System for delivery and receipt of dispatches especially useful for e-commerce

Abstract

There is provided a Last Mile delivery system (LAMIS system) for delivery of parcels to recipients, including a plurality of Automatic Delivery Machines (ADMs), located in public places and other places convenient for the recipients. Each ADM has a local computer and data and comunication network connection, and at least a set of cells, possibly of adjustable size, for storing parcels, and a single access mechanism for each such set, adapted to provide a recipient with access to a parcel stored in a cell while preventing access to parcels in other cells. The system further includes computerized control centers using an ADM database with locations of the ADMs, a LAMIS server computer program for handling the data associated with the operation of the system, which enables a multiple choice of an ADM for the delivery or for sending of the parcel, by using the ADM database. The control center has data and communication network connecting the LAMIS server with the local computers of the ADMs. The local computers are adapted to identify the recipient and to provide access to the parcel in the cell of the chosen ADM.

1 . A system for delivery of parcels to recipients, each parcel being associated with shipping information (SI), including: 
 a plurality of Automatic Delivery Machines (ADM) at least part of them located in public places and, possibly, other places convenient for said recipients, each ADM having a local computer and data network connection, and further having at least one set of cells for storing parcels and a single access mechanism for said set of cells, said access mechanism being controlled by said local computer and being adapted to provide a recipient with access to a parcel stored in a cell while preventing access to parcels in all other cells;    at least one computerized control center using 
 an ADM database with locations of at least part of said ADMs,  
 a LAMIS server computer program for handling data associated with the operation of said system, enabling a multiple choice of an ADM for the delivery of said parcel, using said ADM database, and adapted to receive said SI and to associate it with a cell in said ADM or in otherwise chosen ADM, and  
 data network connecting said LAMIS server and the local computers of said ADMs;  
 wherein said local computer of the ADM is adapted to identify said recipient and to provide said recipient with access to said parcel from said cell.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system for delivery according to    claim 1   , wherein each cell has its access opening and said access mechanism is a door assembly comprising a number of movable shutters adapted to form a door opening of variable size and position in front of a predetermined cell access opening, thereby providing said recipient with access to a parcel stored therein.  
     
     
         3 . The system for delivery according to    claim 1   , wherein the size of at least some of said cells in the ADM may be adjusted, in particular at the time of parcel delivery to said ADM.  
     
     
         4 . The system for delivery according to    claim 1   , wherein at least part of said ADMs have at least part of their cells organized in cassettes adapted to be removed from and replaced in said ADMs.  
     
     
         5 . The system for delivery according to    claim 1   , wherein said access mechanism is adapted to be actuated at a predetermined cell to move a parcel from said predetermined cell to an exposed place accessible for said recipient.  
     
     
         6 . The system for delivery according to    claim 5   , wherein said access mechanism is chosen from a group of devices using pushing, pulling, blowing, suction, vibration, adhesion, inclined planes, springs, etc.  
     
     
         7 . The system for delivery according to    claim 1   , used for delivery of purchased or ordered items from merchants to recipients and further comprising a DAS server program connected to said LAMIS server and providing interface at purchase sites where a purchaser buys or orders said items from a merchant, said interface offering a multiple choice of a suitable ADM as a destination for delivery of said items to said recipient, by accessing said ADM database, information regarding the chosen ADM constituting a part of said SI.  
     
     
         8 . The system for delivery according to    claim 7   , wherein at least one of said purchase sites is an e-site.  
     
     
         9 . A system for delivery of purchased or ordered items as parcels from merchants to recipients, each parcel being associated with shipping information (SI), including: 
 a plurality of Automatic Delivery Machines (ADM) located in public places and, possibly, other convenient for said recipients, each ADM having a local computer and data network connection;    at least one computerized control center using 
 an ADM database with locations of at least part of said ADMs,  
 a DAS server computer program offering to said purchaser a multiple choice of a suitable ADM as a destination for delivery and/or pick-up of said items by said recipient, by accessing said ADM database, information regarding the chosen ADM constituting a part of said SI  
 a LAMIS server computer program for handling data associated with the operation of said system, and adapted to receive said SI and to associate it with a cell in the chosen ADM, and  
 data network connecting the LAMIS server, the DAS server, and the local computers of said ADMs;  
   wherein said local computer of the ADM is adapted to identify said recipient and to provide said recipient with access to said parcel from said cell.    
     
     
         10 . The system for delivery according to    claim 9   , wherein said DAS server bas interface to purchasing sites where said purchaser buys or orders said items, thereby offering the purchaser said choice.  
     
     
         11 . The system for delivery according to    claim 10   , wherein at least one of said purchasing sites is an e-site.  
     
     
         12 . The system for delivery according to    claim 9   , used for early delivery vending of goods [or distributing items] from a merchant to potential recipients, a batch of said goods having been delivered to cells of said ADMs without addressing a particular recipient, wherein said DAS server has interface to e-sites, in particular to e-sites of said merchant, for purchasers to use said e-site interface to choose a suitable ADM for pick-up of said goods [or items] without waiting for delivery.  
     
     
         13 . A container comprising at least one set of cells, each cell having walls and an access opening, and a single door mechanism for each set, said mechanism comprising a number of movable shutters adapted to form a door opening of variable size and position in front of said access openings, thereby providing at a given time access to at least one predetermined cell of said set, while at the same time preventing the access to all other cells of said set.  
     
     
         14 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein said door mechanism is adapted to provide access to a group of adjacent cells of said set of cells.  
     
     
         15 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein the cells of said set are of different dimensions.  
     
     
         16 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein at least some of said set of cells are adapted to change their dimensions.  
     
     
         17 . A container according to    claim 16   , wherein said cells are adapted to change their dimensions by inserting or removing walls thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein said door mechanism includes at least a pair of said movable shutters adapted to move independently along a common path.  
     
     
         19 . A container according to    claim 18   , wherein said door mechanism includes two pairs of shutters movable in close parallel planes, in non-parallel directions.  
     
     
         20 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein at least a part of said shutters are flexible or rollable or foldable shutters.  
     
     
         21 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein at least one of said shutters is flexible and is adapted to move along a path essentially encircling said container.  
     
     
         22 . A container according to    claim 14   , wherein said set of cells are organized in at least one row of cells having one uniform dimension across said row, the cell openings of said row facing one pair of movable shutters.  
     
     
         23 . A container according to    claim 13   , further including a positioning mechanism adapted to move at least part of said cells relative to said door mechanism.  
     
     
         24 . A container according to    claim 23   , wherein said set of cells are organized in at least one carriage, each carriage being adapted to be positioned by said positioning mechanism, with the cell openings facing the movable shutters.  
     
     
         25 . A container according to    claim 13   , wherein at least part of said set of cells are organized in cassettes, adapted to be removed from and replaced in said container through a door opening provided by said door mechanism.  
     
     
         26 . A container according to    claim 13   , further having a service door, wherein at least part of said set of cells are organized in cassettes, adapted to be removed from and replaced in said container through said service door.  
     
     
         27 . A container according to    claim 13   , farther equipped with local control computer and peripheral devices, adapted to identify a person authorized to access one or more cells of said set of cells, and to provide said person with access to said one or more cells.  
     
     
         28 . A container according to    claim 24   , further provided with communication to a remote control center and adapted to identify said authorized person and provide said access after data exchange with said remote control center.  
     
     
         29 . Method of early delivery vending of goods from a merchant to potential purchasers using a system of delivery according to    claim 8   , wherein said DAS server has interface to e-sites, in particular to e-sites of said merchant, including the following steps: 
 disposing a plurality of said ADMs in a plurality of public places;    loading a batch of goods from said merchant in a plurality of ADMs without addressing them to a particular recipient;    offering said goods at the e-site of said merchant or otherwise and encouraging said potential purchasers to pick up said goods from the ADMs without waiting for specific delivery;    enabling said potential purchasers to choose for pick-up a suitable ADM among said plurality of ADMs having said goods, by using said DAS server interface at said e-sites;    upon a potential purchaser actually having chosen said suitable ADM and having made a purchase of said goods, assigning a cell with said goods in said ADM to said purchaser or to another recipient of his choice and providing said recipient with an access code by means of said LAMIS server.    
     
     
         30 . Method of delivery of parcels to recipients, each parcel being associated with shipping information (SI), including the following steps: 
 disposing a plurality of Automatic Delivery Machines (ADM) in a plurality of public places and, possibly, in other places convenient for said recipients, each ADM having a local computer and data network connection, and a plurality of cells for storing parcels;    providing at least one computerized control center using 
 an ADM database with locations of at least part of said ADMs,  
 a LAMIS server computer program for handling data associated with the operation of said system, enabling a multiple choice of an ADM for the delivery of said parcel, by using said ADM database, and  
 data network connecting said LAMIS server and the local computers of said ADMs;  
   inputting, at least indirectly, the SI of said parcel into said LAMIS server, the latter associating said SI with a cell in said or otherwise chosen ADM;    loading said parcel into said cell of the chosen ADM;    providing said recipient with an access code and an address for said ADM;    wherein said local computer of the ADM is adapted to identify said recipient by said access code and to provide said recipient with access to said parcel from said cell.    
     
     
         31 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , wherein said delivery to at least a part of said plurality of ADMs is managed by a dealer, said dealer performing the step of said multiple choice of an ADM by accessing said LAMIS server.  
     
     
         32 . The method of delivery according to    claim 31   , wherein said dealer is a postal service.  
     
     
         33 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , further including the step of inputting said SI directly to the LAMIS server.  
     
     
         34 . The method of delivery according to    claim 33   , wherein said step of inputting the shipping information is performed by either a shipper or a dealer.  
     
     
         35 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , further including the step of inputting said shipping information into said local computer, which is adapted to transfer it to the LAMIS server.  
     
     
         36 . The method of delivery according to    claim 35   , wherein said step of inputting said shipping information is performed either by a loader or by a sender.  
     
     
         37 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , wherein said shipping information includes the location of said chosen ADM.  
     
     
         38 . The method of delivery according to    claim 37   , wherein said shipping information is generated by a sender, who chooses said ADM.  
     
     
         39 . The method of delivery according to    claim 37   , wherein said shipping information is generated by a merchant, with said location of the ADM being chosen by a purchaser when acquiring goods from said merchant.  
     
     
         40 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , used for return of purchased or ordered goods to a merchant, wherein said goods is a parcel, said merchant is a recipient and said SI is attached to said parcel when originally purchased or ordered.  
     
     
         41 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , used for the replacement of items such as cellular phones, where the shipping information is stored in the LAMIS server, as provided beforehand by a replacing company, and said access code is provided to a consumer by said company.  
     
     
         42 . The method of delivery according to    claim 30   , further including the step of providing a DAS server program connected to said LAMIS server, to enable a sender of a parcel to perform said multiple choice when preparing said SI.