Autonomous operations of securable devices

• US 8,990,110 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• 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:
  US13/841,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 705/18, 340/5.81, 340/5.7, 340/5.8
• US Class Current: 705/18
• 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 9/21 having a variable access code
• 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 a kiosk configured to receive a PIN and to collect payment from a user for rental of a securable device from among multiple securable devices. A lock unit associated with the securable device and in communication with the kiosk may be configured to receive the PIN from said kiosk. After receiving the PIN, the kiosk may be configured to operate autonomously with respect to the kiosk to enable the user to access the securable device in response to the user entering the PIN into the lock unit.

Claims

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

a kiosk configured to receive a PIN and to collect payment from a user for rental of a securable device from among a plurality of securable devices; and

a lock unit associated with the securable device and being in communication with said kiosk, said lock unit being configured to receive the PIN from said kiosk and, thereafter, to operate autonomously with respect to said kiosk to enable the user to access the securable device in response to the user entering the PIN into said lock unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said lock unit includes a backup power supply to enable said lock unit to be operated by the user in the event of a power failure.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said kiosk is further configured to:

assign the securable device to the user;

look up an address of said lock unit associated with the securable device;

communicate the PIN of the user to the address of said lock unit;

store the PIN in association with the securable device; and

notify the user of the assignment of the securable device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said kiosk is further configured to:

receive a second PIN from a second user and collect payment from the second user for rental of a second securable device from among the plurality of securable devices;

assign a second securable device to the second user;

look up an address of a second lock unit associated with the second securable device;

communicate the second PIN of the user to the address of the second lock unit;

store the second PIN in association with the second securable device; and

notify the second user of the assignment of the second securable device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said kiosk, in assigning the second securable device to the second user is further configured to select the second securable device that is not physically adjacent to the securable device assigned to the user.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said lock unit includes a keypad configured to enable the user to enter the PIN to cause the lock unit to provide the user with access to the securable device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the securable device is a locker.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second kiosk configured to communicate with said kiosk and said lock unit and operate in parallel with said kiosk with respect to said plurality of securable devices.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said kiosk is further configured as a free-standing Electronic Funds Transfer Point of Sale (EFT POS) to enable the user to purchase goods and services.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein housings of said kiosk and said plurality of securable devices are physically separated from one another.

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

receiving, by a kiosk, a PIN from a user;

collecting payment, by the kiosk, from the user for rental of a securable device from among a plurality of securable devices;

receiving, by a lock unit associated with the securable device and autonomously operating with respect to the kiosk, the PIN from the kiosk; and

enabling, by the lock unit, the user to access the securable device in response to the user entering the PIN into the lock unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising, in response to the lock unit having a power failure, powering the lock unit using a backup power supply to enable the user to access the securable device.

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

assigning the securable device to the user;

looking up an address of the lock unit associated with the securable device;

communicating the PIN of the user to the address of the lock unit;

storing the PIN in association with the securable device; and

notifying the user of the assignment of the securable device.

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

receiving a second PIN from a second user;

collecting payment from the second user for rental of a second securable device from among the plurality of securable devices;

assigning a second securable device to the second user;

looking up an address of a second lock unit associated with the second securable device;

communicating the second PIN of the user to the address of the second lock unit;

storing the second PIN in association with the second securable device; and

notifying the second user of the assignment of the second securable device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, in assigning the second securable device to the second user, selecting the second securable device that is not physically adjacent to the securable device assigned to the user.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing a keypad with the lock unit to enable the user to enter the PIN to cause the lock unit to provide the user with access to the securable device.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the securable device is a locker.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising communicating, by a second kiosk, with the kiosk and the lock unit and operating, by the second kiosk, in parallel with the kiosk with respect to the plurality of securable devices.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising operating, by the kiosk, as a free-standing Electronic Funds Transfer Point of Sale (EFT POS) to enable the user to purchase goods and services.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising physically positioning the kiosk and the plurality of securable devices apart from one another.