WO2016012137A1

WO2016012137A1 - Device and method for receiving mail items and for authenticating the device to a deliverer of the mail items

Info

Publication number: WO2016012137A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/062110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin BERTSCH
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-07-22
Filing date: 2015-06-01
Publication date: 2016-01-28
Also published as: DE102014214211A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for receiving mail items. The core of the invention is that the device (1) has an electronic communication unit (10), which is designed to send out authentication data (20). The invention further relates to a method for receiving mail items. The core of the invention is that the method for authenticating a device (1) upon the receipt of at least one mail item sends out authentication data (20) by means of a communication unit (10).

Description

Description title

Apparatus and method for receiving mailpieces and for

Authentication of the device to a mail carrier

State of the art

The invention is based on a device and a method for receiving mailpieces.

Such a device and a method are for example from

Utility Model DE 20 2011 101 134 Ul known. In this document, a mail receiving container is shown, which also has a communication unit. The device and the method serve to authenticate the mail carrier to the device and thus to authorize the device to gain access to the device.

Advantages of the invention

The invention relates to a device for receiving mail pieces. The essence of the invention is that the device has an electronic communication unit which is used to send out

Authentication data is set up. The advantage here is that the device by sending the authentication data against a Postman, for example, a postman or a drone,

can authenticate. In this way, the mail carrier can determine whether the mail recipient agrees with the owner of the device, whereby the mail recipient no longer has to identify himself personally. Thus, parcels or registered mail can also be received if the mail recipient is not present.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the

Communication unit has a memory, wherein the

Communication unit is set up to send the stored in the memory authentication data. The advantage here is that the

Authentication data can be stored in memory. The

Authentication data does not need to be received each time it is sent out. In addition, other data, such as weight information or results of comparisons can be cached in memory.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the communication unit is set up to receive the authentication data and to store it in the memory. It is advantageous here that the authentication data of the device can be made available at any time and thus also the authentication data can be updated if, for example, the owner of the device changes.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the device has a reading device which is adapted to the Read in authentication data and store it in memory. It is advantageous that by reading the authentication data, these can be updated again. So it is possible, for example, the

Read authentication data from an electronic ID card.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the device comprises a weight sensor which is arranged so that a weight of at least one piece of mail contained in the device can be determined. In addition, the communication unit is configured to send out a first acknowledgment signal in the event that the

Weight sensor outputs a measured value deviating from a reference value. It is advantageous in this case that it can be determined by comparing the reference value with the measured value whether at least one postal item in the

Device is present. By sending out the first

Receipt acknowledgment signals it is also possible for the owner of the

To inform the device that he has received a mailpiece. This also makes it possible to inform the postman that the

Device already contains a mailpiece and therefore may already be full. As a result, an unnecessary approach of the postal carrier can be avoided.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the communication unit is adapted to receive a weight information of the at least one mail piece and the received

Compare weight information of the mail piece with a change of the measured value to the reference value. In addition, the communication unit is adapted to send a second acknowledgment signal when the Weight information of the mail piece agrees with the change.

It is advantageous here that by receiving the weight information and the subsequent comparison of the weight information with the change in the measured value to the reference value, the received mail piece can optionally be assigned to an expected mail piece. If the weight information agrees with the detected change, it can be assumed that the mailpiece introduced into the device is the same mail piece from which the weight information was previously received. The owner of the device can then be notified by means of the second acknowledgment signal which mailpiece has arrived. This has the advantage that the owner can respond directly to a highly anticipated mail piece and he does not need to go straight to the device on each mail piece to verify that the much-anticipated mail piece has been delivered.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the communication unit is adapted to carry out a data transmission by radio, in particular by mobile radio and / or by Bluetooth and / or by WLAN, and / or wired, in particular by LAN connection. It is advantageous here that the received and transmitted data or signals can be transmitted to the respective recipient depending on the situation. For example, an owner of the device can be informed on the way by means of his mobile phone about the receipt of a mailpiece. But it is also possible that the owner is informed by means of his home PC, this possibly being done via LAN connection with the device. This in turn has the advantage that the signal can not be manipulated as easily as is the case with a radio transmission. The invention is also based on a method for receiving

Mail pieces. The essence of the invention is that the method for authenticating a device when receiving at least one mail piece emits authentication data by means of a communication unit.

It is advantageous that by sending the

Authentication data the device can authenticate to a mail carrier. The mail recipient does not have to be present in person to identify himself.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention it is provided that the stored in a memory

Authentication data will be sent out. It is advantageous here that the authentication data are present directly in the device and do not need to be retrieved from outside for each process cycle.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention

Method is provided that the authentication data by means of

Communication unit received and optionally subsequently stored in memory. It is advantageous here that the

Authentication data even during operation of the device can be changed or updated. In addition, it is also possible by the reception that the authentication data does not have to be stored, but can be received directly, for example, when needed. This offers the advantage that always the current authentication data can be transmitted. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention

Method is provided that the authentication data by means of

Reading device read and then stored in memory. It is advantageous here that the authentication data can likewise be updated during the operation of the device.

A further, advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that a measured value is detected by means of a weight sensor.

Subsequently, the measured value is compared with a reference value. Then, a first acknowledgment signal is sent out by means of the communication unit, in the event that the output from the weight sensor

Measured value deviates from the reference value. It is advantageous in this case that it can be ascertained by detecting the measured value and the comparison to the reference value whether at least one mail item is located in the apparatus. If this is the case, this can be communicated to the outside by means of the acknowledgment signal.

A further, advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that weight information of at least one mail piece is received by means of the communication unit. Subsequently, the received weight information is compared with a change detected in comparison to the measured value relative to the reference value, and a second acknowledgment signal is sent out in the event that the change coincides with the weight information. The advantage here is that it can be determined by comparing the change in the measured value to the reference value with the received weight information, whether the received mailpiece the ordered mailpiece is or not. The second receipt acknowledgment signal can then be communicated to the owner of the device as to which item of mail has been introduced into the device.

drawings

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive

Contraption.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of an inventive

Contraption.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of an inventive

Contraption.

4 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for authenticating a device according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of an inventive

Method for authenticating a device according to the invention.

6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for authenticating a device according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for authenticating a device according to the invention.

embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive

Contraption. Shown is a device 1 for receiving mail pieces, which has a communication unit 10. The device 1 can be, for example, a mailbox or, as shown here, a parcel box. The communication unit 10 is configured to transmit authentication data 20.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of an inventive

Contraption. The device 1 starts from the device 1 shown in FIG. The communication unit 10 also has a memory 14. In this memory 14 are, inter alia, authentication data 20

stored. Furthermore, the device 1 has a reading device 30 and a weight sensor 40. The reader 30 is connected to the memory 14 of

Communication unit 10 is connected, whereby the authentication data 20 can be read and stored in the memory 14. The reader 30 is, for example, a card reader with which the data of the RFID chip located in the new electronic identity card can be read out. The weight sensor 40 is arranged so that a mailpiece inserted into the device 1 acts on the weight sensor 40 and a

Measured value 43 of the weight sensor 40 influenced. The weight sensor 40 is connected to the communication unit 10 so as to have its measured value 43 of the

Communication unit 10 to provide. The communication unit 10 is configured to transmit authentication data 20. In addition, the communication unit 10 is adapted to a first

Receive acknowledgment signal 42 and a second receipt acknowledgment signal 44 and to receive weight information 41 at least a first mail piece. For receiving and for transmitting the data or signals, the communication unit 10 has both a non-pictorial illustrated receiving unit as well as a non-illustrated

Send unit on. Furthermore, the communication unit 10 has a processing unit (not shown in the drawing) which performs calculations and comparisons and controls processes such as the emission of a signal.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of an inventive

Contraption. In this embodiment, the device 1 in the

Contrary to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, no reader 30 on. Instead, the communication unit 10 is set up to

Receive authentication data 20 and store them. All other features of the device according to FIG. 3 are identical to the device according to FIG. 2.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, which is not illustrated by illustration, the device 1 has neither a reading device 30, nor is the communication unit 10 set up to receive the authentication data 20. In this case, the authentication data 20 must already be stored in the memory 14 before the device 1 is put into operation.

4 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for authenticating a device according to the invention. The method begins with the start S. First, in method step 110

Authentication data 20 by means of a communication unit 10 of

Received device 1 and stored in a method step 111 in a memory 14 of the communication unit 10. Alternatively, the authentication data 20 are read in method step 112 by means of a reading device 30 and stored in a method step 113 in the memory 14. The process steps 110 and 111 or 112 and 113 are followed

Method step 120. In method step 120, weight information 41 of at least one postal item is received by means of the communication unit 10 and likewise stored in the memory 14. This happens as soon as the owner of the device 1 orders a mail piece. Subsequently, in one

Method step 130 stored in the memory 14

Authentication data 20 sent out. The method step 130 is initiated, for example, by the mail delivery service, which wants the device 1 to authenticate itself. This allows the mail carrier to check whether the owner of the device 1 matches the mail recipient. In order to avoid abuse, it is possible for the mail carrier to first perform an authorization to prove that he / she has the

Authentication data 20 may query. Such a way to

Authorization is known, for example, from the utility model document mentioned in the section "state of the art"

Process step 140 detects a measured value 43 of a weight sensor 40.

Between the method step 130 and the method step 140, so much time should elapse that the mail deliverer in the meantime the

Evaluate authentication data 20 and depending on a piece of mail can bring it into the device 1. In a next method step 145, the measured value 43 is compared with a reference value 45. The reference value 45 is a value output by the weight sensor 40, which results when there is no mail piece in the device 1. If the comparison reveals that the measured value 43 coincides with the reference value 45, the process ends with the end E, since this means that no mail piece has been introduced into the device 1 and this is empty. Dodge the Measured value 43, however, starting from the reference value 45, is in another

Step 150, a first receipt acknowledgment signal 42 sent out. The first acknowledgment signal 42 includes the information that a mail piece is in the device 1. After method step 150, a further comparison is carried out in method step 155, if one

Weight information 41 is present from at least one postal item. These

Weight information 41 originates here from method step 120. However, further weight information 41 can also originate from method steps 120 which have already been carried out in earlier method runs. If, on the other hand, there is no weight information 41, then after the first acknowledgment signal 42 has been sent out in method step 150, the method with the end E is ended. When comparing in method step 155, the change .DELTA.Μ of the measured value 43 to the reference value 45 with the

Process step 120 received weight information 41 compared.

If the change .DELTA.Μ differs from the received weight information 41, the change .DELTA.Μ also becomes with all others, from earlier ones

Process runs in the memory 14 located weight information 41 compared. If this weight information 41 likewise differs from the change ΔΜ, the method is terminated without an additional action with the end E. However, if the change ΔΜ and a weight information 41 match, a second acknowledgment signal 44 is sent out in method step 160, and only then is the process terminated with the end E. The second acknowledgment signal 44 includes the information as to which mailpiece was inserted into the device. Subsequently, the method starts again with the start S, whereby the method can be initiated both by the owner of the device and by the mail deliverer. All method steps except step 130 are to be regarded as optional in the method according to the invention. However, it should be noted that some process steps only in connection with other process steps and with a certain order to these

Procedural steps may occur. For example, the

Method steps 111 and 113 only possible if previously the

Authentication data 20 in step 110 received or in

Step 112 were read. Also, it is not necessary each time the procedure is run to re-read or receive the authentication data 20, if this has already been done in an earlier run and in the meantime there are no changes, such as a

Owner change, gave. Furthermore, it is only possible, for example, to perform the method step 155 if a measured value 43 has previously been detected in the method step 140 and a change in the method is made in the method step 145

Measured value 43 has been determined to the reference value 45 and if in addition the weight information 41 at least one piece of mail through the

Method step 120 can be provided before the comparison in step 155. However, it is not necessary for the method step 120 to be carried out in this method run as well. However, only if no new orders have been placed by the owner since the last round of the process and all previous ones

Weight information 41 is already in the memory 14. A method step 140 also only makes sense if the detected measured value 43 is then also used for a further comparison as in method step 145 or 155. The sending and receiving of data and signals by means of

Communication unit 10 is preferably encrypted. In particular, the authentication data 20 are transmitted in encrypted form in order to protect this highly sensitive data of the owner of the device or the recipient of a mail item from unauthorized access.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of an inventive

Method for authenticating a device according to the invention. In this embodiment, first, the weight information 41 in FIG

Process step 120 received. Subsequently, the

Authentication data 20 received in step 110 and then sent back directly in step 130. The method step 111, as shown in FIG. 4, thus disappears. This offers the possibility that the

Authentication data 20 are always up-to-date and can be queried directly by the owner by means of the communication unit 10, for example, before they are sent.

6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for authenticating a device according to the invention. Here, the method steps 140 and 145, in contrast to the embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 5, are already performed for the first time between the start S and the method step 130. If the comparison in method step 145 shows that the measured value 43 and the reference value 45 do not match, the first acknowledgment signal 42 is sent out and then the method is ended. If the measured value 43 and the reference value agree, then is continued after the method step 145 with the method step 130 and then as shown in FIG. 4. This offers the possibility that the postman learns whether the device 1 is already occupied before it begins with the delivery of the mailpiece. If the device 1 is occupied, it can postpone the delivery to a later time, when the device 1 is free again. Thus he can save an unnecessary fuel consumption and time loss.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for authenticating a device according to the invention. The method runs as far as method step 145 as shown in FIG. 4. If the comparison in method step 145 shows that the measured value 43 coincides with the reference value 45, then the method, as in FIG. 4, is terminated without further action. If, on the other hand, a deviation between the reference value 45 and the measured value 43 is determined, it is additionally distinguished whether at least one weight information item 41 is present or not. If this is not the case, the method step 150 is carried out and the first acknowledgment signal

42 sent out. Subsequently, the process is terminated with the end E. However, there is a deviation between the reference value 45 and the measured value

43 before and in addition at least one weight information 41 is present, the method step 155 is performed after the method step 145. In the method step 155, as in FIG. 4, the change ΔΜ in the measured value 43 to the reference value 45 is compared with the weight information 41. If there is no match between the change ΔΜ and the weight information 41, then the method step 150 is carried out and then the process ends with the end E. Will one, however Agreement between the change .DELTA.Μ and the weight information 41 is detected, then both the method step 150 and the method step 160 is performed carried out in parallel and then terminates the process with the end E. This offers the possibility of transmitting the first acknowledgment signal 42 and the second acknowledgment signal 44 simultaneously. In this way, the owner of the device 1 can be informed at the same time both the receipt of a mail piece as well as its identity. In particular, this also offers the possibility of the first acknowledgment signal 42 and the second

Receive acknowledgment signal 44 to combine and only one signal

to send out, which is both the information of the first

Receive acknowledgment signal 42 as well as the information of the second

Receipt acknowledge signal 44 contains. In an alternative, not illustrated embodiment of the

Method, the method step 120 is performed only directly before the comparison in step 155. As a result, the weight information 41 of the at least one mail piece does not have to be temporarily stored in the memory 14, but can also always be called up to date. Another alternative is that the weight information 41 is only interrogated when the

Device 1 by method steps 140 and 145 detects that a mailpiece has been delivered.

Another alternative exemplary embodiment, which is not shown pictorially, provides for the case that in method step 155 it is determined that the change ΔΜ coincides with a weight information 41, this weight information 41 is deleted from the memory 41. This offers the advantage that during the next process run, the change .DELTA.Μ is not compared again with this weight information 41, whereby the computational effort is reduced.

Claims

claims

1. apparatus (1) for receiving mail pieces,

characterized in that

the device (1) has an electronic communication unit (10) which is set up to send out authentication data (20).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Communication unit (10) has a memory (14), wherein the

Communication unit (10) is arranged to be in the memory (14)

stored authentication data (20) to send out.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the

Communication unit (10) is adapted to receive the authentication data (20) and store in the memory (14).

4. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (1) has a reading device (30) which is adapted to the

Read in authentication data (20) and store it in memory (14).

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a weight sensor (40), which is arranged so that a weight of at least one in the device (1) contained mail piece determined is, wherein the communication unit (10) is adapted to send out a first acknowledgment signal (42), in the event that the

Weight sensor (40) outputs a deviating from a reference value (43).

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the

Communication unit (10) is adapted to a weight information (41) of the to receive at least one mail piece and to compare the received weight information (41) of the mail piece with a change (ΔΜ) in the measured value (43) to the reference value (45), the communication unit (10) being adapted to send a second acknowledgment signal (44) when the weight information (41) of the mail piece agrees with the change (ΔΜ).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the communication unit (10) is adapted to carry out a data transmission by radio, in particular by mobile radio and / or by Bluetooth and / or by WLAN, and / or wired, in particular by LAN connection.

8. A method for authenticating a device (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 7, upon receipt of at least one mailpiece

with the process step:

Sending out (130) authentication data (20) by means of a

Communication unit (10).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in a memory (14) stored authentication data (20) are sent out.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized by the following method steps:

Receiving (110) the authentication data (20) by means of

Communication unit (10) and optionally storing (111) of this authentication data (20) in the memory (14), wherein the method steps (111) after the method step (110) and before the method step (130) expires.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized by the following method steps:

Reading (112) the authentication data (20) by means of a reading device (30) and storing (113) this authentication data (20) in the memory (14), wherein the method step (113) proceeds after the method step (112) and before the method step (130).

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by the following process steps:

Detecting (140) a measured value (43) by means of a weight sensor (40), the method step (140) taking place before a method step (145),

Comparing (145) the measured value (43) output by the weight sensor (40) with a reference value (45), wherein the method step (145) after the

Procedural step (140) expires,

Sending out (150) a first acknowledgment signal (42) by means of the communication unit (10) in the event that the measured value (43) output by the weight sensor (40) deviates from a reference value (45), the method step (150) after the method step (145) expires.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized by the following method steps:

Receiving (120) weight information (41) of the at least one

Mail piece by means of the communication unit (10), wherein the method step (120) proceeds prior to a method step (155),

Comparing (155) a change (ΔΜ) of the measured value (43) to the reference value (45) with the received weight information (41), wherein the method step (155) proceeds at the earliest after the method step (120) and the method step (145),

Transmitting (160) a second acknowledgment signal (44) by means of the communication unit (10) when the change (ΔΜ) coincides with the

Weight information (41) of the mail piece, wherein the

Process step (160) after the process step (155) expires.