System and method of control of electronic parcel lockers

• US 9,733,647 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• 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: Amato, Michael J., Tartal, William A., Stephen, Victoria K., Irwin, Donald E., McKenzie, Nan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US13/706,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561- 573
• 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 may 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 system for selectively receiving, storing, and dispensing one or more items, the system comprising:

a first storage unit comprising a plurality of receptacles, each comprising a securement feature;

an input device configured to automatically receive, from an item to be stored, item information encoded in a computer readable code located on a surface of the item to be stored, and to automatically transmit the received information; and

a control unit configured to receive the transmitted of item information, the control unit comprising;

a storage element comprising stored instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to provide or deny access to the receptacles, and to track the availability of each of the receptacles;

wherein the storage element comprises user account preferences including preference information identifying different storage units and their comparative preference as delivery locations;

wherein an identifier indicative of the availability of the receptacles is stored in the storage element when the receptacle does not contain an item, and wherein an identifier indicative of the unavailability of the receptacles is stored in the storage element when the receptacle contains an item; and

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine, based on the received item information, whether one of the plurality of receptacles at the first storage unit is available to receive the item,

if no receptacle at the first storage unit is available to receive the item, to determine, based on the received item information and upon the preference information, a second storage unit which is remote from the first storage unit and which has a receptacle available to receive the item; and

to notify a user regarding the second storage unit having the receptacle available to receive the item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the securement features are controlled by the control unit and access to one of the receptacles is granted to deposit an item or to remove a deposited item.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein access to one of the receptacles is granted in response to providing verification to the control unit of user age or user identity.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein access to one of the receptacles to remove a deposited item is granted in response to receipt of item identification information and user identification information matching the item identification information and user identification information associated with the item.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the item information encoded in the computer readable code located on a surface of the item comprises a type or dimensions of the item, and the control unit is configured receive the type or dimensions of the item and configured to determine, based on the type or size of the item, whether one of the plurality of receptacles at the first storage unit of the correct type or size is available to receive the item, and granting access to the available receptacle at the first storage unit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein if no receptacle at the first storage unit is available to receive the item, based on the type or dimensions of the item, the processor is configured to determine the location of the second storage unit having the receptacle of the correct type or size available to receive the item and to provide access to the available receptacle in the second storage unit.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a database containing user information accessible by the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to select the receptacle which corresponds to the user information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the second storage unit having a receptacle available to receive the item which is geographically nearest the first storage unit.

9. A method of operating a storage unit comprising a plurality of receptacles and a control unit, the method comprising:

receiving a user input to deposit an item to be stored;

receiving via a reader, from the item to be stored, item information encoded in computer readable code located on a surface of the item to be stored;

automatically transmitting the received indication to the control unit;

querying, a database in a storage element for an available receptacle of a plurality of receptacles in a first storage unit able to receive the item according to the received item information;

wherein the storage element comprises user account preferences including preference information identifying different storage units and their comparative preference as delivery locations;

if no receptacle of the appropriate type is available to receive the item at the first storage unit, querying, based on the received item information and upon the preference information, a database for a second storage unit which is remote from the first storage unit and which has an available receptacle able to receive the item;

displaying information regarding the second storage unit having the available receptacle; and

receiving a user input selecting the available receptacle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user input further comprises a request for retrieval of an item that is located in one of the receptacles.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the storage unit displays the location of the receptacle containing the item.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the item information comprises size or type information of the item to be stored.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein querying a database in a storage element for an available receptacle of a plurality of receptacles in a first storage unit able to receive the item according to the received item information comprises determining if one of the receptacles at the first storage unit is of an appropriate type or size for receiving the item according to the size or type information.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the user input comprises receiving a user input at the first storage unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user input or item information is received via a mobile device.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving proof of postage purchase.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising printing postage.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the second storage unit is a closest geographical storage unit to the first storage unit.

19. A system for selectively receiving, storing, and dispensing one or more items, the system comprising:

a first storage unit comprising a plurality of receptacles each configured to receive at least one item;

means for automatically receiving, from an item to be stored, item information encoded in a computer readable code located on a surface of the item and for automatically transmitting the received information;

means for receiving the transmission of the received item information

means for identifying an available receptacle of the plurality of receptacles in the first storage unit able to receive the item according to the received item information;

means for receiving user account preferences including preference information identifying different storage units and their comparative preference as delivery locations;

if no receptacle of the appropriate type is available to receive the item at the first storage unit, means for determining, based on the received item information and upon the preference information, a second storage unit which is remote from the first storage unit and which has an available receptacle able to receive the item; and

means for displaying information regarding the second storage unit having the available receptacle.

20. A method of depositing an item comprising:

issuing an item identification code configured to be read by a control unit which controls access to a plurality of receptacles, the item identification code associated to an item parameter, the item identification code and the item parameter being stored in a database in a storage element, wherein the storage element comprises user account references including preference information identifying different storage units and their comparative preference as delivery locations;

receiving the item identification code at the control unit;

requesting user identification to initiate a deposit transaction;

automatically receiving via a reader, from the item to be stored, item identification information encoded in computer readable code located on a surface of the item to be stored;

automatically transmitting the received item information to a control unit;

receiving the identity of the intended recipient for the item;

determining, based on the received item information, whether a receptacle at a first storage unit of an appropriate type or size is available to receive the item;

if no receptacle at the first storage unit is of the appropriate type or size to receive the item, determining, based on the received item information and upon the preference information, a second storage unit which is remote from the first storage unit and which has a receptacle of the appropriate type or size available to receive the item;

indicating the location of the receptacle available to receive the item;

receiving user input selecting the indicated receptacle;

generating and sending, based on the determining steps, a control signal to a lock on the selected receptacle thereby unlocking the selected receptacle;

receiving the item in the user selected receptacle;

requesting a deposit confirmation at the control unit;

receiving the deposit confirmation at the control unit;

generating and sending a control signal to the lock on the selected receptacle in response to the receipt of the deposit confirmation, thereby locking the receptacle; and

issuing a receipt documenting the deposit transaction.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining, based on the received item information, whether a receptacle at the first storage unit of an appropriate type or size is available to receive the item comprises the control unit querying a receptacle availability database.