US 12,221,290 B2
Method, system and apparatus for detecting container transition events
Chih Huan Chien, Vernon Hills, IL (US); Jay J. Williams, Glenview, IL (US); Bassam S. Arshad, Wheeling, IL (US); and Yan Zhang, Buffalo Grove, IL (US)
Assigned to Zebra Technologies Corporation, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed by ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/200,478.
Prior Publication US 2022/0289493 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 43/08 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 43/08 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0407 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0241 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01); B65G 2203/041 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
obtaining, from a sensor disposed on a transporter, a set of beacon identifiers and proximity indicators, the beacon identifiers emitted by respective beacons mounted proximate to a boundary separating an exterior of a container from an interior of the container;
determining whether the set of beacon identifiers and proximity indicators indicates a transition of the transporter across the boundary;
when the determination is affirmative, detecting, based on the set of beacon identifiers and proximity indicators, a direction of travel of the transporter relative to the boundary;
generating a transition event including an identifier of the transporter, an identifier of the container, and the direction of travel; and
determining, based on the transition event, whether to initiate an auxiliary process associated with the container.