Patents by Inventor Keith Ulrich

Keith Ulrich 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).

  • 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: 20140025295
    Abstract: The subject innovation relates to a method for planning routes which each run along a plurality of locations and for each of which a sequence of locations is determined according to distances between the locations. The distances between first locations on a first route are stored in a memory in conjunction with the determination of the first route, and a subsequent, second tour is determined according to distances between locations on the second route which are stored in the memory and according to further distances between locations on the second route, wherein the further distances are supplemented in the memory. The subject innovation also relates to an apparatus which is suitable for carrying out the method. The subject innovation can be used, in particular, to plan routes for delivering and/or collecting items of mail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Boris Paul, Verena Wild, Keith Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20130080347
    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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventors: Boris Paul, Verena Wild, Thomas Schulte-Hillen, Keith Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20110258135
    Abstract: There is provided a method for planning the travel route of a transport vehicle by which a plurality of transported items are transported. The method comprises providing an RFID tag for each transported item, wherein RFID antennas on the transport vehicle determine the load of the transport vehicle in that the individual RFID tags of the transported items are scanned inside the transport vehicle. The method also comprises scanning the RFID tags belonging to the transported items before the transport vehicle is loaded, via a reading process on an RFID packing bench. The route is planned at least on a basis of destination addresses for the transported items. The route may be changed dynamically on the basis of current traffic conditions and on the basis of items that have been newly loaded into the transport vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Boris Paul, Keith Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8019634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transporting physical objects, wherein at least one physical object is transported from a sending station to a receiving station, wherein the transport occurs through at least one physical router, wherein the physical router executes a decision about further parameters of transport to another physical router or to the receiving station. The method is carried out in that a central control computer receives information for handling and moving the physical objects and that the central control computer influences supplies for transport means and/or the transport means according to environmental data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Martin Wegner, Keith Ulrich, Michael Lohmeier
  • Publication number: 20100206946
    Abstract: There is provided a method for accepting an object that is to be transported, for purposes of being processed in a logistics system. An exemplary method comprises acquiring graphic information via optical image recognition. The exemplary method also comprises evaluating the graphic information to ascertain mailing data about the object, and transmitting and/or storing the mailing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Keith Ulrich, Stefan Wilms, Achim Vieth
  • Publication number: 20100066561
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor-transponder unit. An exemplary sensor-transponder unit comprises a sensor. The exemplary sensor-transponder unit also comprises a transponder connected to the sensor by a connection element. The sensor and the transponder are configured as components that are physically separated from each other. The exemplary sensor-transponder unit additionally comprises an interlayer that absorbs or reflects electromagnetic radiation arranged between the sensor and the transponder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Keith Ulrich, Stefan Wilms
  • Publication number: 20100066501
    Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring a container for holding at least one object. An exemplary method comprises acquiring measured data about an object with a sensor and transmitting the measured data to a transponder, the transponder being separated from the sensor by an interlayer that absorbs or reflects electromagnetic radiation. The exemplary method also comprises transmitting status information from the transponder to a reading unit as a function of the measured data. The exemplary method additionally comprises supplying energy to the transponder from the reading unit, and relaying the energy from the transponder to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Keith Ulrich, Stefan Wilms
  • Publication number: 20100026452
    Abstract: There is provided a deposit box facility for depositing objects into and/or picking up objects from the deposit box facility. An exemplary deposit box facility comprises an audio playback device and a processor that is adapted to process audio data played back by the audio playback device. The processor may also be adapted to identify an object present in the deposit box facility on the basis of the information acquired from the audio data. The exemplary deposit box facility also comprises a device that is adapted to ascertain compartments of the deposit box facility in which there are no objects and to make a comparison of dimensions of the ascertained free compartments of the deposit box facility with object dimensions that have been received as part of the information acquired from the audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Stefan Wilms, Keith Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20100019024
    Abstract: There is provided a method for receiving mailpieces in a container. An exemplary method comprises receiving a mailpiece in the container, storing the mailpiece in the container, and removing the mailpiece from the container. The exemplary method also comprises recording a removal procedure. The exemplary method additionally comprises storing and/or transmitting removal data about the removal procedure using an interaction device associated with the container, the interaction device comprising a transponder located in a Faraday cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Stefan Wilms, Keith Ulrich, Robert Poggemann, Marcel Schirmer
  • Publication number: 20100012653
    Abstract: There is provided a container for transporting objects. The container has an interior to hold at least one object. An exemplary container comprises an inner box and an outer box. The exemplary container also comprises at least one sensor for detecting measured data relating to the object, the at least one sensor being located between the inner box and the outer box. The exemplary container additionally comprises at least one transponder connected to the at least one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Keith Ulrich, Stefan Wilms
  • Publication number: 20080237334
    Abstract: A system for sending an information carrier to a recipient is disclosed. An exemplary system comprises an editing component that enables editing mailing address data of the recipient in order to create a printing job and an interface to transmit the mailing address data to a printing component that is adapted to print at least information about one or more dispatch points onto a mailing and/or onto a communication that can be enclosed with the mailing. The exemplary system also comprises a database containing information about goods to be delivered and about at least one dispatch point intended for the delivery of the goods, a linking element that is adapted to link information about the goods to be delivered to the mailing address data of the recipient and an interface to transmit information about the dispatch points to the printing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Keith Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20080040182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transporting physical objects, wherein at least one physical object is transported from a sending station to a receiving station, wherein the transport occurs through at least one physical router, wherein the physical router executes a decision about further parameters of transport to another physical router or to the receiving station. The method is carried out in that a central control computer receives information for handling and moving the physical objects and that the central control computer influences supplies for transport means and/or the transport means according to environmental data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Wegner, Keith Ulrich, Michael Lohmeier