IP Library Granted Patent US 11,030,868
Granted Patent B2
US 11,030,868 · App. 16/496,485 · Granted Jun 8, 2021

Object detection and management

Inventors: Pietro Buttolo (Dearborn Heights, MI); Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); Paul Kenneth Dellock (Northville, MI); Annette L. Huebner (White Lake, MI); James Stewart Rankin, II (Novi, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
G08B13/1472G01S19/14G06K9/00771G06Q10/0833G08B13/10G08B25/10H04W4/02H04W4/40G06K2209/21
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 11,030,868
App. No.
16/496,485
Granted
Jun 8, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mat includes a receiving surface, a transceiver, and a computer. The computer is programmed to cause the transceiver to transmit a beacon, including one or both of a mat identifier and location, upon detecting an approaching delivery vehicle. The computer is programmed to, upon detecting placement of an object on the receiving surface, transmit a confirmation message.

Claims (31)

1. A mat, comprising:

a receiving surface;

a transceiver; and

a computer, programmed to:

cause the transceiver to transmit a beacon, including one or both of a mat identifier and location, upon detecting an approaching delivery vehicle;

upon detecting placement of an object on the receiving surface, transmit a confirmation message;

after detecting pickup of the object from the receiving surface receive, via the transceiver, a wireless signal including an identifier of a mobile device;

determine a presence of the mobile device within a predetermined distance of the mat; and

store the identifier of the mobile device upon determining that the object is picked up.

2. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon detecting the pickup of the object from the receiving surface, transmit a pickup message.

3. The mat of claim 2 , wherein the pickup message indicates that the pickup of the object was or was not authorized.

4. The mat of claim 3 , wherein the computer is further programmed to determine that the pickup of the object is authorized based on at least one of image data including an authorized user and received wireless data indicating that an authorized wireless sender is within a predetermined distance of the mat.

5. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the transmitted beacon further includes data including a time interval in which a delivery of the object is expected.

6. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the confirmation message includes at least one of a size, shape, weight, identification number, and image of the object.

7. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the transmitted beacon further includes route information to access the mat.

8. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to identify and store the mat location data based on location coordinates received from a remote computer.

9. The mat of claim 1 , further comprising a mat light, wherein the computer is further programmed to actuate a mat light to illuminate upon placing the object on the mat.

10. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to transmit the beacon, including one or both of a second mat identifier and location, upon detecting an approaching delivery vehicle.

11. A method, comprising:

causing a transceiver of a mat to transmit a beacon, including one or both of a mat identifier and location, upon detecting an approaching delivery vehicle;

upon detecting placement of an object on a receiving surface of the mat, transmitting a confirmation message;

after detecting pickup of the object from the receiving surface receiving, via the transceiver, a wireless signal including an identifier of a mobile device;

determining a presence of the mobile device within a predetermined distance of the mat; and

storing the identifier of the mobile device upon determining that the object is picked up.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting a pickup message, upon detecting the pickup of the object from the receiving surface.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pickup message indicates that the pickup of the object was or was not authorized.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining that the pickup of the object is authorized based on at least one of image data including an authorized user and received wireless data indicating that an authorized wireless sender is within a predetermined distance of the mat.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transmitted beacon further includes data including a time interval in which a delivery of the object is expected.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the confirmation message includes at least one of a size, shape, weight, identification number, and image of the object.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transmitted beacon further includes route information to access the mat.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising identifying and storing the mat location data based on location coordinates received from a remote computer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2019
From: BUTTOLO, PIETRO; SALTER, STUART C.; DELLOCK, PAUL KENNETH; HUEBNER, ANNETTE L.; RANKIN, JAMES STEWART
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 050455/0523 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210049878A1 · Feb 18, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,721,498