Method of controlling item delivery to an electronic parcel locker

• US 9,223,315 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Irwin, Donald E., McKenzie, Nan K., Tartal, William A., Stephen, Victoria K., Amato, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda
• Application Number:
  US13/706,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 700213-216, 700/218, 700/220, 700/226, 700231-233, 700/242
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for use in delivery of items to a storage unit. The storage unit can include one or several storage receptacles and a control unit that controls and monitors the status of the one or several storage receptacles. The storage unit can be included in a storage unit system that can include one or several storage units and a central control unit. The central control unit can communicate with the one or several storage units, and can receive status and availability updates from the one or several storage units.

Claims

1. A method of controlling delivery of an item to a storage unit comprising at least two receptacles and a first control unit, the method comprising:

receiving via a scanner at the storage unit, at a time of delivery of the item to the storage unit, item identification information scanned from a computer readable identifier located on the item, wherein the item identification information includes a unique item identifier and a recipient identifier;

after receiving the scanned item identification information from the item at the storage unit, transmitting the scanned item identification information to an availability determination module;

requesting availability information for at least one of the at least two receptacles at the storage unit based on the scanned item identification information received from the item at the storage unit;

receiving availability information in response to the request for availability information for at least one of the at least two receptacles at the storage unit;

receiving information identifying the location in the storage unit of an available one of the at least two storage receptacles based on the scanned item identification information;

allowing access to the available one of the at least two receptacles;

determining whether the item has been deposited into the available one of the at least two receptacles; and

transmitting a message to the recipient indicating a deposit of the item in the receptacle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting registration status for the item recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting delivery preference for the item recipient based on the received item identification information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the delivery preference comprises a first delivery attempt to a non-storage unit address.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the delivery preference further comprises delivery to a storage unit address if the first delivery attempt to the non-storage unit address is unsuccessful.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the delivery preference comprises a first delivery to a storage unit address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the location of the available one of the at least two receptacles is included in the availability information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising depositing the item in the available one of the at least two receptacle and confirming the deposit of the item in the receptacle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising reserving the available receptacle for receipt of the item.

10. A method of controlling the delivery of an item to a storage unit comprising a plurality of receptacles and a control unit, the method comprising:

receiving via a scanner at a storage unit at a time of delivery of the item to the storage unit, item identification information from a label located on the item, wherein the item identification information includes a unique item identifier and a recipient identifier;

after receiving the scanned item identification information from the item at the storage unit, receiving a request for availability information for at least one of the plurality of receptacles at the storage unit;

querying, in response to the request for availability information, a first database of availability information for the at least one of the plurality of receptacles at the storage unit based on the scanned item identification information;

determining availability information based on the scanned item identification information;

transmitting availability information for the at least one of the plurality of receptacles at the storage unit;

transmitting information identifying the location in the storage unit of an available one of the plurality of receptacles; and

allowing access to the available one of the plurality of receptacles.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a request for the registration status for the item recipient.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a request for the delivery preference for the item recipient.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising querying a second database of customer information for a delivery preference.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the information identifying the location of the available one of the plurality of receptacles is included in the availability information.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first database receives updates relating to the availability information for the plurality of receptacles.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving confirmation of a deposit of the item in one of the plurality of receptacles.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising updating the first database to reflect the change in the availability status of the receptacle containing the item.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a request to reserve the available receptacle for receipt of the item.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising updating the first database to reflect the reservation of the available receptacle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sending a confirmation of the reservation of the available receptacle.