Apparatus and method for accessing a secured storage space

• US 20120062362A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telezygology, Inc. (TZ Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Telezygology, Inc. (TZ Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rudduck, Dickory, Kelliher, Christopher, Ford, Benjamin, White, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

Access to one or more storage areas is controlled. An indication that a packaged asset is available for delivery to an intended recipient, an indication of a size of the asset, and an identity of the intended recipient are received. An available storage space is determined based at least in part upon the size of the asset and the identity of the intended recipient. When a storage space is determined to be available for the packaged asset, an access code is transmitted to the intended recipient allowing the intended recipient to access the available storage space using the access code.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to one or more storage areas, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that a packaged asset is available for delivery to an intended recipient, an indication of a size of the asset, and an identity of the intended recipient;

determining an available storage space based at least in part upon the size of the asset and the identity of the intended recipient; and

when a storage space is determined to be available for the packaged asset, transmitting an access code to the intended recipient allowing the intended recipient to access the available storage space using the access code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining available storage space comprises determining in real-time an identity of a storage space that is not currently being used by the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an available storage space comprises determining an identity of a storage space that is currently being used by the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an available storage space comprises determining an identity of a storage space that is being shared by the recipient with another.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the access code to access the available storage space and retrieving the packaged asset from the available storage space.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising activating a visual indicator to identify the available storage space.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising pushing on a door securing the available storage space to access the available storage space.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining a log of received packaged assets and intended recipients.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the log is accessible to a system administrator at substantially all times.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the access code comprises transmitting the access code to the intended recipient via email.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a payment from the recipient for use of the available storage space.

12. An apparatus for controlling access to one or more storage spaces, the apparatus comprising:

an interface, the interface having an input and an output, the interface configured to receive at the input an indication that a packaged asset is available for delivery to an intended recipient, an indication of asset size, and an identity of the intended recipient; and

a processor coupled to the interface, the processor configured to determine an available storage space based at least in part upon the asset size and the identity of the intended recipient, the processor being further configured to, when a storage space is determined to be available for the packaged asset, transmit an access code to the intended recipient at the output of the interface allowing the intended recipient to access the available storage space using the access code.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the available storage space is not currently being used by the recipient.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the available storage space is currently being used by the recipient.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the available storage space is being shared by the recipient with another.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a log of received packaged assets and intended recipients in a memory storage device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the log in the memory storage device is accessible to a system administrator at substantially all times.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the output is coupled to an Internet connection and the access code is transmitted to the recipient in an email via the Internet connection.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a payment from the recipient for use of the available storage space via the input of the interface.

20. A system for controlling access to one or more storage spaces, the system comprising:

a local network;

a plurality of locking arrangements communicatively coupled to the local network, each of the plurality of locking arrangements securing a storage space;

a data entry device coupled to the local network;

a wide area network coupled to the local network;

a system controller coupled to the wide area network;

such that the data entry device is configured to receive an indication that a packaged asset is available for delivery to an intended recipient, an indication of asset size, and an identity of the intended recipient;

such that the system controller is configured to determine an available storage space based at least in part upon the asset size and the identity of the intended recipient received from the data entry device via the wide area network, the system controller being further configured to, when a storage space is determined to be available for the packaged asset, transmit an access code to the intended recipient via the wide area network so that the intended recipient can use the access code to open the locking arrangement securing the available storage space and obtain the packaged asset.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein wide area network comprises one or more networks selected from the group consisting of:

the Internet, a cellular wireless network, and the plain old telephone system (POTS).

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the local network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of:

a campus-wide network;

a network covering a building or portions thereof; and

a network covering an office or portions thereof.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the available storage space is secured with a first locking arrangement disposed at a first end of the storage space and a second locking arrangement disposed at a second end of the storage space, such that the access code unlocks one of the first locking arrangement or the second locking arrangement.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the data entry device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a touch screen device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, and a personal computer.