System and method for securely receiving and storing deliveries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11527119-B2
Application number	US-202117488736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2021
Priority date	Feb 28, 2018
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods for a storage unit are disclosed. A storage unit includes a container defining an interior storage space and an opening configured to provide access to the interior storage space, a door configured to open and close the opening, a heating/cooling mechanism configured to adjust a temperature in the interior storage space, a temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature in the interior storage space. A control unit is configured to receive the temperature in the interior storage space, receive a required temperature of an item in the storage unit, receive a signal indicative of a distance of a delivery vehicle, and activate the heating/cooling mechanism based on the temperature, the required temperature, and the distance of the delivery vehicle. The heating/cooling mechanism is activated at a time configured to achieve the required temperature within the interior storage space when the delivery vehicle arrives at the storage unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage unit, comprising:
a container defining an interior storage space and an opening configured to provide access to the interior storage space;
a door configured to open and close the opening;
a heating/cooling mechanism configured to adjust a temperature in the interior storage space;
a temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature in the interior storage space; and
a control unit configured to:
receive the temperature in the interior storage space;
receive a required temperature of an item in the storage unit;
receive a signal indicative of a distance of a delivery vehicle; and
activate the heating/cooling mechanism based on the temperature, the required temperature, and the distance of the delivery vehicle, wherein the heating/cooling mechanism is activated at a time configured to achieve the required temperature within the interior storage space when the delivery vehicle arrives at the storage unit.

2. The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the door is secured by a lock that is responsive to an intended recipient corresponding with a recipient code.

3. The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the door is located on top of the storage unit and the interior storage space is accessible from above.

4. The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the delivery vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

5. The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the temperature controller is activated in response to delivery of a package and deactivated in response to retrieval of a package.

6. The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the code is sent by a mobile device.

7. The storage unit of claim 1 , further comprising a GPS locator communicatively coupled to the delivery vehicle.

8. The storage unit if claim 1 , further comprising a display that displays information about contents within the storage unit and a key pad that receives a code.

9. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a control unit, a temperature of an interior storage space of a storage unit;
receiving, by the control unit, a required temperature of an item to be located in the storage unit;
receiving, by the control unit, a signal indicative of a distance of a delivery vehicle carrying the item; and
activating a heating or refrigeration mechanism based on the temperature, the required temperature, and the distance of the delivery vehicle, wherein the heating or refrigeration mechanism is activated at a time configured to achieve the required temperature within the interior storage space when the delivery vehicle arrives at the storage unit.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
opening the storage unit when the delivery vehicle is within a threshold proximity of the storage unit; and
closing the storage unit when the item has been delivered within the interior storage space.

11. The method of claim 9 , comprising opening the storage unit in response to input from an intended user of the item.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the input from the intended user of the item comprises biometric data.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the input from the intended user of the item comprises a recipient code.

14. The method of claim 9 , comprising deactivating the heating or refrigeration mechanism in response to retrieval of the item.

15. A system, comprising:
at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to deliver one or more items to one or more locations;
a storage unit at a first location configured to receive at least one of the one or more items; and
a control unit, configured to:
determine a distance of the UAV to the storage unit;
activate a temperature control mechanism based on the distance of the UAV to the storage unit, wherein the temperature control mechanism is activated at a time configured to achieve a predetermined temperature within the interior storage space when the UAV arrives at the storage unit; and
provide access to the storage unit in response to input from an intended recipient.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
open a door of the storage unit when the UAV is within a threshold proximity of the storage unit; and
close the door of the storage unit when the at least one of the one or more items is delivered to the storage unit.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the storage unit has a cushioning layer that absorbs an impact of the at least one of the one or more items being delivered to the storage unit.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input from the intended recipient comprises a recipient code.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input from the intended recipient comprises biometric data.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the intended recipient is one of a plurality of intended recipients.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Mchale Brian G
• O'Brien John J
• Cantrell Robert
• Hedges Jennifer

Classifications

• G05B19/042

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/2637

  Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

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

• G07C9/0069 Primary

  actuated in a predetermined sequence · CPC title

• G05B2219/23051

  Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer · CPC title