Unattended item delivery system
First Claim
1. A controlled access storage system for the delivery and retrieval of an item having a transponder associated therewith, the transponder being configured to transmit item identification data, the storage system comprising:
- an enclosure sized and configured to store the item;
a locking mechanism for unlocking the enclosure for access therein in response to an unlock signal;
a transponder communications device configured to electrically interrogate the transponder and to receive the item identification data in response; and
access control circuitry disposed in operable communication with the transponder communications device and the locking mechanism, for selectively providing an unlock signal to the locking mechanism in response to the received item identification data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a controlled access storage system for the delivery and retrieval of an item having a transponder associated therewith. In this regard, the transponder is programmed with data specific to the item. The transponder is configured to transmit item identification data. The storage system is provided with an enclosure sized and configured to store the item. The storage system is further provided with a locking mechanism for unlocking the enclosure for access therein in response to an unlock signal. The storage system is further provided with a transponder communications device which is configured to electrically interrogate the transponder and to receive the item identification data in response. The storage system is further provided with access control circuitry which is disposed in operable communication with the transponder communications device and the locking mechanism, for selectively providing an unlock signal to the locking mechanism in response to the received item identification data.
37 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A controlled access storage system for the delivery and retrieval of an item having a transponder associated therewith, the transponder being configured to transmit item identification data, the storage system comprising:
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an enclosure sized and configured to store the item;
a locking mechanism for unlocking the enclosure for access therein in response to an unlock signal;
a transponder communications device configured to electrically interrogate the transponder and to receive the item identification data in response; and
access control circuitry disposed in operable communication with the transponder communications device and the locking mechanism, for selectively providing an unlock signal to the locking mechanism in response to the received item identification data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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39. A controlled access storage system for the delivery and retrieval of an item having a transponder associated therewith, the transponder being configured to transmit item identification data, the storage system comprising:
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an enclosure sized and configured to store the item;
a locking mechanism for unlocking the enclosure for access therein in response to an unlock signal;
a transponder communications device configured to electrically interrogate the transponder and to receive the item identification data in response;
access control circuitry disposed in operable communication with the transponder communications device and the locking mechanism, for selectively providing an unlock signal to the locking mechanism in response to the received item identification data;
an external host computer; and
an external communications device in electrical communication with the access control circuitry for transmitting a signal representative of the receipt of the item identification data to the external host computer.
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52. A controlled access storage system for the delivery and retrieval of items each having a transponder associated therewith, the transponder being configured to transmit item identification data, the storage system comprising:
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a plurality of enclosures sized and configured to store the items;
a locking mechanism for unlocking the enclosures for access therein in response to an unlock signal;
a transponder communications device configured to electrically interrogate the transponder and to receive the item identification data in response; and
access control circuitry disposed in operable communication with the transponder communications device and the locking mechanism, for selectively providing an unlock signal to the locking mechanism in response to the received item identification data. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A method of delivering an item to a locked enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a transponder to the item, the transponder being programmed with item identification data;
(b) transporting the item in close proximity to the enclosure;
(c) establishing a transponder data link between a transponder communications device located at the enclosure and the transponder;
(d) electrically interrogating the transponder and receiving the item identification data in response via the transponder data link; and
(f) selectively unlocking the enclosure based upon the received item identification data. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification