Accessing a Secure Locker Via A Mobile Device

• US 20140035721A1
• Filed: 08/02/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Hassan, Tanvir, Heppe, Travis Jon
• Application Number:
  US13/957,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20140035721A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.54
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00412 the transmitted data signal being encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

System and/or method for accessing a locker are provided. In some aspects, a method may include receiving, from a server, a password for accessing a locker, where the locker meets a set of requirements. The method may also include transmitting, to a computing device associated with the locker, the password for facilitating unlocking the locker. The method may also include receiving, from the computing device associated with the locker, a first confirmation message that the locker has been unlocked. The method may also include transmitting, to the server, a second confirmation message indicating that the locker has been unlocked in response to the first confirmation message.

Claims

1. A method, implemented on a mobile computing device, for accessing a locker, the method comprising:

receiving, from a server, a password for accessing a locker;

transmitting, to a computing device associated with the locker, the password for accessing the locker, wherein the transmitting provides for unlocking the locker;

receiving, from the computing device associated with the locker, a first confirmation message that the locker has been unlocked; and

transmitting, to the server, a second confirmation message indicating that the locker has been unlocked, in response to receiving the first confirmation message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the server, an indication of the locker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the password comprises a public key, and wherein a private key corresponding to the public key is stored on the computing device associated with the locker.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computing device associated with the locker stores an ordered sequence of private keys, and wherein the server stores an ordered sequence of public keys corresponding to the ordered sequence of private keys.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the password to the computing device associated with the locker for facilitating unlocking the locker comprises transmitting the password to the computing device associated with the locker via a short-range radio connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the locker meets a set of requirements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of requirements comprises one or more of delivery geographic location requirements, locker size requirements, locker refrigeration requirements, or identity verification requirements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of requirements comprises a requirement that the locker is unoccupied and the mobile computing device is associated with a courier account or wherein the set of requirements comprise a requirement that the locker is occupied with a package and the package is associated with an end-recipient account corresponding to the mobile computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first confirmation message comprises indications whether a plurality of lockers in a geographic area associated with the locker have been unlocked during a specified time period, and wherein the second confirmation message comprises the indications whether the plurality of lockers in a geographic area associated with the locker have been unlocked during the specified time period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified time period comprises a time period between a preset time before a time of transmission of the first confirmation message from the computing device associated with the locker and the time of transmission of the first confirmation message.

11. A computer-readable medium for accessing a locker, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a password for accessing a locker;

transmit, via a short-range radio connection, the password for facilitating unlocking the locker;

receive, via the short-range radio connection, a first confirmation message that the locker has been unlocked; and

transmit a second confirmation message indicating that the locker has been unlocked in response to the first confirmation message.

12. A mobile device for accessing a locker, the mobile device comprising:

a radio for short-range communication;

a radio for long-range communication;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, from a server, via the radio for long-range communication, a password for accessing a locker;

transmit, to a computing device associated with the locker, via the radio for short-range communication, the password for facilitating unlocking the locker;

receive, from the computing device associated with the locker, via the radio for short-range communication, a first confirmation message that the locker has been unlocked; and

transmit, to the server, via the radio for long-range communication, a second confirmation message indicating that the locker has been unlocked in response to the first confirmation message.

13. A computer-implemented method for managing a locker, the method comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, via a short-range radio connection, a request to unlock a locker, the request comprising a password;

verifying the password;

providing for unlocking the locker in response to verifying the password;

receiving an indication that the locker has been closed; and

transmitting, to a server, one or more messages indicating that the locker has been unlocked and closed, wherein the one or more messages is for updating a data structure, on the server, indicating whether the locker is occupied.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the request to unlock the locker further comprises an indication of an identity of a user, the method further comprising:

verifying the identity of the user based on the indication of the identity of the user, wherein the providing for unlocking the locker is in response to verifying the identity of the user.

15. A computer-readable medium for managing a locker, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive, from a mobile device, via a short-range radio connection, a request to unlock a locker, the request comprising a password;

verify the password;

provide for unlocking the locker in response to verifying the password;

update a local data structure indicating whether the locker is occupied based on the indication that the locker has been unlocked; and

transmit, to a server, one or more messages indicating that the locker has been unlocked, wherein the one or more messages is for updating a data structure, on the server, indicating whether the locker is occupied.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more messages indicating that the locker has been unlocked comprise the local data structure indicating whether the locker is occupied.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions to transmit, to the server, the one or more messages indicating that the locker has been unlocked comprises instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:

transmit, to the server, the one or more messages via a long-range connection.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the request to unlock the locker further comprises an indication of an identity of a user, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:

verify the identity of the user based on the indication of the identity of the user,

wherein the instructions to provide for unlocking the locker comprise instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to provide for unlocking the locker in response to verifying the identity of the user.

19. A computing device for managing a locker, the computing device comprising:

a near field communication radio;

a network interface;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive, from a mobile device, via the near field communication radio, a request to unlock a locker, the request comprising a password;

verify the password;

provide for unlocking the locker in response to verifying the password; and

transmit, via the network interface, to a server, one or more messages indicating that the locker has been unlocked, wherein the one or more messages is for updating a data structure, on the server, indicating whether the locker is occupied.

20. A computer-readable medium for managing a set of lockers, the computer-readable comprising instructions which, when implemented by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

receive a set of requirements for a locker;

determine a specific locker which meets the set of requirements;

provide an indication of the specific locker to a messaging system;

provide a password for unlocking the specific locker to a mobile device;

receive a confirmation message indicating that the specific locker has been unlocked; and

update a data structure indicating whether the specific locker is occupied in response to receiving the confirmation message.