Electronic access control mail box system

• US 5,475,378 A
• Filed: 06/22/1993
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canada Post Corporation (Government of Canada)
• Original Assignee: Canada Post Corporation (Government of Canada)
• Inventors: Kaarsoo, Enn, Charlton, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/080,616
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.35, 340/825.34, 340/, 235/382.5, 235/382, 70/77-79, 232/25
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

An electronic access control mailbox system comprises a plurality of mail box stations. Each station consists of a locker of mail box compartments each having a door with electrically controllable solenoid operated latch, a card reader, and a local controller electrically coupled to the solenoid of each compartment door. A central controller is in electrical communication with the card reader and the local controller of each mail box station. Identification data read at the card reader of each mail box station is communicated to the central controller for processing and the central controller in turn communicates a command to the local controller for controlling operation of the solenoid operated latches of each compartment door in response to the identification data road. The system offers secure electronic access to the mail boxes which are under centralized control and monitoring.

Claims

1. An electronic access control mail box system comprising a plurality of mail box stations, each said station including:

an array of mail box compartments each having a door provided with electrically controllable locking means,

a card reader adapted to read identification data from an identification card,

a plurality of electrical switch means connected respectively to each locking means for causing unlocking of the locking means, and

a local control unit having a data base containing valid identification data, an input electrically connected to the card reader and a plurality of parallel outputs respectively connected to the switch means, the local control unit receiving identification data from the card reader;

and a remote central control unit in electrical communication with the card readers and local control units of all the mail box stations, the remote central control unit having a central data base containing valid identification data for all the mail box stations and having means for monitoring operations at the mail box stations and updating all the data bases including the central data base,

whereby, in on-line operation, identification data received from a card reader is compared with data in the central data base to determine a mail box compartment of the array for which access is valid for the received identification data to generate a command that is communicated from the central control unit to the local control unit associated with the card reader to thereby energize an associate switch means and unlock an associated locking means, and whereby, in off-line operation, identification data received from a card reader is compared with data in the data base of the associated local control unit to determine a mail box compartment of the array for which access is valid for the received identification data to thereby energize an associated switch means and unlock an associated locking means.