Method and apparatus for delivery of objects

• US 20070244829A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Benny Jones, Michael Lamb, Thomas Boswell
• Original Assignee: Benny Jones, Michael Lamb, Thomas Boswell
• Inventors: Lamb, Michael, Boswell, Thomas, Jones, Benny
• Application Number:
  US11/406,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/14 With a sequence of inputs of different identification information
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A system and method for delivering an object to a user is disclosed. The method may include storing authentication information for a user. The method may also include receiving a first user input and comparing the stored authentication information with the first user input. The first user input may include data stored on an electromagnetic card. The method may also include receiving a second user input and comparing the stored authentication information with the second user input. The second user input may include a personal identification number. If the user has been authenticated, the method may include communicating an electronic command for unsecuring at least one object. The electronic command may be communicated to a housing unit having compartments for housing objects. The location of the object may be communicated to the user and the user may pick up the object from the unsecured compartment.

Claims

1. A method of delivering an object to a user, said method comprising:

storing authentication information;

receiving a first user input;

comparing said authentication information with said first user input;

receiving a second user input;

comparing said authentication information with said second user input;

communicating an electronic command to unsecure said object; and

communicating the location of the object to said user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of storing authentication information further includes storing reservation information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user input includes data stored on an electromagnetic card.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said authentication information and reservation information are received from an external network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of comparing said authentication information with said first user input further includes comparing at least some of said data stored on said electromagnetic card with said authentication information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said second user input includes a personal identification number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of comparing said authentication information with said second user input further includes comparing said personal identification number with said authentication information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of communicating an electronic command to unsecure said object further includes unsecuring said object by unlocking a secure compartment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of communicating the location of the object to said user includes visually displaying said location of said object.

10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of detecting the absence of said object and communicating an electronic signal to identify said absence of said object.

11. A system for delivering an object to a user, said system comprising:

an input unit for receiving input from a user;

a housing unit for housing said object, said housing unit having an access mechanism for controlling access to said object; and

,

a computer unit for manipulating and storing data, said computer unit executing computer software for communicating with said user, and communicating an electronic command to said housing unit, said electronic command being a command to unlock said access mechanism of said housing unit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said input unit includes a touch screen display unit.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said input unit includes an electromagnetic card reader.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said housing unit has a plurality of compartments.

15. The system of claim 14, further including a display unit for displaying information for loading said plurality of compartments.

16. The system of claim 11, further including a second input unit.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said input unit includes a contact-less card reader.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said object is a key.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said data stored on said computer unit includes reservation and authentication data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said authentication data and reservation data are received from an external network.

21. A computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for a computer, the set of instructions comprising:

a storing routine for storing authentication information;

a first receiving routine for receiving a first user input;

a first comparing routine for comparing said authentication information with said first user input;

a second receiving routine for receiving a second user input;

a second comparing routine for comparing said authentication information with said second user input;

a first communicating routine for communicating an electronic command to unsecure said object; and

a second communicating routine for communicating the location of the object to said user.