IP Library Granted Patent US 9,361,513
Granted Patent B2
US 9,361,513 · App. 14/058,817 · Granted Jun 7, 2016

Sorting system using wearable input device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,361,513
App. No.
14/058,817
Granted
Jun 7, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods for sorting mail pieces and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes determining that a camera of a wearable device is directed at a mail piece and capturing an image of the mail piece by the camera of the wearable device. The method includes transmitting the image from the wearable device to a mail processing system and notifying a user wearing the wearable device of a sort location of the mail processing system that corresponds to the mail piece.

Claims (40)

1. A method for sorting mail pieces, comprising:

determining that a camera of a wearable device is directed at a mail piece, wherein the wearable device is carried by a user's head, and wherein the wearable device determines that the camera is directed at the mail piece when the user's head is directed toward the mail piece;

automatically capturing an image of the mail piece by the camera of the wearable device when a user looks at the mail piece;

transmitting the image from the wearable device to a mail processing system;

notifying a user wearing the wearable device of a sort location at the mail processing system that corresponds to the mail piece when the user moves to place the mail piece in a case having a plurality of receptacles for receiving mail pieces;

receiving the sort location transmitted to the wearable device by the mail processing system; and

presenting to the user wearing the wearable device the sort location by displaying a feedback indicator of the sort location using a display of the wearable device or by activating an indicator proximate to the sort location, and

wherein the wearable device comprises a memory storing pre-recorded audio feedback.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mail processing system processes the image to extract mail piece information and determines the sort location from the mail piece information.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mail processing system processes the image to extract mail piece information, determines the sort location from the mail piece information, and transmits information indicating the sort location to the wearable device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is implemented in an eyeglass-type apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mail processing system processes the image to extract mail piece information, the mail piece information including physical characteristics of the mail piece.

6. A wearable device configured to wirelessly communicate with a mail processing system, the wearable device comprising:

a processor;

an accessible memory;

a speaker;

a display; and

a camera,

the wearable device configured to

determine that the camera is directed at a mail piece, wherein the wearable device is carried by a user's head and the wearable device determines that the camera is directed at the mail piece when the user's head is directed toward the mail piece;

automatically capture an image of the mail piece by the camera when the user looks at the mail piece; and

transmit the image to the mail processing system,

wherein a user wearing the wearable device is notified of a sort location at the mail processing system that corresponds to the mail piece when the user moves to place the mail piece in a case having a plurality of receptacles for receiving mail pieces, the sort location being transmitted by the mail processing system to the wearable device to be presented to the user wearing the wearable device by displaying a feedback indicator of the sort location using the display or by activating an indicator proximate to the sort location, and

wherein the accessible memory stores pre-recorded audio feedback.

7. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the mail processing system processes the image to extract mail piece information and determines the sort location from the mail piece information.

8. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the mail processing system processes the image to extract mail piece information, determines the sort location from the mail piece information, and transmits information indicating the sort location to the wearable device.

9. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the wearable device is implemented in an eyeglass-type apparatus.

10. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the mail processing system processes the image to extract mail piece information, the mail piece information including physical characteristics of the mail piece.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises a speaker for providing the audio feedback.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the speaker is implemented as an earpiece so that the audio feedback is heard only by the user.

13. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the speaker is implemented as an earpiece so that the audio feedback is heard only by the user.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wearable device comprises a speaker for providing an audio feedback to present the sort location to the user.

15. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the wearable device comprises the speaker for providing an audio feedback to present the sort location to the user.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

extracting mail piece information from the image; and

identifying a destination address from the mail piece information to determine the sort location that corresponds to the destination address.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback indicator of the sort location is coordinates of the sort location.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the indicator of the sort location is a lamp.

19. The wearable device of claim 6 , wherein the mail processing system to extract mail piece information from the image and identify a destination address from the mail piece information to determine the sort location that corresponds to the destination address.

20. The wearable device of claim 19 , wherein the feedback indicator of the sort location is coordinates of the sort location or the indicator of the sort location is a lamp.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: SIEMENS LOGISTICS LLC
To: LLC, KÖRBER SC
Reel/Frame 061269/0211 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 14, 2020
From: SIEMENS POSTAL, PARCEL & AIRPORT LOGISTICS LLC
To: SIEMENS LOGISTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 051588/0282 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Sep 20, 2019
From: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
To: SIEMENS POSTAL, PARCEL & AIRPORT LOGISTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 050439/0844 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2014
From: WORTH, FLOYD W, II
To: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031921/0319 →