Security system for an automated locker that stores and dispenses customer orders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10629018-B2
Application number	US-201916388027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2018
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

An example security system for an automated locker that stores and dispenses customer orders, include the automated locker including a plurality of sensors and a central computer in communication with the plurality sensors. The plurality sensors can include: at least one smoke detector, at least one camera, at least one sniffer, at least one shock sensor, at least one flood sensor, at least one wind sensor, and at least one fire sensor. The security system may also include a remote server configured to receive sensitive data that is encrypted and/or erased from the central computer upon detecting a hack on the central computer.

First claim

We claim:

1. An automated locker for storing and dispensing items, comprising:
a plurality of sensors;
a central computer in communication with the plurality sensors, wherein:
the plurality of sensors includes:
a smoke detector configured to, via the central computer, issue a notification upon detecting smoke;
a camera configured to take photos upon detecting an intrusion into the locker and/or issue an intrusion notification via the central computer;
a sniffer configured to trigger, via the central computer, a lockdown of the automated locker upon detecting a hazardous substance;
a vibration sensor configured to sense vibrations at the locker and to, via the central computer, sound an alarm and/or illuminate lights at the locker upon detecting a vibration indicating an attempt to enter the locker;
a flood sensor configured to sense water at a base of the locker and to trigger, via the central computer, an actuator to move the central computer and items within the locker to an elevated level inside the locker;
a wind sensor configured to trigger upon detecting wind greater than a prescribed threshold, the central computer issuing instruction to reprioritize the parcel arrangement inside to move heavy parcels to a lower-level portion of the automated locker; and
a fire sensor configured to trigger upon detecting a fire, the central computer configured to issue instructions to reprioritize parcel arrangement to keep flammables, explosive, heat sensitive products as high and leeward to minimize the risk of damage to products and/or the automated locker, and
an electronic intrusions sensor configured to detect an unauthorized attempt to access the central computer and to at least one of encrypt data on the central computer, send data from the central computer to a remote server, and erase data from the central computer upon detecting the unauthorized access attempt.

2. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the automated locker is deployed inside or outside a retail store.

3. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the automated locker is a single modular locker.

4. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the automated locker comprises a bottom modular section mounted at a ground level, at least one middle modular section vertically affixed atop the bottom modular section, and a top modular section vertically affixed atop the at least one middle modular section.

5. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the automated locker comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped slices horizontally assembled together.

6. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the at least one smoke detector is further configured to trigger a sprinkler system inside the automated locker.

7. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured to detect a vibration from one of: cutting a portion of the automated locker, prying a door of the automated locker, or heavy shutting of the door.

8. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the central computer is further configured to issue instructions for rearranging the customers parcels such that parcels at lower levels are moved up as high as possible, with the most expensive parcels the highest.

9. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the central computer is configured to issue instructions to open panels of a lower section of the automated locker to allow for air to pass through the automated locker and/or water to pass through and pass out of the automated locker.

10. The locker of claim 1 , further comprising shutters and wherein the central computer issue instructions to open the shutters to allow air to pass through the automated locker to minimize the wind pressure on the automated locker.

11. The locker of claim 1 , wherein in the remote server is a cloud-based server.

12. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the automated locker is configured to stop dispensing of the items once the attempted intrusion is detected.

13. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the automated locker is a first automated locker, and further comprises a second automated locker that is configured to connect to the first automated locker.

14. The locker of claim 13 , wherein the connection between the first automated locker and the second automated locker includes an enclosed conveyor.

15. The locker of claim 14 , wherein the first automated locker is configured to, via the central computer, transfer the parcels from the first automated locker to the second automated locker through the enclosed conveyor when at least one of the plurality of sensors is triggered, wherein the second automated locker is not breached.

16. The locker of claim 1 , further comprising a store that is configured to connect to the automated locker.

17. The locker claim 16 , wherein the connection between the automated locker and the store includes an enclosed conveyor.

18. The locker of claim 17 , wherein the automated locker is configured to, via the central computer, transfer the parcels from the automated locker to the store through the enclosed conveyor when at least one of the plurality of sensors is triggered.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central computer comprises a digital intrusion detection program, and the digital intrusion detection program is configured, upon detecting a digital intrusion, to perform one or more of the following: encrypting all sensitive data stored on the central computer, sending the sensitive data to the remote servers, or erasing the sensitive data from the central computer.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Tovey David G
• Armstrong Robert
• Mattingly Todd
• Bessel Kurt W R

Classifications

• A47G29/30

  Accessories, e.g. signalling devices, lamps, means for leaving messages · CPC title

• A47G2029/147

  the receptacle comprising heating or cooling means · CPC title

• G07C9/00912 Primary

  for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like · CPC title

• G08B19/00

  Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow · CPC title

• G08B19/005

  combined burglary and fire alarm systems · CPC title