Smart Delivery Bins

• US 20180144299A1
• Filed: 09/05/2017
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Home Valet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: John Simms, John Simms Jr, Noel Simms
• Inventors: Simms, John, Simms, Noel, Simms, JR., John
• Granted Patent: US 10,643,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• 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

An improved method and system for the delivery of items to at least one of a plurality of locked storage appliances comprising determining the availability of a locked storage appliance to receive the delivery at one or more times, identifying a time during which the delivery can be made, sending to the identified locked storage appliance an access signal allowing a delivery agent access to the locked storage appliance during the time interval for delivery, the improvement wherein at least one of the plurality of storage appliances is a smart appliance.

Claims

1. In a method for the delivery of at least one purchased or ordered item to a locked storage appliance associated with a corresponding customer, the method comprising, following the purchase or order of the at least one item, determining the availability of a locked storage appliance to receive the delivery at one or more times, identifying a time interval during which the delivery can be made, sending to the identified locked storage appliance an access signal allowing a delivery agent access to the locked storage appliance only during the time interval for delivery thereto of the at least one item, the improvement wherein delivery is made to at least one of plurality of interlocking smart storage appliances.

2. The improved method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of smart storage appliances are positioned on top of a base element.

3. The unproved method of claim 2 wherein said base element comprises at least one element capable of electronic communication with at least one of said smart storage containers.

4. The improved method of claim 3 wherein said electronic communication enables the provision of electrical power or internet connectivity to said at least one of said smart storage containers.

5. The improved method of claim 4 wherein said at least one smart storage container comprises at feast one element enabled by said electrical power to provide a function selected from the group consisting of heating, cooling, inventory, scheduling management, delivery notifications, access control and any combination thereof.

6. The improved method of claim 3 wherein said electronic communication comprises a wireless protocol.

7. The improved method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of smart locked storage containers are interconnected together either vertically, horizontally, or both.

8. The improved method of claim 7 wherein said plurality of interlocked smart locked storage containers are positioned on a stabilizing rack element.

9. An improved delivery system for delivery of items comprising:

a plurality of locked storage containers, each locked storage container corresponding to a customer;

an order receiver for receiving orders for delivery of one or more goods to the customer;

availability determiner for determining the availability of the locked storage containers to receive deliveries at one or more times;

a scheduler receiving availability information from the availability determiner and operable to identify a time interval during which the delivery can be made and operable to send to a locked storage container an access signal allowing a delivery agent to access the locked storage container only during the time interval identified by the scheduler;

the improvement wherein said plurality of locked storage containers are interlocked and at least one thereof is a smart storage container.

10. The improved delivery system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of locked storage containers are interlocked with each other.

11. The improved delivery system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of locked storage containers are interlocked with each other either vertically, horizontally or both.

12. The improved delivery system of claim 10 additionally comprising a base element on the top of which said plurality of locked storage containers are positioned.

13. The improved system of claim 12 wherein said base element comprises at least one element capable of electronic communication with at least one of said smart storage containers.

14. The improved system of claim 13 wherein said electronic communication enables the provision of electrical power or internal connectivity to said at least one of said smart storage containers.

15. The improved system of claim 14 wherein said at least one smart storage container comprises at least one element enabled by said electrical power to provide a function selected from the group consisting of heating, cooling, inventory, scheduling management, delivery notifications, access control and any combination thereof.

16. The improved system of claim 13 wherein said electronic communication comprises a wireless protocol.