Vehicle systems for dynamic crowdsourced delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304424-B2
Application number	US-202016938317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A storage system for implementing crowdsourced delivery of a parcel can include a communication system configured to communicate wirelessly with an external server to receive an access setting, a storage locker, secured by a primary electronic locking mechanism, including a plurality of inner compartments each secured by respective secondary electronic locking mechanisms, one or more processors, and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing: a locking module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to set the primary electronic locking mechanism and at least one secondary electronic locking mechanism to open in response, respectively, to a primary code and a secondary code based at least in part on information received in the access setting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage system for implementing crowdsourced delivery of a parcel, comprising:
a communication system configured to communicate wirelessly with an external server to receive an access setting;
a storage locker disposed on a vehicle and configured to be secured by a primary electronic locking mechanism, the storage locker including a plurality of inner compartments each configured to be secured by a respective secondary electronic locking mechanism, at least one of the inner compartments including an inner container configured to be secured by a tertiary electronic locking mechanism;
one or more processors; and
a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing a locking module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to set the primary electronic locking mechanism and at least one secondary electronic locking mechanism to open in response, respectively, to a primary code and a secondary code based at least in part on information received in the access setting,
wherein the communications system is configured to receive, from the external server, access keys, wherein:
in response to an operator of the vehicle being responsible for delivering the parcel between handoff locations, the access keys allow the operator to access the storage locker and an inner compartment, but not the inner container, and
in response to the operator having a need to access the inner container, the access keys allow the operator access to the storage locker, the inner compartment, and the inner container.

2. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors disposed in each of the plurality of inner compartments,
wherein the communication system is further configured to receive a delivery setting, and the memory further stores:
a control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to detect an aspect of an environment inside the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments based at least in part on data from the one or more sensors and to activate one or more environment systems to adjust the environment based at least in part on the delivery setting.

3. The storage system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more environment systems includes an ultra-violet (UV) light system installed in the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments, the UV light system including a plurality of UV lights that direct UV light into the environment within the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments.

4. The storage system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of UV lights are arranged to direct the ultraviolet light toward at least a top, a bottom and a plurality of sides of the parcel when the parcel is placed inside the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments.

5. The storage system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more environment systems includes a heating system and/or a cooling system to heat and/or cool the environment inside the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments.

6. The storage system of claim 2 , wherein the delivery setting defines one or more environment parameters for at least one of the plurality of inner compartments, the one or more environment parameters being one or more of:
temperature level,
UV sanitation level,
ventilation level, or
humidity level.

7. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the storage system is integrated in a trunk of the vehicle.

8. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the storage system is connected to and powered by a power system of the vehicle.

9. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the primary electronic locking mechanism is configured to secure the trunk of the vehicle and the locking module further includes instructions to set the trunk to open in response to the primary code based at least in part on information received in the access setting.

10. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the storage system is disposed in a housing mounted on an exterior of the vehicle.

11. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores an interface module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to communicate with a human-machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle and transmit information associated with an environment of at least one of the plurality of inner compartments to the HMI.

12. The storage system of claim 11 , further comprising one or more sensors disposed in each of the plurality of inner compartments,
wherein the information further includes one or more of a temperature level, battery power level, or humidity level associated with the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments.

13. The storage system of claim 11 , wherein the interface module further includes instructions to control a climate control system to adjust a temperature inside the at least one of the plurality of the inner compartments based on a command received from the HMI.

14. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inner compartments includes a first inner compartment having a first set of features, and a second inner compartment having a second set of features different from the first set of features.

15. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inner compartments includes a first inner compartment having a first size and/or shape, and a second inner compartment having a second size and/or shape different from the first size and/or shape.

16. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inner compartments are formed by partitioning a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

17. A method of controlling a storage system for holding a parcel for delivery, the storage system including a storage locker disposed on a vehicle and configured to be secured by a primary electronic locking mechanism, the storage locker including a plurality of inner compartments each configured to be secured by a respective secondary electronic locking mechanism, at least one of the inner compartments including an inner container configured to be secured by a tertiary electronic locking mechanism, the method comprising:
receiving an access setting;
setting the primary electronic locking mechanism and at least one secondary electronic locking mechanism to open in response, respectively, to a primary code and a secondary code based at least in part on information received in the access setting; and
receiving, from an external server, access keys, wherein:
in response to an operator of the vehicle being responsible for delivering the parcel between handoff locations, the access keys allow the operator to access the storage locker and an inner compartment, but not the inner container, and
in response to the operator having a need to access the inner container, the access keys allow the operator access to the storage locker, the inner compartment, and the inner container.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving a delivery setting;
detecting an aspect of an environment inside the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments based at least in part on data from one or more sensors disposed in the at least one of the plurality of inner compartments; and
activating one or more environment systems to adjust the environment based at least in part on the delivery setting.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising communicating with a human-machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle

Assignees

• Toyota Connected North America Inc

Inventors

• Kursar Brian M

Classifications

• A61L2103/23

  Containers other than laboratory or medical, e.g. bottles or mail · CPC title

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A23B2/53

  with ultraviolet light · CPC title

• G07C9/00571

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title

• G06Q30/0226

  Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems · CPC title