Item delivery and retrieval system

• US 6,748,295 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Neebe, Mark T., Neilson, Randall K., Tilles, David J., Schofield, Ann C., Chestnutt, Bruce G., Janos, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US09/817,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 700/214, 340/569, 340/825
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

An item delivery and retrieval system including a storage subsystem and a computer subsystem. The storage subsystem includes a secure enclosure having an item storage carousel including internal controller apparatus. The computer subsystem is embodied in internet web page based customized application software for implementing an application interface of selectively configurable ActiveX controls for providing user access, such as an employee of a delivery service company and/or a customer of the delivery service company and customer access to one or more storage bins located behind a set of normally closed doors, for providing access control to the bins, and for managing the location of the items in the storage subsystem. The doors are opened when proper identification is provided by the customer so as to permit retrieval of items located in specifically designated bin(s) or to return items thereto.

Claims

1. A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system, comprising:

a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible via software control employing browser technology by a first user who loads and stores an item into a storage location with a first identifier as to the storage location and a second identifier as to the identity of a second user, said second user then retrieving said item or returning an item upon using and entering certain information into an access terminal located on the storage facility; and

a computer subsystem which controls the storage facility and having an application configurable software control architecture including a browser software interface including object-oriented programs comprising, a storage facility driver software interface for controlling access to the storage facility, a back office application program interface (BO API) enabling the first user to access the storage facility by means of the driver software interface, and a front office application program interface (FO API) enabling the second user to access the storage facility also by means of the driver software interface; and

wherein said secure storage facility includes comprises a carousel and controls therefore, and including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors, said doors being selectively opened on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BO API) or the second user via the front office application program interface (FO API).

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the carousel comprises a vertical carousel.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second user commonly use said access terminal, said access terminal having a screen supporting a web page display.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the system comprises a single sided system where the carousel is accessed from a front side by both the first and second user.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second user use separate access terminals, said terminals each having a screen supporting a web page display.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the system comprises a double sided system where the carousel is accessed from a rear side by the first user and from a front side by the second user.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the carousel provides access from a front side and wherein the door assembly includes a set of doors including at least one door on the front side of the carousel which is accessible only by the first user and at least one door on the front side of the carousel which is accessible only by the second user and wherein the common user access terminal is located on the front side of the carousel.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the carousel also provides access from a back side and wherein the door assembly includes at least one door on the back side which is accessible only by the first user.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first user comprises an employee of a service company and the second user comprises a customer of the service company.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first user comprises respective employees of a plurality of delivery service companies, said delivery service companies inserting respective application software into the computer subsystem which is executed in turn so to provide exclusive use of the storage facility at any one time by said plurality of delivery service companies.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein said access terminal is located on a kiosk.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the kiosk houses the browser software interface.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the kiosk is located at the front of the carousel.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the kiosk supports a touch screen for inputting user access information.

15. The system according to claim 13 wherein the kiosk supports a signature pad for inputting a user signature.

16. The system according to claim 13 wherein the kiosk supports a bar code reader for inputting user bar code information.

17. The system according to claim 13 wherein the kiosk supports a card reader for inputting user card information.

18. The system according to claim 13 wherein the kiosk supports a PIN pad for inputting a user PIN number.

19. The system according to claim 13 wherein said kiosk supports a receipt printer for printing a user transaction receipt.

20. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including a wireless communications device for accessing the storage subsystem and the computer subsystem via a local area network.

21. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including a handheld wireless communications device for accessing the storage subsystem and the computer subsystem.

22. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including a wireless handheld communications device having a screen and incorporating a scanner for accessing the storage subsystem and the computer subsystem.

23. The system according to claim 1 wherein said software architecture additionally includes a security software interface for controlling a camera system for taking a picture of a user while interacting with the browser interface while at the storage subsystem.

24. The system according to claim 23 wherein the user comprises the second user.

25. The system according to claim 23 wherein the security software interface includes application interface controls.

26. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including an application and data web page server connectable to the browser interface.

27. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including an application and data web page server connectable to the browser software interface and a master web page server connectable to the application and data web page server which supports and stores one or more sets of web pages for said web page display.

28. The system according to claim 1 wherein the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface (BC API) implement functions in a basic carousel control architecture during an item loading operation, comprising:

a connect function which initializes connections of the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface to the driver software interface and passes an identification code thereto, if necessary, for access control;

an open all doors function gains full access to the carousel;

an open bin location function to position the carousel and open the doors to a specific bin;

a rotate carousel function which positions the carousel to a predetermined bin access point for a loading operation;

an identify bin function which is used to identify a particular bin when all the doors are open;

a close bin function which is used to close all the doors and, if necessary, clear all bin access codes; and

a close all doors function which closes all doors and secures the carousel so as to complete an item loading transaction.

29. The system according to claim 1 wherein the object oriented program of the front office application program interface (FO API) implemented functions in a basic carousel control architecture during an item retrieval operation, comprising;

a connect function which initializes connections of the object oriented programs of the front office application program interface to the driver software interface and passes an identification code thereto, if necessary, for access control security;

a cue bin location function which rotates the carousel such that one requested bin is positioned behind a door of said door assembly without any of the doors being opened while an authentication process takes place;

an open bin location function to open said door to the requested bin for item retrieval; and

a close bin function which is thereafter used to close said door so as to complete an item retrieval transaction.

30. A system according to claim 1 wherein the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface (BO API) implements functions during an item loading operation, comprising:

a connect function which initializes connection of the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface to the driver software interface;

a register item function which registers a specific item to be loaded in the carousel in an inventory database;

a purge item function which removes an item in the inventory database and clears a bin access code therefor;

a load item function which positions the carousel and opens a door of the carousel for a specific item at a specific location;

a removal item function which positions the carousel and opens the door to a specific item for removal and which is then marked as removed from the inventory database;

an open all doors function which is used to gain full access to the carousel;

an open bin location function similar to the load item function and positions the carousel to a specified bin and opens the doors thereto;

an identify bin function which identifies a particular bin when all the doors of the carousel are opened;

a rotate carousel function which is used to position the carousel to a specific access point;

a close bin function which is used to close the door for a specific bin location;

a close all doors function which is used to close all doors and secure the machine; and

a database maintenance and report function to update the inventory database.

31. The system according to claim 1 wherein the front office application program interface (FO API) implements functions during a retrieval or return operation, comprising:

a connect function which initializes connections of the object oriented programs of the front office application program interface to the driver software interface;

a cue item and authenticate user function which rotates the carousel such that a requested item for retrieval is positioned behind a specific door without any of the doors being opened while a transactional process of authenticating the user takes place;

a remove item function which positions the carousel and opens a door to a specified item for retrieval;

a close bin function which is used to close doors of the carousel;

a load item function which positions the carousel and opens a door for return of a specified item at a specific bin location where the item is then registered in an inventory database;

a return item function which closes the door of the carousel upon return of an item to a specified bin and which is flagged in the inventory database for return;

a query item function to find and load time and status information into the inventory database; and

a print receipt function to print a receipt of a transaction carried out by a user.

32. A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system, comprising:

a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible by a first user who loads and stores an item into a storage location with a first identifier as to the storage location and a second identifier as to the identity of a second user, said second user then retrieving said item or returning an item upon using and entering certain information into an access terminal; and

a computer subsystem which controls the storage facility and having a application configurable software control architecture including a software interface including object-oriented programs comprising, a storage facility driver software interface for controlling access to the storage facility, a back office application program interface (BO API) enabling the first user to access the storage facility by means of the driver software interface, and a front office application program interface (FO API) enabling the second user to access the storage facility also by means of the driver software interface; and

wherein said secure storage facility includes comprises a carousel and controls therefore, and including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors, said doors being selectively opened on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BO API) or the second user via the front office application program interface (FO API);

wherein the back office application program interface (BO API) implements functions during an item loading operation, comprising;

a connect function which initializes connection of the application controls of the back office application program interface to the carousel driver;

a register item function which registers a specific item to be loaded in the carousel in an inventory database;

a purge item function which removes an item in the inventory database and clears a bin access code therefor;

a load item function which positions the carousel and opens a door of the carousel for a specific item at a specific location;

a removal item function which positions the carousel and opens the door to a specific item for removal and which is then marked as removed from the inventory database;

an open all doors function which is used to gain full access to the carousel;

an open bin location function similar to the load item function and positions the carousel to a specified bin and opens the doors thereto;

an identify bin function which identifies a particular bin when all the doors of the carousel are opened;

a rotate carousel function which is used to position the carousel to a specific access point;

a close bin function which is used to close the door for a specific bin location;

a close all doors function which is used to close all doors and secure the machine; and

a database maintenance and report function to update the inventory database.

33. A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system according to claim 32 wherein the access terminal is located in a kiosk containing the software interface and wherein the kiosk is secured to the storage facility.

34. A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system, comprising:

a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible by a first user who loads and stores an item into a storage location with a first identifier as to the storage location and a second identifier as to the identity of a second user, said second user then retrieving said item or returning an item upon using and entering certain information into an access terminal; and

a computer subsystem which controls the storage facility and having a application configurable software control architecture including a software interface including object-oriented programs comprising, a storage facility driver software interface for controlling access to the storage facility, a back office application program interface (BO API) enabling the first user to access the storage facility by means of the driver software interface, and a front office application program interface (FO API) enabling the second user to access the storage facility also by means of the driver software interface; and

wherein said secure storage facility includes comprises a carousel and controls therefore, and including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors, said doors being selectively opened on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BO API) or the second user via the front office application program interface (FO API);

wherein the front office application program interface (FO API) implements functions during a retrieval or return operation, comprising;

a connect function which initializes connections of the application controls of the front office application program interface to the carousel driver interface;

a cue item and authenticate user function which rotates the carousel such that a requested item for retrieval is positioned behind a specific door without any of the doors being opened while a transactional process of authenticating the user takes place;

a remove item function which positions the carousel and opens a door to a specified item for retrieval;

a close bin function which is used to close doors of the carousel;

a load item function which positions the carousel and opens a door for return of a specified item at a specific bin location where the item is then registered in an inventory database;

a return item function which closes the door of the carousel upon return of an item to a specified bin and which is flagged/marked in the inventory database for return;

a query item function to find and load time and status information into the inventory database; and

a print receipt function to print a receipt of a transaction carried out by a user.

35. A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system according to claim 34 wherein the access terminal is located on a kiosk containing the software interface and wherein the kiosk is secured to the storage facility.