IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,271,858
Granted Patent B2
US 12,271,858 · App. 18/379,917 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Methods, systems, and devices for detecting and resolving risks associated with shipped objects

Inventors: Amber Moriah Williams (Memphis, TN); Chris Swearingen (Memphis, TN); Cheri Bailey Shirokova (Memphis, TN)
Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
G06Q10/0833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,271,858
App. No.
18/379,917
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for resolving a risk associated with a shipped physical object. The methods and servers comprise associating a time with a geographical region. The methods and servers also comprise receiving a set of locations associated with transport of a physical object. In addition, the methods and servers comprise determining that the set of locations fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region. The sensor devices report location data to a server at a first time interval, wherein the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with a time and a geographical region. The sensor devices also receive an indication of a panic mode. In addition, the sensor devices also report location data to the server at a second time interval, wherein the second time interval is different than the first time interval.

Claims (48)

1. A system for a shipped physical object comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory having instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:

associating a time with a geographical region along an expected travel path of the shipped physical object;

receiving location data at a first rate associated with a sensor device within or attached to the shipped physical object;

determining that the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region;

enabling a panic mode based on a selection of a panic button via a user interface on a device remote from the physical object;

receiving, corresponding to enablement of the panic mode, additional location data associated with the sensor device at a frequency greater than the first rate;

storing the additional location data received at the greater frequency; and

notifying, in response to the enabled panic mode, a party associated with the physical object of the failed condition.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the location data does not contain a location within the geographical region before the time.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the location data only contains locations within the geographical region before the time.

4. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

determining the time based on an expected arrival time to the geographical region or an expected departure time from the geographical region.

5. The system of claim 4 , the operations further comprising:

determining the expected arrival time or the expected departure time based on past travel routes between a most recent location from the location data and the geographical region.

6. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

displaying the panic button on the user interface based on the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition.

7. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

displaying panic button on the user interface based on the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition and the shipped physical object containing perishable material.

8. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

displaying a panic button on the user interface based on the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition and the value of material in the shipped physical object being above a threshold.

9. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

causing, in response to enablement of the panic mode, transmission of an indication of the enabled panic mode to the sensor device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location data includes a location relative to a geofence.

11. A method for a shipped physical object, comprising:

associating a time with a geographical region along an expected travel path of the shipped physical object;

receiving location data at a first rate associated with a sensor device within or attached to the shipped physical object;

determining that the location data fails to satisfy a condition associated with the time and the geographical region;

enabling a panic mode based on a selection of a panic button via a user interface on a device remote from the physical object;

receiving, corresponding to enablement of the panic mode, additional location data associated with the sensor device at a frequency greater than the first rate;

storing the additional location data received at the greater frequency; and

notifying, in response to the enabled panic mode, a party associated with the physical object of the failed condition.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the location data does not contain a location within the geographical region before the time.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition comprises a determination that the location data only contains locations within the geographical region before the time.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining the time based on an expected arrival time to the geographical region or an expected departure time from the geographical region.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining the expected arrival time or the expected departure time based on past travel routes between a most recent location from the location data and the geographical region.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

displaying the panic button on the user interface based on the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

displaying the panic button on the user interface based on the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition and the shipped physical object containing perishable material.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

displaying the panic button on the user interface based on the determination that the location data fails to satisfy the condition and the value of material in the shipped physical object being above a threshold.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

causing, in response to enablement of the panic mode, transmission of an indication of the enabled panic mode to the sensor device.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the location data includes a location relative to a geofence.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
To: FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068042/0972 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2023
From: WILLIAMS, AMBER MORIAH; SWEARINGEN, CHRIS; SHIROKOVA, CHERI BALLEY
To: FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 065212/0799 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17362073 · Jun 29, 2021
Continuation 13887463 · May 6, 2013
Related Publication 20240046196A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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