HYBRID SECURE LOCKER SYSTEM FOR MAILING, DEPOSITION AND RETRIEVAL OF SHIPMENTS

• US 20150193733A1
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quadient Technologies France
• Original Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Inventors: BOUZIT-BENBERNOU, Samira
• Granted Patent: US 10,643,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/1221 comprising means to detect or prevent a terrorist attack, e.g. to detect anthrax-laced letters
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/145 the receptacle comprising means for identifying a deposit; Deposits carrying identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/149 with central server link
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3581 using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00153 for sending information
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00209 Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00233 Housing, e.g. lock or hardened casing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00685 Measuring the dimensions of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 Measuring the weight of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

A hybrid system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments, including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having a control desk and several lockable compartments of different sizes, wherein the electronic locker unit comprises a shape measurement module located inside each compartment for acquiring the shipment content'"'"'s shape.

Claims

1. A method for securely controlling mailing, deposition and retrieval of shipments into at least one electronic locker unit connected to a managing distribution centre through a communication network and having several lockable compartments of different sizes, comprising the following steps:

generating an identification code of the shipment and specific information associated with the shipment;

opening a compartment of said at least one electronic locker unit;

depositing the shipment inside the compartment;

acquiring the shipment content'"'"'s shape with a shape measurement module located inside the compartment; and

adding the content'"'"'s shape to the specific information and recording it in a locker unit database.

2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the specific information includes the three dimensions of the shipment and/or the weight of the shipment.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises indicating to a sender at least one appropriate compartment according to the three dimensions and/or the weight of the shipment.

4. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the specific information is generated on a computer of the sender.

5. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the specific information is generated at a control desk of the electronic locker unit.

6. The method of claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the specific information is sent to a remote database accessible by the electronic locker unit.

7. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises measuring the dimensions of the shipment by a three-dimensional measuring device located within a control desk.

8. The method of claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises weighing the shipment at a built-in scale located within said control desk.

9. The method of claim 1, characterized in that the identification code is printed as a barcode or included in a RFID tag which is affixed to the shipment.

10. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises securely paying postage and services fees for franking the shipment at a control desk of the electronic locker unit.

13. The method of claim 1 or claim 11, characterized in that the acquired shipment content'"'"'s shape is compared to hazardous items listed in a surveillance bank of pictures, the compartment containing the shipment is locked and logged as being successfully filled and the shipment is logged as being ready for retrieval if no one of such hazardous items is identifiable.

14. The method of claim 13, characterized in that, if at least one of such hazardous items is identifiable, an error message is sent at a control desk of the electronic locker unit.

11. A method for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments on at least one electronic locker unit connected to a managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having several lockable compartments of different sizes, comprising the followings steps:

entering an identification code of the shipment and retrieving specific information associated with the shipment;

opening a compartment of said at least one electronic locker unit;

depositing the shipment inside the compartment;

acquiring the shipment content'"'"'s shape with a shape measurement module located inside the compartment and comparing in a processing module the acquired shipment content'"'"'s shape with the shipment content'"'"'s shape included within the specific information;

locking the compartment containing the shipment; and

logging the compartment as being filled and locked upon close match and validation of comparison of the shipment content'"'"'s shape.

12. The method of claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises notifying the managing distribution centre of the safe deposition and/or retrieval of the shipment with an electronic message linked to the identification code of the shipment.

15. A hybrid system for securely controlling mailing, deposition and retrieval of shipments, comprising:

a managing distribution centre;

at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having a control desk and several lockable compartments of different sizes;

wherein said at least one electronic locker unit comprises;

a shape measurement module located inside each compartment for acquiring the shipment content'"'"'s shape.

16. The hybrid system of claim 15, characterized in that said electronic locker unit further includes a processing module for comparing the acquired shipment content'"'"'s shape with hazardous items listed in a surveillance bank of pictures.

17. The hybrid system of claim 15, characterized in that said electronic locker unit further includes a weighing module inside each compartment for weighing the shipment, the processing module comparing the measured weight with a corresponding recorded weight.

18. The hybrid system of claim 15, characterized in that said electronic locker unit further includes a three-dimensional measuring device located on said control desk for measuring the dimensions of the shipment.

19. The hybrid system of claim 15, characterized in that said electronic locker unit further includes a built-in scale located on said control desk for measuring the weight of the shipment.

20. The hybrid system of claim 15, characterized in that said shape measurement module comprises a terahertz vision device mounted on a ceiling of compartment for covering any shipment resting on an upper bearing plate.