AUTOMATED LOCKER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY AND COLLECTION OF PACKAGES

Title:

AUTOMATED LOCKER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY AND COLLECTION OF PACKAGES

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/163018

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A delivery and collection system comprises a plurality of automated locker assemblies (2), each comprising a plurality of contiguous lockers (21) which are monitored and controlled by a central computer system (3). Each locker (21) has an autonomous lock unit (4) including a processor (43), memory 44 and short range wireless transceiver (45) which communicates with any of a plurality of mobile phones or other wireless devices (1). Customers of the system are granted access to the lockers by validation codes which are communicated via an enabling message from the central computer system to an app running on the customer's device (1). The app is configured to send an access request to the lock unit (4) based on the enabling message, and to transmit event details downloaded from the lock unit back to the central computer system (3). Each enabling message may authorise the user device to perform multiple deliveries or collections or may be a one-time code which cannot be used again for another collection or delivery. Multiple enabling messages may be stored on the user's device for the same or different lockers. A single device (1') may be provided proximate the assembly (2) to control access to the lockers. In other embodiments, each package (6) in a locker assembly, optionally of conventional design including a local control unit 200, may be identified by a unique package ID 61 and also by a generic product ID or SKU, and a collection invitation may be sent to a customer to collect the package responsive to a request for that product type.

Inventors:

MILLER STUART (GB)
BROMWELL MARK (GB)
POWELL DAMIAN (GB)
MINTO ROBIN (GB)
MCMAHON ANTHONY (GB)
O'SHAUGHNESSY PETER (GB)
FINCH STEVEN (GB)

Application Number:

PCT/GB2017/050713

Publication Date:

October 26, 2017

Filing Date:

March 15, 2017

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

BYBOX HOLDINGS LTD (GB)

International Classes:

G07F17/12

Domestic Patent References:

WO2014125243A1

2014-08-21

Foreign References:

US20150356801A1	2015-12-10
US20150120601A1	2015-04-30
US20030025590A1	2003-02-06
GB2491340A	2012-12-05
CN104637186A	2015-05-20
US20040084526A1	2004-05-06