Patent Application
20190172007
Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for tracking a shipment and, more specifically, to embodiments that provide vehicle routing associated with a shipment.
As the internet continues to evolve, consumers are purchasing more goods online for delivery to a home or office. While there are measures in place on the carrier side to only deliver certain packages when a person is present, such measures are often an annoyance for the recipient. As such, many carriers now provide real-time or near real time shipping updates to provide the recipient with information regarding a time that the package will arrive. These measures provide good information, but still fall short to ensure proper delivery of the package.
Systems and methods for tracking a shipment are provided. One embodiment of a method includes determining a predetermined destination for delivery of a package for a user, where the package is being delivered by a carrier, determining that delivery of the package to the predetermined destination has been interrupted and the package is being delivered to a new destination, and determining a location of the new destination. Some embodiments include providing a user option to route a vehicle to the new destination to retrieve the package and, in response to a user selection of the user option, providing routing of the vehicle to the new destination.
In another embodiment, a system includes a user computing device that includes a processor and a memory component that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to determine a time that a package will arrive at a predetermined destination, where the package is being delivered by a carrier, predict a current location of a vehicle, and determine whether the vehicle can be located at the predetermined destination at the time. In some embodiments, the logic causes the system to route the vehicle to the predetermined destination and indicate presence of the vehicle at the predetermined destination, in response to determining that the vehicle can be located at the predetermined destination at the time. In some embodiments, the logic causes the system to provide instructions for the carrier, in response to determining that the vehicle cannot be located at the predetermined destination at the time.
In yet another embodiment, a vehicle computing device includes a processor and a memory component that is coupled to the processor and stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the vehicle computing device to determine a predetermined destination and a predetermined time for delivery of a package for a user, where the package is being delivered by a carrier, and determine that the package cannot be delivered to the predetermined destination at the predetermined time. In some embodiments, the logic causes the vehicle computing device to determine a new destination and a different time for delivering the package, in response to determining that the package cannot be delivered and provide a user option to route a vehicle to the new destination to retrieve the package at the new destination and the different time. In some embodiments, the logic causes the vehicle computing device to provide routing of the vehicle to the new destination, in response to a user selection of the user option.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the disclosure. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for tracking a shipment. Some embodiments may be configured to provide a status of a package to a user on demand. Embodiments can also make arrangements for the user with respect to the package.
Specifically, a vehicle and/or a portable communication device can include a virtual agent operating thereon. The virtual agent may be configured to assist a user with one or more tasks. User information about various shipping service providers (e.g., FedEx™, USPS™, UPS™, etc.) can be stored on the vehicle, the portable communication device, and/or remotely (e.g., in the cloud). Such information can include login credentials for the user's account with a particular shipping service and/or tracking numbers input by the user.
The vehicle/portable communication device can include a voice receiver system (e.g., microphones) and any suitable voice recognition technology that can analyze received voice inputs. Embodiments can be configured to analyze user voice inputs (and/or other inputs) to determine whether such inputs include an inquiry/command regarding a package. For example, the user can ask where their FedEx™, USPS™, and UPS™ shipments are located. These embodiments may be connected to one or more shipping services, such as via the Internet. As such, embodiments may be configured to submit tracking number information to the provider or can otherwise login to the user's account at that service provider. In either case, these embodiments may obtain package status information from the service provider and may present the pertinent information in an audial manner.
Some embodiments may be configured to determine how to proceed in certain circumstances. For example, if a delivery was interrupted or otherwise not completed because the user was not home and if the package is being held at a shipping service provider location, embodiments may advise the user of the status. These embodiments may also determine whether the carrier location is located on the user's current route. If so, embodiments may ask the user whether he or she wishes to pick up the package and/or whether the provider should be notified. These embodiments can be configured to automatically route the user to the location. The systems and methods for tracking a shipment incorporating the same will be described in more detail, below.
Referring now to the drawings,
Coupled to the network are a user vehicle 102, a remote computing device 104, and a carrier vehicle 106. Specifically, the user vehicle 102 may include any land-based, water-based, or air-based vehicle. The user vehicle 102 may be configured for communicating with the remote computing device 104 and/or the carrier vehicle 106. As such, the user vehicle 102 may include one or more computing device for facilitating communication via the network 100 and/or for interfacing with a mobile device (such as a mobile phone) to facilitate the communication. The user vehicle 102 may also include a positioning system to determine a vehicle route from a current location to a predetermined destination or new destination.
The remote computing device 104 may include a personal computer, server, mobile computing device, and/or other similar device for facilitating communication between the user vehicle 102 and the carrier vehicle 106. As such, the remote computing device 104 may include a memory component 140 that stores package logic 144a, communication logic 144b, and/or other logic. The package logic 144a may be configured to cause the remote computing device 104 to determine delivery information related to a package (such as the carrier vehicle 106). Similarly, the package logic 144a may additionally be configured to cause the remote computing device 104 to facilitate changes of delivery destination, as described in more detail below. Similarly, the communication logic 144b may facilitate communication between the user vehicle 102, the carrier vehicle 106, and/or other devices.
The user vehicle 102 and/or vehicle head unit 204 may additionally include a vehicle computing device 230, which may include a memory component 240. The memory component 240 may include routing logic 244a and shipping logic 244b. The routing logic 244a may be part of the positioning system for determining a current position and routing the user vehicle 102 to a predetermined destination and/or new destination. Similarly, the shipping logic 244b may be configured to cause the vehicle computing device 230 to determine shipping status, change shipping status, and/or communicate with the remote computing device 104 and/or carrier vehicle 106.
It should be understood that while the vehicle computing device 230 is depicted in
If the carrier attempts to complete the delivery, but is unable to do so, delivery to the predetermined destination may be interrupted. As such, embodiments described herein may be configured to notify the user via the user interface 330. Specifically, the remote computing device 104 (and/or the carrier vehicle 106) may send a message indicating that shipment could not be completed because nobody was present at the predetermined location. The message may also indicate that the package is being instead delivered to a new destination, such as a user-defined destination, a carrier facility, and/or other location.
As a consequence, the user interface 330 may be configured to provide an option for the user to be routed to the new destination. As such, the user interface 330 may provide a yes option 332 and a no option 334. In response to selection the yes option 332, the user device may route the user vehicle 102 to the new destination. In response to selection of the no option 334, the user device may send a signal to the remote computing device 104 to reschedule delivery for another day, time, and/or location.
It should be understood that some embodiments may be configured for the carrier vehicle 106 to create a waypoint to deliver the package. Specifically, if the carrier vehicle 106 is unable to deliver the package to the predetermined destination, the remote computing device 104 may send data related to the user interface 330. The remote computing device 104 may additionally determine whether there is a waypoint that may be created for the carrier vehicle 106. The waypoint may be a user-defined destination and/or may be a retail store or other facility associated with and/or determined by the carrier. As such, some embodiments of the user interface 330 may include options for creating a waypoint for the carrier vehicle 106.
As such, the user interface 430 may provide a predicted time that the package will arrive. Additionally, because the user vehicle 102 may be currently on a vehicle route, the user computing device may determine whether a waypoint may be established along the vehicle route. If a waypoint may be established, the user computing device may determine an added trip time that the waypoint will add to the vehicle route. This information may be provided in the user interface 430.
Also provided in the user interface 430 are an acceptable option 432 and a no option 434. In response to selection of the acceptable option 432, a communication may be sent to the remote computing device 104 to indicate that the user vehicle 102 will retrieve the package from the carrier facility. Additionally, the vehicle route may be amended to include the carrier facility as a waypoint. In response to selection of the no option 434, the user computing device may determine alternatives for delivering the package, such as rescheduling delivery to the predetermined destination, identifying a new destination, identifying a preferred time for delivery, etc.
Also provided are yes option 532, leave package option 534, and a reschedule option 536. In response to selection of the yes option 532, the package will be delivered as requested. In response to selection of the leave package option 534, the carrier may be notified that the user wishes that the package be left at the predetermined destination, regardless of whether someone is present to receive the package. In response to selection of the reschedule option 536, the user may reschedule delivery of the package to a different time and/or destination.
In some embodiments, the user computing device may determine whether the user (or others) will be available to accept the package at the predetermined location and predetermined time. As an example, some embodiments may be configured to determine the current route and then predict whether the vehicle route will be completed prior to delivery and/or, if not, whether the user vehicle 102 may create a waypoint to receive delivery. In some embodiments, the user's calendar may be accessed to further make this determination. Accordingly, one or more of the options in the user interface 530 may be grayed out or otherwise deactivated if an option is not available. In response to selecting the reschedule option 536, unavailable times and/or destinations may be deactivated to prevent the user from scheduling an unavailable option.
It should be understood that options 634 and 636 may be utilized for other scenarios, such as when the carrier is delivering the package to a waypoint. Referring back to
Regardless, in block 754, a location of the new destination may be determined. In block 756, a user option to route the user vehicle 102 to the new destination to accept delivery of the package may be provided. In block 758, in response to a user selection of the user option, a routing of the user vehicle 102 to the new destination may be provided.
The memory component 240 may store operating logic 942, the routing logic 244a and the shipping logic 244b. The routing logic 244a and the shipping logic 244b may each include a plurality of different pieces of logic, each of which may be embodied as a computer program, firmware, and/or hardware, as an example. A local communications interface 946 is also included in
The processor 930 may include any processing component operable to receive and execute instructions (such as from a data storage component 936 and/or the memory component 240). As described above, the input/output hardware 932 may include and/or be configured to interface with the components of the user vehicle 102, such as the vehicle head unit 204, the sensors, the motors, etc.
The network interface hardware 934 may include and/or be configured for communicating with any wired or wireless networking hardware, including an antenna, a modem, LAN port, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, WiMax card, Bluetooth chip, USB card, mobile communications hardware, and/or other hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices. From this connection, communication may be facilitated between the vehicle computing device 230 and other computing devices, such as via the internet, to provide the functionality described herein.
The operating logic 942 may include an operating system and/or other software for managing components of the vehicle computing device 230. As also discussed above, the routing logic 244a may reside in the memory component 240 and may be configured to cause the processor 930 determine a location of the user vehicle 102, as well as route the user vehicle 102 to a predetermined destination (or other location). Similarly, the shipping logic 244b may be utilized to provide user interfaces, as well as communicate with the remote computing device 104 to facilitate the remaining functionality described herein.
It should be understood that while the components in
Additionally, while the vehicle computing device 230 is illustrated with the routing logic 244a and the shipping logic 244b as separate logical components, this is also an example. In some embodiments, a single piece of logic may cause the vehicle computing device 230 to provide the described functionality.
As illustrated above, various embodiments for tracking a shipment are disclosed. These embodiments may improve delivery time of packages to recipients, as well as reduce the costs incurred by carriers in multiple attempts to deliver a package.
While particular embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Moreover, although various aspects have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. Accordingly, it is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the embodiments shown and described herein.
It should now be understood that embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable mediums for tracking a shipment. It should also be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.
