Method and apparatus for notifying of receipt

• US 20020113703A1
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford A., Moskowitz, Paul A., Grey, William, Boies, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,483,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/145 the receptacle comprising means for identifying a deposit; Deposits carrying identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for notifying at least one entity upon receipt of an item is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, a determination is made whether an item has been placed in a repository. This determination may be made using any of a number of different types and combinations of sensors. An identification of at least one entity to be notified is then made, and the entity is notified if a determination is made that an item has been placed in the repository.

Claims

1. A notification method, comprising:

determining whether an item has been placed in a repository;

identifying at least one entity to be notified; and

notifying said at least one entity when said determining indicates that said item has been placed in said repository.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to grant access to said repository.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining whether to grant access is performed using at least one of:

a biometric sensor;

a magnetic stripe reader;

a bar code reader;

a radio frequency (RF) identification device reader;

a keypad; and

a smart card reader.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining whether to grant access comprises:

receiving a request to access said repository; and

comparing said request to access with access permission information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

granting access if said request to access matches said access permission information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

presenting a recorded message upon granting access.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

recording a message upon granting access.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

denying access if said request to access does not match said access permission information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising notifying at least one entity of the denied access.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises operating a sensor located in a container of said repository.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said sensor is at least one of:

a bar code;

a RF identification device reader;

a camera;

a bomb detector;

a strain gauge;

a weight detector;

a shock detector; and

a sound detector.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one characteristic of said item.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one characteristic is at least one of:

a weight of said item;

an image of said item;

a sender of said item;

a shipper of said item; and

a shape of said item.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said entity to be notified is at least one of:

a recipient of said item;

a sender of said item; and

a shipper of said item.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying at least one entity further comprises identifying an address of said at least one entity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said notifying comprises:

generating a message including information about said item; and

forwarding said message to said at least one entity.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said sensor includes a video camera and a microphone and wherein said notifying includes:

forwarding a picture and a sound recording to said at least one entity.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said sensor is an accelerometer adapted to detect a physical attack on said repository, further comprising:

notifying at least one entity when said repository is subject to said physical attack.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said repository is a mail box.

21. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

an access control device, coupled to said repository, for controlling access to an interior of said repository.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said access control device is at least one of:

a biometric sensor;

a magnetic stripe reader;

a bar code reader;

a radio frequency (RF) identification device reader;

a keypad; and

a smart card reader.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein said sensor is at least one of:

a bar code reader;

a RF identification device reader;

a camera;

a bomb detector;

a strain gauge;

a weight detector;

a shock detector; and

a sound detector.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein said communication device is coupled to at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

an Internet;

a cellular network; and

a Bluetooth-compatible wireless network.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

fourth instructions for determining whether to grant access to said repository.

19. A notification device, comprising:

a repository, for receiving an item;

a sensor, coupled to said repository, for detecting the presence or non-presence of said item; and

a communication device, coupled to said sensor, for transmitting a message to at least one entity when said sensor detects the presence of said item.

25. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for notifying upon delivery of an item, comprising:

first instructions for determining whether an item has been placed in a repository;

second instructions for identifying at least one entity to be notified; and

third instructions for notifying said at least one entity when said determining indicates that said item has been placed in said repository.