GB2409748A - Process to deliver mail to a central locker bank when the recipient is not at the delivery address to receive the mail - Google Patents

Abstract

A process allows mail (1) which was delivered unsuccessfully to a delivery address (3) to be placed in a locker bank (20) and retrieved later by the addressee. A pair of coded labels (4) is provided, one of which having a delivery code (5) is attached to the mail and the other, having a collection code (6) is attached to a card (7) which is left at the delivery address. The delivery code is input into the locker bank which receives the item and opens the locker again when the corresponding collection code is entered by the addressee.

Description

2409748 Locker-bank delivery process This invention relates to processes

for managing deliveries and collections of packages (parcels, letters and the like) to and from automated secure delivery boxes, often arranged in groups known as locker-banks.

Traditionally, items which are required to be delivered to a recipient are packaged and addressed and then passed to a mail or courier organisation which transports them directly to the addressee. This delivery process benefits from an established worldwide infrastructure, and in the majority of cases the item will be successfully delivered to the recipient at their home or business address.

Increasingly however it is found that the intended recipient of the package is not at home when the delivery is attempted, and where the item is too large to pass through the recipient's letterbox, or where proof of receipt is required, the item will typically be returned to a depot of the delivery organization. A card may be left informing the addressee of the arrival of the package, so that the addressee may either go to collect the package from the depot or otherwise may contact the delivery organization to schedule a further delivery attempt. mu . - .: The expansion in recent years of online and home delivery shopping, together. , with economic and social changes which make it less likely that a family member .

will be at home during the working day, have encouraged the recent development ..

of secure delivery lockers as a means of effecting deliveries during normal working hours. A secure delivery locker comprises a secure enclosure with a locking door, and means for enabling the delivery personnel to open the door and deposit the package inside, and thereafter for the recipient to open the door and retrieve the package.

A locker may be located at the recipient's home, in which case the recipient may simply hold a key for unlocking the box. However, the means for ensuring that r only bona fide delivery personnel can gain access to the box, and especially for enabling more than one delivery by more than one delivery organisation to be made to the same addressee while maintaining the security of the item first placed in the box, necessarily require a degree of complexity in managing access to the box by delivery personnel. For this reason as well as the cost and space implications of widespread personal delivery box ownership, secure delivery boxes are often provided at convenient locations where they can be shared by the residents and workers in the neighbourhood. Typically a number of secure delivery boxes are grouped together to form a so-called "locker-bank".

A locker-bank typically comprises a plurality of secure delivery lockers, each with an individual locking door, and means for controlling access to each locker. In the simplest scenario, each locker may be accessed by a mechanical key, one key being held by a single user of the box and the other by the delivery organization.

More sophisticated systems however provide shared lockers, by which is meant lockers which may receive consecutive deliveries, each on behalf of a different recipient, where only the intended recipient of each delivery may access the locker to retrieve his or her package. Desirably, access may also be afforded to the delivery organization in order to retrieve uncollected packages. A shared locker- bank will typically include a local electronic locker-bank controller which ..

manages access to each component locker and communicates with a remote data processing or locker-bank management facility which may manage a large ., . number of similar locker-banks in widely distributed locations. :*

In a typical scenario according to the prior art, a package for delivery to an intended recipient is first addressed and then passed to a delivery organization, which looks up the name and address on the package on a database of registered locker-bank users. During registration to use the locker-bank service, the intended recipient will have indicated the location of their most convenient shared locker bank, which may be for example close to their workplace or preferred shopping location rather than their home address, and the package is marked with a barcoded, radio frequency or other identity label and despatched by van to the designated locker-bank. The label bears a delivery code which uniquely identifies the package, and an identical or corresponding code is transmitted electronically (via a hard wire or wireless link) from the central locker-bank management facility to the local controller at the designated locker-bank. The local controller is then primed to select an empty locker and open the locker door, and then relock it to secure the item inside, when the delivery code assigned to the package is input into a reader on the locker-bank. Depending on the type of identity tag used on the parcel, a barcode reader, keypad, radio frequency scanner, card reader or any other suitable device might be used as the code input device.

At the same time, a collection code is generated by the locker-bank management facility and is transmitted, both to the local locker-bank controller, and to the intended recipient of the parcel, for example by email to the recipient's registered email address or perhaps as a text message to hislher registered mobile telephone number. The local controller is thus primed to open the designated locker when the recipient inputs the collection code so that the package can be removed.

Alternatively, a collection code may be generated either locally by the local controller or centrally by the locker-bank management facility when the package is delivered to the locker-bank, and transmitted to the intended recipient of the . package in the same way. Once the package has been collected the recipient shuts the door of the locker, which can then be used again for another delivery to a. . different recipient.

The abovedescribed delivery process and similar known locker-bank delivery processes offer a convenient means for individuals to take delivery of packages, either in their personal capacity or on behalf of their employer, without needing to wait for the arrival of the person making the delivery, and private individuals, businesses and delivery organizations are increasingly opting to make use of such facilities. However, the registration process remains a barrier to widespread take up of such services, and most people continue to rely on traditional door-to- door delivery processes. Many people are content to accept the occasional, even severe inconvenience of taking perhaps a morning off work to travel to their local delivery depot, which may be located at some distance from their home or workplace, during working hours in order to collect a package which requires proof of delivery or which is too large to fit through the letterbox. Although a local locker-bank may be available, unfamiliarity with the service or uncertainty as to how to go about registering for it, or the complexity of the registration process, will often prevent such potential customers from using it.

Locker-bank services may typically be accessed via the internet, and potential customers may check the location of their local locker-bank and complete the registration process online. However, many people do not enjoy access to the internet, so that the service remains inaccessible to them and an alternative means of convenient registration is required.

A further problem lies in the number of different delivery organizations offering access to locker-bank facilities; a potential customer may have a choice of more than one local locker-bank, each served by a different delivery organization.

Where the customer wishes to order goods from a variety of different suppliers, each using a different delivery organization which in turn offers access to a .: different network of locker-banks, the customer may be required to register for.

two or more alternative locker-bank services in order to collect goods from each.....

supplier. Furthermore, it is usually necessary that the person despatching the package is aware that the intended recipient has access to a locker-bank facility, and routes the package via the corresponding delivery organization. It is desirable .' therefore that both registration and package despatching processes for different locker-bank facilities should be easily accessible to potential customers.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a locker-bank delivery process which is more accessible to potential customers.

According to the present invention there is provided a process whereby a delivery person may deliver an item to a recipient by means of a shared secure delivery locker, the item being addressed to the recipient at a delivery address, the locker including an enclosure, a lockable door, control means for locking and unlocking the door, and at least one code input means located at the locker and cooperating with the control means, there being provided a plurality of delivery codes and a plurality of collection codes, each respective collection code corresponding to one respective delivery code; characterised in that one first said delivery code is associated with the item, and in that there is provided a collection code carrier, and a first collection code corresponding to the first delivery code is physically delivered on the collection code carrier to the delivery address; and further characterised in that the control means locks the door to secure the item in the enclosure when at least any one of the said delivery codes is input into the code input means, such that when the first delivery code is input the item is placed in the enclosure by the delivery person and the door is locked, and in that the control means thereafter unlocks the door again when the first; collection code corresponding to the previously input first delivery code is input into the code input means, so that the recipient can collect the item.

An illustrative embodiment, which is not intended to limit the scope of the, invention, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the.

accompanying Figure, which illustrates a delivery process according to the embodiment described.

Referring to the Figure, in a delivery process according to a first embodiment a package 1 is addressed 2 to a recipient at a delivery address 3 and is despatched via a traditional delivery organisation. The delivery person who delivers packages in the local area takes the package to the recipient's home address 3 and if the recipient is at home, delivers the package. In the scenario illustrated however the recipient is out at work so the delivery person gets no answer.

The delivery person is provided with a sheet 4 of adhesive labels arranged in pairs. Each label bears a barcode, although in alternative embodiments any other coded format might be used, such as radio frequency tags, magnetic strips or even just printed alphanumeric codes which are copied by hand by the delivery person, or even (dispensing with the need for adhesive labels) simply printed onto the carriers 7 as further described below. Each pair comprises a different delivery code 5 and a corresponding collection code 6; the delivery and collection codes of each pair may conveniently be identical, or alternatively may be associated with one another (mathematically, in a database, or in any other way) by the locker bank local controller 22 or by a remote locker- bank management facility 30, as will be further described below.

Instead of returning the package to the delivery depot in the traditional way, the delivery person removes a first delivery code label 5' from the sheet and attaches it to the package 1, and takes the corresponding first collection code label 6' and....

attaches it to a collection code carrier 7. The carrier 7 could be any means.

enabling the delivery person to physically deliver the collection code to the delivery address 3. In the scenario illustrated, the delivery person makes deliveries in a defined local area, so the carrier 7 is conveniently a pre-printed card which: ' carries instructions on how to locate the closest local shared locker-bank, which, happens to be located in a shopping centre. Of course, the delivery person might ..

equally well dispense with the sheet 4 and carry instead a stack of cards 7, each provided with a collection code and a peel-off label bearing the corresponding delivery code.

The instructions read "While you were out your letter [ ] parcel [ ] was delivered to the locker-bank at St. Martins Shopping Centre. To collect it, scan in the barcode and follow the instructions on the screen." A local map showing the shopping centre is printed on the reverse side of the card, together with a telephone number for enquiries. The delivery person posts the card 7 with its attached collection code label 6' through the letterbox of the addressee's house 3 and then takes the package 1 to the local locker-bank 20.

The shared locker-bank 20 comprises a number of secure enclosures 21, each with a locking door controlled by a local electronic controller 22 which is housed in the body of the locker-bank. The controller cooperates with one or more code input devices; in the embodiment shown, these include a barcode scanner 23 and a keypad 24. A screen 25 displays instructions for users collecting and depositing packages. The local conkoller communicates with a remote locker-bank management facility 30 by means of a wireless data transceiver system 31.

The delivery person is provided with a personal identity code which he first keys into the keypad 24 to identify himself as authorised to make deliveries to the....

locker-bank. The personal identity code is stored in a database at the remote.

locker-bank management facility 30, which has previously programmed the local conkoller 22 to recognise the code and to select an empty locker and unlock and .

relock the locker door when the personal identity code (or another recognised. ' personal identity code) is input together with any delivery code 5. me., . 25.

If any of the lockers contains an item which is scheduled for collection, the controller 22 may first advise the delivery person of this via the screen 25, and will open the appropriate locker doors to enable the delivery person to make the necessary collections. The delivery person then inputs the first delivery code 5 (perhaps within a defined time period, after which he is required to re- enter his personal identity code), either by scanning 23 the barcode or by entering it numerically into the keypad 24, and the controller 22 responds by opening the door of an available locker 21. If the locker is too small or is dirty or damaged, the delivery person uses the keypad 24 to select another locker. He then places the package 1 inside the locker and closes the door, which is relocked by the controller to secure the item 1.

The use of a personal identity code in addition to a delivery code helps to avoid misuse of the locker-bank by individuals who attempt to input spurious barcodes and the like in the hope of accessing the lockers. Of course, it is equally possible to arrange for the controller 22 to open a locker to accept an item when any delivery code 5is input on its own, rather than requiring the additional step of a personal identity code.

The local controller associates the first delivery code 5' which the delivery person has entered into the code input device with the individual locker containing the package 1, and is programmed to open the locker again only when the associated collection code 6' is entered into the scanner 23 or keypad 24.

When the addressee returns home 3 she finds the card 7 with the attached first....

collection code 6', and although she has never registered for or used a locker-bank. . service before she follows the instructions on the card and takes the card to the locker-bank 20 the next time she visits the local shopping centre. She follows the .

instructions on the screen 25 and scans in 23 the barcode 6', whereupon the. ' ' ' controller 22 opens the door of the locker 2 1 containing her package 1 and she is. ., able to retrieve it. ; - ' ..

By providing for the local locker-bank controller to open and then relock a locker door to receive and secure an item in response to any delivery code which is input directly at the locker-bank, and thereafter to open that locker door in response to a collection code which is identical to or associated with the delivery code which was input at the locker bank when the package was deposited, it is thus possible for a potential user of the locker-bank facility as well as the person despatching the package to access the facility without ever having registered their details or even being aware of the existence of the facility. The package may thus be despatched and delivered in the traditional way directly to the addressee, and the locker-bank delivery process seamlessly integrated into the traditional delivery process only in the event that it is required. The customer thus enjoys without any additional action both the convenience of home delivery when she is at home and the convenience of the locker-bank facility when she is out.

In the embodiment described, a delivery code is associated with an item only when the delivery to the delivery address is unsuccessfully attempted, so that, if only one percent of deliveries is unsuccessful, only that small percentage of items need be provided with a delivery code. In alternative embodiments however, every item might be provided with a delivery code, either on despatch or at any other convenient point in the delivery process; thus codes used by the delivery organisation in tracking and tracing items might be used as delivery codes in the event that any of the items is not successfully delivered to the delivery address.

Since there is no requirement for any individual delivery code to be.

preprogrammed into the locker-bank, which will accept any individual delivery.

code and only associate it with an item in a locker at the time that the item is deposited, it will be appreciated that the process described not only makes the..

locker-bank delivery facility available to any potential customer of a traditional. '' ' delivery process without any requirement for prior registration, but also enables, the locker-bank facility to operate locally if required in the absence of.

communication with a central management facility. Thus in the event that the data link 31 or hard wire connection is broken, deliveries and collections may proceed as normal under the control of the local lockerbank controller 22.

In the event that a package is not collected by the customer within a defined time period, the local controller or the central management facility 30 may schedule it to be collected by a delivery person so that it can be returned to the sender, and the locker door will then be opened when the delivery person identifies himself.

In a development, means are provided whereby the name and / or the address of the intended recipient of the parcel may be input into the controller 22 (for example, by the delivery person typing these details into the keypad 24) when the item is deposited. This information may then be transmitted 31 to a central database at the locker management facility 30 together with the delivery code and the location of the locker, so that the item can be traced if required. Details of how to trace the item via the internet may be provided to the recipient, for example on the card 7, and / or to the person despatching the item.

A third label or printed code may also be provided on the sheet 4, which may be kept for inputting later into the central locker-bank management computer system to enable the delivered item to be traced. Space may be provided for recording name or address details against the third code. Alternatively, the third code and name and / or address details may be recorded in a portable data capture device carried by the delivery person.

In a further development, the person collecting the item 1 may be required to enter; a signature, for example via a touch screen 25, or other identifying information, when the item is collected. This information may then be transmitted to the central: database 30 so as to provide traceable proof of delivery, enabling the process to be: ' used for registered items and the like. . , It is of course desirable that the controller 22 should distinguish between delivery codes and similar but unrelated barcodes and the like which are not intended to allow access to the locker-bank. The use of a personal identity code as described above helps in this respect. In a further development, each delivery code contains a first, common element, which is shared between a plurality of delivery codes, and a second, individual identifying element which is particular to that individual delivery code. For example, in the embodiment shown, each delivery code on the sheet 4 may include a common header or format; any other element or aspect of the content or form of the code may alternatively be used. So for instance, a common element might be defined as a numerical range, and an individual element as a specific number within that range. Other similar sheets 4, which may be issued to other individuals carrying out deliveries to the locker-bank 20 or to other locker-banks, may contain different common elements.

By programming the local controller 22 to accept certain common elements and to reject others, it is possible to exercise further control over access to the locker- bank. For example, details of the common element identifying each sheet of barcodes or each set of sheets may be stored in the central database 30 together with details of the individual employees to which the sheets have been issued. In the event that one of the sheets is lost, or one of the employees is fired, the local controller 22 may then be programmed remotely by the central management facility 30 to reject delivery codes containing the common element in question, ensuring that only bona fide personnel are able to access the locker-bank by inputting a delivery code containing a recognised common element.

In summary, the illustrated embodiment allows an item which was delivered. . ; unsuccessfully to a delivery address to be placed in a locker-bank and retrieved later by the addressee. A pair of coded labels is provided, one of which (the delivery code) is attached to the item and the other (the collection code) to a card ' ' which is left at the delivery address. The delivery code is input into the locker- , bank which receives the item and opens the locker again when the corresponding; ..

collection code is entered by the addressee. The process may be locally managed and does not require details of the addressee, the delivery code or the item to be preprogrammed into the locker-bank, allowing the process to be integrated into a conventional delivery process and making it accessible to customers who have not registered to use the locker-bank. l

It will readily be appreciated that the invention may be practiced in many different ways within the scope of the claims, and such processes may in practice include many further complicating elements and aspects as known in the art. The described embodiments therefore only represent illustrative and simplified examples of some of the ways in which the process may be implemented. ... : :. 4.. > .

Claims (8)

1. A process whereby a delivery person may deliver an item to a recipient by means of a shared secure delivery locker, the item being addressed to the recipient at a delivery address, the locker including an enclosure, a lockable door, control means for locking and unlocking the door, and at least one code input means located at the locker and cooperating with the control means, there being provided a plurality of delivery codes and a plurality of collection codes, each respective collection code corresponding to one respective delivery code; characterized in that one first said delivery code is associated with the item, and in that there is provided a collection code carrier, and a first collection code corresponding to the first delivery code is physically....

delivered on the collection code carrier to the delivery address; . and further characterized in that the control means locks the door to secure the item in the enclosure when at least any one of the said delivery codes is input into'''' the code input means,. 25.

such that when the first delivery code is input the item is placed in the enclosure by the delivery person and the door is locked, and in that the control means thereafter unlocks the door again when the first collection code corresponding to the previously input first delivery code is input into the code input means, l so that the recipient can collect the item.

2. A process according to claim 1, characterised in that each delivery code S includes a first element and a second element, the first element being common to a plurality of the delivery codes and the second element being individual to each one delivery code, and the control means locks the door to secure the item only when a delivery code containing at least the first element is input into the code input means.

3. A process according to claim 2, characterized in that there are provided data transmission means cooperating with remote programming means, and the control means is programmed via the data transmission means by the remote programming means so as to lock the door in response to delivery codes containing the first element....

and to reject other delivery codes not containing the first element. ,

4. A process according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that there is provided at: least one personal identity code, wherein the personal identity code identifies an individual or organization delivering the item to the locker-bank, and the control means locks the door to secure the item only when both the first delivery code and the personal identity code are input into the code input means.

S. A process according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a plurality of labels are provided, each label carrying a delivery code, and the first delivery code is associated with the item by the delivery person attaching a first label carrying the first delivery code to the item when the corresponding collection code is delivered to the delivery address on the collection code carrier.

6. A process according to any preceding claim, characterized in that means are provided for inputting the name and / or delivery address of the recipient into the control means when the item is placed in the enclosure, and a central database is provided together with means for transmitting the name and / or address to the central database in association with the location of the locker so as to enable the item to be traced if required.

7. A process according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the delivery code and the collection code are identical. ...

8. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the foregoing

description and the accompanying Figure.

8. A process substantially as described herein with reference to the foregoing..

description and the accompanying Figure. ; l 1L

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

AMENDED CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for delivering an article to a customer when the customer is not present at their delivery address to accept an attempted delivery of the article, the apparatus comprising: means for providing pairs of first and second codes on respective carriers, the first carrier of each pair being attachable to the article and the second carrier of the pair being lea-va'ole at tee deli-very address, and a locker-bank comprising a plurality of lockers and control means therefor, the control means being responsive to a first code to select a locker and open it to allow the article to be left therein and responsive to the second code to identify and open the locker and allow removal of the article by the customer.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the first code of each . 1. A. 1. . . poll IlllUUOb a 111 c111111 ally a UIIU IG11111L, the first element being common to a plurality of the first codes and the second element being individual to each one first code, and the control means opens the locker to receive the article only when a first code containing at least the first element is input into the control means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that there are provided data transmission means cooperating with remote programming means, and the control means is programmed via the data transmission means by the remote programming means so as to open the locker in response to first codes containing the first element and to reject other first codes not containing the first element.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that there is provided at least one personal identity code, wherein the personal identity code identifies an individual or organisation delivering the article to the locker-bank, and the control means opens the locker to receive the article only when both a first code and the personal identity code are input into the code input means.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the first carrier of each pair comprises a label, and the label is attachable to the article to associate the first code with the article -when tile co-rfespoildil-lg second code is delivered to the deli-very address or the second carrier.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that means are provided for inputting the name and / or delivery address of the customer into the control means when the article is placed in the locker, and a central database is provided together with means for transmitting the name and / or address to the central database in association with the location of the locker so as to enable the article to be traced if required.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the first code and the corresponding second code of each pair are identical. lie