Method and apparatus for securing delivery of goods

• US 20020087429A1
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: IdeaFlood, Inc.
• Inventors: Shuster, Gary Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 6,756,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing security for delivered goods purchased via electronic or telephonic commerce is provided in the form of a digital lock box, and method of operating the lock box in cooperation with senders of goods. This method further comprises generating a owner access code for full access to a secured area, individually dividing this secured area into a plurality of sections after each delivery, generating a delivery access code for access to particular sections of a secured area, forwarding this delivery access code to senders of deliverable goods, and deactivating this delivery access code after the delivery of these goods.

Claims

1. A method for receiving packages delivered to a secured area, the method comprising:

dividing the secured area into a plurality of separate sections;

opening for access at least one of the separate sections of the secured area upon receipt of a delivery access code;

securing from access any section of the secured area that already contains a package when the delivery access code is used to access the secured area; and

deactivating the delivery access code so that the delivery access code is no longer operative to access the secured area after the at least one of the separate sections has been accessed using the delivery access code.

2. The method of claim 1, the further comprising providing a secured area comprising a digital lock box.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising opening for access all of the separate sections of the secured area upon receipt of a owner access code.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the delivery access code to a remote party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said dividing step further comprises dividing the secured area using at least one movable barrier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said dividing step further comprises adjusting at least one dimension of the at least one of the plurality of separate sections of the secured area according to at least one dimension of a package placed in the at least one of the plurality of separate sections.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically determining an amount of vacant space available in a largest one of the plurality of separate sections of the secured area.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the amount of vacant space available with dimensions of a package that is not yet delivered to the secured area.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a message when the dimensions of the package that is not yet delivered exceeds the amount of vacant space available.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said dividing step further comprises a reset mechanism triggered upon removal of all delivered contents of the secured area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said dividing step further comprises dividing the secured area using a plurality of movable barriers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of opening for access all of the separate sections of the secured area upon receipt of a owner access code.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of transmitting the delivery access code to a remote party.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of adjusting at least one dimension of the at least one of the plurality of separate sections of the secured area according to at least one dimension of a package placed in the at least one of the plurality of separate sections.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of automatically determining an amount of vacant space available in a largest one of the plurality of separate sections of the secured area.

17. The system of claim 17, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of comparing the amount of vacant space available with dimensions of a package that is not yet delivered to the secured area.

18. The system of claim 18, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of transmitting a message when the dimensions of the package that is not yet delivered exceeds the amount of vacant space available.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of dividing the secured area using a plurality of movable barriers.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital lock box is further operative to perform the function of dividing the secured area using at least one movable barrier.

12. A system for receiving packages delivered to a secured area,, the system comprising:

a digital lock box connected to a computer network, the digital lock box operative to perform the functions of;

opening for access at least one of the separate sections of the secured area upon receipt of a delivery access code;

securing from access any section of the secured area that already contains a package when the delivery access code is used to access the secured area; and

deactivating the delivery access code so that the delivery access code is no longer operative to access the secured area after the at least one of the separate sections has been accessed using the delivery access code.