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US 11,375,840 B2Granted
System for parcel transport and tracking operated responsive to data bearing records
AssigneeDanby Products Limited
InventorsJim Estill, Paul McLean
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for parcel transport and tracking that operates responsive to data bearing records includes a plurality of geographically spaced repositories. The exemplary repositories include a plurality of enclosed compartment spaces. Access to each of the enclosed compartment spaces is controlled by a respective door which is in operative connection with the respective lock. Central system circuitry in operative connection with the repositories is operative to control access to the compartment spaces and to cause compartments to be selectively accessible so that selected parcels may be placed therein or removed therefrom.
Claims24
Apparatus comprising:
- central system circuitry, wherein the central system circuitry is configured to be in operative connection with
- at least one data store,
- a clock,
- at least one wireless communication network,
- a plurality of geographically disposed repositories, wherein each repository is selectively operable to accept and to make available parcels to authorized users,
- wherein each repository includes
- a body, wherein the body bounds at least one interior area, wherein each interior area is configured to hold at least one parcel,
- wherein the body includes a respective opening to one respective interior area,
- a door,
- wherein the door is movably mounted in operative connection with the body,
- wherein the door is movable between
- a closed position, wherein in the closed position the door closes the respective opening,
- an open position, wherein in the open position the door is at least partially disposed away from the respective opening and the interior area is externally accessible from outside the body,
- a lock, wherein the lock is in operative connection with the door,
- wherein the lock is changeable between
- a locked condition, wherein in the locked condition the lock is operative to hold the door in the closed position, and
- an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition the door is movable from the closed position to the open position,
- at least one input device,
- repository control circuitry, wherein the repository control circuitry is in operative connection with
- the lock,
- the at least one input device, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one wireless transceiver,
- wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to
- each repository of the plurality of repositories,
- a plurality of geographical catchment areas in which parcels may be delivered, wherein data corresponding to each respective catchment area is associated with data corresponding to one respective repository,
- a plurality of parcel identifiers, wherein each parcel identifier uniquely identifies one parcel,
- a plurality of parcel final delivery addresses, wherein one final delivery address is associated with each respective parcel identifier,
- a plurality of current parcel locations, wherein one current parcel location is associated with each respective parcel identifier and is indicative of a respective current location of the respective parcel,
- contact data for each of a plurality of carrier contact devices, wherein each carrier contact device is associated with a respective item carrier,
- wherein the central system circuitry is operative to cause
- a) responsive at least in part to the data corresponding to the parcel final delivery addresses, determination of a final delivery address associated with a parcel identifier of a particular parcel,
- b) responsive at least in part to the final delivery address determined in (a), and the stored data corresponding to the plurality of repositories and the stored data corresponding to geographical catchment areas, determination of a destination repository associated with a catchment area in which the final delivery address associated with the particular parcel is located,
- c) responsive at least in part to the data corresponding to the plurality of parcel locations, determination of a current repository in which the particular parcel is currently located,
- d) responsive at least in part to the stored data corresponding to the contact data, at least one transport assignment offer message to be sent to at least one carrier contact device of at least one respective item carrier, wherein the at least one transport assignment offer message corresponds to an offer to transport the particular parcel from the current repository to the destination repository,
- e) responsive at least in part to the clock, monitoring for receipt of a transport assignment offer acceptance message responsive to the at least one transport assignment offer message during a set time window after the at least one transport assignment offer message has been sent,
- f) responsive at least in part to a received transport assignment offer acceptance message from an offer accepting carrier contact device of an offer accepting item carrier in (e), communication with the offer accepting carrier contact device and the current repository, wherein the communication is operative to cause the particular parcel to be accessible to the offer accepting item carrier by changing the respective lock of the respective door of the respective interior area of the current repository housing the particular parcel from the locked condition to the unlocked condition,
- g) responsive at least in part to expiration of the set time window in (e) without receipt of any transport assignment offer acceptance message, and responsive at least in part to the stored data corresponding to the plurality of repositories, determination of an intermediate repository, wherein the intermediate repository is located geographically intermediate of the current repository and the destination repository,
- h) subsequent to (g) and responsive at least in part to the stored data corresponding to the contact data, at least one transport assignment second offer message to be sent to at least one carrier contact device of at least one respective item carrier,
- wherein the at least one further transport assignment second offer message corresponds to an offer to transport the particular parcel from the current repository to the intermediate repository.
35 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- central system circuitry, wherein the central system circuitry is configured to be in operative connection with
- at least one data store,
- a clock,
- at least one wireless communication network,
- a plurality of geographically disposed repositories, wherein each repository is selectively operable to accept parcels and to make parcels available to authorized users,
- wherein each repository includes
- a body, wherein the body bounds at least one interior area, wherein each interior area is configured to hold at least one parcel,
- wherein the body includes a respective opening to one respective interior area,
- a door, wherein the door is movably mounted in operative connection with the body,
- wherein the door is movable between
- a closed position, wherein in the closed position the door closes the respective opening,
- an open position, wherein in the open position the door is at least partially disposed away from the respective opening and the interior area is externally accessible from outside the body,
- a lock, wherein the lock is in operative connection with the door,
- wherein the lock is changeable between
- a locked condition, wherein in the locked condition the lock is operative to hold the door in the closed position, and
- an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition the door is movable from the closed position to the open position,
- at least one input device,
- repository control circuitry, wherein the repository control circuitry is in operative connection with
- the lock,
- the at least one input device, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one wireless transceiver,
- wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to
- each repository of the plurality of repositories,
- a plurality of geographical catchment areas in which parcels may be delivered, wherein data corresponding to each respective catchment area is associated with data corresponding to one respective repository,
- a plurality of parcel identifiers, wherein each parcel identifier uniquely identifies one parcel,
- a plurality of parcel final delivery addresses, wherein one final delivery address is associated with each respective parcel identifier,
- a plurality of current parcel locations, wherein one current parcel location is associated with each respective parcel identifier and is indicative of a respective current location of the respective parcel,
- contact data for each of a plurality of carrier contact devices, wherein each carrier contact device is associated with a respective item carrier,
- wherein the central system circuitry is operative to cause
- a) responsive at least in part to the data corresponding to the parcel final delivery addresses, determination of a final delivery address associated with a parcel identifier of a particular parcel,
- b) responsive at least in part to the final delivery address determined in (a), and the stored data corresponding to the plurality of repositories and the stored data corresponding to geographical catchment areas, determination of a destination repository associated with a catchment area in which the final delivery address associated with the particular parcel is located,
- c) responsive at least in part to the data corresponding to the plurality of parcel locations, determination of a current repository in which the particular parcel is currently located,
- d) responsive at least in part to the stored data corresponding to the contact data, at least one transport assignment offer message to be sent to at least one carrier contact device of at least one respective item carrier, wherein the at least one transport assignment offer message corresponds to an offer to transport the particular parcel from the current repository to the destination repository,
- e) responsive at least in part to the clock, monitoring for receipt of a transport assignment offer acceptance message responsive to the at least one transport assignment offer message during a set time window after the at least one transport assignment offer message has been sent,
- f) responsive at least in part to expiration of the set time window in (e) without receipt of any transport assignment offer acceptance message, and responsive at least in part to the stored data corresponding to the plurality of repositories, determination of an intermediate repository, wherein the intermediate repository is located geographically intermediate of the current repository and the destination repository, but is closer to the destination repository than to the current repository,
- g) subsequent to (f) and responsive at least in part to the stored data corresponding to the contact data, at least one transport assignment second offer message to be sent to at least one carrier contact device of at least one respective item carrier, wherein the at least one further transport assignment second offer message corresponds to an offer to transport the particular parcel from the current repository to the intermediate repository.
32 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.