Automated locker system and method for delivery and collection of packages

A method of operating a package delivery and collection system for use with a plurality of wireless communication devices communicating via a communications network, the system comprising:

• a plurality of locker assemblies;
• each locker assembly comprising a plurality of lockers;
• each locker including a door and a lock unit, the lock unit including a lock, the lock being operable to lock the door to secure a package inside the locker and to unlock the door to permit the package to be removed from the locker;
• a central computer system;
• and a program running on each of said devices, wherein each respective program is an instance of a delivery program or a collection program or a combined delivery and collection program;
• each lock unit further including a processor, a memory, and a short range wireless communication means for communicating with each of said devices when proximate the lock unit;
• each lock unit having at least one validation code unique to said lock unit, the validation code being available to the central computer system;
• the method comprising:
• receiving, by the processor, via the communication means, an access request from the program running on one of said devices proximate the lock unit;
• validating, by the processor, the access request based on at least the validation code;
• and responsive to at least successful validation of the access request, initiating, by the processor, an event including unlocking the locker door to allow access to the locker,
• the event being one of a delivery event during which a package is delivered to the locker, and a collection event during which a package is collected from the locker;
• wherein the plurality of lockers of each locker assembly are grouped together so that the communication means of each of the plurality of lockers can communicate with said one of the devices when proximate the lock unit of any one of the plurality of lockers;
• wherein the access request is based on an enabling message generated by the central computer system and transmitted via the communications network in modified or unmodified form, directly or indirectly to said device,
• the central computer system being arranged to generate the enabling message by reference to the at least one validation code for the respective lock unit;
• and characterised by
• storing in the memory, by the processor, event details of at least said delivery events or said collection events initiated by the lock unit responsive to successfully validating access requests from any of said devices;
• and after terminating a communication session with a respective one of the devices during which an access request initiating an event was received, transmitting the event details of said event stored in the memory, via the communication means, during a subsequent communication session, to one or more of said devices not limited to said respective one of the devices from which the access request initiating said event was received;
• and then,
• when said event details are received from the communication means, transmitting said event details, by the program, via the communications network in modified or unmodified form, directly or indirectly to the central computer system.