METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING OBJECT LOCATION AND GENERATING ALERTS
Methods, systems and apparatus for detecting object location and generating alerts are disclosed herein. An example disclosed method includes determining an assigned area for an object being handled by a loader; detecting a first location of the loader; determining whether the first location corresponds to the assigned area for the object; and in response to the first location not corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generating a first output indicative of a difference between the first location and the assigned area for the object.
This disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for detecting object location and generating alerts.
BACKGROUNDWireless communication systems, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, are utilized in different environments and applications. For example, RFID systems are utilized for product tracking, product identification and, more generally, inventory control in manufacturing, warehouse, transportation and retail environments. Some RFID systems include one or more tags and one or more readers. The tags transmit radio frequency (RF) signals that are readable by the reader. The signals transmitted by the tag typically include or convey identification information corresponding to, for example, an object associated with the tag. For example, the tag may be carried by (e.g., adhered to, mounted to, attached to, fixed to, or integrated with) a product, a label, a package, packaging, a person, or any other suitable object. The reader receives the signal transmitted by the tag and processes (e.g., stores, displays, communicates or otherwise processes) data conveyed via the signal.
Advancements in communication technology, such as Internet-based purchasing and ordering, have increased the number of consumers and enterprises that rely on accurate and timely delivery of goods and materials. In turn, demands on those tasked with providing such services have amplified. In addition to greater volumes of packages to be delivered, allotted delivery times have shortened to meet demand as the transportation and logistics industry grows and competition intensifies. Moreover, many entities operate under guarantees in terms of accurate and timely delivery of packages, thereby heightening the importance of accurate and timely performance.
To meet these and other challenges, transportation and logistics entities seek improvements across different aspect of various operations. For example, the process of loading packages into containers (e.g., delivery truck trailers, package cars, aircraft loading units, or rail cars) involves determining which packages should be loaded onto which containers, assigning the packages to the determined containers, informing loaders (e.g., persons or machines tasked with physically placing the packages into the containers) of the assigned container for the individual packages, and loading of the packages into the proper containers by the loaders. In many instances, the loader is faced with high volumes of packages and strict time constraints. Moreover, a loading dock may include a plurality of different containers that are difficult to distinguish on a consistent basis due to, for example, the containers having similar markings, poor visibility conditions, and proximity of openings into the different containers.
Of course, problems arise when a package is placed into an incorrect container. As the different containers likely have different destinations, the incorrectly loaded package may not arrive at the correct destination on time and additional cost associated with special handling may be incurred. Additionally, the incorrectly loaded package occupies valuable space in the incorrect container, which could have otherwise transported additional correctly loaded packages. Additionally, packages are often assigned to the containers in accordance with a route optimization algorithm and the driver has expectations of particular packages being in the container as the driver progresses through the route. Thus, the driver may travel to a destination of package only to find the package missing from the container. In such instances, delivery of other packages in the container are negatively affected by incorrect loading of the package at the loading dock.
While the foregoing explains challenges associated with package loading and delivery, similar challenges exist in other environments and applications that involve a need for accurate and efficient placement of objects in assigned locations. For example, inventory stocking operations and warehouse management operations suffer when objects are not accurately placed in assigned locations.
Example methods, systems and apparatus disclosed herein improve accuracy and efficiency of applications involving placement of objects in assigned locations. In particular, examples disclosed herein detect an event indicative of an incorrect placement of an object. Additionally, examples disclosed herein provide one or more alerts that draw attention to the detected event. Notably, examples disclosed herein detect the event and provide the alert immediately (e.g., during the event or seconds after the event) such that the error can be corrected or altogether avoided. To continue the above transportation and logistics scenario, examples disclosed herein detect an entrance or presence of a loader handling a package in a first container, despite the package having been assigned to a second container different than the first container. For example, while carrying a package destined for a first city, the loader may mistakenly walk into a container bound for a second, different city. In such instances, examples disclosed herein detect that the loader has entered the incorrect container and alert the loader to the mistake that has occurred or that is about to occur.
To detect an event indicative of an incorrect placement of an object, example systems disclosed herein include wireless transmitters mounted in different areas (e.g., containers, portals, etc.) and mobile computing devices (e.g., wearable computing devices to be worn by a package loader) capable of receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitters. Example mobile computing devices disclosed herein are configured to determine an assigned location for the object by, for example, obtaining an identification code carried by the object and querying a database having location assignment information. For example, mobile computing devices disclosed herein include or are in communication with a reader capable of reading an identification code (e.g., indicia, a barcode, a RFID transponder, or machine readable text) carried by a tag adhered to the object.
Example mobile computing devices disclosed herein utilize transmissions received from the wireless transmitters to detect events indicative of a placement of the object in a particular area. For example, mobile computing devices disclosed herein detect entrance of the mobile computing device (and, thus, a carrier of the mobile computing device) into the particular area based on receipt of transmissions from one or more specific wireless transmitters dedicated to that particular area. Using identification information associated with the particular area and the determined assigned location for the object, example mobile computing devices disclosed herein determine whether the object is being incorrectly placed. If so, example mobile computing devices disclosed herein generate an alert by, for example, causing an output device to generate an alert, thereby avoiding the realization of the detected error. Instead, the loader can respond to the alert by relocating the object to the assigned location for that object.
While example methods, systems and apparatus disclosed herein are described below in connection with package loading operations at a loading dock, example methods, systems and apparatus disclosed herein can be implemented in any other suitable context or environment such as, for example, a distribution center, a warehouse, a factory, a farm, a retail establishment, an airport, a train loading location, or a shipping port. Moreover, while example methods, systems and apparatus disclosed herein are described below using terminology associated with packaging loading operations at a loading dock, example methods, systems and apparatus disclosed herein are applicable to alternative environments involving different terminology. For example, while examples described below include determining whether a loader is located in a particular container and determining an assigned container for a package, examples disclosed herein may apply to any suitable type of user and determining whether such a user is located in any suitable type of area, location, or position and determining an assigned area, location or position for any suitable type of object.
In the example of
To facilitate proper loading of packages by the loader 104, an example locating system constructed in accordance with teachings of this disclosure is implemented at the loading dock 100. The example locating system of
In the example locating system of
The example OPV 114 of
To detect which one of the containers 102a-c the loader 104 enters while handling the package 106, the example OPV 114 of
The example OPV 114 of
In the example of
Additionally, the example parameter manager 204 of
The example CIT 112 of
The example CIT 112 of
In the example of
In the example of
In the example of
In the example of
In the illustrated example, the CITs 112 are strategically positioned to account for a possibility that the mobile computing device 108 may be worn by the loader 104 in different positions (e.g., on a belt, on an arm, as a heads-up display, etc.). In particular, the CITs are positioned in the container 102 at one or more heights depending on, for example, antenna propagation characteristic(s) such as directionality and/or a polarization property. In some examples, one or more of the CITs 112 are positioned at one height and other one(s) of the CITs 112 are positioned at another, different height. As such, example arrangements disclosed herein provide a plurality of patterns at a plurality of heights in the container 102 to increase (e.g., maximize) a likelihood that the transmissions are received at the mobile computing device 108.
While
The example assigned container identifier 700 queries the data source 118 with the received data (e.g., barcode data or a code provide by an RFID tag) to determine which of the containers 102a-c is the assigned container for the package 106. In the illustrated example, the data source 118 returns a container ID corresponding to the first container 102a. In the illustrated example, the loader 104 is responsively provided with an instruction regarding the assigned one of the containers 102a-c for the package 106. For example, the container ID may be displayed to the loader 104 via a display device 704 of the mobile computing device 108.
The example OPV 114 of
The example OPV 114 of
The example OPV 114 of
In the example of
The example OPV 114 of
In response to the loader 104 entering one of the containers 102a-c, the OPV 114 determines whether the loader 104 is in the process of placing the package 106 in the correct one of the containers 102a-c and provides an indication to the loader 104 as to the determination. Thus, in response to the loader 104 entering one of the containers 102a-c, the loader 104 receives feedback from the mobile computing device 108 such as, for example, a red flashing light combined with an unpleasant or a green flashing light combined with a pleasant sound (block 808). If the feedback is indicative of the loader 104 being in the correct one of the containers 102a-c (block 810), the loader 104 places the package 106 in the container 102a-c (block 812) and obtains the next package (block 814). On the other hand, if the feedback is indicative of the loader being in an incorrect one of the containers 102a-c (block 810), the loader 104 relocates the package 106 to a different one of the containers (block 816) until the package 106 is correctly loaded.
In the example of
The example comparator 710 is provided with the container identifying data 202 and the assigned one of the containers 102a-c for the package 106. The example comparator 710 uses the provided information determine whether the loader 104, who is currently handling the package 106 marked with the indicia 110, is currently located in the assigned one of the containers 102a-c for the package 106 (block 910). If the comparator 710 determines that the loader 104 is incorrectly loading the package 106 (i.e., that the mobile computing device 106 associated with the loader 104 is located in one of the containers 102a-c other than the assigned one of the containers 102a-c) (block 912), the output generator 712 generates an output indicative of an incorrect placement of the package 106 (block 914). Conversely, if the comparator 710 determines that the loader 104 is correctly loading the package 106 (i.e., that the mobile computing device 106 associated with the loader 104 is located in the assigned one of the containers 102a-c for the package 106), the output generator 712 generates an output indicative of a correct placement of the package 106 (block 916). Alternatively, if the comparator 710 determines that the loader 104 is correctly loading the package 106, the output generator 712 does not generate an output, which can be taken by the loader 104 to mean that the package 106 is being loaded correctly. If the OPV 114 receives an indication that a new package is being handled by the loader 104 (e.g., if data corresponding to new indicia is received) (block 918), control proceeds to block 902. Otherwise, control proceeds to from block 918 to block 906.
The example processing platform 1000 of
The example processing platform 1000 of
The example processing platform 1000 of
The above description refers to block diagrams of the accompanying drawings. Alternative implementations of the examples represented by the block diagrams include one or more additional or alternative elements, processes and/or devices. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the example blocks of the diagrams may be combined, divided, re-arranged or omitted. Components represented by the blocks of the diagrams are implemented by hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. In some examples, at least one of the components represented by the blocks is implemented by a logic circuit. As used herein, the term “logic circuit” is expressly defined as a physical device including at least one hardware component configured (e.g., via operation in accordance with a predetermined configuration and/or via execution of stored machine-readable instructions) to control one or more machines and/or perform operations of one or more machines. Examples of a logic circuit include one or more processors, one or more coprocessors, one or more microprocessors, one or more controllers, one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more microcontroller units (MCUs), one or more hardware accelerators, one or more special-purpose computer chips, and one or more system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices. Some example logic circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs, are specifically configured hardware for performing operations (e.g., one or more of the operations represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure). Some example logic circuits are hardware that executes machine-readable instructions to perform operations (e.g., one or more of the operations represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure). Some example logic circuits include a combination of specifically configured hardware and hardware that executes machine-readable instructions.
The above description refers to flowcharts of the accompanying drawings. The flowcharts are representative of example methods disclosed herein. In some examples, the methods represented by the flowcharts implement the apparatus represented by the block diagrams. Alternative implementations of example methods disclosed herein may include additional or alternative operations. Further, operations of alternative implementations of the methods disclosed herein may combined, divided, re-arranged or omitted. In some examples, the operations represented by the flowcharts are implemented by machine-readable instructions (e.g., software and/or firmware) stored on a medium (e.g., a tangible machine-readable medium) for execution by one or more logic circuits (e.g., processor(s)). In some examples, the operations represented by the flowcharts are implemented by one or more configurations of one or more specifically designed logic circuits (e.g., ASIC(s)). In some examples the operations of the flowcharts are implemented by a combination of specifically designed logic circuit(s) and machine-readable instructions stored on a medium (e.g., a tangible machine-readable medium) for execution by logic circuit(s).
As used herein, each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,” “non-transitory machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage device” is expressly defined as a storage medium (e.g., a platter of a hard disk drive, a digital versatile disc, a compact disc, flash memory, read-only memory, random-access memory, etc.) on which machine-readable instructions (e.g., program code in the form of, for example, software and/or firmware) can be stored. Further, as used herein, each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,” “non-transitory machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage device” is expressly defined to exclude propagating signals. That is, as used in any claim of this patent, none of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,” “non-transitory machine-readable medium,” and “machine-readable storage device” can be read to be implemented by a propagating signal.
As used herein, each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,” “non-transitory machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage device” is expressly defined as a storage medium on which machine-readable instructions are stored for any suitable duration of time (e.g., permanently, for an extended period of time (e.g., while a program associated with the machine-readable instructions is executing), and/or a short period of time (e.g., while the machine-readable instructions are cached and/or during a buffering process)).
Although certain example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.
Claims
1. A method, comprising:
- determining, by a logic circuit, an assigned area for an object being handled by a loader;
- detecting, by the logic circuit, a location of the loader;
- determining, by the logic circuit, whether the location corresponds to the assigned area for the object; and
- in response to the location not corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generating, by the logic circuit, a first output indicative of a difference between the location and the assigned area for the object.
2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising, in response to the location corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generating a second output indicative of a correspondence between the location and the assigned area for the object.
3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the determining of the assigned area for the object includes:
- obtaining identifying information associated with the object; and
- obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information.
4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein:
- the obtaining of the identifying information associated with the object includes capturing a code carried by the object; and
- the obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information includes querying an information source using the code.
5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the detecting the location of the loader includes receiving, by an antenna in communication with the logic circuit, a beacon from a wireless transmitter positioned proximate the location, the beacon including identifying information associated with the location.
6. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising:
- identifying a value of a parameter of the wireless transmitter; and
- changing, by the logic circuit, the value of the parameter, wherein the parameter is a broadcast strength or location identifying data.
7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the assigned area is an interior space of a container.
8. An apparatus comprising:
- an assigned area identifier to determine an assigned area for an object being handled by a carrier of the apparatus;
- a location identifier to detect a location of the carrier of the apparatus;
- a comparator to determine whether the assigned area corresponds to the location; and
- an output generator to, in response to the assigned area not corresponding to the location, generate an output indicative of a difference between the assigned area and the location, at least one of the assigned area identifier, the location identifier, the comparator or the output generator being implemented by a logic circuit.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, the output generator to, in response to the location corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generate a second output indicative of a correspondence between the location and the assigned area for the object.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the assigned area identifier is to determine the assigned area for the object by:
- obtaining identifying information associated with the object; and
- obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein:
- the obtaining of the identifying information associated with the object includes capturing a code carried by the object; and
- the obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information includes querying an information source using the code.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the location identifier is to detect the location of the loader by receiving a beacon from a wireless transmitter positioned near the location, the beacon including identifying information associated with the location.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising an updater to:
- identify a value of a parameter of the wireless transmitter; and
- change the value of the parameter, wherein the parameter is a broadcast strength or location identifying data.
14. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the assigned area is an interior space of a container.
15. A tangible machine-readable medium comprising machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
- determine an assigned area for an object being handled by a loader;
- detect presence of the loader in a first area based on a location of the machine;
- determine whether the first area corresponds to the assigned area for the object; and
- in response to the first area not corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generate a first output indicative of a difference between the first area and the assigned area for the object.
16. A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to, in response to the first area corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generate a second output indicative of a correspondence between the first area and the assigned area for the object.
17. A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine the assigned area for the object by:
- obtaining identifying information associated with the object; and
- obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information.
18. A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein:
- the obtaining of the identifying information associated with the object includes capturing a code carried by the object; and
- the obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information includes querying an information source using the code.
19. A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to detect the presence of the loader in the first area by receiving, via an antenna in communication with the logic circuit, a beacon from a wireless transmitter positioned in the first area, the beacon including identifying information associated with the first area.
20. A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:
- identify a value of a parameter of the wireless transmitter; and
- change the value of the parameter, wherein the parameter is a broadcast strength or location identifying data
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 26, 2016
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
Inventors: Sunalini Sankhavaram (Saratoga, CA), Christopher S. Wuest (Milton, GA), Guy Solimine (Morris Plains, NJ), Nicholas J. Ford (Parsippany, NJ), Vinh-Phuong T. Le (Fremont, CA), Edward W. Geiger (San Martin, CA), Yu Wan (Sunnyvale, CA), Mahender R. Vangati (San Jose, CA), David Tan Nguyen (Morgan Hill, CA), Sudhakar Reddy (Bridgewater, NJ)
Application Number: 15/248,518