Method and arrangement for delivering mail

• US 20060287870A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boris Mayer, Flavio Alario
• Original Assignee: Boris Mayer, Flavio Alario
• Inventors: Mayer, Boris, Alario, Flavio
• Application Number:
  US10/569,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287870A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00209 Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail

Abstract

A method for delivering mail, wherein the mail is transported to a delivery address and a notification message is deposited thereon if the mail cannot be delivered to an authorized recipient. A charging area of a packet mailbox is allocated to the recipient of the mail by means of an identifier, such as a bar code. The identifier is applied to the notification message together with position information of the packet mailbox and data of the recipient, such that the collector can collect the mail, for example, with the aid of a notification card on the packet mailbox.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a shipment to one of several electronic parcel compartment systems, wherein the shipment is transported to a delivery address at which a notification is deposited if it is determined that the shipment cannot be handed over to an authorized recipient,

the method comprising the following steps:

of connecting a central data management unit to at least one electronic parcel compartment system in order to transmit information about free compartments in the parcel compartment system to the data management unit and transmitting the information about free compartments to a mobile device in order to generate information about free compartments in a parcel compartment system;

evaluating the information of the mobile device about free compartments in a parcel compartment system and associating a storage place in a parcel compartment system with a recipient of the shipment via an identifier, whereby the notification is provided at least with data for identifying the parcel compartment system, with data about the recipient and with the identifier;

depositing of the shipment in a compartment of an electronic parcel compartment system, whereby at least the identifier associated with the recipient of the shipment is recorded and stored so as to match the compartment in question;

a person picking up the shipment at the parcel compartment system,

recording at least the identifier associated with the recipient of the shipment,

comparing the identifier associated with the recipient of the shipment and the identifier stored for occupied compartments, and

releasing the deposited shipment from a compartment if the result of the comparison shows that the identifier associated with the recipient matches an identifier stored for the compartment in question.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising

associating an identifier with a storage place in a parcel compartment system before determining that the shipment cannot be handed over to an authorized recipient at the delivery address.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising

associating an identifier with a storage place in a parcel compartment system after determining that the shipment cannot be handed over to an authorized recipient at the delivery address.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising,

when a recipient is associated with a storage place in a parcel compartment system by an identifier, reserving a compartment is in a parcel compartment system, wherein the reservation is made via a mobile device.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising,

when the shipment is deposited in the parcel compartment system and/or when the shipment is picked up from the parcel compartment system, transmitting data about each procedure to a central data management unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising,

when the shipment is deposited in a parcel compartment system, recording a monetary sum, wherein the payment of this monetary sum is a prerequisite for the release of the shipment when someone picks up the shipment.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising,

when the shipment is deposited, recording data about the recipient and when someone picks up the shipment, recording data about the person picking up the shipment, wherein the correspondence of said data is a prerequisite for the release of the shipment when a person picks up the shipment, whereby if the data about the recipient and the data about the person picking up the shipment do not match, activating a function by means of which the person picking up the shipment can indicate that he is a substitute recipient, which is a prerequisite for the release of the shipment.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising

recording the signature of the person picking up the shipment when said person picks up the shipment.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising

the signature by the notification that has been provided with the signature.

10. The method according to claim 8, comprising

recording the signature by a personal identity card that has been provided with the signature.

11. An arrangement for carrying out a method for delivering a shipment to one of several electronic parcel compartment systems according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises at least one central data management unit and several electronic parcel compartment systems each of said electronic parcel compartments systems having a device for exchanging data, and wherein the parcel compartment system has at least device for recording, storing and comparing identifier, wherein

the arrangement comprises at least the following components:

a device for generating an identifier, whereby the identifier serves to associate a recipient of a shipment with a storage place in a parcel compartment system;

a mobile device for generating information about free compartments in a parcel compartment system, whereby the mobile device can be connected to the central data management unit and the information serves to associate a recipient of a shipment with a storage place; and

a device generating a notification, whereby the notification can be provided with data for identifying a parcel compartment system, with data about the recipient and with the identifier.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein

the identifier comprising at least one of a barcode, a numerical code and a letter code.

13. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein

the notification is provided with two identical identifiers, wherein at least one identifier can be detached from the notification.