Enhanced connected logistics receptacle apparatus, systems, and methods that selectively retrieve and report event information to a backend server to initiate a dispatched logistics operation related to a delivery item
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing logistics receptacles face inefficiencies in monitoring and reporting changes in state, leading to inappropriate pickup times and potential overloading, which can result in costly inefficiencies and customer frustration.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced connected logistics receptacle system with a bridge node and wireless accessory sensor nodes that detect changes in state, record timestamped information, and transmit event data to a backend server to initiate optimized logistics operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional logistics receptacles are used without enhanced monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to inappropriate pickup times and potential overloading
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into separate wireless accessory sensor nodes that can be attached to the receptacle. These nodes independently detect specific state changes (door openings, item placements) and communicate with a bridge node, allowing the complexity to be distributed rather than centralized in the main receptacle system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor nodes autonomously detect state changes, record timestamped information, and transmit data without requiring continuous power or control from the main system. The nodes self-manage their operation, only activating when state changes occur, thereby improving productivity while minimizing the burden on the main receptacle system.
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then measurement precision of state changes is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the sensor nodes operate periodically or event-triggered. They remain in low-power states and only activate when specific events occur (door opening, item placement detected), thereby maintaining measurement precision for state changes while dramatically reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
3Loss of time
If event information is selectively retrieved and reported, then loss of time in logistics operations is reduced, but device complexity increases due to selective criteria processing
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor nodes pre-process and categorize state changes into defined event types with timestamps before transmission. The bridge node uses predetermined selective criteria to determine which events warrant immediate reporting to the backend server. This preliminary organization of data reduces response time for critical events while keeping the processing complexity manageable through predefined rules.
Data Source
AI summary
An enhanced connected logistics receptacle system that selectively retrieves and reports event information to a backend server to initiate a dispatched logistics operation related to 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 coupled to a plurality of sensors. The wireless accessory sensor node is operative to detect a change in state of the storage receptacle based upon sensor data, record timestamped information reflecting the detected change in state, and broadcast an updated advertising signal having a data available flag set within the updated advertising signal. The bridge node processor is operative to detect the data available flag, selectively retrieve event information from the wireless accessory sensor node, and transmit the retrieved event information to the backend server to cause the backend server to initiate the dispatched logistics operation.