Portable item transfer container
First Claim
1. A portable item transfer container, comprising:
- an item storage unit;
an item transfer unit configured to (i) dispense one or more first items stored in the item storage unit and (ii) receive one or more second items and store the one or more second items in the item storage unit, wherein the item transfer unit comprises;
an input mechanism for receiving the one or more second items via an input portal and storing the one or more second items in an input receptacle and the item storage unit;
a transfer mechanism for moving the one or more second items stored in the input receptacle to an output receptacle; and
an output mechanism for dispensing the one or more first items via an output portal;
a secure physical housing enclosing an internal cavity, wherein the item transfer unit and the item storage unit are located in the internal cavity within the secure physical housing;
the input portal, the input portal being located in the secure physical housing configured for receiving the one or more second items from a user;
the output portal, the output portal being located in the secure physical housing configured for dispensing the one or more first items from the portable item transfer container;
the input receptacle, the input receptacle being located proximate the input portal configured for storing the one or more second items; and
the output receptacle, the output receptacle being located proximate the output portal configured for temporarily storing the one or more first items;
an image capture device;
a communication device;
a memory;
a processor;
an item inventory stored in the memory; and
an item transfer application stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured for;
receiving an activity request from the user, wherein the activity request comprises (i) a request to withdraw the one or more first items or (ii) a request to store the one or more second items;
authenticating an identity of the user;
determining (i) an authorized region of the user and (ii) a location of the portable item transfer container;
comparing the authorized region of the user and the location of the portable item transfer container and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user; and
in response to authenticating the identity of the user and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user, processing the activity request;
wherein, if the activity request comprises the request to withdraw the one or more first items, processing the activity request comprises;
determining, based on the item inventory, that the one or more first items are located in the item storage unit;
transmitting, via the communication device, a withdrawal authorization request to a processing system;
receiving, via the communication device, an authorization from the processing system;
in response to determining that the one or more first items are located in the item storage unit and receiving the authorization from the processing system, dispensing, via the item transfer unit, the one or more first items; and
updating the item inventory to reflect that the one or more first items have been dispensed;
wherein, if the activity request comprises the request to store the one or more second items, processing the activity request comprises;
receiving the one or more second items, via the item transfer unit, and storing the one or more second items in the item storage unit;
capturing an image, via the image capture device, of each of the one or more second items;
processing the image of each of the one or more second items to identify each of the one or more second items;
updating the item inventory to reflect that the one or more second items have been received; and
transmitting, via the communication device, a storage notification to the processing system indicating that the one or more second items have been stored by the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable item transfer container typically includes an item storage unit and an item transfer unit configured to (i) dispense items stored in the item storage unit and (ii) receive items and store the items in the item storage unit. The container also typically includes a memory, a processor, and an item transfer application stored in the memory. The item transfer application is typically configured to: receive an activity request from a user, wherein the activity request includes (i) a request to withdraw items or (ii) a request to store items; authenticate an identity of the user; determine that the location of the container is within an authorized region of the user; and in response to authenticating the identity of the user and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user, process the activity request.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A portable item transfer container, comprising:
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an item storage unit; an item transfer unit configured to (i) dispense one or more first items stored in the item storage unit and (ii) receive one or more second items and store the one or more second items in the item storage unit, wherein the item transfer unit comprises; an input mechanism for receiving the one or more second items via an input portal and storing the one or more second items in an input receptacle and the item storage unit; a transfer mechanism for moving the one or more second items stored in the input receptacle to an output receptacle; and an output mechanism for dispensing the one or more first items via an output portal; a secure physical housing enclosing an internal cavity, wherein the item transfer unit and the item storage unit are located in the internal cavity within the secure physical housing; the input portal, the input portal being located in the secure physical housing configured for receiving the one or more second items from a user; the output portal, the output portal being located in the secure physical housing configured for dispensing the one or more first items from the portable item transfer container; the input receptacle, the input receptacle being located proximate the input portal configured for storing the one or more second items; and the output receptacle, the output receptacle being located proximate the output portal configured for temporarily storing the one or more first items; an image capture device; a communication device; a memory; a processor; an item inventory stored in the memory; and an item transfer application stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured for; receiving an activity request from the user, wherein the activity request comprises (i) a request to withdraw the one or more first items or (ii) a request to store the one or more second items; authenticating an identity of the user; determining (i) an authorized region of the user and (ii) a location of the portable item transfer container; comparing the authorized region of the user and the location of the portable item transfer container and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user; and in response to authenticating the identity of the user and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user, processing the activity request; wherein, if the activity request comprises the request to withdraw the one or more first items, processing the activity request comprises; determining, based on the item inventory, that the one or more first items are located in the item storage unit; transmitting, via the communication device, a withdrawal authorization request to a processing system; receiving, via the communication device, an authorization from the processing system; in response to determining that the one or more first items are located in the item storage unit and receiving the authorization from the processing system, dispensing, via the item transfer unit, the one or more first items; and updating the item inventory to reflect that the one or more first items have been dispensed; wherein, if the activity request comprises the request to store the one or more second items, processing the activity request comprises; receiving the one or more second items, via the item transfer unit, and storing the one or more second items in the item storage unit; capturing an image, via the image capture device, of each of the one or more second items; processing the image of each of the one or more second items to identify each of the one or more second items; updating the item inventory to reflect that the one or more second items have been received; and transmitting, via the communication device, a storage notification to the processing system indicating that the one or more second items have been stored by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of transferring physical items via a portable item transfer container, comprising:
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providing the portable item transfer container, the portable item transfer container comprising; an item storage unit; an item transfer unit configured to (i) dispense one or more first items stored in the item storage unit and (ii) receive one or more second items and store the one or more second items in the item storage unit, wherein the item transfer unit comprises; an input mechanism for receiving the one or more second items via an input portal and storing the one or more second items in an input receptacle and the item storage unit; a transfer mechanism for moving the one or more second items stored in the input receptacle to an output receptacle; and an output mechanism for dispensing the one or more first items via an output portal; a secure physical housing enclosing an internal cavity, wherein the item transfer unit and the item storage unit are located in the internal cavity within the secure physical housing; the input portal, the input portal being located in the secure physical housing configured for receiving the one or more second items from a user; the output portal, the output portal being located in the secure physical housing configured for dispensing the one or more first items from the portable item transfer container; the input receptacle, the input receptacle being located proximate the input portal configured for storing the one or more second items; and the output receptacle, the output receptacle being located proximate the output portal configured for temporarily storing the one or more first items; an image capture device; a communication device; a memory; a processor; an item inventory stored in the memory; and an item transfer application stored in the memory and executable by the processor; receiving an activity request, via the item transfer application, from the user, wherein the activity request comprises (i) a request to withdraw the one or more first items or (ii) a request to store the one or more second items; authenticating, via the item transfer application, an identity of the user; determining, via the item transfer application, (i) an authorized region of the user and (ii) a location of the portable item transfer container; comparing, via the item transfer application, the authorized region of the user and the location of the portable item transfer container and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user; in response to authenticating the identity of the user and determining that the location of the portable item transfer container is within the authorized region of the user, processing, via the item transfer application, the activity request; wherein, if the activity request comprises the request to withdraw the one or more first items, processing the activity request comprises; determining, based on the item inventory, that the one or more first items are located in the item storage unit; transmitting, via the communication device, a withdrawal authorization request to a processing system; receiving, via the communication device, an authorization from the processing system; in response to determining that the one or more first items are located in the item storage unit and receiving the authorization from the processing system, dispensing, via the item transfer unit, the one or more first items; and updating the item inventory to reflect that the one or more first items have been dispensed; wherein, if the activity request comprises the request to store the one or more second items, processing the activity request comprises; receiving the one or more second items, via the item transfer unit, and storing the one or more second items in the item storage unit; capturing an image, via the image capture device, of each of the one or more second items; processing the image of each of the one or more second items to identify each of the one or more second items; updating the item inventory to reflect that the one or more second items have been received; and transmitting, via the communication device, a storage notification to the processing system indicating that the one or more second items have been stored by the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification