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US 2018/0121873 A1Published application
Intelligent use of lockers in mailcenter package processing system
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorDale WALSH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tools (e.g., systems, apparatuses, methodologies, computer programs, etc.) including intelligent provisions enable a mail center to process packages at a mailcenter. Such processing may include extracting information from the package (via image processing), and then, when appropriate, assigning such package for pickup at a package storage locker. The package storage locker is preferably an intelligent locker that can be electronically controlled and can be integrated in the electronic mailcenter service system.
Claims19
A mailcenter package locker system for a community of plural mail service customers registered in a customer database registering contact information for the plural mail service customers, the mailcenter package locker system comprising:
- plural package storage lockers, each package storage locker having a device identifier unique to the package storage locker and associated with an assigned location of the package storage locker, and each package storage locker including a code entry device to receive user entry of an unlock code specific to unlocking the package storage locker at an instant moment;
- a package processing workstation to process an incoming package for a specified customer, including assigning a tracking code unique to the package being processed, and specifying a default route assigned to the package being processed, the specified route being one of plural candidate routes including locker pickup, mailcenter pickup and delivery to specified address;
- a mail service controller to communicate with the package processing workstation and monitor status of the plural package storage lockers;
- a locker assignment device including
- a device identifier reader to read the device identifier of the package storage locker when the package specified for locker pickup is at the assigned package storage locker, and
- a wireless communication interface through which the locker assignment device communicates with the mail service controller, and
- wherein the locker assignment device, upon reading the device identifier of the package storage locker in which the package specified for locker pickup is being deposited, communicates via the wireless communication interface to the mail service controller the device identifier of the package storage locker in association with the tracking code of the deposited package, and
- wherein the mail service controller, upon receiving from the locker assignment device the device identifier of the package storage locker in association with the tracking code of the deposited package, registers an unlock code in association with the device identifier and the tracking code, and transmits a locker pickup notification of arrived package to an electronic address of a specified customer registered in the customer database, the notification informing arrival of the deposited package, identifying the deposited package by the tracking code of the deposited package, indicating the location and device identifier of the package storage locker, and indicating the unlock code for unlocking the package storage locker for removal of the deposited package from the package storage locker.
5 more elements
A method to automate package pickup in a mailcenter for a community of plural mail service customers registered in a customer database registering contact information for the plural mail service customers, comprising:
- processing, by a package processing workstation, an incoming package for a specified customer, including assigning a tracking code unique to the package being processed, and specifying a default route assigned to the package being processed, the specified route being one of plural candidate routes including locker pickup, mailcenter pickup and delivery to specified address;
- managing, by a mail service controller, package pickup and delivery, including communicating with the package processing workstation and monitoring status of plural package storage lockers;
- reading, by a device identifier reader of a locker assignment device, a unique device identifier of a package storage locker having in addition an unlock code, when the package specified for locker pickup is at the package storage locker, and communicating through a wireless communication interface of the locker assignment device to the mail service controller the device identifier of the package storage locker in association with the tracking code of the deposited package;
- registering, by the mail service controller upon receiving from the locker assignment device the device identifier of the package storage locker in association with the tracking code of the deposited package, an unlock code in association with the device identifier and the tracking code, and transmitting a locker pickup notification of arrived package to an electronic address of a specified customer registered in the customer database, the notification informing arrival of the deposited package, identifying the deposited package by the tracking code of the deposited package, indicating the location and device identifier of the package storage locker, and indicating the unlock code to unlock the package storage locker for removal of the deposited package from the package storage locker.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.