Automatically Generating Electronic Notifications in Response to Received Mail
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in notifying a person of received content in a post office box, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a first member adapted to be placed on an interior portion of the post office box;
a flap member rotatably attached to the first member;
a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member;
wherein when the apparatus is placed inside the post office box, and when the flap member is moved to be proximate to the first member to allow placement of content inside the post office box, the sensor is configured to;
detect proximity of the flap member to the first member; and
provide an indication in response to detection of proximity, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and Method for mail notification. An apparatus includes a first member adapted to be placed on an interior portion of the post office box, a flap member rotatably attached to the first member, and a sensor included in at least one of the first member or the flap member. When the apparatus is placed inside the post office box, and when the flap member is moved to be proximate to the first member to allow placement of content inside the post office box, the sensor detects proximity of the flap member to the first member or movement of the flap member from a first position to a second position, and provides an indication in response to detection of proximity, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in notifying a person of received content in a post office box, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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a first member adapted to be placed on an interior portion of the post office box; a flap member rotatably attached to the first member; a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member; wherein when the apparatus is placed inside the post office box, and when the flap member is moved to be proximate to the first member to allow placement of content inside the post office box, the sensor is configured to; detect proximity of the flap member to the first member; and provide an indication in response to detection of proximity, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for use in notifying a person of received content in a post office box, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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a first member, attachable to an interior surface of the post office box; a flap member, rotatably attached to the first member, wherein the flap member is configured to; maintain a first position when the post office box has no contents; and maintain a second position when the post office box has contents; and a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member, wherein the sensor is configured to; distinguish between the first and second positions, thereby detecting whether or not the post office box has content; in response to detecting that the post office box has content, provide an indication of the content, wherein the indication of the content is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box of the content. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A system for notifying persons of received content in post office boxes, comprising:
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a plurality of apparatuses, each of the apparatuses installed in a respective post office box, and each of the apparatuses respectively comprising; a first member adapted to be placed on an interior portion of the respective post office box; a flap member rotatably attached to the first member; a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member; wherein when the apparatus is installed inside the respective post office box, and when the flap member is moved to be proximate to the first member to allow placement of content inside the respective post office box, the sensor is configured to; detect proximity of the flap member to the first member; and provide an indication in response to detection of proximity, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the respective post office box; and a controller, wirelessly coupled to each of the apparatuses, wherein the controller is coupled to a network, and wherein the controller is configured to; receive the indication from the sensor of a respective apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses; and send a notification of the content over the network to the recipient associated with the respective post office box in which the respective apparatus is installed.
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24. A system for notifying persons of received content in post office boxes, comprising:
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a plurality of apparatuses, each of the apparatuses installed in a respective post office box, and each of the apparatuses respectively comprising; a first member, attached to an interior surface of the respective post office box, wherein the first member comprises the first sensor component; a flap member, rotatably attached to the first member, wherein the flap member is configured to; maintain a first position when the respective post office box has no contents; and maintain a second position when the respective post office box has contents; and a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member, wherein the sensor is configured to; distinguish between the first and second positions, thereby detecting whether or not the respective post office box has content; in response to detecting that the respective post office box has content, provide an indication of the content, wherein the indication of the content is useable to notify a recipient associated with the respective post office box of the content; and a controller, wirelessly coupled to each of the apparatuses, wherein the controller is coupled to a network, and wherein the controller is configured to; receive the indication from the sensor of a respective apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses; and send a notification of the content over the network to the recipient associated with the respective post office box in which the respective apparatus is installed.
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25. A method, comprising:
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placing content in a post office box, wherein the post office box comprises; a first member placed on an interior portion of the post office box; a flap member rotatably attached to the first member; and a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member; the flap member moving to be proximate to the first member in response to placement of content inside the post office box; detecting, via the sensor, proximity of the flap member to the first member; and providing, via the sensor, an indication in response to detection of proximity, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box.
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26. An apparatus for use in notifying a person of received content in a post office box, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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a first member adapted to be placed on an interior portion of the post office box; a flap member rotatably attached to the first member; a sensor comprised in at least one of the first member or the flap member; wherein when the apparatus is placed inside the post office box, and when the flap member changes position to allow placement of content inside the post office box, the sensor is configured to; detect the change in position of the flap member; and provide an indication in response to the detected change in position, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box.
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Specification