US 12,314,799 B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods for quantifying space within a container using a removable scanning sensor node
Reuben F. Burch, V, Rossville, TN (US); and William Cawein, Germantown, TN (US)
Assigned to FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION, Memphis, TN (US)
Filed by FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC., Collierville, TN (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2016, as Appl. No. 14/992,207.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/117,590, filed on Feb. 18, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2016/0238374 A1, Aug. 18, 2016
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G01B 11/00 (2006.01); G01B 21/18 (2006.01); G01F 17/00 (2006.01); G06F 16/25 (2019.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); G06Q 10/08 (2024.01); G06Q 10/083 (2024.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01)
CPC G06K 7/10297 (2013.01) [G01B 11/00 (2013.01); G01B 21/18 (2013.01); G01F 17/00 (2013.01); G06F 16/254 (2019.01); G06K 7/10415 (2013.01); G06K 7/10732 (2013.01); G06K 7/10821 (2013.01); G06K 19/0723 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01); G06Q 10/083 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01); G06K 2007/10504 (2013.01)] 37 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for quantifying space within a container using a removable scanning sensor node, the method comprising:
identifying, by the removable scanning sensor node detachably mounted to a ceiling within the container, a type of the container, wherein the step of identifying the type of the container further comprises
(a) conducting, by the removable scanning sensor node, an initial scan of the space within the container from the perspective of the removable scanning sensor node oriented to look down from the ceiling within the container, wherein the initial scan provides initial scan data that includes baseline dimensional information related to the space within the container when the container is empty; and
(b) identifying the type of the container based upon one or more dimensional parameters of the baseline dimensional information from the initial scan data;
sensing for movement within the container by a motion sensor;
when movement is sensed within the container by the motion sensor, then scanning, by at least one depth sensor that has multiple scanning sensor elements on the removable scanning sensor node and that is separate from the motion sensor, the space below the removable scanning sensor node and within the container to generate scan data, wherein the removable scanning sensor node is mounted within the container and above the space within the container, and wherein the at least one depth sensor on the removable scanning sensor node is oriented to scan the space below the removable scanning sensor node within the container, wherein the scanning by the at least one depth sensor continues until the motion sensor detects a lack of movement within the container over a defined monitoring period; and
determining, by the removable scanning sensor node, an unoccupied amount of the space within the container based upon an average of scan data generated over time when scanning the space within the container from above the space and while the motion sensor detects movement within the container.