Patent Description:
One or more items are manufactured in a factory. The items are packed and then transported to various delivery locations by a logistics provider. In order to deliver the one or more items, a delivery person has to keep a list of each items along with their respective delivery locations. During transit and at each delivery location, the delivery person has to manually check the list if a delivery location of any items in the list has arrived. Moreover, at the time of loading and unloading/delivering the one or more items, the delivery person has to manually scan the one or more items using scanners for tracking the delivery location of the one or more items. Also, the one or more items are tracked by using their unique identifiers from the time of loading the items till the items are delivered. Such scanning and tracking of each of the one or more items is a cumbersome process which consumes time by manually scanning the items for tracking. In addition, the delivery person may erroneously deliver the items at an incorrect delivery location resulting in misplacement of items. Also, the delivery person may even forget to deliver an item at its intended delivery location. Current solution requires manual scanning of the items and does not offer any solution to inform the delivery person on delivering the items to the incorrect delivery location or missing the delivery of the item.

In view of the afore-mentioned problems in the existing solutions, there is a need of an effective apparatus and a method for eliminating the requirement of manually scanning of one or more items. There is a requirement to alert a delivery person on delivering an item to an incorrect delivery location. There is also a need to provide a solution to alert a delivery person on missing delivery of the item at its intended delivery location. In order to solve the problems in the existing solutions, an apparatus and a method are disclosed.

Prior existing possibilities in this regard can be found in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> or in "<NPL>et al.

Viewed from a first aspect, the invention provides an apparatus (i.e. an accessing unit) for tracking movement of one or more items. The accessing unit comprises a receiver adapted communicate with a server to receive an unloading location of each of one or more items. The accessing unit comprises a location unit adapted to determine a current location of a container using a global positioning system (GPS). The accessing unit also comprises a determination unit adapted to determine an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure based on a signal from the one or more items and determine an inward movement or an outward movement of the one or more items based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure of each of the one or more items inside the container. The accessing unit further comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit a message to a device based on the current location of the container, the unloading location and the movement of the one or more items, wherein the message comprises: an alert message transmitted to the device when the current location is different from the unloading location and the one or more items is in the outward movement; or a confirmation message transmitted to the device when the current location and the unloading location are same and the one or more items is in the outward movement; or a reminder message transmitted to the device when the current location and the unloading location are same and the one or more items are not moved outside the container.

Optionally, the receiver is adapted to receive the unloading location of one or more items being moved inside the container.

Optionally, the reminder message is regarding non-delivery of the one or more items and to remind a person of the device to deliver the one or more items.

Optionally, the server receives an updated unloading location of the one or more items from a user, wherein the server transmits the updated unloading location of the one or more items to the accessing unit if the unloading location gets changed.

Optionally, the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure is determined when the accessing unit is accessed by a person using the device.

Optionally, the determination unit is further adapted to determine a time when the one or more items are delivered to a user.

Optionally, the accessing unit is a lock associated with the container.

Viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a method for tracking movement of one or more items. The method comprises steps of receiving, from a server, an unloading location of each of one or more items and determining, using a global positioning system (GPS), a current location of a container. The method further comprises steps of determining an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure based on a signal from the one or more items and determining an inward movement or an outward movement of the one or more items based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure of each of the one or more items inside the container. The method further comprises steps of transmitting a message to a device based on the current location of the container, the unloading location and the movement of the one or more items, wherein the message comprises: an alert message transmitted to the device when the current location is different from the unloading location and the one or more items is in the outward movement; or a confirmation message transmitted to the device when the current location and the unloading location are same and the one or more items is in the outward movement; or a reminder message transmitted to the device when the current location and the unloading location are same and the one or more items are not moved outside the container.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium whcih may be for configuring a system for tracking movement of one or more items. The computer readable medium comprises instructions for execution by one or more computer processors in order to configure the one or more processors to carry out the method of the second aspect as well as optionally any optional feature thereof. The computer readable medium may comprise one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, where the memory stores the instructions that, in use, are executed by the one or more processors.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Described herein is the technology with an apparatus and a method for tracking movement of one or more items. One or more items may be loaded in a container for delivery and the container may have an accessing unit (i.e. the apparatus) for monitoring the movement of the one or more items. The accessing unit may receive an unloading location of each of the one or more items and may also determine a current location of the container. When the items are loaded inside the container or when the items are moved outside the container, the accessing unit may be able to track such movement of the one or more items using signal/s from the one or more items. Based on the signal/s from the one or more items, the accessing unit may determine an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure of the one or more items.

Also, movement (i.e. an outward movement and an inward movement) of the one or more items may be determined by the accessing unit based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure of each of the one or more items. Accordingly, a message may be transmitted to a device based on the current location of the container, the unloading location of the one or more items, and/or the movement of the one or more items.

As used herein, the one or more items may have capability to determine its location and may transmit the location to a server or the accessing unit. Also, the one or more items may include content for consumption or usage by an end customer. Such item may be a bottle or a box having liquid content, solid content or semi solid content or any such item known in the art. The content in the item may be for any kind of consumption/usage and may be an accessory, fabric, clothes, a pharmaceutical content, a liquid content, an eatable content, a lotion, a cream, tablets or any such content known in the art.

As used herein, the container may be a vehicle used for storing and delivering the one or more items. The accessing unit may be positioned or located at the container. The container may be truck, trailer or any such vehicle that is well known in the art.

As used herein, the accessing unit may be a lock associated with the container and can be accessed by an authorized person using the device. Also, the accessing unit may have a capability to determine the location of the container and/or the movement of the one or more items. The accessing unit may have capability to interact with a server using a network.

As used herein, the server has processing capabilities as disclosed further in the specification. The server may be a cloud storage, a remote database, or any such storage known in the art.

As used herein, the network may refer to a wired network, a mesh network, a cellular network (such as Global System for Mobile (GSM) network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, a code-division multiple access (CDMA) network, a narrow-band internet of thing (NB-IoT) technique or category M1 technique)), a bluetooth network, a WiFi network, a ZigBee network or any such network/technique that is known in the art.

Throughout the specification, reference numeral <NUM> depicts all items. Each of the reference numerals 106A-106J may be considered as a separate item.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary system architecture 100A. As depicted in <FIG>, one or more items <NUM> may be loaded inside a container <NUM> or unloaded outside the container <NUM> for delivery. Also, each of the one or more items <NUM> may have bluetooth capability. The container <NUM> may have an accessing unit <NUM> positioned at a door of the container <NUM> and the accessing unit <NUM> also may have bluetooth capability. Moreover, the accessing unit <NUM> and/or each of the one or more items <NUM> may communicate with a server <NUM> using a network <NUM>.

Each of the one or more items <NUM> may transmit an unloading location to the server <NUM> through the network <NUM>. The unloading location of an item <NUM> may correspond to a location where the item <NUM> is to be delivered. Alternatively, each of the one or more items <NUM> may communicate the unloading location to the accessing unit <NUM>. Thereby, the accessing unit <NUM> may receive the unloading location of each of the one or more items <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more items <NUM> may automatically transmit its unloading location to the server <NUM> or to the accessing unit <NUM> at the time of loading the one or more items <NUM> in the container <NUM>. In another exemplary embodiment, the accessing unit <NUM> may receive the unloading location of each of the one or more items <NUM> on transmitting a request to the server <NUM> or to the one or more items <NUM> for providing its unloading location. Also, the server <NUM> may receive an updated unloading location of the item <NUM> from a user who has placed an order of the item <NUM>. The server may transmit the updated unloading location of the item <NUM> to the accessing unit <NUM> in an event of change in the unloading location during transit and before delivering the item <NUM>.

Moreover, the accessing unit <NUM> of the container <NUM> may be accessed (i.e. opened or closed) by a person <NUM> (may be a delivery person/driver) using a device <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the accessing unit <NUM> may be accessed using the device <NUM> through bluetooth. For this, the person <NUM> needs to bring the device <NUM> in the range of (or closer to) the accessing unit <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the accessing unit <NUM> may accessed using the device <NUM> through near-field technology. Only the person <NUM> with valid mobile credentials may access the accessing unit <NUM> of the container <NUM>. Such valid mobile credentials may be provided to the person <NUM> by an administrator of the one or more items <NUM> and/or the container <NUM>. Once the accessing unit <NUM> is accessed by the person <NUM>, the door of the container <NUM> may get opened or closed.

When the accessing unit <NUM> is accessed by the person <NUM>, each of the one or more items <NUM> may start broadcasting signal/s. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal/s broadcasted by the one or more items <NUM> are bluetooth signals. The accessing unit <NUM> may detect the signal/s broadcasted by the one or more items <NUM>. Based on the signal/s received by the accessing unit <NUM> an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure of each of the one or more items <NUM> may be determined (for example, Bluetooth <NUM> technology). Further, the accessing unit <NUM> may determine movement (i.e. an inward movement and/or an outward movement) of each of the one or more items <NUM> based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure of each of the one or more items <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrates the understanding of the inward movement and/or the outward movement of the one or more items <NUM>. The accessing unit <NUM> at the container <NUM> is capable to detect the signal/s broadcasted by each of the one or more items <NUM>. Based on the signal/s received by the accessing unit <NUM>, the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure of each of the one or more items <NUM> using Bluetooth <NUM> technology may be determined. For an instance, when a signal strength of a signal broadcasted by an item 106A reaches a pre-determined signal threshold, then the accessing unit <NUM> may determine an angle of arrival for the item 106A. And, when a signal strength of the signal broadcasted by the item 106A falls below a pre-determined signal threshold, then the accessing unit <NUM> may determine an angle of departure for the item 106A. Moreover, the accessing unit <NUM> may further determine if the items <NUM> are moving outward of the container <NUM> based on the angle of arrival/angle of departure determined by the accessing unit <NUM>. Similarly, the accessing unit <NUM> may determine if the items <NUM> are moving inward of the container <NUM> based on the angle of arrival/angle of departure determined by the accessing unit <NUM>.

As used herein, the inward movement of the one or more items <NUM> may correspond to the movement when the one or more items <NUM> being moved inside the container <NUM> (i.e. arrival of the items) for placing the one or more items <NUM> inside the container <NUM>. As used herein, the outward movement of the one or more items <NUM> may correspond to the movement when the one or more items <NUM> which are already placed inside the container <NUM> are being moved outside the container <NUM> (i.e. departure of the items). Referring to <FIG>, item 106A, item 106B, item 106C, item 106D, item 106E, and item 106F are currently inside the container <NUM>. When the item 106A, item 106B, item 106C, item 106D, item 106E, and item 106F move outside the container <NUM> from inside of the container <NUM> for delivery or unloading, then these items will be in the outward movement. Similarly, item <NUM>, item <NUM>, item 106I and item 106J are placed outside the container <NUM>. And, when these item <NUM>, item <NUM>, item 106I, and item 106J move/loaded inside the container <NUM> from the outside for placement, then these items will be in the inward movement. Such movement of the items <NUM> may be determined by the accessing unit <NUM> based on their broadcasted signal/s. This embodiment of the invention provides technical advantages of eliminating the need to manually scan each items for tracking the items. When the one or more items <NUM> are moved inside the container <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may automatically scan the unloading location of the one or more items <NUM>. Further, the accessing unit <NUM> may receive the unloading location of the one or more items <NUM> based on the angle of arrival/angle of departure determined by the accessing unit <NUM>. This would enable the accessing unit <NUM> to automatically receive the unloading location of the one or more items <NUM>.

Moreover, when the accessing unit <NUM> is accessed by the person <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may also determine a current location of the container <NUM>. For this, the accessing unit <NUM> may have a global positioning system (GPS) to determine the current location of the container <NUM>. Alternatively, the container <NUM> may have capability to determine its current location and may transmit the current location to the accessing unit <NUM>. Based on the current location of the container <NUM>, the unloading location of the one or more items <NUM>, and/or the movement of the one or more items <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may transmit a message to the device <NUM> through a network. As used herein, the message may comprise a confirmation message, a reminder message, and/or an alert message. In order to understand different types of messages sent by the accessing unit <NUM> to the device <NUM>, consider an exemplary Table <NUM> provided below showing four different scenarios for item 106A with different movements.

In scenario <NUM>, the current location of container <NUM> is "<NUM>1st Ave SW, Quincy, Washington, United States" where the Quincy Innovation Academy is situated and the unloading location of item 106A is "Quincy Innovation Academy, Quincy, United States". In this scenario, the current location of container <NUM> and the unloading location of item 106A are same. The accessing unit <NUM> determines that the item 106A is in the outward movement (i.e. the item 106A is moving outside the container <NUM>). The accessing unit <NUM> determines that the item 106A is being delivered to a correct/intended delivery location and may transmit a confirmation message to the device <NUM>. In scenario <NUM>, the current location of container <NUM> is "<NUM>1st Ave SW, Quincy, Washington, United States" where the Quincy Innovation Academy is situated and the unloading location of item 106A is "Quincy Innovation Academy, Quincy, United States". In this second scenario, the current location of container <NUM> and the unloading location of item 106A are same. And the accessing unit <NUM> determines that the item 106A is in the inward movement (i.e. the item 106A is not moving outside the container <NUM> and is still placed inside the container <NUM>). The accessing unit <NUM> determines that the item 106A is not being delivered to a correct/intended delivery location and may transmit a reminder message to the device <NUM>. Such a reminder message may be regarding non-delivery of the item 106A and to remind the person <NUM> of the device <NUM> to deliver the item 106A. In scenario <NUM>, the current location of container <NUM> is "<NUM> Broadway, Santa Maria, California <NUM>, United States" and the unloading location of item 106A is "Quincy Innovation Academy, Quincy, United States". In this third scenario, the current location of container <NUM> and the unloading location of item 106A are different. And the accessing unit <NUM> determines that the item 106A is in the outward movement and may transmit an alert message to the device <NUM>. The alert message may notify the person <NUM> of the device <NUM> that the item 106A is being delivered to an incorrect delivery location as the current location of container <NUM> and the unloading location of item 106A are different. In scenario <NUM>, the current location of container <NUM> is "<NUM> Broadway, Santa Maria, California <NUM>, United States" and the unloading location of item 106A is "Quincy Innovation Academy, Quincy, United States". In this fourth scenario, the current location of the container <NUM> and the unloading location of item 106A are different. And the accessing unit <NUM> determines that the item 106A is in the inward movement. In such a situation, the accessing unit <NUM> may not transmit any message to the device <NUM> as the item 106A is not moving outside the container <NUM>, is still placed inside the container <NUM> and the current location of container <NUM> is not an correct/intended delivery location of the item 106A. This embodiment of the invention provides technical advantages of alerting a delivery person on delivering an item to a wrong/incorrect delivery location or alerting a delivery person on forgetting to deliver the item at its intended delivery location.

The present invention also encompasses the accessing unit <NUM> to determine a time when the one or more items <NUM> are delivered to an end user and to transmit the determined time, the messages and any other updates of delivery or non-delivery of each of the one or more items <NUM> to the server <NUM>. The present invention also encompasses the server <NUM> to receive the message (i.e. confirmation message, reminder message, and/or alert message) and any other updates (such as timings etc.) of delivery or non-delivery of each of the one or more items <NUM> from the accessing unit <NUM>. This enables the server <NUM> to determine a time trend of delivery or non-delivery of each of the one or more items <NUM>. The time trend may depicts a timeline of each item <NUM> from a location of loading the item <NUM> inside the container <NUM> till the item <NUM> reaches the user. This time trend may be analyzed to further improve or control delivery or non-delivery of each of the one or more items <NUM> which would result in higher consumer satisfaction. Such time trend analysis may also be helpful in effective delivery of the items to the end consumer in shortest time possible and can be helpful for investigation during insurance process.

The present invention also encompasses the accessing unit <NUM> to determine if the door of the container <NUM> is opened for a pre-defined period of time (say, more than <NUM> minutes) during loading or unloading of the one or more items <NUM>. And, if the accessing unit <NUM> determines that the door of the container <NUM> is opened for the pre-defined period of time or not closed before the expiry of the pre-defined period of time, the accessing unit <NUM> may provide a notification/alert to the device <NUM> of the person <NUM> so that the person <NUM> can close the door of the container <NUM> as soon as an item <NUM> is placed inside or moved outside the container <NUM>. This would help in maintaining a desired temperature inside the container <NUM> for keeping the one or more items <NUM> healthy. Moreover, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the container <NUM> may act based on an input from a door sensor which is placed separately inside the container <NUM> to sense opening and closing of the door of the container <NUM>. And, in case, the door sensor is not working properly or wrongly detecting the opening/closing of the door, then, the HVAC system may communicate with the accessing unit <NUM> to validate the opening/closing of the door of the container <NUM> or through telematics devices/cloud services. This feature provides the technical advantage of continuously running the HVAC system of the container <NUM> even if the door sensor is malfunctioning.

The present invention further encompasses the accessing unit <NUM> to use a unique identifier associated with each of the one or more items <NUM> for determining which of the one or more items <NUM> are moving inward or outward the container <NUM>. Based on the movement of the one or more items <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may track and report such movement of the one or more items <NUM> along with the unique identifier associated with the one or more items <NUM> to the server <NUM> through the network <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a block diagram of different components of an exemplary accessing unit <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The accessing unit <NUM> may comprise of, but is not limited to, a receiver <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a location unit <NUM>, a memory <NUM> and/or a processor <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may be adapted to receive an unloading location of each of one or more items <NUM> from a server <NUM> or directly from each of the one or more items <NUM> as explained above and may communicate the unloading location to the processor <NUM>. The location unit <NUM> may be adapted to determine a location of a container <NUM> as explained above and may communicate the location of the container <NUM> to the processor <NUM>. The determination unit <NUM> may be adapted to determine an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure based on a signal from each of the one or more items <NUM>. The determination unit <NUM> may further be adapted to determine movement (i.e. an inward movement and/or an outward movement) of the one or more items <NUM> based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure as explained above in details. The determination unit <NUM> may be adapted to communicate movement of the one or more items <NUM> to the processor <NUM>. The determination unit <NUM> may also be adapted to determine a time when the one or more items <NUM> are delivered to a consumer. The processor <NUM> may be adapted to determine a message to be transmitted to a device <NUM> based on the current location of the container <NUM>, the unloading location, and/or the movement of the one or more items <NUM>. Also, the processor <NUM> may be adapted to communicate the message to the transmitter <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> may be adapted to transmit the message to the device <NUM> based on the current location of the container <NUM>, the unloading location, and/or the movement of the one or more items <NUM>.

Moreover, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the location unit <NUM>, and/or the memory <NUM> may be communicably coupled with the processor <NUM>. The different units described herein are exemplary. The invention may be performed using one or more units. For example, the tasks executed by the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, the location unit <NUM>, the memory <NUM> and/or the processor <NUM> may be performed by a single unit. Alternatively more number of units as described herein may be used to perform the present invention.

<FIG> depicts a flowchart outlining the features of the invention in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The method flowchart <NUM> describes a method being for tracking movement of one or more items <NUM>. The method flowchart <NUM> starts at step <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, an accessing unit <NUM> may receive an unloading location of each of one or more items <NUM>. The unloading location of an item <NUM> may correspond to a location where the one or more items <NUM> is to be delivered. In an exemplary embodiment, the accessing unit <NUM> may receive the unloading location of each of the one or more items <NUM> from a server <NUM> or from the each of one or more items <NUM>. This has been explained in greater details in <FIG> above.

At step <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may determine a current location of a container <NUM>. For this, the accessing unit <NUM> may have a global positioning system (GPS) to determine the current location of the container <NUM>. Alternatively, the container <NUM> may have capability to determine its current location and may transmit its current location to the accessing unit <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may determine an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure based on a signal from each of the one or more items <NUM>. This has been explained in greater details in <FIG>, <FIG> and Table <NUM> above.

At step <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may determine movement (i.e. an inward movement and/or an outward movement) of the one or more items <NUM> based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure. This has been explained in greater details in <FIG>, <FIG> and Table <NUM> above.

At step <NUM>, the accessing unit <NUM> may transmit a message to a device <NUM> based on the current location of the container <NUM>, the unloading location and the movement of the one or more items <NUM>. This has been explained in greater details in <FIG>, <FIG> and Table <NUM> above. Then, the method flowchart <NUM> may end at <NUM>.

The present invention is applicable in various industries/fields such as, but not limited to, transportation industry and any such industry/field that is well known in the art and where the accessing unit <NUM> and the container <NUM> are involved.

The embodiments of the invention discussed herein are exemplary and various modification and alterations to a person skilled in the art are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

In one embodiment of the invention, the invention can be operated using the one or more computer readable devices. The one or more computer readable devices can be associated with an accessing unit <NUM>. A computer readable medium comprises one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory stores instructions executed by the one or more processors. The one or more processors configured to receive an unloading location of one or more items <NUM> and determine a current location of a container <NUM>. The one or more processors configured to determine an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure based on a signal from the one or more items <NUM> and determine movement of the one or more items <NUM> based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure. The one or more processors further configured to transmit a message to a device <NUM> based on the current location of the container <NUM>, the unloading location and the movement of the one or more items <NUM>.

Exemplary computer readable media includes flash memory drives, digital versatile discs (DVDs), compact discs (CDs), floppy disks, and tape cassettes. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media are tangible and mutually exclusive to communication media. Computer storage media are implemented in hardware and exclude carrier waves and propagated signals. Computer storage media for purposes of this invention are not signals per se. Exemplary computer storage media include hard disks, flash drives, and other solid-state memory. In contrast, communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media.

Although described in connection with an exemplary computing system environment, examples of the invention are capable of implementation with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments, configurations, or devices.

Examples of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the Figures/Tables and described herein. Other examples of the invention may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein. Aspects of the invention transform a general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computing device when configured to execute the instructions described herein.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in examples of the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and examples of the invention may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term "processor" can refer to substantially any computing processing unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithread execution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as "data store," "data storage," "database," "cache," and substantially any other information storage component relevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components, or computer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the examples thereof, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. " The phrase "one or more of the following: A, B, and C" means "at least one of A and/or at least one of B and/or at least one of C".

Having described aspects of the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claim 1:
An accessing unit (<NUM>) comprising:
- a receiver (<NUM>) adapted communicate with a server (<NUM>) to receive an unloading location of each of one or more items (<NUM>);
- a location unit (<NUM>) adapted to determine a current location of a container (<NUM>) using a global positioning system (GPS);
- a determination unit (<NUM>) adapted to:
determine an angle of arrival and/or an angle of departure based on a signal from the one or more items (<NUM>); and
determine an inward movement or an outward movement of the one or
more items based on the angle of arrival and/or the angle of departure of each of the one or more items inside the container (<NUM>); and
- a transmitter (<NUM>) adapted to transmit a message to a device (<NUM>) based on the current location of the container (<NUM>), the unloading location and the movement of the one or more items (<NUM>);
wherein the message comprises:
an alert message transmitted to the device (<NUM>) when the current location is different from the unloading location and the one or more items (<NUM>) is in the outward movement; or
a confirmation message transmitted to the device (<NUM>) when the current location and the unloading location are same and the one or more items (<NUM>) is in the outward movement; or
a reminder message transmitted to the device (<NUM>) when the current location and the unloading location are same and the one or more items (<NUM>) are not moved outside the container (<NUM>).