LOCKER DROP OFF

• US 20150112887A1
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Camp, Roy Leon
• Application Number:
  US14/056,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20150112887A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/339
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions

Abstract

A system and method for dropping off an item at a locker are described. A locker is identified based on a size of an item and a geographic location of a seller of the item listed in an online marketplace. A lock code and an unlock code for the locker are generated. The locker is locked closed in response to receiving the lock code at the locker and is opened in response to receiving the unlock code at the locker. The lock code is communicated along with a location of the locker to the seller of the item.

Claims

1. A locker drop off system comprising:

a locker identifier module executable by a processor configured to identify a locker based on a size of an item and a geographic location of a seller of the item listed in an online marketplace;

a code generator configured to generate a lock code and an unlock code for the locker, the locker closed in response to receiving the lock code at the locker and opened in response to receiving the unlock code at the locker; and

a seller communication module configured to communicate the lock code with a location of the locker to the seller of the item.

2. The locker drop off system of claim 1, further comprising:

a locker communication module configured to communicate the lock code and the unlock code to the locker, the locker configured to lock the locker in response to receiving the lock code at the locker and to open the locker in response to receiving the unlock code at the locker, the lock code comprising a disposable single use lock code, the unlock code comprising a disposable single use unlock code.

3. The locker drop off system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shipping label generator configured to generate a shipping label corresponding to the item for a shipping carrier; and

a shipping carrier communication module configured to communicate the unlock code with the location of the locker and the shipping label to the shipping carrier.

4. The locker drop off system of claim 1, further comprising:

a local transaction module configured to determine that a distance between the seller and a buyer of the item is within a threshold distance;

the locker identifier module configured to determine the location of the locker to be geographically substantially equidistant between the seller and the buyer when within the threshold distance;

a payment validator configured to validate a payment from the buyer of the item; and

a buyer communication module configured to communicate the unlock code with the location of the locker to the buyer after validating the payment from the buyer.

5. The locker drop off system of claim 4, further comprising:

a buyer communication module configured to receive a request to return the item;

the locker identifier module configured to identify a second locker that is geographically substantially equidistant between the seller and the buyer;

a code generator configured to generate a second lock code and a second unlock code for the second locker, the second locker closed in response to receiving the second lock code at the second locker and opened in response to receiving the second unlock code at the second locker; and

the buyer communication module configured to communicate the second unlock code with a location of the second locker to the buyer.

6. The locker drop off system of claim 1, further comprising:

a buyer communication module configured to receive a request to return the item;

the locker identifier module configured to identify a location of a second locker based on the size of the item and a geographic location of a buyer;

the code generator configured to generate a second lock code and a second unlock code for the second locker, the second locker closed in response to receiving the second lock code at the second locker and opened in response to receiving the second unlock code at the second locker;

a shipping label generator configured to generate a shipping label corresponding to a return of the item for a shipping carrier; and

a shipping carrier communication module configured to communicate the second unlock code with the location of the second locker and the second shipping label to the shipping carrier.

7. The locker drop off system of claim 1, wherein the location of the locker comprises a geographic location and a locker identifier corresponding to the geographic location, a volume of the locker larger than the size of the item.

8. The locker drop off system of claim 1, wherein the locker is configured to receive the item before the item is sold in the online marketplace or without any packaging material or shipping reference related to the online marketplace.

9. The locker drop off system of claim 1, wherein the lock code comprises a revocable authentication token of the seller.

10. The locker drop off system of claim 1, wherein the seller communication module is configured to communicate an order for the item from a buyer to the seller without a mailing address of the seller.

11. A method comprising:

identifying a locker based on a size of an item and a geographic location of a seller of the item listed in an online marketplace;

generating a lock code and an unlock code for the locker, the locker closed in response to receiving the lock code at the locker and opened in response to receiving the unlock code at the locker; and

communicating the lock code with a location of the locker to the seller of the item.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating the lock code and the unlock code to the locker, the locker configured to lock the locker in response to receiving the lock code at the locker and to open the locker in response receiving the unlock code at the locker, the lock code comprising a disposable single use lock code, the unlock code comprising a disposable single use unlock code.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a shipping label corresponding to the item for a shipping carrier; and

communicating the unlock code with the location of the locker and the shipping label to the shipping carrier.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that a distance between the seller and a buyer of the item is within a threshold distance;

determining the location of the locker to be geographically substantially equidistant between the seller and the buyer when within the threshold distance;

validating a payment from the buyer of the item; and

communicating the unlock code with the location of the locker to the buyer after validating the payment from the buyer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a request to return the item;

identifying a second locker that is geographically substantially equidistant between the seller and the buyer;

generating a second lock code and a second unlock code for the second locker, the second locker closed in response to receiving the second lock code at the second locker and opened in response to receiving the second unlock code at the second locker; and

communicating the second unlock code with a location of the second locker to the buyer.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request to return the item;

identifying a location of a second locker based on the size of the item and a geographic location of a buyer;

generating a second lock code and a second unlock code for the second locker, the second locker closed in response to receiving the second lock code at the second locker and opened in response to receiving the second unlock code at the second locker;

generating a shipping label corresponding to a return of the item for a shipping carrier; and

communicating the second unlock code with the location of the second locker and the second shipping label to the shipping carrier.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the locker comprises a geographic location and a locker identifier corresponding to the geographic location, a volume of the locker larger than the size of the item.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating an order for the item from a buyer to the seller without a mailing address of the seller,

wherein the locker is configured to receive the item without any packaging material or shipping reference related to the online marketplace.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the lock code comprises a revocable authentication token of the seller.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

identifying a locker based on a size of an item and a geographic location of a seller of the item listed in an online marketplace;

generating a lock code and an unlock code for the locker, the locker closed in response to receiving the lock code at the locker and opened in response to receiving the unlock code at the locker; and

communicating the lock code with a location of the locker to the seller of the item.