Methods, systems and apparatus for detecting object location and generating alerts

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus for detecting object location and generating alerts are disclosed herein. An example disclosed method includes determining an assigned area for an object being handled by a loader; detecting a first location of the loader; determining whether the first location corresponds to the assigned area for the object; and in response to the first location not corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generating a first output indicative of a difference between the first location and the assigned area for the object.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a logic circuit, an assigned area for an object being handled by a loader;   detecting, by the logic circuit, a location of the loader;   determining, by the logic circuit, whether the location corresponds to the assigned area for the object; and   in response to the location not corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generating, by the logic circuit, a first output indicative of a difference between the location and the assigned area for the object.   
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the location corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generating a second output indicative of a correspondence between the location and the assigned area for the object. 
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the assigned area for the object includes:
 obtaining identifying information associated with the object; and   obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information.   
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the obtaining of the identifying information associated with the object includes capturing a code carried by the object; and   the obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information includes querying an information source using the code.   
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the detecting the location of the loader includes receiving, by an antenna in communication with the logic circuit, a beacon from a wireless transmitter positioned proximate the location, the beacon including identifying information associated with the location. 
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 identifying a value of a parameter of the wireless transmitter; and   changing, by the logic circuit, the value of the parameter, wherein the parameter is a broadcast strength or location identifying data.   
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the assigned area is an interior space of a container. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 an assigned area identifier to determine an assigned area for an object being handled by a carrier of the apparatus;   a location identifier to detect a location of the carrier of the apparatus;   a comparator to determine whether the assigned area corresponds to the location; and   an output generator to, in response to the assigned area not corresponding to the location, generate an output indicative of a difference between the assigned area and the location, at least one of the assigned area identifier, the location identifier, the comparator or the output generator being implemented by a logic circuit.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , the output generator to, in response to the location corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generate a second output indicative of a correspondence between the location and the assigned area for the object. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the assigned area identifier is to determine the assigned area for the object by:
 obtaining identifying information associated with the object; and   obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the obtaining of the identifying information associated with the object includes capturing a code carried by the object; and   the obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information includes querying an information source using the code.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the location identifier is to detect the location of the loader by receiving a beacon from a wireless transmitter positioned near the location, the beacon including identifying information associated with the location. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising an updater to:
 identify a value of a parameter of the wireless transmitter; and   change the value of the parameter, wherein the parameter is a broadcast strength or location identifying data.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the assigned area is an interior space of a container. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible machine-readable medium comprising machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 determine an assigned area for an object being handled by a loader;   detect presence of the loader in a first area based on a location of the machine;   determine whether the first area corresponds to the assigned area for the object; and   in response to the first area not corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generate a first output indicative of a difference between the first area and the assigned area for the object.   
     
     
         16 . A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to, in response to the first area corresponding to the assigned area for the object, generate a second output indicative of a correspondence between the first area and the assigned area for the object. 
     
     
         17 . A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine the assigned area for the object by:
 obtaining identifying information associated with the object; and   obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information.   
     
     
         18 . A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the obtaining of the identifying information associated with the object includes capturing a code carried by the object; and   the obtaining the assigned area for the object based on the identifying information includes querying an information source using the code.   
     
     
         19 . A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to detect the presence of the loader in the first area by receiving, via an antenna in communication with the logic circuit, a beacon from a wireless transmitter positioned in the first area, the beacon including identifying information associated with the first area. 
     
     
         20 . A tangible machine-readable medium as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:
 identify a value of a parameter of the wireless transmitter; and   change the value of the parameter, wherein the parameter is a broadcast strength or location identifying data   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)