Door-lock-opening method for home delivery locker

• US 6,895,241 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Fulltime System
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Fulltime System
• Inventors: Hara, Kouichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zewdu, Meless
• Application Number:
  US09/908,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 455/347, 455/899, 455410-411, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/418, 455424-425, 455/435.1, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455419-420, 455/403, 455/352, 455/152.1, 455/152.4, 455/345, 455/353, 455/557, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.9, 340/5.91, 340/825.31, 340/5.5, 340/5.61, 340/10.31, 340/66
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

In a door-lock-opening method for a home delivery locker which includes a home delivery locker and a managing company that are connected to each other through a line, the managing company controlling depositing and taking-out processes of the home delivery locker, a person who wishes to take out a parcel addressed to the person from the home delivery locker is allowed to communicate with the managing company through a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone, and in the case when the company has confirmed that the person who made contact therewith is a registered user of the home delivery locker, the company releases the lock of the door of the home delivery locker housing the parcel. In conventional home delivery lockers, the card received from the managing company is read by the card reader that is built in the home delivery locker so as to release the lock of the door; therefore, the resulting problem is that, if a resident is not carrying the card, or if the resident has lost the card, he or she cannot take out the corresponding parcel even after he or she has found the notice on his or her arrival. The present invention makes it possible to solve this problem.

Claims

1. A door-lock-opening method for a home delivery locker comprising the steps of:

providing a home delivery locker and a managing company that are connected to each other through a communication transmitting line, said managing company controlling depositing and taking-out processes of said home delivery locker;

allowing a person who wishes to take from the home delivery locker a parcel addressed to the person to communicate with said managing company via a signal from a mobile terminal, such as a mobile telephone, conducted through said communication transmitting line; and

following confirmation by said managing company that the person who communicated therewith is a registered user of said home delivery locker, effecting release by said company of the lock of the door of said home delivery locker housing the parcel via said communication transmitting line.

2. The door-lock-opening method for a home delivery locker according to claim 1, wherein,

after having been confirmed by said managing company that the person is a registered user,

allowing the person to input a pass number by operating keys attached to said delivery locker, and,

after determining that the pass number is correct, transmitting a lock-opening signal via said communication transmitting line to release the door.

3. A door-lock-opening method for a home delivery locker comprising the steps of:

providing a home delivery locker;

allowing a person who wishes to take from said home delivery locker a parcel addressed to the person to communicate with said home delivery locker via a signal from a mobile terminal, such as a mobile telephone, through a communication transmitting line; and

following confirmation by said delivery locker that the person who communicated therewith is a registered user of said home delivery locker,

effecting release by transmission of a signal to said home delivery locker of the lock of the door of said home delivery locker housing the parcel.

4. The door-lock-opening method for a home delivery locker according to claim 3, wherein,

after having confirmed by said home delivery locker that the person is a registered user,

allowing the person to input a pass number by operating keys attached to said home delivery locker, and

after determining that the pass number is correct, transmitting a lock-opening signal via said communication transmitting line to release the door.