Smart door with controllable access panel

A method for securely delivering a delivery item having a delivery item height and controlling access between an interior space and an exterior space, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a smart door positioned between the interior space and the exterior space, the smart door having a main panel, an access opening having a variable opening height allowing passage between the exterior and interior spaces through the main panel, a movable access panel adapted to move between an open position and a closed position to cover or reveal the access opening;
• providing a control module operably connected to a communication network, the control module is adapted to communicate with a delivery service device;
• providing an information tag adapted to be placed upon the delivery item, the information tag having a delivery item identifier;
• providing a scanning device adapted to read the information tag;
• receiving delivery data from the delivery service device, the delivery data containing a delivery item identifier associated with one or more authorized items, and dimension data which quantifies the delivery item height of the one or more authorized items;
• creating an authorized delivery list identifying the one or more authorized items;
• placing the delivery item in the exterior space proximate to the smart door;
• scanning the delivery item using the scanning device and reading the delivery item identifier of the delivery item;
• comparing the delivery item identifier of the delivery item to the delivery item identifiers of the one or more authorized items, and confirming that the delivery item matches one of the authorized items;
• obtaining the delivery item height of the delivery item from the dimension data;
• placing the access panel in the open position, and adjusting the variable opening height of the access panel in proportion to the delivery item height of the delivery item;
• passing the delivery item through the access opening and into the interior space;
• and
• placing the access panel in the closed position.