SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIRMING AN IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL, FOR EXAMPLE, AT A LOCKER BANK

• US 20190172011A1
• Filed: 02/05/2019
• Published: 06/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: ROBINSON, KALIN, CARDER, DAVID, GILLEN, ROBERT J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,182,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data

Abstract

Systems, according to various embodiments, are adapted to use any of a variety of different techniques to identify an individual. In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to, at least partially in response to confirming the identity of a consignee of a parcel, provide the consignee with access to a parcel stored within a secured locker. In particular embodiments, the system may use the current or past location of the consignee, or information from one or more objects physically associated with the consignee (e.g., a portable computing device or an electronic or paper info notice) to verify the consignee'"'"'s identity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for directing one or more parcels to a suitable locker bank location and facilitating a release of the one or more parcels from the suitable locker bank location, the method comprising:

receiving, by a locker bank computing device associated with a locker bank location, a first request to deliver one or more parcels to the locker bank location;

providing access to one or more lockers at the locker bank location, each of the one or more lockers having an interior storage volume;

receiving a first indication that the one or more parcels have been placed in a particular one of the one or more lockers;

associating the one or more parcels with the particular one of the one or more lockers;

receiving, from an individual at the locker bank computing device, a second request to retrieve the one or more parcels from the particular one of the one or more lockers;

confirming an identity of the individual as an individual authorized to retrieve the one or more parcels from the particular of the one or more lockers, wherein confirming the identity comprises;

identifying information comprising a current physical location of a portable computing device associated with the individual and using the current physical location of the portable computing device associated with the individual to confirm the individual is at the locker bank location;

associating the one or more parcels with the identity of the individual; and

facilitating, releasing of the one or more parcels from the interior storage volume of the particular one of the one or more lockers, wherein facilitating the release of the one or more parcels from the particular one of the one or more lockers to the individual comprises automatically unlocking a secure door of the particular one of the one or more lockers containing the one or more parcels to provide the individual with access to an interior of the particular one of the one or more parcels.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a consignee, a third request to view tracking information associated with the one or more parcels; and

displaying the tracking information and a location of the locker bank to the consignee.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein:

the consignee is associated with a consignee account associated with a carrier responsible for handling the one or more parcels; and

the method further comprises notifying the consignee via the consignee account of the delivery of the one or more parcels to the locker bank location.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

the notification to the consignee comprises a machine-readable indicia, the machine-readable indicia being associated with the one or more parcels and the consignee account;

receiving the second request comprises receiving information derived from a reading, by a machine-readable indicia reading device, of the machine-readable indicia at the suitable locker bank location; and

confirming the identity of the individual further comprises substantially automatically confirming the identity of the individual based at least in part on receiving the information.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the individual is selected from a group consisting of:

i. the consignee; and

ii. an individual on behalf of the consignee.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

confirming the identity of the individual comprises;

receiving one or more pieces of package level detail information associated with the one or more parcels;

reading, via a card reader associated with the locker box computing device for the particular locker bank location, an identification card associated with the individual;

verifying an authenticity of the identification card;

determining one or more pieces of identifying information associated with the individual; and

comparing the one or more pieces of package level detail information with the one or more pieces of identifying information.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

the one or more pieces of package level detail information comprise a first name of the consignee, a last name of the consignee, and an address of the consignee;

the one or more pieces of identifying information comprise a first name of the individual, a last name of the individual, and an address of the consignee; and

the threshold number is two pieces of the one or more pieces of package level detail information and the one or more pieces of identifying information.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

confirming the identity of the individual comprises;

receiving, from the individual, a telephone number associated with the individual;

determining, based at least in part on the telephone number, one or more pieces of identifying information associated with the individual;

receiving, one or more pieces of package level detail information associated with the one or more parcels;

comparing the one or more pieces of package level detail information with the one or more pieces of identifying information;

determining whether at least a threshold number of the one or more pieces of identifying information are substantially similar to the one or more pieces of package level detail information; and

confirming the identity of the individual.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein confirming the identity of the consignee comprises:

receiving original delivery location information for the parcel;

receiving geographic history information for the consignee, the geographic history information comprising information regarding one or more locations visited by the consignee in the past on a regular basis;

using the original delivery location information and the geographic history information to determine whether the consignee has visited the original delivery location on a regular basis; and

confirming the identity of the consignee.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein confirming the identity of the consignee comprises:

receiving a current location of the consignee from a social media account associated with the consignee;

using the current location of the consignee to confirm that the consignee is at the suitable locker bank location; and

confirming the identity of the consignee.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein confirming the identity of the consignee comprises:

receiving identifying data from a mobile device associated with the individual, the identifying data being unique to the individual; and

using the identifying data to confirm the identity of the consignee.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

receiving, from an individual at a locker bank computing device, a request to retrieve a parcel from a particular locker bank, the parcel having a consignee and currently being stored in a particular locker at the particular locker bank, the particular locker having an interior storage volume;

retrieving one or more pieces of package level detail information associated with the parcel;

determining whether at least a threshold number of one or more pieces of identifying information associated with the individual are substantially similar to the one or more pieces of package level detail information associated with the one or more parcels;

confirming an identity of the individual as an individual authorized to retrieve the parcel, wherein confirming the identity comprises;

obtaining an individual'"'"'s mobile phone number and utilizing the individual'"'"'s mobile phone number to obtain a current physical location of the individual'"'"'s mobile phone, wherein the current physical location of the individual'"'"'s mobile phone is compared to the location of the particular locker;

confirming the identity of the individual and associating the one or more parcels with the identity of the individual; and

facilitating a release of the parcel from the interior storage volume of the particular locker, wherein facilitating the release of the parcel from the particular locker to the individual comprises substantially automatically unlocking a secure door of the particular locker containing the parcel to provide the individual with access to the interior storage volume of the particular locker such that the individual can access and retrieve the parcel.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving, via a card reader associated with the locker bank computing device, input of an identification card associated with the individual, the card reader comprising at least one camera adapted to capture an image of a card and at least one processor adapted to use optical character recognition techniques to read data from the card, in response to receiving the input of the identification card;

verifying an authenticity of the identification card; and

determining, one or more pieces of identifying information associated with the individual; and

confirming the identity of the individual further comprises;

comparing the one or more pieces of package level detail information with the one or more pieces of identifying information.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving, from the individual, a telephone number associated with the individual;

determining, based at least in part on the telephone number, one or more pieces of identifying information associated with the individual; and

confirming the identity of the individual further comprises;

comparing the one or more pieces of package level detail information with the one or more pieces of identifying information;

determining whether at least a threshold number of the one or more pieces of identifying information are substantially similar to the one or more pieces of package level detail information; and

confirming the identity of the individual.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

the individual is the consignee; and

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

determining, based at least in part on the one or more pieces of package level detail information, whether the consignee is associated with a consignee account associated with a carrier responsible for handling the parcel; and

automatically confirming the identity of the individual.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein:

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for notifying the consignee via the consignee account of an availability of the parcel at the particular locker bank for retrieval, the notification comprising a machine-readable indicia associated with the consignee account and the parcel; and

the request to retrieve the parcel comprises receiving the request via a machine-readable indicia scanner associated with the particular locker box computing device, of the machine-readable indicia.

17. A computer system for facilitating release of a parcel to a consignee comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for;

receiving, from the consignee at a locker bank computing device, a request to retrieve the parcel from the particular locker bank, the parcel being associated with the consignee and currently being stored in a particular locker at the particular locker bank, each of the lockers within the particular locker bank having an internal storage volume;

retrieving one or more pieces of package level detail information associated with the parcel;

determining, based at least in part on the one or more pieces of package level detail, whether the consignee is a subscribed consignee having a consignee account associated with a carrier responsible for handling the parcel;

automatically confirming an identity of the consignee if the consignee is a subscribed consignee;

if the consignee is an unsubscribed consignee, prompting the unsubscribed consignee to provide identification;

receiving, the identification from the unsubscribed consignee, wherein the identification comprises receiving identifying information regarding a current location of the unsubscribed consignee'"'"'s mobile device and using the current location of the unsubscribed consignee'"'"'s mobile device to confirm the unsubscribed consignee is at the particular locker bank location and is authorized to retrieve the parcel;

determining whether at least a threshold number of one or more pieces of identifying information associated with the unsubscribed consignee are substantially similar to one or more pieces of package level detail information associated with the one or more parcels;

confirming the identity of the unsubscribed consignee;

associating the one or more parcels with the identity of the unsubscribed consignee; and

facilitating, a release of the parcel from the internal storage volume of the particular locker, wherein facilitating the release of the parcel from the particular locker to the unsubscribed consignee comprises automatically unlocking a secure door of the particular locker containing the parcel to provide the unsubscribed consignee access to the one or more parcels.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein:

the identification comprises an identification card; and

the computer system is further configured for;

determining an authenticity of the identification card; and

at least partially in response to confirming the authenticity of the identification card, determining the one or more pieces of identifying information from the identification card.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein:

the identification comprises a mobile telephone number; and

the computer system is further configured for;

providing a PIN number to the consignee by transmitting the PIN number using the mobile telephone number;

receiving input of the PIN number from the consignee; and

facilitating the release of the parcel from the particular locker to the consignee.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein determining, based at least in part on the identification, the one or more pieces of identifying information comprise:

retrieving billing information associated with the mobile telephone number; and

determining the one or more pieces of identifying information based at least in part on the billing information.