Item delivery and retrieval system

• US 7,133,743 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• 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: Janos, David J., Neebe, Mark T., Neilson, Randall K., Tilles, David J., Schofield, Ann C., Chestnutt, Bruce G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US10/819,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 700/242, 700/237, 340/568, 340/569
• US Class Current: 700/242
• 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 method of item delivery and retrieval from a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible via software control employing browser technology, comprising the steps of:

controlling selective access to the storage facility by a computer subsystem employing browser technology including web page based customized application software implementing an interface of selectively configurable application interface controls, including;

loading and storing an item into a storage location by a first user using a first identifier identifying a storage location and a second identifier identifying a second user,

the second user retrieving said item or returning an item to the storage facility by entering certain information including the second identifier into an access terminal located on the storage facility;

controlling the storage facility with a computer subsystem having an application configurable software control architecture including browser software including a software driver interface, a back office application program interface (BOAPI) and a front office application program interface (FOAPI);

controlling access to the storage facility by the software driver interface;

enabling the software driver interface by the back office application program interface (BOAPI) thereby enabling access to the storage facility by the first user;

enabling the software driver interface by the front office application program interface (FOAPI) thereby enabling access to the storage facility by the second user;

the storage facility including a carousel including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors; and

,

selectively opening the doors on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BOAPI) or the second user via the front office program interface (FOAPI).

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the back office application program interface (BOAPI) include web pages which implement a plurality of functions during an item loading operation, further comprising the steps of:

enabling a connect function which includes initializing connections of the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface (BOAPI) to the driver software interface and passing an identification code thereto, if necessary, for gaining access control;

enabling an open all doors function which includes gaining full access to the carousel;

enabling a rotate carousel function which includes positioning the carousel to a predetermined bin access point for a loading operation;

enabling an open bin location function which includes opening one or more doors of said plurality of doors to a specific bin;

enabling an identify bin function which includes identifying a particular bin when all the doors are open;

enabling a close bin function which includes closing all the doors and, if necessary, clearing all bin access codes; and

enabling a close all doors function which includes closing all doors and securing the carousel and thereby completing an item loading transaction.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the front office application program (FOAPI) include web pages which implement a plurality of functions during an item retrieval operation, further comprising the steps of:

enabling a connect function which includes initializing connections of the object oriented programs of the front office application program interface (FOAPI) to the driver software interface together with passing an identification code thereto, if necessary, for gaining secure access control;

enabling an authentication process;

enabling a cue bin location function which includes rotating the carousel and positioning a requested bin behind a door of said door assembly without opening any of the doors while said authentication process takes place;

enabling an open bin location function which includes opening said door to the requested bin for item retrieval; and

enabling a close bin function which includes closing said door so as to complete an item retrieval transaction.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the back office application program interface (BOAPI) include web pages which implement a plurality of functions during an item loading operation, further comprising the steps of:

enabling a connect function which includes initializing connection of the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface (BOAPI) to the driver software interface;

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

enabling a purge item function which includes removing a predetermined item in the inventory database and clearing a bin access code therefore;

enabling an open all doors function which includes gaining full access to the carousel;

enabling a load item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening a door of the carousel for a specific item at a specific location;

enabling a removal item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening the door to a specific item for removal and indicating the removal as removed from an inventory database;

enabling an open bin location function similar to the load item function and includes positioning the carousel to a specific bin and opening one or more doors thereto;

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

enabling a rotate carousel function which includes positioning the carousel to a specific access point;

enabling a close bin function which includes closing said one or more doors for a specific bin location;

enabling a close all doors function which includes closing all doors and securing the storage facility; and

enabling a database maintenance and report function which includes updating the inventory database.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the front office application program interface (FOAPI) include web pages which implement a plurality of functions during an item retrieval or return operation, further comprising the steps of:

enabling a connect function which includes initializing connections of the object oriented programs of the front office application program interface (FOAPI) to the driver software interface;

enabling a cue item and authenticate user function which includes rotating the carousel and positioning a requested item for retrieval from a bin behind a specific door without any of the doors being opened while authenticating a transactional process of a second user takes place;

enabling a remove item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening the door to the requested item for retrieval;

enabling a close bin function which includes closing the doors of the carousel;

enabling a load item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening a door for returning a specified item to a specific bin location;

registering the item in an inventory database;

enabling a return item function which includes closing the door of the carousel upon return of an item to the specified bin location and flagging the item for return in the inventory database;

enabling a query item function which includes finding and loading time and status information into the inventory database; and

enabling a print receipt function which includes printing a receipt of a transaction carried out by a user.

6. A method of item delivery and retrieval from a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible via software control employing browser technology, comprising:

controlling selective access to the storage facility by a computer subsystem employing browser technology including web page based customized application software implementing an interface of selectively configurable application interface controls, including;

loading and storing an item into a storage location by a first user using a first identifier identifying a storage location and a second identifier identifying a second user,

the second user retrieving said item or returning an item to the storage facility by entering certain information including the second identifier into an access terminal located on the storage facility;

controlling the storage facility with a computer subsystem having an application configurable software control architecture including browser software including a software driver interface, a back office application program interface (BOAPI) and a front office application program interface (FOAPI);

controlling access to the storage facility by the software driver interface;

enabling the software driver interface by the back office application program interface (BOAPI) thereby enabling access to the storage facility by the first user;

enabling the software driver interface by the front office application program interface (FOAPI) thereby enabling access to the storage facility by the second user;

the storage facility including a carousel including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors;

selectively opening the doors on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BOAPI) or the second user via the front office program interface (FOAPI);

enabling a connect function which includes initializing connection of the object oriented programs of the back office application program interface (BOAPI) to the driver software interface;

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

enabling a purge item function which includes removing a predetermined item in the inventory database and clearing a bin access code therefore;

enabling an open all doors function which includes gaining full access to the carousel;

enabling a load item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening a door of the carousel for a specific item at a specific location;

enabling a removal item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening the door to a specific item for removal and indicating the removal as removed from an inventory database;

enabling an open bin location function similar to the load item function and includes positioning the carousel to a specific bin and opening one or more doors thereto;

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

enabling a rotate carousel function which includes positioning the carousel to a specific access point;

enabling a close bin function which includes closing said one or more doors for a specific bin location;

enabling a close all doors function which includes closing all doors and securing the storage facility; and

enabling a database maintenance and report function which includes updating the inventory database.

7. A method of item delivery and retrieval from a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible via software control employing browser technology, comprising:

controlling selective access to the storage facility by a computer subsystem employing browser technology including web page based customized application software implementing an interface of selectively configurable application interface controls, including;

loading and storing an item into a storage location by a first user using a first identifier identifying a storage location and a second identifier identifying a second user,

the second user retrieving said item or returning an item to the storage facility by entering certain information including the second identifier into an access terminal located on the storage facility;

controlling the storage facility with a computer subsystem having an application configurable software control architecture including browser software including a software driver interface, a back office application program interface (BOAPI) and a front office application program interface (FOAPI);

controlling access to the storage facility by the software driver interface;

enabling the software driver interface by the back office application program interface (BOAPI) thereby enabling access to the storage facility by the first user;

enabling the software driver interface by the front office application program interface (FOAPI) thereby enabling access to the storage facility by the second user;

the storage facility including a carousel including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors;

selectively opening the doors on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BOAPI) or the second user via the front office program interface (FOAPI);

enabling a connect function which includes initializing connections of the object oriented programs of the front office application program interface (FOAPI) to the driver software interface;

enabling a cue item and authenticate user function which includes rotating the carousel and positioning a requested item for retrieval from a bin behind a specific door without any of the doors being opened while authenticating a transactional process of a second user takes place;

enabling a remove item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening the door to the requested item for retrieval;

enabling a close bin function which includes closing the doors of the carousel;

enabling a load item function which includes positioning the carousel and opening a door for returning a specified item to a specific bin location;

registering the item in an inventory database;

enabling a return item function which includes closing the door of the carousel upon return of an item to the specified bin location and flagging the item for return in the inventory database;

enabling a query item function which includes finding and loading time and status information into the inventory database; and

enabling a print receipt function which includes printing a receipt of a transaction carried out by a user.