Method and apparatus for a solar powered storage system

• US 9,715,780 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrsnlockr, LLC
• Original Assignee: Garrsnlockr, LLC
• Inventors: Garrison, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYRES, TIMOTHY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/888,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20130307382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 312215, 312237, 312234, 340 55, 340 573, 340 561, 700236, 700241, 700244
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

An approach is provided to facilitate storage space rental services from a self sustaining solar powered storage locker rental system that may be remotely monitored and controlled. The apparatus includes one or more storage lockers each having respective electronic locking mechanisms. The apparatus is configured to process a request to access a storage locker and determine storage locker availability. The apparatus displays which of the one or more storage lockers is available and processes a selection of an available storage locker to generate an access message that includes a locker number, a randomly generated access code, and a duration of access indication based on a confirmed financial transaction. The apparatus also includes at least one solar energy collection unit configured to collect solar energy, and an energy storage unit configured to store the collected solar energy and supply power to the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage lockers configured to store one or more items, the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers each comprising;

a top portion;

a bottom portion distal the top portion;

a first side portion having a first side portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a second side portion distal the first side portion having a second side portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion;

a rear portion having a rear portion length extending from the top portion to the bottom portion and a rear portion width extending from the first side portion to the second side portion, the top portion, bottom portion, first side portion, second side portion, and rear portion being arranged to form a cavity therebetween, the cavity having an opening distal the rear portion;

a door portion adjoined to the first side portion by at least one hinge, the door portion being configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the door portion further being configured to engage a door stop associated with the second side portion when the door portion is in the closed position, thereby sealing the opening; and

an electronic locking mechanism configured to be in one of a locked or an unlocked status and to cause the door portion to also be one of locked or unlocked when the door portion is in the closed position based, at least in part, on a lock instruction;

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

process a request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers to determine at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers is available to be accessed;

cause, at least in part, an accessibility report to be displayed on a user interface based, at least in part, on the request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, the accessibility report including an indication of which of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers is determined to be available to be accessed;

process a selection associated with a particular determined available storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers to cause, at least in part, an access message to be generated and communicated based, at least in part, on a confirmed financial transaction, the access message comprising a locker number, an access code, and a duration of access indication of the selected available storage locker; and

cause, at least in part, the lock instruction to be communicated to the electronic locking mechanism based, at least in part, on one or more of a reception of the access code and an access authorization indicator, the access authorization indicator being associated with one or more of the confirmed financial transaction associated with use of the selected available storage locker and a management system operator input;

at least one solar energy collection unit configured to collect solar energy;

an energy storage unit configured to store the collected solar energy and supply power to the apparatus;

a canopy portion over the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers;

one or more canopy support members; and

a base member configured to support the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, the canopy portion, the one or more canopy support members, and the energy storage unit,

wherein

the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

cause a message to be sent to a mobile device indicating that at least one storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers is available at a time after the accessibility report is displayed if the accessibility report indicates that all of the storage lockers are unavailable at the time the request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers was made,

at least one of the canopy support members is elongated and extends from a surface of the base member to a surface of the canopy portion,

the energy storage unit is housed within the at least one elongated canopy support member, and

the apparatus is independent of any external power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit comprising the user interface, the user interface further being configured to facilitate the access request, the financial transaction associated with use of the selected available storage locker, and the communication of the access message, the control unit being positioned remote from the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers; and

a control unit housing, the control unit housing configured to support the user interface and accommodate the energy storage unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with the one or more electronic locking mechanisms and a storage locker access management system by way of a wireless communication network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

an input interface, the input interface being configured to receive a user input associated with the access code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access code input at the input interface to be verified based, at least in part, on one or more of the lock instruction and a verification communication with the control unit that compares the user input with the access code.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input interface is positioned on the door portion, and the apparatus further comprises an electronic locking mechanism status indicator configured to indicate the electronic locking mechanism is in the locked or unlocked status.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the input interface comprises a touch screen keypad configured to receive a manually input access code.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lock instruction is stored in another memory associated with the one or more locking mechanisms, the verification of the access code being based, at least in part, on the lock instruction stored in the another memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more control units comprising respective user interfaces, the user interfaces being configured to facilitate the access request, the financial transaction associated with use of the selected available storage locker, and the communication of the access message, the user interface comprising a touch screen keypad configured to receive a manually input access code, the control unit being positioned on the door portion,

wherein the one or more control units are configured to communicate with the one or more electronic locking mechanisms and a storage locker access management system positioned remote from the one or more control units, the communication between the storage locker access management system being by way of a wireless communication network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the canopy portion comprises the at least one solar energy collection unit,

the one or more canopy support members have a channel within which one or more wires are run, and

the one or more wires being configured to operatively connect the at least one solar energy collection unit to the energy storage unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display portion in communication with a storage locker access management system, the display portion being configured to display one or more images in accordance with a display instruction received from the storage locker access management system by way of a wireless communication network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member is configured to elevate the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers to prevent water from entering the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access code is generated using a random number generator.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage lockers, each locker of the plurality of storage lockers comprising a corresponding door configured to be in one of a locked or an unlocked status based on a lock condition of an electronic locking mechanism;

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

process a request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers to determine at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers is available to be accessed;

cause an accessibility report to be displayed on a user interface based on the request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, the accessibility report including an indication of which of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers is determined to be available to be accessed;

process a selection associated with a particular determined available storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers to cause an access message to be generated and communicated, the access message comprising a locker number, an access code, and a duration of access indication of the selected available storage locker; and

cause the electronic locking mechanism to be unlocked based on a reception of the access code;

at least one solar energy collection unit configured to collect solar energy; and

an energy storage unit configured to store the collected solar energy and supply power to the apparatus,

a canopy portion over the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers;

one or more canopy support members; and

a base member configured to support the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, the canopy portion, the one or more canopy support members, and the energy storage unit,

wherein

the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

process a selection to access a storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers indicated by the accessibility report as being unavailable at the time the request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers was made, and

cause a message to be sent to a mobile device indicating that the selected unavailable storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers is available at a time after the accessibility report is displayed,

at least one of the canopy support members is elongated and extends from a surface of the base member to a surface of the canopy portion,

the energy storage unit is housed within the at least one elongated canopy support member, and

the apparatus is independent of any external power source.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the canopy portion comprises the at least one solar energy collection unit,

the one or more canopy support members have a channel within which one or more wires are run, and

the one or more wires being configured to operatively connect the at least one solar energy collection unit to the energy storage unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the base member is configured to elevate the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers to prevent water from entering the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the base member comprises:

one or more drain portions configured to collect water that is present on a surface of the base member; and

one or more outlets configured to be selectively opened or closed so as to direct the water collected by the one or more drain portions in a selected direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the canopy portion is configured to be moved to adjust one or more of a height or an angular orientation of the canopy portion based on one or more of a time of day, a schedule, a location of the apparatus, or on demand.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage lockers, each storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers comprising a corresponding door configured to be in one of a locked or an unlocked status based on a lock condition of an electronic locking mechanism;

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

process a request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers to determine at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers is available to be accessed;

cause an accessibility report to be displayed on a user interface based on the request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, the accessibility report including an indication of which of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers is determined to be available to be accessed;

process a selection associated with a particular determined available storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers to cause an access message to be generated and communicated, the access message comprising a locker number, an access code, and a duration of access indication of the selected available storage locker; and

cause the electronic locking mechanism to be unlocked based on a reception of the access code;

a canopy portion over the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers;

an energy storage unit;

one or more canopy support members; and

a base member configured to support the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, the canopy portion, the one or more canopy support members, and the energy storage unit,

wherein

the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

process a selection to access a storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers indicated by the accessibility report as being unavailable at the time the request to access at least one of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers was made, and

cause a message to be sent to a mobile device indicating that the selected unavailable storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers is available at a time after the accessibility report is displayed,

at least one of the canopy support members is elongated and extends from a surface of the base member to a surface of the canopy portion, and

the energy storage unit is housed within the at least one elongated canopy support member.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein some of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers are larger than the other storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, and the message indicating that the selected unavailable storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers is available is based on a selected size of storage locker.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein some of the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers are larger than the other storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers, and the message indicating that the selected unavailable storage locker of the plurality of storage lockers is available is based on a price point associated with the storage lockers of the plurality of storage lockers.