Methods and apparatus for unattended pickups and deliveries

Abstract

A secure pickup and delivery container includes a lockable door, a control unit, an access element, and an anchoring element, according to an embodiment. The control unit includes a processing element and a memory that can be programmed either on-site or remotely with access privilege information such as identity (e.g. of container, delivery person, etc.), location, date, time, frequency of access, and/or package-specific information. In an embodiment, access privilege information is programmed when an intended recipient of a delivery consummates a point of sale transaction, for example over the Internet or telephone. The access element can be a keypad, a biometric scanner, a card reader, a bar-code reader, and/or a wireless control element to read a programmable token such as a smart card. Delivery personnel can enter access request information into the access element, and if it favorably compares with the access privilege information, the control unit unlocks the door. Notification can be concurrently made via wireline or wireless communications to the intended recipient, who may be situated remote from the secure container. The recipient can optionally return a delivery acknowledgment to the delivery personnel. Details of the delivery transaction can also be recorded electronically on the delivery personnel's token, within the container, or at a remote location.

1 . A token for use with a secure pickup and delivery container having a door, a lock, and an access element, the token comprising: 
 a storage element to store information; and    a housing to house the storage element and to mate with the access element, wherein the housing comprises an interface to pass identity information from the token to the access element and to pass transaction information regarding a completed or attempted access of the container to the token.    
     
     
         2 . The token recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage element comprises electronic memory.  
     
     
         3 . The token recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is card-shaped.  
     
     
         4 . The token recited in  claim 1 , wherein the token is a smart card.  
     
     
         5 . The token recited in  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a computational element coupled to the storage element;    wherein the storage element is to store computer program instructions and the transaction information; and    wherein the computational element can execute one or more computer program instructions, store information in the storage element, and read information from the storage element.    
     
     
         6 . The token recited in  claim 1 , wherein the token comprises a hand-held computer.  
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a secure pickup and delivery container having a door, a lock, a control unit, and an access element, the method comprising: 
 storing first access information in the control unit;    entering second access information into the access element;    evaluating the first and second access information; and    unlocking the door only if the first and second access information match.    
     
     
         8 . The method recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first access information is entered with a user device.  
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first access information is entered with a computer.  
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second access information is entered with a token.  
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 7 , wherein the access element is from the group consisting of a card reader, a keypad, a biometric scanner, a bar-code reader, and a wireless interface element.  
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first access information is from the group consisting of information regarding a package, information regarding the container, information regarding a delivery person, information regarding a token, information regarding a location, date information, time information, and information regarding frequency of delivery.  
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the first access information is generated in part when an item to be delivered to the container is ordered.  
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second access information is from the group consisting of information regarding a package, information regarding the container, information regarding a delivery person, information regarding a token, information regarding a location, date information, time information, and information regarding frequency of delivery.  
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 7 , and further comprising: 
 activating an indicator when the door is unlocked.    
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the indicator is activated by transmitting a signal to a user device using either wireless or wireline communications.  
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 16 , and further comprising: 
 receiving an acknowledgment from the user device in response to its receipt of the signal.    
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 17 , and further comprising: 
 activating an indicator when the door is unlocked.    
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions which when executed cause a computer system to perform operations including:    transmitting first access information from an integral hand-held recipient user device to a memory in a secure pickup and delivery container;    evaluating the first access information with second access information entered into an access element on the container;    unlocking a door on the container if the first and second access information match; and    transmitting a signal to the recipient user device using either wireless or wireline communications.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 19 , wherein, in evaluating, the second access information is entered using a token.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus recited in  claim 19 , wherein, in evaluating, the first access information is selected from the group consisting of information regarding a package, information regarding the container, information regarding a delivery person, information regarding a token, information regarding a location, date information, time information, and information regarding frequency of delivery.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus recited in  claim 19  and further comprising: 
 an interface over which the recipient user device can communicate bidirectionally with the container, the interface being selected from the group consisting of a wireline connection to which the recipient user device can be coupled and a wireless transceiver with which the recipient user device can communicate wirelessly.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus recited in  claim 22 , wherein, in evaluating, the first access information is receivable over the interface from the recipient user device.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus recited in  claim 22 , wherein transaction information is receivable by the recipient user device over the interface.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus recited in  claim 24 , wherein transaction information comprises information selected from the group consisting of information regarding a package, information regarding the container, information regarding a delivery person, information regarding a token, information regarding a location, information regarding a successful access of the container, information regarding an attempted access of the container, date information, and time information.