Method and apparatus for notifying of receipt
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPaul A. Moskowitz, Clifford A. Pickover, Stephen J. Boies, William Grey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for notifying at least one entity upon receipt of an item is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, a determination is made whether an item has been placed in a repository. This determination may be made using any of a number of different types and combinations of sensors. An identification of at least one entity to be notified is then made, and the entity is notified if a determination is made that an item has been placed in the repository.
Claims6
A notification method, comprising:
- determining whether an item has been placed in a repository, wherein said determining comprises operating a sensor located in a container of said repository and wherein said sensor includes a video camera and a microphone;
- identifying at least one entity to be notified;
- and
- notifying said at least one entity when said determining indicates that said item has been placed in said repository;
- and wherein said notifying includes forwarding a picture and a sound recording to said at least one entity.
A notification method, comprising:
- determining whether an item has been placed in a repository, wherein said determining comprises operating a sensor located in a container of said repository and wherein said sensor is an accelerometer adapted to detect a physical attack on said repository;
- identifying at least one entity to be notified;
- and
- notifying said at least one entity when said determining indicates that said item has been placed in said repository;
- and
- notifying at least one entity when said repository is subject to said physical attack.
A notification method, comprising:
- determining whether an item has been placed in a repository, wherein said determining comprises operating a sensor located in a container of said repository and wherein said sensor is adapted to detect a physical attack on said repository;
- identifying at least one entity to be notified;
- and
- notifying said at least one entity when said determining indicates that said item has been placed in said repository;
- and
- notifying at least one entity when said repository is subject to said physical attack.
A notification device, comprising:
- a repository, for receiving an item;
- sensor, coupled to said repository, for detecting the presence or non-presence of said item and for reading information about said item;
- and
- a communication device, coupled to said identification device, for transmitting a message to at least one entity when said identification device detects the presence of said item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.