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US 12,482,316 B2Granted
System and method of providing a wireless unlocking system for a battery-powered storage device
AssigneeBig Belly Solar, Inc.
InventorsEthan Matthew Schwartz, Thomas Richard Olsen, Nisha Khand, Jeffrey Thomas Satwicz, David John Skocypec
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example system can include a battery-powered trash compactor or storage device that performs operations including receiving identification information via an external entity from a reader component. The reader component is connected to a control module that manages sensor components or other functions of the battery-powered storage device. The control module also controls a locking mechanism and reader component. Based on the identification information, via the control module, the battery-powered storage device unlocks the locking mechanism.
Claims21
A storage device comprising:
- a processor;
- a storage bin configured within the storage device, the storage bin configured to receive packages for later pickup and delivery by a delivery service or waste material which will be later picked up by a waste material service;
- a battery that stores energy for operation of the storage device;
- a sensing component that determines a fullness level of the storage bin;
- an electronic locking mechanism which enables access to an interior portion of the storage device;
- a memory;
- a control module having instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor as powered by the battery, manages the sensing component, causes communication with the electronic locking mechanism, and adjusts a temporary period of time, based on a battery power level, that a door is unlocked upon triggering the electronic locking mechanism;
- and
- a communication component that communicates with a remote server to obtain access authorization request information via a cellular communication signal or a WiFi communication signal;
- and
- a reader component, in communication with the control module and configured on the storage device, that communicates with an external entity, wherein the control module allows or denies access, via the electronic locking mechanism and in a single transaction, to the storage device and, via a second electronic locking mechanism, to a second storage device, which does not have any reader component, in communication with the storage device based on the reader component interacting with the external entity and based on a plurality of stored authorization allowances, stored in the memory of the storage device, and obtained from the remote server, the plurality of stored authorization allowances comprising allowances for access to the storage device and to the second storage device in a single transaction.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving identification information via an external entity from a reader component on a battery-powered storage device configured to receive packages for later delivery by a delivery service or waste material for later pickup by a waste delivery service, wherein an authorized user access list of a plurality of users is downloaded from a remote server via a network using a cellular signal or a WiFi signal and stored on the battery-powered storage device for managing who can access the battery-powered storage device and a second storage device having a second locking mechanism, the second storage device not having any reader component, and wherein the reader component is connected to a control module that manages at least one component in the battery-powered storage device, the control module being configured to control an electronic locking mechanism that enables access to the battery-powered storage device and the second storage device for anyone on the authorized user access list of the plurality of users and to adjust a temporary period of time, based on a battery power level, that a door is unlocked upon triggering the electronic locking mechanism;
- and
- based on the identification information, via the control module and in a single transaction, unlocking the electronic locking mechanism in the battery-powered storage device and the second locking mechanism of the second storage device.
A method comprising:
- receiving identification information from an external entity via a reader component on a storage device configured to receive packages or waste material, wherein the reader component is connected to a control module that manages at least one component in the storage device, controls an electronic locking mechanism that controls access to the storage device and a second locking mechanism that controls access to a second storage device, and adjusts a temporary period of time, based on a battery power level, that a door is unlocked upon triggering the electronic locking mechanism, and wherein the second storage device does not have any reader component;
- determining that a user associated with the identification information is not authorized to access the storage device or the second storage device based on a locally-stored authorized list comprising a plurality of users;
- receiving data from the user;
- based on the data from the user, receiving, at the storage device, an updated authorized list of a plurality of users from a remote server via a network and a cellular signal or a WiFi signal;
- and
- applying the updated authorized list of the plurality of users to determine whether to grant the user access to the storage device or the second storage device, such that an authorized user can open both the storage device and the second storage device in a single transaction when authorized in the updated authorized list of the plurality of users.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.