Patents by Inventor Robert E. Dixon

Robert E. Dixon 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: 20190303855
    Abstract: A method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium are. In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving a request to display a calendar associated with a delivery point of a user, accessing shipment information associated with the user, the shipment information including a record of physical delivery items and electronic delivery items, and displaying, for each day on the calendar, a count of the physical delivery items and electronic delivery items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Chandra A. BRIGGMAN, Jane Elizabeth QUENK, Timothy M. MORAN, Kelley A. SULLIVAN, Robert E. DIXON, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190263590
    Abstract: Methods and systems for in route mail sorting and packaging are disclosed. One aspect disclosed is a vehicle including a freight bay. The freight bay includes a plurality of item storage bins. The freight bay also includes a robot. The robot includes a means for grasping items and moving them between the item storage bins. For example, the robot may include an item manipulating attachment that in some aspects may include two or more extending portions for grasping items. The robot may assemble item packages from a plurality of individual items based on addresses of the items. The robot may also manipulate shrink wrap around the item package and position the item package within a station that heats the package and causes the shrink wrap to shrink around the items in the package, thereby forming the items into a package that is easy to deliver to a single address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Gregory Cooil
  • Publication number: 20190251617
    Abstract: System and method for providing electronic manifesting access for users of a distribution network. A distribution network may provide a user access point, such as by providing application programming interfaces. The access point may provide access the item tracking module upon receipt of valid credentials, such as a user's unique identifier. The access point may receive item information, generate an electronic manifest including the item information and the unique identifier, and allow for tracking the items on the electronic manifest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Dixon, Kelley A. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10351347
    Abstract: Methods and systems for in route mail sorting and packaging are disclosed. One aspect disclosed is a vehicle including a freight bay. The freight bay includes a plurality of item storage bins. The freight bay also includes a robot. The robot includes a means for grasping items and moving them between the item storage bins. For example, the robot may include an item manipulating attachment that in some aspects may include two or more extending portions for grasping items. The robot may assemble item packages from a plurality of individual items based on addresses of the items. The robot may also manipulate shrink wrap around the item package and position the item package within a station that heats the package and causes the shrink wrap to shrink around the items in the package, thereby forming the items into a package that is easy to deliver to a single address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E Dixon, Jr., Gregory Cooil
  • Patent number: 10325240
    Abstract: A method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium are. In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving a request to display a calendar associated with a delivery point of a user, accessing shipment information associated with the user, the shipment information including a record of physical delivery items and electronic delivery items, and displaying, for each day on the calendar, a count of the physical delivery items and electronic delivery items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Chandra A. Briggman, Jane Elizabeth Quenk, Timothy M. Moran, Kelley A. Sullivan, Robert E. Dixon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10248988
    Abstract: System and method for providing electronic manifesting access for users of a distribution network. A distribution network may provide a user access point, such as by providing application programming interfaces. The access point may provide access the item tracking module upon receipt of valid credentials, such as a user's unique identifier. The access point may receive item information, generate an electronic manifest including the item information and the unique identifier, and allow for tracking the items on the electronic manifest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Robert E. Dixon, Kelley A. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20190019149
    Abstract: Methods and systems for on demand logistics management are disclosed. An on-demand logistics system includes an electronic hardware processor configured to receive an on-demand request, the request indicating an on-demand location for an on-demand transaction, determine locations of a plurality of vehicles on a plurality of delivery routes, determine whether the on-demand location is within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of delivery routes based on the vehicle locations and assign the on-demand transaction to a vehicle based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Dixon, Ryan Luckay
  • Publication number: 20190005741
    Abstract: Systems described herein for controlling, requesting, and coordinating the creation and generation of labels can be a label broker, providing a centralized location for storing label information created by various entities, and managing the requests for generation of physical labels coming from various sources and entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Klausner, Robert E. Dixon, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180327165
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for maintaining temperature control of a distribution item, or of the contents of a distribution item, as the distribution item moves through the distribution network. A container housing an item can include a cooling unit, a heating unit, or both, and control circuitry including a temperature sensor. The control circuitry activates the cooling unit or heating unit as required to maintain the item at a desired temperature or within a desired temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: James Edward Lee, SR., Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180293540
    Abstract: A method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium are provided for populating a calendar. In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving tracking data regarding a delivery item, calculating an expected delivery date for the delivery item, identifying one or more deadlines associated with the delivery item, based on the tracking information, and automatically populating a user's calendar with the expected delivery date and the one or more deadlines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Chandra A. BRIGGMAN, Jane Elizabeth QUENK, Timothy M. MORAN, Kelley A. SULLIVAN, Robert E. DIXON, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180253687
    Abstract: Systems and methods of creating, managing, and distributing supplemental content associated with items in a distribution network. A physical delivery item can be imaged and associated with additional content generated or associated with the sender of the physical delivery item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Carrie Ann Bornitz, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Ryan M. Luckay
  • Publication number: 20180189915
    Abstract: Systems and methods of tracking distribution items using hardware components on or in the distribution items. Shippers and recipients of distribution items can track or locate a distribution item, especially a high value item, if the distribution item is lost, misrouted, or delayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Jim E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20180186454
    Abstract: Autonomous delivery drop points for delivery of an item are provided. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a proxy sensor to communicate information related to the autonomous delivery drop point to an autonomous delivery vehicle. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a delivery inlet configured to accept the item. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a storage receptacle configured to store the item until the item is retrieved by the owner of the item. The autonomous delivery drop points can include an attachment member coupled to the item. The autonomous delivery drop points can include a hook configured to couple to the attachment member to accept the item, wherein the hook comprises the proxy sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Gregory Cooil
  • Publication number: 20180170674
    Abstract: Methods and systems for in route mail sorting and packaging are disclosed. One aspect disclosed is a vehicle including a freight bay. The freight bay includes a plurality of item storage bins. The freight bay also includes a robot. The robot includes a means for grasping items and moving them between the item storage bins. For example, the robot may include an item manipulating attachment that in some aspects may include two or more extending portions for grasping items. The robot may assemble item packages from a plurality of individual items based on addresses of the items. The robot may also manipulate shrink wrap around the item package and position the item package within a station that heats the package and causes the shrink wrap to shrink around the items in the package, thereby forming the items into a package that is easy to deliver to a single address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan M. Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Gregory Cooil
  • Publication number: 20180170543
    Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching and detaching an item satchel from an autonomous delivery unit. An attachment system includes an attachment system frame, and a satchel comprising a plurality of external pins. The attachment system also includes a plurality of hooks, mechanically attached to the frame, each hook including a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface, one or more electric actuators, mechanically attached to the frame, and mechanically connected to the plurality of hooks. Each of the first engagement surfaces engage a corresponding pin of the plurality of external pins at a first position between the horizontal and vertical positions, and each of the second engagement surfaces engage the corresponding pin of the plurality of external pins at the vertical position to secure an item satchel to an autonomous delivery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan M Luckay, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Gregory Cooil
  • Patent number: 9996813
    Abstract: A method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium are provided for populating a calendar. In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving tracking data regarding a delivery item, calculating an expected delivery date for the delivery item, identifying one or more deadlines associated with the delivery item, based on the tracking information, and automatically populating a user's calendar with the expected delivery date and the one or more deadlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Chandra A. Briggman, Jane Elizabeth Quenk, Timothy M. Moran, Kelley A. Sullivan, Robert E. Dixon, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180158018
    Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomous item delivery and/or pick up are provided. IN some aspects, a mothership travels along an item route. One or more autonomous delivery vehicles may be dispatched from the mothership as the mothership progresses along the route. Each of the autonomous delivery vehicles may deliver and/or pick-up one or more items at one or more item locations. In addition, as the mothership progresses along its route, it may also stop to facilitate the manual delivery and/or pick-up of additional items via a human operator. Upon completing their delivery and/or pick up tasks, the autonomous delivery vehicles return to the mothership, either at the point at which they dispatched from the mothership, or at a different location along the item delivery route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan Luckay, Robert E Dixon, JR., Gregory Cooil
  • Publication number: 20180114188
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and implementing a household customer database are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for processing items comprises receiving a first item to be delivered and identifying data corresponding to one or more of a source information and destination information of the first item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Naomi Miller, Robert E. Dixon, JR., Nii-Kwashie Aryeetey
  • Patent number: 9898790
    Abstract: A system and method of verifying the identity of a user or registrant. The user or registrant provides identification information and registration information. The identification information may be a visual representation of an identifying item associated with location information. In some embodiments, the identification information may be a visual representation of a government issued identity. An identification module verifies the identification information and compares the verified identification information to the registration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald E. Irwin, Nan K. McKenzie, William A. Tartal, Victoria K. Stephen, Michael J. Amato, William G. Ackerman, Robert E. Dixon, Daniel W. Smith, Gregory Crabb
  • Patent number: D812463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: United States Postal Serivce
    Inventors: Jim E. Lee, Robert E. Dixon, Jr., Jon Goodrich