Apple wants to make it easier to know when those Amazon, FedEx, and UPS packages have been delivered

Apple has filed for a patent (number 20230018801 A1) for “techniques for detection/notification of package delivery and pickup.” The goal is to make it easier for you to know when those FedEx, UPS, and Amazon packages have been delivered.

About the patent filing

 In the patent filing, Apple notes that, as digital camera technology has become cheaper and more prevalent, it has become commonplace for cameras to be positioned outside of structures (such as residential buildings, commercial buildings, manufacturing buildings, etc.) to monitor activities occurring outside the structures, or in an unsecured portion of the structures to monitor activities occurring within the unsecured portion of the structures. 

For example, cameras have been implemented in door bells and security systems to monitor for activities occurring outside the structure. Additionally, the increase in online sales of goods has resulted in more packages being delivered to structures. The delivery of packages to the structures has led to challenges, including theft of the packages.

Apple wants to overcome those issues, apparently with HomeKit-compatible cameras and iPhones.

Summary of the patent filing

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “Systems, computer-readable media, methods, and approaches described herein may identify delivery and/or pickup of packages. For example, packages may be identified within the areas captured by images and/or video. Based on the identification of the packages, it may be determined whether the package was delivered or picked up. A notification may be initiated that indicates that a package has been delivered and/or picked up.”