Geofenced Mail Delivery Tracking With RFID Address Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery and collection systems face inefficiencies and inaccuracies due to poor addressing and challenges in the last mile of parcel delivery, particularly in environments with inadequate or non-existent GPS coordinates and geofencing, leading to increased time, resource consumption, and potential loss or damage of mail pieces.
Innovation Solution
A delivery/collection device equipped with GPS and RFID/NFC capabilities, utilizing geofencing to determine precise locations and communicate with static communication devices at properties or receptacles, providing real-time instructions and monitoring delivery/collection processes through a database and remote server, ensuring accurate and efficient delivery/collection protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If geofencing is used to improve delivery accuracy, then delivery precision is improved, but system complexity increases due to GPS and database requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes geofence boundaries and stores them in a database before delivery operations begin. This preliminary setup allows the delivery device to simply check if it's within a pre-defined boundary during delivery, reducing real-time computational complexity while maintaining high delivery accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a database as an intermediary layer between the GPS location data and the delivery verification process. The database stores geofence boundaries and acts as a reference medium, simplifying the complexity by separating location determination from boundary verification logic
2Reliability
If real-time location tracking is implemented to monitor delivery processes, then delivery monitoring is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous real-time tracking, the system uses periodic location checks triggered by geofence boundary crossings. The GPS location is determined at relevant moments (when entering or leaving geofence regions) rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable delivery monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the delivery device's own location-determining circuitry to automatically check whether it is within geofence regions, eliminating the need for external continuous tracking infrastructure and reducing overall system energy requirements
3Measurement precision
If geofence boundaries are pre-defined for all properties to ensure accurate delivery, then delivery precision is improved, but time consumption increases during setup
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes geofence boundaries and stores them in a database before delivery operations begin. This preliminary setup allows the delivery device to simply check if it's within a pre-defined boundary during delivery, reducing real-time computational complexity while maintaining high delivery accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The database serves multiple functions: it stores geofence boundaries for delivery verification, provides location reference for multiple properties, and supports various delivery routes. This universal data structure reduces the time required to set up individual property boundaries during delivery operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances delivery/collection efficiency, reduces errors, and minimizes loss by ensuring precise location tracking and adherence to predefined delivery/collection protocols, thereby optimizing resource utilization and improving overall delivery accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The delivery/collection device may comprise a handheld delivery/collection device and/or wherein the delivery/collection device comprises GPS circuitry
Implementation Method 2
the delivery/collection device comprise an RFID reader or other NFC-device reader
Implementation Method 3
The use of a near field communication (NFC) tag at an address or other delivery location
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of assisting and/or monitoring delivery and/or collection of a plurality of mail pieces is provided, each mail piece being delivered to or collected from a respective property or receptacle and each property or receptacle having a respective address or identifier, the method comprising: using a delivery and/or collection device, which includes or is connected to location-determining circuitry, to determine location during a delivery and/or collection round; using at least one database that stores boundary data defining geofence regions to obtain for each property or receptacle a boundary defining a respective geofence region; and the method further comprises: determining using the location-determining circuitry whether the delivery and/or collection device is within the geofence region for a property or receptacle for which a mail piece is to be delivered and/or collected; and issuing at least one communication and/or performing at least one action using the delivery and/or collection device in response to the presence of the delivery and/or collection device in the geofence region.