Method and apparatus for the secure delivery of goods

• US 20030121968A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrea Merylyn Kay, Joan Margaret Miller, Lesley Jane Kay, Michael Robert Miller, Nicholas Steven Booth, Richard Anthony Kay, Robert James Miller
• Original Assignee: Andrea Merylyn Kay, Joan Margaret Miller, Lesley Jane Kay, Michael Robert Miller, Nicholas Steven Booth, Richard Anthony Kay, Robert James Miller
• Inventors: Kay, Richard Anthony, Kay, Lesley Jane, Booth, Nicholas Steven, Kay, Andrea Merylyn, Miller, Robert James, Miller, Joan Margaret, Miller, Michael Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

When an order for goods (18) is placed via the Internet (14) for later delivery, a supplier (16) provides to a purchaser (12) via the Internet or other means a consignment unlock barcode; the purchaser prints out a copy of the consignment unlock barcode and the supplier attaches a copy (20) of a related unlock barcode to the goods (18). At the purchaser'"'"'s premises is a secure container (22) with an electronic lock (32) and an external barcode reader (36). The purchaser programs the lock, by means of an exclusive master code and the supplier-generated consignment delivery code, to open when presented with the related unlock code. When a delivery driver presents the barcode (20) on the goods (18) to the reader (36), a control circuit (42) causes the electronic lock (32) to open. A second barcode reader (46) within the container (22) allows an infrared or radio receipt signal to be transmitted to a hand held infrared transceiver (52) after the securable container has been relocked.

Claims

1. A method for securely ordering and taking delivery of goods comprising the steps of;

a purchaser (12) placing an order with a supplier (16);

characterised by the supplier sending to the purchaser an unlock programming code associated with the goods and associating a visible representation of a related code (20) with the goods (18);

the purchaser (12) programming said unlock programming code into a programmable code reader means (36) on an electronically lockable container (22) accessible by a delivery driver;

the delivery driver entering the related code into the programmable code reader means;

the programmable code reader means permitting the container to be opened;

the delivery driver placing the goods in the lockable container; and

the container being once more electronically locked.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which an electronically-readable, visible representation (20) of said related code is placed on the goods (18) or the packaging thereof.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the unlock programming and related codes are barcodes and the programmable code reader means is a bar code reader (36).

4. A method according to claim 3 in which after the goods (18) have been placed in the container (22), the barcode on the goods is read again, a comparison is made of the code and the unlock code, and if a match is found, the container is electronically locked.

5. A method according to claim 4 comprising the further step of initiating transmission of a receipt message (R) for reception by a portable receiver external (52) to the container.

6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the purchaser places an order (A) for goods over the Internet (14), and the supplier sends the unlock code (T) associated with the goods via the Internet.

7. A method for secure pick-up of goods (56) comprising the steps of:

—

a premises occupier (12) requesting (Q) pick-up of the goods;

a service provider (16) sending to the premises occupier an unlock programming code (S);

the premises occupier placing the goods in an electronically lockable container (22) accessible by a delivery driver, the container having a programmable code reader means (36), and programming the container to be unlockable only on entry of a related unlock code;

electronically locking the container;

a delivery driver entering said related unlock code into the programmable code reader means;

the container being electronically unlocked;

and the delivery driver removing the goods (56) to be picked up.

8. A secure container for deliveries comprising a container (22) having an electronic lock (32);

characterised by barcode reader means (36) arranged to read an externally presented barcode; and

a control circuit (42) programmable to recognize an unlock code, arranged so that presentation of said visible code to the barcode reader means (36) causes the electronic lock (32) to permit the container (22) to be opened.

9. A container according to claim 8 further arranged to read a copy of the unlock barcode secured to the goods or the packaging thereof when positioned within the container, the control circuit then causing the electronic lock (32) to lock the container (22).

10. A container according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the control circuit (42) is arranged to cause the electronic lock (32) to permit the container (22) to be opened only once on external presentation of the unlock code to the barcode reader means (36).