Secure locker system and method

A method for monitoring whether an item is contained within a locker, the method comprising:

• a. for a particular locker in a plurality of lockers, determining whether a compartment defined by the particular locker is empty or occupied by a camera, a second sensor, or both located within the locker;
• b. when the determination in step (a) indicates that the compartment is occupied, obtaining a first set of data about an item contained within the locker from the camera, the second sensor, or both;
• c. analyzing the first set of data with respect to a second set of data by a processor to determine if the first set of data agrees with the second set of data, the second set of data retrieved from a database and pertaining to a particular item;
• and
• d. when the analysis from step (c) indicates that the first set of data agrees with the second set of data, sending a control signal from the processor to a controller to cause a locking mechanism associated with a door of the locker to engage/lock.

An item confirmation system that confirms when an item is contained within a locker, the item confirmation system comprising:

• a. a locker having at least one wall that defines a compartment and a door in communication with the compartment to enable selective access to the compartment;
• b. a locking mechanism having a fastener, the locking mechanism and fastener disposed to cause the door to be locked when the door is in a shut position;
• c. a sensor disposed in the compartment or proximate thereto;
• d. a controller controlling operation of the door, the locking mechanism, the sensor, or combinations thereof;
• and
• e. a processor in communication with a memory, a data storage device, and the controller, the memory programmed with executable instructions that, when executed, enable the processor to:
• i. receive sensor input indicative of an item being contained within the compartment;
• ii. analyze the sensor input to determine whether the item contained within the compartment corresponds to item data indicative of a particular item that is retrieved from the data storage device;
• iii. receive input regarding a position of the door, the position of the door being either in an open position or a closed position;
• iv. analyze the input regarding the position of the door to determine if the door is opened or closed;
• v. when the sensor input indicates that the item contained within the compartment corresponds to item data indicative of the particular item and input regarding the position of the door indicates that the door is closed, send a control signal to the controller to cause the fastener of the locking mechanism to engage;
• vi. when the sensor input indicates that the item contained within the compartment does not correspond to item data indicative of the particular item and the input regarding the position of the door indicates that the door is closed, send a control signal to the controller to cause the door to open;
• and
• vii. when the sensor input indicates that the item contained within the compartment corresponds to item data indicative of the particular item and the position of the door indicates that the door is opened, send a control signal to the controller to cause the door to close and to cause the fastener of the locking mechanism to engage.

A controller for a locker apparatus comprising:

• a. a plurality of lockers, each locker having a door and defining a cavity for receiving an item;
• b. a camera, other sensor, or both situated proximate to or within the cavity to obtain camera information or sensor information;
• and
• c. a locking mechanism associated with the door to cause the door to be in at least a closed locked state or an opened unlocked state, the controller configured to:
• i. repeatedly obtain information from the camera, the other sensor, or both;
• ii. using the obtained information and a locker identifier, analyze whether an item has been placed within the cavity and identify the locker linked to the locker identifier;
• iii. if the result of the analysis of step (c)(ii) indicates that an item has been placed within the cavity, obtain item information from an item database, the item information from the item database describing an item, depicting an item, or both, the item to be placed in the locker linked to the locker identifier;
• iv. compare the camera information, the other sensor information, or both to the item information from the item database to determine if the item within the cavity is the same as the item described, depicted, or both in the item database;
• v. if the determination of step (c)(iv) indicates that the item within the cavity is the item described in the database, determine if the door is in a closed state via camera information, the other sensor information, or both;
• and
• vi. if the determination of step (c)(v) indicates that the door is in a closed state and repeated information from the camera, the other sensor, or both indicates that the item within the cavity has not been removed from the cavity prior to the door being in the closed state, automatically send a control signal to the locking mechanism to cause the door to be in a closed locked state without further access to the cavity until the locking mechanism has been reset to receive a new code for causing the locking mechanism to be in an opened unlocked state.