Decentralized tracking of packages on a conveyor
US8284993B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G43/10
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A decentralized tracking system is discussed herein. The decentralized tracking system can be comprised of two or more tracking elements and be used to track packages moving on a conveyor system. Each tracking element can operate independently, despite being highly sophisticated and dynamically coordinated with one or more other tracking elements. The conveyor system can be a modular and/or accumulation conveyor system that has sorting functionality. The decentralized tracking system can be used to divert packages for sortation by, for example, embedding a destination zone into the package's tracking data and/or preprogramming conveyor zones to sort specific packages based on a package identifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.