more respective drop off locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Prime Robotics Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20240220920
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may place an inventory item in an autonomous storage unit, direct the autonomous storage unit to depart a starting location, direct the autonomous storage unit to board a first transport system departing for a first arrival location, determine whether an event will delay or expedite the arrival of the autonomous storage unit at the first arrival location, determine alternative routing options for the autonomous storage unit to continue travel to the first arrival location, recalculate the route of the autonomous storage unit to the first arrival location, and select a new route to the first arrival location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 12014321
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for dynamically organizing autonomous storage units in a retail control territory are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may identify a plurality of autonomous storage units, wherein each autonomous storage unit is configured to hold one or more inventory items; identify an inventory level for each of the plurality of autonomous storage units; determine a first arrangement for the plurality of autonomous storage units based in part on one or more first factors; organize the plurality of storage units in the first arrangement; identify one or more second factors; determine a second arrangement for at least a portion of the plurality of autonomous storage units based on the one or more second factors; and direct the at least the portion of the plurality of autonomous storage units to organize in the second arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Prime Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 12002006
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous storage unit in an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may negotiate, by a first controller, a dispatch routine for the storage unit with a transport controller and a second controller, assign a token to the storage unit and the second controller, the token providing an identification signal between the storage unit and the second controller, register a departure event with the first controller, provide a secure connection between the storage unit and the second controller, exchange the token between the storage unit and the second controller, authenticate the secure connection based on exchanging the token, and give the storage unit permission to access a control territory assigned to the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Prime Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 11932490
    Abstract: A mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network is disclosed. The communication network may comprise the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The MITU may be configured to receive inventory demands and handle them based on analyzing its own inventory, the transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit the same to the first central system or the MITU, and the first central system or the MITU may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Prime Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 11790315
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may place an inventory item in an autonomous storage unit, direct the autonomous storage unit to depart a starting location, direct the autonomous storage unit to board a first transport system departing for a first arrival location, determine whether an event will delay or expedite the arrival of the autonomous storage unit at the first arrival location, determine alternative routing options for the autonomous storage unit to continue travel to the first arrival location, recalculate the route of the autonomous storage unit to the first arrival location, and select a new route to the first arrival location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Autonomous Shelf, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20230244236
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for transporting a mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include the mobile inventory transportation communication network comprising the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU from a first point to a second point, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit inventory request data to the first central system, and the first central system may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 11520337
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for transporting a mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include the mobile inventory transportation communication network comprising the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU from a first point to a second point, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit inventory request data to the first central system, and the first central system may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Autonomous Shelf, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20220351118
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous storage unit in an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may negotiate, by a first controller, a dispatch routine for the storage unit with a transport controller and a second controller, assign a token to the storage unit and the second controller, the token providing an identification signal between the storage unit and the second controller, register a departure event with the first controller, provide a secure connection between the storage unit and the second controller, exchange the token between the storage unit and the second controller, authenticate the secure connection based on exchanging the token, and give the storage unit permission to access a control territory assigned to the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Patent number: 11308444
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous storage unit in an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may negotiate, by a first controller, a dispatch routine for the storage unit with a transport controller and a second controller, assign a token to the storage unit and the second controller, the token providing an identification signal between the storage unit and the second controller, register a departure event with the first controller, provide a secure connection between the storage unit and the second controller, exchange the token between the storage unit and the second controller, authenticate the secure connection based on exchanging the token, and give the storage unit permission to access a control territory assigned to the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Autonomous Shelf, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20220012677
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for dynamically organizing autonomous storage units in a retail control territory are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may identify a plurality of autonomous storage units, wherein each autonomous storage unit is configured to hold one or more inventory items; identify an inventory level for each of the plurality of autonomous storage units; determine a first arrangement for the plurality of autonomous storage units based in part on one or more first factors; organize the plurality of storage units in the first arrangement; identify one or more second factors; determine a second arrangement for at least a portion of the plurality of autonomous storage units based on the one or more second factors; and direct the at least the portion of the plurality of autonomous storage units to organize in the second arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20220009715
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for controlling an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: direct a first transport system to a first location; determine a respective drop off location for each of the one or more autonomous storage units; determine a boarding order for the one or more autonomous storage units based at least in part on the respective drop off location for each of the one or more autonomous storage units; direct the one or more autonomous storage units to board the first transport system at the first location; and transport the one or more autonomous storage units from the first location to the one or more respective drop off locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20210276805
    Abstract: A mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network is disclosed. The communication network may comprise the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The MITU may be configured to receive inventory demands and handle them based on analyzing its own inventory, the transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit the same to the first central system or the MITU, and the first central system or the MITU may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20200364653
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous storage unit in an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may negotiate, by a first controller, a dispatch routine for the storage unit with a transport controller and a second controller, assign a token to the storage unit and the second controller, the token providing an identification signal between the storage unit and the second controller, register a departure event with the first controller, provide a secure connection between the storage unit and the second controller, exchange the token between the storage unit and the second controller, authenticate the secure connection based on exchanging the token, and give the storage unit permission to access a control territory assigned to the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20200364652
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for directing and controlling an autonomous inventory management system are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may place an inventory item in an autonomous storage unit, direct the autonomous storage unit to depart a starting location, direct the autonomous storage unit to board a first transport system departing for a first arrival location, determine whether an event will delay or expedite the arrival of the autonomous storage unit at the first arrival location, determine alternative routing options for the autonomous storage unit to continue travel to the first arrival location, recalculate the route of the autonomous storage unit to the first arrival location, and select a new route to the first arrival location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Rongley
  • Publication number: 20200225665
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computing platforms, and storage media for transporting a mobile inventory transportation unit (MITU) in a communication network are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include the mobile inventory transportation communication network comprising the MITU, a transportation system, a first and a second central system, in communication with each other, the MITU comprising a housing, an inventory storage device, a power device, a drive device, a navigation device, a sensing device, and a control device. The transportation system may be configured to physically receive and transport the MITU from a first point to a second point, the second central system may be configured to determine an inventory demand at a second or more location and transmit inventory request data to the first central system, and the first central system may be configured to schedule the movement of the MITU and control the delivery of the MITU to a final destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Rongley