Proactively Monitored and Reporting Logistics Receptacle Apparatus, Systems, and Methods for Receiving and Temporarily Maintaining a Delivery Item
A proactively monitored and reporting logistics receptacle system for receiving and temporarily maintaining a delivery item. The system includes a storage receptacle for receiving the delivery item, a bridge node mounted to the storage receptacle, and a wireless accessory sensor node to monitor each of the monitored storage components for a change in state. The wireless accessory sensor node determines whether a change in state has been detected based upon sensor data generated, generates event information reflecting the detected change in state, periodically generates non-event information when the change in state has not been detected, and broadcasts an updated advertising signal. The bridge node processor detects the flag, retrieves the status update, and transmits receptacle update information to a backend server. The receptacle update information causes the backend server to initiate a first type of dispatched logistics operation when the status update corresponds to the event information.
1 . A proactively monitored and reporting logistics receptacle system for receiving and temporarily maintaining a delivery item, the system comprising:
a storage receptacle for receiving the delivery item, the storage receptacle comprising a plurality of monitored storage components comprising at least
an entrance opening for receiving the delivery item,
a temporary storage area for temporarily maintaining the delivery item once the delivery item has been received by the storage receptacle through the entrance opening, and
a selectively accessible retrieval door providing access to the temporary storage area of the storage receptacle;
a bridge node mounted to the storage receptacle, the bridge node comprising
a bridge node processor,
a bridge node memory coupled to the bridge node processor, the bridge node memory storage maintaining bridge node code for execution by the bridge node processor, and
a wireless communication interface coupled to the bridge node processor, the wireless communication interface being operative to communicate with at least a backend server; and
a wireless accessory sensor node having a plurality of sensors that respectively monitor each of the monitored storage components for a change in state of the storage receptacle, wherein the wireless accessory sensor node being further operative to
determine whether the change in state of the storage receptacle has been detected based upon sensor data generated by at least one of the sensors,
generate event information including timestamped information reflecting the detected change in state of the storage receptacle when the sensor data indicates the change in state of the storage receptacle has been detected,
periodically generate non-event information resulting from confirming operation of the wireless accessory sensor node when the change in state of the storage receptacle has not been detected, the generated non-event information representing a lack of physical interaction with the monitored storage components,
broadcast an updated advertising signal having a flag set within the updated advertising signal, the flag being set indicating the wireless accessory sensor node has a status update available for upload from the wireless accessory sensor node, the status update including at least one of the generated event information or the generated non-event information;
wherein the bridge node processor, when executing the bridge node code maintained on the bridge node memory, is operative to
detect, using the wireless communication interface, the flag set within the updated advertising signal,
retrieve, using the wireless communication interface, the status update from the wireless accessory sensor node in response to detecting the flag set, and
transmit, using the wireless communication interface, receptacle update information to the backend server, the receptacle update information reflecting the retrieved status update including at least one of the generated event information and the generated non-event information, wherein the receptacle update information proactively validates an operational status of the bridge node and the wireless accessory sensor node to the backend server, wherein the receptacle update information causing the backend server to initiate a first type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle when the status update reflected in the receptacle update information corresponds to the event information.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first type of dispatched logistics operation comprises a dispatched pickup operation for contents within the storage receptacle.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle update information transmitted to the backend server causes the backend server to reactively dispatch a logistics asset to the storage receptacle for pickup of at least the delivery item from within the storage receptacle as the first type of dispatched logistics operation.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the receptacle update information transmitted to the backend server causes the backend server to reactively dispatch the logistics asset to the storage receptacle by causing the backend server to transmit a pickup message to a mobile node operated by the logistics asset, the pickup message identifying the storage receptacle for the dispatched logistics operation.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle update information transmitted to the backend server causes the server to alter a previously scheduled dispatch operation related to the storage receptacle as the first type of dispatched logistics operation.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the receptacle update information transmitted to the backend server causes the server to transmit a pickup message to an alternative logistics asset as the first type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle, the alternative logistics asset being different than an original logistics asset corresponding to a previously scheduled dispatch operation related to the storage receptacle.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle update information selectively causing the backend server to initiate a second type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle when the status update reflected in the receptacle update information corresponds to the non-event information.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the non-event information comprises an indication the wireless accessory sensor node has not detected the change in state of the storage receptacle and an indication the wireless accessory sensor node is operational to detect the change in state of the storage receptacle.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the non-event information comprises an indication the wireless accessory sensor node is not operational to detect the change in state of the storage receptacle.
10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second type of dispatched logistics operation comprises a dispatched maintenance operation to service the storage receptacle.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data generated by the at least one of the sensors comprises sensor data indicating a change in state of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a motion sensor detecting a change in motion of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a motion sensor detecting a change in motion of the entrance opening and a failure to return to a prior state of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises an inertial sensor detecting a change in inertial movement related to the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a status sensor detecting a change in orientation of the entrance opening and a failure to return to a prior state of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the retrieved event information transmitted to the backend server is indicative of an overflow state of the storage receptacle.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a motion sensor detecting movement of what is received through the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises an accelerometer detecting a change in motion of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a multiple-axis accelerometer detecting a change in multi-dimensional motion of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a gyroscopic sensor detecting a change in movement related to the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
21 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a magnetic sensor detecting a change in position of the entrance opening as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data generated by the at least one of the sensors comprises sensor data indicating a change in state of the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a motion sensor detecting motion within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises an image sensor detecting a change of what is stored within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
25 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a scale disposed at a bottom of the temporary storage area, the scale detecting a change in weight of what is stored within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
26 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a force sensor disposed within the temporary storage area, the force sensor detecting a change in what has been deposited within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the force sensor comprises a load cell operative to detect an impact force related to the change in what has been deposited within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
28 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a light sensor detecting a change in light within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
29 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a chemical sensor detecting a chemical within the temporary storage area as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
30 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data generated by the at least one of the sensors comprises sensor data indicating a change in state of the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a motion sensor detecting a change in motion of the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
32 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a motion sensor detecting a change in motion of the selectively accessible retrieval door and a failure to return to a prior state of the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
33 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises an inertial sensor detecting a change in inertial movement related to the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
34 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a gyroscopic sensor detecting a change in movement related to the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
35 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a status sensor detecting a change in orientation of the selectively accessible retrieval door and a failure to return to a prior state of the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
36 . The system of claim 35 , wherein the retrieved event information transmitted to the backend server is indicative of an unsecured state of the storage receptacle.
37 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a magnetic sensor detecting a change in position of the selectively accessible retrieval door as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
38 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the storage receptacle further comprises a lock for securing the selectively accessible retrieval door; and
wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a lock sensor detecting a change in state of the lock as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
39 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises an external motion sensor detecting a change in what has been placed within a predetermined range of the storage receptacle as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
40 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a range sensor detecting a change in what has been placed within a predetermined range of the storage receptacle as the change in state of the storage receptacle.
41 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the range sensor comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a depth sensor, a LiDAR sensor, an infrared sensor, and a laser-based sensor.
42 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the entrance opening comprises an articulating door that when open allows the delivery item to be received by the storage receptacle and transferred into the temporary storage area.
43 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the entrance opening comprises a static chute that allows the delivery item to be inserted through the static chute and into the temporary storage area.
44 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the entrance opening comprises an articulating drop chute that allows the delivery item to be received in a first position of the articulating drop chute and transfers the received delivery item to the temporary storage area in a second position of the articulating drop chute.
45 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless accessory sensor node is operative to detect the change in state of the storage receptacle based upon sensor data generated by the at least one of the sensors by being further operative to:
detect a change in state of the entrance opening using the at least one of the sensors, and
validate the change in state of the entrance opening by detecting light within the temporary storage area using a second of the sensors.
46 . The system of claim 45 , wherein the change in state of the storage receptacle corresponds to a delivery event where the delivery item is received by the storage receptacle.
47 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless accessory sensor node is operative to detect the change in the state of the storage receptacle based upon sensor data generated by the at least one of the sensors by being further operative to:
detect a change in state of the selectively accessible retrieval door using the at least one of the sensors; and
validate the change in state of the selectively accessible retrieval door by detecting light within the temporary storage area using a second of the sensors.
48 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the change in state of the storage receptacle corresponds to a pickup event where the delivery item is removed from the storage receptacle.
49 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge node processor, when executing the bridge node code, is operative to detect the flag set within the updated advertising signal over the wireless communication interface by being further operative to:
wake from a low power state of the bridge node at a predetermined time of day; and
after the predetermined time of day, detect the flag set within the updated advertising signal over the wireless communication interface.
50 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge node processor, when executing the bridge node code, is operative to detect the flag set within the updated advertising signal over the wireless communication interface by being further operative to:
wake from a low power state of the bridge node at a beginning of a reporting period for the bridge node;
after the beginning of the reporting period for the bridge node, detect the flag set within the updated advertising signal over the wireless communication interface.
51 . The system of claim 50 , wherein the reporting period for the bridge node comprises a time period defined by the backend server and provided by the backend server to the bridge node.
52 . The system of claim 50 , wherein the reporting period for the bridge node comprises a dynamically adjusted time period stored in the bridge node memory, the dynamically adjusted time period defined by a reporting period update message sent by the backend server to the bridge node.
53 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the event information comprises the timestamped information and an identifier indicating a type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle.
54 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle comprises a change in state of the entrance opening.
55 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle comprises a change in state of the temporary storage area.
56 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle comprises a change in state of the selectively accessible retrieval door.
57 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the storage receptacle further comprises a lock for securing the selectively accessible retrieval door;
wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a lock sensor monitoring a state of the lock; and
wherein the type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle comprises a change in the state of the lock as indicated by the lock sensor.
58 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises an external motion sensor that monitors outside the storage receptacle for movement within a predetermined range of the storage receptacle; and
wherein the type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle comprises a change in what has been placed within the predetermined range of the storage receptacle as indicated by the external motion sensor.
59 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the at least one of the sensors comprises a range sensor that monitors outside the storage receptacle for what has been placed within a predetermined range of the storage receptacle; and
wherein the type of detected change in state of the storage receptacle comprises a change in what has been placed within the predetermined range of the storage receptacle as indicated by the range sensor.
60 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the timestamped information comprises data indicating a time corresponding to the detected change in state of the storage receptacle.
61 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the timestamped information comprises data indicating a series of times corresponding to a series of related changes to the storage receptacle, wherein the series of related changes to the storage receptacle are detected by the wireless accessory sensor node as the detected change in state of the storage receptacle.
62 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless accessory sensor node further comprises
a sensor node processor in operative communication with the sensors,
a sensor node memory coupled to the sensor node processor, the sensor node memory storage maintaining sensor node code for execution by the sensor node processor, and
a wireless transceiver interface coupled to the sensor node processor, the wireless transceiver interface being operative to communicate with the wireless communication interface of the bridge node, and
wherein the sensor node processor, when executing the sensor node code maintained on the sensor node memory, is operative to
receive the sensor data generated by the sensors,
detect the change in state of the storage receptacle based upon the sensor data generated by the at least one of the sensors,
record the timestamped information reflecting the detected change in state of the storage receptacle,
generate the event information including the timestamped information reflecting the detected change in state of the storage receptacle when the sensor data indicates the change in state of the storage receptacle has been detected,
periodically generate the non-event information confirming the operation of the wireless accessory sensor node when the change in state of the storage receptacle has not been detected,
broadcast the updated advertising signal having a flag set within the updated advertising signal over the wireless transceiver interface, the flag being set indicating the wireless accessory sensor node has the status update available for upload from the wireless accessory sensor node, the status update including at least one of the generated event information or the generated non-event information.
63 . The system of claim 62 , wherein the wireless accessory sensor node receives at least a portion of the sensor data over the wireless transceiver interface.
64 . The system of claim 62 , wherein the wireless accessory sensor node further comprises a sensor interface coupling the sensor node processor to the sensors, the sensor interface being operative to communicate with the sensors and receive the sensor data.
65 . The system of claim 64 , wherein the sensor interface being wirelessly coupled to at least a portion of the sensors.
66 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge node comprises a mobile bridge node, the mobile bridge node further comprising location circuitry coupled to the bridge node processor and operative to generate location data reflecting a current location of the mobile bridge node as mounted to the storage receptacle.
67 . The system of claim 66 , wherein the receptacle update information transmitted to the backend server further includes the current location of the mobile bridge node.
68 . The system of claim 66 , wherein the storage receptacle being disposed on a mobile delivery vehicle.
69 . A proactively monitored and reporting logistics receptacle system for receiving and temporarily maintaining a delivery item, the system comprising:
a storage receptacle for receiving the delivery item, the storage receptacle comprising a plurality of monitored storage components comprising at least
an entrance opening for receiving the delivery item,
a temporary storage area for temporarily maintaining the delivery item once the delivery item has been received by the storage receptacle through the entrance opening, and
a selectively accessible retrieval door providing access to the temporary storage area of the storage receptacle;
a bridge node mounted to the storage receptacle, the bridge node comprising
a bridge node processor,
a bridge node memory coupled to the bridge node processor, the bridge node memory storage maintaining bridge node code for execution by the bridge node processor, and
a wireless communication interface coupled to the bridge node processor, the wireless communication interface being operative to communicate with at least a backend server; and
a wireless accessory sensor node having a plurality of sensors that respectively monitor each of the monitored storage components for a change in state of the storage receptacle,
wherein the bridge node processor, when executing the bridge node code maintained on the bridge node memory, is operative to
retrieve, using the wireless communication interface, a status update from the wireless accessory sensor node, the status update comprising at least one of (a) event information regarding the change in state of the storage receptacle as detected by at least one of the sensors, and (b) non-event information confirming an operation status of the wireless accessory sensor node when the change in state of the storage receptacle has not been detected, the non-event information representing a lack of physical interaction with the monitored storage components,
generate receptacle update information reflecting the status update retrieved from the wireless accessory sensor node, and
transmit, using the wireless communication interface, the receptacle update information to the backend server, wherein the receptacle update information sent to the backend server selectively causing the backend server to initiate one of a first type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle and a second type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle depending upon the status update as reflected in the receptacle update information.
70 . The system of claim 69 , wherein the receptacle update information sent to the backend server selectively causing the backend server to initiate the first type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle when the status update as reflected in the receptacle update information comprises the event information.
71 . The system of claim 70 , wherein the first type of dispatched logistics operation comprises a dispatched pickup operation for contents within the storage receptacle.
72 . The system of claim 69 , wherein the receptacle update information sent to the backend server selectively causing the backend server to initiate the second type of dispatched logistics operation related to the storage receptacle when the status update as reflected in the receptacle update information comprises the non-event information.
73 . The system of claim 72 , wherein the non-event information comprises an indication the wireless accessory sensor node has not detected the change in state of the storage receptacle and an indication the wireless accessory sensor node is operational to detect the change in state of the storage receptacle.
74 . The system of claim 72 , wherein the non-event information comprises an indication the wireless accessory sensor node is not operational to detect the change in state of the storage receptacle.
75 . The system of claim 72 , wherein the second type of dispatched logistics operation comprises a dispatched maintenance operation to service the storage receptacle.