Secure Automated Parcel Delivery

• US 20180204177A1
• Filed: 01/18/2017
• Published: 07/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ferla, Jeffrey P., Foster, II, Clyde T., Kolla, Jhansi R., Kozhaya, Joseph N., McCormick, II, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US15/408,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20180204177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for secure automated parcel delivery. A first device owned and controlled by a recipient entity to whom a physical item is being delivered receives a delivery communication code. The recipient entity and through the first device determines a delivery policy data set indicative of a manner in which the physical item is to be delivered. Responsive to the detection that the physical item is being delivered to a designated delivery zone where the physical item will be received by the recipient entity, the first device wirelessly authenticates to a second. device controlled by a sender entity using the delivery communication code. Responsive to the authentication of the first device to the second device, the first device wirelessly communicates to the second device the delivery policy data set.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first device owned and controlled by a recipient entity to whom a physical item is being delivered, a delivery communication code;

determining, by the recipient entity and through the first device, a delivery policy data set indicative of a manner in which the physical item is to be delivered;

detecting, by the first device, that the physical item is in the process of being delivered to a designated delivery zone where the physical item will be received by the recipient entity;

responsive to the detection that the physical item is being delivered, wirelessly authenticating the first device to a second device controlled by a sender entity using the delivery communication code; and

responsive to the authentication of the first device to the second device, wirelessly communicating, from the first device to the second device, the delivery policy data set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device receives the delivery communication code from a third device that is controlled by the sender entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery communication code further includes information indicative of the identity of the physical item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the manner in which the physical item is to be delivered is at least one of the following:

address Where the one or more physical items are to be delivered, contact information if issues arise with completing the order, payment information to pay for the one or more physical items, a type of wireless communication to be used in delivery of the one or more physical items, a time window for delivery of the one or more physical items, an acknowledgement policy for receipt of the one or more physical items, or multiple addresses to receive different portions of the one or more physical items.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the authenticating the first device to the second device, wirelessly communicating, from the first device to the second device, providing details as to an exact location of the first device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the authenticating the first device to the second device, unlocking, by the first device, for the physical item to be placed inside the first device; and

responsive to the physical item being placed inside the first device, securing, by the first device, the physical item. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

responsive to the authenticating the first device to the second device, unlocking, by the first device, for the physical item to be placed inside the first device;

opening, by the first device, for the physical item to be placed inside the first device;

responsive to detecting that the physical item is inside the first device, closing, by the first device, so as to secure the physical item; and

securing, by the first device, the physical item.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

confirming, by the first device or the second device, delivery of the purchased item; and

deactivating, by the first device and the second device, the delivery communication code associated with the physical item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery code is active for a given time period around an expected delivery time of the improved package for improved security and wherein the delivery code is active for securing communication between the second device and the first device when the second device is within a predetermined distance of the first device.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the identity of the physical item is verified by leveraging various sensors and cameras.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

receive, by a first device owned and controlled by a recipient entity to whom a physical item is being delivered, a delivery communication code;

determine, by the recipient entity and through the first device, a delivery policy data set indicative of a manner in which the physical item is to be delivered;

detect, by the first device, that the physical item is in the process of being delivered to a designated delivery zone where the physical item will be received by the recipient entity;

responsive to the detection that the physical item is being delivered, wirelessly authenticate the first device to a second device controlled by a sender entity using the delivery communication code; and

responsive to the authentication of the first device to the second device, wirelessly communicate, from the first device to the second device, the delivery policy data set.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first device receives the delivery communication code from a third device that is controlled by the sender entity.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the delivery communication code further includes information indicative of the identity of the physical item.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the manner in which the physical item is to be delivered is at least one of the following:

address where the one or more physical items are to be delivered, contact information if issues arise with completing the order, payment information to pay for the one or more physical items, a type of wireless communication to be used in delivery of the one or more physical items, a time window for delivery of the one or more physical items, an acknowledgement policy for receipt of the one or more physical items, or multiple addresses to receive different portions of the one or more physical items.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:

responsive to the authenticating the first device to the second device, wirelessly communicate, from the first device to the second device, providing details as to an exact location of the first device.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:

responsive to the authenticating the first device to the second device, unlock, by the first device, for the physical item to be placed inside the first device; and

responsive to the physical item being placed inside the first device, secure, by the first device, the physical item.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:

responsive to the authenticating the first device to the second device, unlock, by the first device, for the physical item to be placed inside the first device;

open, by the first device, for the physical item to be placed inside the first device;

responsive to detecting that the physical item is inside the first device, close, by the first device, so as to secure the physical item; and

secure, by the first device, the physical item.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:

confirm, by the first device or the second device, delivery of the purchased item; and

deactivate, by the first device and the second device, the delivery communication code associated with the physical item.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the delivery code is active for a given time period around an expected delivery time of the improved package for improved security and wherein the delivery code is active for securing communication between the second device and the first device when the second device is within a predetermined distance of the first device.

20. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

receive, by a first device owned and controlled by a recipient entity to whom a physical item is being delivered, a delivery communication code;

determine, by the recipient entity and through the first device, a delivery policy data set indicative of a manner in which the physical item is to be delivered;

detect that the physical item is in the process of being delivered to a designated delivery zone where the physical item will be received by the recipient entity;

responsive to the detection that the physical item is being delivered, wirelessly authenticate the first device to a second device controlled by a sender entity using the delivery communication code; and

responsive to the authentication of the first device to the second device, wirelessly communicate, from the first device to the second device, the delivery policy data set.