Locker mobile pickup station

• US 20020116289A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ping Yang
• Original Assignee: Ping Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Ping
• Application Number:
  US10/055,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116289A1
• 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: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A method and system for scheduling delivery and delivery of products to buyers. A Mobile Pickup Station (MPS) server is placed within a computer network and receives product shipping instructions from buyers or third party sellers. The MPS server determines optimal pickup points using buyer commuting information and buyer delivery requests. A portable kiosk or locker station, enclosing buyers'"'"' purchases within individually lockable lockers, is placed at a pickup point chosen by the buyers. The buyers use access codes, such as a product ID and password, to unlock the lockers and receive their purchases.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling and delivery of an ordered product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

receiving route information from a buyer;

generating a route from the route information;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route; and

dispatching a portable locker station to the pickup point, the portable locker station enclosing the ordered product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the route information includes at least two landmarks and generating a route further includes finding a route of shortest distance between the two landmarks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the route information includes at least two sub-routes and generating a route further includes finding a route of shortest distance between the two sub-routes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable locker station includes a plurality of lockers for enclosing products, each of the plurality of lockers having a unique access code, the method further comprising transmitting to the buyer an access code for a locker enclosing the buyer'"'"'s product, the locker selected from the plurality of lockers.

5. A data processing system adapted to schedule and deliver an ordered product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving route information from a buyer;

generating a route from the route information;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route; and

dispatching a portable locker station to the pickup point, the portable locker station enclosing the ordered product.

6. The data processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the route information includes at least two landmarks, the program instructions for generating a route further including finding a route of shortest distance between the two landmarks.

7. The data processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the route information includes at least two sub-routes, the program instructions for generating a route further including finding a route of shortest distance between the two sub-routes.

8. The data processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the portable locker station includes a plurality of lockers for enclosing products, each of the plurality of lockers having a unique access code, the program instructions further including transmitting to the buyer an access code for a locker enclosing the buyer'"'"'s product, the locker selected from the plurality of lockers.

9. A portable locker station, comprising:

a plurality of lockers, each of the plurality of lockers having an electronically actuated lock;

a controller electrically coupled to each of the electronically actuated locks, the controller having means for storing a plurality of access codes associated with the lockers; and

a keypad electrically coupled to the controller whereby a buyer enters an access code to unlock an associated locker.

10. The portable locker station of claim 9, further comprising a removable divider between adjoining lockers whereby a single locker is created from two or more lockers by removing the divider.

11. The portable locker station of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of keypads, each keypad corresponding to a single locker from the plurality of lockers.