US-12626216-B1 - Product delivery system and method

US12626216B1US 12626216 B1US12626216 B1US 12626216B1US-12626216-B1

Abstract

In one aspect, a method associated with delivery of a product to a container. The method comprising, at a server computer, receiving container information from the container. The container information includes a capacity of the container detected by a sensor of the container. The method further includes receiving, from a user device, a request to order a product for delivery to the container and denying the request to order the product in response to a determination of inadequate capacity of the container. The determination of inadequate capacity of the container is based at least in part upon the container information and information indicative of the product. The method further includes communicating a signal to the user device indicating denial of the request to order the product due to the inadequate capacity of the container.

Inventors

Steven Carlevato
Casparus Cate
Edward Thomas Laird
James Scott Murray
Robert John Olmsted
Herman Ji-Heng Yau

Assignees

THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220511

Claims (20)

1 . A computing system comprising: a memory to store information indicative of a product; communication circuitry configured to receive container information from a container enhancement system associated with a container, the container information including a capacity of the container detected by a sensor of the container enhancement system comprising a body mounted to an exterior of the container, a sensor assembly mounted to an interior of the container, and a wired connection that traverses a seal area or a wall of the container to connect the body and the sensor assembly together; the communication circuitry configured to receive a request to order the product for delivery to the container; a processor operably connected to the memory and the communication circuitry, the processor configured to: accept the request to order the product in response to a determination of adequate capacity of the container, the determination of adequate capacity of the container based at least in part upon the container information and the information indicative of the product; receive, from a user device associated with a delivery associate, a request to open a movable barrier to gain access to the container; cause the communication circuitry to transmit a state change request to a movable barrier operator associated with the movable barrier in response to receiving the request from the user device associated with the delivery associate, the state change request causing the movable barrier to open; and enable communication between the delivery associate and a resident via a camera, a speaker, and a microphone of the movable barrier operator.
2 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a lock controllable via a wireless communication from the user device.
3 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to cause the communication circuitry to communicate a temperature control command to the container, the temperature control command configured to cause an internal temperature of the container to become suitable for the product upon the processor accepting the request to order the product.
4 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the sensor of the container enhancement system comprises a camera, and wherein the capacity of the container is detected by comparing a real time edge detection against a pre-learned edge geometry of a compartment of the container when empty.
5 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the computing system includes a partner server computer and a movable barrier operator server computer; wherein the communication circuitry comprises first communication circuitry of the partner server computer and second communication circuitry of the movable barrier operator server computer; wherein the processor comprises a first processor of the partner server computer and a second processor of the movable barrier operator server computer; wherein the second communication circuitry of the movable barrier operator server computer is configured to receive the container information from the container; and wherein the second processor is configured to cause the second communication circuitry of the movable barrier operator server computer to communicate the container information to the first communication circuitry of the partner server computer.
6 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the first communication circuitry is configured to receive the request to order the product for delivery to the container; wherein the processor is configured to deny the request to order the product in response to a determination of inadequate capacity of the container, the determination of inadequate capacity of the container based at least in part upon the container information and the information indicative of the product.
7 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to determine inadequate capacity of the container based at least in part upon the container information and the information indicative of the product.
8 . The computing system of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to deny the request to order the product when container capacity is determined to be inadequate.
9 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a lock controllable by a movable barrier operator cloud.
10 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the container enhancement system is configured to control operation of the container to increase or decrease a temperature in the interior of the container.
11 . The computing system of claim 1 further comprising a movable barrier operator application including a menu with a history indicative of state changes of a lid of the container.
12 . The computing system of claim 1 wherein the container enhancement system is retrofitted onto the container.
13 . A computing system comprising: a memory to store information indicative of a product; communication circuitry configured to receive container information from a container enhancement system associated with a container, the container information including a capacity of the container detected by a sensor of the container enhancement system, wherein the sensor comprises a camera, and wherein the capacity of the container is detected by comparing a real time edge detection against a pre-learned edge geometry of a compartment of the container when empty; the communication circuitry configured to receive a request to order the product for delivery to the container; a processor operably connected to the memory and the communication circuitry, the processor configured to: accept the request to order the product in response to a determination of adequate capacity of the container, the determination of adequate capacity of the container based at least in part upon the container information and the information indicative of the product; receive, from a user device associated with a delivery associate, a request to open a movable barrier to gain access to the container; cause the communication circuitry to transmit a state change request to a movable barrier operator associated with the movable barrier in response to receiving the request from the user device associated with the delivery associate, the state change request causing the movable barrier to open; and enable communication between the delivery associate and a resident via a camera, a speaker, and a microphone of the movable barrier operator.
14 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the container comprises a lock controllable via a wireless communication from the user device.
15 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to cause the communication circuitry to communicate a temperature control command to the container, the temperature control command configured to cause an internal temperature of the container to become suitable for the product upon the processor accepting the request to order the product.
16 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the container enhancement system comprises a body mounted to an exterior of the container, a sensor assembly mounted to an interior of the container, and a wired connection that traverses a seal area or a wall of the container to connect the body and the sensor assembly together.
17 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the container enhancement system comprises a body mounted to an exterior of the container, and a sensor assembly mounted to an interior of the container, and wherein the sensor assembly and the body are wirelessly coupled together.
18 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the refrigerated container enhancement system is configured to control operation of the temperature-controlled container to increase or decrease a temperature in the compartment of the container.
19 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the container enhancement system is retrofitted onto the container.
20 . The computing system of claim 13 wherein the container enhancement system is configured to communicate a volume status of the container to a remote computer such that an e-commerce retailer or delivery partner can adjust a planned or scheduled delivery to the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 63/187,815, filed May 12, 2021, and U.S. Provisional application No. 63/188,853, filed May 14, 2021, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein. FIELD This application relates to delivery of packages to secured areas and, more specifically, to delivery of packages to containers. BACKGROUND Retailers often offer a customer the option to order a product and have the product delivered to the customer's home. The customer may have a receptacle, such as a lock box, on their porch to receive the delivery. The receptacle may be refrigerated for receiving a product that requires refrigeration, such as a gallon of milk. Various problems exist with existing product delivery systems. One problem arises when the customer orders one or more products that would exceed the available capacity of the container. A delivery associate may transport an ordered product to the container, only to discover the ordered product is too large for the current capacity of the container. The delivery associate may leave the product outside of the container, which could subject the product to theft or spoilage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example movable barrier operator and refrigerated container in a garage; FIGS. 2A and 2B are a block diagram of an example temperature-controlled delivery service system for facilitating delivery of a package to a refrigerated container of a garage; FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of portions of the refrigerated delivery service system of FIGS. 2A and 2B; FIG. 4 is a screenshot of an example application used by a homeowner in the refrigerated delivery service system of FIGS. 2A and 2B; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example refrigerated container having a refrigerated container enhancement system; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the refrigerated container of FIG. 5 with the lid opened to show a sensor assembly and a compartment of the refrigerated container; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the refrigerated container of FIG. 5 showing the refrigerated container enhancement system having a power cord that receives a plug of the refrigerated container and a power cord for connecting to an electrical outlet; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the refrigerated container enhancement system of FIG. 5 showing a magnet mounted to the lid of the container and a reed switch of the refrigerated container enhancement system; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sensor assembly of the refrigerated container enhancement system of FIG. 5 mounted to position a presence sensor to face an interior of the compartment; FIG. 10 is an example schematic representation of the refrigerated container enhancement system of FIG. 5; FIG. 11 is an example circuit board layout of the refrigerated container enhancement system of FIG. 5; FIG. 12 is an example circuit board layout of the sensor assembly of FIG. 6; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the refrigerated container enhancement system of FIG. 5 showing an example cable connecting the sensor module through a seal of the lid; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the refrigerated container enhancement system of FIG. 5 showing the presence sensor detecting the presence of a bag and two gallon bottles in the compartment; FIG. 15 is a view of an example interior of a refrigerated container similar to FIG. 5 showing a view of a camera that may be used in the sensor assembly; FIG. 16 is a view of an interior of the refrigerated container showing another camera view; FIG. 17 is an example schematic view of the camera for detecting the capacity within the refrigerated container; FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspective views of another embodiment of a sensor assembly; FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an example refrigerated container; FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion of the refrigerated container of FIG. 20 showing a user interface of the refrigerated container; FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an example compressor compartment of the refrigerated container of FIG. 20 showing positions for a power board of the refrigerated container; FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of the refrigerated container of FIG. 20 showing a communication module of the refrigerated container mounted to a rear of the body of the refrigerator container; FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of the communication module of FIG. 23; FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an example interior of the refrigerated container of FIG. 23; FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 26-26 in FIG. 25 showing the sensor assembly mounted in a cavity of the lid; FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an example refrigerated container having processing circuitry adjacent a handle of the lid of the refrigerated container; FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of the refrigerated container of FIG. 27; FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an example refrigerated container h