Multiple kiosks for rental of securable devices

• US 8,854,184 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Best Lockers, LLC (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Best Lockers, LLC (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Mullin, James, Zaniker, John, Conrad, James, Bobb, Daryle
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/841,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.81, 340/5.73, 340/5.8, 340/5.7
• US Class Current: 340/5.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include multiple securable devices available for a user to rent. A first kiosk may be configured to enable the user to rent a securable device from among the securable devices. A second kiosk may be configured to alternatively enable the user to rent the securable device from among the securable devices. A lock unit may be associated with the securable device and be in communication with the first and second kiosks. The lock unit may be configured to enable the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via either of the first or second kiosk.

Claims

1. A system for assigning controlled access to a securable device, said system comprising:

a plurality of securable devices available for a user to rent;

a first kiosk configured to enable the user to rent a securable device from among said plurality of securable devices;

a second kiosk configured to alternatively enable the user to rent the securable device from among said plurality of securable devices; and

a lock unit associated with the securable device and being in communication with said first and second kiosks, said lock unit being configured to receive information from either of said first or second kiosk to enable the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via either of said first or said second kiosk.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a central data repository in communication with said first and second kiosks, wherein said first and second kiosks are further configured to:

communicate identifiers associated with securable devices rented by said respective first and second kiosks to said central data repository for storage therein; and

verify, via said central repository, that the securable device of said plurality of securable devices is available for rent prior to renting the securable device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said central data repository is operated in said first kiosk, and wherein said second kiosk is further configured to communicate with said first kiosk to (i) communicate an identifier associated with a securable device and (ii) query said central repository prior to provisioning the securable device using the identifier to confirm that the securable device is available for rent.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein housings of said first and second kiosks are physically separate from one or more housings of said plurality of securable devices.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first kiosk is in communication with a wide area network, and configured to enable the user to remotely communicate with said first kiosk via the wide area network to rent the securable device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second kiosks are further configured to enable the user to purchase goods or services other than renting the securable device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second kiosks are configured to select and assign the securable device to the user.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein each of said first and second kiosks are configured to:

receive a PIN as the information from the user; and

communicate the PIN to said lock unit of the selected securable device to enable the securable device to be opened in response to the user subsequently entering the PIN into said lock unit.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said lock unit is configured to determine that the PIN is entered therein without further communication with either of said first or second kiosk.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a local area network, and wherein said first and second kiosks are configured to communicate with at least a portion of the same securable devices of said plurality of securable devices via said local area network.

11. A method for assigning controlled access to a securable device, said method comprising:

making a plurality of securable devices available for a user to rent;

enabling, via a first kiosk, the user to rent a securable device from among the plurality of securable devices;

alternatively enabling, via a second kiosk, the user to rent the securable device from among the plurality of securable devices; and

enabling, by a lock unit associated with the securable device and in communication with the first and second kiosks and configured to receive information from either of said first or second kiosk, the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via either of the first or second kiosk.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a central data repository in communication with the first and second kiosks;

communicating identifiers associated with securable devices rented by the respective first and second kiosks to the central data repository for storage therein; and

verifying, via the central repository, that the securable device is available for rent prior to renting the securable device by either the first or the second kiosk.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein providing the central data repository includes providing the central repository in the first kiosk, and further comprising communicating, by the second kiosk, with the first kiosk to (i) communicate an identifier associated with an associated securable device and (ii) query the central repository prior to provisioning the securable device using the identifier to confirm that the securable device is available for rent.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising physically positioning the first and second kiosks apart from the plurality of selectable devices.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising configuring the first kiosk to be in communication with a wide area network to enable the user to remotely communicate with the first kiosk via the wide area network to rent the securable device via the first kiosk.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising enabling, by each of the first and second kiosks, the user to purchase goods or services other than renting the securable device.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

selecting, by either of the first or second kiosk, the securable device; and

assigning, by the first or second kiosk that selected the securable device, the selected securable device to the user.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, by either of the first or second kiosk, a PIN as the information from the user;

communicating, by whichever of the first or second kiosk received the PIN from the user, the PIN to a lock unit of the selected securable device; and

enabling the securable device to be opened in response to the user subsequently entering the PIN into the lock unit.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising determining, by the lock unit, that the PIN is entered therein without further communication with either of the first or second kiosk.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising communicating, via a local area network, by the first and second kiosks with at least a portion of the same securable devices of the plurality of securable devices.