Container Load Performance Metric Aggregation

{
  "publication_number": "US2023112116A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Container Load Performance Metric Aggregation",
  "abstract": "An example method includes: during a container load process, controlling a sensor assembly to capture sensor data depicting a container interior; detecting, from the sensor data, items in the container interior; determining, based on the detected items, first and second load process metrics associated with first and second targets; generating first and second normalized metrics based on the first and second load process metrics, and the first and second targets; obtaining a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combining the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and transmitting a control command according to the aggregated load process metric; and rendering, at an indicator device, a load process state indicator according to the control command.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for load performance metric aggregation, comprising: (a) during a load process for a container at a load bay, controlling a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture sensor data depicting an interior of the container; (b) at a computing device communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly: detecting, from the sensor data, a plurality of items placed in the container interior; determining, based on the detected plurality of items, a first load process metric associated with a first target, and a second load process metric associated with a second target; generating a first normalized metric based on the first load process metric and the first target, and a second normalized metric based on the second load process metric and the second target obtaining a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combining (i) the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with (ii) the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and transmitting a control command according to the aggregated load process metric; and (c) rendering, at an indicator device associated with the load bay, a load process state indicator according to the control command. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the control command includes: comparing the aggregated load process metric to a threshold; and selecting the load process state indicator based on the comparison. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the control command includes: comparing the aggregated load process metric to a set of thresholds; and selecting one of a corresponding set of load process state indicators based on the comparison. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of thresholds define respective performance levels; and wherein the load process state indicators include visual indicators corresponding to the performance levels. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to controlling the sensor assembly, receiving input data defining the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor; storing the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor in a repository accessible by the computing device; wherein obtaining the first and second weighting factors includes retrieving the first and second weighting factors from the repository. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: at the computing device, repeating the detecting, the determining, the generating, the combining, and the transmitting periodically during the load process. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: in response to detecting completion of the load process, storing a final aggregated load process metric at the computing device. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the combining to generate the aggregated load process metric includes: generating a weighted first normalized metric; generating a weighted second normalized metric; and adding the weighted first normalized metric and the weighted second normalized metric. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the aggregated load process metric further includes: determining whether at least one of the first load process metric and the second load process metric satisfy a boundary condition; and when the determination is affirmative, setting the aggregated load process metric to a predefined value. 10. A computing device for load performance metric aggregation, comprising: a communications interface communicatively coupling the computing device with an indicator device; and a processor configured to: during a load process for a container at a load bay, control a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture sensor data depicting an interior of the container; detect, based on the sensor data, a plurality of items placed in the container interior; determine, based on the detected plurality of items, a first load process metric associated with a first target, and a second load process metric associated with a second target; generate a first normalized metric based on the first load process metric and the first target, and a second normalized metric based on the second load process metric and the second target obtain a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combine (i) the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with (ii) the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and transmit a control command according to the aggregated load process metric. 11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured, to transmit the control command, to: compare the aggregated load process metric to a threshold; and select the load process state indicator based on the comparison. 12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured, to transmit the control command, to: compare the aggregated load process metric to a set of thresholds; and select one of a corresponding set of load process state indicators based on the comparison. 13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the set of thresholds define respective performance levels; and wherein the load process state indicators include visual indicators corresponding to the performance levels. 14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to: prior to controlling the sensor assembly, receive input data defining the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor; store the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor in a repository accessible by the computing device; and obtain the first and second weighting factors by retrieving the first and second weighting factors from the repository. 15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to: repeat the detection, the determination, the generation, the combination, and the transmission periodically during the load process. 16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to: in response to detecting completion of the load process, store a final aggregated load process metric. 17. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured, to perform the combination, to: generate a weighted first normalized metric; generate a weighted second normalized metric; and add the weighted first normalized metric and the weighted second normalized metric. 18. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured, to generate the aggregated load process metric, to: determine whether at least one of the first load process metric and the second load process metric satisfy a boundary condition; and when the determination is affirmative, set the aggregated load process metric to a predefined value. 19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computing device to: during a load process for a container at a load bay, control a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture sensor data depicting an interior of the container; detect, based on the sensor data, a plurality of items placed in the container interior; determine, based on the detected plurality of items, a first load process metric associated with a first target, and a second load process metric associated with a second target; generate a first normalized metric based on the first load process metric and the first target, and a second normalized metric based on the second load process metric and the second target obtain a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combine (i) the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with (ii) the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and transmit a control command according to the aggregated load process metric."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Material handling facilities, such as warehouses, airports and the like, can deploy sensor systems to monitor various metrics for container load processes. The proliferation of available metrics from such systems, however, may complicate the use of the metrics to control system operations and/or assess performance.\n\nIn an embodiment, the present invention is a method for load performance metric aggregation, including: (a) during a load process for a container at a load bay, controlling a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture sensor data depicting an interior of the container; (b) at a computing device communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly: detecting, from the sensor data, a plurality of items placed in the container interior; determining, based on the detected plurality of items, a first load process metric associated with a first target, and a second load process metric associated with a second target; generating a first normalized metric based on the first load process metric and the first target, and a second normalized metric based on the second load process metric and the second target obtaining a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combining (i) the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with (ii) the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and ...",
  "cpc": [
    "G06Q 10/087",
    "B65G 67/20",
    "B65G 69/28",
    "G05B 19/41865",
    "G05B 2219/32392"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G05B 19/418",
    "G06Q 10/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ZEBRA TECH CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "KRISHNAMURTHY ADITHYA H",
    "TRAJKOVIC MIROSLAV",
    "BARISH JUSTIN F"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-09-30",
  "publication_date": "2023-04-13",
  "priority_date": "2021-09-30",
  "application_number": "US-202117491374-A",
  "family_id": "85783411",
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}