# US 2019/0318557 A1 · Notifying an individual about an item in a secure mailbox > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0318557 A1 - Document ID: US20190318557A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/008,288 - Filed: 2018-06-14 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16 - Assignees: Carrier Corporation - Applicants: Carrier Corporation - Inventors: Santhosh Amuduri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318557A1 ## CPC - G07C 9/21: having a variable access code - A47G 29/1225: {Signalling devices} - A47G 29/141: {comprising electronically controlled locking means} - G06Q 10/0836: Recipient pick-ups - G06Q 10/08365: {Deliveries to storage lockers} - G06Q 50/12: Hotels or restaurants - G07C 9/27: with central registration - G07F 9/001: {Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices} - G07F 9/002: {Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines} - G07F 9/026: {for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty} - G07F 17/12: comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned - G07G 1/0045: {with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader} - A47G 2029/1226: {comprising electrical parts} - A47G 2029/149: {with central server link} - A47G 2200/226: sensor - E05G 1/08: secured individually - G07C 9/00904: {for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like} - G07C 2009/00769: {with data transmission performed by wireless means} - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS - E05G: SAFES OR STRONG-ROOMS FOR VALUABLES; BANK PROTECTION DEVICES; SAFETY TRANSACTION PARTITIONS ({devices to prevent theft of bags, trunks or baskets A45C13/18;} alarm arrangements per se G08B) ## Abstract A method of notifying an individual about an item in a secure mailbox is provided. The method includes receiving an indication that an item for an intended recipient has been deposited into a secure mailbox. The method also includes, based at least in part on receiving the indication, programming an access control device of the secure mailbox to unlock the access control device in response to a credential assigned to the intended recipient and notifying the intended recipient that the item is in the secure mailbox. It is detected that the secure mailbox has been unlocked in response to the credential that is assigned to the intended recipient. Based at least in part on the detecting, re-programming the access control device of the secure mailbox to an un-programed status that includes the access control device remaining in the unlocked state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of notifying individuals about items in secure mailboxes, the method comprising: receiving an indication that an item for an intended recipient has been deposited into a secure mailbox; based at least in part on receiving the indication: programming an access control device of the secure mailbox to unlock the access control device in response to a credential assigned to the intended recipient, wherein the credential is also used by the intended recipient to unlock a door; and notifying the intended recipient that the item is in the secure mailbox; detecting that the access control device of the secure mailbox has been unlocked in response to the credential that is assigned to the intended recipient; and based at least in part on the detecting, re-programming the access control device of the secure mailbox to an un-programed status that includes the access control device remaining in the unlocked state, wherein the secure mailbox is located in a hotel, the intended recipient is a hotel guest, and the method further comprises determining a room assigned to the intended recipient, wherein the credential is the credential used by the intended recipient to unlock the door to gain access to the room. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the re-programming includes disassociating the credential from the secure mailbox. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the credential is also used by the intended recipient to unlock another access control device. ### Claim 4 (canceled) . ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a near field communication (NFC) tag is used to correlate the secure mailbox with the room assigned to the intended recipient. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is sent to a hotel employee. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying includes generating an alert in response to the intended recipient unlocking the door. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the programming and notifying are automated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving and re-programming are automated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving an indication comprises detecting that a weight of the secure mailbox is over a threshold weight. ### Claim 12 A system configured to notifying individuals about items in secure mailboxes, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving an indication that an item for an intended recipient has been deposited into a secure mailbox; based at least in part on receiving the indication: programming an access control device of the secure mailbox to unlock the access control device in response to a credential assigned to the intended recipient, wherein the credential is also used by the intended recipient to unlock a door; and notifying the intended recipient that the item is in the secure mailbox; detecting that the access control device of the secure mailbox has been unlocked in response to the credential that is assigned to the intended recipient; and based at least in part on the detecting, re-programming the access control device of the secure mailbox to an un-programed status that includes the access control device remaining in the unlocked state wherein the secure mailbox is located in a hotel, the intended recipient is a hotel guest, and the method further comprises determining a room assigned to the intended recipient, wherein the credential is the credential used by the intended recipient to unlock the door to gain access to the room. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the re-programming includes disassociating the credential from the secure mailbox. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the credential is also used by the intended recipient to unlock another access control device. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein a near field communication (NFC) tag is used to correlate the secure mailbox with the room assigned to the intended recipient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the indication is sent to a hotel employee. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the notifying includes generating an alert in response to the intended recipient unlocking the door. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the programming and notifying are automated.