Item return tracking systems and methods

• US 10,685,325 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2018
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Original Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Inventors: Rivera, Jason A., Fox, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US16/001,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20180349838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 235385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

A system for tracking returned items may include a return recognition device, a storage compartment, and a set of tags. The tags may be coupled with items to be returned. When the items are placed within the storage compartment, the return recognition device may read the tag to collect information about the returned item. The system may send a signal with a timestamp indicating that the item has been successfully returned.

Claims

1. A drop box, comprising:

a compartment for item retention;

a tag reader to receive an identification of a tag associated with an inventory item inserted into the compartment;

a transceiver; and

a processing unit to;

receive a signal from the tag reader indicating the identification associated with the tag;

generate a list of inventory items that are in the compartment;

send a signal, via the transceiver, verifying return of the inventory item;

detect when the compartment is open;

send an alert signal, via the transceiver, indicating that the compartment is open; and

clear the list of inventory items after the compartment has been opened.

2. The drop box of claim 1, further comprising a servomechanism to control an entry into the compartment.

3. The drop box of claim 2, wherein the tag reader identifies the tag associated with the inventory item where the servomechanism controls the entry into the compartment, and

wherein the processing unit is further to send a signal to the servomechanism to open the entry into the compartment after the tag reader identifies the tag.

4. The drop box of claim 1, wherein the tag reader periodically scans all tags within the compartment, and

wherein the processing unit is further to identify tags not included in the list.

5. The drop box of claim 1, wherein the tag reader is a radio-frequency identification reader.

6. The drop box of claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes to indicate that the drop box is ready to receive an inventory item, that a tag is being read, that an error has occurred, or that the inventory item has been processed.

7. An item return tracking system, comprising:

a plurality of tags, each tag coupled to and associated with an inventory item;

a drop box comprising;

a tag reader to identify a tag associated with an inventory item inserted in the drop box;

a transmitter to send a signal verifying return of the inventory item;

a processing unit to;

generate a list of inventory items that are in the drop box;

receive a signal from the tag reader indicating the tag associated with the inventory item;

generate a list of inventory items that are in the drop box;

detect when the drop box is open;

send an alert signal, via the transmitter, indicating that the drop box is open;

scan the drop box for tags after the drop box has been opened; and

clear the list of inventory items if no tags are detected; and

a server comprising;

a receiver to receive the signal from the drop box; and

a processing unit to catalog the inventory item.

8. The item return tracking system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter of the drop box is further to send a notification to a customer indicating the key has been received.

9. The item return tracking system of claim 8, wherein the notification is a text message.

10. The item return tracking system of claim 7, wherein when the tag reader identifies the tag, the drop box generates a timestamp, and

wherein the signal verifying return of the inventory item comprises an identification of the tag and the timestamp.

11. The item return tracking system of claim 7, wherein tags are coupled to and associated with keys of rental vehicles.

12. A key drop box for rental car returns, the key drop box comprising:

a main storage compartment;

a chute coupling an exterior opening of the drop box to an opening in the main storage compartment;

a servomechanism to selectively open and close the opening in the main storage compartment;

a tag reader positioned to scan tags coupled to keys before entering the main storage compartment; and

a processing unit to;

receive an identification associated with a tag from the tag reader;

produce a timestamp to track when the tag was received; and

temporarily change a position of the servomechanism to allow the tag and a key coupled to the tag to enter the main storage compartment.

13. The key drop box of claim 12, wherein the servomechanism retains the tag and the key in the chute until the tag is scanned.

14. The key drop box of claim 12, further comprising an initial holding compartment coupling the chute and the main storage compartment, wherein the servomechanism retains the tag and the key in the initial holding compartment until the tag is scanned.

15. The key drop box of claim 12, further comprising a sensor to detect when items enter the chute, wherein the processing unit is further to receive a signal indicating that an item has entered the chute and send a signal to the tag reader to scan for a tag.

16. The key drop box of claim 12, wherein the tag reader periodically scans for tags.

17. The key drop box of claim 12, further comprising a shield to prevent the tag reader from scanning tags outside the key drop box.