Systems, apparatus, and methods for quantifying space within a container using a removable scanning sensor node
34 claims: 28 independent, 6 dependent
- 1コンテナ内に配置され且つ前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記空間をスキャンするように露出されるスキャンセンサノードを使用して前記コンテナ内の空間を自動的に定量化するための改善された方法であって、 前記スキャンセンサノードにおけるアクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から 第1の 開始条件を検出するステップであって、前記 第1の 開始条件は前記コンテナ内の少なくとも予想される変化を反映するステップと、 前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記 第1の 開始条件を検出することに応答して、前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間のスナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするステップと、 前記スキャンセンサノードのメモリ内に前記スナップショットスキャンを記憶するステップと 、 前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記スキャンセンサノードが前記コンテナの中から終了条件を検出するまで、前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して、前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間の1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンを周期的にキャプチャするステップと、 前記スキャンセンサノードにおける前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から第2の開始条件を検出するステップであって、前記第2の開始条件は前記終了条件を検出した後で前記コンテナ内の少なくとも1つの更なる予想される変化を反映するステップと を含 み、 前記第2の開始条件は、前記第1の開始条件とは異なる 、方法。
- 2前記スナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするステップは、前記スキャンセンサノードにおける深度センサを使用して前記スナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするステップを更に含み、前記空間のスナップショットスキャンは、前記コンテナの収容部分の中で満たされるために残されたおおよその利用可能な容積を示す、請求項1に記載の方法。
- 3前記コンテナ内の予想される変化は、前記コンテナの開放、前記コンテナ内に保持されるコンテンツの動き、前記コンテナ内の動きの停止、前記コンテナに関連する積み込み作業、前記コンテナに関連する積み降ろし作業、及び前記コンテナの閉鎖から成るグループの中の少なくとも1つを更に含む、請求項1に記載の方法。
- 4前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から前記 第1の 開始条件を検出するステップは、前記アクティブ化センサとして運動センサを使用して 前記第1の開始条件として 前記コンテナ内の動きを検出することを更に含む、請求項1に記載の方法。
- 5前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から前記 第2の 開始条件を検出するステップは、前記アクティブ化センサとして少なくとも1つの環境センサを使用して前記 第2の 開始条件として前記コンテナに関連する環境変化を検出することを更に含む、請求項1に記載の方法。
- 6前記環境変化を検出することは、 前記コンテナ内の光、前記コンテナ内の温度、前記コンテナ内の湿度、前記コンテナに関連する衝撃力、前記コンテナ内の大気化学成分変化、前記コンテナに関連する聴覚レベル変化、前記コンテナ内の気圧、及び前記コンテナ内の煙粒子濃度を含むグループの中の少なくとも1つの閾値レベルを検出することを更に含む、請求項5に記載の方法。
- 7前記終了条件は、定義された監視期間にわたって前記コンテナ内で検出される動きが無いことを含む、請求項 1 に記載の方法。
- 8前 記スキャンセンサノードが前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から第2の終了条件を検出するまで、前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して前記コンテナ内の空間の更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンを周期的にキャプチャするステップ を 更に含む、請求項 1 に記載の方法。
- 9前記更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンの現在のものが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に、前記スキャンセンサノードによって通知を生成するステップを更に含む、請求項 8 に記載の方法。
- 10前記1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンの現在のものが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に、前記スキャンセンサノードによって通知を生成するステップを更に含む、請求項 1 に記載の方法。
- 11前記スナップショットスキャンが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に、前記スキャンセンサノードによって通知を生成するステップを更に含む、請求項1に記載の方法。
- 12スキャンセンサノードのプロセッサで実行されると、コンテナ内に配置され且つ前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記空間をスキャンするように露出される前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して前記コンテナ内の空間を自動的に定量化するための改善された方法を実行する命令を含む非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体であって、前記方法は、 前記スキャンセンサノードにおけるアクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から 第1の 開始条件を検出するステップであって、前記 第1の 開始条件は前記コンテナ内の少なくとも予想される変化を反映するステップと、 前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記 第1の 開始条件を検出することに応答して、前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間のスナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするステップと、 前記スキャンセンサノードのメモリ内に前記スナップショットスキャンを記憶するステップと 、 前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記スキャンセンサノードが前記コンテナの中から終了条件を検出するまで、前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して、前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間の1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンを周期的にキャプチャするステップと、 前記スキャンセンサノードにおける前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から第2の開始条件を検出するステップであって、前記第2の開始条件は前記終了条件を検出した後で前記コンテナ内の少なくとも1つの更なる予想される変化を反映するステップと を含 み、 前記第2の開始条件は、前記第1の開始条件とは異なる 、非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 13前記スナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするステップは、前記スキャンセンサノードにおける深度センサを使用して前記スナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするステップを更に含み、前記空間のスナップショットスキャンは、前記コンテナの収容部分の中で満たされるために残されたおおよその利用可能な容積を示す、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 14前記コンテナ内の予想される変化は、前記コンテナの開放、前記コンテナ内に保持されるコンテンツの動き、前記コンテナ内の動きの停止、前記コンテナに関連する積み込み作業、前記コンテナに関連する積み降ろし作業、及び前記コンテナの閉鎖から成るグループの中の少なくとも1つを更に含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 15前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から前記 第1の 開始条件を検出するステップは、前記アクティブ化センサとして運動センサを使用して 前記第1の開始条件として 前記コンテナ内の動きを検出することを更に含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 16前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から前記 第2の 開始条件を検出するステップは、前記アクティブ化センサとして少なくとも1つの環境センサを使用して前記 第2の 開始条件として前記コンテナに関連する環境変化を検出することを更に含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 17前記コンテナ内の光、前記コンテナ内の温度、前記コンテナ内の湿度、前記コンテナに関連する衝撃力、前記コンテナ内の大気化学成分変化、前記コンテナに関連する聴覚レベル変化、前記コンテナ内の気圧、及び前記コンテナ内の煙粒子濃度を含むグループの中の少なくとも1つの閾値レベルを検出することを更に含む、請求項 16 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 18前記終了条件は、定義された監視期間にわたって前記コンテナ内で動きが検出されないことを含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 19前記スキャンセンサノードが前記アクティブ化センサを使用して前記コンテナの中から第2の終了条件を検出するまで、前記スキャンセンサノードを使用して前記コンテナ内の空間の更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンを周期的にキャプチャするステップ を更に含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 20前記更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンの現在のものが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に、前記スキャンセンサノードによって通知を生成するステップを更に含む、請求項 19 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 21前記1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンの現在のものが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に、前記スキャンセンサノードによって通知を生成するステップを更に含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 22前記スナップショットスキャンが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に、前記スキャンセンサノードによって通知を生成するステップを更に含む、請求項 12 に記載の非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体。
- 23コンテナ内の空間を自動的に定量化するようにコンテナ内に配置されるスキャンセンサ装置であって、 前記コンテナ内の空間の上で前記コンテナ内に取り付けられるように構成される筐体と、 前記筐体内に配置される処理装置と、 前記筐体内に配置されるメモリであって、前記処理装置に動作可能に結合され且つ前記処理装置によって実行される少なくとも1つのスキャンプログラムコード部分を保持するメモリと、 前記処理装置に動作可能に結合される深度センサであって、前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間に露出され、且つ前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間に関するスナップショットスキャンをキャプチャするように動作する深度センサと、 前記処理装置に動作可能に結合されるアクティブ化センサであって、前記コンテナ内の空間の環境条件を監視するアクティブ化センサと を備え、前記スキャンプログラムコード部分を実行すると、前記処理装置は、 前記アクティブ化センサから 第1の 開始条件信号を受信し、前記 第1の 開始条件信号は前記コンテナ内の空間の監視された環境条件の予想される変化を少なくとも反映し、 前記 第1の 開始条件信号を受信することに応答して、前記コンテナ内の空間の上からの前記コンテナ内の空間の前記スナップショットスキャンを前記深度センサにキャプチャさせ、 前記メモリ内にキャプチャされたスナップショットスキャンデータを記憶するために前記メモリにアクセス し、 前記処理装置が前記アクティブ化センサから終了条件信号を受信するまで、前記コンテナ内の空間の上から前記コンテナ内の空間の1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンを前記深度センサに周期的にキャプチャさせ、 前記アクティブ化センサから前記終了条件信号を受信した後で前記アクティブ化センサから第2の開始条件信号を受信し、前記第2の開始条件信号は前記コンテナ内の空間の監視される環境条件に対する少なくとも更なる予想される変化を反映する ように動作可能であ り、前記第1の開始条件信号に関連付けられる前記予想される変化は、前記第2の開始条件信号に関連付けられる前記更なる予想される変化とは異なる 、スキャンセンサ装置。
- 24前記筐体は、前記コンテナ内に取り付けられた後で前記コンテナから着脱可能に取り外されるように更に構成される、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 25前記スナップショットスキャンデータは、前記深度センサによってキャプチャされた前記コンテナの収納部分内の空間の満たされるために残されたおおよその利用可能な容積を示す、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 26前記コンテナ内の予想される変化は、前記コンテナの開放、前記コンテナ内に保持されるコンテンツの動き、前記コンテナ内の動きの停止、前記コンテナに関連する積み込み作業、前記コンテナに関連する積み降ろし作業、及び前記コンテナの閉鎖から成るグループの中の少なくとも1つを更に含む、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 27前記アクティブ化センサは、前記環境条件として前記コンテナ内の動きを検出する運動センサ、前記環境条件として前記コンテナ内の光の閾値レベルを検出する光センサ、前記環境条件として前記コンテナ内の温度の閾値レベルを検出する温度センサ、前記環境条件として前記コンテナ内の湿度の閾値レベルを検出する湿度センサ、前記環境条件として前記コンテナに関連する衝撃力を検出する運動力センサ、環境変化として前記コンテナ内の大気化学成分変化を検出する化学センサ、前記環境変化として前記コンテナに関連する聴覚レベル変化を検出するマイクロホン、前記環境変化として前記コンテナ内の気圧を検出する圧力センサ、及び前記環境変化として前記コンテナ内の煙粒子濃度を検出する煙センサを含むグループの中の少なくとも1つを含む、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 28前記処理装置は、前記1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンの少なくとも最も最近のものを前記メモリに記憶するために前記メモリにアクセスするように更に動作可能である、請求項 27 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 29前記処理装置は、 第 2の開始条件信号を受信することに応答して、前記コンテナ内の空間の更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンを前記深度センサに周期的にキャプチャさせ、前記アクティブ化センサから第2の終了条件信号を受信すると前記コンテナ内の空間の更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンのキャプチャを前記深度センサに停止させ、前記1つ以上の追加のスナップショットスキャンの少なくとも最も最近のものを前記メモリに記憶するために前記メモリにアクセスするように更に動作可能である、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 30前記筐体内に配置され且つ前記処理装置に動作可能に結合される無線通信インターフェースを更に備え、 前記処理装置は、前記更なる追加のスナップショットスキャンの現在のものが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に通知メッセージを生成して、前記無線通信インターフェースによって前記通知メッセージを送信させるように更に動作可能である、請求項 29 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 31前記筐体内に配置され且つ前記処理装置に動作可能に結合される無線通信インターフェースを更に備え、 前記処理装置は、前記1つ以上のスナップショットスキャンの現在のものが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に通知メッセージを生成するように更に動作可能である、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 32前記筐体内に配置され且つ前記処理装置に動作可能に結合される無線通信インターフェースを更に備え、前記処理装置は、前記スナップショットスキャンが前記コンテナの所望の積荷状態を反映する場合に通知メッセージを生成して、前記無線通信インターフェースによって前記通知メッセージを送信させるように更に動作可能である、請求項 23 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 33前記無線通信インターフェースは、サーバシステム又はオペレータノード装置の少なくとも1つに前記通知メッセージを送信するように動作可能である、請求項 32 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
- 34前記オペレータノード装置は、スマートフォン、タブレットコンピュータ装置、ラップトップコンピュータ、及び端末コンピュータ装置から成るグループの中の1つを含む、請求項 33 に記載のスキャンセンサ装置。
Independent claims34
436 paragraphs, as filed
The present disclosure generally relates to systems, equipment, computer readable media and methods in the areas of shipping management and logistics, and more specifically, various improvements and improvements using scan sensor nodes for improved spatial awareness. It relates to various aspects including systems, devices, computer readable media and methods for logistics operations.
[Priority and related applications]
The present application claims the priority benefit to the relevant US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 117,590, entitled "Enhancing Logistics Operations When Loading a Container Using a Scanning Sensor Node".
The present application also claims the following US non-provisional patent applications (1) Systems, Apparatus, and Methods for Quantifying Space within a Container using a Removable Scanning, each of which also claims the priority interests of the same provisional patent application above. Non-provisional patent application No. _ / __._ entitled "Sensor Node", (2) "Improved UCS," Non-Transient Computer Readable Media, and Methods for Automatically Quantifying Space within a Logistics Container using a Scanning Sensor Node Disposed within the Container , Non-Temporary Patent Application No. _ / __._, (3) Improved Systems, SFP, Non-Transient Computer Readable Media, and Methods for Automatically Managing and Monitoring a Load Operation Related to a Logistics Container Using a Scanning Sensor Node , Non-Temporary Patent Application No. _ / __._, (4) Systems, Apparatus, Non-Transient Computer Readable Media, and Methods for Detecting an Operational Safety Condition within a Logistics Container using a Scanning Sensor Node , Non-provisional Patent Application No. _ / __ ._, (5) Systems, Apparatus, and Methods for Dynamically Transforming Dimensional Data Representing a Shipping Item Being Loaded within a Container Using a Scanning Sensor Node , (6) Systems, Apparatus, and Methods for Dynamically Transforming Scan Data Using a Scanning Sensor It is also relevant to the subject of non-provisional patent application No. _ / __._ entitled "Node".
Logistics operations related to shipping one or more goods include loading the goods into a container and transporting the container from the origin to the destination. Such containers are typically, but not limited to, unit load devices (ULDs) deployed in airborne shipments, typically in single-mode and / or intermodal freight transport. It may include shipping containers, semi-trailers pulled by trucks, or even designated storage spaces within transport vehicles (such as delivery trucks). The goods to be shipped are loaded into the container so that they can be safely shipped with the container to different locations via modes of transport (eg, aircraft, trains, and automobiles, etc.).
Efficient management of such physical distribution work is required, for example, as a means of cost management when shipping goods in a container. The time required to load a container properly and safely affects the cost-effective processing capacity of the logistics work as well as its safety associated with the logistics work. In practice, the way containers are loaded can also affect the cost effectiveness of logistics operations.
More specifically, logistics operations face additional problems when loading into containers. For example, it is difficult to efficiently and / or effectively quantify the used or available space left in a container and manage such quantified information as part of a logistics operation. obtain. When trying to quantify such a space, the existence of one of the most different configurations of containers can cause problems. And when trying to quantify such a space, doing so often puts a strain on the equipment resources to quantify (eg, battery power, memory, etc.), resulting in less efficient work. Become.
Moreover, the loading of larger containers, if not properly and efficiently managed, can pose a dangerous and unwanted work safety condition. For example, a worker loading a container may be unintentionally trapped inside the container. This can raise safety issues for workers. Therefore, there is a need to improve the detection of one or more work safety conditions associated with or within a container as a way to improve the logistics work of loading containers.
In addition, the goods shipped prior to loading into the container may not yet be scanned for dimensional information related to the goods, and previously scanned dimensional information may be inaccurate. Therefore, as a confirmation of the dimensional data of the goods to be shipped, the available material dimensional data related to the goods to be shipped is converted to quantify the space used or left in the container to be loaded. There is a need for ways to improve the accuracy of.
In addition, articles loaded within the container's storage space may be placed in parts of the storage space that cannot be easily observed or sensed. For example, an article may be placed in a location within a storage space where another article can at least partially interfere with the perception of what could be loaded into that location. When the article is placed in such a location, the exact filling or loading volume status of the container may be difficult to detect with a depth sensor or scanner. Therefore, an improved approach is needed to detect and resolve the fact that the article is located inside a container that is not easily observable, and to provide accurate loading volume measurements for the container when it is loaded. It is said that.
To address one or more of these issues, a more general and intelligent type of equipment is needed to help manage and record the loading operations on the container and to do so cost-effectively. Has been done.
In the following description, the scan sensor node that manages and monitors the work based on the sensor information generated by the on-board scan sensor node is generally directed to a specific technical solution for logistics work on the scan sensor node. Aspects and embodiments will be revealed. It should be understood that embodiments and embodiments may be implemented in their broadest sense without having one or more features of these embodiments and embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments and embodiments are merely exemplary.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a method focused on quantifying the space within a container using removable scan sensor nodes is described. Such removable scan sensor nodes deployed in this way are to be temporarily mounted inside the container over the space inside the container and scan the space inside the container over the space inside the container. Includes at least one depth sensor directed to. Generally, the method involves the removable scan sensor node identifying the type of container (eg, based on initial scan data that may contain reference dimension information related to the space within the container). Using a depth sensor pointed into the container at the removable scan sensor node, the method continues by scanning the space inside the container to generate scan data. The method then determines the non-occupancy of space in the container based on the scan data by the removable scan sensor node.
Another aspect of the disclosure focuses on a removable scan sensor device that is placed inside the container to quantify the space inside the container. Such removable scan sensor devices are generally installed on the inner surface of the roof within the container (eg, fixed, attached, clipped, or otherwise temporarily fixed so that they can be removed. Includes a housing configured to. The processing device is located inside the removable scan sensor device housing. Memory is also located within the housing and holds at least one portion of the scan program code that is operably coupled to and executed by the processor. The depth sensor is operably coupled to the processor and sends depth-related scan data back to the processor. The depth sensor is arranged and oriented to scan the space inside the container under the inner surface of the roof. The device further includes a wireless communication interface that is located within the housing and operably coupled to the processing device. The device also has a power source that powers at least the processing device, memory, depth sensor and wireless communication interface. When executing the scan program code portion, the processing device of the device identifies the type of container and identifies the reference dimension information related to the space in the identified type of container, and stores the reference dimension information in the memory of the device. Save and have the depth sensor scan the space inside the container under the inner surface of the roof (for example, incrementally when a part of the space is being scanned or scan data for all parts of the space being scanned at once. Non-conventional to receive scan data generated during scanning from the depth sensor and determine the non-occupancy of space in the container when the material that occupies the space in the container is loaded into the container. It is converted programmatically so that it works like this. The determination of this unoccupied space made by the device will depend on scan data and reference dimensional information representing the current state of the space in the container under the roof inner surface.
A further aspect of the disclosure focuses on a system for quantifying the space within a container as it is loaded. Generally, such a system includes at least a portable scan sensor device located inside the container and an external node located outside the container. More specifically, the portable scan sensor device portion of the system includes at least a housing, processing device, memory, depth sensor, wireless communication interface, and power supply. The housing is configured to be mounted on the inner surface of the roof inside the container. The processing device (such as a microcontroller or other type of microprocessor) is arranged in the housing together with the memory. The memory holds at least a portion of the scan program code that is operably coupled to and executed by the processor. Also, the depth sensor is operably coupled to the processing device, placed under the roof inner surface and directed to scan the space inside the container under the roof inner surface. The wireless communication interface is located inside the housing and is operably coupled to the processing device, facilitating wireless communication access with external nodes. The power supply generally powers at least the processing device, memory, depth sensor and wireless communication interface (eg, the internal active electronic components that make up the portable scan sensor device).
As part of the system, the processing device of the portable scan sensor device stores reference dimensional information in memory, causes the depth sensor to scan the space inside the container under the inner surface of the roof, and is generated from the depth sensor during the scan. It receives the data and determines the non-occupancy of the space in the container when the material that occupies the space in the container is loaded in the container, and the determination of the non-occupancy of the space is the container under the roof inner surface. Relying on scan data and reference dimension information representing the current state of the space inside, and having the wireless communication interface send a container state update message to an external node, the container state update message is a determined non-occupancy of the space inside the container. Run a non-conventional, operational scan program code portion to reflect the amount. The external node portion of the system receives a container state update message from the wireless communication interface and provides instructions related to a determined non-occupancy of space within the container. As such, the instructions sent by the external node are associated with a determined non-occupancy of space within the container.
Each of these aspects results in an improvement in the skill of logistics operations with respect to loading goods to be shipped into containers. Further advantages of this and other aspects of the disclosed embodiments and examples are described in part in the description below, some of which are apparent from the description, or which can be found by practicing the present invention. It will be appreciated that both the general description above and the detailed description below are for illustration and illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention.
The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and constitute a portion of the present specification, and according to one or more principles of the present invention, some embodiments are shown with explanations, and one of the present inventions. It serves to explain one or more principles.<figref num="1">FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary network system of interconnected exemplary computer systems and node devices, including a plurality of exemplary scan sensor nodes according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a more detailed diagram of an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed in a container according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="3A">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a series showing exemplary systems and various exemplary operations involving an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed within a container when articles are loaded into the container. It is a diagram of.</figref><figref num="3B">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a series showing exemplary systems and various exemplary operations involving an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed within a container when articles are loaded into the container. It is a diagram of.</figref><figref num="3C">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a series showing exemplary systems and various exemplary operations involving an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed within a container when articles are loaded into the container. It is a diagram of.</figref><figref num="3D">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a series showing exemplary systems and various exemplary operations involving an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed within a container when articles are loaded into the container. It is a diagram of.</figref><figref num="3E">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a series showing exemplary systems and various exemplary operations involving an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed within a container when articles are loaded into the container. It is a diagram of.</figref><figref num="4A">It is a diagram showing various exemplary configurations of elements in which an exemplary work safety condition can be detected in a container using an exemplary scan sensor node device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.</figref><figref num="4B">It is a diagram showing various exemplary configurations of elements in which an exemplary work safety condition can be detected in a container using an exemplary scan sensor node device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for quantifying space within a container using a removable scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="6">According to an embodiment of the present invention, for efficiently quantifying the space in a container by using a scan sensor node arranged in the container and exposed to scan the space in the container from above the space. It is a flow diagram which shows the improved exemplary method.</figref><figref num="7A">It is a flow diagram collectively showing an improved exemplary method for managing a container-related cargo operation using an exemplary removable scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="7B">It is a flow diagram collectively showing an improved exemplary method for managing a container-related cargo operation using an exemplary removable scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an improved exemplary method for detecting a work safety condition within a container using an exemplary scan sensor node deployed within the container according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="9">FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for dynamically converting dimensional data indicating shipments loaded in a container using an exemplary scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="10A">An exemplary scan sensor node deployed in a container when an article is loaded into a location that is not visible or only partially visible to the scan sensor node device according to one or more embodiments of the invention. It is a series of diagrams showing an exemplary system and various exemplary operations involved in the device.</figref><figref num="10B">An exemplary scan sensor node deployed in a container when an article is loaded into a location that is not visible or only partially visible to the scan sensor node device according to one or more embodiments of the invention. It is a series of diagrams showing an exemplary system and various exemplary operations involved in the device.</figref><figref num="11A">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, another exemplary embodiment in which an article is loaded into a container location that is not visible or only partially visible to an exemplary scan sensor node device is shown. It is a diagram.</figref><figref num="11B">According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, another exemplary embodiment in which an article is loaded into a container location that is not visible or only partially visible to an exemplary scan sensor node device is shown. It is a diagram.</figref><figref num="12">It is a flow diagram which shows the exemplary method for dynamically converting the scan data which shows the cargo volume of a container by one Embodiment of this invention.</figref>
Next, various exemplary embodiments will be referred to in detail. Wherever possible, the drawings use the same reference numbers, which are used to describe the same or similar parts. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that different embodiments may implement specific parts in different ways depending on the intended placement and operating environment requirements for each embodiment.
In general, it is easy to quantify the space inside a container when loading one or more articles into a container, and exemplary scan sensor nodes are used to increase the efficiency of quantifying such space and load operations. An exemplary scan sensor for facilitating improved management of, enabling improved detection of work safety conditions within a container, and dynamically converting dimensional data associated with shipped goods loaded into a container. Various embodiments of systems, devices, computer readable media and methods that utilize nodes are described below. In general, a system-level embodiment is one or more low-level devices or nodes that rely on short-range communication with a high-level device or node (eg, an external management node) that operates to communicate with a server over a network. It may include (eg, a scan sensor node), and in some cases low level nodes may not be able to communicate directly with the server over the network. Also, such system-level embodiments may include one or more user access devices with which workers or other logistics personnel can interact. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such a hierarchical structure of different functional communication network components (commonly referred to as network system devices) can be characterized as a network of nodes. Those skilled in the art will understand that networks of such nodes that support logistics operations such as container loading can include servers and different wireless nodes even though the server is not a dedicated wireless component. There will be. In other embodiments, the network of nodes may include similar or different types of radio nodes that are simultaneously used in an unconventional manner to improve logistics operations.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that each of the embodiments described herein provides improvements to specific techniques such as infrastructure for supporting and monitoring shipping, logistics operations, and container loading. .. Each embodiment describes a particular technical application that utilizes and applies a particular embodiment of a scan sensor node. Certain technical applications improve or improve the technical areas as described and supported by this disclosure below.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary network system of interconnected exemplary computer systems and node devices, including scan sensor nodes in different containers according to an embodiment of the invention. Next, with reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary network system with a server 100 generally connected to network 105 is shown, which is outside the container to an access point, also commonly referred to as the external management node 110. Is also operably connected. The server 100 also scans sensors via an external management node 110 that acts as an access point or intermediate device that helps manage data and communications related to logistics operations (such as loading containers) in and out of the scan sensor node. Indirectly connected to nodes 120a and 120b. The external management node 110 is typically connected via wireless communication (to the scan sensor nodes 120a and 120b shown deployed and shown in containers 115a and 115b, respectively).
In some embodiments, the external management node 110 may be connected to one or more user access devices 140, which may be used by logistics personnel (also referred to as workers or operators) involved in the loading operation. Good. As described in more detail below, such a user access device 140 may be a display-enabled device that allows logistics personnel to receive messages and / or provide input. In other embodiments, those skilled in the art may implement the external management node 110 as a portable display-enabled device (similar to those described herein as appropriate for user access device 140). It will be appreciated, however, that other embodiments may implement the external management node 110 as a device that does not have a graphic or displayable user interface for interacting with fixed devices and / or logistics personnel.
In general, exemplary containers (such as container 115a) may be used to hold one or more articles (such as articles 130a-130d) to be shipped. For those skilled in the art, exemplary containers include, but are not limited to, unit load devices (ULDs), intermodal shipping containers, semi-trailers pulled by trucks, storage areas within delivery trucks, or parts thereof. You will understand that it can be included. Such a container is at least one in which the shipped (s) articles, such as the article 130a-130d shown loaded in the container 115a and the article 130f loaded in the container 115b, can be loaded and held. Has an opening.
When loading goods into a container, one or more scans of scan sensor nodes 120a, 120b, etc. to identify how much unoccupied space remains in the loaded container as part of the improved loading task. Sensor nodes may be deployed within a particular container. An exemplary scan sensor node, such as the scan sensor node 120a, is generally a device that, when deployed in a container, is capable of scanning an area around or near the node. In a general embodiment, the exemplary scan sensor node is an on-board memory accessible by a housing that can be mounted on the roof / ceiling of the container, a radio, and a processing device for holding programming instructions and data. Such scanners (more commonly referred to as one or more depth sensors), other types of sensors (such as temperature, light and / or motion sensors), offboard access to or data entry into data in memory and / Or a transceiver-based processing or logic device having an interface circuit that provides a data interface for new programming instructions and a power supply (eg, a battery) that provides power for the circuit of the scan sensor node. FIG. 2 provides further details of exemplary scan sensor nodes such as node 120a.
An exemplary scan sensor node, such as the scan sensor node 120a, may provide access to onboard data and programming instructions via a physical connection to an interface circuit, while the scan sensor node is a radio on the scan sensor node. You may operably communicate with the external management node 110 (or another scan sensor node) using a wireless connection via. The exemplary external management node 110 acts as a type of intelligent intermediate access point or bridge between the server 100 and the scan sensor node. In one embodiment, the external management node 110 is a server through a network over another wireless communication (which may be in the same or different format as the wireless communication between the scan sensor node and the external management node, depending on the desired deployment). May be connected to 100. However, for those skilled in the art, in another embodiment, the external management node 110 is a server 100 over network 105 over a cable connection (such as an Ethernet® connection or some other wired data communication connection). You will understand that you can be connected to.
In one exemplary embodiment, the exemplary external management node 110 is used to communicate with a processing or logic unit, other nodes (scan sensor node, other external management node and / or user access device). Short-range radios, intermediate and / or long-range radios for communicating with the server 100, memory accessible by the processing unit, and power supplies that power the circuits of the external management node 110 (eg, batteries). Or a device with a wired power supply connection). An exemplary external management node, such as the external management node 110, may be located in a known fixed location and, instead, flexibly interacts with one or more scan sensor nodes within the scope of the external management node. It may be a mobile device.
For those skilled in the art, the processor 110 of the external management node 110 generally performs calculations on the data and executes operational and application program code as well as other program modules within the external management node 110, a microprocessor or microcontroller. You will understand that it is a logic such as. Also, those skilled in the art can implement the exemplary master node 110a with a single processor or logic unit, a more powerful multi-core processor, or a processor with multiple processors, depending on the desired implementation. You will understand that it is a possible hardware component. In one embodiment, the processing device of the external management node 110 is low power to allow wired and wireless communication over different communication paths wirelessly over the network 105 and to a scan sensor node such as the exemplary scan sensor node 120a. It may be implemented by a microprocessor and related peripheral circuits. Simpler microcontrollers or discrete circuits can be used to implement the processing equipment of the external management node 110 and more complex and sophisticated general purpose or dedicated processors. However, although such hardware can be implemented in a general purpose or dedicated processor, if the embodiment as a whole is applied within the field of logistics such as loading work, it is described herein in the embodiment. The functionality of the external management node 110 is not just conventional.
In yet another embodiment, the exemplary processor of the external management node 110 may be implemented in a low power embedded processor as part of a single board computer with a system on chip (SoC) device operating at its core. Good. In this embodiment, the SoC apparatus has a removable memory card slot as a removable memory (eg, a secure digital (SD) card slot), a flash memory that operates as an on-board non-volatile memory storage device, and a RAM that operates as an on-board volatile memory. Memory, operating systems (such as Linux®) stored in non-volatile memory storage and running in volatile RAM memory, and any scan sensor nodes such as scan sensor nodes 120a and 120b with network 105. Peripherals that may implement a communication interface with may be included.
More specifically, an example of such a communication interface is BLE (Bluetooth (registered)) that communicates the external management node 110 with a specific short range communication path (eg, 2.4 GHz) that can be used for wireless communication with the scan sensor node. It may include a specific communication circuit for operably coupling to the Low Energy (connection path). In one embodiment, BLE can be used to enable short-range communication protocols, while other embodiments can be implemented using other low power, short-range communication protocols, such protocols. Includes ultra-low power communication protocols used in ultra-wideband impulse wireless communications, ZigBee® protocols, IEEE 802.15.4 standard communication protocols, and the like.
An exemplary management node 110 further implements a communication interface with another communication circuit that provides a medium-range and / or long-range communication interface portion to provide a communication path to the server 100 over the network 105. May be good. In one embodiment, such a long-range communication interface portion can be implemented by a medium-range radio in the form of an IEEE 802.11g compliant WiFi transceiver or cellular radio. In yet another embodiment, Wi-Fi transceivers and cellular radios can be used when best available or according to priority (eg, first, if available, at a lower cost). If possible, try using a Wi-Fi transceiver, otherwise use a cellular radio). In other words, one embodiment is one of such communication interfaces as an alternative to a medium range Wi-Fi transceiver radio, or if the medium range radio is out of reach of a connected infrastructure radio within network 105. It relies on long-range cellular radios as a part.
Further, embodiments of external management node 110 allow for basic interactions for indicating state and reviewing data as well as related interactions with any scan sensor node such as nodes 120a and 120b and server 100. A user interface may be provided for this purpose. In one embodiment, such a user interface can provide a display, interaction buttons or softkeys, and / or pointing devices to facilitate interaction with the display. In a further embodiment, the data input device can also be used as part of the user interface. In other embodiments, the user interface may provide feedback to one or more lights (eg, status lights), audio input / output devices (eg, microphones and speakers), or logistics personnel involved in the loading operation. It can take the form of a screen.
Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows only a single external management node 110, those skilled in the art would find a network system consistent with one embodiment of the invention a wide range of similar or different external management nodes. Understand that each may include 110 and / or other external management nodes, as well as a wide range of similar or different scan sensor nodes and, in some embodiments, one or more user access devices. Will do. Accordingly, the exemplary network system shown in FIG. 1 is a basic embodiment, and one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the system may include such additional nodes and devices in further embodiments. Will.
An exemplary network 105 in a system can be a general data communication network that provides a type of interconnection and includes various communication networks or routes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate such an exemplary configuration, depending on the desired implementation of the network interconnecting the server 100 with the other components shown in FIG. 1 and described above in one or more embodiments. Network or route is a wired structure (eg LAN, WAN, telecommunications line, telecommunications support structure, and telecommunications processing equipment, etc.), wireless structure (eg, antenna, receiver, modem, router, repeater, etc.), You will understand that it can be achieved with a combination of and / or both.
Although a server 100 connected through network 105 is shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the server 100 will have other components shown in FIG. 1, such as the external management node 110, depending on the implementation details and the desired channel. You will understand that you can have a more direct connection to, or a dedicated connection to. Further, for those skilled in the art, an exemplary server, such as Server 100, may include a collection of information in a database (not shown in FIG. 1), while in other embodiments, a plurality of servers. You will understand that such a collection of information can be maintained using multiple databases or individual network storage servers maintained on the platform. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that databases can be implemented with cloud technologies that essentially provide network storage for a collection of information that can be directly accessible to the device, such as external management node 110. Let's do it.
In general, exemplary server 100 embodiments help manage nodes (eg, external management nodes 110 and scan sensor nodes 120a and 120b) and provide information from the nodes (eg, loading status of the loaded container, to the container). Collects transformed dimensional information related to the goods to be loaded) and stores the information collected from the node or other information useful to the node in the loading operation (eg, reference dimensional information associated with a particular type of container). , Acts as a backend type platform that provides the requesting entity with information about the node (eg node state, container state, container type information, sensor information, etc.). Further details regarding various embodiments in which exemplary servers are deployed and utilize this functionality are described in more detail below.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplary server 100 is a hardware-based component that can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, server 100 can use a single processor, or one or more of the multiprocessor components that communicate with devices (user access device 140, etc.) and wireless nodes (external management node 110, etc.). It can be realized as a part. Embodiments of Server 100 include a single computing system, distributed servers (eg, separate servers for separate server-related tasks), and hierarchical servers (eg, holding different levels of information depending on the implementation. One server computing in terms of a client device (eg, device 200, 205 or master node 110a), or a server implemented at multiple levels where tasks are performed at different levels) -It can be implemented as a server farm that logically enables it to function as a platform device. An exemplary server 100 may deploy more than one memory storage medium and may have different non-temporary forms (eg, conventional hard disk drives, solid memory such as flash memory, optical drives, RAID systems). , A memory composed of cloud memory, a network storage device, etc.) may be included.
In its core, the exemplary server 100 comprises a processing or logic unit coupled to a network interface, the network interface being at least one or more external management nodes and, in some embodiments, the device 140, etc. It facilitates and enables operational connection and communication with the user access device through the network 105. In one embodiment, the server 100 may include a medium-range and / or long-range communication interface for more direct communication with one or more external management nodes, such as node 110. Using these channels along with programming instructions stored in the server's memory and executed by the server's processing equipment to collectively provide the above non-conventional functionality, the server 100 is generally a container. Acts to coordinate and manage information related to scan sensor nodes to facilitate loading operations.
In some embodiments, the server 100 may include a database or other data storage medium that provides available material dimensions associated with the shipment. Such data, when available, provides dimensional information about the goods and is generated prior to loading operations (eg, during other logistics operations where sorting or shipments are processed) by server 100. It may be stored in accessible memory. In another embodiment, the server 100 distributes the role of maintaining any available material dimensional data associated with the shipment to a separate computer device, commonly referred to as an external shipping processing system (not shown in FIG. 1). You may. Such an external shipping processing system may be connected to network 105 and capable of providing access to requesting equipment such as external management node 110 or transmitting relevant available material dimension data.
As previously described and shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the user access device 140 is connected to and / or via the external management node 110 to interact with the scan sensor node or server 100. May be good. In some embodiments, the user access device 140 may connect and communicate with the server 100 via the network 105. In general, an exemplary user access device, such as device 140, allows a user (such as a logistics worker or an operator participating in a cargo operation) to interact with one or more components of the network system of FIG. To. More specifically, the exemplary user access device 140 may act as a type of node element in the network system of FIG. 1 to receive input from and / or its logistics personnel associated with the loading operation. It may be used by logistics personnel involved in the loading operation to provide user feedback to (eg, the current loading status of the container, the occupied volume in the container, the updated current dimensional data representing the shipment, etc. Display relevant information).
In various embodiments, the exemplary user access device 140 is a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet (such as an Apple iPad® touchscreen tablet), personal area network device (Bluetooth®). (Registered trademark) devices, etc.), smartphones (Apple iPhone (registered trademark), etc.), smart wearable devices (Samsung Galaxy Gear (trademark) smart watch devices, or Google It is possible to communicate with the external management node 105 and / or with the server 100 on the network 105 via Glass wearable smart optics, etc.) or a wired or wireless communication path to such network system elements. It may be implemented using other devices. An exemplary user access device, such as device 140, includes sufficient hardware and code (eg, an application or one or more other program code portions) and various embodiments as described in more detail below. Can operate as a node element in. For example, device 140 may be implemented as a mobile smartphone or highly durable tablet device and functionally operates to receive loading work notifications and information related to loading operations such as loading status messages or safety alerts. You may.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary scan sensor node (such as scan sensor node 120a) can improve the efficiency of logistics operations when the goods to be shipped are loaded into a container (such as container 115a). It may operate as a node element in a network system that operates to improve and improve. And while Figure 1 shows a single scan sensor node within a container, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such exemplary scan sensor nodes can be used on a larger scale and expanded to containers. You will understand. For example, a further embodiment may include a physically large container, which is of the same size depending on the proper scanning and monitoring of the storage space and the loading of goods into such a large or expanded storage space. Multiple scan sensor nodes deployed within the container may be used.
Further details of the architecture and components of an exemplary scan sensor node are described in more detail below. In particular, FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of an exemplary scan sensor node device deployed within a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary scan sensor node 120a generally has a node 120a (eg, coupled to or hanging from the ceiling of the container along the top of the inner wall of the container). A device that can operate to scan a storage space within a container 115a when deployed over a space within a container 115a (or extended from an upper wall of a wall). The scan sensor node 120a may be used to help identify unused or unoccupied parts of the storage space that are advantageously scanned from above the space to improve the accuracy of such scanning operations. Those skilled in the art will understand that being placed above the space generally has a scan sensor node (or, more specifically, the associated scanning element of the scan sensor node) at a height higher than the storage space. Let's do it.
As shown in FIG. 2, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a may be implemented as a device with a housing 200, which is mounted over an indoor storage space within the container, eg, the ceiling inside the container 115a. It can be attached to the surface of the interior roof of the building. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 200 is attached to the ceiling above the storage space within the container 115a by a removable connecting portion 205. The housing 200 may include, for example, a physical drop of the node 120a if the scan sensor node 120a is unintentionally removed from the ceiling or otherwise dropped during moisture, temperature, and / or loading operations. It may be implemented by a sturdy structure and material that allows it to withstand harsh environments.
In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the exemplary connection 205 of the housing 200 and the ceiling of the container 115a facilitates the exemplary scan sensor node 120a within the container 115a over an area of storage space within the container 115a. It is installed in the ceiling but is temporary so that it can be easily removed if necessary. The connection 205 may be detachably or temporarily attached to the ceiling, for example, by magnetic coupling or pressure sealing gluing that allows the housing 200 to be placed and removed later. As such, embodiments are exemplified by temporary mounting structures (eg, one or more magnets, glue, one or more physical clips, one or more quick-connect thumbscrews and screw fitting holes). The connecting portion 205 may be mounted. Such temporary mounting structures may be engaged and disengaged to allow rapid connection and disconnection of the ceilings of the housing 200 and container 115a. For example, in one embodiment, the connecting base (not shown) of the connecting 205 may be temporarily or permanently attached or formed to the ceiling of the container 115a, but the second portion of the connecting 205 may be. , May be attached or formed to the housing 200 so as to fit into the connection base.
More specifically, the removable connecting portion 205 may use a fitting or meshing structure (such as a keyseated fitting portion of the connecting portion 205). In this way, one portion is housing to ensure that the scan sensor node 120a is positioned and oriented in the desired physical orientation and orientation when the mating portions of the coupling are mounted together. It may be fixed or attached to the 200, the other part may be fixed to the ceiling of the container 115a or otherwise attached.
And although shown in FIG. 2 as a removable connection, an alternative embodiment does not necessarily have to have a removable connection 205, instead a more permanent connection or attachment. The connecting portion 205 may be provided as part of the mechanism. For example, the coupling portion 205 may secure the housing 200 to the ceiling of the container 115a so that the scan sensor node 120a above it remains attached to the container 115a. Therefore, the scan sensor node 120a associates the scan sensor node 120a with the container 115a when the container 115a is moved, transported and shipped as intended (eg, via aircraft or other mode of transportation). Regardless of the configuration, it may operate in container 115a as described herein.
As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary scan sensor node 120a embodiment is a hardware-based component implemented by a processor or logic device such as a processor 210 coupled to on-board memory 215. An exemplary scan sensor node 120a further comprises one or more wireless interfaces 240 and 245, a scanner 220, an optical sensor 225, an additional sensor 230, an interface circuit 235, and a power supply 250.
More specifically, the exemplary radio interfaces 240 and 245 are each coupled to a processor 210 to enable long-range radio communication (via interface 240) and short-range radio communication (via interface 245). Each of these radio interfaces may generally be implemented as an omnidirectional antenna and a programmable radio that the radio is coupled to a processing device 210 that communicates with other devices via the antenna. In one embodiment, interfaces 240 and 245 may use antennas with different antenna profiles if directivity is required or specific communication frequencies require different antenna configurations. The exemplary wireless interfaces 240 and 245 are different types, such as a Bluetooth® interface for short / short range wireless communication interface 245 or a wireless network interface (Wi-Fi) or a cellular interface for long range wireless communication interface 240. Various different types of wireless transceivers may be used to communicate with the interface. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in further embodiments, interfaces 240 and 245 may implement RFID readers and / or other data communication interfaces that allow NFC or wireless communication. In other embodiments, a single interface may be used as both interfaces 240, 245, where the desired communication can be achieved within the scope of a single interface.
As mentioned above, embodiments may have multiple scan sensor nodes mounted within a single container. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the wireless interfaces 240 and 245 deployed within each of the scan sensor nodes can enable node-to-node communication between the two scan sensor nodes. For example, one scan sensor node may receive messages and / or data from another scan sensor node and may convey the received messages and / or data to an external management node such as the external management node 110. It may operate as a management node. This can be useful when only one of the scan sensor nodes is within range of the external management node, but the other scan sensor nodes cannot communicate directly with the external management node.
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner 220 is operably connected to the processor 210 and is exposed to the scanner 220 (the space under the roof of the container ceiling / container 115a relative to the location of the scanner 220). It may act as one or more dimensional scanners (more commonly referred to as one or more depth sensors) to scan depth, etc.). The scanner 220 may operate as a camera or sensor type device that senses distance and motion. The scanner 220 is implemented as a device / array or single-dimensional scanning device (depth sensing camera) with multiple scanning elements, each directed to different parts of the space under the ceiling of the container (when the scan sensor node is installed). You may. For example, the scanner 220 may be an array with multiple scanning elements that are physically close to each other, each oriented to scan and capture information about dimensions and depth in different parts of the space under the ceiling of the container. And directed. In another example, the walls of the container so that each element of the scanner 220 scans and captures information about dimensions and depth from above the storage space, more generally in different parts of the storage space under the ceiling of the container. It may be implemented by separate scanning elements deployed along the ceiling of the container in a physically separated configuration of scanning elements that can be mounted on top of the container or along different parts of the ceiling of the container.
The light sensor 225 may be operably connected to the processing device and operate to detect light near the node 120a, such as light outside the housing 200 and inside the container 115a. The light sensor 225 may be useful in detecting whether the container 115a is open or closed and is made available to the specially programmed processor 210 as described in more detail below. Such information can help improve and / or improve the loading of container 115a.
Also, additional (s) sensors 230 may be operably connected to the processing device 210 to act as one or more environmental sensors for separately detecting the environmental conditions in the container. Such detected states may include states relating to the container itself, the interior space of the container, or content within the container. In various embodiments, such additional sensors 230 are motion sensors that detect motion in the container as environmental conditions, optical sensors that detect threshold levels of light in the container as environmental conditions, and in containers as environmental conditions. Temperature sensor that detects the threshold level of temperature, humidity sensor that detects the threshold level of humidity in the container as an environmental condition, kinetic force sensor that detects the impact force related to the container as an environmental condition, atmospheric chemistry in the container as an environmental change Chemical sensors that detect component changes, microphones that detect changes in hearing level related to the container as environmental changes, pressure sensors that detect the pressure inside the container as environmental changes, and smoke that detects the concentration of smoke particles in the container as environmental changes. It may be mounted as a sensor.
The additional sensor 230 may also include one or more other types of sensors or scanning elements that may operate to read or receive identification information associated with the identification element. Such scanning elements may scan, for example, by electrical signals (eg, radio waves), lasers, and other optical, electro-optical, magnetic or electromagnetic signals. For example, such scanning elements are, but are not limited to, bar code scanners, radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, near field communication (NFC) interfaces, Bluetooth® radios, or other wireless network data communication devices. , And the like that may act to read or receive the identification information associated with the identification element. Such scanning elements are implemented by other low power, short range communication devices that may use communication protocols such as the ultra low power communication protocol used by ultra wideband impulse radio communication, the Zigbee protocol, and the IEEE 802.15.4 standard communication protocol. May be done. An exemplary identification element may include, for example, a barcode label that can be read by a barcode scanner. Other exemplary radio identification elements are implemented as, for example, RFID tags, NFC devices, other Bluetooth® devices, Zigbee devices, or other wireless network data communication devices that operate in similar communication formats as scanning elements. May be done. Thus, the exemplary sensor 230 scans (eg, transmits a signal or beam, or listens for a signal or reflected beam) to receive information from an identification element associated with the article to be shipped. It may be implemented as a type of scanning or listening device.
The additional sensor 230 may be implemented as a modular or removable sensor that can be connected to a plug-type outlet (not shown) deployed in the housing 200. Such plug outlets provide a removable connection of modular sensors to the processor 210, allowing additional sensors 230 that can be physically deployed physically outside the enclosure 200 in various configurations. It may be (eg, placed at the top of the vertical wall at a point above the storage space of the container, placed along the length of the ceiling in the container). Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that such a connection for the modular external additional sensor 230 may be provided via the interface circuit 235, as described below.
The interface circuit 235 may be operably connected to the processor 210 to provide an external interface to the elements generally mounted on the scan sensor node 120a. Such an interface circuit 235 may include, for example, various peripheral devices (eg, timers) that implement interfaces (eg, plug-type or connector-type interfaces) with different external sensors or other circuits / devices external to the scan sensor node 120a. Circuits, USB, USART, general purpose I / O pins, IR interface circuits, DMA circuits) may be included. Therefore, the interface circuit 235 provides the external device with access to the data and code held in the memory 215 or the external device provides other data and / or code stored in the memory 215 of the scan sensor node 120a. It may operate to provide a data interface (such as a micro USB interface) that allows you to do so. In another example, the interface circuit 235 may be implemented to include a memory card interface such as a microsecure digital (SD ) memory card slot and support circuit, thereby non-temporary in the form of a memory card. The removable memory medium storage device may have access to the processing device 210.
In a further embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the interface circuit 235 can implement a simple or complex display or user interface for logistics personnel. For example, such a display or user interface indicates the state of the scan sensor node 120a and presses one or more switches (not shown) to activate or turn off the scan sensor node 120a. It may enable basic interaction by logistics staff with. In one embodiment, a portion of the interface circuit 235 that provides such a display or user interface may be implemented by a status light such as a multimode LED. Lights of different colors have different states or modes of the scan sensor node 120a (eg, current power state, battery level state, error, sensed state (eg, above temperature threshold, above moisture threshold, etc.) It may indicate that it is detecting a desired loading state with respect to the storage space of the container). Other embodiments may include an auditory interface such as a speaker for output and / or a microphone for input. The auditory interface may provide or receive auditory feedback to or receive from the logistics staff involved in the loading operation. Yet another embodiment is a graphic in which information or notifications may be displayed to the logistics staff involved in the loading operation. Such displays or user interfaces may be implemented in a more sophisticated manner with thresholds or the like.
As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply 250 is a component of the scan sensor node 120a that powers various active circuits deployed within the scan sensor node 120a. Embodiments of the power source 250 may be rechargeable or interchangeable power elements (eg, a replaceable battery device or cell, a rechargeable battery device or cell, or a solar cell capable of operably charging the battery. Rechargeable battery combined with). In some embodiments, the solar cell may be located outside the housing 200 so that when the scan sensor node 120a is removed, it can be recharged by sunlight. However, in other embodiments, the solar cell may be deployed on the outer surface of the container 115a and include an electrical connection through the housing 200 (eg, via the interface circuit 235) to the power source 250 within the housing 200. ..
In another embodiment, the power supply 250 is connected to the interface circuit 235 or integrated as part of the power supply 250 via proximity to a charging station, such as a charging pad, which may provide power to a charging device (not shown). It may be charged wirelessly. More specifically, the power supply 250 wirelessly uses a charge transmitter that broadcasts a target RF signal to a charge receiver connected to an interface circuit 235 (or a wireless charge receiver circuit integrated as part of the power supply 250). May be charged with. Such an exemplary charge transmitter is a container, vehicle (eg, eg) to facilitate wireless, efficient and timely charging of the power supply 250 without relying on the corded charging of the power supply 250. It may be deployed as part of a logistics facility that processes aircraft, trucks, delivery trucks), or containers. In yet another embodiment, the power supply 250 may be implemented as an exemplary wireless charge receiver, provided that the power demand of node 120a can be adequately supplied by such a wireless charge receiver. Such wireless charging circuits and systems that can be deployed to help charge the power supply 250 are San WattUp power routers and compatible receivers by Energous Corporation of Jose, California, Cota wireless power solutions by Ossia, Inc. of Redmond, Washington, and Powermat by Powermat Technologies Ltd. of Neve Ilan, Isreal. Includes wireless charging technology.
In connection with the processing device 210, if you are a person skilled in the art, the exemplary processing device 210 basically performs calculations on data (eg, exemplary data 275-290) within the scan sensor node 120a. , You will understand that it is the logic to execute operations and application program code (operating system 255 and application program code modules 260-270, etc.). Therefore, the exemplary processing device 210 operates as the processing core of the scan sensor node 120a. In one embodiment, the processing device 210 may be implemented by processing and related peripheral circuits determined by the needs of a particular application embodiment, such as a low power consumption microcontroller. Also, simpler microcontrollers or discrete circuits can be used to implement the processor 210 and more complex and sophisticated microprocessors.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplary processor 210 can be incorporated into a single chip transceiver or SoC used as the core of the scan sensor node 120a. Also, for those skilled in the art, the scan sensor node 120a is hardware optimized specifically for the scan sensor node's requirements such as power, processing speed, size of container space to be scanned, etc. (eg, below). You will understand that it can be implemented by application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), individual logic, or a combination of hardware and firmware that has the same operational controls and functionality as the application program code modules 260-270 described.
In a general embodiment, the on-board memory 215 on the scan sensor node 120a is accessible by the processing device 210 to maintain the program code and data. A portion of memory 215 may be implemented as a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium capable of holding information (eg, executable code / modules and data) in a non-volatile and non-temporary manner. .. Examples of storage devices can include hard disk drives, ROMs, flash memories, or other medium structures that allow long-term non-volatile storage of information. Such memory storage devices include various program codes (eg, operating system 255, scan program code 260, cargo work program code 265, safety state program code 270) and other data elements (eg, container data 275, scan generation). Data 280, sensor data 285, notification / alert data 290, etc.) are retained.
Another portion of memory 215 may be implemented as a random access memory (RAM) structure used by processor 210 during the operation of scan sensor node 120a. When node 120a is powered on, the volatile memory portion of memory 215 is specially adapted to operating system 255, then one or more operating programs (such as scan program code 260) or scan sensor node 120a. Specific program modules may be added to help facilitate non-conventional behavior. Then, during the operation of the scan sensor node 120a, the volatile memory 320 also produces predetermined data when the scan sensor node 120a executes a program or loaded instruction from the non-volatile memory storage portion of the memory 215. (For example, article content data 275, scan generation data 280, sensor data 285, notification / alert data 290, etc.) may be included. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all the data elements shown in FIG. 2 need to appear in memory 215 at the same time.
In one embodiment, the exemplary program code (eg, scan program code 260, cargo work program code 265, safety state program code 270) is an executable instruction in the form of a program code module or application. Each of these program code modules may be loaded and executed by the processor 210 in order to adapt the processor 210 to a specially adapted and configured computer-based device. The specially configured processing apparatus 210 described in detail herein as part of an embodiment implements operational processing steps, especially when the processing steps are collectively considered as a whole, unconventional. Provides the functionality of. And such specially adapted and configured processing equipment 210 is subject to facing in logistics operations as part of the embodiment when loading containers as described in more detail below. Helps address and improve technical challenges.
In particular, the exemplary scan program code 260 generally describes the space in the container when using scan data to determine the non-occupancy of space, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. It provides executable instructions that allow the scan sensor node 120a to improve how it can be quantified. Another embodiment of scan program code 260 is a scan sensor node placed and exposed inside the container to scan the space inside the container from above the space, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. May be used to provide executable instructions that help improve the efficiency of quantifying the space inside the container. Yet another embodiment of scan program code 260 provides an executable instruction that dynamically transforms dimensional data representing shipments loaded in a container, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. May be good. A further embodiment of scan program code 260 then dynamically transforms the scan data into sophisticated scan data that more accurately represents the loading volume of the container, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. Possible instructions may be provided.
The exemplary cargo operation program code 265 generally indicates that the scan sensor node 120a interacts with other network system elements (such as the external management node 110), as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. It provides actionable instructions that enable and improve how removable scan sensor nodes should be used as part of the management of cargo operations associated with the container. As such, cargo work program code 265 may be used to provide individual unconventional interactions with high-level network system elements based on mapping data of unoccupied space within the container. In some embodiments, code 265 may work in conjunction with scan program code 260, as described in more detail below.
An exemplary safety state program code 270, such as scan sensor node 120a, is generally deployed within a container and above a storage space defined within the container, as described in more detail below with respect to FIG. It provides actionable instructions that allow the scan sensor node 120a to improve how the scan sensor node is used to detect work safety conditions within the container. In some embodiments, code 270 may operate in conjunction with scan program code 260, as described in more detail below.
As mentioned above, in addition to program code 260-270 and operating system 255, memory 215 may maintain different types of data and data structures during the operation of the exemplary scan sensor node 120a. The data in memory 215 may be generated by scan sensor node 120a or may be received from other devices (such as memory cards accessed via external management node 110 or interface circuit 235). More specifically, such exemplary data generated and / or maintained in memory 215 may include at least container data 275, scan generated data 280, sensor data 285 and notification / alert data 290.
In one embodiment, container data 275 is generally a type of data about the container to be loaded and / or one or more items to be shipped within the container. For example, container data 275 is container-type information that identifies the type of container and provides reference dimension information related to the space within the container, the current state of the space within the container, or the determined current unoccupied volume of the container. And may include data on the desired loading state of the container, which reflects how much the exemplary container should be filled if it is considered to be in the desired loading state.
Container data 275 is also provided by a list of shipped articles or an external source (such as external management node 110) that is detected or identified by the scan sensor node when each of the detected articles is loaded into the container. It may include data about the goods loaded in the container, such as the inventory type of the list.
Also, container data 275, if available, is a past available material associated with shipments loaded into the space within the container when such data comes in from an external source such as external management node 110. Dimensional data may be included. Such past available material dimensional data may be generated, for example, by a previous physical distribution operation (eg, a previous scanning operation to determine the dimensions of the goods to be shipped). The container data 275 may also include current dimensional data representing the shipment, which, when generated by the scan sensor node 120a, is converted by the scan sensor node 120a based on the scan data for the shipment.
In one embodiment, the scan-generated data 280 is generally the type of data generated by the scanner 220 that reflects dimensional information. Such scan data may be used in different ways in the various embodiments described herein. For example, the scan data may be initial scan data that includes reference dimensional information related to the dimensions of the storage space in the container. In another embodiment, the scan-generated data 280 may include mapping data that is associated with the mapped space within the container after the article has been placed within the container. In yet another embodiment, the scan-generated data 280 represents the space within the container from above the space, and the space within the container where the scan indicates the remaining suitable available volume to be filled within the storage portion of the container. The viewpoint that reflects one or more snapshot scans is also good.
In one embodiment, the sensor data 285 is generally the type of data generated by the use of sensors such as the optical sensor 225 and an additional sensor 230. Such sensor data 285 may include data related to the state of the container (including the state of the container itself, the interior space of the container, or the content within the container). In a more detailed example, the sensor data 285 is the level of light in the container detected by the sensor, the temperature in the container, the humidity in the container, the impact force associated with the container, the change in atmospheric chemical composition in the container, the container. It may include information detected as environmental changes such as associated hearing level changes, air pressure in the container, and / or smoke particle concentration in the container.
In one embodiment, the notification / alert data 290 is generally the type of data used when the scan sensor node 120a generates notifications or other messages and / or sends them to another device such as the external management node 110. Is. For example, notification / alert data 290 is data about a container state update message, data about a desired cargo message about whether the container's desired cargo state has been identified or matched, and the time required to load the container. Time-related data used as part of the time message, data related to the requested changes to the loading work on the container (requests of additional personnel involved in loading the container), a summary of what was loaded into the container. Send data, alert data related to work safety status in the container (eg, movement in the container's storage space when the container is closed), and updated current dimensional data representing the goods to be shipped. It may contain information used to do so.
For those skilled in the art, the above identification of specific program code modules 260-270 and data 275-290 is not exhaustive and the embodiments are special programs such as additional executable program code or modules and scan sensor nodes. It will be appreciated that other data related to the operation of the processed processor-based equipment can be included.
Other exemplary architecture and component parts of an exemplary scan sensor node 120a (shown in FIG. 2) and network systems in which such an exemplary scan sensor node 120a (shown in FIG. 1) may be used. In light of the previous description of the elements of, the remaining drawings show one or more exemplary logistics operations embodiments that are enhanced and improved through the advantageous use of the exemplary scan sensor node 120a. In particular, FIGS. 3A-3E show an exemplary loading operation for an exemplary scan sensor node 120a, and FIGS. 4A and 4B show embodiments in which the exemplary scan sensor node 120a can be used in a closed container. ing. Figure 5-9 shows various exemplary utilizing the use of the exemplary scan sensor node 120a to improve and improve different types of logistics operations involved in loading and / or shipping goods into containers. It is a flow diagram related to the method.
As mentioned above, FIG. 3A-3E is generally exemplary, according to one or more embodiments of the invention, being deployed within a container as articles are loaded into the container (such as scan sensor node 120a). It is a series of diagrams showing exemplary installations and various exemplary behaviors involved in a scan sensor node device. With reference to Figure 3A below, a door 300 or other closed opening where logistics personnel can load goods 130a-130d into container 115a, a ceiling 305 above the storage space inside container 115a, goods shipped within container 115a. An exemplary container 115a with a floor 310 that can be placed for use is shown. In one embodiment, the scan sensor node 120a may be mounted on the ceiling 305 prior to loading the container 115a. As described with reference to FIG. 2, embodiments of the scan sensor node 120a may be installed in a manner that is not intended to be permanent or removed from the container 115a, or can be removed from the container 115a. It may be installed as a device that can be easily removed within. In some applications, logistics personnel may wish to remove the scan sensor node 120a from the ceiling 305 of container 115a once it has been loaded.
When installed or mounted on the ceiling 305, the scan sensor node 120a may be activated, as shown in FIG. 3B. With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B below, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a is temporarily mounted within the container and above the space within the container, resulting in the scan sensor node 120a. The upper scanner 220 (eg, a depth sensor or a group of depth sensor elements) can be advantageously directed to scan the storage space 315 in the container from within the container and above the space 315. Once activated, the scan sensor node 120a may also communicate with the external management node 110, receive information such as container type information that identifies the type of container 115a, and have storage space available for container 115a. Reference dimension information related to 315 may be provided. In another embodiment, the scan sensor node 120a performs an initial scan of space 315 within container 115a from above storage space 315 to determine reference dimensional information about storage space 315 from the initial scan of the container type. May be identified.
Using the reference dimension information about the space 315 stored in the memory 215 of the scan sensor node 120a, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a is as reflected in FIG. 3C when the logistics staff loads it into the container 115a. Space 315 may be tracked and monitored. For example, after the article 130f is brought in and placed in the storage space 315 of the container 115a, the scan sensor node 120a behaves to perform a scan, thereby generating scan data into the generated scan data. Based on this, the unoccupied amount of the remaining space 315 is determined. In one embodiment, the timing of such a scan may be based, for example, on whether the scan sensor node 120a no longer detects movement within space 315 (movement of logistics personnel involved in loading container 115a).
The scan sensor node 120a may continue to incrementally scan space 315 in container 115a as additional articles are loaded. For example, when additional goods to be shipped in container 115a are placed in space 315, the scan sensor node 120a is updated with the unoccupied space left in storage space 315, as shown in Figure 3D. The amount may be scanned and determined. In some embodiments, the type of container data 275 is the current state of space 315 in container 115a and data related to the goods loaded in space 315 (list of goods in space 315, one or more specific). It may be stored by the scan sensor node 120a to reflect the converted dimensional data representing the article, etc.). In some embodiments, the scan sensor node 120a may send a message to another device, such as the external management node 110, with a container state update that reflects the determined non-occupancy of storage space 315. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, the space 315 is approaching the desired loading state in which the currently maintained article 130a-130n-1 is loaded.
Once the article 130n is loaded into space 315 (Fig. 3D), further scanning by the scan sensor node 120a is that the loaded article 130a-130n currently maintained in space 315 (Fig. 3E) is the desired container 115a. It may be specified to reflect the loading condition. For example, as described in more detail below, such a desired loading state may be when the unoccupied portion of the storage space 315 reaches a desired threshold percentage of reference dimensional information about the space 315. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the desired loading condition may relate to how much space 315 is occupied and / or how much space 315 is not occupied. The indication of either or both of the states of space 315 may be used with respect to the threshold value in determining whether space 315 has reached the desired loading state.
The scanned space 315 reflects the desired loading condition for this particular container 115a (which may vary by container type and / or specific container based on what goods are shipped within the container). When the scan sensor node 120a identifies, the scan sensor node 120a indicates it on the node 120a (by visual or auditory feedback to the loading staff, etc.) or to another node element in the network system such as the external management node 110. The desired cargo message may be sent. Such a desired loading message may reflect that the desired loading state of the container has been identified and the container is ready for shipment. In a further embodiment, when the desired loading state is identified, a notification or alert, etc., provided via the interface circuit 235 and intended to notify or warn the logistics personnel that the desired loading state has been reached, etc. Other notifications may be generated by the scan sensor node 120a. In another embodiment, the external management node 110 responds to a desired cargo message, eg, via a message to a user access device (such as device 140) associated with such a logistics staff. May be notified or warned.
In one or more embodiments in which the exemplary scan sensor node 120a remains mounted within the container 115a after the door 300 is closed, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a detects a work safety condition within the container. By operating in such a manner, the technical field of logistics operations (eg, monitored loading and shipping management) can be further improved. FIG. 4A-4B illustrates various exemplary elements in which work safety conditions can be detected within an exemplary container 115a using an exemplary scan sensor node device 120a according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. It is a diagram which shows the structure. The next reference to FIG. 4A shows the container 115a after loading and when the scan sensor node 120a maps or scans the storage space 315 to determine changes in the mapped storage space 315. There is. For example, the scan sensor node 120a may have scanned space 315 in the past and may determine that space 400 was previously occupied but is now unoccupied. In one embodiment, this reflects the changed location for one or more articles in space 315 that reflects unintended / undesired movements in container 315, even if it indicates a type of work safety condition. Good (for example, goods are moving during shipping, some goods are no longer supported, presenting a safety threat to logistics personnel who need to load and unload container 115a, some goods It may have been crushed and flooded container 315 with content). Therefore, the scan sensor node 120a may generate a response notification or alert to report such a work safety status and provide the notification or alert to the management node such as the external management node 110. In some embodiments, the external management node 110 may then notify the relevant logistics personnel of the particular work safety condition detected by the server 100 in container 115a and request and / or direct response measures. (For example, issue a notice to the logistics staff to reopen container 115a,
In another embodiment, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a remains mounted within the container 115a after the door 300 is closed, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a is another detected within the closed container. Work safety conditions within the container associated with this type of movement may be further detected. As shown in FIG. 4B, the container during the loading phase of the container 115a when the scan sensor node 120a detects that the door 300 is closed and detects multiple or frequent movements within the container 115a. 115a is shown. Such a situation may indicate the type of work safety condition in the event that a loader, such as Person 410, is accidentally left in or confined in container 115. In such detected situations, the work safety condition may be a safety warning for not shipping the container or may indicate that the container 115a should be reopened. Therefore, the scan sensor node 120a generates response notifications or alerts to management nodes such as the external management node 110 to report such work safety conditions associated with detected door closures and movements within the container. You may. In some embodiments, the external management node 110 may then further report this work safety condition to the back-end server 100, so that the server 100 is in particular work safety detected in container 115a. Responses may be requested and / or directed (eg, to notify the relevant logistics personnel of the condition and to resolve the safety situation for any person detected within the closed container 115a). Issue a notice to the logistics staff not to ship container 115a and a notice to reopen container 115a).
[Improved quantification of space in container]
In the above context relating to exemplary scan sensor nodes such as node 120a deployed and used within a container to improve and improve loading operations with respect to the container, further embodiments below with varying degrees of detail. Is described. As described above, the basic function of the embodiment of the scan sensor node such as node 120a may be to quantify the storage space in the container from within the container and from an advantageous position within the container. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for quantifying space within a container using a removable scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 5, Method 500 begins in step 505 with the removable scan sensor node identifying the type of container. In a more detailed embodiment of Method 500, the removable scan sensor node (such as the scan sensor node 120a) is to look down from the ceiling inside the container (where the scan sensor node is attached as shown in Figure 2). Pointed Detachable Scan The type of container may be identified by performing an initial scan of the space within the container from the perspective of the sensor node. The initial scan may provide initial scan data that includes at least reference dimensional information related to the available storage space in the container (space 315, etc.). More specifically, the removable scan sensor node may identify the type of container based on one or more dimensional parameters (eg, length, width, depth) of reference dimensional information from initial scan data. ..
In a further embodiment, the removable scan sensor node may identify the type of container in step 505 by sending a request to a second node. Here, the request is for container type information related to the container. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, an exemplary scan sensor node 120a is mounted inside a container 115a, and in this embodiment (identifying the type of container and relating to the space within that type of container). A request for container type information (which may provide reference dimension information) may be sent to the external management node 110. Accordingly, the second node device (external management node 110, etc.) may then transmit the requested container type information received by the removable scan sensor node.
In step 510, method 500 proceeds as the scan sensor node scans the space within the container to generate scan data using at least one depth sensor on the removable scan sensor node. Here, the removable scan sensor node is in the container and above the space within the container (eg, above the space where the scanner element is directed directly below, or from a downward perspective even if the scanner element is not directly below). Temporarily mounted on and to the side of the space so that it is oriented towards. In this configuration, depth sensors (s) on the removable scan sensor node may be oriented over the space to scan the space inside the container from inside the container. For example, the scan sensor node 120a may use a scanner 220, which may be a single depth sensor, multiple depth sensors, or an array of depth sensing elements or the like to map space 315 within container 115a. It may be a group of.
In a further embodiment, the removable scan sensor node uses at least one depth sensor on the removable scan sensor node to measure multiple dimensions associated with the internal area of the container (such as storage space 315 in container 115a). Such a scan may be performed to generate scan data by taking a value. Such a depth sensor portion of the removable scan sensor node is located or mounted on or substantially near the ceiling of the container and is aligned to scan dimensional measurements from above the internal area of the container. May be good. More specifically, the removable connection 205 provides the scan sensor node and its depth sensor (more generally) in the desired orientation so that the depth sensor has a field of view and exposure including the storage space 315 shown in FIG. 3B. A mechanism for mounting (called a scanner 220) may be provided. More specifically, a plurality of depth sensors that make up the scanner 220 on the removable scan sensor node 120a are placed in the container to scan the dimensional measurements from above the internal area of the container. It may be mounted by scanning elements (eg, depth sensor elements physically spaced on or along the wall near ceiling 305 of container 115a).
In a further embodiment, the scan of step 510 may be performed by the removable scan sensor node only while the removable scan sensor node has detected no movement in the space within the container. Due to these improvements, what is physically in the container's storage space is moving within the storage space and is not intended to stay in it (for example, one or more items shipped by the loading staff). It avoids wasting the processing and energy associated with generating scan data and performing the scan when it is included).
In step 515, method 500 proceeds by determining the non-occupancy of space in the container based on the scan data generated from step 510. More specifically, the non-occupancy of space may be considered as the approximate remaining available volume to be filled in the designated storage area within the container. Such an approximate remaining volume is the article to be shipped and other structures that do not include the article to be shipped (eg, cushioning volume, article to be shipped in place within the container's storage area). May be filled with a support structure) that may be needed to reliably support and / or hold.
In a further embodiment of Method 500, step 515 does not occupy space in the container by acting to evaluate the scanned space in the container against reference dimensional information according to the type of container identified. The amount may be determined by the scan sensor node. For example, if the identified container type is an intermodal freight container, the container is an empty storage occupancy of the freight container that collectively indicates the available storage space used within a particular intermodal freight container. It may have reference dimensional information about area (eg, length and width measurements) and height.
In another embodiment, determining the non-occupancy of space is the space in the container based on the average of the scan data generated over time when scanning the space in the container over the space in the container. Can be achieved by determining the non-occupancy of. More specifically, in yet another embodiment, determining the non-occupancy of space is when scanning the space inside the container from above the space inside the container and the removable scan sensor node detects movement inside the container. This can be achieved by determining the non-occupancy of space in the container based on the average of the scan data generated over time while doing so.
In a more detailed embodiment, step 505 of Method 500 is accomplished by allowing the removable scan sensor node to access material dimension data from a source external to the removable scan sensor node (eg, from the external management node 110). You may. Material dimensional data is associated with shipments loaded into the space within the container. Therefore, the scan sensor node may determine the non-occupancy of the space in the container based on the scan data and the accessed material dimensional data, and the determined non-occupancy of the space is the container under the internal ceiling surface. Represents the current state of space within. Having access to scan data along with material dimension data may allow improved accuracy in determining the non-occupancy of the remaining space within the container's storage area. More specifically, step 505 of the determination is over time when scanning the space inside the container from above the space with the accessed material dimensional data and while the scan sensor node is detecting movement in the container. It may be achieved by the scan sensor node determining the non-occupancy of space based on comparison with the average of the scan data generated by the (s) depth sensors.
Then, as more and more articles are gradually loaded into the container, a further embodiment of Method 500 uses a removable scan sensor node (such as node 120a) to step 515 for additional shipments. The non-occupancy of space may be dynamically determined as each of the above is loaded into the space within the container.
Further embodiments may include further steps 520-530 relating to communication with a second node device such as the external management node 110. Therefore, Method 500 proceeds to step 520 by having the removable scan sensor node send a container state update message to a second node element (such as the external management node 110). Such a container state update message reflects this information to other elements in the network system, such as those shown in Figures 1 and 3A-3E, reflecting the determined non-occupancy of space in the container. ..
At step 525, method 500 proceeds by the removable scan sensor node identifying when the scanned space within the container reflects the desired loading state of the container. This identification should indicate, for example, that the removable scan sensor node reflects the determined non-occupancy of space in the container and that the container is considered full and additional loading should be stopped. This may be achieved by comparing the parameters associated with the container (type of container data 275). Thus, in some embodiments, the desired loading state may be such that the unoccupied amount of space is below a threshold level indicating a fully and fully loaded container with respect to the type of container loaded.
At step 530, method 500 may be further advanced by the removable scan sensor node sending the desired cargo message to a second node element (such as the external management node 110). Such a desired cargo message reflects whether the desired loading state of the container has been identified by the scan sensor node, and further tracking and management of the container itself along with the cargo within the container is more effective and timely. It may be sent to inform other logical elements of the network system, such as the external management node 110 and the backend server 100, so that it can be updated in any way.
For those skilled in the art, the method 500 previously disclosed and described in various embodiments is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A-3E, which perform one or more parts of the scanning operation program code 260. It will be appreciated that it may be implemented in a device such as an exemplary scan sensor node 120a. Such code may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as memory storage device 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. Thus, when executing code 260, the processing device 210 of scan sensor node 120a operates to perform the operation or step of the exemplary method disclosed above, including method 500 and variants of that method. be able to.
In another embodiment, such an exemplary scan sensor device may be placed within the container to quantify the space within the container. In this embodiment, the structural elements of the device, such as the exemplary scan sensor node 120a shown in FIG. 2, may include at least a housing, processing device, memory, depth sensor, wireless interface and power supply. The housing of the device is configured to be mounted on the inner surface of the roof inside the container, such as the ceiling 305 of the container 115a. In a more detailed embodiment, the housing may be configured to be removably attached to the roof inner surface within the container, for example, via the removable connecting portion 205 described above.
The processing device is arranged in the housing together with a memory (memory 215, etc.) that is operably coupled to the processing device and holds at least a scan program code portion (exemplary scan program code 260, etc.) executed by the processing device. .. The depth sensor is also operably coupled to the processing device (eg, as shown in FIG. 2 where the scanner 220 is connected to the processing device 210 of the scan sensor node 120a). When mounted on the roof inner surface, the depth sensor is placed and oriented to scan the space within the container below the roof inner surface. In a more detailed embodiment, the depth sensors may be implemented by multiple depth sensors, each of which can be arranged and directed to scan at least each portion of the space within the container under the roof inner surface.
Also, the wireless communication interface is operably coupled to the processing device of the device and is located within the housing (even if all or part of the antenna coupled to the interface extends out of the housing). The power supply such as the power supply 250 described above may be a rechargeable power supply or a replaceable power supply that provides power to the active circuit of the device.
When the scan program code portion is executed, the processing device of the device is given the unconventional nature of the above-mentioned set steps and operable set functions by specially adapting the device beyond that of a general-purpose computer. Therefore, the processing apparatus in this embodiment identifies at least the type of container and the reference dimension information related to the space in the identified type of container, stores the reference dimension information in the memory, and in the container under the inner surface of the roof. The space is scanned by the depth sensor, the scan data generated during the scan is received from the depth sensor, and the container is loaded with a material (such as one or more shipped articles) that occupies the space inside the container. It can act to determine the unoccupied amount of space in the container when it is, where the determination of unoccupied space is a scan data and reference that represents the current state of the space in the container under the roof inner surface. Based on dimensional information.
More specifically, in one embodiment, the processing apparatus can be further operated to cause the depth sensor to perform an initial scan of the space in the container by a depth sensor whose field of view is directed downward from the inner surface of the roof in the container. Thereby, it may be possible to operate to identify the reference dimensional information and the type of container. Such an initial scan may provide reference dimensional information related to the space within the container under the roof inner surface (eg, ceiling 305 of container 115a). The processor may then be further operational to identify the type of container based on one or more dimensional parameters of the reference dimensional information from the initial scan.
In a further embodiment, the processing device causes a second node device (such as an external management node 110 acting as an access point for the scan sensor node device) to send a request for container type information to the wireless communication interface. Furthermore, by being operable, it may be operational to identify the type of container and the reference dimensional information. Next, the processing device may receive the container type information requested from the wireless communication interface after the wireless communication interface receives the container type information requested from the second node. Here, the requested container type information identifies the type of container and provides reference dimensional information related to the space within the container.
The exemplary device may utilize multiple depth sensor mappings to improve its scanning behavior. For example, in a further embodiment, the processing device may be operational to cause the depth sensor to determine a plurality of dimensional measurements associated with an internal area of space within the container. Here, the plurality of dimensional measurements are determined from the scan data generated during the scan. In yet another embodiment, the depth sensor itself has a plurality of scanning elements (eg, different depths that collectively take depth measurements) arranged within the container to scan the dimension measurements from above the internal area of the container. It may be implemented by a sensing camera). More specifically, an embodiment of the depth sensor is a void in space (a void in space 315 occupied by article 130n shown in FIG. 3D, or a scan shown in FIG. 4A when an article moves. It may operate to map the vacant space 400 etc. detected by the sensor node 120a). Illustrative depth sensors may be implemented, for example, by cameras, infrared sources and sensors, and laser scanners.
In one embodiment, the processing device may be further operational by a wireless communication interface to cause a second node element, such as the external management node 110, to send a container state update message. Such a container state update message informs the second node element of a determined non-occupancy of space within the container, and thus a network of multiple components for the ongoing loading work of the container monitored by the device. It may function to continue to provide information to other components in the system (scan sensor nodes, external management nodes, servers, etc.).
If the space in the scanned container reflects the desired loading state of the container, the processor identifies this state and causes the wireless communication interface to send the desired loading message to the second node element accordingly. It may be more operable as described above. Therefore, the desired loading message reflects whether the desired loading state of the container has been identified, and again makes other components (such as the second node element) aware of the container loading operation monitored by the device. Continue to provide information.
In another embodiment, the processing device of the exemplary scan sensor node device determines the unoccupied space based on the average of the scan data generated over time when scanning the space within the container over the space. It may be more operable as described above. Such averaging allows for higher accuracy and discount scanning when unintended objects (such as loading staff and / or loading equipment) are temporarily present in the scanned storage space inside the container. obtain.
In a further embodiment, motion detection may take into account when the storage space under the roof inner surface of the container should be scanned. For example, a further embodiment is to average the scan data generated by the depth sensor over time when scanning the space inside the container from above the space and while the scan sensor node is detecting movement inside the container. The processing device may be operated to determine the non-occupancy of the space based on it. This can help avoid long-term scans where nothing has changed in the loaded space inside the container. In another embodiment, the processing device may cause the depth sensor to scan the space if the depth sensor detects that there is no movement in the space within the container. This can help avoid scanning while unintended objects (such as loading staff and / or loading equipment) are temporarily present in the scanned storage space within the container. In another embodiment, the depth sensor first detects no movement (eg, no loading) for a predetermined period of time, then detects movement (eg, loading of the next article begins). ) You may scan the space later.
Further, the embodiment of the device may use the material dimension data stored in the memory, which may be the container data 275 of the type stored and held in the memory 215. In such an embodiment, the processing apparatus can operate to determine the non-occupancy of space by being able to further operate to access the material dimension data stored in the memory. Such material dimensional data scans the dimensions of the goods or otherwise in separate logistics operations, such as shipping facility classification work involving conveyor systems and scanners that move and facilitate automated shipping management of the goods. It may be generated by a source external to the removable scan sensor node, such as a separate dimensional scan system that can be measured. Material dimensional data is associated with shipments loaded into the space within the container and determines the non-occupancy of space within the container based on scan data, reference dimensional information and accessed material dimensional data.
More specifically, the processor may be programmed to determine the non-occupancy of space based on the first and second comparisons. The first comparison is accessed with the average of the scan data generated by the depth sensor over time when scanning the space inside the container from above the space and while the scan sensor node is detecting movement inside the container. It may be a comparison with the material size data. The second comparison may have the result of a first comparison that is generally compared to reference dimensional information that reflects the empty storage space within the container.
Finally, the processor may be further operational to dynamically determine the non-occupancy of space when one or more additional shipments are loaded into the space within the container. For example, the device uses an additional sensor 230, such as a motion detector or radio identification detector (eg, RFID reader), to detect when one or more additional shipments are loaded into space and to it. Accordingly, the processor may dynamically determine the non-occupancy of space based on any such detection.
As mentioned above, an exemplary scan sensor node (such as the scan sensor node 120a) is part of a device that quantifies the space inside the container as part of a method for quantifying the space inside the container. It may also be used as part of a system that quantifies the space inside a container as it is loaded. In the embodiment of the exemplary system, the exemplary system for quantifying the space in the container is an external node (external management node 110, etc.) that communicates with the above-mentioned portable scan sensor device and the portable scan sensor device. May be provided. While the processing device of the portable scan sensor device may operate as described above, the external node may be capable of operating to receive a container state update message from the wireless communication interface of the portable scan sensor device. Provides instructions associated with a determined non-occupancy of space within a container. The external node may be further operable as the second node described above, but this time, for example, to act as part of an exemplary system when providing the requested container type information.
The exemplary system may further include at least a server (server 100, etc.) that communicates with an external node (external management node 110, etc.). Here, the external node receives one or more requests from the portable scan sensor device and responds based on the communication or information received from the server (eg, the requested container type information). The external node may be further capable of providing the server with instructional messages associated with a determined non-occupancy of space within the container.
In a further embodiment, the external node is a user access device such as device 140, which may notify the operator of the external node of the instruction. In such an embodiment, the external node includes a display that informs the operator (eg, a user interface such as a state light, an audible display element (such as a speaker), or a more complex display capable of showing alphanumeric information). It may be.
In summary, an exemplary method of utilizing the use of exemplary scan sensor nodes to help quantify the space within a container as part of a technique for improving and improving the monitoring and management of container loading operations. , Various embodiments of the device and system are described above.
[Efficiency of quantification of space in container]
As mentioned above, in general, exemplary scan sensor nodes such as node 120a may be deployed and used within the container to improve and improve loading operations with respect to the container. Further embodiments are generated, for example, while optimizing the battery power used by the scan sensor node, optimizing the processing requirements for the scan sensor node and / or monitoring how the container can be loaded. The efficiency of how the space in the container should be quantified in order to effectively use the available memory for the scanned data may be improved. An exemplary scan sensor node is the ceiling 305 of the container 115a above the space 315 used to house the goods to be shipped when the node quantifies the space within the container from the perspective above the storage space. One or more on-board sensors may be utilized to detect start and / or end conditions that help the scan sensor node to provide more efficient work, such as when mounted on.
FIG. 6 shows, according to an embodiment of the present invention, efficiently quantifying the space inside a container using a scan sensor node that is placed inside the container and exposed to scan the space inside the container from above the space. It is a flow diagram which shows the improved example method for making. With reference to FIG. 6 below, method 600 is initiated in decision step 605 by using the activation sensor on the scan sensor node to detect the start condition from within the container. An exemplary activation sensor may be, for example, the optical sensor 225 and / or one or more additional sensors 230 described in more detail above with respect to FIG. If a start condition is detected in step 605, method 600 proceeds to step 610. Otherwise, method 600 maintains a low power state in step 605 until a start condition is detected. Such a low power state may have one or more elements of a scan sensor node operating in a mode that uses less energy (eg, no feeding mode, low energy mode, dormant mode, or the like). Therefore, the available power from the scan sensor node power supply can be saved.
The starting conditions in step 605 are at least the expected changes in the container, such as opening the container (eg, the opening of the container door or the detection of light entering from outside the container), the movement of the content held in the container. (For example, goods to be shipped, packaging of goods, support structures for holding goods, and the like), stopping movement from inside the container (for example, not detecting the movement of logistics staff from the container), related to the container Reflects loading or unloading operations (eg, detected movements of logistics personnel from within the container), and closing the container.
In one embodiment, detecting the start condition from inside the container using the activation sensor in step 605 may include detecting movement in the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor. In yet another embodiment, step 605, which uses an activation sensor to detect a start condition from within the container, uses at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor to determine the environmental changes associated with the container as the start condition. It may include detecting. In a more detailed example, such an environmental sensor could be a light in a container, a temperature in a container, a humidity in a container, an impact force associated with the container, a change in atmospheric chemical composition in the container, a change in hearing level associated with the container. , The air pressure in the container, and the concentration of smoke particles in the container may be operated to detect environmental changes as the detected threshold level of measurable characteristics in or related to the container.
In step 610, in response to detecting the start condition using the activation sensor, method 600 is in container 115a as seen in scanner 220 on an exemplary scan sensor node 120a mounted on ceiling 305. Proceed by using the scan sensor node to capture snapshot scans of the space inside the container and inside the container from above space such as Space 315. In general, a snapshot scan is an element of a scanner 220 or scanner 220, such as a scan sensor node (eg, a different depth sensing scanner element that can be directed and / or oriented to observe and scan different parts of storage space 315, respectively. ) May be considered as a scan that collectively captures the state of the storage space seen by. In a further embodiment, step 610 may be implemented if the scan sensor node uses a depth sensor to capture a snapshot scan, the spatial snapshot scan being filled within the containment portion of the container. Shows the approximate available volume left for.
Method 600 proceeds by having the scan sensor node store the snapshot scan in its memory in step 615. For example, the exemplary scan sensor node 120a may store scan data that reflects the snapshot scan in memory 215 as part of the scan generation data 280.
In step 620, method 600 is loaded when the scan sensor node generates a notification when the snapshot scan reflects the desired loading state of the container (eg, when it is deemed to be in the desired loading state). Proceed with a type of container data 275) that reflects how full the container should be. Such generated notifications may be sent directly to another device, for example, external management node 110, or yet another via an intermediate access point type node (external management node 110, etc.). It may be transmitted to a device (server 100, user access device 140, etc.). In this way, elements outside the scan sensor node can be effectively warned about the condition of the loaded container.
At step 625, method 600 may cause the scan sensor node to periodically capture one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container and within the container from above the space. In a more detailed embodiment, step 625 may have the scan sensor node capture one or more additional snapshot scans until the termination condition is detected in the container using the activation sensor in step 630. .. For example, the termination condition may be an environmental condition such as detection of no movement in the container or detection of a closed container door over a defined monitoring period. Therefore, an exemplary scan sensor node may capture a snapshot scan until a termination condition is detected.
In step 635, method 600 may proceed by the scan sensor node detecting the second start condition from within the container using the activation sensor. Such a second start condition may be similar to or different from other start conditions (such as the start condition in step 605), and at least further expected changes in the container after the end condition is detected. reflect. If a second start condition is detected in step 635, method 600 may proceed to step 640. If not, Method 600 may maintain a low power state in step 635 until a second start condition is detected.
However, if the second start condition is detected in step 635, method 600 may proceed to step 640 until the scan sensor node uses the activation sensor to detect the second end condition in the container. Additional snapshot scans of the space within the container may be captured periodically. For example, an action that initiates loading a first article into storage space 315 of container 115a may trigger a first initiation condition. In this case, the scan sensor node captures one or more snapshot scans of space 315 from above space 315 until the scan sensor node detects termination conditions such as the loading logistics staff leaving storage space 315. May be good. Detecting the second start condition and capturing additional (multiple) snapshot scans to detect the second end condition can, for example, place another article in space 315 as loading continues. It may be done when the logistics staff returns.
Method 600 may also include step 645 (similar to step 620) in which the scan sensor node generates a notification when the current snapshot scan reflects the desired loading state of the container. As such, the scan sensor node may itself indicate the desired loading status and / or send a status message to an external device such as the external management node 110 via its wireless communication interface, or (external management). The message may be sent to yet another device (such as server 100 or user access device 140) via an intermediate access point type node (such as node 110). In this way, the elements outside the scan sensor node, along with the scan sensor node, can effectively warn about the state of the loaded container, more specifically, that the loaded container is in its desired loading state.
For those skilled in the art, the method 600 previously disclosed and described in various embodiments is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A-3E, which perform one or more parts of the scanning operation program code 260. It will be appreciated that it may be implemented in a device such as an exemplary scan sensor node 120a. Such code may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as memory storage device 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. Thus, when executing code 260, the processing device 210 of scan sensor node 120a operates to perform the operation or step of the exemplary method disclosed above, including method 600 and variants of that method. be able to.
In another embodiment, the improved scan sensor device may be placed within the container to effectively quantify the space within the container. In this embodiment, the structural elements of the device that can be implemented by the exemplary scan sensor node 120a shown in FIG. 2 may include at least a housing, processing device, memory, depth sensor, and activation sensor. The housing of the device is configured to be mounted inside the container over the space inside the container. In a more detailed embodiment, the housing is configured to be removed or removed from the container after being mounted in the container, as described with respect to the exemplary embodiments and the components shown in FIG. May be done.
The processing device is arranged in the housing together with a memory (memory 215, etc.) that is operably coupled to the processing device and holds at least a scan program code portion (exemplary scan program code 260, etc.) executed by the processing device. .. For those skilled in the art, an embodiment having the exemplary scan program code 260 described above with reference to FIG. 6 defines a different embodiment of the scan program code 260 that is called with reference to FIG. You will understand that it may contain additional or alternative programming instructions than those reflected in.
The depth sensor is also operably coupled to the processing device (eg, as shown in FIG. 2 where the scanner 220 is connected to the processing device 210 of the scan sensor node 120a). The depth sensor of the device (scanner 220, etc.) is exposed from above the space into the space inside the container and operates to capture a snapshot scan of the space inside the container from above the space. In a more detailed embodiment, the depth sensor may be implemented by a plurality of depth sensors that can be arranged and directed to scan at least each portion of the space within the container from above the space.
Also, the activation sensor is operably coupled to the processing device (how each of the optical sensor 225 and / or the additional sensor 230 is connected to the processing device 210 shown in FIG. 2, etc.). Generally, an activation sensor is a type of sensor or detector that functions to monitor the environmental conditions of the space inside the container. For example, the activation sensor is a motion sensor that detects movement in a container as an environmental condition, an optical sensor that detects a threshold level of light in a container as an environmental condition, and a temperature that detects a threshold level of temperature in a container as an environmental condition. Sensors, humidity sensors that detect the threshold level of humidity inside the container as environmental conditions, kinetic force sensors that detect impact forces related to the container as environmental conditions, chemical sensors that detect changes in atmospheric chemical components inside the container as environmental changes, Even if it includes one or more of a microphone that detects changes in hearing level related to the container as an environmental change, a pressure sensor that detects the pressure inside the container as an environmental change, and a smoke sensor that detects the concentration of smoke particles in the container as an environmental change. Good.
When performing this embodiment of the scan program code portion, the processing device of the device is an unconventional set of steps and operating functions provided by the above program code, specially adapted to the device beyond a general purpose computer. Given the nature. Therefore, the processor in this embodiment receives at least a start condition signal from the activation sensor, which at least reflects the expected change in the monitored environmental conditions of the space within the container and provides the start condition signal. Upon receipt, have the depth sensor capture a snapshot scan of the space inside the container from above the space inside the container and access the memory to store the captured snapshot scan data in memory. It is possible to operate.
More specifically, the snapshot scan data may indicate the approximate available volume left to fill the space within the storage portion of the container captured by the depth sensor. In addition, expected changes in monitored environmental conditions (intra-container or related to the container) are, for example, opening of the container (eg, detected by a scanner, motion sensor and / or optical sensor as an activation sensor). , Content movement held in the container (eg, detected by the scanner and / or motion sensor as the activation sensor), in the container (eg, detected by the scanner and / or motion sensor as the activation sensor) Stopping operation, loading and / or unloading operations associated with containers (eg, detected by scanners and / or motion sensors as activation sensors), and (eg, scanners, motion sensors and / or optical sensors as activation sensors). May include at least one of the container closures (detected by).
In a further embodiment, the processing device may have the depth sensor periodically capture one or more additional snapshot scans of the space within the container from above the space within the container. More specifically, this may be achieved by having the depth sensor periodically capture additional snapshot scans until the processor receives an termination condition signal from the activation sensor. Further, another embodiment may allow the processor to access memory to store at least one or more recent additional snapshot scans in memory.
In yet another embodiment, the processing device of the device may be operational to receive a second start condition from the activation sensor after receiving the end condition signal from the activation sensor, where the first. The starting condition of 2 reflects at least further expected changes in the monitored environmental conditions of the space within the container. In response to the reception of the second start condition signal, the processor periodically causes the depth sensor to capture additional snapshot scans of the space within the container, and then the second termination from the activation sensor. Upon receiving the condition signal, the depth sensor may stop capturing additional snapshot scans of the space within the container. The processor may then be able to operate to access memory to store at least one or more recent additional snapshot scans in memory.
In a further embodiment, the device may include wireless communication interfaces such as one or both wireless interfaces 240 and 245 shown in FIG. Such wireless communication interfaces are arranged within the housing and operably coupled to the processing equipment as part of the improved logistics processing and equipment used in such processing (such as the external management node 110). ) One or more messages may be sent over a wireless communication path to another device. Therefore, embodiments of the processing apparatus may generate a notification message when one or more snapshot scans reflect the desired loading status of the container and cause the notification message to be transmitted via a wireless communication interface. More specifically, the wireless communication interface may send a notification message to at least one server system (such as server 100) or an operator node device (such as user access device 140). More detailed examples of such operator node devices may include, but are not limited to, smartphones, tablet computer devices, laptop computers, and terminal computer devices. Such devices may be used by logistics personnel (commonly referred to as operators) to receive such notification messages related to loading operations involving scan sensor devices.
[Management of cargo work by scan sensor node]
An additional embodiment is, for example, by having a scan sensor node capable of automatically identifying the goods to be shipped when the goods are loaded into the container and monitoring the occupied volume in the container during the loading operation. With respect to how to manage cargo operations, it may be possible to improve how exemplary scan sensor nodes are deployed and used in logistics operations. As described in more detail below, automatic identification of the goods to be shipped may be achieved by using an identification scanner used in the scan sensor node. Such an identification scanner is an addition of a type that can detect or otherwise communicate with the identification element, for example by scanning or listening to the identification element associated with or associated with one or more shipped articles. It may be implemented using the sensor 230 or the wireless interfaces 240, 245. Such identification elements include, for example, bar codes, radios, cellular radios, wireless network devices, wireless data communication devices operating on low power communication protocols and wireless data communication devices operating on high power communication protocols, RFID devices, NFC. It may be implemented by a device, a Bluetooth® device, a jigby device, and / or a Wi-Fi device, where the element can provide information identifying the relevant article to be shipped.
7A and 7B describe a plurality of aspects of an improved exemplary method for managing container-related cargo operations using an exemplary removable scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the present invention. A part of the exemplary flow diagram is collectively illustrated. With reference to FIG. 7A next, method 700 begins in step 705 with the removable scan sensor node identifying the goods to be shipped within the container. For example, a removable scan sensor node (such as the scan sensor node 120a) may identify an article when it is loaded and placed in a container. Thus, when the article is loaded and / or after the article is placed in the storage space within the container, the scan sensor node is associated with the article being loaded or already placed in the storage space. You may scan the information you want (ie, actively send and / or listen to the signal). In other words, the embodiment causes the scan sensor node to identify the article and relate it to the identification scan by performing an identification scan of the shipped article in the container (whether during loading or after placement). The goods to be shipped may be identified based on the scan data to be shipped.
For example, an identification scan is a barcode scanning element on a scan sensor node (eg, the type of additional sensor 230) to identify the article via a barcode identification element (such as a label) detected on the packaging of the article. May be done by. In another example, the scan sensor node is a scan sensor node such as a radio, wireless auto-identification (RFID) reader, near field communication (NFC) interface, Bluetooth® radio, or wireless network data communication device. Identification scans may be performed to detect radio identification elements associated with the article by one or more scanning elements. An example of such a wireless identification element may generally be a communication device that wirelessly broadcasts information associated with the article. More specifically, examples of wireless identification elements are not limited, but are limited to radios, cellular radios, wireless network devices, wireless data communication devices operating with low power communication protocols, and wireless data communication devices operating with high power communication protocols. , RFID devices, NFC devices, Bluetooth® devices, jigby devices, and Wi-Fi devices may be included. Examples of such scanning elements include RFID tags, NFC devices, other Bluetooth® devices, or wireless network data communication devices that operate in similar communication formats such as various formats of IEEE communication protocols. It may act to read or receive the identification information associated with the identification element. As such, one or more scanning element embodiments of the scan sensor node may be implemented as a type of wireless interface (such as interfaces 240 and 245) and / or additional sensors 230 described in more detail with respect to FIG. Good.
In step 710, method 700 proceeds by the removable scan sensor node mapping the space within the container. In this step, after the article has been placed in the container, while the removable scan sensor node is temporarily placed in the container and oriented to map the space in the container from above the space. The mapping is done. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary scan sensor node 120 is temporarily mounted on the ceiling 305 of container 115a, and its scanner 220 provides at least the associated storage space 315 in container 115a from above space 315. It may be oriented to have a field of view and exposure for sufficient mapping (eg, storage space 315 to occupy the volumes that make up space 315 and to provide a favorable view of what is being loaded. Looking down or down towards).
In step 715, method 700 proceeds by determining the occupied volume in the container based on the mapping data associated with the space to which the removable scan sensor node is mapped. This includes, for example, reference information about the available volume in the container (eg, the available volume of the storage space for placing articles in the container) and mapping data related to things that occupy the storage space of the container. May include comparison with.
In step 720, exemplary method 700 proceeds by sending a notification to a management node (such as external management node 110) where the removable scan sensor node communicates with the removable scan sensor node. The notification relates to the occupied volume within the container (ie, the portion of the storage space within the occupied container). Those skilled in the art may indicate the filled or unfilled amount of storage space in the container when such notifications related to occupied volume provide updates related to loading operations on the container. You will understand that. In a more detailed embodiment, the transmit step is whether the occupied volume determined by the removable scan sensor node meets the desired loading condition for the container (eg, the filled or unfilled threshold percentage). May be determined to send a notification to the management node if the determined occupied volume fits at least the desired loading condition for the container. In other words, the notification may indicate the state of the container associated with the determined occupied volume of the container.
In a further embodiment, the notification may indicate a required change in cargo operations associated with the container. For example, the removable scan sensor node may generate and send such a notification to require additional personnel to be involved in loading the container. The loading may be an undesirably small amount for the desired loading condition, so the notification is removed as a suggestion notification to improve and improve the existing loading operation as part of the management of the container loading operation. It may be provided by a possible scan sensor node.
In addition, embodiments may have a notice indicating a summary of what is loaded into the container associated with the determined occupied volume of the container. This may help provide information to other elements within the physical distribution system (such as the system shown in FIG. 1 that involves at least the external management node 110 and the server 100).
The additional steps shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B provide further improvements to the additional embodiments of Method 700. For example, in step 725, method 700 may proceed further by recording the determined occupied volume in the memory of the removable scan sensor node. Such information may be recorded, for example, as part of scan-generated data 280 in memory 215 of scan sensor node 120a.
Then, as additional goods to be shipped are loaded into the container, steps 730-740 may be performed to assist in monitoring the occupied volume of the container. More specifically, step 730 may have the removable scan sensor node identify a plurality of additional shipped items in the container. Such an identification step may be accomplished as in step 705 above when the article is loaded. In some examples, step 730 may identify additional articles as groups (eg, articles in a multi-item cargo that can be held in a common packaging structure such as a pallet or packaged together).
In step 735, method 700 may be further advanced by the removable scan sensor node periodically mapping the space in the container after one or more additional articles have been placed in the container. For example, the scan sensor node may use a scanner such as a scanner 220 to further map the storage space 315 when one or more additional articles are in space 315.
In step 735, method 700 may proceed through transition A shown in FIG. 7A to transition A shown in FIG. 7B. With reference to Figure 7B below, Method 700 may proceed to step 740, where the removable scan sensor node has an updated occupied volume in the container based on the mapped space after each of the periodic mapping steps. May be determined. Such a periodic mapping (the decision step shown in step 740) indicates that the container has been loaded to the desired volume and is closed and ready for shipment by logistics personnel, as desired for the container. It may be done by the removable scan sensor node until the loading condition is detected.
In step 745, the method 700 may have the removable scan sensor node record the time it takes to load the container until it detects the desired loading condition. For example, a removable scan sensor node uses an on-board sensor (such as a scanner 220, an optical sensor 225, or one of an additional sensor 230) to record a loading time for a container (of interface circuit 235). The processing device on the removable scan sensor node (which may be part) may be initiated.
At step 750, method 700 may proceed by sending a load time message from the removable scan sensor node to the management node. The loading time message reflects the recorded time it took to load the container. In one embodiment, the recorded time is fully loaded so that it can first detect the start of container loading (eg, the start of the timer shown in step 745) and then be closed and ready for shipment. It may be the time until the desired loading state that reflects the container is detected.
For those of skill in the art, the method 700 previously disclosed and described in various embodiments is a cargo working program code 265 (which can be used at least to facilitate identification of the article), and (at least a container). Run scan action program code 260 (which can be used to map the space within, determine the occupied volume of the mapped space, and facilitate sending information about it to other devices), Figure 1. , 2 and 3A-3E It will be appreciated that it can be implemented by devices such as the exemplary scan sensor node 120a shown. Such a code module may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as memory storage device 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. Therefore, when executing Codes 260 and 265, the processing device 210 of the scan sensor node 120a is to perform the operation or step of the exemplary method disclosed above, including method 700 and variants of that method. Can work.
In one embodiment, such exemplary scan sensor devices (such as the exemplary scan sensor node 120a) may be placed within the container to quantify the space within the container. In general, the device may include a housing, a processing device, a depth sensor, an identification scanner and a wireless communication interface. More specifically, the housing is housed in a container located above the storage space within the container, such as the ceiling of the container, the inner surface of the roof, or other structures (such as structural beams) located above the storage space within the container. It is configured to be attached. The processing device is arranged in the housing as a processing core of a device such as the processing device 210 of the scan sensor device 120a. The memory is arranged in the housing and operably coupled to the processing device. Memory is available for data generated during work and holds at least a cargo work program code portion and a scan program code portion executed by the processing apparatus.
The depth sensor is operably coupled to the processing device and is oriented to map the storage space from above the space inside the container, such as the scanner 220 shown in FIG. Arranged and oriented to map the storage space. Those skilled in the art, even on one side of the space (such as above the wall but at a high position on the wall, to provide a downward view of all or part of the storage space in the container). You will understand that it is considered to have a depth sensor or scan sensor node above space.
The identification scanner is operably coupled to the processing device and is configured to identify the goods to be shipped in the container. For example, the identification scanner may identify the goods to be shipped by receiving a signal broadcast from a device associated with the goods to be shipped. This signal contains enough data to identify the goods to be shipped. In a further embodiment, the device that broadcasts the signal to the identification scanner may generally be implemented as a wireless transmitter capable of operating to generate and transmit the signal received by the identification scanner. In another example, the device that broadcasts the signal to the identification scanner is a radio, a cellular radio, a wireless network device, a wireless data communication device that operates with a low power communication protocol, and a wireless data communication device that operates with a high power communication protocol. It may include at least one of an RFID device, an NFC device, a Bluetooth® device, a jigby device, and a Wi-Fi device. However, the identification scanner is also implemented as a barcode reader configured to identify the goods to be shipped by capturing information about the goods to be shipped from a barcode label encoded on the exposed surface of the goods. May be done.
When executing the cargo work program code portion and the scan program code, the processing device is shipped from the identification scanner in the container (eg, when the goods are loaded and placed in the storage space of the container). Receives the identification, maps the storage space in the container to the depth sensor after the article is placed in the container, and receives the mapping data generated by the depth sensor associated with the mapped storage space in the container. Wireless communication to determine the occupied volume in the container based on the mapping data associated with the mapped storage space and send a notification to the management node communicating with the improved scan sensor device on the wireless communication interface. It can act to instruct the interface. Here, the notification relates to the occupied volume in the container. Thus, the exemplary scan sensor device described above may operate as described with respect to FIG.
In yet another embodiment, an improved system for managing cargo operations associated with multiple containers includes multiple scan sensor nodes (scan sensor nodes 120a and 120b, etc.) along with a management node (external management node 110, etc.). Use the function of. Such exemplary systems generally include a management node device and a plurality of scan sensor nodes. Here, each of the scan sensor nodes operably wirelessly communicates with the management node device.
Each of the scan sensor nodes in the system is placed within each of the containers over the storage space within each container so that it can be attached to the ceiling, overhead beams or other structures of the container located above the storage space, etc. .. Therefore, each of the scan sensor nodes attached to each container uses an identification scanner on the scan sensor node to identify one or more articles as they are loaded into the storage space within each of the containers. Maps the storage space from above the storage space using sensors on the scan sensor node while the is loaded into the storage space, and the container is based on the mapping data generated by the sensors associated with the mapped storage space. It can be operated to determine the occupied volume in each of the and send a notification to the management node device. Such notifications relate to the occupied volume in each of the containers (eg, how full the container is or how much space is left in the container that can be used to ship additional goods. ).
The management node device in the embodiment of this system has at least a display interface and a wireless communication interface that are associated with at least one operator and generate information provided to the operator. For example, the management node device may be implemented by an external management node 110 that has a display interface and is associated with an operator (such as a logistics staff involved in loading and / or managing loading of containers). Another example is the external management node 110 as a device of the type of communication mediation or conduit between the user access device 140 (acting as a management node device in the embodiment of the system) and each of the scan sensor nodes 120a and 120b. Such a management node device may be implemented by an available user access device 140 (having a display interface and a wireless interface).
The management node device in the embodiment of this system operably wirelessly communicates with each of the scan sensor nodes via a wireless communication interface. Therefore, the management node apparatus in the embodiment of this system receives one or more notifications from each of the scan sensor nodes via the wireless communication interface and receives from each of the scan sensor nodes for at least one loading feature. It operates and functions to access the notification provided, generate a loading change message related to changes in the loading operation related to the container, and provide the loading change message to the display interface.
In a further embodiment of the system, changes in the loading work associated with the container may include load adjustment of the loading work. For example, the notification may require additional logistics personnel to be added to the loading operation of a particular container. This is because the time it takes to load into the container recorded by each of the scan sensor node devices may be longer than expected, which may facilitate the generation of notifications. The management node device then provides the relevant logistics staff (including, for example, staff currently involved in the loading operation and / or staff not yet involved) with the relevant loading change message reflecting the workload adjustment. You may. More specifically, the loading change message may identify one or more containers, and assistance is needed to more efficiently load one or more articles associated with the identified container. There is.
In yet another embodiment, the change in loading operations associated with the container may include an indication that the loading has been completed for at least one container. For example, a scan sensor node device installed within a particular container may detect a desired load condition that reflects a sufficiently complete storage space and send a notification to the management node device, which in turn may then Provide observable loading change messages to logistics personnel involved in the loading operation so that personnel are quickly and efficiently informed of the full condition of a particular container and can close the container and prepare for shipping. ..
In another embodiment of the system, each scan sensor node attached to each of the containers may be further operational to record and report loading time information. For example, each of the scan nodes may determine the loading time it took to load each of the containers to the desired loading state level and send a loading time message to the management node device. Such a loading time message may reflect the loading time taken to load each container to the desired loading state level. In addition, the transmitted load time message provides the relevant logistics staff operating the management node device with the load time information by the management node device, conveys such load time information to other system devices or nodes, and / Or different shipping parameters related to loading time (eg different types of containers, different logistics staff, number of staff used to load into the container, specific used to place goods within the storage space of the container. Record and archive such loading time information for record management, auditing and / or analytical tracking of loading time based on loading pattern, time, weather, type of goods loaded in container, etc. It may be possible to do so.
An embodiment of the system is responsible for providing data to the scan sensor node device along with management, record management, auditing and / or analytical tracking associated with different cargo operations associated with different scan sensor node devices. However, further embodiments may include a server device that operably communicates with the management node device via the wireless communication interface of the management node device. More specifically, the management node device provides the load change message to the display interface and receives the approval from the server device by sending a request for approval to provide the load change message to the display interface. , May be operational to provide a load change message to the display interface based on the received approval. Therefore, the server device may play an exemplary type of administrative role with respect to the loading operations managed and monitored by the system.
Further, embodiments of the system relate to articles loaded into at least one container (eg, stored as exemplary container data 275 in memory 215 of exemplary scan sensor node 120a that may be deployed in such a system). It may have a notification from the scan sensor node device containing the information. Therefore, the management node device may generate a container content message related to the notification received from each of the scan sensor node devices and send the container content message to the server device.
[Safety detection by scan sensor node]
As previously indicated with respect to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a further embodiment may deploy an exemplary scan sensor node (such as node 120a) mounted within the container after it has been closed. .. In such a configuration, the use of exemplary scan sensor nodes can further improve the technical field of logistics operations involved in shipping management and loading by acting to detect work safety conditions within the container. For example, work safety conditions generally involve equipment (such as a container or a structure supporting the goods to be shipped within the container), the actual goods to be shipped, and / or the logistics operation of loading or unloading the container. It may be in a state where it can raise safety issues to staff. The ability to utilize the unconventional monitoring capabilities of exemplary scan sensor nodes (such as the scan sensor nodes 120a shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4A and 4B) in such embodiments to detect work safety conditions , Improve the safety of logistics work advantageously.
As mentioned above, FIG. 4A-4B shows elements in which work safety conditions can be detected within the exemplary container 115a using the exemplary scan sensor node device 120a according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. It is a diagram which shows various exemplary configurations. FIG. 8 provides further details of such an embodiment, using an exemplary scan sensor node such as an exemplary scan sensor node device 120a deployed in a container according to one embodiment of the invention. It is a flow diagram showing an improved exemplary method for detecting a work safety condition in a container.
Referring to FIG. 8 next, Method 800 begins in step 805 when the scan sensor node senses whether the container is in a closed state. An exemplary scan sensor node may have one or more sensors capable of detecting and / or monitoring whether a container is closed. For example, in a further embodiment, step 805 is by receiving light emanating from outside the container at a sensor on the scan sensor node (such as the light sensor 225 on the exemplary node 120a shown in FIG. 2). , The scan sensor node may be made to detect whether the container is in the closed state. Therefore, sensing a closed container may be, for example, when the amount of light received falls below a threshold level, resulting in a closed state of the container.
In a more detailed example, the sensing involved in step 805 may be achieved by detecting light in a photosensitive sensor located on the scan sensor node, the photosensitive sensor being directed towards the opening of the container. It may be configured to detect light emanating from outside the container. Therefore, the container is in a closed state when the photosensitive sensor detects light below the threshold level from the aperture.
In another embodiment, the sensing involved in step 805 may be achieved while the scan sensor node is aware of the container type. For example, the sensing in step 805 is to identify the type of container by the scan sensor node (eg, from the initial scan or from the request information provided by another node such as external management node 110 or server 100), within the container. A pointed scanner (eg, one or more depth scanning elements that can make up the scanner 220) is identified by a scanner placed on a scan sensor node that is directed to map at least the storage space from above the storage space. A scan sensor that maps the perceived occupancy of a container and that the perceived occupancy of the container mapped by the scanner and reflected by the scan-generated data exceeds the known occupancy of the identified type of container. It may include sensing that the container is in a closed state when the node decides. As such, the scan-generated data 280 includes a perceived occupied area of the container's storage space that is greater than or equal to what is known as the storage occupied area for that type of container, and thus the scanner is "looking out" of the container. It may indicate that the container is not in a closed state.
In yet another example, the container is a dedicated container open sensor (a magnetic switch type sensor on the container and its door that establishes a magnetic state when the door is closed, or closed, to detect the open or closed state of the container. Even with a plunger-type mechanical sensor that presses when the mechanical sensor is activated to detect the closed state, a conventional contact sensor that establishes an electrical connection when the door is closed to indicate the closed state) Good. Such dedicated container open sensors may be integrated as part of the container or may be physically separate sensors, plugged into scan sensor node 120a via interface circuit 235, or otherwise. It may be connected so that it can be operated with.
Therefore, if the scan sensor node senses that the container is in a closed state in step 805, method 800 proceeds to step 810. If not, method 800 remains in step 805, which senses whether the container remains open and when it is closed.
In step 810, method 800 proceeds by monitoring the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state by the scan sensor node. More specifically, such monitoring uses a scanner on the scan sensor node (such as the scanner 220 described with respect to FIG. 2) to periodically map changes in container storage space over time. May be good.
In step 815, method 800 moves within the container based on the monitored measurements, mappings and / or generated scan data associated with the storage space while the container is in the closed state. Proceed by detecting. Such movements indicate a work safety condition. In a more detailed example, the movement may relate to the altered location of one or more articles loaded into the storage space while the container is in the closed state. As such, the work safety condition may be a safety warning associated with the altered position of one or more articles, eg, the container should be reopened prior to shipment and / or the container should be reopened. It may indicate that consideration and caution are recommended when opening.
In a further embodiment, the monitoring at step 810 and the detection at step 815 use a motion sensor or detector on the scan sensor node (such as the additional sensor 230 described with respect to FIG. 2) to detect motion. You may. Such movements detected within the container using motion sensors may indicate that one or more packages have moved significantly and may be weighting the container doors. This can cause safety issues for logistics personnel who may be loading and unloading containers. As such, the work safety condition may be a safety warning associated with the altered position of one or more articles, eg, the container should be reopened before shipping, the cargo is shipped. Depending on what is indicated and / or when the container is reopened (when motion can be detected and when the logistics personnel can reopen the container to address the detected motion) It may indicate that consideration and caution are recommended (before, during or after).
In yet another embodiment, the movement (regardless of how it was detected) may indicate that the person is located in the storage space while the container is in the closed state. This is when repetitive or frequent movements are detected while closed, as opposed to single or infrequent movements that are likely to indicate that the shipped article is moving. It may happen. For example, during loading operations, multiple logistics personnel may be assigned to load the container, but the container may be closed before one or more personnel leave the container. It is, for example, that some staff are busy in a relatively large container (eg, a tractor trailer) in the role of stacking goods in the proper position in the container's storage space and moving the goods to be shipped in the container. This can happen if different personnel are operating hand cart or forklift type equipment to do so. When the container is closed by another employee involved in the loading operation, one of the personnel may be unintentionally trapped inside the container.
Therefore, if motion is detected in step 815, method 800 proceeds to step 820. Otherwise, method 800 remains in step 815 to detect movement in the container while in the closed state.
In step 820, method 800 proceeds by the scan sensor node sending an alert to the management node, where the alert is related to the work safety status in the container. Therefore, the alert may provide the type of safety alert described above, passed to the logistics staff (via the user access device associated with the logistics staff or via the display), or even provided to the server. May be done.
For those skilled in the art, Method 800 previously disclosed and described in various embodiments will execute scan program code 260 and safe state program code 270, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A-3E. It will be appreciated that it can be implemented by devices such as the illustrated scan sensor node 120a. Such a code module may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as memory storage device 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. Thus, when executing code 260 and / or 270, the processing device 210 of scan sensor node 120a performs the operation or step of the exemplary method disclosed above, including method 800 and variants of that method. Can work like this.
Therefore, further embodiments focus on scan sensor devices (described above with reference to Method 800 and variants of that method and the exemplary scan sensor node 120a described above with reference to FIG. 2). May be combined. The scan sensor device in this embodiment is arranged on the storage space in the container for detecting the work safety state in the container. In a more detailed example, such a device may include a housing, a processing device, a memory, a scanner, and a sensor that detects if the container is in a closed state. In particular, the housing of the device is configured to be mounted within the container over the storage space within the container. The processing device is arranged in the housing and may be implemented, for example, by the processing device 210 of the exemplary scan sensor node 120a shown in FIG. The memory is arranged in the housing and operably coupled to the processing device. However, the memory that holds at least the safe state program code portion executed by the processing device may include scan program code (such as code 260). A scanner of the device (eg, a scanner 220 that acts as a depth sensor with one or more scanning elements) is operably coupled to the processing device. Here, the scanner is exposed to the storage space in the container from above the storage space so as to be directed and configured to monitor the storage space from above the storage space.
In this embodiment, the sensor is operably coupled to the processing device to detect if the container is in a closed state. Such exemplary sensors, described above with reference to FIG. 8, are optical sensors (such as the optical sensor 225 on the exemplary node 120a shown in FIG. 2), directed at the opening of the container and the container. A photosensitive sensor configured to detect light emanating from the outside, or a dedicated container open sensor that can be used to detect a state indicating the open or closed state of the container (eg, a door to indicate the closed state). It may be implemented by a contact sensor or plunger type mechanical sensor, magnetic switch type sensor) that establishes an electrical connection when closed.
The wireless communication interface of the device is operably coupled to the processing device, allowing the device to communicate with other devices such as, for example, the external management node 110, the server 100, and / or the user access device 140.
In an embodiment of this device, at least when executing the safety state program code portion, the processing device receives an instruction from the sensor as to whether the container is in the closed state and stores it in the scanner while the container is in the closed state. It monitors the space, receives information related to monitoring the storage space from the scanner while the container is closed, detects movement inside the container based on the information received from the scanner, and the movement indicates a work safety state. , Provides alerts sent to management nodes (such as external management node 110) to the wireless communication interface, and the alerts can operate to be related to the work safety state in the container.
In a more detailed embodiment, the sensor may be implemented by an aperture-directed photosensitive sensor in the container (such as a door or other access port or opening) and configured to detect light emanating from outside the container. Good. In such a configuration, the photosensitive sensor may detect light from the aperture at a level lower than the threshold level when the container is in the closed state. More specifically, the processor receives a signal indicating the detected amount of light from the photosensitive sensor and evaluates the amount of indicated light detected relative to the threshold level to determine if the container is in a closed state. It may be further operable as described above.
Thus, an embodiment of an exemplary scan sensor device arranged above a storage space within a container, such as a device as described above, a device having the components further described above with reference to FIG. 8, is a container. Shipment management techniques may be improved and improved on how the work safety status within can be detected.
[Conversion of dimensional data by scan sensor node]
In a further set of embodiments, the exemplary scan sensor node may be deployed as a type of check / balance against pre-existing shipment dimensional data prior to loading into the container. For example, the goods shipped in the container may have material dimensional data available from past logistics operations, such as when the goods have been scanned and sorted at a shipping and delivery facility. If available, the material dimensional data for the goods to be shipped serves as a reference for information about the goods and generally serves as an exemplary scan sensor node to better reflect the dimensions of the goods when shipped. It may be converted based on the further scanning operation performed by. Therefore, the success of the further scanning operation is that the scan sensor node adjusts and refines the object that may exist up to the range of dimensional information related to the article and transforms its representation into data that more accurately reflects the article. It can be possible.
This can be useful, for example, when existing available material dimensional data reflects a group of articles packaged with each other. However, further processing of the packaged article may change the shape of the packaged article, damage it, or be first packaged on a pallet with perhaps one article (eg, another article) from the packaged group. However, there is a possibility of losing the goods that fell during the processing. In such an exemplary scenario, the embodiment may be when the problem is not found until the container is unloaded and later it becomes more costly or complex to fix the problem. On the contrary, an exemplary scan sensor node may be deployed as a dimensional confirmation or expected dimensional confirmation to detect shipping problems early when the container is loaded. Therefore, a further embodiment makes it possible to transform the dimensional data to reflect and represent the latest state of the article in order to more quickly recognize potential logistics issues associated with the shipment. In the process of fixing a logistics problem (eg, obtaining a replacement if the item is damaged, in all of the items in the group in which the item is damaged or present is packaged). It may be possible to improve (notifying the shipping customer that there is no such thing).
FIG. 9 is a flow showing an exemplary method for dynamically transforming dimensional data indicating a shipment loaded in a container using an exemplary scan sensor node according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a diagram. More specifically, Method 900 deploys an exemplary scan sensor node having at least a memory, a depth sensor, and a communication interface with an external management node (such as node 120a described and shown in detail in FIG. 2). ..
Referring to FIG. 9 next, method 900 begins in step 905 with the scan sensor node accessing the available material dimension data in memory within the scan sensor node. Material dimensional data, if available, is relevant to the shipment. For example, available material dimensional data can be information such as default dimensional data associated with the packaging used for the article, or standard physical dimensional data for the article (or group of articles packaged with each other) itself. It may be held by the server 100 and / or the external management node 110 and may be further provided to the scan sensor node to be held in its memory. Further, examples of material dimension data may be provided in other shipping processes. It may be generated by a system (such as a laser scan dimension type system used at the shipping facility while processing the goods to be shipped).
In a further embodiment, the scan sensor node may first identify the shipment when it is loaded in the container. For example, the scan sensor node may utilize an identification scanner (eg, a barcode reader, a signal reader, or the interactable radio previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6) to assist in the identification of the shipment. Good.
In step 910, method 900 proceeds by the depth sensor on the scan sensor node scanning the space in the container to generate scan data associated with the shipment when the shipment is placed in the container. As part of such a scan, the scan sensor node is mounted within the container and above the space within the container. In this way, depth sensors (such as a scanner 220 on node 120a, which may have one or more depth sensing elements) are arranged and in the container from above the space in the container. Oriented to scan space.
In step 915, method 900 proceeds by comparing the scan data generated from step 910 with the available material dimension data by the scan sensor node. Therefore, if the comparison shows a significant difference in step 920, method 900 proceeds to step 925 where the available material dimensional data for the article can be converted. If not, Method 900 ends. As mentioned above, the comparison in step 920 may make a difference that may indicate a missing part of the article to be shipped, damage to the article, and the like.
In a more detailed embodiment, the comparison in step 920 is where the scan sensor node compares (a) the average of multiple scan data for shipments generated over a predetermined period of time, and (b) available material dimensional data. As a result, the dynamic conversion of available material dimensional data (discussed below with respect to step 925) is based on the results of the comparisons in (a) and (b). Includes adjusting current dimensional data representing shipments.
In step 925, method 900 moves the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment, based on the comparison of the available material dimensional data made in step 920 with the generated scan data. Proceed by converting to. In a further embodiment, such conversion of data is achieved by storing scan data generated as current dimensional data representing the shipment when material dimensional data for the shipment is not available or accessible. May be done. In yet another embodiment, such a transformation causes the scan sensor node to display the current dimensional data representing the shipment to reflect the difference between the scan data averaged over a given period of time and the available material dimensional data. It may be achieved by updating. Therefore, the converted current dimensional data more accurately represents the goods to be shipped and the characteristics of the goods, the goods have changes, there are missing parts, or the container is closed and intended. It may be used to determine if the contents of the container are damaged before shipping to the destination.
In step 930, method 900 continues with a further embodiment in which the scan sensor node sends a message to the external management node to send the converted current dimensional data representing the shipment. Therefore, the external management node detects shipping issues based on the translated data sent and other devices (eg, server 100, user access device 140 or the original) to address the detected shipping issues. One or more additional messages may be directed to the scan sensor node 120a).
For those skilled in the art, the method 900 previously disclosed and described in various embodiments executes scan program code 260, an exemplary scan sensor node 120a shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A-3E. You will understand that it can be implemented in devices such as. Such a scan sensor device arranged in the container may dynamically convert the dimensional data representing the shipment to be loaded in the container as described above. Such code may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as memory storage device 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. Thus, when executing code 260, the processing device 210 of scan sensor node 120a operates to perform the operation or step of the exemplary method disclosed above, including method 900 and variants of that method. be able to.
Yet another embodiment may include a system that operates and utilizes a programmed scan sensor device as described for Method 900 and variants of that method. More specifically, such an exemplary system for quantifying the space within a container may include a scan sensor device and an external management node. The scan sensor device in this embodiment includes at least a housing, a processing device, a memory, a depth sensor and a wireless communication interface. The housing is configured to be mounted on the inner surface of the roof inside the container. The processing device is arranged in the housing together with the memory. The memory is operably coupled to the processor and holds at least the exemplary scan program code portion executed by the processor and available material dimensional data associated with the shipment. The depth sensor is also operably coupled to the processing device, placed under the roof inner surface, and oriented to advantageously scan the space within the container under the roof inner surface. The wireless communication interface is arranged in the housing and operably coupled to the processing device.
The external management node is located outside the container and operably wirelessly communicates with the scan sensor device via the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor device. Incoming information may be sent from the external management node to the scan sensor device (such as available material size data), and outgoing information may be sent from the scan sensor device to the external management node (articles loaded into the container). Any newly converted dimensional data related to). The external management node may also communicate with other devices such as user access devices (eg, smartphones, laptops, tablets, desktops or other computer devices that allow the interaction of logistics staff) and / or servers. Good.
In an exemplary system, the processing device of the scan sensor device accesses the available material dimension data in the memory associated with the shipment when executing the scan program code portion, and the shipment is loaded into the space inside the container. The depth sensor scans the space inside the container under the inner surface of the roof, receives the scan data generated during the scan from the depth sensor, compares the scan data with the available material dimension data, and is generated. Based on the comparison between the scanned data and the available material dimension data, the available material dimension data is dynamically converted into the current dimension data representing the shipment, and then the dimension data is sent to the external management node by the wireless communication interface. It can be operated to send an update message. Such a dimensional data update message reflects the current dimensional data representing the shipment.
In addition, the external management node in the system receives at least the dimensional data update message from the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor device and stores the converted current dimensional data transmitted in the dimensional data update message. In a further embodiment, the external management node in the system may also include a server that communicates directly with the external management node but not with the scan sensor node (eg, server 100 shown in FIG. 1). The external management node may then send a dimension update message to the server. Here, the dimension update message informs the server of at least the dynamic conversion operation.
In yet another embodiment, the external management node may detect a logistics problem based on the dimension update message or may send an alert to the server. Here, the alert identifies the logistics issue associated with the shipped goods reflected in the dimension update message. Such logistics problems may include defects in the goods to be shipped. For example, the defect may be associated with transformed dimensional information indicating that some or all of the article is damaged. In another example, the defect relates to a missing part of the article (eg, an article that is missing from a cargo in which multiple articles are packaged on a pallet or an article that has multiple parts that are packaged separately but can be shipped together). You may.
Accordingly, the server may respond to alerts by generating logistics correction messages that facilitate addressing logistics issues prior to container shipment. Such logistics modification messages may be notified to the external management node, or user access operated by the physical distribution staff involved in having the external management node receive the message and communicate with the external management node and load it into the container. The message may be forwarded to the device or scan sensor node. In this way, the system allows the dimensional data representing the shipment to be transformed so that it can be known more quickly within such a shipping management system, and the process of fixing logistics problems (eg, damage to the article). Obtaining a replacement if so, notifying the shipping customer or supplier that the item is damaged or that the existing item is not all in the packaged group of items, etc. ) Can be improved.
[Conversion of scan data by scan sensor node]
In a further set of embodiments, the exemplary scan sensor node determines the load volume of the container, even if the article is loaded into a location within the container's storage space that is at least partially invisible to the scan sensor node. It may be deployed to improve and improve what it does. The way articles are loaded into the storage space of an exemplary container can inadvertently bring one or more invisible locations to the depth sensor on the scan sensor node. Therefore, if the article is loaded into a container in such a location, the scan data generated by the exemplary scan sensor node will not change at all because the depth sensor cannot see all or part of the article. Alternatively, only a relatively small amount may be changed. This "hidden" problem can lead to less accurate determinations of container loading conditions.
To address this type of problem, embodiments provide knowledge of information about a particular article being loaded, such as scan data generated when the article is loaded, as well as material dimensional data related to the article. You may take it and monitor the loading work. With such additional information, the logistics operation of loading a container allows the scan sensor node to state the container's storage space (ie, the container's loading volume or the remaining volume in the container's storage space for additional goods). Can be further improved and improved as it depends on more than one source of data when determining.
As illustrated above, material dimensional data may be available from past logistics operations, such as when articles are scanned and sorted at a shipping and delivery facility. In another embodiment, the material dimensional data may be available as default type dimensional information associated with the article, such as the size of the packaging used with the article or standard measurements of the article itself. Such material dimensional data may be preloaded on the scan sensor node or dynamically acquired from equipment outside the scan sensor node (such as external management node 110) when the article is loaded. ..
With such information about the goods loaded into the container, the exemplary scan sensor node refines or transforms information representing the state of the container's storage space to more accurately describe the actual goods loaded into the storage space. May be possible.
Figures 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B are exemplary diagrams showing different configurations to attach to an exemplary scan sensor node when the article loaded in the storage space is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor on the node. Is. In particular, FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations that are deployed in a container when an article is loaded into a location that is at least partially invisible to the scan sensor node device, according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Scan Sensor A set of diagrams showing exemplary systems and various exemplary behaviors involved in a node device. With reference to FIG. 10A below, a container 115a with a scan sensor node 120a mounted on the inner surface of the container 115a above the storage space 315 is shown. In this example, the scan sensor node 120a shows a scan sensor node 120a mounted on the ceiling 315 in a configuration having the node 120a approximately above the storage space 315. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, there may be a scan sensor node 120a mounted on one side of the storage space 315 while still above the storage space 315. Further, in other embodiments, the scan sensor node 120a may be placed and mounted on another structure (eg, a beam) or on top of the inner wall surface, with the node 120a towards the storage space (regardless of angle). Looking down, it can still be considered mounted above the storage space.
As depicted in FIG. 10A, storage space 315 is previously loaded with articles 130a-130h. However, in the configuration of article 130a-130h depicted, location 1000 may be in storage space 315, which may be invisible to the depth sensing element (scanner 220, etc.) of the deployed scan sensor node 120a. For those skilled in the art, such locations can be found by using multiple depth-sensitive elements to mount the scanner 220, and such locations can be physically located in different locations above space 315. Can be minimized if placed in. The location 1000, which may be considered a shadow or void from the point of view of scanning, may be filled with one or more articles (such as article 130i) as the container 115a is further loaded. For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the article 130i is loaded at location 1000 so that at least part of the article 130i is invisible to the scanner element of the scan sensor node. In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 10B, the first part 1005 of article 130i may be visible to the depth sensing scanner 220 of scan sensor node 120a, but the second part 1010 of article 130i is thus. May be invisible when occupying space 1000. As described in more detail below, an exemplary scan sensor node 120a identifies article 130i when article 130i is loaded into space 315 and generates material dimensional data and related to article 130i. Based on the scan data, it may be determined whether the article 130i is at least partially invisible. Here, such generated scan data may only show an incremental increase in the previously determined volume of the container (ie, the volume before the article 130i is loaded), where the incremental increase is a threshold quantity. Less than. Such a threshold amount may be a particular volume or may depend on the expected volume for article 130i (related to the dimensions of article 130i). Therefore, Scansen The sannode 120a dynamically transforms the scan data generated after the article 130i is loaded into space 315 because the article 130i is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor scanning element 220 of the scan sensor node 120a. You may. The converted scan data is invisible to or only partially visible to the depth sensor scanning element 220 of the scan sensor node 120a, but the converted scan data (also called sophisticated scan data) is in space 130. It may be refined at least based on the material dimensional data associated with the article 130i so as to more accurately describe the volume of the article 130i loaded therein.
11A and 11B are another example of loading an article into a container location that is not visible or only partially visible to an exemplary scan sensor node device, according to one or more embodiments of the invention. It is a diagram which shows a typical embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11A below, the scan sensor node 120a is mounted and configured on one side of the storage space 315 within the container 115a, but is still above the storage space 315. As shown, the scan sensor node 120a remains above the storage space 315. However, when some articles are placed in the storage space 315, the loaded articles may shield portion 1100 of the storage space 315 from exposure and visibility of the scan sensor node 120a to the scanning elements. For example, a wall of goods may be created in storage space 315. This is, for example, other articles that are not easily stackable (bags that cannot retain their shape, irregularities, etc.) to accommodate stackable articles (such as those that make up the wall on which the stacked articles are made). This can occur during the loading of container 115a due to the loading of shaped articles, etc.). As such, the wall of the article may result in a portion 1100 as part of a storage space 315 that is no longer visible to the depth-sensitive scanner element of the scan sensor node 120a. The article 130i may then be totally invisible to the depth sensor if the article 130i is loaded onto the portion 1100, and the article 130i is to the depth sensor on the scan sensor node 120a, as shown in FIG. 11B. On the other hand, it is partially invisible. Therefore, the first part 1105 of article 130i may be visible to the depth sensing scanner 220 of scan sensor node 120a, but the second part 1110 of article 130i is invisible when thus occupying part 1100. It may be. Also, similar to the example shown in FIG. 10B, in the exemplary scan sensor node 120a of FIG. 11B, the article 130i is at least part of the depth sensor scanning element 220 of the scan sensor node 120a. The scan data generated after the article 130i is loaded into space 315 may be dynamically converted because it is invisible. Similarly, the converted scan data may be invisible or only partially visible to the depth sensor scanning element 220 of the scan sensor node 120a, but the converted scan data (also referred to as sophisticated scan data). It may be refined at least based on the material dimensional data associated with the article 130i so as to more accurately describe the volume of the article 130i loaded into the space 130.
FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for dynamically converting scan data indicating the cargo volume of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the exemplary method may be implemented by an exemplary scan sensor node (such as node 120a) that has at least a memory, depth sensor, identification scanner, and communication interface with an external management node.
With reference to FIG. 12, method 1200 then begins in step 1205 by the scan sensor node using an identification sensor to identify the article loaded into the storage space within the container. For example, the scan sensor node 120a shown in FIG. 10A may use the scanner 220 to perform an identification scan to identify the article 130i when the article is loaded into the storage space 315 of the container 115a. Good.
In a further embodiment, step 1205 was loaded by causing the identification scanner to receive a signal representing the identification information associated with the article, and then identifying the article based on the identification information received by the identification scanner. The article may be identified. For example, the signal may be a reflected signal added to the barcode label on the article if the reflected signal contains barcode information that identifies the article. In another example, the signal is a radio identification of, for example, an RFID tag, an NFC device, another Bluetooth® device, a Zigbee device, or another wireless network data communication device that operates in a similar communication format as a scanning element. It may be a signal broadcast by the element. Therefore, an embodiment of the identification scanner may identify an article by receiving a signal broadcast from a device (such as the radio identification element described above) associated with the article to be shipped. Here, the signal contains sufficient data to identify the article to be shipped, such as header information in a broadcast signal identifying the article associated with the radio identification element.
After step 1205, method 1200 proceeds to step 1210 where the scan sensor node accesses the material dimensional data associated with the identified article. For example, material dimension data may be stored as a type of container data 275 in memory 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. For example, the material dimensional data may be information (such as default or standard dimensional data associated with the packaging or articles used for the articles or groups of articles packaged with each other), server 100 and / or It may be held by the external management node 110 and further provided to the scan sensor node to be held in its memory. In addition, examples of material dimensional data are from past logistics scans performed by other shipping processing systems, such as laser scan dimensional measurement type systems used at shipping facilities while processing goods to be shipped. It may be generated.
In yet another embodiment, the material dimension data may be information received from an external management node. More specifically, embodiments of Method 1200 may cause the communication interface of the scan sensor node to send a request to the external management node. The request here identifies the article and requires the external management node to respond with material dimension data for the identified article (which may originate from a server communicating with the external management node). The communication interface may then receive material dimension data from the external management node, and then the scan sensor node scans so that the material dimension data is accessible for use by the node during work. Material dimensional data for the identified article may be stored in the memory of the sensor node.
In step 1215, the method proceeds by scanning the storage space in the container for depth sensors on the scan sensor node to generate scan data after identifying the article. To accomplish such a scan, the scan sensor node is mounted above the space inside the container and inside the container, with the depth sensor pointing from above the storage space to the storage space. As mentioned above, the depth sensor may be implemented by one or more elements that are collectively used to map or scan the storage space from above the space.
At step 1220, method 1200 determines whether the article loaded into the storage space is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor based on the scan data generated. For example, the generated scan data may show no increase in load volume after the article has been loaded, indicating that the loaded article is invisible to the depth sensor. Alternatively, the generated scan data may indicate that some of the loaded articles are invisible, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B.
In a more detailed embodiment, the decisions in step 1220 are (a) scan data generated after the article has been loaded into the storage space and (b) a container before the article has been loaded into the storage space. It may include comparing with past scan data representing the previous cargo volume of. Therefore, the comparison shows, if any, what incremental volume was detected in the storage space as a result of loading the article. Therefore, step 1220 represents an incremental increase in the previously determined volume of the container with the difference between (a) and (b), and the incremental increase is a parameter for the expected volume of the loaded article. It may be determined that the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor if it is less than a threshold amount such as a dependent threshold amount. Expected volume parameters for such articles may relate, for example, to material dimensional data associated with the article. Therefore, a comparison of the current scan data with the container's previous cargo volume shows an incremental increase in volume that is less than the set amount or less than the set percentage of the volume of article 130i per material dimension data for article 130i. As such, the illustration may have step 1220 to determine that the loaded article 130i is at least partially invisible.
Therefore, if the articles loaded into the storage space are at least partially invisible to the depth sensor based on the generated scan data, the generated scan data will not accurately reflect the container's current cargo volume. So step 1220 of method 1200 goes to step 1225. However, if this is not the case, the generated scan data will indicate that the loaded article is sufficiently visible to the depth sensor, and the generated scan data will indicate the loading state of the storage space within the container. It may be dependent to some extent, and step 1220 may proceed to step 1230.
In step 1225, method 1200 proceeds by dynamically converting the scan data into refined scan data by the scan sensor node because the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor. Sophistication of scan data Conversion to scan data is at least based on the material dimensional data associated with the article. More specifically, the generated scan data may show only a slight incremental increase in volume when the expected volume of the article is actually added. Therefore, the scan data is refined to more accurately indicate the fullness of the current container being loaded.
In some embodiments, method 1200 may proceed to step 1230 where the communication interface of the scan sensor node may send a volume update message to the external management node. The volume update message may include refined scan data representing the current container cargo volume. In a further embodiment, the external management node sets the updated current volume of the loaded container to the server 100 so that the server can act as a backend manager and keep up with the loading operation in favor of the loading operation. You may notify the server such as.
For those skilled in the art, Method 1200, previously disclosed and described in various embodiments, implements the embodiment of scan program code 260, FIGS. 1, 2, 3A-3E, 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B. It will be appreciated that it can be implemented in devices such as the exemplary scan sensor node 120a shown in. Such a scan sensor device placed inside the container may dynamically convert the scan data into sophisticated scan data that more accurately represents the cargo volume of the container. Such code may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as memory storage device 215 on the scan sensor node 120a. Thus, when executing code 260, the processing device 210 of scan sensor node 120a operates to perform the operation or step of the exemplary method disclosed above, including method 1200 and variants of that method. be able to.
Yet another embodiment may include a system that operates and utilizes a programmed scan sensor device as described above with respect to Method 1200 and variants of the method. Such system-level embodiments that dynamically convert scan data representing the load volume of a container as it is loaded include scan sensor devices (such as the exemplary scan sensor node 120a) and (exemplary external) scan sensor devices. Includes external management nodes (such as management node 110). The scan sensor device is located inside the container and is a housing (such as a housing 200), a processing device (such as a processing device 210), a memory (such as a memory 215), a depth sensor (such as a scanner 220), and a bar (such as a bar). Additions implemented as code scanners, RFID readers, NFC interfaces, Bluetooth® radios, or other wireless network data communication devices, and the like that can operate to read or receive identification information associated with the identification element. Sensor 230), and wireless communication interfaces (such as long-range wireless communication interface 240 and / or short / short-range wireless communication interface 245).
More specifically, the housing of the scan sensor device of the system is configured to be mounted on the inner surface of the container at a position above the storage space in the container. For example, the inner surface may be a wall, ceiling, or surface of a structure that is held or suspended above the storage space within the container. At least the processing device and memory of the scan sensor device of the system are arranged in the housing. The memory is operably coupled to the processor and holds at least the scan program code portion (such as the scan program code 260 embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 12) executed by the processor. The memory also holds material dimensional data related to the articles loaded in the storage space (as described earlier with respect to FIG. 12). The depth sensor may have one or more scanning elements and is operably coupled to the processing device. The depth sensor is oriented and arranged from above the storage space toward the storage space in the container. The identification scanner is also operably coupled to the processing device and can operate to perform an identification scan as part of identifying the loaded article. The wireless communication interface is arranged in the housing and is operably coupled to the processing device.
External management nodes in the system are located outside the container, but other embodiments may have external management nodes that are mobile nodes that can be inside or outside the container at different times. Good. The external management node of the system operably communicates with the scan sensor device via a wireless communication interface.
When executing the scan program code portion of the system's scan sensor device, the processing device performs a special non-conventional step that dynamically transforms the scan data that represents the cargo volume of the container as it is loaded. Modified to operate as an adapted configuration computer-based device. More specifically, when executing the scan program code portion, the processing apparatus causes an identification scanner to perform an identification scan and collects or orders information that identifies an article loaded in the storage space inside the container. , The depth sensor scans or maps the storage space in the container from above the storage space, generates scan data representing the cargo volume of the container, stores the scan data generated in the memory, and is based on the generated scan data. The scan data is determined when the article loaded in the storage space is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor and the processor determines that the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor. Dynamically converted to refined scan data, the scan data is converted to refined scan data at least based on the material dimension data associated with the article, causing the wireless communication interface to send volume update messages to external management nodes. It is possible to operate. Such volume update messages reflect the container's current cargo volume as indicated by refined scan data.
The system external management node receives the volume update message from the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor device and stores the refined scan data. A further embodiment may include a server that communicates directly with the system, an external management node, but cannot directly communicate with the scan sensor device of the system. The external management node may also be able to act to send a container state update message to the server, where the container state update message is at least the server's current cargo volume reflected by the refined scan data. Inform.
The external management node of the system may also operate as part of the system to provide material dimension data to the scan sensor device via a wireless communication interface. Therefore, the processing device of the scan sensor device may then store the material dimension data received in the memory of the scan sensor device used during the system operation of the device. For example, this may be part of a pre-loading operation in which material dimensional data is provided to the scan sensor device as a precautionary measure before the loading operation begins.
However, in yet another embodiment, the provision of material dimensional data may be more dynamic during the loading operation. For example, once the loaded article is identified by an identification scanner on the scan sensor device, the scan sensor device's wireless communication interface sends a request to an external management node for material dimension data associated with the identified article. You may. The external management node of the system may receive the request and send a response to the scan sensor device, where the response contains the requested material dimension data. This may be done incrementally and dynamically, for example, as each of the shipped articles in the container is loaded into the container.
[Further Specific Embodiment]
Following is a list of exemplary specific embodiments focused on one or more of the various embodiments described above. Each of the different specific embodiments results in improvements in logistics-related techniques that utilize exemplary scan sensor nodes as part of an improved loading operation that is electrically monitored and managed. Thus, in each of the further embodiments, the title is a numbered embodiment that describes a particular technical application of one or more scan sensor nodes, such techniques as described and supported above. It improves or improves the field. Each numbered embodiment shown in the different titles below may refer to other numbered embodiments shown below in that particular title.
[Further embodiments 1-improved methods, computer-readable media and devices for effectively quantifying space within a container].
Item 1. Improved for efficient quantification of the space in the container using scan sensor nodes that are placed in the container and exposed to scan the space over the space in the container. A step of detecting a start condition in the container using the activation sensor in the scan sensor node, wherein the start condition reflects at least an expected change in the container. And, in response to detecting the start condition using the activation sensor, the scan sensor node is used to capture a snapshot scan of the space inside the container from above the space inside the container. A method comprising a step and storing the snapshot scan in the memory of the scan sensor node.
Item 2. The step of capturing the snapshot scan further includes the step of capturing the snapshot scan using the depth sensor at the scan sensor node, and the snapshot scan of the space is of the containment portion of the container. The method of item 1, indicating the approximate available volume left to be filled in.
Item 3. Expected changes in the container are related to opening the container, moving content held in the container, stopping movement in the container, loading work related to the container, and related to the container. The method of item 1, further comprising at least one of a group consisting of loading and unloading operations and closure of said container.
Item 4. The step of detecting the start condition from inside the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting movement in the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor. The method described in 1.
Item 5. The step of detecting the start condition from the container using the activation sensor is an environmental change related to the container as the start condition using at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor. The method of item 1, further comprising detecting.
Item 6. Light in the container, temperature in the container, humidity in the container, impact force related to the container, atmospheric chemical composition change in the container, hearing level change related to the container, inside the container. 5. The method of item 5, further comprising detecting at least one threshold level within the group comprising the atmospheric pressure of the container and the concentration of smoke particles in the container.
Item 7. Item 7. A step of periodically capturing one or more additional snapshot scans of the space in the container from above the space in the container using the scan sensor node. the method of.
Item 8. The step of periodically capturing is one or more additions using the scan sensor node until the scan sensor node detects the termination condition in the container using the activation sensor. 7. The method of item 7, further comprising capturing a snapshot scan of the node periodically.
Item 9. The method of item 8, wherein the termination condition comprises no movement detected in the container over a defined monitoring period.
Item 10. The step of detecting the second start condition from the container by using the activation sensor in the scan sensor node, and the second start condition is the step after detecting the end condition. The scan sensor node has a step that reflects at least one further expected change in the container and until the scan sensor node uses the activation sensor to detect a second termination condition in the container. 8. The method of item 8, further comprising the step of periodically capturing additional snapshot scans of the space in said container using.
Item 11. The method of item 1, further comprising the step of generating a notification by the scan sensor node when the snapshot scan reflects the desired loading condition of the container.
Item 12. The step according to item 8, further comprising generating a notification by the scan sensor node when the current one or more of the additional snapshot scans reflects the desired loading condition of the container. Method.
Item 13. The method of item 10, further comprising the step of generating a notification by the scan sensor node when the current one of the additional snapshot scans reflects the desired loading condition of the container.
Item 14. In the container using the scan sensor node, which is placed in the container and exposed to scan the space from above the space in the container when executed by the processor of the scan sensor node. A non-temporary computer-readable medium containing instructions to perform improved methods for efficiently quantifying space, said method of the container using an activation sensor at the scan sensor node. A step of detecting a start condition from within, wherein the start condition responds to a step that reflects at least an expected change in the container and a step of detecting the start condition using the activation sensor. A step of capturing a snapshot scan of the space in the container from above the space in the container using the scan sensor node and a step of storing the snapshot scan in the memory of the scan sensor node. Non-temporary computer-readable media, including.
Item 15. The step of capturing the snapshot scan further includes the step of capturing the snapshot scan using the depth sensor at the scan sensor node, and the snapshot scan of the space is of the containment portion of the container. The non-temporary computer-readable medium according to item 14, which indicates the approximate available volume left to be filled in.
Item 16. Expected changes in the container relate to opening the container, movement of content held in the container, stopping movement in the container, loading operations related to the container, and related to the container. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 14, further comprising at least one of a group consisting of loading and unloading operations and closure of said container.
Item 17. The step of detecting the start condition from inside the container using the activation sensor further comprises detecting movement in the container using a motion sensor as the activation sensor. Non-transitory computer-readable medium described in 14.
Item 18. The step of detecting the start condition from the container using the activation sensor is an environmental change associated with the container as the start condition using at least one environmental sensor as the activation sensor. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 14, further comprising detecting.
Item 19. Light in the container, temperature in the container, humidity in the container, impact force related to the container, change in atmospheric chemical composition in the container, change in hearing level related to the container, inside the container. The non-temporary computer-readable medium of item 18, further comprising detecting at least one threshold level within the group comprising the atmospheric pressure of the container and the concentration of smoke particles in the container.
Item 20. Item 14, further comprising the step of periodically capturing one or more additional snapshot scans of the space in the container from above the space in the container using the scan sensor node. Non-temporary computer-readable medium.
Item 21. The step of periodically capturing is one or more additions using the scan sensor node until the scan sensor node detects an termination condition in the container using the activation sensor. The non-temporary computer-readable medium according to item 20, further comprising capturing a snapshot scan of the node periodically.
Item 22. The method of item 21, wherein the termination condition includes no motion detected in the container over a defined monitoring period.
Item 23. A step of detecting a second start condition from the container using the activation sensor in the scan sensor node, wherein the second start condition is after detecting the end condition. The scan sensor node has a step that reflects at least one further expected change in the container and until the scan sensor node uses the activation sensor to detect a second termination condition in the container. 21. The non-temporary computer-readable medium of item 21, further comprising the step of periodically capturing additional snapshot scans of the space in said container.
Item 24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 14, further comprising the step of generating a notification by the scan sensor node when the snapshot scan reflects the desired loading condition of the container.
Item 25. Item 21. The item 21 further comprises a step of generating a notification by the scan sensor node when the current one or more of the additional snapshot scans reflects the desired loading state of the container. Non-temporary computer-readable medium.
Item 26. The non-temporary item of item 23, further comprising the step of generating a notification by the scan sensor node if the current one of the additional snapshot scans reflects the desired loading state of the container. Computer-readable medium.
Item 27. A scan sensor device arranged in the container so as to efficiently quantify the space in the container, the housing configured to be mounted in the container on the space in the container, and the housing. A processing device arranged in the housing and a memory arranged in the housing that is operably coupled to the processing device and holds at least one scan program code portion executed by the processing device. A depth sensor operably coupled to the processing apparatus, which is exposed to the space inside the container from above the space inside the container and relates to the space inside the container from above the space inside the container. A depth sensor that operates to capture a snapshot scan and an activation sensor that is operably coupled to the processing device and that monitors the environmental conditions of the space within the container. When the scan program code portion is executed, the processor receives a start condition signal from the activation sensor, which at least reflects the expected change in the monitored environmental conditions of the space within the container. In response to receiving the start condition signal, the depth sensor is made to capture the snapshot scan of the space in the container from above the space in the container, and the snapshot captured in the memory. A scan sensor device capable of operating to access the memory to store scan data.
Item 28. The scan sensor device of item 27, wherein the housing is further configured to be detachably removed from the container after being mounted in the container.
Item 29. The scan sensor device of item 27, wherein the snapshot scan data indicates the approximate available volume left to fill the space within the container's storage portion captured by the depth sensor. ..
Item 30. Expected changes in the container relate to opening the container, movement of content held in the container, stopping movement in the container, loading operations related to the container, and related to the container. 27. The scan sensor device of item 27, further comprising at least one of the group consisting of loading and unloading operations and closure of said container.
Item 31. The activation sensor includes a motion sensor that detects movement in the container as the environmental condition, an optical sensor that detects a threshold level of light in the container as the environmental condition, and an optical sensor in the container as the environmental condition. A temperature sensor that detects a temperature threshold level, a humidity sensor that detects a humidity threshold level in the container as the environmental condition, a kinetic force sensor that detects an impact force related to the container as the environmental condition, and an environmental change. A chemical sensor that detects changes in atmospheric chemical components in the container, a microphone that detects changes in the auditory level associated with the container as the environmental change, a pressure sensor that detects the pressure in the container as the environmental change, and the environmental change. 27. The scan sensor device of item 27, comprising at least one in a group comprising a smoke sensor that detects the concentration of smoke particles in the container.
Item 32. The processing device may further operate to cause the depth sensor to periodically capture one or more additional snapshot scans of the space in the container from above the space in the container. The scan sensor device according to 27.
Item 33. The processing apparatus may further operate to have the depth sensor periodically capture the one or more additional snapshot scans until it receives an termination condition signal from the activation sensor. 32. The scan sensor device.
34. The processing apparatus is further operational to access the memory to store at least the most recent of the one or more additional snapshot scans, according to item 33. Scan sensor device.
Item 35. The processing apparatus receives a second start condition from the activation sensor after receiving the end condition signal from the activation sensor, and the second start condition monitors the space in the container. Further snapshot scans of the space within the container are made to the depth sensor in response to receiving the second start condition signal, reflecting at least further expected changes to the environmental conditions. Periodically capturing and receiving a second termination condition signal from the activation sensor causes the depth sensor to stop capturing additional snapshot scans of the space within the container and the one or more additional 33. The scan sensor device of item 33, further operable to access the memory to store at least the most recent snapshot scan in the memory.
Item 36. Further comprising a wireless communication interface located in the housing and operably coupled to the processing device, the processing device notifies when the snapshot scan reflects the desired loading condition of the container. 27. The scan sensor device of item 27, further operable to generate a message and cause the wireless communication interface to transmit the notification message.
37. The scan sensor device of item 36, wherein the wireless communication interface is capable of operating to send the notification message to at least one of the server system or operator node device.
Item 38. The scan sensor device according to item 37, wherein the operator node device includes one in a group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer device, a laptop computer, and a terminal computer device.
Item 39. Further comprising a wireless communication interface located in the housing and operably coupled to the processing device, the processing device is the current one of the one or more snapshot scans desired of the container. 32. The scan sensor device of item 32, which can be further actuated to generate a notification message when reflecting the load status.
Item 40. Further comprising a wireless communication interface located in the housing and operably coupled to the processing device, the processing device is the current one of the additional snapshot scans desired of the container. 35. The scan sensor device according to item 35, which is capable of generating a notification message when reflecting the loading status and further operating to cause the notification message to be transmitted by the wireless communication interface.
Further Embodiment 2-Methods for managing cargo operations, computer-readable media, devices and systems]
Item 1. An improved way to manage cargo operations related to a container using the removable scan sensor node, which identifies the goods to be shipped within the container. There is a step and a step of mapping the space in the container after the article is placed in the container by the removable scan sensor node, and the removable scan sensor node is temporarily placed in the container. And occupied volume in the container based on the steps directed to map the space in the container from above the space and the mapping data associated with the mapped space by the removable scan sensor node. And a step of transmitting a notification by the removable scan sensor node to a management node communicating with the removable scan sensor node, wherein the notification relates to the occupied volume in the container. Including methods.
Item 2. The method of item 1, wherein the step of identifying the article further comprises identifying the article when the article is loaded and placed in the container by the removable scan sensor node.
Item 3. The step of identifying the article is the step of performing an identification scan of the article to be shipped in the container by the removable scan sensor node and the shipping based on the scan data associated with the identification scan. The method of item 1, further comprising the step of identifying the article.
Item 4. The method of item 3, wherein the step of performing the identification scan further comprises detecting a radio identification element associated with the article.
Item 5. The method of item 4, wherein the wireless identification element comprises a communication device that wirelessly broadcasts information related to the article.
Item 6. The wireless identification element includes a wireless device, a cellular wireless device, a wireless network device, a wireless data communication device operating with a low power communication protocol, a wireless data communication device operating with a high power communication protocol, an RFID device, an NFC device, and the like. The method of item 4, wherein the method comprises one of a group comprising a Bluetooth® device, a jigby device, and a Wi-Fi device.
Item 7. The method of item 3, wherein the step of performing the identification scan further comprises detecting a barcode element associated with the article.
Item 8. The method of item 1, further comprising recording the determined occupied volume in the memory of the removable scan sensor node.
The method of item 1, further comprising item 9. After the step of identifying a plurality of additional items to be shipped within the container by the removable scan sensor node and after one or more additional items have been placed within the container by the removable scan sensor node. Updated occupied volume in the container based on the space mapped after each of the step of periodically mapping the space in the container and the step of periodically mapping by the removable scan sensor node. 10. The method of item 9, wherein the periodic mapping step is performed by the removable scan sensor node until the desired loading condition for the container is detected.
Item 11. A step of recording the time required for the removable scan sensor node to load the container until the desired loading state is detected, and a step of transmitting a loading time message to the management node. The method of item 10, wherein the loading time message further comprises a step that reflects the recorded time required to load the container.
Item 12. The method of item 1, wherein the notification indicates the condition of the container in relation to the determined occupied volume of the container.
Item 13. The step of transmission is to detect whether the determined occupied volume fits the desired loading condition for the container, and the occupied volume determined by the removable scan sensor node is at least said container. The method of item 1, comprising sending the notification to the management node if the desired loading condition is met.
Item 14. The method of item 1, wherein the notification indicates a requested change in the loading operation associated with the container.
Item 15. The method of item 14, wherein the requested changes include a request for additional personnel involved in loading the container.
Item 16. The method of item 1, wherein the notification provides a summary of what is loaded into the container in relation to the determined occupied volume of the container.
Item 17. When run on the processor of the removable scan sensor node, it is non-temporary computer readable, including instructions to perform improved methods for managing cargo operations related to the container using the removable scan sensor node. It is a medium, and the method is The removable scan sensor node maps the space in the container after the article has been placed in the container, and the removable scan sensor node identifies the item to be shipped in the container. There is a step in which the removable scan sensor node is temporarily placed in the container and directed to map the space in the container from above the space, and by the removable scan sensor node. A step of determining the occupied volume in the container based on the mapping data associated with the mapped space, and a step of sending a notification by the removable scan sensor node to a management node communicating with the removable scan sensor node. The notification is a non-temporary computer-readable medium, including steps related to the occupied volume in the container.
Item 18. The non-temporary step according to item 17, wherein the step of identifying the article further comprises identifying the article as it is loaded and placed in the container by the removable scan sensor node. Computer-readable medium.
Item 19. The step of identifying the article is to perform an identification scan of the article to be shipped in the container by the removable scan sensor node, and the shipment based on the scan data associated with the identification scan. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, further comprising identifying the article.
Item 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 19, wherein the step of performing the identification scan further comprises detecting a radio-identifying element associated with the article.
Item 21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 20, wherein the wireless identification element comprises a communication device that wirelessly broadcasts information associated with the article.
Item 22. The wireless identification element includes a wireless device, a cellular wireless device, a wireless network device, a wireless data communication device operating with a low power communication protocol, a wireless data communication device operating with a high power communication protocol, an RFID device, an NFC device, and the like. The non-temporary computer-readable medium of item 20, including one in a group that includes Bluetooth® devices, jigby devices, and Wi-Fi devices.
Item 23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 19, wherein the step of performing the identification scan further comprises detecting a barcode element associated with the article.
Item 24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, further comprising recording a determined occupied volume in the memory of the removable scan sensor node.
Item 25. The removable scan sensor node identifies a plurality of additional items to be shipped within the container, and the removable scan sensor node places one or more additional items within the container. Updates within the container based on the space mapped after each of the steps that periodically map the space in the container after being struck and the steps that are periodically mapped by the removable scan sensor node. The non-temporary computer-readable medium of item 17, further comprising a step of determining the occupied volume.
Item 26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 25, wherein the cyclic mapping step is performed by the removable scan sensor node until the desired loading condition for the container is detected.
Item 27. A step of recording the time required for the removable scan sensor node to load into the container until the desired loading state is detected, and a step of transmitting a loading time message to the management node. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 26, wherein the loading time message further comprises a step reflecting the recorded time required to load the container.
Item 28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, wherein the notification indicates the condition of the container in relation to the determined occupied volume of the container.
Item 29. The step of transmission is to detect whether the determined occupied volume fits the desired loading condition for the container, and the occupied volume determined by the removable scan sensor node is at least the container. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, wherein the notification is sent to the management node if the desired loading condition is met.
Item 30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, wherein the notification indicates a requested change in the cargo operation associated with the container.
Item 31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 30, wherein the requested changes include a request for additional personnel involved in loading the container.
Item 32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, wherein the notice provides a summary of what is loaded into the container in relation to the determined occupied volume of the container.
Item 33. An improved scan sensor device for managing cargo operations related to a container, the housing configured to be mounted in the container at a location above the space in the container, and the inside of the housing. A processing device arranged in the above and a memory arranged in the housing, which holds at least a cargo work program code portion and a scan program code portion operably coupled to the processing device and executed by the processing device. A depth sensor that is operably coupled to the processing device and is arranged and directed so as to map the storage space in the container from above the storage space, and the processing device. An identification scanner that is operably coupled to the identification scanner that is configured to identify the goods to be shipped in the container and that is operably coupled to the processing device and is located in the housing. When the cargo working program code portion and the scan program code portion are executed by providing the wireless communication interface, the processing device receives the identification of the article to be shipped in the container from the identification scanner, and the article. Is placed in the container and then maps the storage space in the container to the depth sensor and receives mapping data generated by the depth sensor associated with the mapped storage space in the container. To determine the occupied volume in the container based on the mapping data associated with the mapped storage space and send a notification to the management node communicating with the improved scan sensor device via the wireless communication interface. A scan sensor device capable of operating to instruct a wireless communication interface, the notification relating to the occupied volume within said container.
Item 34. The identification scanner identifies the shipped article by receiving a signal broadcast from a device associated with the shipped article, the signal for identifying the shipped article. 33. The device of item 33, which contains sufficient data.
35. The device of item 34, wherein the device that broadcasts the signal to the identification scanner comprises a wireless transmitter capable of operating to generate and transmit the signal received by the identification scanner.
Item 36. Devices that broadcast the signal to the identification scanner include radios, cellular radios, wireless network devices, wireless data communication devices that operate with low power communication protocols, and wireless data communication devices that operate with high power communication protocols. 34. The method of item 34, comprising one in a group comprising an RFID device, an NFC device, a Bluetooth® device, a jigby device, and a Wi-Fi device.
37. The device of item 35, wherein the identification scanner comprises an RFID reader and the device that broadcasts the signal comprises an RFID tag.
Item 38. The identification scanner comprises a first Bluetooth® device associated with the device, and the device broadcasting the signal includes a second Bluetooth® device associated with the article 35. The device described in.
Item 39. The identification scanner comprises a barcode reader configured to identify the shipped article by capturing information about the shipped article from a label encoded on the outer surface of the article. The device of item 33.
40. The device of item 33, wherein the processing device is capable of operating to receive identification of the article when the article is loaded and placed in the storage space of the container.
Item 41. The apparatus of item 33, wherein the processing apparatus is further operable to record a determined occupied volume in said memory.
Item 42. The identification scanner may further operate to identify a plurality of additional items to be shipped within the container, and the processing device may have one or more additional items placed within the container. After that, the storage space in the container is periodically mapped to the depth sensor from above the storage space, and the update in the container is performed after mapping based on each periodic mapped space. 33. The device of item 33, which is further operable to perform determining the occupied volume.
Item 43. The processing apparatus may further operate to periodically map the storage space to the depth sensor until the desired loading state for the container is achieved, the desired loading state being within the container. 42. The device according to item 42, which is related to the updated occupied volume of.
Item 44. The processing apparatus determines the loading time required to load the container to the desired loading state level based on the mapping data associated with the mapped storage space over time, and. It can be further actuated to instruct the loading time wireless communication interface to send a loading time message to the management node, the loading time message loading the container to the desired loading state level. 43. The apparatus of item 43, which reflects the loading time required for.
Item 45. The device of item 33, wherein the notification indicates the condition of the container in relation to the determined occupied volume of the container.
Item 46. The processing apparatus detects whether the determined occupied volume conforms to the desired loading condition for the container, and the determined occupied volume conforms to at least the desired loading condition for the container. 33. The device of item 33, which is further operable to instruct the wireless communication interface to send the notification to the management node.
Item 47. The device of item 33, wherein the notification indicates a requested change in the loading operation associated with the container.
Item 48. The device of item 47, wherein the requested changes include a request for additional personnel involved in loading the container.
Item 49. The device of item 33, wherein the notification provides a summary of what is loaded into the container in relation to the determined occupied volume of the container.
Item 50. An improved system for managing cargo operations associated with multiple containers, a management node device associated with at least one operator, the management node device further comprising at least one wireless communication interface, and the above. It comprises a display interface that produces information provided to at least one operator, and a plurality of scan sensor nodes, each of the plurality of scan sensor nodes operably wirelessly communicating with the management node apparatus and each container. Each of the scan sensor nodes placed within each of the containers on the storage space within and attached to each of the containers is within each of the containers using an identification scanner at the scan sensor node. One or more articles are identified when the articles are loaded into the storage space, and while the articles are loaded into the storage space, the sensors in the scan sensor node are used to store the articles from above the storage space. It can operate to map the space, determine the occupied volume in each of the containers based on the mapping data generated by the sensor associated with the mapped storage space, and send a notification to the management node device. The notification is related to the occupied volume in each of the containers, and the management node device receives the notification from each of the scan sensor nodes via the wireless communication interface and loads at least one. To access the notifications received from each of the scan sensor nodes with respect to the features of, generate a load change message related to the change in the loading operation associated with the container, and provide the load change message to the display interface. Works on the system.
Item 51. The identification scanner identifies the one or more articles by receiving a signal from a device associated with each of the one or more articles, the signal being each of the one or more articles. The system according to item 50, which contains data that identifies the.
Item 52. The system of item 50, wherein the identification scanner comprises at least one of an RFID reader, a low energy Bluetooth® device, and a barcode reader.
Item 53. Each of the scan sensor nodes attached to each of the containers can operate to map the storage space of each of the containers and is desired for the container based on the mapping of the storage space. The system of item 50, wherein the article is loaded into the storage space until a loading condition is detected.
Item 54. Each of the scan sensor nodes attached to each of the containers determines the loading time required to load each of the containers to the desired loading state level and sends a loading time message to the management node device. 53. The system of item 53, wherein the loading time message transmitted is further operable to reflect the loading time required to load each of the containers to the desired loading condition level.
55. The system of item 50, further comprising a server device that operably communicates with the management node device via the wireless communication interface of the management node device.
Item 56. The management node device sends a request for approval to provide the loading change message in the display interface to the server device, receives the approval from the server device, and based on the received approval. 55. The system of item 55, wherein the display interface is capable of operating to provide the loading change message by being further operational to provide the loading change message.
Item 57. The notification further includes information about the article loaded into at least one of the containers, the management node device generating a container content message associated with the notification received from each of the scan sensor node devices. 55. The system of item 55, which is capable of further operating to send the container content message to the server device.
Item 58. The system of item 50, wherein the cargo work changes associated with the container include load adjustment of the cargo work.
Item 59. The system of item 50, wherein the cargoing work changes associated with the container include an indication that the loading has been completed for at least one container.
Item 60. The system of item 50, wherein the loading change message identifies a container that needs assistance in more efficiently loading one or more items associated with the identified container.
[Further Embodiment 3-Method, Computer-readable Medium and Device for Detecting Work Safety Status in Container]
Item 1. An improved method for detecting the work safety status in the container by using a scan sensor node deployed in the container on the storage space defined in the container, and the scan. A sensor node detects whether the container is in a closed state, a step of monitoring the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state, and a scan sensor node. The step of detecting the movement in the container based on the monitoring of the storage space while the container is in the closed state, and the movement is the step of indicating the work safety state and the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor node. A method of transmitting an alert to a management node via the method, wherein the alert includes a step associated with the work safety state in the container.
Item 2. The sensing step further comprises receiving light at the sensor at the scan sensor node, the light coming from outside the container, and the light reception being below the threshold level of the container. The method according to item 1, indicating a closed state.
Item 3. The sensing step further comprises detecting light with a photosensitive sensor located at the scan sensor node, wherein the photosensitive sensor is directed to an opening in the container and detects the light originating from outside the container. The method of item 1, wherein the container is in the closed state when the photosensitive sensor detects light below a threshold level from the aperture.
Item 4. The sensing step is to identify the type of container by the scan sensor node and to map the perceived occupied area of the container identified by the scanner located in the scan sensor node. A type of container in which the scanner is directed into the container to map at least the storage space from above the storage space, and the perceived occupied area of the container mapped by the scanner is identified. The method of item 1, further comprising detecting that the container is in the closed state by the scan sensor node when the known occupied area is exceeded.
Item 5. The method of item 1, wherein the monitoring step further comprises periodically mapping a change over time in the storage space of the container using a scanner at the scan sensor node.
Item 6. The method of item 1, wherein the movement further comprises a change in the location of one or more articles loaded into the storage space while the container is in the closed state.
Item 7. The method of item 6, wherein the work safety condition includes a safety warning associated with the altered position of the one or more articles.
Item 8. The method of item 7, wherein the work safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened before shipping.
Item 9. The method of item 1, wherein the movement indicates that a person is located in the storage space while the container is in the closed state.
Item 10. The method of item 9, wherein the work safety condition includes a safety warning for not shipping the container.
Item 11. The method of item 10, wherein the work safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened before shipping.
Item 12. When executed by the computer of the scan sensor node, the work safety state in the container is determined by using the scan sensor node located in the container on the storage space in the container defined in the container. A non-temporary computer-readable medium containing instructions to perform an improved method for detection, wherein the scan sensor node senses whether the container is in a closed state. The container is monitored based on a step of monitoring the storage space from above the storage space while the container is in the closed state and monitoring of the storage space by the scan sensor node while the container is in the closed state. The movement is a step of detecting the movement in the inside, the movement is a step of indicating the work safety state, and a step of transmitting an alert to the management node via the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor node, and the alert is the step. A non-temporary computer-readable medium that includes the steps associated with said work safety condition in a container.
Item 13. The sensing step further comprises receiving light at the sensor at the scan sensor node, the light coming from outside the container, and the amount of light received below the threshold level is said to be said in the container. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 12, indicating a closed state.
Item 14. The sensing step further comprises detecting light with a photosensitive sensor located at the scan sensor node, wherein the photosensitive sensor is directed to an aperture in the container and detects the light originating from outside the container. The non-temporary computer-readable medium of item 12, wherein the container is in the closed state when the photosensitive sensor detects light below a threshold level from the aperture.
Item 15. The sensing step is to identify the type of container by the scan sensor node and to map the perceived occupied area of the container identified by the scanner located on the scan sensor node. A type of container in which the scanner is directed into the container to map at least the storage space from above the storage space, and the perceived occupied area of the container mapped by the scanner is identified. The non-temporary computer-readable medium of item 12, further comprising detecting that the container is in the closed state by the scan sensor node when the known occupied area is exceeded.
Item 16. The non-transient step according to item 12, wherein the monitoring step further comprises periodically mapping a change over time in the storage space of the container using a scanner at the scan sensor node. Computer-readable medium.
item17. The movement was loaded into the storage space while the container was in the closed state.1Items that further include changes in the location of one or more items12Non-transitory computer-readable medium described in.
Item 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 17, wherein the work safety condition comprises a safety warning associated with an altered position of the one or more articles.
Item 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 18, wherein the work safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened before shipping.
Item 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 12, wherein the movement indicates that a person is located in the storage space while the container is in the closed state.
Item 21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to item 20, wherein the work safety condition includes a safety warning for not shipping the container.
Item 22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of item 21, wherein the work safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.
Item 23. A scan sensor device placed on a storage space inside a container that detects the work safety status inside the container. A housing configured to be mounted in the container on the storage space in the container, a processing device arranged in the housing, and a memory arranged in the housing. A memory operably coupled to the apparatus and holding at least one safety state program code portion executed by the processor and a scanner operably coupled to the processor from above the storage space. A scanner that is exposed to the storage space in the container and is configured to monitor the storage space from above the storage space, and a sensor that is operably coupled to the processing device and that the container is closed. It comprises a sensor that detects whether it is in a state and a wireless communication interface that is operably coupled to the processing device, and when executing the safety state program code portion, the processing device is in the closed state of the container. The sensor receives an instruction as to whether or not the container is in the closed state, causes the scanner to monitor the storage space while the container is in the closed state, and monitors the storage space while the container is in the closed state. Relevant information is received from the scanner, movement in the container is detected based on the information received from the scanner, the movement indicates a work safety state, and an alert transmitted to the management node is sent to the wireless communication interface. The device, the alert of which can be operated to be associated with the work safety state in the container.
Item 24. The apparatus of item 23, wherein the scanner further comprises a plurality of scanning elements configured to monitor the storage space from above the storage space.
Item 25. The sensor further includes a photosensitive sensor that is directed to an aperture in the container and is configured to detect light generated from outside the container, the photosensitive sensor detecting light below a threshold level from the aperture. 23. The device of item 23, wherein the container is in the closed state.
26. The device of item 25, wherein the processing device is capable of operating to receive a signal from the sensor as an indication of whether the container is in the closed state.
Item 27. The processing apparatus receives a signal indicating the detected amount of light from the sensor and evaluates the amount of indicated light detected with respect to the threshold level in order to determine whether or not the container is in the closed state. 25. The device of item 25, which is capable of operating.
Item 28. The processing apparatus identifies the type of the container, maps the perceived occupied area of the identified container to the scanner, receives the mapping data from the scanner, and the mapping data is the perceived occupancy. The container is determined to be in the closed state if it represents an area and the perceived occupied area of the container mapped by the scanner exceeds the known occupied area associated with the type of container identified. 23. The device of item 23, which is further operable.
Item 29. The processing apparatus monitors the storage space by the scanner in the monitoring step because the processing device can further operate so as to periodically map the change over time in the storage space of the container to the scanner. 23. The device of item 23, which is capable of operating to cause.
Item 30. The device of item 23, wherein the movement further comprises a change in the location of one or more articles loaded into the storage space while the container is in the closed state.
Item 31. The device of item 30, wherein the work safety condition comprises a safety warning associated with the altered position of the one or more articles.
Item 32. The device of item 31, wherein the work safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.
Item 33. The device of item 23, wherein the movement indicates that a person is located in the storage space while the container is in the closed state.
Item 34. The device of item 33, wherein the work safety condition includes a safety warning for not shipping the container.
Item 35. The device of item 34, wherein the work safety condition indicates that the container should be reopened prior to shipment.
Further Embodiment 4-Methods, Devices and Systems for Dynamically Converting Dimensional Data Using Scan Sensor Nodes]
Item 1. A method for dynamically converting dimensional data representing shipments loaded into a container using at least a scan sensor node having a memory, a depth sensor, and a communication interface with an external management node, said scan sensor. The step of accessing the available material dimensional data in the memory in the node, wherein the material dimensional data is the step associated with the shipment and the depth sensor at the scan sensor node, which causes the shipment to be said. When placed in a container, it is a step of scanning the space in the container to generate scan data related to the shipment, wherein the scan sensor node is mounted in the container on top of the space in the container. The available material dimensions are such that at least one depth sensor is directed to scan the space in the container from above the space in the container, and the scan data generated by the scan sensor node. Dynamically convert the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment based on the step of comparing with the data and the comparison of the available material dimensional data with the generated scan data. Methods, including steps to do.
2. The method of item 1, further comprising identifying the shipment by the scan sensor node when the shipment is loaded into the container.
Item 3. The step of receiving the available material dimension data from the external management node by the communication interface and the step of storing the available material dimension data received by the wireless communication interface in the memory. The method according to item 1, further comprising.
Item 4. The conversion step further comprises saving the generated scan data as the current dimensional data representing the shipment if the material dimensional data for the shipment is not available or accessible. , The method described in item 1.
Item 5. The steps to compare are (a) averaging multiple scan data for the shipment generated over a predetermined period of time by the scan sensor node, and (b) comparing the available material dimensional data. Further including, the step of dynamically converting the available material dimensional data further comprises adjusting the current dimensional data representing the shipment based on the results of the comparisons in (a) and (b). , The method described in item 1.
Item 6. The step of dynamically converting the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment reflects the difference between the average scan data over a given time period and the available material dimensional data. 5. The method of item 5, further comprising updating the current dimensional data representing said shipment.
7. The item 1. The scan sensor node further comprises transmitting the converted current dimensional data representing the shipment to the external management node via the communication interface of the scan sensor node. the method of.
Item 8. A scan sensor device arranged in a container that dynamically converts dimensional data representing shipments loaded in the container, and a housing configured to be attached to the inner surface of the roof in the container, and the housing. A processing device arranged in the body, a memory arranged in the housing, a memory operably coupled to the processing device and holding at least a scan program code portion executed by the processing device, and the above. A depth sensor operably coupled to a processing device, the depth sensor arranged and directed to scan the space in the container under the inner surface of the roof, and the processing device placed and directed in the housing. With a wireless communication interface operably coupled to, the processing device, when executing the scan program code portion, accesses the available material dimension data in the memory associated with the shipment and said. When the shipped product is loaded into the space inside the container, the depth sensor scans the space inside the container under the inner surface of the roof, receives the scan data generated during the scan from the depth sensor, and scans the scan. The data is compared with the available material dimension data and the available material dimension data is based on the comparison of the generated scan data with the available material dimension data and the current dimension representing the shipment. A device that dynamically converts data.
Item 9. The device of item 8, wherein the processing device can further operate to identify the shipment when the shipment is loaded in the container.
Item 10. The wireless communication interface can operate to receive the available material dimensional data from the external management node, and the processing device has the available material in the memory in the scan sensor node. The device according to item 8, which can operate to store dimensional data.
Item 11. The processing apparatus may further operate to store the generated scan data as the current dimensional data representing the shipment if material dimensional data for the shipment is not available or accessible. 8. The apparatus of item 8, wherein the available material dimensional data can be further operated to dynamically convert the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment.
Item 12. The processing apparatus receives a plurality of scan data generated over a predetermined period from the depth sensor, determines the average of the plurality of scan data, and the average of the plurality of scan data and the available data. The available by comparing the material dimensional data and adjusting the current dimensional data representing the shipment based on the result of comparison between the averaging of the plurality of scan data and the available material dimensional data. 8. The apparatus of item 8, wherein the scan data is operational to compare with the available material dimensional data by being further operational to dynamically convert the material dimensional data.
Item 13. The processing apparatus can operate to update the current dimensional data representing the shipment to reflect the difference between the average scan data and the available material dimensional data over a predetermined period of time. The method of item 12, wherein there is an ability to dynamically convert the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment.
Item 14. The device according to item 8, wherein the processing device can be further operated by the wireless communication interface to transmit the converted current dimensional data representing the shipment to the external management node.
Item 15. The apparatus according to item 8, wherein the depth sensor further includes a plurality of scanning elements arranged in the container to scan the dimensional measurement value from above the space in the container.
Item 16. A system for quantifying the space in the container when the container is loaded, including a scan sensor device arranged in the container, and the scan sensor device is attached to the inner surface of the roof in the container. A housing configured as described above, a processing device arranged in the housing, and a memory arranged in the housing, which are operably coupled to the processing device and executed by the processing device. A memory that holds at least the scan program code portion and available material dimensional data associated with the shipment, and a depth sensor that is operably coupled to the processing device and is located beneath the roof inner surface and said roof. A depth sensor directed to scan the space inside the container under the inner surface, a wireless communication interface located inside the housing and operably coupled to the processing device, and located outside the container. Further, the scan sensor device is further provided with an external management node that wirelessly communicates with the scan sensor device via the wireless communication interface, and the processing device of the scan sensor device is shipped when the scan program code portion is executed. Accessing the available material dimension data in the memory associated with the product and causing the depth sensor to scan the space in the container under the roof inner surface when the shipment is loaded into the space in the container. , The depth sensor receives scan data generated during the scan, compares the scan data with the available material dimension data, and combines the generated scan data with the available material dimension data. Based on the comparison, the available material dimensional data can be dynamically converted into the current dimensional data representing the shipment, and the wireless communication interface can be operated to cause the external management node to send a dimensional data update message. The dimension data update message reflects the current dimension data representing the shipment, and the external management node receives the dimension data update message from the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor device.A system that receives a sage and stores the converted current dimension data transmitted in the dimension data update message.
Item 17. The system of item 16, wherein the processing device of the scan sensor node can further operate to identify the shipment when the shipment is loaded in the container.
Item 18. The wireless communication interface can operate to receive at least the available material dimension data from the external management node, and the available material dimension data is of the shipping data associated with the shipment. 16. The system of item 16, wherein the processing apparatus of the scan sensor node is further operational to store the available material dimension data in the memory within the scan sensor node.
Item 19. The processing apparatus of the scan sensor node stores the generated scan data as the current dimensional data representing the shipment when the material dimensional data for the shipment is not available or accessible. 16. The system of item 16, wherein by being more operable, the available material dimensional data is further operable to dynamically convert the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment.
Item 20. A plurality of scan data generated over a predetermined period is received from the depth sensor, the average of the plurality of scan data is determined, and the average of the plurality of scan data and the available material size data are calculated. Dynamically obtain the available material dimensional data by comparing and adjusting the current dimensional data representing the shipment based on the result of comparison between the average of the plurality of scan data and the available material dimensional data. 16. The system of item 16, wherein it is operational to compare the available material dimension data with the scan data by being further operational to convert to.
Item 21. The processing apparatus can operate to update the current dimensional data representing the shipment to reflect the difference between the average scan data and the available material dimensional data over a predetermined period of time. The method of item 20, wherein there is an ability to dynamically convert the available material dimensional data to the current dimensional data representing the shipment.
Item 22. The system of item 16, wherein the depth sensor further comprises a plurality of scanning elements arranged in the container to scan the dimensional measurements from above the space in the container.
Item 23. The external management node further includes a server that communicates directly with the external management node but cannot directly communicate with the scan sensor node, and the external management node can further operate to send a dimension update message to the server, and the dimension update. The system according to item 16, wherein the message at least informs the server of the dynamic conversion operation.
Item 24. The system according to item 23, wherein the external management node detects a physical distribution problem based on the dimension update message and sends an alert identifying the physical distribution problem to the server.
Item 25. The system of item 24, wherein the logistics problem includes a defect in the item being shipped.
Item 26. The system of item 24, wherein the server responds to the alert by generating a distribution modification message that facilitates addressing the distribution issue prior to shipping the container.
Item 27. The system according to item 26, wherein the server sends the distribution correction message to the external management node.
Item 28. The system of item 27, wherein the external management node provides the physical distribution correction message to at least one of the scan sensor device or the user access device communicating with the external management node.
Further Embodiment 5-Methods, Devices and Systems for Dynamically Converting Scan Data Using Scan Sensor Nodes]
Item 1. A method for dynamically converting scan data representing the cargo volume of a container using at least a scan sensor node having a memory, a depth sensor, an identification scanner and a communication interface with an external management node, said scan sensor node. In the container to generate the scan data after identifying the article by the step of identifying the article loaded into the storage space in the container by the identification scanner and the depth sensor in the scan sensor node. In the step of scanning the storage space of the above, the scan sensor node is mounted in the container on the space in the container in a configuration in which the depth sensor is directed from the top of the storage space toward the storage space. And the step of determining whether the article loaded in the storage space is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor based on the generated scan data by the scan sensor node. The step of dynamically converting the scan data into refined scan data when the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor, the scan data being at least the material dimension data associated with the article. A method comprising a step of converting to said sophisticated scan data based on.
Item 2. The steps to determine are (a) the scan data generated after the article has been loaded into the storage space and (b) the said article before the article has been loaded into the storage space. Comparing with past scan data representing the container's previous cargo volume, and the difference between (a) and (b) represents an incremental increase in the previously determined cargo volume of the container, and The method of item 1, further comprising determining that the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor when the incremental increase is less than a threshold amount.
Item 3. The method of item 2, wherein the threshold amount depends on the expected volume parameter associated with the article.
Item 4. The method of item 3, wherein the expected volume parameter of the article relates to material dimensional data associated with the article.
Item 5. The method of item 4, wherein the material dimensional data includes dimensional information from a previous physical distribution scan of the article.
Item 6. The method of item 4, wherein the material dimensional data includes default dimensional information for the article.
Item 7. The method of item 4, wherein the material dimension data includes information received from the external management node.
Item 8. The identifying step is to receive a signal representing the identification information associated with the article by the identification scanner and to identify the article based on the identification information received by the identification scanner. The method according to item 7, further comprising.
Item 9. A step of transmitting a request to the external management node by the communication interface of the scan sensor node, wherein the request identifies the article and requests the material dimension data for the identified article. 8. The item 8 further includes a step of receiving the material dimension data from the external management node by the communication interface of the scan sensor node and a step of storing the material dimension data for the identified article in the memory. The method described.
Item 10. A scan sensor device that is placed inside a container that dynamically converts scan data representing the cargo volume of the container, and is configured to be mounted on the inner surface of the container at a position above the storage space inside the container. A housing, a processing device arranged in the housing, and a memory arranged in the housing, which are operably coupled to the processing device and at least a scan program code portion executed by the processing device. A memory that holds material dimensional data related to articles loaded in the storage space, and a depth sensor that is operably coupled to the processing device, from above the storage space to the storage space in the container. A depth sensor that is arranged and directed toward the object, an identification scanner that is operably coupled to the processing device and is operable to perform an identification scan, and an identification scanner that is arranged and said in the housing. Equipped with a wireless communication interface operably coupled to the processing device, the processing device causes the identification scanner to perform an identification scan and is loaded into a storage space within the container when executing a scan program code portion. Information for identifying the article is collected, the depth sensor is made to scan the storage space in the container from above the storage space, and the scan data representing the load volume of the container is generated, and the memory is made to generate the scan data. The generated scan data is stored, and based on the generated scan data, it is determined whether the article loaded in the storage space is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor, and the article is said to be said. When the processor determines that it is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor, it dynamically converts the scan data into refined scan data, which is the material dimension associated with the article. A scan sensor device that is converted into the sophisticated scan data based on at least the data.
Item 11. The processing apparatus includes (a) the scan data generated after the article is loaded into the storage space, and (b) the scan data before the article is loaded into the storage space. Compared to past scan data representing the container's previous cargo volume, and the difference between (a) and (b) represents an incremental increase in the previously determined cargo volume of the container, and said. The loading into the storage space by being further operable to determine that the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor when the incremental increase is below the threshold amount. The scan sensor device of item 10, wherein the scan sensor device can operate to determine if the article is substantially invisible to the depth sensor.
Item 12. The scan sensor device of item 11, wherein the threshold amount depends on an expected volume parameter associated with the article.
Item 13. The scan sensor device of item 12, wherein the expected volume parameter of the article is related to the material dimensional data associated with the article.
Item 14. The scan sensor device of item 13, wherein the material dimensional data includes dimensional information from a previous physical distribution scan of the article.
Item 15. The scan sensor device of item 13, wherein the material dimensional data includes default dimensional information for the article.
Item 16. The scan sensor device according to item 13, wherein the material dimension data includes information received from an external management node that communicates with the scan sensor device via the wireless communication interface.
Item 17. The identification scanner can operate to perform the identification scan by receiving a signal identifying the article and further operating to provide the processing device with information from the signal. The scan sensor device of item 10, wherein the information provided is to identify an article to be loaded into the storage space.
Item 18. The identification scanner identifies the article by receiving a signal broadcast from a device associated with the shipped article, the signal being sufficient data to identify the shipped article. 10. The scan sensor device according to item 10.
Item 19. The wireless communication interface transmits a request for the material dimensional data associated with the identified article to an external management node, receives the material dimensional data from the external management node, and receives the material dimensional data to the processing apparatus. The scan sensor device according to item 10, wherein the scanning sensor device provides material dimensional data, and the processing device can further operate to store the received material dimensional data in the memory.
Item 20. It is a system for dynamically converting scan data representing the cargo volume of the container when the container is loaded, and includes a scan sensor device arranged in the container, and the scan sensor device is in the container. A housing configured to be mounted on the inner surface of the container at a position above the storage space, a processing device arranged in the housing, and a memory arranged in the housing. Operatively coupled to the processing apparatus with a memory that is operably coupled to the apparatus and holds at least a scan program code portion executed by the processing apparatus and material dimensional data related to articles loaded in the storage space. A depth sensor that is arranged and directed from above the storage space toward the storage space in the container, and an identification scanner that is operably coupled to the processing device for identification. An identification scanner that is operable to perform scanning, a wireless communication interface that is located inside the housing and operably coupled to the processing device, and a wireless communication interface that is located outside the container and via the wireless communication interface. The scan sensor device is further provided with an external management node that operably communicates wirelessly, and the processing device of the scan sensor device causes the identification scanner to perform an identification scan when executing the scan program code portion. Further, information for identifying an article loaded in the storage space in the container is collected, the depth sensor is made to scan the storage space in the container from above the storage space, and the cargo volume of the container is represented. The scan data is generated, the generated scan data is stored in the memory, and the article loaded in the storage space based on the generated scan data is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor. The scan data is dynamically converted to refined scan data when the processor determines if it is present and the article is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor.The scan data is converted into the refined scan data based on at least the material dimension data associated with the article and can be operated by the wireless communication interface to send a volume update message to the external management node. The update message includes refined scan data representing the current cargo volume of the container, and the external management node receives the volume update message from the wireless communication interface of the scan sensor device and stores the refined scan data. ..
Item 21. The external management node further includes a server that communicates directly with the external management node but cannot directly communicate with the scan sensor device, and the external management node can further operate to send a container status update message to the server. The system of item 20, wherein the container state update message informs the server of at least the current cargo volume of the container when it is reflected by the refined scan data.
Item 22. The processing device of the scan sensor device is loaded into the storage space when the generated scan data shows an incremental increase with respect to the load volume of the container and the incremental increase is lower than a threshold amount. 20. The system of item 20, wherein the article can be operated to determine if it is at least partially invisible to the depth sensor.
Item 23. The system of item 22, wherein the threshold amount depends on the expected volume parameter associated with the article.
Item 24. The system of item 23, wherein the expected volume parameter of the article relates to material dimensional data associated with the article.
Item 25. The system of item 24, wherein the material dimensional data includes dimensional information from a previous physical distribution scan of the article.
Item 26. The system of item 24, wherein the material dimensional data includes default dimensional information for the article.
Item 27. The external management node provides the scan sensor device with the material dimension data via the wireless communication interface, and the processing device of the scan sensor device stores the material dimension data received in the memory. The system described in 24.
Item 28. The identification scanner of the scan sensor device performs the identification scan by being capable of receiving a signal identifying the article and further operating to provide the processing device with information from the signal. 20. The system of item 20, wherein the information provided identifies an article to be loaded into the storage space within the container.
Item 29. A wireless identification device associated with the article loaded in the storage space is further provided, and the identification scanner of the scan sensor device identifies the article by receiving a signal broadcast from the wireless identification device. , The system of item 20, wherein the signal contains sufficient data to identify the article.
Item 30. The wireless communication interface of the scan sensor device may further operate to send a request for the material dimension data associated with the identified article to the external management node, the external management node. 20. The system of item 20, wherein the request is received and a response is transmitted to the scan sensor device, the response containing the requested material dimension data.
In summary, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the sequence of actions to perform any of the methods and modifications of methods described in the embodiments herein is merely exemplary and justified. Moreover, it is emphasized that various sequences of operations can be followed according to the principles of the present invention.
As mentioned above, at least some of the exemplary embodiments relate to loading into containers, managing what is loaded into containers, increasing the efficiency of loading operations, loading or loading containers. Generating to detect certain potentially dangerous work safety conditions, to more accurately represent the goods loaded in the container and / or to more accurately describe the goods loaded in the container's storage space. It may be used in connection with parts of other exemplary embodiments to improve and improve logistics operations such as converting data. Moreover, at least some of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein can be used independently of each other and / or in combination with each other and are applied to devices and methods not disclosed herein. Is possible. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate exemplary scan sensor node devices, systems that use such devices, and methods of how such devices can operate as part of the above logistics operations. You will understand that it will bring about improvements and improvements in the technologies used in logistics and shipping management.
Those skilled in the art may be able to provide one or more benefits, and not necessarily all embodiments provide all or two or more specific benefits described herein. You will understand that this is not the case. Moreover, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and modifications can be made to the structures and methods described herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to what is described herein. Instead, the invention is intended to include modifications and modifications, as described in the following claims.
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Every citation, both ways
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| DE102005001480B3 | Cites | Germany |
| EP02178035A1 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) |
| JP2004245784A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2012158460A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2004284722A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2008133085A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2010089967A | Cites | Japan |
34 members in 6 offices
Priority claims2
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| 201562117590 | United States of America | P |
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| CN107209006A | China | A | |
| EP3259554A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| JP2018512565A | Japan | A | |
| EP3259554A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| US10089503B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
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| US2025284907A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
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Numbers
- Publication
- 6698206
- Application
- 160091
Titles2
- Japanese
- コンテナ内に配置されるスキャンセンサノードを使用して物流コンテナ内の空間を自動的に定量化するための装置、非一時的なコンピュータ可読媒体、及び方法
- English
- Devices, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for automatically quantifying the space inside a distribution container using scan sensor nodes located inside the container.
Classification
- CPC, 15
- G01B11/22
- G06K7/10297
- G01F17/00
- G01S17/89
- G06Q10/083
- G01B11/00
- G06K19/0723
- G06K2007/10504
- G06K7/10415
- G06Q10/08
- G06F16/254
- G06K7/10732
- G06K7/10821
- G06Q10/087
- G01B21/18
- IPC, 4
- G01B21 00
- G01B11 00
- B65D90 48
- G06Q10 08
