Geo-fence Delivery Confirmation via Proximity Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery confirmation methods are prone to errors, such as misdelivery and fraudulent reporting, due to the reliance on manual marking of packages as delivered, which can lead to incorrect tracking and lack of evidence for delivery confirmation.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing geo-fences defined by virtual perimeters around delivery locations, where mobile devices of recipients and delivery agents confirm delivery by determining proximity and overlap within these areas, and exchanging confirmation tokens to verify delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual marking of packages as delivered is used, then delivery confirmation is simple and quick, but accuracy and reliability of delivery confirmation deteriorate due to misdelivery and fraudulent reporting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces geo-fences as intermediary virtual boundaries around delivery locations. Mobile devices of both recipients and delivery agents must be detected within these geo-fences to confirm delivery, serving as an automated intermediary verification mechanism that replaces manual marking and prevents fraudulent reporting while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the locations of recipient and delivery agent mobile devices relative to the delivery location geo-fence. This real-time location feedback provides objective evidence of delivery occurrence, eliminating the need for manual confirmation and preventing misdelivery through automated verification
2Reliability
If geo-fences with proximity verification are implemented, then delivery confirmation accuracy improves, but system complexity increases due to multiple verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service delivery confirmation where mobile devices automatically perform location verification against geo-fences without requiring manual intervention. The system self- verifies delivery by detecting when both recipient and delivery agent devices are within the delivery location geo-fence, reducing perceived complexity despite enhanced accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of physical package signing or carrier marking with an electronic/digital location-based verification system. Mobile device GPS coordinates are substituted for manual signatures, automating the verification process while improving accuracy without significantly increasing user-facing complexity
3Reliability
If token exchange protocol is used for delivery confirmation, then fraud prevention improves, but communication overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing geo-fences around delivery locations before delivery occurs. This advance preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time verification calculations, allowing rapid token exchange and confirmation once the delivery event occurs, thus preventing fraud without significant time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by using location coordinates and geo-fence boundary definitions as verification parameters instead of manual signatures or complex authentication protocols. This parameter transformation enables automated, rapid verification through simple coordinate comparison, improving fraud prevention while minimizing processing time
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are approaches for using overlapping geo-fences to confirm delivery of a shipment. A first client computing device and a second client computing device may be in data communication with a server computing device. The server computing device may receive a delivery notification from the first client computing device. The server computing device may receive a first position of the first client computing device and a second position of the second client computing device. The server computing device may then determine that the second position is within a threshold distance of the first position or vice versa. Finally, the server computing device may generate a delivery confirmation in response to a first determination that the second position is within a threshold distance of the first position and a second determination that the first position is within a threshold distance of the second position.