WO2015044692A1 - Réseau de groupes de casiers et procédé d'utilisation - Google Patents

Réseau de groupes de casiers et procédé d'utilisation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015044692A1
WO2015044692A1 PCT/GB2014/052957 GB2014052957W WO2015044692A1 WO 2015044692 A1 WO2015044692 A1 WO 2015044692A1 GB 2014052957 W GB2014052957 W GB 2014052957W WO 2015044692 A1 WO2015044692 A1 WO 2015044692A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
package
delivery
lockerbank
local computer
compartments
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2014/052957
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dan Turner
Anthony BROODIE
Robin MINTO
Steven Finch
Original Assignee
Bybox Holdings Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bybox Holdings Limited filed Critical Bybox Holdings Limited
Priority to EP14781631.8A priority Critical patent/EP3053113A1/fr
Publication of WO2015044692A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015044692A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/083—Shipping
    • G06Q10/0836—Recipient pick-ups
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/10—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
    • G07F17/12—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
    • G07F17/13—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned the containers being a postal pick-up locker

Definitions

  • This invention relates to lockerbanks used for the delivery and collection of goods.
  • a lockerbank comprises a group of secure compartments, a local computer controlling access to each of the compartments, and a local user interface whereby a user may interact with the local computer so as to obtain access to collect a package (i.e. an article, for example, goods or a letter) from, or, optionally, deposit a package in, one of the compartments.
  • a package i.e. an article, for example, goods or a letter
  • the local computer includes a data link, whereby a group of lockerbanks are linked to a remote computer system to form a network serving a group of customers.
  • Networked lockerbanks may be used for example to provide a "last mile" delivery process for consumer goods ordered by telephone or over the Internet, or to provide overnight delivery of time-critical parts for field service engineers.
  • a customer orders a package from a supplier who offers delivery via the lockerbank network.
  • the supplier liaises with the remote computer system when the order is placed, and the remote computer system generates a standard package ID (i.e. a package ID having a recognised format) and stores it in association with the customer ID in the database.
  • the remote computer system may reserve one of the compartments in the customer's preferred lockerbank to receive the package.
  • the supplier delivers the package to the lockerbank, which recognises the format of the standard package ID and opens a compartment to receive the package.
  • the lockerbank is able to accept authorised deliveries (and conversely, and equally importantly, to reject unauthorised attempts to gain access to an empty
  • the package can be identified by a nonstandard package ID (i.e. a package ID that is not in the recognised format of the standard package ID) which is generated by the supplier or third party delivery organisation rather than by the remote computer system, and which may be in a format which is not recognised by the lockerbank.
  • the remote computer system will transmit the nonstandard package ID to the lockerbank which stores it in the local memory and reserves one of the compartments to receive the package.
  • the lockerbank recognises it as a valid delivery and opens the compartment to receive it.
  • the first mode of operation and its variant therefore provide scheduled deliveries, i.e. deliveries that are notified to the remote computer system at the time of dispatch.
  • customers of a lockerbank network should be able to arrange for goods to be delivered to their preferred lockerbank, even from a supplier that is unfamiliar with the lockerbank network and can only deliver to a conventional street address and/or requires a signature from a human recipient on delivery.
  • a customer is registered to use a network of lockerbanks controlled by a remote computer system, which provides the customer with a customer ID.
  • the customer orders a package from a supplier and provides the supplier with the delivery address of the lockerbank management organisation together with the customer ID.
  • the supplier labels the package with the delivery address including the customer ID, and usually also a tracking number, and delivers the package via a conventional third party delivery service to the lockerbank management organisation, which identifies the customer from the customer ID and redelivers the package to the customer's preferred lockerbank.
  • a package is scheduled for delivery under the first mode of operation in accordance with a defined service level agreement (SLA) - for example, for next day delivery by 08:00 in accordance with a higher priority SLA, or for next day delivery by 20:00 in accordance with a lower priority SLA - it is therefore necessary to reserve a compartment to ensure that the preferred lockerbank does not become unavailable to receive the package because it has been filled with unscheduled deliveries arriving via the second mode of operation. Since reserved lockers cannot be used to accept other deliveries, this disadvantageously reduces the average occupancy rate of the lockerbank (i.e. the average proportion of its compartments which contain a package at any given moment), and also reduces its availability to receive unscheduled deliveries, so that packages delivered via the second mode may be delayed.
  • SLA service level agreement
  • First and second embodiments in accordance with first and second aspects of the invention are directed to a network of lockerbanks for the delivery of packages to a plurality of customers; each lockerbank comprising a plurality of secure delivery compartments, a local computer, and a local user interface in communication with the local computer, the local computer having at least one data link for
  • a method of operating the network of lockerbanks comprises: providing at a first said lockerbank at least one secure overflow compartment; after arrival at the first lockerbank of a package for delivery to a respective one of the customers, making in respect of the package a delivery process determination between a normal delivery process and an overflow delivery process, and carrying out in respect of the package either the normal delivery process or the overflow delivery process in accordance with the delivery process determination; and invoking a collection process to allow collection of the package by the respective customer; wherein in the normal delivery process a first package for delivery to a first customer is received in a vacant one of the delivery compartments; and in the overflow delivery process the first package is received in the overflow compartment, wherein the overflow compartment contains at least one second package for delivery to a second customer; and after receiving the first package in the overflow compartment according to the overflow delivery process, a package transfer process is invoked, wherein in the package transfer process at least one of the first and second packages is removed from the overflow
  • a method of operating the network of lockerbanks comprises: iteratively generating based on expected future deliveries to and collections from the first lockerbank a forecast future occupancy level of a first lockerbank; receiving from a supplier a request for delivery of a first package to a first customer via the first lockerbank in a first future time period; based on the forecast future occupancy level for the first future time period, providing to the supplier an indication as to the availability of the first lockerbank to receive the first package; at a first time of arrival of the first package at the first lockerbank, determining whether any one of the delivery compartments is vacant and suitable to receive the first package, and if any one of the delivery compartments is vacant and suitable, then receiving the first package in the said vacant one of the delivery compartments; and invoking a collection process to allow collection of the first package by the first customer; wherein the said vacant one of the delivery compartments is made available to receive other packages up until the first time of arrival of the first package.
  • Third and fourth embodiments in accordance with third and fourth aspects of the invention are directed to a system including a network of lockerbanks for the delivery of packages to a plurality of customers, and a remote computer system including a database, the database including contact details and a customer ID for each of the plurality of customers.
  • Each lockerbank comprises a plurality of secure compartments, a local computer, and a local user interface in communication with the local computer.
  • the local computer has at least one data link for
  • each package is identified on dispatch by dispatch data and address details; the dispatch data including at least a first dispatch data item associated with a respective one of the customers; the address details indicating a respective one of the commercial premises proximate a respective one of the lockerbanks selected for delivery of the package to the customer.
  • the data output means On delivery of a first said package to the respective commercial premises and responsive to inputting at least the respective first dispatch data item at the data input means of the respective package reception terminal, the data output means is arranged to generate an output identifying the first package, wherein the output includes at least one of a notification and a secondary data item; and responsive to receiving the notification or the secondary data item at the remote computer system or at the local computer of the selected lockerbank, the local computer of the selected lockerbank is arranged to receive the first package in a respective one of the secure compartments when the first package is delivered from the commercial premises to the lockerbank.
  • a method includes selecting for a first said package a respective one of the lockerbanks for delivery of the package to a first one of the customers; identifying the first package on dispatch by dispatch data and address details; the dispatch data including at least a first dispatch data item associated with the first customer; the address details indicating a respective one of the commercial premises proximate the selected lockerbank; delivering the first package to the respective commercial premises and inputting at least the first dispatch data item at the data input means of the respective package reception terminal; responsive to inputting at least the first dispatch data item at the data input means, the data output means generating an output identifying the first package, wherein the output includes at least one of a notification and a secondary data item; delivering the first package from the commercial premises to the selected lockerbank; responsive to receiving the notification or the secondary data item at the remote computer system or at the local computer of the selected lockerbank, receiving the first package on delivery in a respective one of the secure compartments; and invoking in respect of the first package a collection process, wherein the collection process
  • the overflow compartment allows the lockerbank to continue to receive deliveries even where the deliveries are unscheduled and the delivery compartments are full.
  • the average occupancy rate can therefore be increased without compromising the availability of the lockerbank to receive deliveries.
  • forecasting allows lockerbank occupancy to be managed as a stochastic variable so that more deliveries can be scheduled without reducing the availability of the lockerbank to accept unscheduled deliveries.
  • the first and second embodiments can be combined to maximise both availability and average occupancy so that capacity is used with maximum efficiency.
  • lower priority packages can be assigned to the overflow locker, or if placed in a delivery compartment, the collection process can be delayed so that if necessary the delivery compartment can be dynamically re-allocated as an overflow compartment.
  • the lockerbank network is made available to receive unscheduled deliveries via conventional delivery processes, while reducing the distance travelled by each package.
  • the third and fourth embodiments can be combined with either or both of the first and second embodiments to maximise lockerbank availability and occupancy while handling an increased volume of unscheduled deliveries. It will be understood therefore that while each of the foregoing embodiments can be practised alone, they are more advantageously combined for optimal efficiency so as to maximise the occupancy and availability of the network. Further features and advantages will be understood from the following illustrative embodiment in which the features of the foregoing embodiments are combined, and which will now be described purely by way of example and without limitation to the scope of the claims, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a lockerbank network
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a forecast of the future occupancy level of one of the lockerbanks of the network.
  • a "network” means a group whose members are “networked”, i.e. connected to a shared resource such as a remote computer system, by data connections.
  • a “remote” computer system means a computer system that is not wholly embodied in any individual one of the lockerbanks in the network; it may be physically centralised or distributed, e.g. in the cloud.
  • a customer means a user of the lockerbank network, and a supplier means any entity that provides a package for delivery to a customer.
  • a supplier could be for example an etailer or retailer or, in some scenarios, the lockerbank management organisation or another customer.
  • a package ID means a data item that identifies a package
  • a customer ID means a data item that identifies a customer.
  • a package ID and a customer ID are preferably unique to the package and the customer respectively.
  • the customer ID is preferably unique to a respective customer but not unique to a respective package, so that each of a plurality of packages for delivery to a respective one of the customers will be marked with the same customer ID.
  • a customer ID could be in a form (e.g. an alphanumeric code) that does not convey the customer's identity, so that the customer can interact anonymously with the supplier, or alternatively could include or consist of, for example, an email address or mobile telephone number or even the customer's name and address.
  • a package ID can be in any convenient form, e.g. printed as a barcode, an alphanumeric string or other indicium on a package label, encoded on an electronic tag, or even recorded on a separate medium or device accompanying the package.
  • a standard package ID means a package ID having a predefined format common to a plurality of package IDs, each uniquely identifying a respective one of a group of packages.
  • a standard package ID can be recognised and validated by its predefined format, which may comprise for example a common constituent part or an overall characteristic of a barcode.
  • a nonstandard package ID means a package ID that does not have a predefined common format recognisable by the local computer or remote computer system.
  • a nonstandard package ID could be for example a tracking number assigned to a package by a third party supplier or delivery organisation.
  • a personnel ID means a data item that identifies a person or organisation, particularly a delivery person or delivery organisation. It could be a smart card, a barcode, a biometric identifier, or the like.
  • a package reception terminal is a networked or stand-alone processing device with data input and output means.
  • a commercial premises means a premises of an organisation independent of the lockerbank management organisation. The commercial premises could be a local shop, a petrol filling station, or any other premises independent of the lockerbank management organisation where staff are available to receive deliveries. Referring to Fig. 1, a package delivery system includes a network 1 of
  • lockerbanks 10 operated by a lockerbank management organisation 6 for the delivery of packages 2 to a plurality of customers 3.
  • Each lockerbank 10 comprises a plurality of secure delivery compartments 11, a local computer 15, and a local user interface 20 in communication with the local computer.
  • Each delivery compartment 11 has a door 12 with an electrically controlled lock.
  • the local computer controls the operation of the locks and hence controls access to each of the delivery compartments 1 1.
  • the local user interface 20 includes a touchscreen or conventional display screen 21, a keypad 22, a barcode scanner, a card reader, a short range scanning or other wireless data communication means, a biometric scanner, and other
  • the local computer 15 has a local memory 16 and at least one data link 17 for communicating with a remote computer system 40.
  • the data link is via the Internet 4, but it could be for example a dedicated, hardwired or wireless network connection.
  • the remote computer system 40 includes a database 41 containing contact details 42 (e.g. a mobile phone number or email address) and a customer ID 43 for each of the customers 3.
  • the local computer is arranged to store all of the data required to operate autonomously for a sufficient period of time that it can continue to accept deliveries and allow collections in the event of a communications failure. All of the steps including the transmission of data relating to an event such as the delivery or collection of a package are thus performed asynchronously.
  • the data communication means of the local user interface may include means for transmitting (downloading) to and receiving (uploading) from a portable handheld data storage and processing device 30 carried by delivery personnel, which typically comprises a power pack, a keypad, a touchscreen or display screen, a barcode scanner, a short range scanning or other wireless data communication means, a memory, a biometric scanner, and/or other features as well known in the art.
  • a portable handheld data storage and processing device 30 carried by delivery personnel, which typically comprises a power pack, a keypad, a touchscreen or display screen, a barcode scanner, a short range scanning or other wireless data communication means, a memory, a biometric scanner, and/or other features as well known in the art.
  • communications between the delivery person 7 and the local user interface 20 may be via the handheld device 30.
  • the data communication means of the local user interface 20 may also include means for transmitting or receiving data from a handheld device of a customer, such as a mobile phone 93, so that the customer can interact with the local computer using their mobile phone, for example, to enter a collection code so as to collect a package.
  • the system also includes a plurality of package reception terminals 50, each of which is located at a respective commercial premises 60 proximate (i.e. within a convenient distance of) a respective one of the lockerbanks.
  • the network will include at least twenty lockerbanks, more preferably at least fifty lockerbanks, each lockerbank having a respective package reception terminal associated with that lockerbank and located at a respective commercial premises proximate the respective lockerbank.
  • each respective commercial premises will be within about 1km, more preferably within about 250m of the respective
  • Each package reception terminal comprises a fixed module including a data input means 51, which in the illustrated embodiment includes a touchscreen 52, a keypad 53 and a barcode scanner 54, a data output means 55 which may include a label printer 56, and preferably also a data connection 57.
  • a data input means 51 which in the illustrated embodiment includes a touchscreen 52, a keypad 53 and a barcode scanner 54
  • a data output means 55 which may include a label printer 56, and preferably also a data connection 57.
  • the data connection 57 is arranged to communicate via the Internet 4 with the remote computer system 40, and if necessary, via the remote computer system 40 and data link 17 with the local computer 15 of the respective one of the lockerbanks 10. In alternative embodiments, it may be more convenient for the data connection 57 to communicate instead directly (e.g. via a hard wire or short range wireless link) with the local computer 15 of the respective lockerbank 10, and optionally via the local computer 15 and data link 17 with the remote computer system 40.
  • the remote computer system 40 (or, alternatively, the local computer 15) iteratively generates based on expected future deliveries to and collections from each lockerbank 10 a forecast future occupancy level of the lockerbank, illustrated in Fig. 2 as a line 80 representing the estimated proportion P (as a percentage) of the total number of delivery compartments 1 1 of the respective lockerbank 10 which are expected to contain a package at any given point in time T.
  • the forecast is continuously updated by real time data indicating deliveries and collections that have taken place at the lockerbank, as well as advance
  • requests may comprise requests to facilitate a delivery, e.g. by providing a package ID 64 for the respective delivery, or by providing a block of delivery address information which a customer can copy and paste into a supplier's website when ordering goods online.
  • a probability factor can be assigned to each piece of information.
  • the forecast is based on a stochastic analysis of all the available data, and may be refined over time by identifying patterns of customer collections, supplier deliveries, or other trends in the data and building those into the forecasting process.
  • the remote computer system 40 When a request 81 is received from a supplier 5 to facilitate the delivery of a package 2 to a customer 3 via a lockerbank 10 in a first future time period Tl, the remote computer system 40 provides to the supplier 5, based on the forecast future occupancy level 80 for the first future time period Tl, an indication 82 (embodied in a data transmission to the supplier's computer) as to the availability of the lockerbank to receive the package.
  • the indication could be a positive or negative indication of availability (dispatch / do not dispatch), with a negative indication triggered for example by a threshold occupancy level (say, above 97% or 98%).
  • a threshold occupancy level say, above 97% or 98%).
  • it could be an indication of the probablity that the lockerbank will be available to receive the delivery; in the latter case, the supplier may decide whether to dispatch or not dispatch the package to that lockerbank, based on what level of probability (hence what risk of a failed or delayed delivery) is acceptable to the supplier or its customer.
  • the local computer 15 determines whether any one of the delivery compartments 1 1 is vacant and suitable (e.g. by virtue of its size and position - some customers may require a more accessible locker, for example, at a lower height to suit wheelchair users) to receive the package. If any one of the delivery compartments 1 1 is vacant and suitable, then the package 2 is received in the vacant compartment 1 1.
  • the local computer 15 is also arranged to invoke a collection process to allow collection of the package by the respective customer to whom it is addressed. Preferably, the collection process is invoked responsive to receiving the respective package 2 in the delivery compartment 11, e.g. responsive to locking the door of the delivery compartment containing the package 2.
  • the respective vacant compartment 11 in which the respective package 2 is deposited is made available to receive other packages 2 up until the time of arrival of that package, e.g. by setting a data flag in the memory of the local computer indicating that the compartment is available, or by listing the respective compartment in a list of available compartments in the local memory.
  • the determination as to whether any one of the delivery compartments 11 is vacant and suitable to receive the package may be made at the time of arrival of the package at the lockerbank, or alternatively at any time after inputting the first dispatch data item at the data input means of the respective package reception terminal and before receiving the first package in the respective one of the secure compartments.
  • the determination could be made at the time of arrival of the package at the package reception terminal, in which case, if the package is urgent, then the respective vacant compartment 1 1 can be reserved until the package 2 arrives at the lockerbank.
  • the supplier may have shipped a package following a positive indication of the availability of the lockerbank to receive it, there is uncertainty as to the exact time of dispatch and the exact time of arrival of the package, and when averaged over a large volume of packages, this uncertainty can be expressed as a high probability that a certain proportion of expected deliveries will be cancelled or delayed.
  • the capacity of the lockerbank is disadvantageously reduced because a certain proportion of its compartments 1 1 will always be empty waiting for delayed or cancelled deliveries.
  • a supplier may still opt to reserve a particular delivery compartment 11 where a particular package 2 is of sufficiently high priority, or the local computer or remote computer system may reserve a delivery compartment where an expected package (for example, a package that has just arrived at a respective package reception terminal 50) is due for urgent collection.
  • Each of the packages 2 is dispatched by one of a plurality of suppliers 5 for delivery to a respective one of the customers 3.
  • Packages may be generated and dispatched in any of a variety of ways as known in the art, including as scheduled deliveries in accordance with the known first mode of operation and the variant of the known first mode of operation, and unscheduled deliveries in accordance with the known second mode of operation, as set out above.
  • a delivery may be scheduled by the customer 3 visiting a website of the supplier 5 which provides a link to a website operated by the remote computer system 40 of the lockerbank management organisation 6.
  • the customer may simply provide their customer ID 43 to the supplier, together with address details 61 indicating the respective commercial premises 60 proximate the customer's preferred lockerbank 10.
  • the lockerbank 10 may be selected to receive the delivery at the time of ordering the package, or in advance, for example when the customer registers to use the service.
  • a list of convenient lockerbanks may be stored in the database 41 so that the customer can select the preferred lockerbank from the list.
  • each package 2 is identified on dispatch with the address details 61 and dispatch data 62.
  • the address details 61 will generally comprise the street address of the respective commercial premises 60, which is printed on a label affixed to the package.
  • the dispatch data 62 includes at least a first dispatch data item 63 which is associated with the respective one of the customers 3.
  • the dispatch data will also include a package ID 64.
  • the dispatch data item 63 could be the respective customer ID 43 of the customer to whom the package is to be delivered.
  • the dispatch data 62 will usually (but not necessarily) include a nonstandard package ID 64 generated by the supplier or third party delivery organisation which will not be notified at the time of dispatch and so will not be stored in the database 41.
  • the dispatch data item 63 could be the package ID 64 which is stored in the database 41 in association with the customer ID 43 of the customer 3 to whom the package is to be delivered.
  • the package ID 64 will be a standard package ID, typically generated by the remote computer system 40 at the time of dispatch of the package.
  • the package ID 64 will be a nonstandard package ID, e.g. a tracking number generated by the supplier or third party delivery organisation.
  • the nonstandard package ID 64 may be communicated to the remote computer system 40 together with an identification of the customer 3 in a data transmission from the supplier 5 or third party delivery organisation at the time of dispatching the package, or alternatively on arrival of the package at a staffed depot of the lockerbank management organisation 6.
  • the nonstandard package ID 64, or alternatively, a validation code 64' generated by the remote computer system and corresponding to the nonstandard package ID 64 is then transmitted by the remote computer system to the local computer 15 of the selected lockerbank, which stores it in the local memory 16.
  • the lockerbank network can receive packages in many different modes of operation, including by way of example those described above, each package being uniquely identified by a respective package ID, and so in practice deliveries may include at least a first group 2' of packages 2 having standard package IDs 64, and a second group 2" of packages 2 having nonstandard package IDs 64 which are stored in the local memory 16.
  • the package 2 may be delivered by the delivery person 7 directly to the lockerbank.
  • the second mode of operation offers the possibility to deliver the package directly in the conventional way to the commercial premises 60, where the conventional delivery process ends.
  • the only special requirement is that the dispatch data 62 includes a dispatch data item 63 which identifies the customer 3.
  • the customer will simply communicate their customer ID 43 to the supplier 5 as part of the delivery address information including the address details 61, for example, verbally over the telephone or by entering it into an order form on the supplier's website.
  • the supplier simply marks the delivery address information on the package, including the address details 61 and the dispatch data item 63 comprising the customer ID 43.
  • the supplier will also mark the package with a nonstandard package ID 64 which allows the supplier to track the delivery but which is not recorded in the database 41 of the remote computer system and so will not convey any information to the lockerbank management organisation.
  • the lockerbank management organisation may thus be unaware of the existence of the package.
  • the staff 66 at the premises input the dispatch data item 63 comprising the customer ID 43, together with the nonstandard package ID 64 if any, at the data input means 51 of the respective package reception terminal 50, conveniently by scanning a barcode on the package and/or entering the customer ID 43 via the keypad.
  • the data output means 55 When the package reception terminal 50 receives the dispatch data item 63, the data output means 55 generates an output 65 which identifies the package 2.
  • the output includes at least one of a notification 65' and a secondary data item 65", and optionally both.
  • the identity of the customer is not already stored in the database 41 in association with the package ID 64, it is preferably included in the output so that either the secondary data item or the notification identifies the customer.
  • the notification could comprise the customer ID 43 (from the dispatch data item 63) together with the nonstandard package ID 64 applied by the supplier, which are transmitted to the remote computer system 40 so that the package can be recognised on delivery to the lockerbank and the collection code 70 can be sent to the correct customer 3 when the collection process is invoked as further explained below.
  • the secondary data item 65" may comprise a new, standard package ID 64 uniquely identifying the package, which is assigned to the package responsive to inputting the dispatch data item 63 at the package reception terminal.
  • the standard package ID 64 can be generated by the package reception terminal 50, or alternatively may be generated at the local computer 15 or the remote computer system 40 and sent to the package reception terminal via the data connection 57.
  • the notification 65' preferably identifies the package and/or the customer and may be transmitted to the local computer or remote computer system, which may respond by generating the standard package ID 64 and sending it to the package reception terminal 50.
  • a list of standard package IDs could be generated in advance and transmitted to the package reception terminal which assigns the new package on arrival the next standard package ID on the list.
  • the first package ID 64 can be generated and/or assigned to the first package by software 58 at the package reception terminal, wherein the software is controlled by the remote computer system or the local computer, so that the package reception terminal is controlled by the lockerbank management organisation (although located on third party premises) but is able to operate asynchronously in the event of a communications failure.
  • the lockerbank management organisation although located on third party premises
  • the secondary data item 65" and/or the standard package ID 64 can also include the customer ID 43, or the identity of the customer can be transmitted later in the notification 65' from the package reception terminal to the local computer or the remote computer system in association with the identity of the package, e.g.
  • the notification 65' or secondary data item 65" could include or consist of a validation code 64' corresponding to the standard or nonstandard package ID 64.
  • a validation code 64' could be derived by a mathematical function from the package ID 64, or vice versa, so that one code can be validated by the other.
  • the customer when ordering goods from a supplier, the customer can visit a website of the lockerbank management organisation, identify themselves and enter a customer personal identification number (PIN) 71 or the like to verify their indentity, and request a delivery.
  • the remote computer system 40 generates a dispatch data item 63 comprising a standard package ID 64, which is recorded in the database 41 in association with the customer's customer ID 43 so that it uniquely indentifies, not only the package, but also the customer.
  • the customer selects a preferred lockerbank from their list of local lockerbanks, and the website presents the customer with a block of delivery address information including the dispatch data item 63 comprising the standard package ID 64 together with the address details 61.
  • the customer copies the block of delivery address information into an order form on the supplier's website.
  • the suppliers labels the package with the delivery address information and delivers it to the respective commercial premises 60 where the dispatch data item 63 is entered at the data input means 51.
  • the data output means 55 when the package reception terminal 50 receives the dispatch data item 63, the data output means 55 generates an output 65 which identifies the package 2, wherein the output includes at least one of a notification 65' for transmission via the data connection 57 to the local computer or remote computer system, and a secondary data item 65".
  • the notification or secondary data item may include or consist of a copy of the standard package ID 64 that the customer provided to the supplier when ordering the goods, and which identifies both the package 2 and also (by its association in the database 41 with the customer ID 43) the customer 3.
  • the package reception terminal When the package reception terminal generates the second data item, it may be arranged to record the secondary data item 65" as an indicium 67 on the package or, via label printer 56, on a label 68 for attachment to the package.
  • the package reception terminal may transmit the secondary data item 65" or the notification 65' via the data connection 57 to the local computer or the remote computer system.
  • a data flag or a data item corresponding to the package can then be stored in the local memory of the selected lockerbank, which is referenced or updated on delivery of the package to the lockerbank.
  • This transmission enables the remote computer system to include details of the package in the data used to generate a forecast future occupancy level of the selected lockerbank, and optionally (if the package is of high priority) to reserve a compartment to receive it, and/or to modify the delivery process determination or collection process determination of other packages delivered to the lockerbank in accordance with the forecast future occupancy level and the relative priority level of the new package, as further explained below.
  • the local computer may be arranged (e.g. automatically or responsive to an instruction from the remote computer system) to store in the local memory 16, either the nonstandard package ID 64 or a validation code 64' corresponding to it.
  • a validation code 64' can be generated for example at the package reception terminal and included in the notification 65', or generated at the remote computer system or local computer responsive to receiving the package ID 64.
  • the local computer of the selected lockerbank is arranged to validate the nonstandard package ID when it is inputted via the local user interface and so to receive the first package in a respective one of the secure compartments when the first package is delivered from the commercial premises to the lockerbank, and (preferably, responsive to receiving the notification or the secondary data item at the remote computer system or at the local computer of the selected lockerbank, and after receiving the package in the respective compartment 11) to invoke a collection process to allow collection of the first package by the respective customer, as further explained below.
  • the staff 66 of the commercial premises 60 (or staff of the lockerbank management organisation, or a delivery' person 7, or any other convenient personnel) will deliver the package the short final distance to the selected lockerbank 10.
  • the secondary data item 65" will be received at the local computer when the standard package ID 64 on the package label is scanned at the local user interface 20. Responsive to receiving the secondary data item 65 " at the local computer, the package is then received in a respective one of the secure compartments, and the collection process is preferably also invoked, as further explained below. It will be understood from the foregoing description that irrespective of the mode of operation, the package 2 will usually bear at least one standard or nonstandard package ID 64. On arrival of the package at the lockerbank, the delivery person 7 will input the respective package ID 64 (e.g.
  • the package ID 64 is then validated by the local computer in one of two alternative validation modes. In the first validation mode, if the package has a standard package ID, then the local computer recognises the predefined format. If the package has a nonstandard package ID then the local computer 15 initiates the second validation mode, in which the nonstandard package ID 64 is compared with the corresponding package ID or validation code stored in the local memory 16 and validated if it corresponds.
  • the local computer may be arranged to accept the delivery in a third validation mode in which the delivery person 7 (or other personnel delivering the package) inputs a personnel ID 8 via the local user interface 20.
  • the local memory 16 contains a list of personnel IDs 8 (or personnel validation codes corresponding to the personnel IDs), each personnel ID being unique to a verified individual or organisation carrying out deliveries to the lockerbank network.
  • the local computer compares the inputted personnel ID 8 with the list and validates the delivery if there is a correspondence.
  • the identity of the customer 3 to whom it is to be delivered can be input at the time of delivery or can be transmitted later from the delivery organisation to the remote computer system 40.
  • a package with a nonstandard package ID 64 that has been notified to the remote computer system 40 can be delivered even when the local computer 15 has not received the package ID 64 or corresponding validation code due to a communications failure, as long as the identity of the delivery person 7 has previously been verified.
  • the local computer 15 After successfully validating a package ID or personnel ID in one of the first, second or third validation modes, the local computer 15 makes a delivery process determination between a normal delivery process and an overflow delivery process, and carries out in respect of the package 2 either the normal delivery process or the overflow delivery process in accordance with the delivery process determination.
  • the local computer 15 also invokes a collection process to allow collection of the package by the customer, as further described below.
  • the package 2 is received in a vacant one of the delivery compartments 1 1 and a data record of the package is associated in the local memory with the compartment which contains it.
  • the collection process is then invoked in respect of that package.
  • the package 2 is received instead in an overflow compartment 1 ⁇ , each package in the overflow compartment similarly having a data record which is associated in the local memory with the overflow
  • the overflow compartment 1 1 ' is one of the delivery compartments 1 1 which is controlled and allocated as necessary for use as an overflow compartment by the local computer in accordance with the volume of packages received and expected to be received at any given time; in this way, any number of the delivery compartments 1 1 can be allocated for use as overflow compartments and then re-allocated as delivery compartments, as the demand requires.
  • the overflow compartment 11 ' is distinguished from the remaining delivery compartments 11 in that it contains at least one second package 2 for delivery to a second customer 3. In this way, during periods of high demand, many packages for many different customers may be stored in a single large compartment so that the lockerbank can continue to receive deliveries. This is particularly useful where, as described above, suppliers are provided with a positive indication as to availability based on stochastic forecasting but the delivery compartments are not routinely reserved for particular packages, because it ensures that the lockerbank 10 can continue to accept packages even if the occupancy level 80 exceeds 100%.
  • a package transfer process is invoked, wherein at least one of the packages 2 in the overflow compartment 1 1 ' is removed from the overflow compartment and replaced in a vacant one of the delivery compartments 1 1.
  • the package transfer process can be initiated by the local computer, responsive to an input by a delivery person (e.g. when the delivery person logs on to the local computer or delivers a package), by displaying via the local user interface an instruction to the delivery person to remove the respective package from the overflow compartment and replace it in the new delivery compartment.
  • the local computer unlocks the overflow compartment 1 1 ' as well as the new compartment 1 1, and then re-locks the new compartment 11 after the package has been deposited in it and the door closed by the delivery person carrying out the package transfer process.
  • the local computer may be arranged to unlock the new compartment 1 1 when initiating the package transfer process, or responsive to receiving the package ID of the transferred package (input for the first time when the package was delivered) for a second time via the local user interface, when the delivery person removes it from the overflow compartment and re-scans it.
  • the local computer also updates the local memory to dissociate a data record of the replaced package in the local memory from the overflow compartment and re- associate the data record of the replaced package with its new delivery
  • the collection process is then invoked in respect of at least the said replaced package.
  • the delivery process determination in respect of each package is based at least in part on the forecast future occupancy level in respect of a future time period prior to the target delivery time of that package.
  • a first package delivered at 08:00 on a given day may have a domestic SLA whereby delivery is guaranteed by 20:00 on the same day.
  • the lockerbank may be forecast to be full or nearly full with packages from 10:00 to 17:00 on that particular day, including packages on a commercial SLA which are guaranteed to be delivered by 17:00 that day.
  • the first package may be delivered in accordance with the overflow delivery process. After 17:00, when most of the commercial SLA packages have been collected by their respective addressees and the occupancy rate has reduced, the package transfer process is invoked and the first package is moved to an available delivery compartment in time for the 20:00 deadline.
  • Each package may have an indicator comprising an indication of the SLA status or target delivery time T2, T3 of the package, e.g.
  • the local computer may make the determination of the delivery process for each package based on the said indicator as well as the forecast future occupancy level and/or a time indication from a clock of the local computer or remote computer system.
  • the package transfer process is initiated by the local computer 15 when a delivery person 7 arrives at the lockerbank with a new package for delivery. If at that time there is an available delivery compartment 11 to receive the transferred package, then the local computer 15 opens the overflow
  • the delivery person is prompted (e.g. via the screen 21) to remove one of the packages 2 from the overflow compartment, scan or otherwise input at the local user interface its package ID 64, and then replace it in the vacant delivery compartment 1 1 and close both doors 12 which are then re-locked by the local computer.
  • the overflow compartment can be re-allocated as a delivery compartment 1 1 and the collection process can be invoked in respect of both of the packages. If there were more than two packages in the overflow compartment, then the package transfer process is repeated in respect of the remaining packages until each package is contained in a respective delivery compartment 1 1 and the collection process has been invoked in respect of each of them.
  • the delivery process determination could be made before the package is delivered to the lockerbank, when the package reception terminal generates the output 65, at which time, if the package 2 is urgent, a delivery compartment (which was previously made available to receive any delivery) could be reserved to receive the urgent package.
  • the small advance warning provided by the notification 65' from the package reception terminal may significantly increase the probability that an urgent package can be received directly in a delivery compartment 1 1 in accordance with the normal delivery process and the collection process can be invoked immediately on arrival of the package 2 at the lockerbank 10.
  • each package will be associated with a respective target delivery time T2, T3, corresponding to its SLA.
  • a collection process determination may be made between invoking the collection process and delaying the collection process, based at least in part on the target delivery time of the respective package. The collection process is then preferably either invoked immediately or delayed in accordance with the collection process determination.
  • the collection process determination in respect of each package may be based at least in part on the forecast future occupancy level in respect of a future time period prior to the target delivery time of that package.
  • the first package may be received in a vacant delivery compartment 1 1, but the collection process delayed. If the actual occupancy level remains below 100% then the collection process for the first package can be initiated after the forecast peak occupancy period has passed. However, if the actual occupancy level reaches 100% and a second package arrives for which there is no vacant delivery compartment 1 1 , then the delivery compartment 1 1 containing the first package 2 can be re-allocated by the local computer 15 for use as an overflow compartment 1 1 ' to receive the second package, and, optionally, any further packages as necessary.
  • a list can be updated or a data flag can be set in the local memory by the local computer to indicate that the status of the respective delivery compartment 1 1 has been changed to an overflow
  • compartment 11 ' Once the occupancy level reduces, the package transfer process is invoked by the local computer 15, followed by the collection process in respect of the first and second packages.
  • the list can be updated again or the data flag reset by the local computer once the overflow compartment has been emptied of all but one package to indicate that the status of the compartment has been changed to an ordinary delivery compartment 11 so that the collection process can then be invoked for that compartment.
  • any data that needs to be transmitted between the local computer 15 and the remote computer system 40 may be downloaded to or uploaded from a handheld device 30 carried by the delivery personnel, which transfers it to or from the remote computer system 40.
  • data communications between the local computer 15 and the remote computer system 40 may be facilitated via multiple parallel routes.
  • the remote computer system 40 retrieves the customer contact details 42 from the database 41 and sends to the respective customer 3 in accordance with their contact details (e.g. an an email or as a text message to their mobile phone) an indication 90 to collect the respective package 2 from the lockerbank 10.
  • the indication 90 includes a collection code 70
  • the local computer 15 provides access to the respective delivery compartment 11 to allow collection of the respective package 2 when the collection code 70 is entered by the customer via the local user interface 20, optionally in combination with a customer PIN 71.
  • communication 92 between the customer and the local user interface 20 may be via the customer's mobile device, e.g. mobile phone 93.
  • the collection code 70 for each package may be selected from a first, lower security collection code which is derivable by means of an algorithm from the package ID 64, and a second, higher security collection code (for example, a pseudorandom collection code) which is not derivable from the package ID 64.
  • a first, lower security collection code which is derivable by means of an algorithm from the package ID 64
  • a second, higher security collection code for example, a pseudorandom collection code
  • the second, higher security collection code may be generated by the local computer 15 and assigned to the package when the collection process is invoked, in which case it must be communicated from the local computer 15 to the remote computer system 40 which includes it in the indication 90 to the customer.
  • the remote computer system 40 may then send an instruction to the local computer 15 to disable the first collection code. Therefore, when the lockerbank 10 is in functional communication with the remote computer system 40, the second, higher security collection code is used, wherein the local computer 15 is arranged to provide access to the respective delivery compartment 1 1 to allow collection of the respective package 2, responsive to receiving at least the second collection code at the local user interface, but not to provide access to the respective delivery compartment 1 1 to allow collection of the respective package 2, responsive to receiving the first collection code at the local user interface.
  • the indication 90 may be generated and sent to the customer 3 with the first collection code.
  • the local computer is arranged to provide access to the customer to collect the package 2 from the respective compartment, responsive to entering at least the first collection code at the local user interface, wherein the first collection code is validated by comparing it with the package ID 64 inputted via the local user interface when the package 2 was delivered or transferred to the respective delivery compartment 1 1.
  • a preferred embodiment provides a network of lockerbanks 10 controlled by a remote computer system 40.
  • a network of package reception terminals 50 are located at third party commercial premises 60 close to each of the lockerbanks.
  • a package 2 is identified by the customer ID 43 of the addressee customer 3 and delivered to the commercial premises 60 proximate the customer's preferred lockerbank 10.
  • the terminal When the customer ID is input at the package reception terminal 50, the terminal re-labels the package with a new package ID 64 in a standard format, or transmits a notification 65' to the remote computer system or lockerbank, whereby the package is recognised and received in a delivery compartment 1 1 on arrival at the lockerbank.
  • the package 2 may be received with other packages 2 in an overflow compartment 11 ' and then transferred later to a delivery compartment 1 1 for collection by the customer 3.
  • deliveries may be authorised and/or allocated to a delivery compartment 1 1 or an overflow compartment 11 ' based on the target delivery time of the package 2 and the forecast future occupancy level 80 of the lockerbank 10, wherein the delivery compartments 1 1 are made available to receive other deliveries until the arrival of each respective package 2.
  • the aforementioned aspects may be combined to facilitate interoperability with third party delivery systems while optimising the average occupancy and availability of the network.
  • a default collection process determination and/or delivery process determination could be made in respect of all packages (rather than in respect of each individual package) based on the predicted occupancy of the lockerbank, until the predicted occupancy reaches a threshold level, at which point the collection process determination and/or delivery process determination is made individually in respect of each package on arrival at the lockerbank, based at least in part on its respective target delivery time.
  • a default collection process determination and/or delivery process determination could be made in respect of all packages having a predefined target delivery time, so that as long as a vacant delivery compartment 1 1 is available, the collection process is invoked
  • each package 2 could have a default target delivery time unless it is allocated a specific target delivery time. If desired, rather than invoking the collection process after the package 2 is deposited in the respective delivery compartment 1 1 , the collection process could be invoked before the package is deposited in the delivery compartment 1 1 - for example, when the package is scanned at the package reception terminal, or even (depending on the mode of operation) at an earlier point in the delivery process.
  • compartments of the lockerbank may be designated as a dedicated overflow compartment, which is preferably also controlled by the local computer.
  • each of the first mentioned embodiments may be implemented without the features of the other embodiments.
  • the various preferred or secondary features may be implemented mutatis mutandis in various combinations with any one or more of the first mentioned embodiments.
  • the possible combinations of features falling within the scope of the claims are not set out exhaustively herein but will be evident from the foregoing description to those skilled in the art.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un réseau de groupes de casiers (10) commandé par un système informatique distant (40). Dans un aspect, un réseau de terminaux de réception de paquets (50) est situé dans les locaux commerciaux (60) d'un tiers, à proximité de chacun des groupes de casiers. Un paquet (2) est identifié par l'ID de client (43) du client destinataire (3) et livré dans les locaux commerciaux (60) proches du groupe de casiers (10) préférentiel du client. Lorsque l'ID de client est entré dans le terminal de réception de paquets (50), le terminal étiquette à nouveau le paquet avec un nouvel ID de paquet (64) dans un format standard, ou envoie une notification (65') au système informatique distant ou au groupe de casiers, moyennant quoi le paquet est reconnu et reçu dans un compartiment de livraison (11) dès son arrivée au niveau du groupe de casiers. Dans un autre aspect, le paquet (2) peut être reçu en même temps que d'autres paquets (2) dans un compartiment d'excédent (11') et transféré ultérieurement dans un compartiment de livraison (11) pour être enlevé par le client (3). Dans un autre aspect, les livraisons peuvent être autorisées et/ou affectées à un compartiment de livraison (11) ou un compartiment de d'excédent (11'), en fonction de l'heure de livraison cible du paquet (2) et de la prévision de niveau d'occupation futur (80) du groupe de casiers (10), les compartiments de livraison (11) étant disponibles pour recevoir d'autres livraisons jusqu'à l'arrivée de chaque paquet respectif (2). On peut combiner les différents aspects mentionnés ci-dessus pour faciliter l'interopérabilité avec des systèmes de livraison de l'extérieur tout en optimisant le taux d'occupation moyen et la disponibilité du réseau.
PCT/GB2014/052957 2013-09-30 2014-09-30 Réseau de groupes de casiers et procédé d'utilisation WO2015044692A1 (fr)

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GBGB1317313.3A GB201317313D0 (en) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 Lockerbank network and method of operation
GB1317313.3 2013-09-30

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JP2018036838A (ja) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-08 富士機械製造株式会社 ストッカ管理装置及びストッカシステム
JP7042021B2 (ja) 2016-08-31 2022-03-25 株式会社Fuji ストッカ管理装置及びストッカシステム
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JP7282223B2 (ja) 2016-08-31 2023-05-26 株式会社Fuji ストッカシステム
CN106710083A (zh) * 2016-12-02 2017-05-24 刘志超 基于数据分析的智能快递方法及终端系统
WO2018125472A1 (fr) * 2016-12-27 2018-07-05 Dan Willis Système et procédé de boîte postale sécurisée à connaissance de proximité immédiate
CN110120121A (zh) * 2018-02-07 2019-08-13 长沙行深智能科技有限公司 用于空间可变柜的基于最多物品方案的空间分配方法
CN110120121B (zh) * 2018-02-07 2021-08-27 长沙行深智能科技有限公司 用于空间可变柜的基于最多物品方案的空间分配方法
US11397910B2 (en) 2018-07-12 2022-07-26 Walmart Apollo, Llc System and method for product recognition and assignment at an automated storage and retrieval device
US11893530B2 (en) 2018-07-12 2024-02-06 Walmart Apollo, Llc Automated storage retrieval system connection and communication protocol
CN111008805A (zh) * 2019-12-06 2020-04-14 京东数字城市(成都)科技有限公司 妥投时间确定方法、装置、存储介质与电子设备
US20220245579A1 (en) * 2021-01-29 2022-08-04 Quadient Technologies France Method and apparatus for predicting the daily available capacity of a parcel pick-up station and computerized locker banks

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