System and method for controlling onboard power and communication systems at an automated locker

• US 10,643,421 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Tovey, David G., Mattingly, Todd, Bessel, Kurt W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil H
• Application Number:
  US16/390,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20190325692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling onboard power and communication systems at an automated locker are provided. An example method can include: autonomously detecting a status of a primary power supply connected to the locker, a communication status between the locker and a central server, an internal server status, and an onboard battery percentage of an onboard power; when the onboard battery percentage is greater than or equal to the predetermined battery percentage, autonomously switching to the onboard power and requesting the internal server to conduct transactions and store transaction data internally; and when the battery percentage of the onboard power is lower than the predetermined battery percentage, shutting down the locker; and when the primary power supply is detected to be reestablished and the locker is in communication with the central server, autonomously requesting the internal server to upload the transaction data to the central server.

Claims

1. An automated locker, comprising:

an internal server;

an onboard power source;

an onboard power generation equipment connected to a body of the locker via a modular connection, and configured to generate a first backup power for charging the onboard power source;

a controller;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

autonomously detecting, by the controller, a status of;

a primary power supply providing power to the locker, a communication connection between the locker and a central server, the internal server, and a battery percentage of the onboard power source;

comparing, by the processor, the battery percentage of the onboard power source with a predetermined percentage when the primary power supply is detected to be interrupted;

autonomously switching, by the controller, to the onboard power source for supplying a battery power to the locker when the primary power supply is detected by the controller to be interrupted and when the battery percentage of the onboard power source is greater than or equal to a predetermined battery percentage;

requesting, by the processor, the internal server to conduct transactions and store transaction data on the internal server when the communication connection between the locker and the central server is interrupted and when the primary power supply is detected to be interrupted;

autonomously controlling, by the controller, the onboard power generation equipment to generate power for charging the onboard power source;

autonomously shutting down the locker, by the controller, when the primary power is detected to be interrupted and when the battery percentage of the onboard power source is lower than the predetermined battery percentage; and

autonomously requesting, by the processor, the internal server to upload the stored transaction data to the central server when the primary power supply is detected to be reestablished and the locker is in communication with the central server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

autonomously requesting, by the processor, the internal server to conduct the transactions and store the transaction data internally, when the connection between the locker and the central server is interrupted.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard power generation equipment further comprises solar panel modular connectors to connect a plurality of photovoltaics solar panels to the locker for charging the onboard power source, wherein the plurality of photovoltaics solar panels are disposed on a roof of the locker and on a plurality of upper side walls surrounding the locker.

4. The system of claim 1, the automated locker further comprising an external auxiliary power generator and communication set, wherein:

when a communication between the central server and the locker is interrupted, a communication system of the external auxiliary power generator and communication set is connected to a communication port of the locker via a communication cable; and

when the primary power supply to the locker is interrupted, a power of the external auxiliary power generator and communication set is connecting to a power connection port of the locker via a power supply cable for receiving a supplemental power supply.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated locker further comprises:

sensors configured to detect a primary power supply failure and to transfer a corresponding detected signal to the controller; and

a power supply switch configured to conduct switching operations controlled by the controller and to switch the power supply between the primary power supply and the onboard power source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a position of the power supply switch and to conduct operations of the power supply switch, and the controller monitors the battery percentage of the onboard power source and controls charging the onboard power source so that the onboard power source is charged by the primary power supply.

7. The system of claim 1, the automated locker further comprises:

an antenna configured to be coupled to the locker and to communicate with a wireless local area network, cellular network, or other type of network.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the external auxiliary generator and communication set further comprises a cellular antenna for communication through wireless connections installed in the locker when the locker communication is not connected to a power grid.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the onboard power generation equipment further comprises wind turbines installed on the top of the locker.

10. A method comprising:

autonomously detecting, by a controller, a status of a primary power supply connected to a locker, a communication status between the locker and a central server, a status of an internal server, and a battery percentage of an onboard power;

when the primary power supply is detected to be interrupted, comparing, by a processor, the battery percentage of the onboard power with a predetermined percentage;

when the battery percentage of the onboard power is greater than or equal to a predetermined battery percentage, autonomously switching, by the controller, to the onboard power for supplying a battery power to the locker;

requesting, by the processor, the internal server to conduct transactions and store transaction data internally on the internal server when the communication connection between the locker and the central server is interrupted;

autonomously controlling, by the controller, an onboard power generation equipment to generate a power for charging the onboard power;

when the battery percentage of the onboard power is lower than the predetermined battery percentage, autonomously shutting down the locker by the controller; and

when the primary power supply is detected to be reestablished and the locker is in communication with the central server, autonomously requesting, by the processor, the internal server to upload the stored transaction data to the central server.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

when a connection between the locker and the central server is discontinued,

autonomously requesting, by the processor, the internal server to conduct the transactions and store the transaction data internally.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein further comprising:

connecting a power convertor of the onboard power generation equipment to a plurality of photovoltaics solar panels using solar panel modular connectors; and

charging the onboard power via the plurality of solar panels,

wherein the plurality of photovoltaics solar panels are disposed on a roof of the locker and on a plurality of upper side walls surrounding the locker.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

when the primary power supply to the locker is interrupted,

connecting, via a communication cable, a communication of an external auxiliary power generator and communication set to a communication port of the locker; and

when a communication between the central server and the locker is interrupted,

connecting, via a power supply cable, a power of the external auxiliary power generator and communication set to a power connection port of the locker for receiving a supplemental power supply.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the switching the primary power supply to the onboard power comprises:

detecting a primary power supply failure by sensors; and

transferring a corresponding detected signal to the controller; and

detecting, by the controller, a position of a power supply switch.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring the battery percentage of the onboard power source and controlling charging the onboard power source, by the controller, so that the onboard power source is charged by the primary power supply.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

coupling an antenna to the locker; and

communicating, via the antenna, with a wireless local area network through wireless connections installed in the locker.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the external auxiliary generator and communication set further comprises a cellular antenna for communication through the wireless connections installed in the locker when the locker communication is not connected to a power grid.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the onboard power generation equipment further comprises wind turbines installed on the top of the locker.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having executed instructions stored which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

autonomously detecting, by a controller, a status of a primary power supply connected to a locker, a communication status between the locker and a central server, a status of an internal server, and a battery percentage of an onboard power;

when the primary power supply is detected to be interrupted,

comparing, by the processor, the battery percentage of the onboard power with a predetermined percentage;

when the battery percentage of the onboard power is greater than or equal to a predetermined battery percentage,

autonomously switching, by the controller, to the onboard power for supplying a battery power to the locker;

requesting, by the processor, the internal server to conduct transactions and store transaction data internally on the internal server when the communication connection between the locker and the central server is interrupted;

autonomously controlling, by the controller, the onboard power generation equipment to generate a power for charging the onboard power;

when the battery percentage of the onboard power is lower than the predetermined battery percentage,

autonomously shutting down the locker by the controller; and

when the primary power supply is detected to be reestablished and the locker is in communication with the central server,

autonomously requesting, by the processor, the internal server to upload the stored transaction data to the central server.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

when the connection between the locker and the central server is discontinued,

autonomously requesting, by the processor, the internal server to conduct the transactions and store the transaction data internally.