System for automatic signature for receipt verification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11113656-B2
Application number	US-201615204021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2016
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a system for automatic signature for receipt verification. The system includes a delivery management server, wherein the deliver management server includes a memory and a processor. A digital copy of an authorized signature is stored in the memory of the delivery management server. The system also includes a delivery smart crate for receiving packages unattended. The delivery smart crate is in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The system also includes a delivery service in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The delivery service notifies the delivery management server of a signature request by a sender. The delivery smart crate notifies the delivery management server of a delivery made to the delivery smart crate. Also, the delivery management server sends the digital copy of the authorized signature to the delivery service.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for automatic signature for receipt verification, the system comprising:
a delivery smart crate located at an address of an authorized recipient for receiving packages unattended, wherein the delivery smart crate comprises a memory and processor forstoring and processing data;
a delivery management server, wherein the delivery management server comprises a memory and a processor; and
a network connection between the delivery smart crate and the delivery management server for communication between the delivery smart crate and the delivery management server, wherein the delivery smart crate and the delivery management server jointly operate to send an authorized signature to a delivery service organization for a package requiring a signature to effect delivery of the package, wherein:
the delivery management server receives through the network connection a notification from the delivery service that the signature is required for delivery of the package to a recipient, and the delivery management server then processes the notification and automatically determines that the recipient is the authorized recipient with the authorized signature stored in the delivery management server and confirms the recipient is the authorized recipient and has the authorized signature stored to the delivery service prior to the delivery service shipping the package;
the delivery smart crate automatically sends a delivery notification through the network connection to the delivery management server in response to the delivery smart crate being opened to receive the package and deposit of the package within the delivery smart crate, wherein, following the delivery notification being sent, additional access by the delivery service to the delivery smart crate is restricted until the package in retrieved by the authorized recipient; and
the delivery management server then processes the delivery notification and automatically and immediately sends a digital copy of the signature for the authorized recipient to the delivery service; and
the delivery management server then automatically sends an authentication notification to the delivery smart crate, wherein the delivery smart crate processes the authentication notification and will only disengage a locking device of the delivery smart crate in response to the authorized recipient requesting access.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery management server stores an individual digital copy of an individual authorized signature for each individual user of the delivery smart crate in the memory of the delivery management server, wherein each individual user is a household member of the authorized recipient and is authorized to access the delivery smart crate.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the delivery management server receives an authorized signature notification from the delivery service organization and processes the authorized signature notification.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the smart crate is opened by a delivery service personnel to deliver the package.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the delivery management server is configuredto send the digital copy of the authorized signature to the delivery service organization.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the delivery management server is configured to send a restriction notification to the delivery smart crate limiting opening of the delivery smart crate to only the authorized recipient for whom the package is intended, wherein the delivery smart crate processes and stores information from the restriction notification in order to restrict opening of the delivery smart crate to only the authorized recipient.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the delivery smart crate opens in response to the authorized recipient requesting access at the delivery smart crate.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery smart crate is configured to disengage the locking device via at least one of a code provided by the authorized recipient or a biometric input of the authorized recipient.

9. A method of automatically signing for receipt verification, the method comprising:
recording an authorized signature for a recipient in a database stored on memory of a delivery management server;
commissioning a secure unattended delivery smart crate to an authorized recipient located at an address of the recipient;
receiving a request for signature for a delivery at the delivery management server; automatically determining at the delivery management server that the recipient is the authorized recipient with the authorized signature stored in the delivery management server and sending confirmation the recipient is the authorized recipient and has the authorized signature stored to a delivery service prior to the delivery service shipping a package;
receiving a delivery notification at the delivery management server automatically from the secure unattended delivery smart crate in response to the secure unattended delivery smart crate being opened to receive the package and delivery of the package for the authorized recipient to the secure unattended delivery smart crate, wherein, following the delivery notification being sent, additional access by the delivery service to the delivery smart crate is restricted until the package is retrieved by the authorized recipient;
sending the stored authorized signature for the authorized recipient from the delivery management server to the delivery service in response to receiving the delivery notification; and
sending an authorized recipient notification to the secure unattended delivery smart crate, wherein the secure unattended delivery smart crate processes the authorized recipient notification and will only disengage a locking device of the secure unattended delivery smart crate in response to the authorized recipient requesting access, thereby restricting access to the secure unattended delivery smart crate to only the authorized recipient.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
establishing a network communication between the delivery management server and the secure unattended delivery smart crate.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein establishing the network communication between the delivery management server and the secure unattended delivery smart crate comprises establishing an Internet connection between the delivery management server and the secure unattended delivery smart crate.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein recording the authorized signature further comprises recording a plurality of authorized signatures associated with a particular secure unattended delivery smart crate.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
sending a delivery receipt notification to the authorized recipient from the delivery management server that the package was delivered to the secure unattended delivery smart crate.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a delivery receipt notification at the delivery management server from the secure unattended delivery smart crate in response to delivery of the package for the authorized recipient to the secure unattended delivery smart crate;
sending the stored authorized signature for the authorized recipient from the delivery management server to the delivery service in response to receiving the delivery receipt notification; and
automatically sending an authorized recipient notification to the secure unattended delivery smart crate for restricting access to the secure unattended delivery smart crate to only the authorized recipient.

15. A system for automatic signature for receipt verification, t

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Wilkinson Bruce Walter

Classifications

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• G07C9/35

  by means of a handwritten signature · CPC title