Methods and apparatus for unattended pickups and deliveries
US6967575B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47G2029/147
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A secure pickup and delivery container includes a lockable door, a control unit, an access element, and an anchoring element, according to one embodiment. The control unit includes a processing element and a memory that can be programmed either on-site or remotely with access privilege information such as identity (e.g. of container, delivery person, etc.), location, date, time, frequency of access, and/or package-specific information. In one embodiment, access privilege information is programmed when an intended recipient of a delivery consummates a point of sale transaction, for example over the Internet or telephone. The access element can be a keypad, a biometric scanner, a card reader, a bar-code reader, and/or a wireless control element to read a programmable token such as a smart card. Delivery personnel can enter access request information into the access element, and if it favorably compares with the access privilege information, the control unit unlocks the door. Notification can be concurrently made via wireline or wireless communications to the intended recipient, who may be situated remote from the secure container. The recipient can optionally return a delivery acknow…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.