Package Beacon for Courier Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Couriers often face difficulties in locating packages within delivery vehicles, leading to delays and inefficiencies in the delivery process.
Innovation Solution
A package computing device is removably attached to packages and communicates with a delivery computing device to initiate a notification protocol, using lights, sounds, or vibrations to help couriers locate packages upon approaching the delivery location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If couriers manually search for packages within delivery vehicles, then the delivery process can proceed, but the time required to locate packages increases and delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual signaling through color-coded labels and illuminated indicators on packages. The notification protocol activates lights that change color or flash to draw the courier's attention to the correct package, enabling rapid identification without manual searching through the delivery vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual search process with an automated electronic notification system. The delivery computing device communicates with package computing devices to trigger visual and auditory signals, substituting human manual location efforts with automated electromagnetic signaling.
2Measurement precision
If couriers spend more time searching for packages, then package location accuracy may improve, but overall delivery throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification protocol provides immediate feedback to the courier when approaching the correct delivery location. The system monitors the courier's location and activates notifications for packages that match the current destination, providing real-time feedback that ensures accurate package selection while maintaining high delivery throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares notification signals in advance based on the delivery route and package manifest. Before the courier arrives at the delivery location, the system pre-identifies which packages should be notified, allowing for rapid and accurate package location without delaying the delivery schedule.
3Ease of operation
If no notification system is used, then the delivery vehicle operates smoothly, but couriers experience difficulty locating packages and delivery delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a notification system as an intermediary between the delivery computing device and the courier. This intermediary translates location data and package information into intuitive visual and auditory signals, making package location effortless for the courier while preventing delivery delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies the correct package, guides the courier to the location, confirms delivery readiness, and can provide additional delivery instructions. This multi-functional approach enhances ease of operation without adding separate systems.
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
This solution enables couriers to efficiently locate packages, reducing delivery latency and improving delivery efficiency by providing visual, auditory, or tactile cues, thus streamlining the delivery process.
Implementation Method 1
a light component configured to emit a visible light
Implementation Method 2
a speaker component configured to output an audible sound
Implementation Method 3
a vibration component configured to generate a vibration
Data Source
AI summary
A notification protocol of a package computing device can be initiated to assist a courier locate a package within a delivery vehicle that is for delivery at a delivery location. The package computing device can be removably attached to a package. A delivery computing device can receive an identifier associated with the package computing device from a remote computing system and determine a current location of the delivery computing device. Based on the current location being within a threshold distance of the delivery location, the delivery computing device can broadcast the identifier to cause the package computing device to initiate the notification protocol. Then, based on the notification protocol, the courier can locate the package within the delivery vehicle.