Authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle

• US 10,246,053 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Wiechers, Ralph, Ibach, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/724,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00753 operated by active electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

This disclosure relates to, inter alia, a method for checking the authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle. A step of the method includes obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information. A position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is captured. The authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is checked in dependence on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle, and the captured environmental parameter. The receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is opened or caused to open only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.

Claims

1. A method for checking the authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information;

capturing a position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle, wherein an environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is at least one of an image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle and an availability of at least one wireless communication signal, where the image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle contains an environmental feature which is characteristic of the position of the vehicle, wherein the availability of the at least one wireless communication signal is characteristic of the position of the vehicle;

checking the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle dependent on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle and the captured environmental parameter; and

opening and/or causing of opening of the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request to open the receiving compartment is obtained by a user interface and/or by a wireless communication interface at the unmanned vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the proof of authorization information is obtained by a user interface and/or by a card interface and/or by a wireless communication interface at the unmanned vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communication signal is a communication signal from a Bluetooth beacon.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication signal or a part of the wireless communication signal represents checking information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining second proof of authorization information.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second proof of authorization information is obtained separately from the first proof of authorization information.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the checking of the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment comprises:

checking whether the captured position corresponds to a predetermined position or is within a predetermined geographical area,

checking whether the captured environmental parameter corresponds to a predetermined environmental parameter,

checking whether the first proof of authorization information provides authorization to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined position is a delivery and/or posting position of a shipment, and the predetermined environmental parameter is an environmental parameter which is capturable at the delivery and/or posting position of the shipment.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is at least partially checked dependent on an authorization requirement specification.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the authorization requirement specification is at least partially determined dependent on a shipment recipient and/or sender of a shipment transported by the unmanned vehicle, a shipment transported by the unmanned vehicle, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle and/or the captured environmental parameter.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communication signal is a communication signal from a Bluetooth beacon provided at the posting and/or delivery position.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle contains a house number of a building in the environment of the vehicle, a house or apartment door in the environment of the vehicle, a doorbell panel in the environment of the vehicle, a barcode in the environment of the vehicle, and/or a landmark in the environment of the vehicle.

14. An apparatus for checking the authorization to open a receiving compartment of an unmanned vehicle, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory containing program instructions, wherein the at least one memory and the program instructions are configured, together with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform:

obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information;

capturing a position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle, wherein an environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is at least one of an image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle and an availability of at least one wireless communication signal, wherein the image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle contains an environmental feature which is characteristic of the position of the vehicle, wherein the availability of the at least one wireless communication signal is characteristic of the position of the vehicle;

checking the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle dependent on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle and the captured environmental parameter; and

opening and/or causing of opening of the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the request to open the receiving compartment is obtained by a user interface and/or by a wireless communication interface at the unmanned vehicle.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the proof of authorization information is obtained by a user interface and/or by a card interface and/or by a wireless communication interface at the unmanned vehicle.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one wireless communication signal is a communication signal from a Bluetooth beacon.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communication signal or a part of the wireless communication signal represents checking information.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the program instructions are further configured, together with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform:

obtaining second proof of authorization information.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second proof of authorization information is obtained separately from the first proof of authorization information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the checking of the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment comprises:

checking whether the captured position corresponds to a predetermined position or is within a predetermined geographical area,

checking whether the captured environmental parameter corresponds to a predetermined environmental parameter,

checking whether the first proof of authorization information provides authorization to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined position is a delivery and/or posting position of a shipment, and the predetermined environmental parameter is an environmental parameter which is capturable at the delivery and/or posting position of the shipment.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is at least partially checked dependent on an authorization requirement specification.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the authorization requirement specification is at least partially determined dependent on a shipment recipient and/or sender of a shipment transported by the unmanned vehicle, a shipment transported by the unmanned vehicle, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle and/or the captured environmental parameter.

25. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is or is part of the unmanned vehicle.

26. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one wireless communication signal is a communication signal from a Bluetooth beacon provided at the posting and/or delivery position.

27. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle contains a house number of a building in the environment of the vehicle, a house or apartment door in the environment of the vehicle, a doorbell panel in the environment of the vehicle, a barcode in the environment of the vehicle, and/or a landmark in the environment of the vehicle.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a computer program comprising program instructions which are configured, when executed by at least one processor, to cause an apparatus to perform:

obtaining a request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle and first proof of authorization information;

capturing a position of the unmanned vehicle and at least one environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle, wherein an environmental parameter dependent on the position of the unmanned vehicle is at least one of an image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle and an availability of at least one wireless communication signal, wherein the image of an environment of the unmanned vehicle contains an environmental feature which is characteristic of the position of the vehicle, wherein the availability of the at least on wireless communication signal is characteristic of the position of the vehicle;

checking the authorization of the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle in dependent on the obtained first proof of authorization information, the captured position of the unmanned vehicle and the captured environmental parameter; and

opening and/or causing of opening of the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle only when the checking reveals that the request to open the receiving compartment of the unmanned vehicle is authorized.