Locker rental system using external codes

A method of renting lockers based on non-locker system generated external ID codes associated with encoded items issued to users, the method comprising the acts of:

• storing validation criteria corresponding to the non-locker system generated external ID codes in a locker rental system;
• reading one of the non-locker system generated external ID codes from one of the encoded items using a code reader of a locker terminal associated with at least one locker as part of a locker access transaction;
• sending an access request comprising the non-locker system generated external ID code read from the encoded item issued to the user, the access type, and a locker terminal identifier, wherein the access type indicates whether the locker access transaction is associated with a new locker rental or an existing locker rental;
• upon receipt of the access request at the locker manager, when the access type corresponds to a new locker rental:
• determining if the access request is valid based on an evaluation of the non-locker system generated external ID code in the access request against the validation criteria;
• and
• if the access request is valid:
• creating a new rental plan;
• associating the non-locker system generated external ID code in the access request with the new rental plan;
• determining that a locker associated with the locker terminal identifier is available;
• assigning the locker identifier of the available locker to the new rental plan;
• sending an access authorization comprising the locker identifier to the locker terminal identified by the locker terminal identifier in the access request;
• and
• unlocking the locker corresponding to the locker identifier assigned to the new rental plan.

A locker system operable with an encoded item issued to a user, each encoded item associated with a non-locker system generated external identification (ID) code, the locker system comprising:

• a plurality of lockers, each locker comprising an enclosure, a door, and a lock, the enclosure defining an interior and an opening allowing access to the interior, the door attached to the enclosure, the door moveable between a closed position wherein the door substantially blocks the enclosure opening to inhibit access to the enclosure interior and an open position wherein the door does not block the enclosure opening thereby permitting access to the enclosure interior, the lock configured to secure the door in the closed position when engaged and release the door when disengaged, the lock being electronically actuated;
• and
• a locker manager in communication with each lock, the locker manager comprising a processor and memory, the locker manager controlling operation of each lock to selectively manage access to each lockers, the memory storing a plurality of locker accounts and a plurality of user accounts, each locker account associated with a corresponding locker and storing information about the physical characteristics of the corresponding locker, a plurality of user accounts stored in the memory, each user account associated with a corresponding non-locker system generated external ID code, wherein selected user accounts are associated with a privilege, the privilege associated with one of the physical characteristics, the locker manager giving priority to user accounts associated with the privilege when assigning lockers having the physical characteristic associated with the privilege.