Secure container for package delivery

An access control system, comprising:

• a secure container including:
• a housing having a chamber defined therein for storage of a package;
• a movable barrier secured to the housing and adapted to move between an open position to allow access to the chamber and a closed position to prevent access to the chamber;
• an electronic lock mechanism adapted to move between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a control system;
• and
• a server including a first processor and a first memory comprising a first plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the first processor, causes the server to (i) receive a message from a handler device associated with a package handler requesting access to the chamber of the secure container and (ii) transmit an unlock command to the secure container in response to a determination that the package handler is authorized to access the chamber of the secure container;
• and
• wherein the secure container is configured to transmit a control signal from the control system to the electronic lock mechanism to unlock the electronic lock mechanism to allow movement of the movable barrier from the closed position to the open position in response to successful authentication of the unlock command.

A method, comprising:

• determining, by an access control system, whether a package handler associated with a handler device is authorized to access a secure container secured by an electronic lock mechanism;
• generating, by the access control system, a caveated cryptographic bearer token in response to a determination that the handler is authorized to access the secure container, wherein the caveated cryptographic bearer token includes a time-based caveat that defines a time limit for accessing the secure container;
• transmitting, by the access control system, the caveated cryptographic bearer token to the handler device in response to generation of the caveated cryptographic bearer token;
• transmitting, by the handler device and in response to receipt of the caveated cryptographic bearer token from the access control system, a request to access the secure container to the secure container over a wireless communication connection between the handler device and the secure container, wherein the request includes the caveated cryptographic bearer token;
• authenticating, by the secure container, the request based on the received caveated cryptographic bearer token, a base cryptographic bearer token stored on the secure container, and a real-time clock of the secure container;
• and
• unlocking the electronic lock mechanism of the secure container in response to successful authentication of the received caveated cryptographic bearer token.