System for parcel pickup and delivery operated responsive to data bearing records

Apparatus comprising:

• central system circuitry, wherein the central system circuitry is configured to be in operative connection with
• at least one data store,
• at least one wireless communication network,
• a plurality of geographically disposed repositories, wherein each repository is selectively operable to accept and make available parcels to authorized item carriers,
• wherein each repository includes
• a body, wherein the body bounds at least one interior area, wherein each interior area is configured to hold at least one parcel,
• wherein the body includes a respective opening to one respective interior area,
• a door,
• wherein the door is movably mounted in operative connection with the body,
• wherein the door is movable between
• a closed position, wherein the door closes the respective opening,
• an open position, wherein the door is at least partially disposed from the respective opening and the interior area is externally accessible from outside the body,
• a lock, wherein the lock is in operative connection with the door,
• wherein the lock is changeable between
• a locked condition, wherein in the locked condition the lock is operative to hold the door in the closed position, and
• an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition the door is movable from the closed position to the open position,
• repository control circuitry, wherein the repository control circuitry is in operative connection with
• the lock,
• at least one wireless transceiver, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver is in operative connection with the at least one wireless communication network,
• wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to
• each repository of the plurality of repositories,
• a plurality of geographical catchment areas in which parcels may be picked up from shippers to initiate parcel shipments, wherein data corresponding to one catchment area is associated with data corresponding to one respective repository,
• a plurality of parcel identifiers, wherein each parcel identifier uniquely identifies one parcel,
• a plurality of parcel initial pickup addresses, wherein each initial pickup address is associated with data corresponding to one respective parcel identifier,
• contact data for each of a plurality of carrier contact devices, wherein each carrier contact device is associated with a respective item carrier,
• a plurality of item carrier parcel pickup assignments, wherein at least some of the parcel pickup assignments include initial pickup assignments to respective item carriers for pickup of a respective parcel directly from a shipper at the respective initial pickup address associated with the respective parcel identifier,
• wherein the central system circuitry is operative to cause
• a) responsive at least in part to the respective initial pickup address associated with each respective parcel identifier, a determination for each parcel of the respective catchment area in which the associated initial pickup address is located,
• b) for a first parcel with an associated first initial pickup address determined in (a) to be within the first catchment area and that does not yet have an associated initial pickup assignment, a determination of a pickup transport distance, wherein the pickup transport distance corresponds to a shortest pickup distance between the first initial pickup address and a second initial pickup address in the first catchment area for a second parcel that has the associated second initial pickup address determined in (a) to be in the first catchment area and which among the parcels determined to have an associated initial pickup address in the first catchment area, the second initial pickup address is geographically closest to the first initial pickup address, and which second parcel does not yet have an associated initial pickup assignment,
• c) determination of an alternative pickup transport distance, wherein the alternative pickup transport distance corresponds to an alternative shortest pickup transport distance between the first initial pickup address and a third initial pickup address located in a second catchment area, wherein the second catchment area is an immediately adjacent catchment area to the first catchment area, for a third parcel which has an associated third initial pickup address determined in (a) to be in the second catchment area and which among such parcels determined to have an associated initial pickup address in the second catchment area, the third initial pickup address is geographically closest to the first initial pickup address, and which third parcel does not yet have an associated initial pickup assignment,
• d) evaluation of data corresponding to the pickup transport distance and the alternative pickup transport distance,
• e) responsive at least in part to the evaluation in (d), at least one pickup instruction message to be sent to a carrier contact device to direct an item carrier to pick up the first parcel at the associated first initial pickup address and transport the first parcel to one of either a first repository associated with the first catchment area or a second repository associated with the second catchment area.

Apparatus comprising:

• central system circuitry, wherein the central system circuitry is configured to be in operative connection with
• at least one data store,
• at least one wireless communication network,
• a plurality of geographically disposed repositories, wherein each repository is selectively operable to accept and make available parcels to authorized item carriers,
• wherein each repository includes
• a body, wherein the body bounds at least one interior area, wherein each interior area is configured to hold at least one parcel,
• wherein the body includes a respective opening to one respective interior area,
• a door,
• wherein the door is movably mounted in operative connection with the body,
• wherein the door is movable between,
• a closed position, wherein the door closes the respective opening,
• an open position, wherein the door is at least partially disposed away from the respective opening and the interior area is externally accessible from outside the body,
• a lock, wherein the lock is in operative connection with the door,
• wherein the lock is changeable between
• a locked condition, wherein in the locked condition the lock is operative to hold the door in the closed position, and
• an unlocked condition, wherein in the unlocked condition the door is movable from the closed position to the open position,
• repository control circuitry, wherein the repository control circuitry is in operative connection with,
• the lock,
• at least one wireless transceiver, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver is in operative connection with the at least one wireless communication network,
• wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to
• each repository of the plurality of repositories,
• a plurality of geographical catchment areas in which parcels may be delivered, wherein data corresponding to one catchment area is associated with data corresponding to one respective repository,
• a plurality of parcel identifiers, wherein each parcel identifier uniquely identifies one parcel,
• a plurality of parcel final delivery addresses, wherein one final delivery address is associated with each parcel identifier,
• contact data for each of a plurality of carrier contact devices, wherein each carrier contact device is associated with a respective item carrier,
• wherein the central system circuitry is operative to cause
• a) responsive at least in part to the respective final delivery address associated with each respective parcel identifier, a determination for each parcel of the respective catchment area in which the respective final delivery address is located,
• b) for a first parcel with an associated first final delivery address determined in (a) to be within a first catchment area, a determination of a transport distance, wherein the transport distance corresponds to a shortest transport distance between the first final delivery address and a second final delivery address in the first catchment area for a second parcel that has a respective second final delivery address determined in (a) to be in the first catchment area and which among the parcels determined to have an associated final delivery address in the first catchment area, the second final delivery address is geographically closest to the first final delivery address,
• c) determination of an alternative transport distance, wherein the alternative transport distance corresponds to an alternative shortest transport distance between the first final delivery address and a third final delivery address located in a second catchment area immediately adjacent to the first catchment area, for a third parcel for which the associated third final delivery address is determined in (a) to be in the second catchment area and which among such parcels determined to have an associated final delivery address in the second catchment area, the third final delivery address is geographically closest to the first final delivery address,
• d) evaluation of data corresponding to the transport distance and the alternative transport distance,
• e) responsive at least in part to the evaluation in (d), at least one instruction message to be sent to a carrier contact device to direct an item carrier to transport the first parcel to one of either a first repository associated with the first catchment area or a second repository associated with the second catchment area.