US 11,783,139 B2
Sensor enabled location awareness system
Shahpour Ashaari, Bethesda, MD (US); David C. Lin, Falls Church, VA (US); Seth S. Vasa, Olney, MD (US); Scott R. Bombaugh, Burke, VA (US); Mario Andre Salisbury, Miami, FL (US); Thomas Jay Graham, Chantilly, VA (US); and Erich Joseph Petre, Gainesville, VA (US)
Assigned to United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,377.
Application 17/660,377 is a continuation of application No. 17/207,324, filed on Mar. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,314,952.
Application 17/207,324 is a continuation of application No. 15/930,826, filed on May 13, 2020, granted, now 10,956,688, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Application 15/930,826 is a continuation of application No. 16/387,872, filed on Apr. 18, 2019, granted, now 10,685,193, issued on Jun. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/660,775, filed on Apr. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0318527 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 19/077 (2006.01); H04W 4/33 (2018.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01); H04W 4/35 (2018.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01)
CPC G06K 7/10099 (2013.01) [G06K 7/10475 (2013.01); G06K 19/07758 (2013.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); H04W 4/33 (2018.02); H04W 4/35 (2018.02); G05B 19/4183 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting the location of an item comprising:
a plurality of sensors disposed within a facility at known locations within the facility;
an item having a tag associated therewith, wherein the tag includes a unique identifier;
a memory storing a virtual map of the facility, the virtual map identifying a plurality of zones within the facility, at least one of the plurality of zones comprising a hazard zone surrounding an item of moving equipment;
a processor in communication with the plurality of sensors and with the memory;
wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect the unique identifier associated with the tag and transmit detection information to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a signal from one or more of the plurality of sensors which detect the unique identifier associated with the tag;
determine, based at least in part on the received signal and the virtual map, that the tag is located in the hazard zone when the tag enters a virtual fence surrounding the item of moving equipment; and
generate an alert indicating that the tag is located in the hazard zone.