Networked digital locker lock system

• US 6,791,450 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Security People Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Security People Incorporated
• Inventors: Gokcebay, Asil T., Keskin, Yucel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Aric
• Assistant Examiner(s): DaLencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/919,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.66, 340/568.1, 340/10.31, 340/569, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 700/233
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Abstract

A system of locker compartments at various locations is controlled by a central system processor. A communication system from the central processor to all locations, and all lockers within a location, enables central control of rewritable locker access codes, reservation of appropriate lockers for delivery of orders, and monitoring of status of all lockers in the system. The assignment of lockers and codes can be web-based, and can be done by a vendor, a delivery company or an online customer.

Claims

1. An electronic lock network for assigning and controlling use of lockers for a distribution system, comprising:

a series of lockers capable of storing goods for users to pick up or as delivered by users, the lockers being at one or more locations known to users,

each locker having an electronic lock accessible by a code presented by a user picking up or delivering items, and the lock being programmable to a selected code for access,

a network connecting the locker locks, including signal carrying means for carrying signals to and from each electronic lock in the network,

a microprocessor controlling the network, connected to the signal carrying means and capable of assigning to a selected locker lock an access code for self-service access by a user, and capable of sending signals uniquely to and receiving signals uniquely from each lock on the signal carrying means, including the assigned access code, effective to set the lock to that code,

a locker database connected to the microprocessor, the locker database storing status information on locks in the system, such that the microprocessor can retrieve information from the locker database as to the status of each lock and can transmit information to the database to assign lockers and access codes as new orders are made, and

the microprocessor and signal carrying means including means for determining occupied or available status of each locker lock and for receiving a signal indicating when a lock has been opened, and storing this information in the locker database.

2. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the locker database also stores information on the size of each locker in the network, and its height above a floor, so as to be capable of accommodating orders of different sizes and users with special requirements.

3. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the access code is pre-selected and specified in information entered into the microprocessor when an order is initiated.

4. The electronic lock network of claim 3, wherein a user'"'"'s credit card code comprises the access code for the locker lock containing the user'"'"'s order, the credit card code being input to the microprocessor and sent by the microprocessor to the locker lock to set the lock, and including reader means at or near the customer locker for enabling a customer to swipe a credit card through the reader means to allow access to the lock, when the correct credit card is used.

5. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor includes means for assigning a time duration during which the locker lock should be accessed by a user for retrieving stored items after such items have been placed in a locker, and including means in the microprocessor for sending a signal to an appropriate entity if the microprocessor has not received a signal that the locker has been opened within a designated duration of time after placement of the items in the locker.

6. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor and signal carrying means include locker scanning means for monitoring the status of each locker lock at pre-selected intervals, and for updating the locker database at such selected intervals with current information on each lock'"'"'s status.

7. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the network includes a series of unique hand held electronic identification devices registered uniquely to users, wherein the locker locks include contact readers for the electronic identification devices, and wherein the code assigned by the microprocessor to a particular locker lock comprises the unique code for a designated user as on the user'"'"'s hand held electronic identification device.

8. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the network includes a series of unique hand held accessing proximity devices registered uniquely to users, wherein the locker locks include proximity readers for the hand held accessing proximity devices, and wherein the code assigned by the microprocessor to a particular locker lock comprises a unique code for a designated user as on the user'"'"'s hand held accessing proximity device.

9. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the network includes a series of unique hand held electronic identification devices registered uniquely to users, wherein the locker locks include both keypads as accessing devices and readers for the electronic identification devices as access devices, and wherein the code assigned by the microprocessor to a locker lock can comprise the unique code for a designated user as on the user'"'"'s electronic identification device.

10. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, on receiving a new order for use of a locker, assigns an effective time for usage of the locker, in which the locker can be opened for delivery and for pickup.

11. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, on receiving a new order for use of a locker, assigns a time limit for opening of the locker by a user, during which time limit the user can access the lock more than once, the time limit applying from the instant of first opening of the locker by the user.

12. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor includes means for receiving information concerning special needs of a user, and for setting the time period for access by a user to a particular lock longer for people with disabilities.

13. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the signal carrying means between the microprocessor and the locker locks comprises communication over the internet.

14. The electronic lock network of claim 1, wherein the signal carrying means between the microprocessor and the electronic locker locks is provided by wireless communication.

15. An electronic lock network for assigning and controlling use of lockers for a distribution system, comprising:

a series of lockers capable of storing goods for users to pick up or as delivered by users, the lockers being at one or more locations known to users,

each locker having an electronic lock accessible by a code presented by a user picking up or delivering items, and the lock being programmable to a selected code for access,

a network connecting the locker locks, including signal carrying means for carrying signals to and from each electronic lock in the network,

a microprocessor controlling the network, connected to the signal carrying means and capable of assigning to a selected locker lock an access code for self-service access by a user, and capable of sending signals uniquely to and receiving signals uniquely from each lock on the signal carrying means, including the assigned access code, effective to set the lock to that code, and

a locker database connected to the microprocessor, the locker database storing status information on locks in the system, such that the microprocessor can retrieve information from the locker database as to the status of each lock and can transmit information to the database to assign lockers and access codes as new orders are made.

16. The electronic lock network of claim 15, wherein the series of lockers are in groups located at separate geographical locations.