US 12,271,853 B2
Methods and apparatus to monitor and manage loading dock operations
Kenneth C. Bowman, Cedarburg, WI (US); James C. Boerger, Franksville, WI (US); Chad Dillavou, Cedarburg, WI (US); Richard Mews, Bonduel, WI (US); and Timothy Kubly, Ixonia, WI (US)
Assigned to Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Appl. No. 17/765,727
Filed by Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 24, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/052505
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 31, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/091679, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 15, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/911,855, filed on Oct. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0405695 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/0639 (2023.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01); G06Q 10/08 (2024.01)
CPC G06Q 10/0639 (2013.01) [G06Q 10/06316 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
memory;
interface circuitry to obtain feedback from (i) a trailer sensor that is to detect a presence of a trailer at a dock at a material handling facility, (ii) a vehicle restraint that is to secure the trailer at the dock, (iii) a door sensor that is to monitor a state of a door at the dock, and (iv) a dock leveler that is to span a gap between the trailer and a platform of the dock;
machine-readable instructions; and
at least one processor circuit to be programmed by the machine-readable instructions to:
analyze the feedback to determine durations for completion of tasks in a sequence of operations associated with at least one of loading or unloading of the trailer at the dock, the tasks in the sequence of operations including (i) positioning the trailer at the dock, (ii) activating the vehicle restraint to secure the trailer at the dock, (iii) opening the door, and (iv) activating the dock leveler to span the gap between the trailer and the platform of the dock;
compare the durations to target thresholds associated with the tasks; and
generate a user interface indicating at least one of the durations, the target thresholds, or differences between the durations and the target thresholds.