Methods and apparatus for unattended pickups and deliveries
First Claim
1. A secure pickup and delivery container comprising:
- a door to allow access to an interior part of the container and comprising a lock;
an access element to receive a request to access the interior part of the container; and
a control unit comprising a storage element to store access privilege information, the control unit further comprising a processing element, coupled to the access element and to the lock, to unlock the lock if the request is authorized, and otherwise to keep the container locked;
wherein the access privilege information comprises information regarding a first token and information regarding a specified frequency of delivery within a given time period;
wherein the processing element is to compare the request with the access privilege information to determine whether the request to access the container is authorized;
wherein the control unit further comprises an interface over which an integral hand-held recipient user device can communicate access privilege information to the control unit and receive transaction information from the control unit, the interface being selected from the group consisting of a wireline connection to which the recipient user device can be coupled and a wireless transceiver with which the recipient user device can communicate wirelessly; and
wherein the transaction information comprises information regarding the identity of a token, including the first token, used to attempt access to the container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A secure pickup and delivery container includes a lockable door, a control unit, an access element, and an anchoring element, according to one embodiment. The control unit includes a processing element and a memory that can be programmed either on-site or remotely with access privilege information such as identity (e.g. of container, delivery person, etc.), location, date, time, frequency of access, and/or package-specific information. In one embodiment, access privilege information is programmed when an intended recipient of a delivery consummates a point of sale transaction, for example over the Internet or telephone. The access element can be a keypad, a biometric scanner, a card reader, a bar-code reader, and/or a wireless control element to read a programmable token such as a smart card. Delivery personnel can enter access request information into the access element, and if it favorably compares with the access privilege information, the control unit unlocks the door. Notification can be concurrently made via wireline or wireless communications to the intended recipient, who may be situated remote from the secure container. The recipient can optionally return a delivery acknowledgment to the delivery personnel. Details of the delivery transaction can also be recorded electronically on the delivery personnel'"'"'s token, within the container, or at a remote location.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A secure pickup and delivery container comprising:
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a door to allow access to an interior part of the container and comprising a lock; an access element to receive a request to access the interior part of the container; and a control unit comprising a storage element to store access privilege information, the control unit further comprising a processing element, coupled to the access element and to the lock, to unlock the lock if the request is authorized, and otherwise to keep the container locked; wherein the access privilege information comprises information regarding a first token and information regarding a specified frequency of delivery within a given time period; wherein the processing element is to compare the request with the access privilege information to determine whether the request to access the container is authorized; wherein the control unit further comprises an interface over which an integral hand-held recipient user device can communicate access privilege information to the control unit and receive transaction information from the control unit, the interface being selected from the group consisting of a wireline connection to which the recipient user device can be coupled and a wireless transceiver with which the recipient user device can communicate wirelessly; and wherein the transaction information comprises information regarding the identity of a token, including the first token, used to attempt access to the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A secure pickup and delivery container comprising:
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a door to allow access to an interior part of the container and comprising a lock; an access element to communicate with a token, the token comprising a first storage element to contain first identity information; and a control unit comprising a second storage element to store second identity information, the control unit further comprising a processing element, coupled to the second storage element, to the access element, and to the lock, to unlock the lock if the first and second identity information match, and otherwise to keep the container locked; wherein the second identity information comprises information regarding the token and information regarding frequency of delivery; wherein the control unit further comprises a first interface over which an integral hand-held recipient user device can communicate the second identity information to the control unit, the first interface being selected from the group consisting of a wireline connection to which the recipient user device can be coupled and a wireless transceiver with which the recipient user device can communicate wirelessly; wherein the access element further comprises a second interface to receive the first identity information from the token and to pass transaction information regarding a completed or attempted access of the container to the first storage element of the token; wherein the transaction information is transmitted from the control unit to the recipient user device over the first interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification