Smart Mailbox System and Method
OwnerWilson LOPES DE ARAUJOinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for package and/or mail delivery. In some embodiments, a mailbox includes a housing defining one or more internal storage compartments; one or more lockable doors configured to provide access to the one or more internal storage compartments; one or more actuators configured to open and close the one or more doors and to lock and unlock the one or more doors; one or more sensors configured to detect delivery of a package or mail in the one of the one or more internal storage compartments; and a communication device coupled to the one or more sensors, the communication device configured to send a message to a user upon detection of delivery of the package or mail.
Claims20
A mailbox comprising:
- a housing defining one or more internal storage compartments;
- one or more lockable doors configured to provide access to the one or more internal storage compartments;
- one or more actuators configured to open and close the one or more doors and to lock and unlock the one or more doors;
- one or more sensors configured to detect delivery of a package or mail in the one of the one or more internal storage compartments;
- and
- a communication device coupled to the one or more sensors, the communication device configured to send a message to a user upon detection of delivery of the package or mail,
- wherein the one or more sensors includes a volume sensor configured to sense the volume of the package or mail.
A method of operating a mailbox, the method comprising:
- authenticating delivery of a package or mail to a mailbox, the mailbox including a housing defining one or more internal storage compartments and one or more lockable doors configured to provide access to the one or more internal storage compartments;
- opening the door of the mailbox when the delivery is authenticated;
- receiving the package or mail into at least one of the one or more internal storage compartments and detecting the presence of the package or mail in the internal storage compartment;
- sensing the volume of the package or mail;
- securely closing the one or more doors of the mailbox upon detecting the presence of the package or mail;
- and
- sending a message to a user upon detection of delivery of the package or mail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.