Unattended package delivery cross-docking apparatus and method

• US 6,344,796 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brivo Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brivo Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Stein, Mark, Griffin, Carter, Ogilvie, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/698,064
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/543, 340/539, 340/693, 340/569, 340/571, 340/542, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.73, 340/5.54, 340/5.23
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

Unattended package delivery cross-docking apparatus includes a plurality of storage devices, each having a door with a lock that is locked and unlocked in response to codes. A local lock controller is associated with each of the storage devices and includes an entry device for entering an access code that unlocks the lock when it is locked and a transaction code that locks the lock when it is unlocked. A central operations controller in communication with the local lock controllers is programmed to receive the access and transaction codes entered to each local lock controller, to create an access code for the lock of each storage device upon receiving a transaction code that locks the lock, and to output a notice of the access code to be used to unlock the lock of each storage device when it is locked.

Claims

1. An unattended package delivery cross-docking apparatus, comprising

a plurality of storage devices, each having a door with a lock that is locked and unlocked in response to codes,

a local lock controller associated with each of the storage devices and including an input device for inputting an access code that unlocks the lock when it is locked and a transaction code that locks the lock when it is unlocked, and

a central operations controller in communication with the local lock controllers and programmed to receive the access and transaction codes input to each local lock controller, to create an access code for the lock of each storage device upon receiving a transaction code that locks the lock, and to output a notice of the access code to be used to unlock the lock of each storage device when it is locked.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a secure enclosure containing the plurality of storage devices, an entry door for admitting persons into the enclosure and having a lock that can be unlocked only in response to authorization codes, and an enclosure lock controller in communication with the central operations controller for receiving and storing authorization codes and including an input device for inputting by users of the apparatus of authorization codes to unlock the entry door.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central operations controller includes a memory unit for storing data including transaction codes of users who register in advance to pick up incoming goods from and deposit outgoing goods in the storage devices of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central operations controller includes a memory unit for storing data specific to incoming goods including the identification of the specific storage device in which incoming goods have been placed by a shipper for pickup by a consignee and the access code that permits that storage device to be unlocked by the consignee.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the central operations controller is programmed to communicate the data specific to incoming goods to the consignee electronically via a global communications network.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the central operations controller is arranged for input and storage of data specific to incoming goods provided by a shipper prior to delivery of the incoming goods to the apparatus and to provide to the shipper a transaction code for input to a local lock controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the central operations controller is arranged to retrieve and output the data specific to incoming goods provided by a shipper and to create an access code for the incoming shipment in response to the input of the transaction code on the local lock controller associated with the storage device in which the shipper has placed the incoming goods.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the central operations controller is programmed to communicate the data specific to incoming goods, the identity of the specific storage device in which those incoming goods have been placed and the access number to the consignee of such incoming goods electronically via a global communications network.

9. A method for unattended package delivery comprising the steps of

providing cross-docking apparatus having a plurality of storage devices, each having a door with a lock that is locked and unlocked in response to codes, a local lock controller associated with each of the storage devices and including an input device for inputting an access code that unlocks the lock when it is locked and a transaction code that locks the lock when it is unlocked, and a central operations controller in communication with the local lock controllers and programmed to receive the access and transaction codes input to each local lock controller, to create an access code for the lock of each storage device upon receiving a transaction code that locks the lock, and to output a notice of the access code to be used to unlock the lock of each storage device when it is locked, and

inputting and storing in the central operations controller data including transaction codes and communication information for users who register in advance to pick up incoming goods from and deposit outgoing goods in the storage devices of the apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9, and further comprising the steps carried out in response to the inputting of a transaction code on a local lock controller by a shipper of storing in the central operations controller data specific to incoming goods including the identification of the specific storage device in which incoming goods have been placed by a shipper for pickup by a registered user and creating an access code that permits that storage device to be unlocked by the registered user by inputting the access code on the local lock controller.

11. The method of claim 10, and further comprising the steps of communicating the data specific to incoming goods to the registered user.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising the steps of communicating the data specific to incoming goods to the registered user electronically via a global communications network.

13. The method of claim 10, and further comprising the step of inputting and storing in the central operations controller data specific to incoming goods provided by a shipper prior to delivery of the incoming goods to the apparatus and creating and communicating to the shipper a transaction code for inputting to the local lock controller upon deposit by the shipper of the incoming goods in a storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising the steps carried out in response to the input by the shipper of the transaction code of creating an access code and communicating to the registered user the data specific to incoming goods, the identification of the storage device in which such goods have been placed and the access code for unlocking the storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data specific to incoming goods, the identification of the storage device in which such goods have been placed and the access code are communicated to the consignee of such incoming goods electronically via a global communications network.