US 12,307,412 B2
Systems and methods for preparing direct-to-customer shipments
Gregory Lisso, Minneapolis, MN (US); Jonathan Crepeau, Minneapolis, MN (US); Rebecca Swartz, Minneapolis, MN (US); Daryl Glass, Minneapolis, MN (US); Tyler Park, Minneapolis, MN (US); and David Sellner, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Target Brands, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Target Brands, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/087,372.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/301,293, filed on Jan. 20, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0230025 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/08 (2024.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2023.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 10/08355 (2013.01) [G06Q 10/087 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for automation of access-control traffic devices for use in processing direct-to-customer shipments at a building for loading delivery vehicles, the method comprising:
receiving, by a process control system over a computer network, an electronic message, from a driver device that is associated with a vehicle driver, indicating that a vehicle of the vehicle driver is ready to enter the building with automated access control, wherein the process control system comprises one or more programable processors and one or more storage systems storing instructions for the programable processors to execute;
providing, by the process control system over the computer network, a notification to the driver device of the vehicle driver, the notification comprising a point in time at which the driver is assigned to arrive at the building;
receiving, by the process control system, an indication that the vehicle of the vehicle driver has arrived at the building;
providing, by the process control system over the computer network, a first code to the driver device of the vehicle driver;
receiving the first code from the vehicle driver;
in response to receiving the first code, granting, by the process control system, the vehicle of the vehicle driver access to a queuing parking lot of the building while at least one vehicle of a previous batch of delivery vehicles are in a loading-area of the building, comprising actuating by the process control system, a first automated traffic-control device to move from a first access-preventing state to a first access-granting state, the first access-preventing state configured to physically block vehicle access to the queuing parking lot of the building and the first access-granting state configured to physically open a travel path to the queuing parking lot;
receiving, by the process control system, an indication that the loading-area of the building is empty of a previous batch of delivery vehicles;
granting, by the process control system responsive to the received indication that the loading-area of the building is empty of a previous batch of delivery vehicles, the vehicle access to the building comprising actuating, by the process control system, a second automated traffic-control device from a second access-preventing state to a second access-granting state, the second access-preventing state configured to physically block vehicle access to the building from the queuing parking lot and the second access-granting state configured to open a travel path into the building;
receiving, by the process control system over the computer network from the driver device, an indication of a particular parking spot of a plurality of parking spots in the building in which the vehicle is parked;
providing, by the process control system, a notification to move one or more order items to the particular parking spot;
receiving, by the process control system, one or more second codes corresponding to the one or more order items; and
receiving, by the process control system, a second code that indicates that the one or more order items have been loaded into the vehicle.