Patent · US Expired

Unattended package delivery cross-docking apparatus and method

US6344796B1 · kind B1 · utility

182Cited by
28References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 2000
Grant dateFeb 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47G29/141
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Unattended package delivery cross-docking apparatus includes a plurality of storage devices, each having a door with a lock that is locked and unlocked in response to codes. A local lock controller is associated with each of the storage devices and includes an entry device for entering an access code that unlocks the lock when it is locked and a transaction code that locks the lock when it is unlocked. A central operations controller in communication with the local lock controllers is programmed to receive the access and transaction codes entered to each local lock controller, to create an access code for the lock of each storage device upon receiving a transaction code that locks the lock, and to output a notice of the access code to be used to unlock the lock of each storage device when it is locked.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.