Methods, apparatus, and computer programs for providing a lock control signal for a mobile logistics destination

A method for providing a lock control signal for a mobile logistic destination for a central station, the method comprising:

• obtaining information about a mobile logistic destination authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination during a probable delivery period from a mobile device of a delivery recipient;
• obtaining information about a lock enquiry and delivery agent location information from a mobile device of a delivery agent for the delivery;
• obtaining logistic destination location information from the mobile logistic destination;
• determining a delivery agent authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination based on the information about the lock enquiry and based on the information about the mobile logistic destination authorization;
• computing a delivery agent location difference between the logistic destination location information and the delivery agent location information;
• comparing a timestamp of the lock enquiry with the probable delivery period;
• determining the lock control signal for the mobile logistic destination based on the delivery agent authorization, the delivery agent location difference and the comparison of the timestamp with the probable delivery period;
• and
• providing the lock control signal for the mobile logistic destination in response to the delivery agent being authorized to open the mobile logistic destination, the delivery agent location difference satisfying a distance condition and the timestamp being within the probable delivery period.

A mobile logistic delivery method for a mobile device, the method comprising:

• obtaining information about a mobile logistic destination authorization request response sent from a delivery recipient's mobile device in response to a notification about a delivery agent authorization request, wherein the mobile logistic destination authorization request response indicates whether the delivery recipient consents to the delivery agent authorization request;
• determining information about a delivery agent authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination during a probable delivery period based on the delivery agent authorization request and the information about the mobile logistic destination authorization request response, wherein the delivery agent authorization is based on the information about a lock enquiry included in the delivery agent authorization request, information about the mobile logistic destination authorization, and a delivery agent location difference between location information for the mobile logistic destination and the delivery agent location information;
• and
• providing the information about the delivery agent authorization.

A program having a program code for performing a method for providing a lock control signal for a mobile logistic destination for a central station in response to the program code being executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component, the method comprising:

• obtaining information about a mobile logistic destination authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination during the probable delivery period from a mobile device of a delivery recipient;
• obtaining information about a lock enquiry and delivery agent location information from a mobile device of a delivery agent for the delivery;
• obtaining logistic destination location information from the logistic destination;
• determining a delivery agent authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination based on the information about the lock enquiry and the information about the mobile logistic destination authorization;
• computing a delivery agent location difference between the logistic destination location information and the delivery agent location information;
• comparing a timestamp of the lock enquiry with the probable delivery period;
• determining the lock control signal for the mobile logistic destination based on the delivery agent authorization, the delivery agent location difference and the comparison of the timestamp with the probable delivery period;
• and
• providing the lock control signal for the mobile logistic destination in response to the delivery agent being authorized to open the mobile logistic destination, the delivery agent location difference satisfying a distance condition and the timestamp being within the probable delivery period.

An apparatus for a central station for providing a lock control signal for a mobile logistic destination, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one interface for communication with a mobile device of a recipient of a delivery, communication with the mobile logistic destination, and communication with a mobile device of a delivery agent for the delivery;
• and
• a processor for:
• obtaining information about a mobile logistic destination authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination during a probable delivery period from the mobile device of the delivery recipient via the at least one interface,
• obtaining information about a lock enquiry and delivery agent location information from the mobile device of the delivery agent for the delivery via the at least one interface,
• obtaining logistic destination location information from the mobile logistic destination via the at least one interface,
• determining a delivery agent authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination based on the information about the lock enquiry and based on the information about the mobile logistic destination authorization,
• computing a delivery agent location difference between the logistic destination location information and the delivery agent location information,
• comparing a timestamp of the lock enquiry with the probable delivery period,
• determining the lock control signal for the mobile logistic destination based on the authorization of the delivery agent, the delivery agent location difference and the comparison of the timestamp with the probable delivery period, and
• providing the lock control signal for the mobile logistic destination via the at least one interface in response to the delivery agent being authorized to open the mobile logistic destination, the delivery agent location difference satisfying a distance condition and the timestamp being within the probable delivery period.

An apparatus for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one interface for communication with a central station;
• and
• a processor for:
• obtaining information about a mobile logistic destination authorization request response sent from a delivery recipient's mobile device in response to a notification about a delivery agent authorization request, wherein the mobile logistic destination authorization request response indicates whether the delivery recipient consents to the delivery agent authorization request,
• determining information about a delivery agent authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination during the probable delivery period based on the delivery agent authorization request and on the information about the mobile logistic destination authorization request response, wherein the delivery agent authorization is based on the information about the lock enquiry, the information about the authorization, and a delivery agent location difference between location information for the mobile logistic destination and the delivery agent location information, and
• providing the information about the delivery agent authorization via the at least one interface.

A program having a program code for performing a mobile logistic delivery method for a mobile device, the method comprising:

• obtaining information about a mobile logistic destination authorization request response sent from a delivery recipient's mobile device in response to a notification about a delivery agent authorization request, wherein the mobile logistic destination authorization request response indicates whether the delivery recipient consents to the delivery agent authorization request;
• determining information about a delivery agent authorization for opening the mobile logistic destination during the probable delivery period based on the delivery agent authorization request and on the information about the mobile logistic destination authorization request response, wherein the delivery agent authorization is based on the information about the lock enquiry, the information about the authorization, and a delivery agent location difference between location information for the mobile logistic destination and the delivery agent location information;
• and
• providing the information about the delivery agent authorization.