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
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G29/00—Supports, holders, or containers for household use, not provided for in groups A47G1/00-A47G27/00 or A47G33/00 
  • A47G29/14—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels
  • A47G29/141—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels comprising electronically controlled locking means
• • 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
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
  • G06Q20/18—Payment architectures involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G29/00—Supports, holders, or containers for household use, not provided for in groups A47G1/00-A47G27/00 or A47G33/00 
  • A47G29/14—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels
  • A47G29/141—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels comprising electronically controlled locking means
  • A47G2029/145—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels comprising electronically controlled locking means the receptacle comprising means for identifying a deposit; Deposits carrying identification means, e.g. a bar code
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G29/00—Supports, holders, or containers for household use, not provided for in groups A47G1/00-A47G27/00 or A47G33/00 
  • A47G29/14—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels
  • A47G29/141—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels comprising electronically controlled locking means
  • A47G2029/149—Deposit receptacles for food, e.g. breakfast, milk, or large parcels; Similar receptacles for food or large parcels with appliances for preventing unauthorised removal of the deposited articles, i.e. food or large parcels comprising electronically controlled locking means with central server link
• • 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
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/60—Business processes related to postal services

Definitions

• the invention relates to a system for delivery of parcels to private individuals and businesses, as well as to a parcel box for use in such a system.
• the quantity of parcels delivered by mail or courier is increasing explosively as a result of ever more businesses and consumers ordering their things via the Internet.
• WO 01/91074 describes an order and delivery system by which a supplier via the Internet makes an offer to a purchaser and the purchaser can accept the offer. Then, the provider sends the purchaser an unlock barcode by the Internet and affixes a same barcode to the package of the purchased ware. The purchaser can then print the barcode received via the Internet. In addition, the purchaser disposes of a closable parcel box with an external barcode reader. The purchaser further disposes of a master barcode. With the aid of the master barcode, the purchaser can then fill a memory of his parcel box with the unlock code. Subsequently, a delivery service can place the parcel in the parcel box when the delivery person has presented the unlock code affixed onto the parcel to the barcode reader of the parcel box.
• the parcel box may in addition dispose of an internal barcode reader. This is activated when the parcel box after unlocking and opening needs to be closed and locked again. Locking is only possible when the internal barcode reader has recognized the unlock barcode on the parcel.
• the control of the parcel box can generate a delivery signal which may be transferred wirelessly to a PDA of the delivery person.
• the delivery signals stored in the PDA can be downloaded in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system of the supplier and can trigger payment by the purchaser.
• the ERP system of the supplier can send an SMS message to the purchaser to confirm the delivery.
• ERP Enterprise Resource Planning
• a drawback of this known system is that no parcels can be delivered when the purchaser is not at home to program his parcel box. Moreover, there is no system with which it is reported to the supplier that the purchaser has programmed his parcel box. It is therefore very well possible that the delivery person turns up at the purchaser's with the order and then finds that he cannot deliver the parcel because the parcel box cannot be opened by him. The delivery person must therefore come round again at a later time to try to place the arcel in the parcel box at a later time.
• suppliers which will be referred to hereinafter as sellers, provide the possibility of returning or exchanging a product within a particular defined period, for instance a fortnight.
• the result of this fairly long period is that, in effect, a large part of the sellers' ware resides at the buyers' while the buyers are still having the opportunity of returning the ware. In that period, the ware is unavailable to the seller to be offered to other buyers.
• the invention contemplates a system with which the above- mentioned problems can at least partly be solved. More particularly, the invention contemplates a system with which the purchase amount of the buyer is only transferred to the seller when the buyer has been able to verify that the delivered ware indeed satisfies his wishes. Further, a system is contemplated whereby the parcels can be delivered and collected at any desired time, without the buyer needing to be present to take delivery of the parcel. Yet another object of the system is for the sellers to be informed sooner about a buyer wishing to return his product, so that the seller can offer it for sale again on the Internet sooner, even when the seller has not received the product in return yet.
• the invention provides a system for delivery of parcels to private individuals and businesses, the system comprising: a number of parcel boxes which, comparably to a mailbox, are each set up at a private residence or business associated with the parcel box, each parcel box being provided with:
• an electronic lock which has a locking condition for holding the door or flap in a locked closed condition, the electronic lock being bringable in an unlocking condition with the aid of a code, so that the door or flap can be opened and access to the parcel space is obtained;
• a computer server provided with an order handling module which comprises:
• the payment module being configured to deposit a purchase amount transferred with the aid of the website page, into an intermediary account
• a code generation module which is configured to generate a
• the computer server being further configured to provide the seller code to the parcel box control of the parcel box of the buyer for storage in the parcel box control memory of the parcel box, the code generation module being further adapted to generate a buyer code and to present it to the buyer when the payment module to that end has provided a buyer code generation instruction to the code generation module, which buyer code generation instruction is not provided until after receipt of the purchase amount, the computer server being further configured to provide the buyer code to the parcel box control for storage in the parcel box control memory;
• the parcel box control is configured to compare the buyer code and seller code, provided by the computer server to the parcel box control, and stored in the parcel box control memory, with an input code inputted at the parcel box, and wherein the electronic lock is brought in the unlocking condition when the input code corresponds to the buyer code or seller code provided by the computer server to the parcel box.
• This system of intelligent, Internet-connected parcel boxes set up at buyers and a computer server which regulates order handling in a secure manner via an intermediary account, provides for the seller the benefit of his being supplied with proof of the fact that the parcel composed by him was in actual fact deposited and delivered in the intended parcel box.
• For the intended parcel box can only be opened after a delivery person has thereat entered an input code that matches the seller code stored in the parcel box control memory.
• This seller code is specific to the parcel in question and has been provided by the computer server via the Internet to the intended parcel box control for storage in the parcel box control memory.
• the parcel to be delivered also bears the seller code mentioned and the delivery person upon arrival at the parcel box concerned can enter the seller code to be able to open the parcel box.
• the parcel box control can simply send the computer server a message to the effect that the parcel has been delivered. A similar message can also be sent to the buyer and possibly to others concerned, so that these individuals, too, know that the parcel has been deposited in the parcel box.
• Yet another advantage for the seller is that he can further be informed of the fact that the parcel box has been opened with an input code matching a unique buyer code that is specific to the parcel concerned.
• the intermediary account has also provided a buyer code to the buyer and provided it to the parcel box control for storage in the parcel box control memory. Accordingly, when a buyer has entered, as input code, the unique buyer code in the parcel box control of the parcel box, the parcel box can be opened, but the parcel box control can further send a message via the computer server to the seller that delivery has been taken of the parcel. Directly, or after some time, or, alternatively or additionally, only after approval of the buyer, the purchase amount placed into the intermediary account can be transferred from the intermediary account to the account of the seller.
• the advantage is obtained that he knows that the purchase amount is only transferred to the seller's account after he has in actual fact received the parcel.
• Another advantage is that the buyer does not need to be at home to take delivery of the parcel or to preprogram his parcel box with the buyer code received from the seller. This also has as a consequence, inter alia, that more certainty is obtained with regard to a delivery in due time, because even when the buyer cannot be present, the delivery of the parcel can still take place.
• the system according to the invention can be managed by an independent third party.
• This independent third party manages the intermediary account, but can also manage the address and payment details of the buyers and information about suppliers. This provides the advantage to the buyers that they need to make their address and payment data knowable to the system only once. Once this has been done and the details have been validated, the buyer can place orders with different suppliers connected to the system, without the buyer needing to make his address and payment details knowable to the supplier over and over again. This ekminates the time consuming activity of filling in details as is currently usual in making purchases in a webshop. For the delivery service it is a great advantage that the number of return streams connected with the absence of the buyer can be reduced to virtually zero.
• Another advantage is that the parcels can also be transported and delivered at less busy times, for instance at night. This makes delivery on a 24/7 basis possible. This leads to a faster delivery and greater efficiency. As there is no personal contact taking place at delivery of a parcel and there is hence no need to wait for the buyer either, the delivery action can be executed faster. This gain of time enhances the efficiency of the delivery service, so that per delivery person more parcels can be delivered or collected.
• the invention also provides a parcel box suitable and intended for application in a system according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of an example of an embodiment of the system
• Fig. 2 shows a front view of an example of a parcel box incorporating different embodiments
• Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line III-III of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line IV- IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the example represented in Fig. 1, with the parcel section door and the postal item section flap opened.
• Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a parcel box 10 which is suitable for application in the system to which the present invention relates and in which various embodiments as described in the subclaims are embodied.
• Figure 3 shows an example of a system in which various embodiments of the system are embodied. It is noted that the embodiments can also be applied independently of each other and that the invention is not limited to the examples shown in the figures.
• the reference numerals are used herein for clarification but have no limiting effect. An embodiment may also be implemented in a different manner than represented in the example that is shown in the figures.
• a system for delivering parcels to private individuals and businesses comprises a number of parcel boxes 10 which, similarly to a mailbox, are each set up at a private residence or a business B associated with the parcel box.
• Each parcel box 10 is provided with a parcel space 12 which is closable with a door or flap 14.
• each parcel box 10 disposes of an electronic lock 16 which has a locking condition for keeping the door or flap 14 in a locked closed position. With the aid of a code, the electronic lock 16 can be brought in an unlocking condition, so that the door or flap 14 can be opened and access to the parcel space 12 can be obtained.
• each parcel box 10 is provided with a parcel box control 18 which comprises a parcel box control memory 18a and which is configured for electronically sending parcel box messages and for controlling the electronic lock 16.
• the system also comprises a computer server 20 which is provided with an order handling module 22.
• the order handling module 22 comprises a payment module 24 which presents a website page on the Internet via which a buyer can pay for the ware to be sent with the parcel.
• the payment module 24 is configured to deposit a purchase amount transferred by a buyer with the aid of the website page, into an intermediary account Ai.
• the order handling module 22 also comprises a code generation module 26 which is adapted to generate a seller code Sc and to present it to the seller, so that the seller can provide the code Sc on the parcel P to be dispatched.
• the computer server 20 is further configured to provide the seller code Sc to the parcel box control 18 of the parcel box 10 of the buyer for storage in the parcel box control memory 18a of the parcel box 10 concerned.
• the code generation module 26 is further adapted to generate a buyer code Be and to present it to the buyer when the payment module 24 to that end has provided a buyer code generation instruction IBc to the code generation module 26.
• the buyer code generation instruction IBc is only provided after receipt of the purchase amount A.
• the computer server 20 is further configured to provide the buyer code Be to the parcel box control 18 for storage in the parcel box control memory 18a.
• the parcel box control 18 is configured to compare the buyer code Be and seller code Sc provided by the computer server 20 to the parcel box control 18 and stored in the parcel box control memory 18a, with an input code Ic entered at the parcel box 10.
• the input code Ic matches the buyer code Be or seller code Sc provided to the parcel box 10 by the computer server 20
• the electronic lock 16 is brought in the unlocking condition.
• the parcel box control 18 may be configured for generating an instruction Imd to the computer server 20 for creating a parcel box message in the form of a delivery message Md further to the opening of the electronic lock 16 with the aid of the seller code Be.
• the order handling module 22 may undertake various actions, such as, for example, activating a timer with the aid of which the payment module can be triggered to transfer the purchase amount placed in the intermediary account, into the account of the seller, when a particular period of time after receipt of the delivery message Md has elapsed.
• the delivery message Md can be sent to the seller S, the delivery message Md advising the seller of the fact that the parcel P concerned has been placed in the parcel box 10.
• the delivery message can also be sent to the buyer B, the delivery message Md advising the buyer B of the fact that the parcel P concerned has been placed in the parcel box 10.
• the buyer then knows that a parcel P, and also what parcel, has been delivered in his parcel box 10 and that he can collect it. This obviates the necessity for the buyer to check the parcel box 10 to see if the delivery of a parcel has already taken place, since the buyer will be informed of the fact that delivery has taken place.
• the delivery message Md sent to the seller the seller knows for sure that the parcel P made up by him has in actual fact arrived at the destination.
• the parcel box control 18 may be configured for generating an instruction Imr to the computer server 20 to create a parcel box message in the form of a removal message Mr further to the opening of the electronic lock 16 with the aid of the buyer code Be, whereby the removal message Mr is sent to the seller S.
• the seller S Because of the removal message Mr, the seller S knows that his parcel P has in actual fact ended up in the hands of the buyer B. From that moment, for instance, the return option period can begin. As the parcel box can only be opened after entry of an input code matching the buyer code, the seller S is also sure that the parcel P has been taken from the parcel box 10 by or on behalf of the buyer B entitled to do so and not by a random person, because such random person does not dispose of the unique buyer code for that parcel P.
• the parcel box control 18 may be configured for, after the opening of the parcel box 10 with the aid of the buyer code Be, sending a payment instruction Ip to the computer server 20 to proceed to payment of the seller S or a third party authorized by the seller, for example, the parcel delivery service.
• the payment module 24 may be configured for transferring the purchase amount placed in the intermediary account Ai, into the bank account As of the seller S or the third party authorized by the seller.
• the payment instruction Ip can be generated automatically after a pre-set period after the opening of the parcel box 10 by means of the buyer code Be.
• the payment instruction Ip can be generated after receipt of an acceptance message Ma regarding the received things in the parcel P, made knowable by the buyer B to the order handling module 22.
• the acceptance message Ma can provide for the amount placed in the intermediary account to come into the hands of the seller S sooner.
• Quick acceptance of the ware may be stimulated, for instance, by offering a discount in case of quick acceptance, while in case of slow acceptance no such discount is given.
• the seller's unknown stock that is at customers can be minimized.
• the parcel box control 18 of the or each parcel box 10 may be configured to allow the parcel box 10, for the purpose of a return shipment Rs, after opening of the parcel box 10 using the buyer code Be and then closing it again, to be opened for a second time using the seller code Sc which is provided on the parcel P.
• the parcel P may be provided with a special parcel return code PRc using which the parcel box 10 after removal of the parcel P can be opened again for placing therein the parcel P that is to be returned.
• the parcel box control 18 may then be further configured for, after closing of the parcel box 10 opened with the seller code Sc or return code Rc for the second time, generating a return instruction Ir which is sent to the order handling module 22.
• the order handling module 22 may be configured for, after receipt of the return instruction Ir, generating a return shipment collection code RCc and sending it to the seller S or to a return shipment deliverer RDS.
• the parcel box control 18 may be configured for, after entry of the return shipment collection code RCc, controlling the electronic lock 16 to assume the unlocked state, so that the return shipment deliverer RDS can take the parcel P to be returned out of the parcel box 10.
• This embodiment provides to the buyer B the possibihty of returning the parcel P at home, without contact with a delivery person, at a time of his choice, by placing it back in the parcel box 10.
• the seller S or a return shipment deliverer RDS is automatically informed of this fact by the order handling module 22 in that this module has received a return shipment collection code RCc from the parcel box control 18. Further to this, the return shipment deliverer RDS can proceed directly, or after being called in by the seller S, to collect the parcel box P to be returned, at a suitable time for him that can be chosen independently of the presence or absence of the buyer B. Moreover, the seller S can immediately add the product placed for return shipment in the parcel box 10 to his stock again and make it available for sale to other potential customers.
• the parcel box control 18 may be configured for, after closing of the parcel box 10 opened with the return shipment collection code RCc, generating a return collection confirmation instruction which is sent to the order handling module 22, the order handling module 22 being configured for, after receipt of the return collection confirmation instruction, creating a parcel box message in the form of a return collection confirmation message which is sent to the buyer, the seller and/or others concerned.
• Such an embodiment offers the advantage that buyer, seller and/or others involved are informed of the fact that the return shipment deliverer RDS has the parcel in its possession again and the parcel therefore soon becomes available for supply to a new buyer.
• the order handling module 22 may further be configured for, after the closing of the parcel box 10 opened for a second time with the parcel return code PRc or with the seller code Sc, refunding the purchase amount A, deposited into the intermediary account Ai, at least partly back into the bank account Ab of the buyer B.
• the buyer B immediately disposes of his money again after he has placed the parcel P in the parcel box 10 again for return shipment. Possibly, in refunding the purchase amount A, a small deduction may take place in settlement of expenses incurred, such as shipping costs and the like.
• the seller S can then soon add this ware to his stock again and offer it for sale to other potential customers, even when the ware has not been actually returned back into his warehouse yet.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with a digital video camera 28.
• a digital video camera 28 may be used for gathering evidence for the benefit of the buyer B.
• the buyer B can unpack the parcel P in front of the video camera 28.
• any ware is missing from the parcel P or has been damaged during transit, this can be recorded with the video camera 28 at the time of unpacking the parcel P.
• the video material can be stored in a video memory of the parcel box control 18 or may be directly uploaded to the computer server 20 for storage there.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with a viewing screen 30 which is driven by the parcel box control 18.
• Such a viewing screen 30 can be used for all kinds of purposes. For instance, messages may be placed on them by the owner/user of the parcel box 10. Also, it is possible for third parties to display notifications, such as, for instance, commercials, on the screen. For such advertising, the user/owner or the manager of the system can charge costs to cover the exploitation of the system. Also, e.g., a housing corporation, a community association, a neighborhood association, a municipality or a like authority can make use of the screens on the parcel boxes 10 in a city district to spread district-oriented notifications.
• parcel box control 18 may be configured for activating the screen 30 when the proximity of a person is signaled.
• Such activation may be done, for instance, in that the parcel box 10 is provided with a proximity sensor, which can sense the presence of a person or of movement of a person.
• a wireless receiver of the parcel box such as for instance a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi receiver, RFID or NFC, senses that a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, appears in the vicinity of the parcel box 10.
• a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet
• the computer server 20 may be provided with a notification module 32 with an associated
• the notification module 32 may be configured for sending notifications N, such as, e.g., advertisements, or notifications from an authority, to the parcel box controls 18 of parcel boxes 10 within a particular postcode area, zip code area or like area.
• the parcel box controls 18 concerned may be configured for displaying these notifications N on the associated viewing screens 30.
• the notification module
• the notification module 32 may also be adapted for composing notifications N via the notification website page Wn.
• the notification module 32 may then be configured to send the notification N to the parcel box controls 18 after a notifier has transferred a monetary compensation via the payment module 24 for the purpose of spreading the notification N.
• the parcel box control 18 of each parcel box 10 may be, wirelessly or not, in communication with a network 34 which is connected to the worldwide web WWW.
• a network 34 which is connected to the worldwide web WWW.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with a newspaper section 35 having included therein a sensor 36 which is configured for sensing the presence, or absence, of a newspaper.
• the parcel box control 18 of the parcel box 10 concerned may then be connected to the sensor 36 and be configured for sending the manager of the parcel box 10 a message Mn to the effect that a newspaper has been delivered.
• the owner/manager of the parcel box 10 will never walk to his parcel box 10 in vain to see if the paper is there, since he is warned by the message Mn when the paper has been delivered.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with a postal item section 38 having included therein a sensor 40 which is configured for sensing the presence, or absence, of a postal item.
• the postal item section 38 may be provided with an associated flap 39.
• the parcel box control 18 of the parcel box 10 concerned may be connected to the sensor 40 mentioned and be configured for sending the manager of the parcel box 10 a message Mm to the effect that a postal item has been delivered.
• Such a postal item section 38 can be used for delivering the regular mail, such as letters, magazines and the like.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with a solar panel 44 and/or mini wind turbine and a battery 46.
• the parcel box control 18 and the electronic lock 16 can be electrically connected to the battery 46 and be supplied thereby.
• Such an embodiment provides the advantage that the parcel box 10 can function autonomously as regards the energy supply. Accordingly, no electricity connection for the parcel box 10 needs to be provided because the necessary electricity is provided for by the solar cells and/or the mini wind turbine and the battery.
• the parcel box 10 may be provided with at least one parcel bag 48 for placing large parcels therein.
• Such a parcel bag 48 can be used when the parcel box space 12 is too small to put the parcel P away in.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with at least one insulating parcel bag 48 for placing therein parcels that must preserve their temperature as much as possible.
• hot ware such as, e.g., deep-frozen products or ready prepared meals.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be configured for mounting on or in a door of, or fence or column of an entrance gate belonging to, the private residence or the business B.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with a mounting frame 50 for free set-up of the parcel box 10.
• each parcel box 10 may be provided with an input device 52.
• the input device 52 may be configured to provide to the manager of the parcel box the possibility of making knowable to the parcel box control 18 that the parcel P has been accepted.
• the input device 52 may also be configured for entering an input code Ic, mentioned earlier.
• the input device may be chosen from the group comprising a camera, a keyboard, a code reader, a mobile device, such as, for example, a tablet or a smartphone, with an app especially configured for that purpose, a sensor, and a push button.
• the code reader can read, for example, a barcode, a Q-mark code or an RFID or NFC tag code.
• Visual codes can also be read using a digital camera 28.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be provided with heat insulation and an assembly 54 for regulating the temperature in the parcel space 12.
• an assembly 54 for regulating the temperature in the parcel space 12.
• a constant temperature prevails in the parcel space 12, as in the case of, e.g., perishables.
• At least one of the parcel boxes 10 may be implemented as a do-it-yourself kit which can be assembled by an end user/customer.
• a parcel box 10 implemented as a kit can generally be offered at a lower price, which can promote the rate of spread of the use of the parcel box 10.
• the system can comprise an App for the purpose of a mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone, whereby the mobile device can be put into communication with the parcel box control 18 with the aid of the App.
• the App may then be configured to have the mobile device function as an input device 52 for the parcel box 10.
• the user's or a delivery person's own mobile device can be utilized to operate the parcel box 10.
• Operation should here be understood to mean entering seller code Sc or entering a buyer code Be.
• a large part of the above -described functionality of the parcel box control 18 can be accommodated in the app.
• the part of the parcel box control 18 that is actually accommodated in the parcel box 10 can then be limited to a particularly simple control that is configured for communication with a mobile device and for operation of the electronic lock 16.
• the parcel box control 18 then does not need to be capable of doing much more than identifying and verifying the fact that the mobile device does indeed belong to a person who is entitled to access to the parcel box 10 concerned, and exchanging signals on the basis of which the parcel box control 18 operates the electronic lock 16.
• the other functionality can be incorporated entirely in the app and be realized through communication between the mobile device on which the app runs and the computer server 20 of the system.
• Such a configuration has as an advantage that the parcel box control 18 can be of simple design and hence can also be implemented at relatively low cost.
• the computer server may feature a one-click supply functionality.
• a supplier can present a one-click supply button on his own webpage in the so-called webshop checkout. When the buyer while going through the webshop checkout clicks on this button, the payment details and the delivery details of the buyer are automatically retrieved from a central memory of the computer server so that the buyer does not need to enter any further details for the delivery and payment. He knows then that the payment will not be withdrawn from the trusted third party account until he has taken the parcel out of the parcel box.
• the computer server may further feature a one-click return functionality.
• the buyer can, for instance, download an app on his smartphone or approach a webpage presenting a one-click return button.
• This one-click return button may, for instance, be associated with a delivered product.
• a return shipment code can thereby be provided to the buyer and the parcel box control, with which the parcel box can be opened again to place back the parcel to be returned. After placement of the parcel to be returned in the parcel box, the dehvery service is informed of this by the parcel box control.
• the money in the third party account can be transferred back to the buyer's account. Since only a single one-click return-button needs to be pressed to trigger the return shipment process, this feature provides a highly user-friendly functionality that is of great convenience to the buyer. The seller will also enjoy this functionality because return shipments will be carried out faster by the buyers and the stock that is not sellable yet because it is still in the return shipment process will be relatively small. The capital tie-up of non-saleable stock will thus become considerably smaller than in the known delivery systems.
• the invention further relates to a parcel box 10 suitable and intended for a system according to the invention as described in the most general terms or according to any one of the embodiments described hereinbefore.

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Cited By (10)

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• 2014
  • 2014-07-25 NL NL2013259A patent/NL2013259B1/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2015
  • 2015-07-24 WO PCT/NL2015/050542 patent/WO2016013937A1/en active Application Filing

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