METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SOLAR POWERED STORAGE SYSTEM

• US 20130307382A1
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrsnlockr, LLC
• Original Assignee: Garrsnlockr, LLC
• Inventors: Garrison, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,715,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/215
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

An approach is provided to facilitate storage space rental services from a self sustaining solar powered storage locker rental system that may be remotely monitored and controlled. The apparatus includes one or more storage lockers each having respective electronic locking mechanisms. The apparatus is configured to process a request to access a storage locker and determine storage locker availability. The apparatus displays which of the one or more storage lockers is available and processes a selection of an available storage locker to generate an access message that includes a locker number, a randomly generated access code, and a duration of access indication based on a confirmed financial transaction. The apparatus also includes at least one solar energy collection unit configured to collect solar energy, and an energy storage unit configured to store the collected solar energy and supply power to the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more storage lockers configured to store one or more items, the one or more storage lockers each comprising;

a top portion;

a bottom portion distal the top portion;

a first side portion having a first side portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a second side portion distal the first side portion having a second side portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a rear portion having a rear portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion and a rear portion width extending from the first side portion to the second side portion, the top portion, bottom portion, first side portion, second side portion, and rear portion being arranged to form a cavity therebetween, the cavity having an opening distal the rear portion;

a door portion adjoined to the first side portion by at least one hinge, the door portion being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the door portion further being configured to engage a door stop associated with the second side portion when the door portion is in the closed position, thereby sealing the opening; and

an electronic locking mechanism configured to be in one or a locker or an unlocked status cause a status of the door portion to also be one of locked and unlocked when the door portion is in the closed position based, at least in part, on a lock instruction;

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

process a request to access at least one of the one or more storage lockers to determine at least one of the one or more storage lockers is available to be accessed;

cause, at least in part, an accessibility report to be displayed on a user interface based, at least in part, on the request to access at least one of the one or more storage lockers, the accessibility report including an indication of which of the one or more storage lockers is determined to be available to be accessed;

process a selection associated with a particular determined available storage locker to cause, at least in part, an access message to be generated and communicated based, at least in part, on a confirmed financial transaction, the access message comprising a locker number, an access code, and a duration of access indication of the selected available storage locker; and

cause, at least in part, the lock instruction to be communicated to the electronic locking mechanism based, at least in part, on one or more of a reception of the access code and an access authorization indicator, the access authorization indicator being associated with one or more of the confirmed financial transaction associated with use of the at least one storage locker and a management system operator input;

at least one solar energy collection unit configured to collect solar energy; and

an energy storage unit configured to store the collected solar energy and supply power to the apparatus, the apparatus thereby being independent of any external power source.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit comprising the user interface, the user interface further being configured to facilitate the access request, the financial transaction associated with use of the selected available storage locker, and the communication of the access message, the control unit being positioned remote from the one or more storage lockers; and

a control unit housing, the control unit housing configured to support the user interface and accommodate the energy storage unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with the one or more electronic locking mechanisms and a storage locker access management system by way of a wireless communication network.

3. An apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

an input interface, the input interface being configured to receive a user input associated with the access code,

wherein at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access code input at the input interface to be verified based, at least in part, on one or more of the lock instruction and a verification communication with the control unit that compares the user input with the issued access code.

4. An apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input interface is positioned on the door portion, and the apparatus further comprises an electronic locking mechanism status indicator configured to indicate the electronic locking mechanism is in the locked or unlocked status.

5. An apparatus of claim 4, wherein the input interface comprises a touch screen keypad configured to receive a manually input access code.

6. An apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lock instruction is stored in another memory associated with the one or more locking mechanisms, the verification of the access code being based, at least in part, on the lock instruction stored in the another memory.

7. An apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input interface is accessible by way of a mobile device.

8. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more control units comprising respective user interfaces, the user interfaces being configured to facilitate the access request, the financial transaction associated with use of the selected available storage locker, and the communication of the access message, the user interface comprising a touch screen keypad configured to receive a manually input access code, the control unit being positioned on the door portion,

wherein the one or more control units are configured to communicate with the one or more electronic locking mechanisms and a storage locker access management system positioned remote from the one or more control units, the communication between the storage locker access management system being by way of a wireless communication network.

9. An apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a camera configured to wirelessly communicate imagery to the storage locker management system.

10. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a canopy portion configured to cover the one or more storage lockers, wherein the canopy portion comprises the at least one solar energy collection unit;

one or more canopy support members having a channel within which one or more wires are run, the one or more wires being configured to operatively connect the at least one solar energy collection unit to the energy storage unit;

an energy storage unit housing;

a base member configured to support the one or more storage lockers, the canopy portion, the one or more canopy support members, and the energy storage unit housing.

wherein the one or more storage lockers are configured to be waterproof when the door portion is in the closed position and the electronic locking mechanism is in the locked status, and the energy storage unit housing is configured to be waterproof.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a display portion in communication with a storage locker access management system, the display portion being configured to display one or more images in accordance with a display instruction received from the storage locker access management system by way of a wireless communication network.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the base member is configured to elevate at least the one or more storage lockers to prevent water from entering the one or more storage lockers.

13. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a printing unit configured to print the access message onto a substrate and output the printed substrate from the apparatus.

14. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access code is generated using a random number generator.

15. A method comprising:

processing a request to access at least one storage locker that is among one or more storage lockers associated with a storage locker rental apparatus to determine at least one of the one or more storage lockers is available to be accessed, the one or more storage lockers being configured to store one or more items, and each of the one or more storage lockers comprising;

a top portion;

a bottom portion distal the top portion;

a first side portion having a first side portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a second side portion distal the first side portion having a second side portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a rear portion having a rear portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion and a rear portion width extending from the first side portion to the second side portion, the top portion, bottom portion, first side portion, second side portion, and rear portion being arranged to form a cavity therebetween, the cavity having an opening distal the rear portion;

a door portion adjoined to the first side portion by at least one hinge, the door portion being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the door portion further being configured to engage a door stop associated with the second side portion when the door portion is in the closed position, thereby sealing the opening; and

an electronic locking mechanism configured to be in one of a locked and an unlocked status to cause a status of the door portion to also be one of locked and unlocked when the door portion is in the closed position based, at least in part, on a lock instruction;

causing, at least in part, an accessibility report to be displayed on a user interface based, at least in part, on the request to access at least one of the one or more storage lockers, the accessibility report including an indication of which of the one or more storage lockers is determined to be available to be accessed;

processing a selection associated with a particular determined available storage locker to cause, at least in part, an access message to be generated and communicated based, at least in part, on a confirmed financial transaction, the access message comprising a locker number, an access code, and a duration of access indication of the selected available storage locker;

causing, at least in part, the lock instruction to be communicated to the electronic locking mechanism based, at least in part, on one or more of a reception of the access code and an access authorization indicator, the access authorization indicator being associated with one or more of the confirmed financial transaction associated with use of the at least one storage locker and a management system operator input;

causing, at least in part, solar energy collected by at least one solar energy collection unit configured to collect solar energy to be stored by an energy storage unit configured to store the collected solar energy; and

causing, at least in part, power to be supplied to the storage locker rental apparatus from the energy storage unit,

wherein the storage locker rental apparatus is independent of any external power source.

16. A method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, an input access code to be verified based, at least in part, on a communication between a control unit configured to facilitate the access request, the financial transaction associated with use of the at least one storage locker, and the communication of the access message, and an input interface configured to receive a user input associated with the access code,

wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with the one or more electronic locking mechanisms and a storage locker access management system positioned remote from the control unit, the communication between the storage locker access management system being by way of a wireless communication network.

17. A method of claim 16, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a display portion in communication with the storage locker access management system, to display one or more images in accordance with a display instruction received from the storage locker access management system by way of the wireless communication network.

18. A method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, the access message to be displayed on a user interface associated with a mobile device.

19. A method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a printing unit associated with the control unit to print the access message onto a substrate and output the printed substrate from the storage locker rental apparatus.

20. A method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, the access code to be generated using a random number generator.