IT supported lock box delivery/distribution of goods

• US 20020169628A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bauer, Ruediger Roland
• Application Number:
  US10/104,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169628A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

The disclosed method and system for delivery of goods, after an order being placed with an online store by an ordering party, comprises the steps of instructing a dispatcher to process delivery of the ordered goods, fetching the ordered goods from a storehouse by the dispatcher, dispatching the fetched goods to a locking device, providing a code number for accessing the locking device to the ordering party and transferring said code number to the locking device via a telecommunication channel, and fetching the ordered goods from the locking device by the ordering party at an arbitrary time using said code number. Further proposed is a locking device comprising a box combined with a releasing counter means, a lockable door which can be released electronically , a telecommunication line for providing a network or online connection to the online store, control means for handling information about pending orders locally, and converter means for interfacing between the lockable door and said control means and/or said telecommunication means.

Claims

1. A method for computer supported delivery/distribution of goods after an order is placed using an ordering application or service of an online store by an ordering party comprising the steps of

instructing a dispatcher to process delivery of the ordered goods;

fetching the ordered goods from a storehouse by the dispatcher;

dispatching the fetched goods to a locking device;

providing a code number for accessing the locking device to the ordering party and transferring said code number to the locking device via a telecommunication channel; and

fetching the ordered goods from the locking device by the ordering party at an arbitrary time using said code number.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of

placing an order for at least one goods by the ordering party;

fetching the home address of the ordering party and selecting an appropriate locking device from a locking device database, in particular a locking device in proximity to said home address;

fetching common information about the ordered goods from an article database and calculating a required locking device size and/or type;

generating a locking device code number for the particular order and securely providing said code number to the ordering party; and

calculating an expected delivery date and providing the calculated delivery date together with information about the selected locking device to the ordering party.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the further steps of:

storing the order together with an order number and/or other order information in an order database;

providing the stored order to the ordering party for confirmation of the order; and

securely providing the ordering party with a personal identification number (PIN) for the order so that the ordering party can access the order in said order database and change particularly the delivery data.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locking device automatically initiates a network or online connection to the online store to indicate in the order stored in said order database, which is accessible by the ordering party via the said PIN, that the ordered goods have been dispatched to the particular locking device.

5. A system for computer supported delivery/distribution of goods after an order is placed using an ordering application or service of an online store by an ordering party, comprising

means for instructing a dispatcher to process delivery of the ordered goods;

locking means for dispatching the ordered goods; and

means for providing a code number for accessing the locking device to the ordering party and transferring said code number to the locking device via a telecommunication channel.

6. A locking device for use in a computer supported method of delivery /distribution of goods, comprising:

a box or a movable deposit system or an automatic storage system combined with a releasing counter means;

at least one lockable door which can be released electronically;

telecommunication means for providing a network or online connection to the online store and/or to other involved parties in the ordering process;

control means for handling information related to pending orders; and

converter means for interfacing between said at least one lockable door or movable deposit or automatic storage system, respectively, and/or said telecommunication means and/or said control means.

7. The Locking device according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit for viewing order information or the like.

8. The Locking device according to claim 7, wherein said display comprises a touch screen and/or write field for entering information, in particular a signature written by the ordering party when fetching the ordered goods from the locking device.

9. The Locking device according to claim 6, further comprising speech control means, in particular a speech output and/or speech input device, for supporting a dialog within the lock box system.

10. The locking device according to any of claim 6, further comprising a cooling means (110) for cooling the inside of the locking device.

11. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising means for scanning and evaluating a barcode or the like, in particular in order to confirm placement of goods in the locking device by a dispatcher.

12. The Locking device according to any of claim 6, further comprising a card reader for reading credit cards or identity cards for authorization or/and for payment.

13. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising a digital camera for checking correct delivery and/or light barriers for size check and/or correctness of delivery.

14. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising an electronic libra for verification of correct delivery.

15. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising a printer for printing a receipt and other delivery relevant information.

16. The locking device according to claim 6, further comprising an electronic movement indicator for implementation of a burglary alarm system.

17. The locking device according to claim 16, wherein said movement indicator is only activated when said at least one lockable door is opened through authorized access.

18. The locking device according to claim 6, wherein said telecommunication means, after placement of goods in the locking device by a dispatcher, initiates an online connection to the online store to inform the ordering party that the ordered goods have been dispatched.

19. The locking device according to claim 6, which is part of a locking device installation including locking devices of at least two sizes.