Method of operating a temperature-controlled delivery box

Abstract

A temperature-controlled delivery appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. The temperature-controlled delivery appliance includes a storage container, an object detection assembly for detecting the items within the storage container, and a controller for implementing a method including receiving a delivery notification of an item to be delivered and using the object detection assembly to determine the available storage capacity within the storage container. If there is insufficient available storage capacity, the method includes providing a notification to a user or delivery agent to deliver to an alternate location or reschedule delivery.

1 . A temperature-controlled delivery appliance comprising:
 a storage container positioned within a cabinet for receiving items for storage;   an object detection assembly positioned within the cabinet for detecting the items within the storage container;   a communication module in operative communication with a mobile device of the user through a remote network; and   a controller operably coupled to the object detection assembly, the controller being configured to:
 receive a delivery notification of an item to be delivered; 
 obtain a required storage capacity of the item being delivered; 
 determine an available storage capacity within the storage container using the object detection assembly; 
 determine that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity; 
 determine that a user is nearby the temperature-controlled delivery appliance by detecting the mobile device using the communication module; 
 provide a reminder to the user to retrieve the items in the storage container to make room for the item to be delivered; and 
 provide a capacity notification in response to determining that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the object detection assembly comprises:
 one or more proximity sensors or optical sensors.   
     
     
         3 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more proximity sensors or optical sensors form a detection grid within the storage container. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the detection grid is configured for detecting a vertical position, a lateral position, and a transverse position of the items within the storage container. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery notification is received from a delivery agent. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery notification is accompanied by the required storage capacity of the item to be delivered. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein providing the capacity notification in response to determining that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity comprises:
 providing an alternate delivery location to a delivery agent.   
     
     
         8 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein providing the capacity notification in response to determining that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity comprises:
 rescheduling delivery with a delivery agent.   
     
     
         9 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user proximity detection device.   
     
     
         10 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is operably coupled to the user proximity detection device and is further configured to:
 determine that a user is nearby the temperature-controlled delivery appliance using the user proximity detection device; and   provide a reminder to the user to retrieve the items in the storage container to make room for the item to be delivered.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that a delivery has occurred; and   provide a user notification that the delivery has occurred.   
     
     
         13 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a climate control system in thermal communication with the storage container for regulating a temperature of the storage container; and   a temperature sensing device for obtaining the temperature of the storage container, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a notification when the temperature of the storage container has reached a target temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The temperature-controlled delivery appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the capacity notification is transmitted through the remote network. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a temperature-controlled delivery appliance, the temperature-controlled delivery appliance comprising a storage container for receiving items for storage, an object detection assembly for detecting the items within the storage container, and a communication module in operative communication with a mobile device of the user through a remote network, the method comprising:
 receiving a delivery notification of an item to be delivered;   obtaining a required storage capacity of the item to be delivered;   determining an available storage capacity within the storage container using the object detection assembly;   determining that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity;   determining that a user is nearby the temperature-controlled delivery appliance by detecting the mobile device using the communication module;   providing a reminder to the user to retrieve the items in the storage container to make room for the item to be delivered; and   providing a capacity notification in response to determining that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the delivery notification is received from a delivery agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the delivery notification is accompanied by the required storage capacity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing the capacity notification in response to determining that the required storage capacity is greater than the available storage capacity comprises:
 providing an alternate delivery location to a delivery agent or rescheduling delivery with the delivery agent.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature-controlled delivery appliance further comprises a user proximity detection device, the method further comprising:
 determining that a user is nearby the temperature-controlled delivery appliance using the user proximity detection device; and   providing a reminder to the user to retrieve the items in the storage container to make room for the item to be delivered.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled)