The present invention relates to systems and methods for depositing shipments into electronic locker banks constituted of lockable compartments, and for picking-up these shipments thereafter.
Locker bank systems are used for depositing, storing and picking up various kinds of shipments such as parcels or packages. A locker bank comprises a series of compartments with different sizes, which are equipped with electronically controlled doors. These locker bank systems typically are used by carrier agents for depositing shipments, which are then picked-up from the locker bank by recipients. When a shipment is not picked up in due time by the recipient, it needs to be collected by the carrier for freeing the locker bank for other shipments. Usually, the locker bank comprises a central processor operating the doors of the different compartments as described in EP3306577. There is also a new generation of locker banks constituted of autonomous compartments or autonomous compartment clusters, which are not controlled by a central processor, as described in EP3671670 and EP3671671.
A locker bank system can also be used by a recipient for returning a shipment. The return shipment is then placed by the recipient in a compartment of a locker bank and is collected later on by a carrier agent and returned by the carrier. With the development of e-Commerce, there is a growing need for using locker banks for direct sending of shipments. A typical use is for online sales, either for CtoC transactions or for sales from home businesses or small businesses. The sender directly deposits his shipment in a compartment of a locker bank, without the intervention of a carrier. The shipment is collected later on by a carrier agent for delivery to other destinations. Shipment drop-off in the form of return or direct sending is a growing need for the locker bank business.
Such processes for return or for direct sending are inefficient in several ways. Each shipment for return or direct sending requires the usage of a single shipment compartment, which results in the occupancy of multiple compartments. Eventually, small shipments may occupy large compartments because there are insufficient small compartments or because of an end user error in the choice of the compartment size, and therefore the total space is not used efficiently. Collecting the returned shipments or the direct sending shipment is not efficient as the carrier agent has to open multiple doors to carry out his collection. In some cases, the returned shipments or the direct sending shipment are simply dropped into a compartment, which is then used for identifying the shipment, and the carrier agent has to print an identifying label and affix it onto the shipment. In other cases, the recipient returning a shipment or the sender of a direct sending has to print an identifying label and has to affix it onto the shipment, which requires owning or having access to a printer. Such a process, in particular, prohibits a recipient from picking-up a shipment from a locker bank for immediately returning the shipment at the locker bank in case the shipment is unsuitable. So, there is a need for new developments for locker bank systems allowing for improving the return and direct sending processes.
Various implementations at least substantially overcome or ameliorate at least one or more of the above disadvantages. This is achieved by providing a locker system for shipment delivery and pick-up comprising: a locker bank that is communicatively coupled with a remote shipping system via a long distance communication network, the locker system comprising a processor with a digital storage and a series of single shipment compartments equipped with doors electronically controlled by the processor, characterized in that the locker bank further includes a drop compartment comprising an aperture for shipment drop-offs and whose access is protected by a rotating locking protection electronically controlled by the processor, and a locking collection door electronically controlled by the processor and protecting access to the drop compartment, and wherein the rotating locking protection and locking collection door are in the same vertical plane as the doors of the single shipment compartments. The integration of the drop compartment in the locker bank allows for saving space because multiple shipments can be dropped in the same drop compartment. E-Commerce small shipments can be consolidated therefore limiting inefficient occupancy of numerous single shipment compartments.
At least some implementations advantageously provide a printing compartment located above the drop compartment including a label printer and a label liner trash, wherein the printing compartment is secured by an electronically controlled printer door comprising a label reception cavity and a label liner slit. Therefore, end customers (recipients or senders) can get their shipping label directly at the locker.
This is easier than printing the label at home. Collecting the shipments is faster because multiple doors don't need to be opened, and carrier agents don't need to add labels to the shipments during the collection.
According to at least one implementation, the processor is operable or configured to unlock the rotating locking protection only during a drop-off of a shipment and for unlocking the locking collection door only during a collection by a carrier agent.
According to at least one implementation, the processor is communicatively coupled and operable or configured to store in the digital storage a compartment identifier of a compartment in a list of compartment identifiers and a unique shipment identifier of a shipment in a list of shipment identifiers following on the deposit of the shipment into the compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, the processor is operable or configured to logically associate the unique shipment identifier with the compartment identifier and storing the association in the digital storage.
In a particular embodiment, the rotating locking protection is a small drop-off door located above the locking collection door and the aperture is centered on a mask plate securely attached to the drop compartment.
Advantageously, the drop compartment is configured so that the mask plate can be exchanged on-site using minimal tools with a new mask plate having an aperture with different dimensions in order to adapt the drop compartment for changes of shipment flows and of shipment sizes.
In another embodiment, the rotating locking protection is a rotating flap mounted onto a front plate securely attached above the locking collection door and wherein the front plate comprises the aperture centered in the front plate and the rotating flap is configured to open and close by rotation around a horizontal axis near a top edge of the aperture.
In at least one implementation, the locking collection door is an internal door comprising the aperture in the top part of the internal door and the rotating locking protection is a tall external door protecting access to the internal door.
In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the aperture are between 25 cm and 26 cm wide and between 6 and 7 cm high corresponding to small shipments. The aperture acts as a filter allowing for a larger number of shipments to be gathered in a drop compartment and therefore minimizing the usage of single shipment compartments and optimizing the usage of the locker bank.
In at least some implementations, the digital storage comprises a shipment status within a list of shipment status and wherein the shipment status is associated with a unique shipment identifier of a shipment and the shipment status can be set by the processor as deposited following on a deposit of the shipment in the drop compartment or as collected once the shipment has been collected by a carrier agent.
In a particular embodiment, the processor is operable or configured to count a number of unique shipment identifiers, which are associated with a compartment identifier of the drop compartment and which are associated with a shipment status set as deposited, and wherein the processor is operable or configured to compare this count with a predefined limit number corresponding to a full capacity of the drop compartment in order to forbid unlocking of the drop-off door until the drop-off shipments have been removed from the drop compartment.
In another embodiment, the processor is operable or configured to store the number in a capacity status within a list of capacity status comprised in the digital storage, and wherein the capacity status is associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment.
Advantageously, the processor is operable or configured to store at least a value full or a value not full in a drop status within a drop status list comprised in the digital storage, and wherein the drop status is associated with the compartment identifier. The drop status is set to full by the processor when the number of shipments dropped into the drop compartment matches the predefined limit number of the drop compartment. Therefore, the drop status can be used for forbidding any further deposit in the drop compartment.
In at least some implementations, the processor is operable or configured to delete the unique shipment identifiers of the shipments, which have been collected from the drop compartment. Therefore stopping forbidding the opening of the drop-off door.
In a preferred embodiment, the drop compartment includes a manually removable container and a presence sensor, which is monitored by the processor and configured to detect a last shipment dropped into the container and pilling up near the top of the container corresponding to the full capacity of the drop compartment.
Also described is a method for operating the above locker system for shipment delivery and pick-up, the method comprising: providing to the locker bank comprising a series of single shipment compartments identifying data allowing access to the drop compartment for a drop-off of a shipment by an end customer during an initiation phase of the shipment drop-off, validating access to the drop compartment, selecting a printer located in a printing compartment of the locker bank and printing a label for the shipment with an auto-sealing back protected by a liner, checking whether a full capacity of the drop compartment has been reached and if not unlocking the rotating locking protection providing access to the aperture for dropping off the shipment, dropping off the shipment through the aperture into the drop compartment, when a carrier agent wants to collect the shipments in the drop compartment, unlocking the locking collection door and a carrier agent can open the locking collection door for a collection of shipments from the drop compartment by the carrier agent, collecting the shipments in the drop compartment, and closing and automatically locking the locking collection door after the shipments have been collected by the carrier agent. A benefit of the invention is that the printing of the label and the affixing of the label onto the shipment is performed by an end customer during a shipment drop-off and no label printing and label is required for a carrier agent, resulting in a more efficient collection process.
According to a at least one implementation, the identifying data for accessing the drop compartment is entered via a user interface or scanned from a printed support or from a mobile device with a scanner attached to the locker bank, the identifying data including at least carrier information uniquely identifying a carrier and authorization information. Specifically, the access to the drop off functionality is validated based on the carrier information and the authorization information included in the identifying data provided by the end customer. The identification of a carrier may not be based on a carrier identifier literally included in the identifying data, but may be based on the format of the identifying data.
In a preferred embodiment, validating access to the drop compartment is performed by to the remote shipping system via a first API call from the locker bank providing at least part of the authorization information. In that case, the validation is not performed locally by the locker bank, but remotely.
In a particular embodiment, the identifying data is communicated to the remote shipping system so that the shipping remote system identifies the shipment and establishes whether the shipment can be deposited in the drop compartment, and requests the locker bank to select the drop compartment. Therefore, an end customer does not have to select a compartment as the selection is automatically performed by the locker system.
In a particular embodiment, the remote shipping system provides the locker bank with possible delivery dates and times for the shipment and a delivery date and time is selected and communicated to the remote shipping system. In response, the remote shipping system provides the locker bank with the label data for the printing of the label for the shipment.
According to at least one implementation, the printer selection is based on the carrier information.
In another embodiment, information printed on the label is generated by the locker bank based on the identifying data and label data provided by the remote shipping system and includes a unique shipment identifier, which is used for uniquely identifying the shipment.
Preferably, the locker bank stores the shipment identifier and associates the shipment identifier with a unique compartment identifier corresponding to the drop compartment.
Advantageously, the locker bank stores a shipment status set as deposited, and associated with the shipment identifier.
According to at least one implementation, the locker bank performs a count of a number of shipment identifiers, which are associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment and which are associated with a shipment status set as deposited, and compares the count with a predefined limit number corresponding to the full capacity of the drop compartment and forbids any deposit in the drop compartment if the full capacity of the drop compartment has been reached. Thereafter, the locker bank does not propose access to the drop compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, if the full capacity is reached, the locker bank sets a drop status to full, which is associated with the compartment identifier.
In another embodiment, if the full capacity is reached, only a single shipment compartment or another drop compartment can be selected.
According to at least one implementation, the count is stored as a capacity status of the drop compartment and the capacity status is associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment.
Preferably, the locker bank detects the full capacity with a presence sensor.
In another embodiment, with unlocking the locking collection door, the locker bank unlocks the rotating locking protection, and wherein the locking collection door is an internal door and the rotating locking protection is a tall external door protecting access to the internal door.
In a particular embodiment, after collecting the shipments in the drop compartment, the locker bank sets the drop status as not full.
Preferably, after collecting the shipments in the drop compartment, the locker bank zeroes the capacity status of the drop compartment.
Advantageously, after collecting the shipments in the drop compartment, the locker bank sets the shipment status as collected.
According to at least one implementation, a drop status service manages the drop status, provides the drop status on request and regularly updates the drop status by comparing the count with the predefined limit number. Following on the collection of shipments in the drop compartment, the drop status is set to not full by the drop status service as the shipment status are set to collected.
According to at least one implementation, for collecting shipments in the drop compartment, a container is removed from the drop compartment, and wherein the container gathers all shipments dropped off in the drop compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, the processor deletes the shipment identifiers of the shipments collected from the drop compartment and deletes the associated shipment status after a predefined period.
In a particular embodiment, a drop status service regularly updates a drop status by counting a number of shipment identifiers associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment, and following on a collection of the drop compartment, the locker bank deletes the shipment identifiers of the shipments collected from the drop compartment. In this simplified embodiment, no shipment status is stored and associated with shipment identifiers and the drop status is then set to not full by the drop status service, after the deletion of the shipment identifiers.
Other aspects, features and advantages of the teachings of the invention will become clearer to those ordinary skilled in the art upon review of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where:
According to at least some implementations of the invention, in order to optimize processes for return or direct sending, a locker bank is equipped, in addition to single shipment compartments, with a printer and a drop compartment, whose volume is significantly larger than the volumes of single shipment compartments, and where multiple shipments for return or for direct sending can be gathered before being collected by a carrier agent. The locker bank can also be equipped with several printers and several drop compartments.
Integrating a drop compartment module allows end customers, either recipients or direct senders, to drop-off shipments in a common drop compartment while using a locker bank resulting in a consolidation of drop-off shipments into a large compartment. This consolidation avoids using multiple single shipment compartments and minimizes the compartment volume required for the deposit of shipments, therefore optimizing the locker bank usage. Additionally, the shipment collection by the carrier agent is more efficient as he only needs to open a single collection door of a drop compartment rather than multiple single shipment compartments allowed to contain only a single shipment.
According to another embodiment, the locker bank of the invention also integrates a printing compartment 110 (only one printing compartment is represented on
The label printer prints shipping labels either for return or for direct sending. An end customer can get his shipping label directly at the locker bank and does not need to own or to have access to a printer for generating his label. This also allows a recipient, when picking-up a shipment in a locker bank, to immediately return the shipment by printing a return label and dropping the returned shipment in the drop compartment of the locker bank in case the shipment is inappropriate.
The locker bank system also comprises a remote shipping system 130, which manages authorization access to the locker bank and information relative to the shipments deposited in the locker bank and different statuses of the locker bank. The remote shipping system can manage a network of various locker banks including locker banks 98 equipped with drop compartments and printing compartments or simpler locker banks without drop compartments and printing compartments. The remote shipping system includes some carrier information systems, which manage information relative to the users (end customers or carrier agents) of the locker bank and data regarding the shipments handled by the locker bank—each carrier having its own carrier information system. The remote shipping system can provide information to the users for dropping-off a shipment in the locker bank such as the location of the locker bank or authorization information for accessing the locker bank. Data exchange between the locker bank and the remote shipping system is performed directly via a long distance communication network 132 based on a technology such as 3G-4G GSM. Data generated by and/or initially stored in the remote shipping system, such as identification or information relative shipments to be deposited in the locker bank compartments, are transmitted to the locker bank. Inversely, the locker bank can report operational events and captured data to the remote shipping system.
The control module also comprises a digital storage 140, which is controlled by the processor. It is to be understood that the term storage, generically used in the overall description of the different embodiments of the invention, may correspond to different memories as well as different types of memories including ROM, hard drive, flash drive, or the like and databases. The digital storage stores data for operating the locker bank including a list 142 of compartment identifiers corresponding to each compartment of the locker bank and a list 144 of shipment identifiers corresponding to each shipment deposited in compartments of the locker bank. When a shipment is deposited in a compartment, the corresponding shipment identifier is associated by the processor with the corresponding compartment identifier, and this association is maintained in the digital storage. In the case of a single shipment compartment only one shipment identifier can be associated with the compartment identifier of the single shipment compartment. In the case of a drop compartment, multiple shipment identifiers can be associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment (also called drop compartment identifier). A shipment status is stored in a list 145 of shipment status comprised in the digital storage and is associated with each shipment identifier. The shipment status indicates the status of the corresponding shipment, and can be set by the processor as “deposited” following on the shipment being dropped by an end customer or as “collected” once the shipment has been collected by a carrier agent. The digital storage can also store a list 146 of capacity status where each capacity status corresponds to a number of shipments deposited in a drop compartment and is associated with the compartment identifier of that drop compartment. In order to manage different carriers, the digital storage stores a list 148 of carrier identifiers, where each carrier identifier corresponds to a carrier allowed to operate the locker bank and where each carrier identifier is associated with the compartment identifiers corresponding to the compartments (either single shipment compartments or drop compartments), which the carrier is allowed to operate. A drop compartment identifier is associated with a unique carrier identifier. The digital storage also comprises a predefined limit number list 150 where each limit number corresponds to a full capacity of a drop compartment and is associated with a carrier identifier, which is associated with the compartment identifier of that drop compartment. The limit number defines the maximum number of shipments, which can be dropped in the drop compartment, and is predefined according to the carrier needs using the drop compartment and in relation with the volume of the drop compartment and the sizes of the shipments dropped in the drop compartment. When all the drop compartments of a locker bank are identical, the limit number list can consist in only one limit number. The digital storage also comprises a drop status list 152 where each drop status indicates whether a drop compartment is “full” or “not full” yet and is associated with the compartment identifier of that drop compartment. The drop status is set to “full” by the processor when the number of shipments dropped into the drop compartment matches the limit number of the drop compartment. The drop status is used for forbidding any further deposit in the drop compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the drop status is managed by a drop status service controlled by the processor, which regularly updates the drop status. Preferably, the drop status is stored in a volatile memory and does not require any management of a non-volatile memory.
The drop compartment includes a mask plate 206 positioned vertically in front of the top part or the drop compartment behind the small drop-off door. The mask plate is securely attached to the drop compartment and blocks the access to the drop compartment when the small drop-off door is opened. The mask plate comprises an aperture 208 centered in the mask plate acting as a filter for shipments to be dropped. The dimensions of the aperture limit the size of shipments, which can be dropped, and also limits the risk of unwanted penetration into the drop compartment when the small drop-off door is opened. In a region or an area where mostly small shipments are made using the drop compartment, providing an aperture with small dimensions allows for limiting shipments dropped off in a drop compartment to small size shipments. Such a filtering allows for a larger number of shipments to be gathered in a drop compartment and therefore minimizing the usage of single shipment compartments and optimizing the usage of the locker bank. The preferred dimensions for the aperture correspond to small shipments and are between 25 cm and 26 cm wide and between 6 and 7 cm high. However, the drop compartment is configured so that the mask plate can be exchanged on-site with minimal tools (for example only a screwdriver or only a wrench) by an authorized person with a new mask plate having an aperture with different dimensions in order to adapt the drop compartment for changes of shipment flows and of shipment sizes. The dimensions of the aperture is correlated with the maximum number of shipments, which can be dropped in the drop compartment, and the limit number corresponding to a full capacity of a drop compartment must be adjusted when a replacement of a mask plate with an aperture with different dimensions takes place.
In order to facilitate the shipments collection by a carrier agent, a container 210, which can be a bag or preferably a basket, is included in the collection zone of the drop compartment. All shipments deposited in the drop compartment are dropped off and gathered into the container. When collecting these shipments, a carrier agent removes the container and places back a new container or the removed container once it has been emptied. The filling of the container is monitored by the locker bank processor. Once full capacity of the container is reached, the processor is configured to forbid unlocking of the drop-off door (except for maintenance) until the drop-off shipments have been removed from the drop compartment. In an embodiment, a presence sensor 212, such as a detection curtain, monitored by the processor, detects a last shipment pilling up at the top of the container corresponding to the full capacity of the container. In another embodiment, the processor counts the number of shipments, whose shipment identifiers are associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment and are also associated with a shipment status set as “deposited”, and compares this count with a predefined limit number corresponding to full capacity of the drop compartment. Once the full capacity of the container is reached, the locker bank forbids any further deposit in the drop compartment, and does not propose the functionality for deposit in the drop compartment until the drop compartment is emptied. Meanwhile, the processor proposes a standard deposit in a single shipment compartment and opens the corresponding door, or preferably, if another drop compartment is available, proposes a drop-off in this other drop compartment and opens the corresponding drop-off door. When, during the carrier agent collection, after the container is emptied, based on the unlocking/locking of the collection door or preferably based on a detection by a detector 214 that the container has been removed from and placed back in the collection zone, the processor updates the shipment status to “collected” for each of the shipments, which have been removed from the drop compartment. Eventually, after a predefined period allowing for example for communicating the shipment status, the processor deletes the shipment identifiers of the shipments, which have been removed from the drop compartment, as well as the corresponding shipment status. Thereby, the update of the shipment status or the deletion of the shipment identifiers and shipment status stops the forbidding of the opening of the drop-off door.
In another embodiment of the drop compartment illustrated on
In another embodiment of the drop compartment illustrated on
Multiple drop compartments and printing compartments can be integrated in a locker bank. In case a large volume of returns or direct sendings are expected at a locker bank location, several drop compartments can be integrated in the locker bank. Only one printing compartment may be necessary, and it is preferably located above one of the drop compartments. When different carriers use a locker bank, each carrier is associated with dedicated drop compartments so that shipments handled by different carriers are not mingled in the same drop compartment, which corresponds to the previously stated rule that a drop compartment identifier is associated with a unique carrier identifier. Preferably, a different printing compartment is dedicated for each carrier allowing for a specific label format for each carrier and for a specific management of each printer by each carrier. The integration of several drop compartments in a locker bank is supported by the drop status list 152, the limit number list 150 and the capacity status list 146 comprised in the digital storage 140, and their association with carrier identifiers of the carrier identifier list 148 when different carriers use the locker bank.
A method for depositing a drop-off shipment in a locker bank integrating a drop compartment and a printing compartment according to the invention is now described in reference to
In act 512, a carrier information system comprised in the remote shipping system provides the locker bank with possible delivery dates and times for the shipment to be dropped off. The locker bank proposes possible delivery dates and times to the end customer via the user interface. The end customer selects a delivery date and time, which is communicated to the remote shipping system. In a particular embodiment, the delivery dates and times is managed as a decision tree and the selection is proposed to the end customer in two steps. The locker bank in a first step proposes delivery dates, and, once the date has been chosen, the locker bank in a second step proposes delivery times corresponding to the chosen delivery date. The chosen delivery date and time is provided by the locker bank to the remote shipping system via a second API call. In response, the remote shipping system can provide to the locker bank label data for the printing of a label for the shipment. In act 513, the locker bank selects a printer associated with the carrier based on the carrier information included in the identifying data provided by the end customer (a different printing compartment may be dedicated to each carrier), and prints a label, whose auto-sealing back is protected by a liner, and which identifies the shipment to be dropped off. The information printed on the label is generated by the locker bank based on the identifying data provided by the end customer and the label data provided by the remote shipping system. For such generation, additional information may be requested by the locker bank and input by the end customer via the locker bank user interface. The information printed on the label in particular includes a shipment identifier, which is used for uniquely identifying the shipment. In act 514, the end customer pulls off the liner from the label and affixes the label onto the shipment. The end customer then discards the label liner into the label liner trash 114.
In act 516, the locker bank detects whether full capacity of the drop compartment has been reached. Full capacity can be detected by the locker bank with the presence sensor 212 illustrated in
In act 522, the locker bank unlocks a flap 302 or a door providing access to an aperture for dropping off a shipment—depending on the embodied drop compartment. The unlocked door can be a small drop-off door 202 located above a tall collection door 204 as illustrated on
In act 524, the end customer verifies that the size of the shipment fits the size of the aperture for depositing shipments in the drop compartment. If the shipment size is too large to be dropped through the aperture, the end customer has to close the unlocked door or the unlocked flap and has to select via the user interface the usage of a single shipment compartment with an appropriate size. When the usage of a single shipment compartment is selected, the process continues as a standard deposit in a single shipment compartment (act 520), which will be collected by a carrier agent as a standard collection from the single shipment compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the end customer does not have to select a compartment. The identifying data captured by the locker bank during the initiation phase is communicated to the remote shipping system and allows the shipping remote system to identify the shipment and to establish whether the shipment, based on its dimensional and eventually fragility characteristics and based on a configuration of the locker bank stored and monitored by the remote shipping system, can be deposited in a drop compartment associated with the carrier. When it is established that the shipment can be deposited in a drop compartment, the remote shipping system requests the locker bank to select the drop compartment and no selection is required from the end customer of the locker bank. Otherwise, the remote shipping system may request the locker bank to select a single shipment compartment based on the dimensional characteristics of the shipment and based on a configuration of the locker bank stored and monitored by the remote shipping system. In another embodiment, based on the identifying data provided during the initiation phase, and eventually on complementary data including dimensional and fragility characteristics of the shipment provided to the locker bank by the remote shipping system, the locker bank can locally identify that the shipment is acceptable for a drop compartment and automatically selects the drop compartment without requiring any selection by the end customer.
In act 526, the end customer has verified that the size of the shipment fits the size of the aperture and the end customer drops off the shipment through the aperture. The end customer is requested by the locker bank to close the door of the drop compartment, which is automatically locked, or close the flap, which is also automatically locked. Optionally, the end customer is requested via the user interface to confirm that he has dropped his shipment in the drop compartment. Then, the locker bank stores in the list of shipment identifiers 144 the shipment identifier, which was printed on the label affixed onto the shipment, and the locker bank associates the shipment identifier with the compartment identifier corresponding to the drop compartment. Such an association of a shipment identifier and a compartment identifier would also be performed during a shipment deposit by a carrier agent into a single shipment compartment. The locker bank can also store in the list of shipment status 145 a shipment status, which is set by the locker bank as “deposited” and associated with the shipment identifier. In act 528, the locker bank detects whether full capacity of the drop compartment has been reached. Full capacity can be detected by the locker bank with the presence sensor 212 illustrated in
A method for collecting shipments from a drop compartment integrated in a locker bank is now described as illustrated on
In act 616, the carrier agent places back a new container or the removed container once it has been emptied. In act 618, the carrier agent closes the collection door, which is automatically locked by the locker bank. In the particular embodiment of a drop compartment with an external door and an internal door as illustrated on
In a simplified embodiment, no shipment status is stored and associated with shipment identifiers. The drop status service regularly updates the drop status by counting the number of shipment identifiers, which are associated with the compartment identifier of the drop compartment without having to check on a shipment status. Following on the collection of the drop compartment, the locker bank deletes the shipment identifiers of the shipments, which have been removed from the drop compartment. As a result, the compartment identifier of the drop compartment is not associated with any shipment identifier anymore, the next time the drop status service counts the number of shipment identifiers, and the drop status is then automatically set to “not full” by the drop status service, as no shipment identifiers can be accounted for anymore. So, following on the collection of the drop compartment, the drop status does not have to be especially set to “not full”, the shipment status do not have to be set to collected, and eventually the capacity status does not have to be zeroed. The compartment identifier can thereafter be associated with a future shipment identifier corresponding to a future shipment dropped off in the drop compartment.
An additional benefit of the invention is that the printing of the label and the affixing of the label onto the shipment is performed by the end customer during a shipment drop-off either for a return shipment or for a direct sending of a shipment—actions, which may be required from the carrier agent when the shipment is simply dropped into a single shipment compartment. Therefore, according to the invention, no label printing and label affixing onto the collected shipments is required for the carrier agent, resulting in a more efficient collection process.
It is easily devised by those ordinary skilled in the art that the invention also applies to the new generations of locker banks constituted of autonomous compartments or autonomous compartment clusters, which are not controlled by a central processor. For these new generations of locker banks, a drop compartment and a printing compartment constitute independent autonomous compartments and preferably an autonomous compartment cluster. Each autonomous compartment or each autonomous compartment cluster is operated via a mobile device, which establishes a communication with each autonomous compartment or each autonomous compartment cluster. The end customers or the carrier agents interact with the locker bank via their mobile interface following on the establishment of a communication with any autonomous compartment or any autonomous compartment cluster of the locker bank. The teachings of European patent application 22 305 085.7 are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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22 305 085.7 | Jan 2022 | EP | regional |