A parcel locker comprising an autonomous pin pad unit, and a method for server-side pairing of a parcel locker and an autonomous pin pad unit, and a method for opening a compartment door of a compartment using a pin pad

A parcel locker for distribution of items, wherein the parcel locker comprises:

• a plurality of compartments including compartment doors with lock units for controlling access to the plurality of compartments,
• a short-range parcel communication unit,
• a parcel locker controller comprising at least one processor and at least one locker memory that includes program code, wherein the at least one locker memory and the program code is configured to cause the processor to instruct one or more of the lock units to open as a function of a received electronic token via the short-range parcel communication unit;
• and
• an autonomous pin pad unit comprising
• a pin pad for receiving a user pin code;
• a pin pad energy storage for powering the pin pad unit;
• a pin pad communication unit including a short-range pin pad communication unit for communicating with the parcel locker, and a long-range pin pad communication unit for communicating with a distribution server;
• a pin pad controller comprising at least one pin pad processor and at least one pin pad memory including program code, one or more pin codes and one or more electronic tokens linked to the one or more pin codes, wherein the memory and the program code is configured to cause the processor to match a received user pin code with the one or more pin codes and cause the short-range pin pad communication unit to send the linked electronic token to the short-range parcel communication unit as a function of a positive match.

A method for opening a compartment door of a compartment of a parcel locker using a pin pad, the parcel locker including a plurality of compartments including compartment doors with lock units for controlling access to the plurality of compartments, a parcel control unit including a short-range parcel communication unit, and an autonomous pin pad unit comprising a pin pad, a pin pad energy storage, a pin pad controller, and a pin pad communication unit including a short-range pin pad communication unit for communicating with the parcel locker, and a long-range pin pad communication unit for communicating with a distribution server, wherein the autonomous pin pad unit

• receives a user pin code;
• matches the received user pin code with one or more pin codes stored on the autonomous pin pad unit;
• transmits an electronic token to the short-range parcel communication unit as a function of a matching pin code, wherein the electronic token will cause the parcel locker to unlock a compartment door;
• and
• receives an electronic synchronisation token from the short-range parcel communication unit.

A kit for forming a service point, the kit comprising:

• one or more parcel lockers for distribution of items, the one or more parcel lockers including:
• a plurality of compartments including compartment doors with lock units for controlling access to the plurality of compartments,
• a short-range parcel communication unit, and
• a parcel locker controller comprising at least one processor and at least one locker memory that includes program code, wherein the memory and the program code is configured to cause the processor to instruct one or more of the lock units to open as a function of a received electronic token via the short-range parcel communication unit;
• an autonomous pin pad unit including:
• a pin pad for receiving a user pin code;
• a pin pad energy storage for powering the pin pad unit;
• a pin pad communication unit including a short-range pin pad communication unit for communicating with the parcel locker, and a long-range pin pad communication unit for communicating with a distribution server;
• and
• a pin pad controller comprising at least one pin pad processor and at least one pin pad memory including program code, one or more pin codes and one or more electronic tokens linked to the one or more pin codes, wherein the memory and the program code is configured to cause the processor to match a received user pin code with the one or more pin codes and cause the short-range pin pad communication unit to send the linked electronic token to the short-range parcel communication unit as a function of a positive match.

A service point for distribution of items, wherein the service point comprises one or more parcel lockers at least controllable via short-range communication, wherein at least one of the one or more parcel lockers comprises:

• a plurality of compartments including compartment doors with lock units for controlling access to the plurality of compartments,
• a short-range parcel communication unit,
• a device unit, the device unit comprising:
• a device communication unit including a short-range device communication unit for communicating with any of the one or more parcel lockers and a long-range controller device unit for communicating with a distribution server;
• and
• a device controller comprising at least one device processor and at least one device memory, wherein the device memory is configured to cause the device processor to cause the short-range device communication unit to communicate to the short-range parcel communication unit of any of the one or more parcel lockers.

A kit for forming a service point, the kit comprising:

• one or more parcel lockers for distribution of items, the one or more parcel lockers including:
• a plurality of compartments including compartment doors with lock units for controlling access to the plurality of compartments,
• a short-range parcel communication unit,
• a parcel locker controller comprising at least one processor and at least one locker memory that includes program code, wherein the memory and the program code is configured to cause the processor to instruct one or more of the lock units to open as a function of a received electronic token via the short-range parcel communication unit;
• a device unit including:
• a device communication unit including a short-range device communication unit for communicating with the parcel locker, and a long-range device communication unit for communicating with a distribution server;
• a device controller comprising at least one device processor and at least one device memory, wherein the memory and the program code is configured to cause the device processor to communicate with the short-range parcel communication unit of at least one of the one or more parcel lockers.