GB2368881A - Goods receptacle and delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system comprises a container, suitable for receiving goods, having a lockable lid which is operable by a remotely generated code. Preferably the system issues a proof of delivery receipt once goods have been delivered and issues a second code to the recipient of the goods so that the goods may be removed from the container. In an embodiment of the invention the system is connected to the internet by mobile phone or landline and is particularly suitable for mail order or internet shopping to allow deliveries when the customer is not available to take receipt. Also the container is fitted with sensors to indicate its status, such as temperature (for storing chilled goods), whether it is occupied, or whether the goods are dangerous, i.e. explosives or drugs.

Description

Goods receptacle and delivery system

The rise in e-commerce has brought in its train the need for prospective purchasers-mainly those with access to e-mailto be able to receive their goods in a secure and timely fashion. There is not much point in ordering goods via e-mail and then having to wait for goods to be delivered at an inconvenient time. The concept of trading via the internet is intended to provided the freedom to do other work. Currently e-commerce is primarily the preserve of the computer literate but the range of goods being traded is increasing rapidly, as is action to promote the business by multiple retailers and others. One of the factors limiting the spread of such trading is secure delivery and return of bulky articles, for example, or those which are perishable.

Courier and mail delivery systems are well known and well established internationally. Letter post can safely be delivered in the traditional manner into mailboxes for subsequent collection by the addressee. The problem arises when a receipt is required as proof of delivery, which requires the addressee or authorised signatory to be present to receive the goods or mail items. This is not always convenient and many potential buyers can be deterred from using services requiring them to be present to accept delivery within a certain timeframe; failure to do so means that goods are returned to the supplier or held in a depot until a

further date for delivery can be scheduled. This clearly runs counter to the whole idea of e-commerce with its accent on flexibility and rapid secure delivery.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem, in that it provides a container suitably located locally to a domestic residence, a block of flats, or a local petrol filling station, or 24 hour shopping precinct for example, said container being provided with a locking system operable by a discrete one-off code generated for example by the supplier of the goods, or by a secure third party agency such as a telecoms company. Once the goods have been inserted into the receptacle, an electronic confirmation of delivery is emailed automatically to the supplier of the goods and to the intended recipient, said recipient also receiving a secure one-off unlocking code, optionally with a statement of how long the code will remain active. The recipient can then go to the receptacle, open the door using the one-off code and obtain the item. Use of the code enables an electronic proof of receipt message to be passed to the supplier and the delivery agent, which may then be used to authorise payment against a credit card, payment of charges to the deliverer, etc, identification of the unit used, registration for guarantee purposes and other paperwork, such as customs and VAT declarations can be generated, etc.

The lock then resets and the receptacle is ready for use

again. Failure of the addressee to collect an item within a set timescale would automatically alert the supplier; the unlocking code could then be changed and a new code sent to the deliverer enabling access to the receptacle for retrieval of the goods for return to sender.

Clearly safes and secure boxes, left luggage lockers, etc., and the considerations in their design, power supplies and alarm and transponder systems are well known in the art and their design has been well researched. The receptacle in accordance with the present invention is so arranged as to cater for a full range of goods-frozen, chilled, etc, as well as being weatherproof and so as to provide proper safe access, for the idea to be acceptable to its intended users.

The receptacle unit is suitably connected to the internet, for example by wireline or wireless access using a mobile phone or other electronic means since the volume of data to be transferred is very limited, or a mixture of the two to provide redundancy in the event of power failure or one system being tampered with. In use, the customer would be able to select the receptacle location of his choice, as well as the timeframe for collection.

Another disincentive to mail order shopping has been the difficulty of returning unsuitable, or defective goods, for example. The present invention can then be used in reverse,

with the buyer notifying the supplier of an impeding return by e-mail, being given an unlocking code to open the receptacle and place the unwanted goods therein, and the system then worked in reverse.

The system will now be described for illustration purposes only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing 1 shows the Receptacle Unit (1) in relation to the central server (2) required for its operation, and the peripheral servicing units related thereto, and shows the Customer's PC/mobile/wireline phone (3) used to order goods, receive notification of the insertion of goods in the receptacle, etc. Another link is to the e-commerce company (5) and a credit card company/bank/operator of electronic payment system (6).

In use, the customer places an order for goods preferably from a PC (3) or mobile phone with appropriate facilities-or in the traditional manner by a call to a call centre from a wireline phone. In this description the PC option will be considered. The customer selects goods to be ordered from the e-commerce company 5) via a catalogue or some other means for identifying goods, and places the order for example at the company's website. The customer also indicates the Receptacle Unit (1) from which he wishes to retrieve the goods. The company (5) checks with the credit card company (6) that funds

are available and that there will be a bin available at the receptacle unit at the date/time specified. An order confirmation with date of delivery is then sent to the customer's e-mail address, for example, or as an SMS to a mobile telephone, etc.

The company (5) contacts a delivery agency by e-mail with instructions for pick up and delivery of the goods, and may then reconfirm the date the goods will be placed in the receptacle by the delivery agency. This would allow for feedback from the customer if the date/time were not suitable.

When the delivery van collects the goods, an electronic unlocking code for the receptacle unit selected is issued together with the precise address, locker number of a multibin receptacle unit (1) and any other relevant details. This could be by SMS (Short Message Service) to the driver's mobile phone or other appropriate means. This enables the driver to unlock the electronic lock (13) and the goods to be inserted. It might be thought relevant for the goods, especially if high value, to have a possibly remote means of identifying that the goods deposited were in fact the goods dispatched. This could be by way of a tamper proof barcode and reader or other electronic means, for example.

At this point the digital control unit (9) would change the unlocking code to a random number, said number being furnished solely to the customer, and a copy held for security purposes at the central server.

A receipt may be printed out via the printer unit (11). At this time a message may be automatically sent via the receptacle unit computer (7) to the e-commerce company confirming delivery and to the customer stating that the goods have arrived and the deadline for collection. Obviously the receptacle unit would need to be fitted with sensors to indicate the status of the bin-temperature (for chilled, frozen goods, etc) and whether the bin is still occupied for some reason, etc.

The customer then proceeds to the receptacle unit, enters the unlocking code and retrieves his goods. When the door closes, the locking unit will no longer accept his unlocking code and the bin is then ready for use by another party.

If the goods are damaged, or obviously unsuitable, he has the option of reinserting them into the bin, whereupon the supplier and delivery agency would be notified. A receipt would not then need to be issued. If the customer were satisfied with the goods, he would close the door to the bin and a receipt would be printed out. The receptacle unit computer (7) would then authorise the issuance of appropriate documentation, such as guarantees, certificate of authenticity, etc.

If the goods were subsequently found to be faulty, unwanted, etc. , the customer could contact the supplier, get a returns

unlocking code, and work the system in reverse.

For security reasons, it might be appropriate to equip the receptacle unit with means, such as chemical sniffers, for detecting further specified types of goods, such as explosives, drugs, etc. , in which cases an alert could be sent to the police, etc.

The receptacle unit could also be fitted with appropriate means for preventing fraud, for example a video unit to check the identity of persons using the receptacle, etc. It would also be possible for the unlocking code to contain discrete code for identifying the user of the lock, which could be a PIN number, social security code, etc.

Claims (4)

1 A receptacle unit comprising an enclosure with an openable and closable aperture: electronic lock means adapted ordinarily to maintain the unit is a locked condition but temporarily releasable on reception of a second one-off unlocking code, said code being generated remote from said unit.

2 A receptacle unit according to Claim 1 wherein a first locking code is generated remote from said unit, said first code being the same as or different from said second code.

3 A receptacle unit according to either of Claims 1 or 2 wherein use of the second code to unlock the unit generates a proof of receipt message.

4 A receptacle unit according to any preceding claim wherein the first and/or second code is uniquely signalled to the unit by wireline or wireless.