METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENSURING SECURE DELIVERY OF PARCELS USING INTERNET-ENABLED STORAGE RECEPTACLE

• US 20170124510A1
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sargent Mfg Co (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Sargent Mfg Co (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Caterino, Mark A., Kraus, Kevin, Lovejoy, Garrett, Williams, Jason, Huddart, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 11,631,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

Methods and system for securing delivery of a parcel when an intended recipient is unavailable, comprising at least one storage receptacle having an electronically controlled locking mechanism, the storage receptacle comprising an interface for receiving an access code for facilitating unlocking of the storage receptacle, a wireless communication radio, and a processor. The system further comprises a remote service manager comprising an access code generator and a wireless communication radio for transmitting an access code to a mobile computing device operated by a delivery carrier. The mobile computing device includes a wireless communication radio, 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, via the wireless communication radio, from the remote service manager, a single use access code for facilitating unlocking of the storage receptacle, and transmit the access code to the storage receptacle interface. The storage receptacle processor confirms the validity of the access code and causes the storage receptacle to first unlock and then lock after detection of the parcel within the storage receptacle.

Claims

1. A system for securing delivery of a parcel when an intended recipient is unavailable, comprising:

at least one storage receptacle having an electronically controlled locking mechanism, the storage receptacle comprising an interface for receiving an access code for facilitating unlocking of the storage receptacle, a wireless communication radio, and a processor;

a remote service manager comprising an access code generator and a wireless communication radio for transmitting a generated access code to a mobile computing device operated by a delivery carrier; and

a mobile computing device operated by a delivery carrier, the mobile computing device including a wireless communication radio, 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, via the wireless communication radio, from the remote service manager, a generated access code for facilitating unlocking of the storage receptacle locking mechanism; and

transmit the generated access code to the storage receptacle interface,

wherein the storage receptacle processor confirms the validity of the generated access code and causes the storage receptacle locking mechanism to first unlock and then lock after detection of the parcel within the storage receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one storage receptacle further comprises at least one camera at the storage receptacle in a location positioned to record activity of the delivery carrier, the at least one camera configured to begin recording when the mobile computing device begins to transmit the access code to the storage receptacle interface.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor to ascertain identifying parameters of the parcel during placement of the parcel in the storage receptacle.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one sensor comprises an infrared scanner or ultrasonic scanner to measure parcel dimensions, a barcode scanner or a QR code scanner to read a tracking label on the parcel, or a scale to measure a weight of the parcel.

5. A method for securing delivery of a parcel to a storage receptacle when an intended recipient is unavailable, the storage receptacle registered with a vendor and specified as a delivery address for a parcel purchased from the vendor, the storage receptacle comprising an electronically controlled locking mechanism, an interface for receiving an access code for facilitating unlocking of the storage receptacle, a wireless communication radio, and a processor, the method comprising:

contacting, by a delivery carrier, the intended recipient of the parcel to obtain authorization for delivery of the parcel to the storage receptacle based on parcel and storage receptacle identifying data received from the vendor;

contacting, by the delivery carrier, a remote service manager to provide a parcel tracking number and estimated delivery timing;

receiving, by a mobile computing device operated by the delivery carrier, from the remote service manager, a single use access code for facilitating unlocking of the storage receptacle;

transmitting, from the mobile computing device, the access code to the storage receptacle interface via the wireless communication radio;

confirming, by the storage receptacle processor, the validity of the access code;

unlocking, by the storage receptacle processor, the secure receptacle locking mechanism to permit access to the interior of the storage receptacle; and

re-locking, by the storage receptacle processor, the storage receptacle locking mechanism after detection of the parcel within the storage receptacle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage receptacle identifying data comprises at least one of a serial number or global positioning system metadata.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the parcel identifying data comprises parcel dimensions and the storage receptacle identifying data comprises storage receptacle dimensions, and further comprising:

confirming, by the remote service manager, that the storage receptacle dimensions are in excess of the parcel dimensions.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining, by the remote service manager, whether multiple parcel deliveries are scheduled for a same estimated delivery timing by one or more delivery carriers; and

responsive to the storage receptacle dimensions not being in excess of a total of the dimensions of the multiple parcels, instructing, by the remote service manager, at least one of the one or more delivery carriers to postpone delivery.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein, prior to instructing, by the remote service manager, at least one of the one or more delivery carriers to postpone delivery, the method comprises:

contacting, by the remote service manager, the intended recipient of the multiple parcels to obtain delivery prioritization; and

generating, by the remote service manager, a time-bound access code for each delivery.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage receptacle comprises at least one sensor for measuring the dimensions and, optionally, weight of a delivered parcel, the parcel identifying data comprises parcel dimensions and weight, and the access code is encoded with the parcel identifying data, and the method further comprises:

measuring, by the storage receptacle at least one sensor, the dimensions and optionally, weight, of the delivered parcel; and

confirming, by the storage receptacle processor, that the delivered parcel has the parcel identifying data encoded in the access code.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the storage receptacle at least one sensor comprises at least one of an infrared scanner, an ultrasonic scanner, a barcode scanner, a QR code scanner, or a scale.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the storage receptacle includes one or more audible and, optionally, visible feedback mechanisms, and wherein the step of confirming, by the storage receptacle processor, that the delivered parcel has the parcel identifying data encoded in the access code comprises receiving audible and, optionally, visible feedback from the storage receptacle one or more audible and visible feedback mechanisms.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of transmitting, from the delivery carrier mobile computing device, the audible and visible feedback to the remote service manager and, optionally, an intended recipient of the delivered parcel.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein responsive to the delivered parcel not having the parcel identifying data encoded in the access code, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the delivery carrier mobile computing device, an error notification.

15. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

photographing, by the delivery carrier mobile computing device, the parcel being placed in the storage receptacle;

comparing the photograph global positioning system metadata to the storage receptacle global positioning system metadata to detect a match; and

responsive to detecting a match, confirming that the parcel was delivered to the correct storage receptacle.

16. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

reporting an event to the remote service manager via the storage receptacle wireless communication radio.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the event is selected from a group comprising:

the presence of a delivered parcel in the storage receptacle;

the opening or closing of the storage receptacle;

the entry of a valid access code; and

the entry of an invalid access code.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein the storage receptacle further comprises at least one camera positioned at the storage receptacle in a location positioned to record activity of the delivery carrier, the at least one camera configured to begin recording when the mobile computing device begins to transmit the access code to the storage receptacle interface, and further comprising the steps of:

recording an entry event at the storage receptacle; and

reporting the entry event to the remote service manager via the storage receptacle wireless communication radio.

19. A method for confirming delivery of a parcel to a storage receptacle having an electronically controlled locking mechanism, comprising:

providing, by a delivery carrier, to an intended recipient of a parcel, an estimated parcel delivery time;

confirming, by the intended recipient, availability to receive a communication from the delivery carrier at the estimated parcel delivery time;

contacting, by the delivery carrier mobile computing device, a computing device operated by the intended recipient;

providing, by the delivery carrier mobile computing device, video of delivery of the parcel into the storage receptacle to the intended recipient computing device; and

digitally signing, by the intended recipient, on the intended recipient computing device to acknowledge delivery.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing, by the delivery carrier mobile computing device, video of closing and locking of the storage receptacle to the intended recipient computing device.