Dynamic Location Sharing for Delivery Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recipients of shipments/items desire greater transparency in tracking the location of their shipments/items during delivery, with existing systems lacking in providing detailed and timely location information.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for sharing location information with recipients, involving associating items with vehicles, generating tracking sessions, and updating data to reflect current locations, with access levels and notification mechanisms to provide increasingly precise location information as delivery approaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed location information is provided continuously, then transparency and tracking accuracy are improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of location detail provided based on delivery proximity. As the vehicle approaches the delivery location, the system transitions from providing general area information to providing precise location data, optimizing both transparency and system complexity by matching information granularity to delivery stage
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of location information precision based on delivery progress. Location data is provided at different levels of detail depending on how close the vehicle is to the destination, with coarse granularity during transit and fine granularity during final approach, resolving the contradiction between continuous detail and system complexity
2Loss of information
If location information is provided continuously, then transparency is improved, but energy consumption and data transmission increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous information transmission, the system uses periodic updates triggered by delivery milestones. Location information is transmitted at key moments such as when the vehicle enters a service area, approaches the delivery location, or upon customer request, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate transparency
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares location information in advance at appropriate granularity levels and transmits only when needed. By anticipating when customers will need information and prepping the appropriate level of detail, the system avoids continuous transmission while ensuring information availability, reducing energy loss
3Measurement precision
If precise location tracking is implemented, then delivery monitoring accuracy is improved, but privacy concerns and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of location precision to different delivery stages and different users. General area information is provided to all customers, while precise real-time location is only provided when the vehicle is in the service area or upon explicit customer request, balancing monitoring accuracy with privacy protection through localized information disclosure
Solution Approach 2:
The privacy protection level dynamically adjusts based on delivery progress. The system transitions from providing general location information during transit to providing precise information only when the vehicle approaches the delivery location or when customers actively seek updates, optimizing both monitoring accuracy and privacy protection
Data Source
AI summary
Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for tracking an item delivery are provided. In one embodiment, an item is associated with a vehicle (e.g., manned or unmanned terrestrial vehicle, nautical vehicle, and/or aerial vehicle) by updating item data in a database. An item tracking session is then generated based on the item data. Upon the determination that session availability trigger has occurred, access to the item tracking session is provided to a user. Data representing an updated location of the delivery vehicle is then used to update the item data to indicate the current location of the item as the updated location of the vehicle.