SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DISTRIBUTE AND AUTHENTICATE PRODUCT DELIVERY LOCKERS
First Claim
1. A retail delivery locker system, comprising:
- multiple delivery lockers each comprising;
a housing enclosing at least an interior product cavity;
a door positioned within the housing and configured to open to enable access to at least the product cavity;
a first docking coupler and a second docking coupler, wherein each of the first docking coupler and the second docking coupler are configured to securely dock and lock with a docking station at a customer delivery location and a docking coupler of another of the multiple lockers; and
a communication link between the first docking coupler and the second docking coupler; and
multiple docking stations each positioned at different customer delivery locations, wherein each of the multiple docking stations comprises;
a locker coupler configured to secure a locker with the docking station;
a station control circuit and memory accessible by the station control circuit and storing instructions that when executed by the station control circuit cause the station control circuit to obtain a first locker identifier from a first locker of the multiple delivery lockers, confirm the first locker is scheduled to dock with a docking station of the multiple docking stations, and authorize the locking of the docking station with the first docking coupler; and
a transceiver enabling the station control circuit to communicate with a remote central control system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to support the delivery of products. Some embodiments provide a retail delivery locker system comprising: multiple delivery lockers comprising: a housing enclosing an interior product cavity; a door enabling access to the product cavity; first and second docking couplers each configured to securely dock with a docking station and a docking coupler of another locker; and a communication link between the first and second docking couplers; and multiple docking stations each comprising: a locker coupler configured to secure a locker with the docking station; a station control circuit that obtains a first locker identifier from a first locker, confirms the first locker is scheduled to dock with a docking station, and authorize the locking of the docking station with the first docking coupler; and a transceiver enabling the station control circuit to communicate with a remote central control system.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A retail delivery locker system, comprising:
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multiple delivery lockers each comprising; a housing enclosing at least an interior product cavity; a door positioned within the housing and configured to open to enable access to at least the product cavity; a first docking coupler and a second docking coupler, wherein each of the first docking coupler and the second docking coupler are configured to securely dock and lock with a docking station at a customer delivery location and a docking coupler of another of the multiple lockers; and a communication link between the first docking coupler and the second docking coupler; and multiple docking stations each positioned at different customer delivery locations, wherein each of the multiple docking stations comprises; a locker coupler configured to secure a locker with the docking station; a station control circuit and memory accessible by the station control circuit and storing instructions that when executed by the station control circuit cause the station control circuit to obtain a first locker identifier from a first locker of the multiple delivery lockers, confirm the first locker is scheduled to dock with a docking station of the multiple docking stations, and authorize the locking of the docking station with the first docking coupler; and a transceiver enabling the station control circuit to communicate with a remote central control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of docking retail delivery lockers, comprising:
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obtaining, by a station control circuit of a docking station of multiple docking stations at different customer delivery locations, a first locker identifier from a first locker of multiple delivery lockers, wherein each delivery locker comprises a housing enclosing at least an interior product cavity, a door configured to open to enable access to at least the product cavity, a first docking coupler and a second docking coupler each configured to securely dock and lock with a docking station at a customer delivery location and a docking coupler of another of the multiple lockers, and a communication link between the first docking coupler and the second docking coupler; confirming the first locker is scheduled to dock with the docking station; and authorizing a locking between a locker coupler of the docking station and the first docking coupler of the first locker. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification