Item delivery and retrieval system

A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system, comprising:

• a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible by a first user who loads and stores an item into a storage location with a first identifier as to the storage location and a second identifier as to the identity of a second user, said second user then retrieving said item or returning an item upon using and entering certain information into an access terminal;
• and
• a computer subsystem which controls the storage facility and having a application configurable software control architecture including a software interface including object-oriented programs comprising, a storage facility driver software interface for controlling access to the storage facility, a back office application program interface (BO API) enabling the first user to access the storage facility by means of the driver software interface, and a front office application program interface (FO API) enabling the second user to access the storage facility also by means of the driver software interface;
• and
• wherein said secure storage facility includes comprises a carousel and controls therefore, and including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors, said doors being selectively opened on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BO API) or the second user via the front office application program interface (FO API);
• wherein the back office application program interface (BO API) implements functions during an item loading operation, comprising:
• a connect function which initializes connection of the application controls of the back office application program interface to the carousel driver;
• a register item function which registers a specific item to be loaded in the carousel in an inventory database;
• a purge item function which removes an item in the inventory database and clears a bin access code therefor;
• a load item function which positions the carousel and opens a door of the carousel for a specific item at a specific location;
• a removal item function which positions the carousel and opens the door to a specific item for removal and which is then marked as removed from the inventory database;
• an open all doors function which is used to gain full access to the carousel;
• an open bin location function similar to the load item function and positions the carousel to a specified bin and opens the doors thereto;
• an identify bin function which identifies a particular bin when all the doors of the carousel are opened;
• a rotate carousel function which is used to position the carousel to a specific access point;
• a close bin function which is used to close the door for a specific bin location;
• a close all doors function which is used to close all doors and secure the machine;
• and a database maintenance and report function to update the inventory database.

A web enabled item delivery and retrieval system, comprising:

• a storage subsystem including a secure storage facility accessible by a first user who loads and stores an item into a storage location with a first identifier as to the storage location and a second identifier as to the identity of a second user, said second user then retrieving said item or returning an item upon using and entering certain information into an access terminal;
• and
• a computer subsystem which controls the storage facility and having a application configurable software control architecture including a software interface including object-oriented programs comprising, a storage facility driver software interface for controlling access to the storage facility, a back office application program interface (BO API) enabling the first user to access the storage facility by means of the driver software interface, and a front office application program interface (FO API) enabling the second user to access the storage facility also by means of the driver software interface;
• and
• wherein said secure storage facility includes comprises a carousel and controls therefore, and including a plurality of storage bins normally hidden behind a closed door assembly including a plurality of doors, said doors being selectively opened on demand by either the first user via the back office application program interface (BO API) or the second user via the front office application program interface (FO API);
• wherein the front office application program interface (FO API) implements functions during a retrieval or return operation, comprising:
• a connect function which initializes connections of the application controls of the front office application program interface to the carousel driver interface;
• a cue item and authenticate user function which rotates the carousel such that a requested item for retrieval is positioned behind a specific door without any of the doors being opened while a transactional process of authenticating the user takes place;
• a remove item function which positions the carousel and opens a door to a specified item for retrieval;
• a close bin function which is used to close doors of the carousel;
• a load item function which positions the carousel and opens a door for return of a specified item at a specific bin location where the item is then registered in an inventory database;
• a return item function which closes the door of the carousel upon return of an item to a specified bin and which is flagged/marked in the inventory database for return;
• a query item function to find and load time and status information into the inventory database;
• and
• a print receipt function to print a receipt of a transaction carried out by a user.