METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT OF DEVICES FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC PARCEL POSTBOX

• US 20100004960A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Alario, Flavio, Alario, Rebekka, Frankenberg, Steffen
• Application Number:
  US12/514,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for operating at least one electronic parcel compartment facility. The parcel compartment facility comprises several compartments in a number amounting to F, with which mailpieces of at least two user groups A and B having different access rights can be deposited into the compartments of the parcel compartment facility, whereby the parcel compartment facility is in communication with a central data processing unit. The occupation status of the compartments of the parcel compartment facility is transmitted to the data processing unit so that the number Y of different sizes of free compartments of the parcel compartment facility is stored in a memory of the data processing unit. The central data processing unit is also in communication with at least one mail distribution center where destination information about the mailpieces is acquired, whereby the destination information is associated with the parcel compartment facility. An exemplary method comprises specifying a period of time Z between a starting point in time and an ending point in time and storing the period of time Z in a data processing unit of the mail distribution center. The exemplary method also comprises acquiring destination information and sizes of the mailpieces in the mail distribution center using a data acquisition device. The exemplary method additionally comprises determining the X number of mailpieces whose destination information acquired during the period of time Z matches the destination information of the parcel compartment facility by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center and transmitting the number X by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center to the central data processing unit. The exemplary method further comprises comparing the number X to the number Y of free compartments and assigning X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to a first user group A by the central data processing unit if Y≧X. The exemplary method also comprises transmitting a control command for the reservation of the X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility assigned to the first user group A by the data processing unit to a control unit of the parcel compartment facility, and subtracting the number X of reserved compartments from the number Y of free compartments for purposes of determining the number V of available compartments remaining in the parcel compartment facility. The exemplary method additionally comprises assigning at least some of the remaining available compartments V to a second user group B, if V>1 and transmitting a control command for a reservation of the compartments assigned to the second user group B from the data processing unit to the control unit of the parcel compartment facility. The exemplary method further comprises acquiring user identifications and/or mailing information through a user interface at the parcel compartment facility and associating a user and/or a mailpiece with the user groups A or B on the basis of the acquired user information and/or mailing information. The exemplary method also comprises controlling access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility on the basis of the reservations made for the two user groups A and B and determining a point in time P by the control unit of the parcel compartment facility. The exemplary method additionally comprises canceling the reservations of compartments for the user groups A and B after the point in time P and releasing access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to all user groups.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method for operating at least one electronic parcel compartment facility comprising several compartments in a number amounting to F, with which mailpieces of at least two user groups A and B having different access rights can be deposited into the compartments of the parcel compartment facility, whereby the parcel compartment facility is in communication with a central data processing unit, and the occupation status of the compartments of the parcel compartment facility is transmitted to the data processing unit so that the number Y of different sizes of free compartments of the parcel compartment facility is stored in a memory of the data processing unit, and the central data processing unit is also in communication with at least one mail distribution center where destination information about the mailpieces is acquired, whereby the destination information is associated with the parcel compartment facility, the method comprising:

specifying a period of time Z between a starting point in time and an ending point in time;

storing the period of time Z in a data processing unit of the mail distribution center;

acquiring destination information and sizes of the mailpieces in the mail distribution center using a data acquisition device;

determining the X number of mailpieces whose destination information acquired during the period of time Z matches the destination information of the parcel compartment facility by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center;

transmitting the number X by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center to the central data processing unit;

comparing the number X to the number Y of free compartments;

assigning X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to a first user group A by the central data processing unit if Y≧

X;

transmitting a control command for the reservation of the X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility assigned to the first user group A by the data processing unit to a control unit of the parcel compartment facility;

subtracting the number X of reserved compartments from the number Y of free compartments for purposes of determining the number V of available compartments remaining in the parcel compartment facility;

assigning at least some of the remaining available compartments V to a second user group B, if V>

1;

transmitting a control command for a reservation of the compartments assigned to the second user group B from the data processing unit to the control unit of the parcel compartment facility;

acquiring user identifications and/or mailing information through a user interface at the parcel compartment facility;

associating a user and/or a mailpiece with the user groups A or B on the basis of the acquired user information and/or mailing information;

controlling access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility on the basis of the reservations made for the two user groups A and B;

determining a point in time P by the control unit of the parcel compartment facility;

canceling the reservations of compartments for the user groups A and B after the point in time P; and

releasing access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to all user groups.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein mailpieces of three user groups A, B and C can be deposited into the compartments of the parcel compartment facility, the method comprising:

assigning a first portion of the remaining available compartments V to the second user group B; and

assigning a second portion of the remaining available compartments V to a third user group C.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the remaining available compartments V are assigned to the user groups B and C in equal proportions.

12. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the remaining available compartments V are assigned to the user groups B and C in unequal proportions.

13. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the point in time P is permanently stored in the control unit of the parcel compartment facility.

14. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the point in time P can be specified variably as a function of various parameters.

15. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the point in time P is specified by the central data processing unit and transmitted to the control unit of the parcel compartment facility.

16. An arrangement of devices to operate at least one electronic parcel compartment facility comprising several compartments in a number amounting to F, with which mailpieces of at least two user groups A and B having different access rights can be deposited, whereby the parcel compartment facility is in communication with a central data processing unit that encompasses a memory to store the occupation status of the compartments of the parcel compartment facility, so that the number Y of different sizes of free compartments of the parcel compartment facility can be stored, and the central data processing unit is also in communication with at least one mail distribution center that has at least one data acquisition device to acquire destination information and the size of mailpieces, and a data processing unit, whereby the destination information is associated with the parcel compartment facility, the arrangement of devices comprising:

a device associated with the data processing unit that is adapted to specify a period of time Z between a starting point in time and an ending point in time, the period of time Z being stored in a memory in the data processing unit;

a device associated with the data processing unit that is adapted to determine the X number of mailpieces whose destination information acquired during the period of time Z matches the destination information of the parcel compartment facility;

a transmitter that is adapted to transmit the number X to the central data processing unit;

a device associated with the parcel compartment facility that is adapted to transmit the occupation status of the compartments F to the central data processing unit;

a device associated with the parcel compartment facility that is adapted to receive control signals from the data processing unit in order to reserve compartments for at least two user groups A and B;

a user interface associated with the parcel compartment facility to acquire user information and/or mailing information;

a device associated with the parcel compartment facility that is adapted to associate users and/or mailpieces with the user groups A or B;

a device associated with the parcel compartment facility that is adapted to release free compartments on the basis of reserves made for the user groups A and B;

a device associated with the parcel compartment facility that is adapted to specify a point in time P;

a device associated with the parcel compartment facility that is adapted to cancel reservations at the point in time P;

a device associated with the central data processing unit that is adapted to compare the number X to the number Y of free compartments;

a device associated with the central data processing unit that is adapted to associate the Y free compartments of the parcel compartment facility with the at least two user groups A and B;

a device associated with the central data processing unit that is adapted to generate control commands for the reservation of compartments of the parcel compartment facility; and

a device associated with the central data processing unit that is adapted to transmit these control commands to the parcel compartment facility.

17. An electronic parcel compartment facility comprising several compartments in a number amounting to F, with which mailpieces of at least two user groups A and B having different access rights can be deposited into the compartments of the parcel compartment facility, whereby the electronic parcel compartment facility is in communication with a central data processing unit, and the occupation status of the compartments of the electronic parcel compartment facility is transmitted to the data processing unit so that the number Y of different sizes of free compartments of the electronic parcel compartment facility is stored in a memory of the data processing unit, and the central data processing unit is also in communication with at least one mail distribution center where destination information about the mailpieces is acquired, whereby the destination information is associated with the electronic parcel compartment facility, the electronic parcel compartment facility comprising:

means for specifying a period of time Z between a starting point in time and an ending point in time;

means for storing the period of time Z in a data processing unit of the mail distribution center;

means for acquiring destination information and sizes of the mailpieces in the mail distribution center using a data acquisition device;

means for determining the X number of mailpieces whose destination information acquired during the period of time Z matches the destination information of the parcel compartment facility by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center;

means for transmitting the number X by the data processing unit of the mail distribution center to the central data processing unit;

means for comparing the number X to the number Y of free compartments;

means for assigning X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to a first user group A by the central data processing unit if Y≧

X;

means for transmitting a control command for the reservation of the X free compartments of the parcel compartment facility assigned to the first user group A by the data processing unit to a control unit of the parcel compartment facility;

means for subtracting the number X of reserved compartments from the number Y of free compartments for purposes of determining the number V of available compartments remaining in the parcel compartment facility;

means for assigning at least some of the remaining available compartments V to a second user group B, if V>

1;

means for transmitting a control command for a reservation of the compartments assigned to the second user group B from the data processing unit to the control unit of the parcel compartment facility;

means for acquiring user identifications and/or mailing information through a user interface at the parcel compartment facility;

means for associating a user and/or a mailpiece with the user groups A or B on the basis of the acquired user information and/or mailing information;

means for controlling access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility on the basis of the reservations made for the two user groups A and B;

means for determining a point in time P by the control unit of the parcel compartment facility;

means for canceling the reservations of compartments for the user groups A and B after the point in time P; and

means for releasing access to free compartments of the parcel compartment facility to all user groups.