Abstract:
This invention—iBOX, an intelligent multifunction mailbox, combines several technologies, such as video camera, remote programmable keypad, PN junction thermoelectric unit, powerline communication, wire or wireless communication and Internet together to provide a more secure, multi functional mailbox. It resolves several short comes of the traditional signature-required delivery operations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to an intelligent mailbox, more particular, this invention provides a multifunction intelligent mailbox with built-in video, audio, temperature control device, software and optional Internet, telephone communicating capability.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Traditional mailbox is a passive device where mailman drops regular mails. The traditional mailbox can&#39;t handle any registered mail. Nor the traditional mailbox can accept special delivery. A registered mail/package will require one of the residents of the designated address to sign a receipt before the delivery person can release the package. During the daytime, if the residents of a household have to go to work or go to school and no one is home that presents problem for both the delivery person and the mailpackage receiver.  
         [0003]     According to statistics data the volume of online purchases will steadily increase and accounts for at least 20% of total domestic purchase by year 2005, which the estimated on-line transaction amount is around US$1.1 trillions. Most merchants use a third party carrier to deliver their goods to the purchasers and require proof of delivery. Therefore, the home delivery services either from Post Office, UPS, Federal Express, or other commercial carriers will increase considerably every year. However, the traditional mailbox will not be able to handle the up raising commercial trend.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, the trend to order ready to eat food through online is also getting popular in the ever fasting pace society. More and more people order frozen and pre-warmed foods from food stores or supermarkets. So far the food delivery service faces the same situation as the registered package has that requires someone at home to receive the delivery. Of course, the traditional mailbox won&#39;t be able to store and preserve those foods in safe and fresh condition even if we prepaid the food.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     There is a need for more intelligent multifunction mailbox to streamline delivery operations, to provide more security. Combining with a wire or wireless video camera, Internet, wireless communication, a programmable keypad and powerline communicating technology, the iBOX can overcome many shortcoming of the traditional mailbox. Moreover, through directly key in the keypad or remotely controlled, an iBOX can be operated and monitored either on-site or remotely to the access of these secured compartments and block out any unauthorized intrusion. Meantime, the built-in camera will record all accesses to the iBOX and be retreated back to date, hour, minute and second, such as the image of home delivery can be used as a proof of package delivery. The iBOX can store and preserve the delivered foods in a frozen or pre-warmed manner to keep its original taste and freshness. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     Following drawings with reference numbers and exemplary embodiments are referenced for explanation purpose.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates the basic structure of an iBOX;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates the logical flow of the operation by different wireless video camera  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates the functional block diagram of the programmable keypad;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates the logical flow of the operation of an Internet-based iBOX; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     The core part of this invention is the “iBOX”, an intelligent multifunction mailbox, which utilizes several existing technologies, such as video camera, the Internet, ISDN, Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN) or Wireless Communication to link merchants, the carriers and the end customers (an iBOX user) together.  
         [0012]     The “iBOX” can be a tower style having a plurality of modularized stackable compartments, and the iBOX can be a standalone model, a home PC-based model or an Internet-based model.  FIG. 1  illustrates an example of the iBOX common basic design. The top compartment  10  is for regular mail. The second compartment of the iBOX is the registered mailbox compartment  20 , the third compartment is a frozen food compartment  30 , the fourth section is a pre-warmed food compartment  40 , and the fifth compartment  50  is for large package. The frame of this iBOX is made of FRP or other tough material to protect UV, snow and resist impact, and the whole construction is a waterproof one. Because the tower configuration itself is flexible and modularized, a user can select different compartments for his customized iBOX configuration, such as that a user may use two large package compartments without any frozen or hot food compartment in his iBOX or an iBOX user may not want the large package compartment but all other compartments.  
         [0013]     If the iBOX is installed directly on the ground, then there is a water proofed base stand with an inlet for the power line or other needed wires to come in from outside. This “IBOX” can be installed almost anywhere as long as it has access to electricity, it could be at the curb of the house nearby the lamp post, or at the front gate close to the lighting fixture. As an alternative, the IBOX can also be installed as a wall mount unit, which the IBOX can be embedded within the wall inside the house, and has a doorbell push button on it.  
         [0014]     On the top of the IBOX is the control panel  11 , which includes a programmable keypad  12 , a first video camera  13  which has a motion sensor inside, an automatic lens shelter door  14  which can be driven by a DC motor to normally keep first video camera  13  closed, and the four LED indictor lights  15 A- 15 D.  
         [0015]     The programmable keypad  12  mainly is used for users to key in access password to unlock corresponding compartment&#39;s door, as well as the shelter door  14 . However, an optional personal identification card reader can be embedded to the keypad, where requires password plus a valid personal identification card to open the locked compartment door. Underneath the video camera  13  there are two slots for USB interface  16 A,  16 B to connect with plug-in flash memory module or any other memory storage device. The lens shelter door  14  protects the camera as well as the two USB interface slots underneath from dust and unwanted invasion. There is a way to use a fixed transparent glass door to protect the first video camera  13 , instead of using a movable shelter door  14 . In this case, there is no motion sensor inside the camera, the voice/video recordings will be triggered only when a correct password is keyed in, or a doorbell button is pushed. The four LED indicator lights  15 A- 15 D indicate the occupancy status of its corresponding compartment of the box, they are mounted on an angled panel that does protrude out enough, so that through the first video camera  13  a user can monitor the status of these four LEDs  15 A- 15 D to determine if there is item in the monitored compartment.  
         [0016]     For the iBOX example shown in  FIG. 1 , there will be at least four different passwords that each opens its corresponding compartment of the “iBOX”. The passwords can be set by the iBOX user himself from the keypad  12 , from a home PC or remote host computer, or even from the cell phone, which can be re-programmed either on daily or weekly basis for safety concern.  
         [0017]     The first compartment  10  of the iBOX is purposed for the regular incoming mails, of which have no need to go through video camera system to get evidence for delivery. It has an angled shape entrance, below is a hinged door  17 , and on it has a pocket  18  on it. By pulling down the door  17  users can put his outgoing mail on the pocket  18 , and then he pulls the mailbox handle  19  up to show there is mail for delivery. The mailman will pick up mail from the pocket  18 , and throw in regular incoming mails those mails will be kept in the compartment  20 , which has lock on it.  
         [0018]     The second compartment  20  is purposed for registered mail or smaller parcel shipment, which normally need a receipt for. Mailmen need to use password to open the compartment to put mails into. It has an occupancy sensor  21  inside, if there is a mail inside the second compartment, it will turn the first LED indicator light  15 A on. The door lock  22  has a magnetic strike, which can be triggered to unlock the door lock by keying a valid password on the keypad  12 . Once the door is opened, a bell-ring alarm  23  will be turned on to give warning about the opening door. Upon closing the door, a signal is sent to close the lens shelter door  14  and then stop the recording of the first camera  13 . An optional auxiliary camera  25  inside the second compartment will take the still picture of the goods being put in, and transmits that to the system and store there as the evidence of goods being put-in even after the compartment door is closed. All wiring connections are made through a multiple position connector  26 , which is built in the rear side of the compartment, that connects to the other compartments and the control panel when they are stacked together.  
         [0019]     The third compartment  30  has thicker installation wall it also has an occupancy sensor  31 , a door lock  32 , a bell-ring alarm  33 , a door switch  34 , an optional auxiliary camera  35  and connector  36  as the second compartment. It also has a built-in PN-junction Ceramic Peltier Effect thermo electric heat pump  37  for temperature control. Once there is a package of food put inside, the occupancy sensor  31  will turn the LED Indicator  15 B on, and it will also trigger the thermal switch  38  inside the compartment to turn on the PN junction thermoelectric unit  37  to cool down the temperature to  42  degree F instantly and maintain that temperature there. After the food is taken out, the occupancy sensor  31  detects the emptiness of the compartment inside and turns off the PN junction thermoelectric unit  37 .  
         [0020]     The forth compartment  40  has the same construction and equipment as the third compartment  30  has, except the PN junction thermoelectric unit  47  uses the reversed electric current flow which the PN junction thermoelectric unit of the third compartment  37  has. Because the Peltier Effect, the interior&#39;s temperature of the compartment will quickly raise to 140 degree F. and stays there. However, the third compartment  30  can be designed as a cold or a hot selectable compartment through a thermal switch  38  inside. The switch  38  has three positions, one is for the hot temperature, one is for the cold temperature and one is for the neutral, which the PN junction thermoelectric unit is not turned on.  
         [0021]     Because the PN junction thermoelectric unit will create cold temperature on one side of the ceramic module, and the hot temperature on the other side, therefore, it is an option to have the cold compartment and the hot compartment share one PN junction thermoelectric unit. For example, the compartments  30  and  40  share one PN junction thermoelectric unit, when the thermo unit is turned on, it will maintain a warm compartment  30  and a cool compartment  40  simultaneously.  
         [0022]     The lowest level compartment  50  has similar equipments and structure as the second compartment  20  but has a much larger space inside. And for cost saving purpose, instead of installing one alarm in each compartment, all installed compartments can share one alarm installed on the top panel  11 .  
         [0023]     In a standalone model, the iBOX won&#39;t need to connect to Internet or a home computer. Instead of using the host computer or a home PC to store captured video/audio data, the iBOX uses compact flash memory module to store the captured data. It will download the captured audio/video data into the plug-in flash memory, one is provided and installed by the iBOX user, and another one is provided for delivery person. When the delivery person keys in the correct password, the iBOX will open the lens shelter door  14 , at the same time, the delivery person should plug his memory module into the vacant memory slot while another memory s lot h as been installed with the iBOX user&#39;s memory module, The first video camera  13  will start to record images once it detects the motion of mailman it then stores all captured image and voice data simultaneously into both memory modules. After the delivery person put the package into the unlocked compartment and locks the door, he can remove his memory module from the memory slot, the lens shelter door  14  will be closed and the first video camera  13  stop recording. The delivery process has been captured into at least one frame of video image and/or voice recording with embedded date information, such as year, day, hour and minute, and the unique iBOX identification number are stored in both memory modules. Both the carrier and the iBOX user have one copy of the delivery image stored in the memory module as the proof of the delivery.  
         [0024]     In the home PC based iBOX model, the iBOX is simply connected with the user&#39;s home PC through power line. All control signal or image or audio data are transmitted from iBOX through an adaptor, which convert audio/video signals to powerline, then from powerline by passing through a gateway or bridge which will convert powerline signals to Ethernet which the home PC connect through. In this design, the captured audio/video data from the first video camera can be transmitted and stored either in the home PC and/or in the flash memory module. The delivery person still plugs in his memory module to get a copy of captured video/audio data as his delivery proof.  
         [0025]     If this home PC based iBOX is installed on the front door as the wall mount type, it can be connected with the Cat.  5 ,  5   e  or  6  structuring cabling system to the home PC, to get all audio/video recordings transmitted through as above mentioned.  
         [0026]     In the network model, it depends the built-in intelligent of the camera, referring to  FIG. 2 , whether the camera will connect either to a Receiver  130  and the Home PC  132  (if it is a normal wireless web cam  122 ), or to the Access Point  126  directly (if use an wireless I.P. Camera  124 , then no need to go through the Receiver and the home PC). The first wireless video camera in iBOX  120  works as the Transmitter, which will transmit the voice/video recordings to the receiver  130  and the home PC  132 , or to an Access Point  126  directly. In either ways the voice/video images will be transmitted via DSL or Cable Modem  128  or  134  through Internet  136  to some designated e-mail addresses or web sites. Meantime, the system will page the iBOX user through the PSTN.  
         [0027]     One important part of this invention is the programmable keypad. The keypad controls and interfaces with several other parts of this iBOX, such as unlock a corresponding compartment door, and turn on the shelter of camera to start the recording process. The keypad could have total 16 keys on it, among that 4 keys are set for the four different compartments, and the other 12 keys are numerical keys. A user can assign his new passwords to this keypad either locally from the keypad, if it is a stand-alone model, or remotely from the home PC or host computer, or even from the cell phone, if it is a network model.  FIG. 3  illustrates the functional block diagram as to how a remote control keypad is possible. The keypad  60  has a CPU  64 , a plurality of 16-keys  62 , ROM/RAM module  66  to store instructions and passwords, and a plurality of interfaces for coupling with remote triggering inputs  68 , where the command signals such as changing the passwords either transmitted from Ethernet or power line  68 A, or wireless phone  68 B etc. The network model iBOX has the capacity and the interface  69 , using built-in IC, to convert the Internet signal through power line to keypad. The network model iBOX&#39;s keypad will carry an IP address from the DSL or cable modem, so that it can be addresed through Internet from remote PC or host computer. When a cell phone is used, the user can also get into the system to change the passwords by using the DTMF (Dual Tone Multiplex Frequency) technique. In this design, by adding a telephone tone encoder, one can direct the incoming call through the cordless phone receiver at home, instead of getting to fax machine, or normal phone handset, but to the iBOX. In this case, the iBOX has a handset-alike tone decoder  70  to pick up the telephone tone of the password from the receiver when the user key in, and generate a pulse to the CPU of keypad, as a result, one can change the password through the cell phone at his wishes. All technologies described above will allow the user to preset or reprogram his designated passwords to the keypad as the remote inputs either from  68 A or  68 B. Once a password was keyed in at the 16-keys  62 , the CPU  64  will check if this password is valid by comparing to the preset password list stored in the ROMAAM module  66 , if it is a valid one, the CPU  64  will send signal through the interface to the compartment door lock  72  to unlock the door, or to open the lens shelter door  74  of the first video camera.  
         [0028]     As part of the overall system, an Internet-based iBOX through a PC or wireless Access Point at home can connect with the Host computer of service provider through ISDN, PSTN or Internet. The Host Computer has much larger capacity in hard disc storage, it c an share the Home PC to record and save the pictures if the latter one has limited space for recordings.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates how an Internet-based IBOX and its overall network work. Once the system detects one of these triggering events Step  80  or  82  happened, whether a valid password is keyed in or some specific condition is met. The system opens the lens shelter door Step  84  and the first camera starts to record the images Step  86 . Depends on the type of the first video camera, if the camera is a network IP type camera Step  88 , it will transmit the data out through an Access Point  94  installed at the user&#39;s home directly. If it is a web type camera, the camera transmits the captured video or audio data through a receiver Step  102 , then through the connected home PC Step  104  to the Cable or DSL Modem Step  96 . If the iBOX has auxiliary camera installed inside the compartment, the package put inside will provide a trigger event Step  90  to turn on the auxiliary camera Step  92 , and send that picture to the first camera. In either case, the captured recordings will be sent by the Cable or DSL Modem Step  96 , which further forwards the data through Internet Step  98  to the host computer Step  100 . In addition, by designating a pre-set phone number, the Home PC Step  104  will page the iBOX user to inform the delivery Step  106 . If the user has instantly access a PC through the Internet connection he can download and view the on-line image captured by the first camera, or talk to and or see the delivery person on-line.  
         [0030]     The system keeps the captured image for a certain period of time. Therefore, a user or the carrier can request to retrieve the dated image from the host computer later as a receipt.  
         [0031]     The iBOX and its operating system can be implemented in the real world in many different forms as following examples:  
         [0000]     a. Carriers Deliver a Registered Mail or Package that Requires a Confirmation of Delivery.  
         [0032]     In addition to the passwords assigned by the particular iBOX user, the iBOX can have a common password assigned by the service provider. For example, if the Post Office is the carrier, the Post Office has a list of local iBOX users and gets a common password from the service provider, so that the mail carrier can use a common password to access all local iBOXes. Other carrier by contacting the service provider will receive a specific password before the delivery actually takes place. The common password can override the personal passwords. Both the common passwords and the personal passwords are kept strictly confidential and only authorized third party can request and access to the password. If needed, the service provider can remotely change the common passwords periodically through Internet, or even set temporarily password which is valid for two hours only through the cell phone for instant delivery.  
         [0033]     When the delivery person approaches the iBOX or he keys in the correct password on the keypad, the iBOX will open the lens shelter door. Depends on the models of the iBOX, if the iBOX is a standalone model or a home PC-based model, the delivery person can plug in his memory module into the vacant memory slot to download the audio/video data from the first camera when recording starts. In the Internet-based iBOX, actually it is optional to use the memory module method to store the video/audio data; the system will store the captured image into the home PC and/or the host computer through Internet. At the same time, the correct password input will unlock the door of the designated compartment. Instantly, the bell-ring  23  is on and makes ringing alarm to remind the door is opened. At this moment, the deliverer stands in front of the first camera and he can show the packing slip of the parcel or mail onto the video camera  13  at least once, then he puts the parcel into the designated compartment, or the deliverer can speak to the first camera to identify who he is and what is the package. In the standalone model or the home PC-based model, the captured data will be put into the memory module or the home PC whether the data is from the first video camera or from the optional auxiliary camera inside the compartment.  
         [0034]     However, for an Internet-based iBOX, all the dated voice/video recordings are transmitting on-line. After the goods are put inside the compartment, the occupancy sensor  21  lights up the corresponding LED indicator  15 A on the angled top shelf control panel. The picture of lighting up this Indicator will be recorded and sent by video camera  13  through the system to give another indication that the goods is put inside. Then the deliverer shuts the compartment door, which will trigger the door switch  24  to closes the lens shelter  14  and terminates the recording of the first camera.  13 . In this stage, the optional auxiliary camera  25  can still send the picture showing the parcel inside the compartment through the first video camera  13  modules to the system. Meantime, for the Internet-based iBOX model, the audio/video recordings will be transmitted to either Home PC or upload directly through the Internet to the host computer, or to any e-mail address or web site whoever needs those recordings as the evidence of delivery. It will also page the cell phone of the iBOX user to inform him there is a parcel for him. For a standalone model or the home PC-based model, the delivery person unplugs and takes the memory module with downloaded data with him.  
         [0035]     In this scenario, there is no longer a need for the signature of the receiver, because the captured video images, which includes the present of a deliverer, showing the packing slip, still picture of goods in the compartment, and the pictures the user takes out the goods all can be used as a proof of delivery and receiving of the package.  
         [0036]     The system can also be set up to request the receiver to give reconfirmation the receipt of the mail/goods by e-mail next day. The image/picture stored in the Host Computer system will carry the specific date and time for a pre-defined time period, when it is needed, the particular dated image can be retrieved from the memory module, the home PC or the host computer to provide evidence of delivery and receipt. Any out of date recording data will be automatically erased after a pre-defined time period.  
         [0000]     b. The iBOX User Purchases Goods from Internet.  
         [0037]     The iBOX user advises the seller his shipping address, the iBOX number and the password for the fifth compartment  50  when he places an order over the phone or Internet. Then the merchant arranges the shipping with a carrier. The seller put all that information including shipping address, iBOX password on the shipping label of the package for delivery.  
         [0038]     The delivery person uses that password to access the fifth compartment of the user&#39;s iBOX, which invoking all operating processes depends on the type of the iBOX. Nevertheless, there is at least one frame of the delivery processes, such as the presence of the delivery person, the package or his voice input will be stored in the memory module, the home PC or the host computer of the service provider. Later on the carrier can download the captured images from the delivery person&#39;s memory module, or from the host computer through Internet, and stored the data in his own system for a period of time as the evidence of delivery and receipt.  
         [0039]     Because the space of the fifth compartment is known, if the receiving package is too big to put in the iBOX, the carrier can arrange a traditional delivery with the package receiver.  
         [0000]     c. The iBOX User Orders Take-Out Food Delivery.  
         [0040]     The iBox user can use the iBOX to receive the delivery of the hot or cold food. When an iBOX user calls and places an order, depends on the storage temperature requirement for the particular item, the user can give the store his address and the password for accessing the corresponding compartment to his iBOX. The food store delivery person uses that password on the keypad  12  to unlock the compartment door and put the item into the corresponding compartment. In case of the delivery of an ice cream cake, it is not necessary for the iBOX user waiting at home, the ice cream delivery person keys in the password for the cold food compartment, open the door and put the ice cream in. Meantime, the occupancy sensor  31  of the third compartment  30  inside will activate the PN cooling system  37  and quickly reduce the temperature inside the compartment down to 42 degree F. and maintains the temperature there, until the user takes it out, the food will stay cool and fresh, and ready for eating. The operating process is the same for a warm food delivery, where the forth compartment is accessed.  
         [0041]     Even if the delivery person without having the password aforehead, he can call the user cell phone to get one. The iBOX user can instantly make a call to the system to set a temporarily password for him to open certain compartment to put goods in.  
         [0042]     This invention also provide a much secured multifunction mailbox where any unauthorized intrusion will be deterred because the built-in video recording capacity. Therefore, to keep this password system simple and safe, there is an option that the iBOX user can renew it momentarily either on-site or re-program it through Internet or cell phone if he chose to do so. The stored video/audio data can be purged periodically. The service provider or the home PC owner can decide how often the purge should happen.  
         [0043]     Since iBOX has video recording and transmission capability, if this iBOX is installed nearby the front door, it can also be used as the video surveillance purpose. In this case, the iBOX will be connected to the doorbell, or even embedded with a doorbell inside. When the mailman or visitor push the door bell, it will actuate the system, so that either the people in the house, or outside the road or office can see through his video phone, TV, Home PC or 3G mobile phone, to get know who is standing on the front of his home, or speak to him.