US 11037092

US Patent 11037092, titled "Actively managed food delivery," was issued to Zest Labs Inc. on June 15, 2021, from an application filed on March 21, 2019.

Summary of US Patent 11037092:

• Title: Actively managed food delivery
• Assignee: Zest Labs Inc
• Inventors: Peter A. Mehring, Thomas C. Reese, Dean M. Kawaguchi, Sameer Dekate, Russell Shikami
• Filing Date: March 21, 2019
• Issue Date: June 15, 2021
• Abstract: The patent describes a computer-implemented method for managing food product delivery. It involves receiving status information, including sensor-derived conditions like temperature, from a product container holding food. Preferred condition ranges for the container are determined based on a food product profile, which includes pre-heating/pre-cooling parameters and specifies how these ranges change over time. If conditions fall outside these preferred ranges for a set time, a command is sent to an environmental control unit to adjust the environmental parameters in the container. Additionally, the system modifies a prioritized delivery scheme for the container based on its food product history, including any adjustments made, to prioritize its delivery.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Computer-implemented method): This claim describes a method where a computer receives real-time environmental data (like temperature) from a smart product container holding food. This container has been pre-configured with a "profile" for the food, which specifies ideal conditions, including pre-heating or pre-cooling, and how these ideal conditions might change over time (e.g., a specific temperature drop per hour). If the received conditions are not within the ideal range for a certain period, the computer sends a command directly to the container's environmental control unit to automatically adjust the conditions. Furthermore, the computer updates the delivery priority for that container based on its history, including any such environmental adjustments, potentially moving it to the front of the delivery queue compared to other containers.

• Independent Claim 10 (Computer program product): This claim covers a computer program (software) stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. This software performs the same steps as described in Claim 1. Specifically, it includes computer code for receiving status information, determining preferred ranges (which change over time per a profile), deciding if conditions are within range, sending a command to an environmental control unit to make adjustments, and modifying the delivery scheme based on the food product history and environmental adjustments.

• Independent Claim 19 (System): This claim describes a system, comprising a processor and associated logic (hardware and/or software), configured to carry out the same functions as detailed in Claim 1. The system is designed to receive status information, determine preferred environmental ranges based on a food product profile (including time-dependent changes), check if conditions are within those ranges, send commands to the environmental control unit for automatic adjustments, and modify the delivery prioritization based on the food product's history and any adjustments made.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, no specific dockets related to US Patent 11037092 were found in the CAFC 2026 dockets.