Selecting best-fit digital lockers for packages

• US 9,547,962 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMSON, SARA B
• Application Number:
  US14/339,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20160027261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving

Abstract

Techniques are provided for receiving a request to store an item at a locker facility; determining a first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a first locker facility; receiving data that indicates item-physical-dimensions of the item; determining whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimension of the item and locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more first locker compartments from the first plurality of locker compartments are available; and if so, selecting a first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments; determining a first locker identifier of the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments; and generating and transmitting a first response message, which includes the first locker identifier of the first locker compartment.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a locker manager configured to;

receive a request to store an item at a locker facility;

determine a first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a first locker facility, wherein each locker compartment, from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at the first locker facility, has locker-physical-dimensions;

receive encoded sensor data that specifies item-physical-dimensions of the item and a weight of the item;

determine whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more first locker compartments from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that one or more first locker compartments have first locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

select a first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determine a first locker identifier of the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have first locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

generate and transmit a first response message, which includes the first locker identifier of the first locker compartment;

receive an item weight from a locker sensor located in the first locker compartment;

determine whether the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, matches the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data; and

in response to determining that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, does not match the weight of the item specified in the encoded sensor data, provide an indication that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, does not match the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data;

in response to determining that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, matches the weight of the item specified in the encoded sensor data;

receive, during a predetermined period of time, a plurality of weight readings from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment;

determine whether any weight reading, from the plurality of weight readings, is above a threshold weight value and for the predetermined period of time;

in response to determining that a weight reading, from the plurality of weight readings, is above the threshold weight value and for the predetermined period of time, generate a message indicating that the item has not been retrieved from the first locker compartment during the predetermined period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locker manager is further configured to select the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item by determining that the first locker compartment is the smallest locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first locker manager is further configured to:

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that no locker compartment from the plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items has locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

send, to a second locker manager at a second locker facility, an inquiry for a locker compartment that is available for storing the item;

wherein the inquiry sent to the second locker manager comprises the item-physical dimensions of the item; and

wherein sending the inquiry to the second locker manager causes the second locker manager to generate and provide a response to the locker manager.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the locker manager is further configured to:

determine whether the response is received from the second locker manager; and

in response to determining that the response is received from the second locker manager, determine whether the response includes a second identifier of a second locker compartment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locker manager is further configured to:

in response to determining that the response includes the second identifier of the second locker compartment, generate and transmit a third response message, which includes the second identifier of the second locker compartment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the locker manager is further configured to:

in response to determining that the response does not include the second identifier of the second locker compartment, generate and transmit a fourth response message, which indicates that a suitable locker for the item has not been found.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locker manager is further configured to:

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that no locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items has locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determine a second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a second locker facility, wherein each locker compartment, from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at the second locker facility, has locker-physical-dimensions;

determine whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more second locker compartments from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that one or more second locker compartments have second locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

select a second locker compartment from the one or more second locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determine a second locker identifier of the second locker compartment from the one or more second locker compartments that have second locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item; and

generate and transmit a second response message, which includes the second locker identifier of the second locker compartment.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

receiving a request to store an item at a locker facility;

determining a first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a first locker facility, wherein each locker compartment, from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at the first locker facility, has locker-physical-dimensions;

receiving encoded sensor data that specifies item-physical-dimensions of the item and a weight of the item;

determining whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more first locker compartments from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that one or more first locker compartments have first locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

selecting a first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determining a first locker identifier of the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have first locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

generating and transmitting a first response message, which includes the first locker identifier of the first locker compartment;

receiving an item weight from a locker sensor located in the first locker compartment;

determining whether the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, matches the weight of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data; and

in response to determining that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, does not match the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data, providing an indication that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, does not match the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data;

in response to determining that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, matches the weight of the item specified in the encoded sensor data;

receiving, during a predetermined period of time, a plurality of weight readings from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment;

determining whether any weight reading, from the plurality of weight readings, is above a threshold weight value and for the predetermined period of time;

in response to determining that a weight reading, from the plurality of weight readings, is above the threshold weight value and for the predetermined period of time, generating a message indicating that the item has not been retrieved from the first locker compartment during the predetermined period of time.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, comprising additional instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

selecting the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item by determining that the first locker compartment is the smallest locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, comprising additional instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that no locker compartment from the plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items has locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

sending, to a second locker manager at a second locker facility, an inquiry for a locker compartment that is available for storing the item;

wherein the inquiry sent to the second locker manager comprises the item-physical dimensions of the item; and

wherein sending the inquiry to the second locker manager causes the second locker manager to generate and provide a response to the locker manager.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, comprising additional instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

determining whether the response is received from the second locker manager; and

in response to determining that the response is received from the second locker manager, determining whether the response includes a second identifier of a second locker compartment.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, comprising additional instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

in response to determining that the response includes the second identifier of the second locker compartment, generating and transmitting a third response message, which includes the second identifier of the second locker compartment.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, comprising additional instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

in response to determining that the response does not include the second identifier of the second locker compartment, generating and transmitting a fourth response message, which indicates that a suitable locker for the item has not been found.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, comprising additional instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that no locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items has locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determining a second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a second locker facility, wherein each locker compartment, from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at the second locker facility, has locker-physical-dimensions;

determining whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more second locker compartments from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that one or more second locker compartments have second locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

selecting a second locker compartment from the one or more second locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determining a second locker identifier of the second locker compartment from the one or more second locker compartments that have second locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item; and

generating and transmitting a second response message, which includes the second locker identifier of the second locker compartment.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a request to store an item at a locker facility;

determining a first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a first locker facility, wherein each locker compartment, from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at the first locker facility, has locker-physical-dimensions;

receiving encoded sensor data that specifies item-physical-dimensions of the item and a weight of the item;

determining whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more first locker compartments from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that one or more first locker compartments have first locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

selecting a first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determining a first locker identifier of the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have first locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

generating and transmitting a first response message, which includes the first locker identifier of the first locker compartment;

receiving an item weight from a locker sensor located in the first locker compartment;

determining whether the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, matches the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data; and

in response to determining that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, does not match the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data, providing an indication that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, does not match the weight, of the item, specified in the encoded sensor data;

in response to determining that the item weight, received from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment, matches the weight of the item specified in the encoded sensor data;

receiving, during a predetermined period of time, a plurality of weight readings from the locker sensor located in the first locker compartment;

determining whether any weight reading, from the plurality of weight readings, is above a threshold weight value and for the predetermined period of time;

in response to determining that a weight reading, from the plurality of weight readings, is above the threshold weight value and for the predetermined period of time, generating a message indicating that the item has not been retrieved from the first locker compartment during the predetermined period of time;

wherein the method is performed using one or more computing devices.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting the first locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item by determining that the first locker compartment is the smallest locker compartment from the one or more first locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that no locker compartment from the plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items has locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

sending, to a second locker manager at a second locker facility, an inquiry for a locker compartment that is available for storing the item;

wherein the inquiry sent to the second locker manager comprises the item-physical dimensions of the item; and

wherein sending the inquiry to the second locker manager causes the second locker manager to generate and provide a response to the locker manager.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether the response is received from the second locker manager; and

in response to determining that the response is received from the second locker manager, determining whether the response includes a second identifier of a second locker compartment.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

in response to determining that the response includes the second identifier of the second locker compartment, generating and transmitting a third response message, which includes the second identifier of the second locker compartment.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that no locker compartment from the first plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items has locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determining a second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at a second locker facility, wherein each locker compartment, from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items at the second locker facility, has locker-physical-dimensions;

determining whether, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, one or more second locker compartments from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

in response to determining, based at least in part on the item-physical dimensions of the item and the locker-physical-dimensions of each locker compartment from the second plurality of locker compartments that are available for storing items, that one or more second locker compartments have second locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

selecting a second locker compartment from the one or more second locker compartments that have locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item;

determining a second locker identifier of the second locker compartment from the one or more second locker compartments that have second locker-physical-dimensions that are the same as or greater than the item-physical dimensions of the item; and

generating and transmitting a second response message, which includes the second locker identifier of the second locker compartment.