Locker rental system using external codes
First Claim
1. A locker system operable with an encoded item issued to a user, each encoded item associated with a non-locker system generated external identification (ID) code, the locker system comprising:
- a locker comprising an enclosure defining an interior and an opening allowing access to the interior;
a door attached to the enclosure, the door moveable between a closed position wherein the door substantially blocks the enclosure opening to inhibit access to the enclosure interior and an open position wherein the door does not block the enclosure opening thereby permitting access to the enclosure interior;
a lock configured to secure the door in the closed position when engaged and release the door when disengaged, the lock being electronically actuated;
a locker terminal in communication with the lock, the locker terminal comprising a processor, memory, and a code entry device for entering the non-locker system generated external ID code associated with one of the encoded items, the locker terminal generating a request comprising at least the non-locker system generated external ID code entered via the code entry device and a locker terminal identifier corresponding to the locker terminal; and
a locker manager in communication with the locker terminal, the locker manager comprising a processor and memory, the memory storing validation codes, at least one non-locker system generated active external ID code, at least one locker account, each validation code corresponding to at least a portion of a non-locker system generated external ID code associated with one of the encoded items, wherein when a request is received from the locker terminal, the locker manager validating the non-locker system generated external ID code if a corresponding portion of the non-locker system generated external ID code from the request matches one of the validation codes, the locker manager associating at least one valid non-locker system generated external ID code with at least one locker account to define a rental plan.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A locker rental system includes electronic lockers centrally managed by a locker manager. The locker manager is in communication with a separate external system, which handles admissions and sales for a venue. Users are provided with a unique external identification (ID) code for purposes such as admission to the venue. Determinative sequences of the external ID codes are provided to the locker manager as validation codes. When the external ID code is scanned, the locker manager validates the external ID code using the validation codes. A valid external ID code may be used to rent and access lockers in the locker system. In some implementations, locker rights may be sold through the external system and details of the transaction provided to the locker manager. If the external ID code is valid, the locker manager generates a rental plan.
59 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A locker system operable with an encoded item issued to a user, each encoded item associated with a non-locker system generated external identification (ID) code, the locker system comprising:
-
a locker comprising an enclosure defining an interior and an opening allowing access to the interior; a door attached to the enclosure, the door moveable between a closed position wherein the door substantially blocks the enclosure opening to inhibit access to the enclosure interior and an open position wherein the door does not block the enclosure opening thereby permitting access to the enclosure interior; a lock configured to secure the door in the closed position when engaged and release the door when disengaged, the lock being electronically actuated; a locker terminal in communication with the lock, the locker terminal comprising a processor, memory, and a code entry device for entering the non-locker system generated external ID code associated with one of the encoded items, the locker terminal generating a request comprising at least the non-locker system generated external ID code entered via the code entry device and a locker terminal identifier corresponding to the locker terminal; and a locker manager in communication with the locker terminal, the locker manager comprising a processor and memory, the memory storing validation codes, at least one non-locker system generated active external ID code, at least one locker account, each validation code corresponding to at least a portion of a non-locker system generated external ID code associated with one of the encoded items, wherein when a request is received from the locker terminal, the locker manager validating the non-locker system generated external ID code if a corresponding portion of the non-locker system generated external ID code from the request matches one of the validation codes, the locker manager associating at least one valid non-locker system generated external ID code with at least one locker account to define a rental plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of renting lockers based on non-locker system generated external ID codes associated with encoded items issued to users, the method comprising the acts of:
-
storing validation criteria corresponding to the non-locker system generated external ID codes in a locker rental system; reading one of the non-locker system generated external ID codes from one of the encoded items using a code reader of a locker terminal associated with at least one locker as part of a locker access transaction; sending an access request comprising the non-locker system generated external ID code read from the encoded item issued to the user, the access type, and a locker terminal identifier, wherein the access type indicates whether the locker access transaction is associated with a new locker rental or an existing locker rental; upon receipt of the access request at the locker manager, when the access type corresponds to a new locker rental; determining if the access request is valid based on an evaluation of the non-locker system generated external ID code in the access request against the validation criteria; and if the access request is valid; creating a new rental plan; associating the non-locker system generated external ID code in the access request with the new rental plan; determining that a locker associated with the locker terminal identifier is available; assigning the locker identifier of the available locker to the new rental plan; sending an access authorization comprising the locker identifier to the locker terminal identified by the locker terminal identifier in the access request; and unlocking the locker corresponding to the locker identifier assigned to the new rental plan. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A locker system operable with an encoded item issued to a user, each encoded item associated with a non-locker system generated external identification (ID) code, the locker system comprising:
-
a plurality of lockers, each locker comprising an enclosure, a door, and a lock, the enclosure defining an interior and an opening allowing access to the interior, the door attached to the enclosure, the door moveable between a closed position wherein the door substantially blocks the enclosure opening to inhibit access to the enclosure interior and an open position wherein the door does not block the enclosure opening thereby permitting access to the enclosure interior, the lock configured to secure the door in the closed position when engaged and release the door when disengaged, the lock being electronically actuated; and a locker manager in communication with each lock, the locker manager comprising a processor and memory, the locker manager controlling operation of each lock to selectively manage access to each lockers, the memory storing a plurality of locker accounts and a plurality of user accounts, each locker account associated with a corresponding locker and storing information about the physical characteristics of the corresponding locker, a plurality of user accounts stored in the memory, each user account associated with a corresponding non-locker system generated external ID code, wherein selected user accounts are associated with a privilege, the privilege associated with one of the physical characteristics, the locker manager giving priority to user accounts associated with the privilege when assigning lockers having the physical characteristic associated with the privilege.
-
Specification