Patent ID: 7815112
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: A47G,G07C,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method of securing delivery of a parcel, the method comprising: constructing an access-restricted area with a portal; fitting the portal with an electronically-controlled lock having a controller that has an input interface; receiving, directly at the controller from a parcel delivery company over a network, a tracking number generated by the parcel delivery company as a unique identifier to track the status of a parcel; receiving directly at the controller an email from the parcel delivery company wherein the email contains the tracking number; electronically parsing the email to determine the tracking number; configuring the electronically-controlled lock to unlock when a recipient access code is input to the input interface by a recipient, wherein the recipient access code is different from the tracking number and is not unique for the parcel; enabling the electronically-controlled lock to use the tracking number as an access code to a open the electronically-controlled lock; unlocking the electronically-controlled lock when the enabled tracking number is input to the input interface of the electronically-controlled lock by a delivery person; and locking the electronically-controlled lock after one of the group of conditions consisting of detecting the parcel within the access-restricted area or the lapse of a predetermined amount of time has occurred.