LOCKER BANKS WITH AUTOMATICALLY OPENING DOORS
First Claim
1. A computerized locker network comprising:
- a plurality of locker banks, each respective locker bank comprising;
one or more locker bank computers comprising one or more processors and memory; and
one or more selectively securable locker compartments, each selectively securable locker compartment comprising one or more doors and one or more locking mechanisms, wherein the one or more processors are configured to operate the one or more locking mechanisms to open the one or more doors;
a plurality of mobile computing devices, each respective mobile computing device comprising;
memory and one or more processors configured to establish a wireless communication channel between the respective mobile computing device and one or more particular locker bank computers in response to determining that the respective mobile computing device is adjacent to a particular locker bank of the plurality of locker banks that comprises the one or more particular locker bank computers; and
one or more remote logistics servers comprising;
memory that stores a unique identifier and tracking information for a plurality of parcels and one or more processors configured to update the tracking information for the plurality of parcels, wherein the computerized locker network is configured for;
determining whether the particular mobile computing device is proximate to the particular locker bank;
automatically forming a direct wireless communication channel between the particular mobile computing device and the one or more particular locker bank computers in response to determining that the particular mobile computing device is proximate to the particular locker bank;
receiving, from the particular mobile computing device, a request to deliver the particular parcel to the particular locker bank after automatically forming the wireless communication channel, the request comprising the unique identifier for the particular parcel;
in response to receiving the request, transmitting the unique identifier from the particular mobile computing device to the one or more particular locker bank computers via the direct wireless communication channel;
in response to transmitting the unique identifier from the particular mobile computing device to the one or more particular locker bank computers via the wireless communication channel;
automatically operating the one or more locking mechanisms of a particular locker at the particular locker bank to open the one or more doors of the particular locker.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote locker bank control system is configured to facilitate wireless control of a locker bank computer using a mobile computing device. The system may increase the ease with which a delivery driver can deliver parcels to the locker bank. As the driver approaches the locker bank to deliver a parcel, the system may automatically open a wireless communication channel between the driver'"'"'s mobile computing device and the locker bank computer. The system may then transmit a scan of the parcel from the mobile computing device to the locker bank computer via the wireless communication channel. Next, the system may automatically open an available locker in the locker bank that is most proximate to the delivery driver, for example, to minimize a number of steps he or she must take to deliver the parcel to the locker.
57 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computerized locker network comprising:
-
a plurality of locker banks, each respective locker bank comprising; one or more locker bank computers comprising one or more processors and memory; and one or more selectively securable locker compartments, each selectively securable locker compartment comprising one or more doors and one or more locking mechanisms, wherein the one or more processors are configured to operate the one or more locking mechanisms to open the one or more doors; a plurality of mobile computing devices, each respective mobile computing device comprising; memory and one or more processors configured to establish a wireless communication channel between the respective mobile computing device and one or more particular locker bank computers in response to determining that the respective mobile computing device is adjacent to a particular locker bank of the plurality of locker banks that comprises the one or more particular locker bank computers; and one or more remote logistics servers comprising; memory that stores a unique identifier and tracking information for a plurality of parcels and one or more processors configured to update the tracking information for the plurality of parcels, wherein the computerized locker network is configured for; determining whether the particular mobile computing device is proximate to the particular locker bank; automatically forming a direct wireless communication channel between the particular mobile computing device and the one or more particular locker bank computers in response to determining that the particular mobile computing device is proximate to the particular locker bank; receiving, from the particular mobile computing device, a request to deliver the particular parcel to the particular locker bank after automatically forming the wireless communication channel, the request comprising the unique identifier for the particular parcel; in response to receiving the request, transmitting the unique identifier from the particular mobile computing device to the one or more particular locker bank computers via the direct wireless communication channel; in response to transmitting the unique identifier from the particular mobile computing device to the one or more particular locker bank computers via the wireless communication channel; automatically operating the one or more locking mechanisms of a particular locker at the particular locker bank to open the one or more doors of the particular locker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer-implemented method of facilitating delivery of a first parcel to a locker bank comprising one or more lockers and a locker bank computer using a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
-
determining, by one or more processors, whether one or more wireless communication initiation conditions have been met; at least partially in response to determining that the one or more wireless communication initiation conditions have been met, initiating, by one or more processors, a direct wireless communication channel between the mobile computing device and a locker bank computer associated with the locker bank; receiving, by one or more processors, at the locker bank computer, a request to deliver the first parcel to the locker bank from the mobile computing device via the direct wireless communication channel; in response to receiving the request to deliver the first parcel; determining, by one or more processors, a location of the mobile computing device; and determining, by one or more processors, based on the location of the mobile computing device, which of the one or more lockers is a closest locker to the location of the mobile computing device; and automatically opening, by one or more processors, the closest locker. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A locker delivery system comprising:
-
a locker bank computer associated with a locker bank comprising one or more processors and memory; a mobile computing device comprising one or more processors and memory, wherein; the locker bank comprises one or more selectively securable locker compartments, each selectively securable locker compartment comprising one or more doors and one or more locking mechanisms; and the locker delivery system is configured for; receiving an indication that a first parcel is scheduled for delivery at the locker bank; retrieving identifying information associated with the first parcel, the identifying information comprising one or more dimensions of the first parcel; determining whether one or more wireless communication initiation conditions have been met; at least partially in response to determining that the one or more wireless communication initiation conditions have been met, initiating a direct wireless communication channel between the mobile computing device and the locker bank computer; receiving, at the locker bank computer, a request to deliver the first parcel to the locker bank from the mobile computing device via the direct wireless communication channel; in response to receiving the request to deliver the first parcel; determining a location of the mobile computing device; determining, based on the location of the mobile computing device and the one or more dimensions of the first parcel, which of the one or more selectively securable locker compartments is a closest locker to the location of the mobile computing device that is sufficiently large to accommodate the first parcel; and causing the one or more locking mechanisms to unlock the one or more doors of the most proximate locker. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification