Method of securely delivering a package

• US 20010054025A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: zBox Co. (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: zBox Co. (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Adams, William M. II, Paikeday, Manuel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/811,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054025A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

A method is provided for delivering a package securely. An address is located on a delivery package. The package is handed to a delivery entity, which utilizes the address on the package to seek and find the specific physical location identified by the address. A delivery identifier is provided to a processor of a cryptographic authority computer. A delivery identifier identifies a specific enclosure at the specific physical location and differs from delivery enclosures at other locations. A request time is provided to the processor of the cryptographic authority computer. The processor of the cryptographic authority computer generates a cryptographic key utilizing the delivery identifier and the request time. The cryptographic key is provided to the delivery entity for entry and decryption by a computer at the location, to allow for unlocking of a lock on an enclosure where the delivery package can be located.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a package comprising:

associating an address with a delivery package, the address identifying a specific physical location and differing from addresses of other locations;

handing the delivery package to a delivery entity, the delivery entity utilizing the address associated with the delivery package to seek and find the specific physical location identified by the address;

providing a delivery identifier to a processor of a cryptographic authority computer, the delivery identifier identifying a specific enclosure at the specific physical location and differing from delivery identifiers of delivery enclosures at other locations;

providing a request time to the processor of a cryptographic authority computer, the processor of a cryptographic authority computer generating a cryptographic key utilizing the delivery identifier and the request time; and

providing the cryptographic key to the delivery entity, the delivery entity entering the cryptographic key into a processor of a delivery computer, the delivery computer decrypting the cryptographic key and causing for a lock on the delivery enclosures to be unlocked if the delivery identifier matches a proof identifier located in the delivery computer and a difference in time between a proof time, from a clock providing the proof time to the processor of the delivery computer, and the request time is less than a selected maximum, unlocking of the lock allowing the delivery entity to open a closure member of the enclosure to gain access to an internal volume of the enclosure, the delivery entity locating the delivery package in the internal volume.

2. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

locating the cryptographic key on the delivery package.

3. The method of

claim 2

further comprising:

utilizing a client computer to access an order page located on an etailer computer;

utilizing the client computer to order the delivery package, identifying the address of the specific physical location and offering payment of an agreed upon purchase price of the delivery package; and

providing the cryptographic key to the etailer computer who ensures that the cryptographic key is located on the delivery package.

4. The method of

claim 3

wherein the client computer is utilized to provide the cryptographic key to the etailer computer.

5. The method of

claim 4

further comprising:

utilizing the etailer computer to transmit a first cryptographic key request to the client computer;

utilizing the client computer to provide a second cryptographic key request to the processor of cryptographic authority computer;

utilizing the cryptographic authority computer to transmit the cryptographic key to the client computer; and

utilizing the client computer to transmit the cryptographic key to the etailer computer.

6. The method of

claim 5

wherein a client operates the client computer to transmit the second cryptographic key request to the cryptographic authority computer.

7. The method of

claim 6

wherein the client operates the client computer to transmit the cryptographic key to the etailer computer.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein the processor of the cryptographic authority computer receives the request time from a clock of the cryptographic authority computer.

9. The method of

claim 1

wherein the delivery computer includes a keypad and an employee of the delivery entity enters the cryptographic key on the keypad.

10. The method of

claim 1

wherein the processor of the cryptographic authority computer encrypts the request time by utilizing the delivery identifier as a key and wherein the processor of the delivery computer decrypts the cryptographic key utilizing the proof identifier to obtain the request time.

11. The method of

claim 5

wherein the client computer transmits the cryptographic key request to the cryptographic authority computer automatically upon receiving the cryptographic key request from the etailer computer.

12. The method of

claim 11

wherein the client computer transmits the cryptographic key to the etailer computer automatically upon receiving of the cryptographic key from the cryptographic authority computer.

13. The method of

claim 2

further comprising:

utilizing the etailer computer to transmit a cryptographic key request to a cryptographic authority computer by bypassing the client computer; and

utilizing the cryptographic authority computer to transmit the cryptographic key to the etailer computer by bypassing the client computer.

14. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

utilizing a mobile computer of the delivery entity to transmit a cryptographic key request to a cryptographic authority computer; and

utilizing the cryptographic authority computer to transmit the cryptographic key to the mobile computer.

15. The method of

claim 14

wherein the cryptographic key request is wirelessly transmitted by the mobile computer.

16. A method of delivering a package comprising:

providing a delivery identifier to a processor of a cryptographic authority computer, the delivery identifier identifying a specific enclosure at a specific physical location and differing from delivery enclosures at other locations;

providing a request time to the processor of a cryptographic authority computer, the processor of a cryptographic authority computer generating a cryptographic key utilizing the delivery identifier and the request time;

locating the cryptographic key on a delivery package; and

providing the package to a delivery entity, the delivery entity transporting the package to a delivery location and entering the cryptographic key into a processor of a delivery computer at the delivery location, the delivery computer decrypting the cryptographic key and causing for a lock on the delivery enclosures to be unlocked if the delivery identifier matches a proof identifier located in the delivery computer and a difference in time between a proof time from a clock at the delivery entity and the request time is less than a selected maximum, unlocking of the lock allowing the delivery entity to open a closure member of the enclosure to gain access to an internal volume of the enclosure, the delivery entity locating the delivery package in the internal volume.

17. A method of delivering a package comprising:

transmitting a delivery identifier from one computer to a processor of a cryptographic authority computer, the delivery identifier identifying a specific enclosure at a specific physical location and differing from delivery enclosures at other locations;

providing a request time to the processor of a cryptographic authority computer, the processor of a cryptographic authority computer generating a cryptographic key utilizing the delivery identifier and the request time; and

providing the package to a delivery person, the delivery person transporting the package to a delivery location and causing the cryptographic key to be entered into a processor of a delivery computer at the delivery location, the delivery computer decrypting the cryptographic key and causing for a lock on the delivery enclosure to be unlocked if the delivery identifier matches a proof identifier located in the delivery computer and a difference in time between a proof time from a clock at the delivery entity and the request time is less than a selected maximum, unlocking of the lock allowing a person to open a closure member of the enclosure to gain access to an internal volume of the enclosure, the delivery person locating the delivery package in the internal volume.

18. The method of

claim 17

wherein the person allowed to open the closure member is the delivery person.