Receiving Device for Parcels or Packages Delivered By Air

Apparatus comprising:

• a receptacle configured to receive a package delivered via an airborne drone,
• wherein the drone includes a drone wireless transceiver and a camera configured to receive light signals,
• wherein the receptacle includes an interior area and an opening through which the interior area may be accessed,
• an optical scanner,
• wherein the optical scanner is operative to read optical indicia,
• a transceiver,
• wherein the transceiver is operative to communicate with the drone wireless transceiver through wireless signals,
• at least one light emitter,
• wherein the at least one light emitter
• is positioned adjacent to the opening, and
• is operative to output light signals that illuminate at least a portion of the opening,
• a computer,
• wherein the computer is in operative connection with the optical scanner, the transceiver, and the at least one light emitter,
• wherein the computer is operative to cause
• at least one optical code to be read through operation of the optical scanner,
• wherein the at least one optical code includes data corresponding to a delivery identification code associated with the package, and at least one cryptographic key,
• the transceiver to receive from the drone wireless transceiver, data corresponding to a verification code and an encrypted one time code, wherein the one time code is encrypted with the at least one cryptographic key,
• a determination that the data corresponding to the delivery identification code
• and the verification code have a predetermined relationship,
• the data corresponding to the one time code to be resolved using the at least one cryptographic key,
• responsive at least in part to the determination, encryption of the resolved data corresponding to the one time code and at least one of the verification code and the delivery identification code using the at least one cryptographic key, to produce receptacle signal data,
• the at least one light emitter to output at least one light signal corresponding to the receptacle signal data,
• whereby the drone is enabled to receive and use the at least one light signal to make a delivery determination that the at least one light signal corresponds to the one time code and the verification code, and to cause the package to be positioned in the interior area through the opening responsive at least in part to the delivery determination.

A method carried out using an apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes:

• a receptacle configured to receive a package delivered via an airborne drone,
• wherein the drone includes a drone wireless transceiver and a camera configured to receive light signals,
• wherein the receptacle includes an interior area and an opening through which the interior area may be accessed,
• an optical scanner,
• wherein the optical scanner is operative to read optical indicia,
• a transceiver,
• wherein the transceiver is operative to communicate with the drone wireless transceiver through wireless signals,
• at least one light emitter,
• wherein the at least one light emitter
• is positioned adjacent to the opening, and
• is operative to output light signals that illuminate at least a portion of the opening,
• a computer,
• wherein the computer is in operative connection with the optical scanner, the transceiver, and the at least one light emitter,
• wherein the computer is operative to cause
• at least one optical code to be read through operation of the optical scanner,
• wherein the at least one optical code includes data corresponding to a delivery identification code associated with the package, and at least one cryptographic key,
• the transceiver to receive from the drone wireless transceiver, data corresponding to a verification code and an encrypted one time code, wherein the one time code is encrypted with the at least one cryptographic key,
• a determination that the data corresponding to the delivery identification code and the verification code have a predetermined relationship,
• the data corresponding to the one time code to be resolved using the at least one cryptographic key,
• responsive at least in part to the determination, encryption of the resolved data corresponding to the one time code and at least one of the verification code and the delivery identification code using the at least one cryptographic key, to produce receptacle signal data,
• the at least one light emitter to output at least one light signal corresponding to the receptacle signal data,
• whereby the drone is enabled to receive and use the at least one light signal to make a delivery determination that the at least one light signal corresponds to the one time code and the verification code, and to cause the package to be positioned in the interior area through the opening responsive at least in part to the delivery determination,
• and further including
• a server, and
• a mobile phone,
• wherein the mobile phone includes a display,
• wherein the server is associated with a delivery service provider,
• wherein the server includes data corresponding to the delivery identification code,
• wherein the mobile phone is operative to wirelessly communicate with the server,
• the method comprising:
• a) establishing wireless communication between the mobile phone and the server,
• b) receiving with the mobile phone through the wireless communication, the delivery identification code from the server,
• c) positioning the mobile phone adjacent the receptacle,
• d) during at least a portion of (c), wirelessly communicating the delivery identification code to the server,
• e) determining with the server, a location of the mobile phone during (d),
• d) using the determined location of the mobile phone through operation of the server to cause the drone to move to the location.

A method carried out using an apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes:

• a receptacle configured to receive a package delivered via an airborne drone,
• wherein the drone includes a drone wireless transceiver and a camera configured to receive light signals,
• wherein the receptacle includes an interior area and an opening through which the interior area may be accessed,
• an optical scanner,
• wherein the optical scanner is operative to read optical indicia,
• a transceiver,
• wherein the transceiver is operative to communicate with the drone wireless transceiver through wireless signals,
• at least one light emitter,
• wherein the at least one light emitter
• is positioned adjacent to the opening, and
• is operative to output light signals that illuminate at least a portion of the opening,
• a computer,
• wherein the computer is in operative connection with the optical scanner, the transceiver, and the at least one light emitter,
• wherein the computer is operative to cause
• at least one optical code to be read through operation of the optical scanner,
• wherein the at least one optical code includes data corresponding to a delivery identification code associated with the package, and at least one cryptographic key,
• wherein the at least one cryptographic key includes
• a public cryptographic key, and
• a corresponding private cryptographic key,
• the transceiver to receive from the drone wireless transceiver, data corresponding to a verification code and an encrypted one time code, wherein the one time code is encrypted with the public cryptographic key,
• a determination that the data corresponding to the delivery identification code and the verification code have a predetermined relationship,
• the data corresponding to the one time code to be resolved using the private cryptographic key,
• responsive at least in part to the determination, encryption of the resolved data corresponding to the one time code and at least one of the verification code and the delivery identification code using the private cryptographic key, to produce receptacle signal data,
• the at least one light emitter to output at least one light signal corresponding to the receptacle signal data,
• whereby the drone is enabled to receive and use the at least one light signal to make a delivery determination that the at least one light signal corresponds to the one time code and the verification code, and to cause the package to be positioned in the interior area through the opening responsive at least in part to the delivery determination,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) receiving with a mobile phone the delivery identification code, the public cryptographic key and the private cryptographic key from a server associated with a delivery service provider responsible for delivering the package,
• b subsequent to (a) generating the optical code through operation of the mobile phone,
• c) presenting the generated optical code to the optical scanner,
• d) reading the optical code through operation of the optical scanner to obtain the data corresponding to the delivery identification code and the public and private cryptographic keys,
• e) receiving through operation of the transceiver the data corresponding to the verification code and the encrypted one time code from the drone,
• f) making the determination through operation of the computer that the data corresponding to the delivery identification code and the verification code have the predetermined relationship,
• g) decrypting the encrypted one time code through operation of the computer through use of the private cryptographic key to resolve the data corresponding to the one time code responsive at least in part to the determination,
• h) encrypting through operation of the computer the resolved data corresponding to the one time code and at least one of the verification code and the delivery identification code using the public cryptographic key to produce receptacle signal data responsive at least in part to the determination,
• i) outputting through operation of the light emitter at least one light signal corresponding to the receptacle signal data,
• j) using the at least one light signal through operation of the drone to make a delivery determination that the at least one light signal corresponds to the one time code and the verification code,
• k) positioning the package through operation of the drone in the interior area through the opening responsive at least in part to the delivery determination.

Apparatus comprising:

• a receptacle configured to receive a package delivered via an airborne drone,
• wherein the drone includes a drone wireless transceiver and a camera configured to receive light signals,
• wherein the receptacle includes
• an interior area and an opening through which the interior area may be accessed,
• an optical scanner,
• wherein the optical scanner is operative to read optical indicia,
• a transceiver,
• wherein the transceiver is operative to communicate with the drone wireless transceiver through wireless signals,
• at least one light emitter,
• wherein the at least one light emitter
• is positioned adjacent to the opening, and
• is operative to output light signals that illuminate at least a portion of the opening,
• a computer,
• wherein the computer
• is in operative connection with the optical scanner, the transceiver, and the at least one light emitter,
• includes a computer memory,
• is operative to cause
• the optical scanner to read an optical code,
• wherein the optical code includes data corresponding to delivery information,
• wherein the delivery information includes a delivery identification code, a public cryptographic key, and a corresponding private cryptographic key,
• the transceiver to wirelessly receive from the drone
• a non-encrypted signal,
• wherein the non-encrypted signal includes data corresponding to a verification code,
• an encrypted signal,
• wherein the encrypted signal is encrypted with the public cryptographic key, and
• includes data corresponding to a one time code,
• the computer memory to store
• the data corresponding to the delivery information,
• the data corresponding to the receptacle verification code, and
• the encrypted signal,
• wherein the computer is further operative to
• make a determination that the data corresponding to the verification code and the delivery identification code have a predetermined relationship,
• responsive in part to the determination, use the private cryptographic key to decrypt the data corresponding to the encrypted signal to resolve the data corresponding to the one time code, and to store the resolved one time code in the computer memory,
• using the private cryptographic key, produce receptacle signal data that includes an encrypted version of the verification code and an encrypted version of the resolved one time code,
• responsive in part to the determination, to cause the at least one light emitter to emit a light signal,
• wherein the light signal
• corresponds to the receptacle signal data, and
• illuminates at least a portion of the opening,
• whereby the drone is enabled to receive and use the light signal to make a delivery determination that the light signal corresponds to the one time code and the verification code, and to position the package in the interior area through the opening responsive at least in part to the delivery determination.