Abstract:
Controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments via an electronic locker unit communicatively coupled to a managing distribution centre, and having lockable compartments, comprises entering an identification code of the shipment and retrieving specific information including a weight P 0  associated with the shipment; opening a compartment of the electronic locker unit; depositing the shipment inside the compartment; weighing the shipment with a weighing module located inside the compartment and comparing the measured weight P with a reference weight;—and locking the compartment and logging the compartment as filled and successfully locked upon close match and validation of weight comparison, said reference weight is an authorized weight interval between a minimal weight Pmin and a maximal weight Pmax determined by cumulating at least the two following: a carrier weight tolerance T 1  corresponding to the weight P 0  provided by the carrier, and a locker weight tolerance T 2  of the scales of the weighing modules.

Description:
[0001]    BACKGROUND 
         [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present application relates to a method and apparatus for depositing by a delivery personnel or agent, shipments into an electronic locker system comprising several lockable compartments, and for retrieving these shipments thereafter. It aims in particular at an optimized control method and unit for controlling such a modular system usually called parcel locker. 
         [0004]    2. Technical Field 
         [0005]    Parcel lockers which are today commonly used worldwide for dropping-off, storing and picking up various kinds of shipments such as packages and objects, generally prove convenient for most users. 
         [0006]    It is known from WO 2013/170316 a system and method for delivery of one or more objects that includes the steps of determining if the object can be delivered to a first location; and in the event that the object cannot be delivered to the first location, a unique identifier is generated. The unique identifier is associated with the object and a reservation request is initiated to deliver the object to a second location. Determination of the second location is based on one or more parameters and notification of successful reservation request and second location is provided. A modular storage system having an actuator is also provided. 
         [0007]    Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 7,295,110 relates to a locking storage device in which objects are deposited for the later removal thereof. The inventive device consists of: at least one safe-deposit box which is intended to house the object and which comprises a door and a lock, a code input device and a control unit which is designed to authorize an object to be deposited therein and subsequently removed therefrom following the entry of a removal code. The device also comprises a weight sensor which supports the weight of the safe-deposit box. The aforementioned control unit is designed to determine the weight of the object contained in the safe-deposit box once an object has been deposited therein, to determine the variation in the weight of the safe-deposit box when an object is being removed and to emit an alarm signal when the object has been removed if said variation does not correspond to the weight of the object. 
         [0008]    Though all the previous locker systems generally prove satisfactory, improvements in the delivery process of items, packages, and transportable goods in general always remain a recurrent topic of close attention. Enhancing the quality of security regarding the delivery process therefore continues to be highly desirable. Errors often happen at any stage of the shipment process, from the delivery center to the delivery point. Thus, though the above-mentioned references disclose a weighing measurement and suggest a detection of discrepancies between the measured weight of a stored shipment and a previously recorded weight for security purposes, they do not expressly address the technical problem of weight tolerances. In fact this weight checking issue proves particularly critical for deciding to authorize or not the deposition operation of the shipments. 
         [0009]    It is therefore desirable to provide a locker system which solves the above weight comparison problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    An improved secure locker system for the delivery and retrieval of shipments allows managing the weighing tolerances of integrated scales in order to better ensure in particular that the shipment deposited inside the locker is the right one. 
         [0011]    A locker system is simple to reduce into practice, user-friendly and not too expensive, and the technical adjustments of which impact its architecture as less as possible. 
         [0012]    According to a first, a method for securely controlling the deposition and retrieval of shipments on at least an electronic locker unit connected to a managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having several lockable compartments is provided, the method comprising the following steps executed at the electronic locker unit:
       entering an identification code of the shipment and retrieving specific information including a weight PO associated with the shipment;   opening a compartment of the electronic locker unit;   depositing the shipment inside the compartment;   weighing the shipment with a weighing module located inside the compartment and comparing in a processing module the measured weight with a reference weight; and   locking the compartment containing the shipment and logging the compartment as being filled and successfully locked upon close match and validation of weight comparison,       
 
         [0018]    characterized in that said reference weight is an authorized weight interval between a minimal weight Pmin and a maximal weight Pmax determined by cumulating at least the two following weight tolerances:
       a carrier weight tolerance T 1  corresponding to the weight P 0  provided by the carrier; and   a locker weight tolerance T 2  of the scales of the weighing module.       
 
         [0021]    Preferably, said authorized weight interval cumulates the three following weight tolerances: the carrier weight tolerance T 1 , the locker weight tolerance T 2  and a range weight tolerance T 3 . 
         [0022]    All these aspects provide a means for optimally determining a refined weight interval of the shipment through the use of weight tolerance levels instead of using the current raw weight included within the specific information provided by a carrier. 
         [0023]    Advantageously, when said weight P 0  is unknown (P 0  set to zero) said minimal weight Pmin is set to 60 g and said maximal weight Pmax is set to 30 kg. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the calibration of said scales of the weighing module is adjusted after their installation at a particular location for gravity variations. 
         [0025]    Preferably, said carrier weight tolerance T1 is a fixed percentage value X (e.g., comprised between 1% and 5% of the weight P 0 ) which is specific to the carrier. 
         [0026]    Preferably, said locker weight tolerance T2 is a fixed percentage value Y (e.g., corresponding to 3% of the weight P0) which is specific to the locker system. 
         [0027]    Preferably, said range weight tolerance T3 is a fixed percentage value Z1 (e.g., corresponding to 3% for a weight P 0  below 1.0 kg, 2% for a weight P 0  between 1.0 kg and 5.0 kg, and 1% for a weight P 0  above 5.0 kg) which is specific to the relevant weight range of the shipment or said range weight tolerance is a fixed weight value Z2 (e.g., corresponding to 20 g for a weight PO below 1.0 kg, 50 g for a weight P 0  between 1.0 kg and 5.0 kg, and 100 g above 5.0 kg) which is specific to the relevant weight range of the shipment. 
         [0028]    According to an embodiment, said authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax is defined as follows: 
         [0000]        P min= P 0(1 −X /100)(1 −Y/ 100) 
         [0000]        P max= P 0(1 +X/ 100)(1+ Y/ 100) 
         [0029]    According to another embodiment, said authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax is defined as follows: 
         [0000]        P min= P 0(1 −X/ 100)(1 −Y/ 100)(1 −Z 1/100) 
         [0000]        P max= P 0(1 +X/ 100)(1 +Y/ 100)(1 +Z 1/100) 
         [0030]    According to still another embodiment, said authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax is defined as follows: 
         [0000]        P min= P 0(1 −X/ 100)(1 −Y/ 100)− Z 2
 
         [0000]        P max= P 0(1+ X/ 100)(1 +Y/ 100)+ Z 2 
         [0031]    Other aspects of the invention are discussed further in the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    The invention can be better understood in reading the following detailed description accompanied by illustrative and non-limiting examples with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  schematically depicts the electronic locker system of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a compartment of an electronic locker apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are schematic top and side views of weighing means associated with the compartment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates the weight calculation in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart which illustrates the successive operating steps of the locker control method according to the invention that relate to the shipment delivery mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a secure locker system  2  comprises a communication network  10  linking at least a sender  20 , a managing distribution centre  22 , at least an electronic locker apparatus  24  and at least a recipient  26 . The secure locker system is generally controlled by computer means, electronic means and mechanical means for operating the electronic locker apparatus through all its input and output means. 
         [0039]    The electronic locker apparatus typically comprises a series of available compartments  28   i  of different sizes and a set  30  of monitor, scanner and keyboard or touchscreen. Each compartment comprises an automatic door and an indicating luminous sign  29   i.  The bottom of the electronic locker apparatus is preferably assigned to heavy or bulky shipments. The luminous indication is based on predefined preferences such as the closest position available to the delivery agent, and preferably at the bottom of the electronic locker apparatus when the shipment is determined as bulky or heavy. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  illustrates a compartment for depositing a shipment such as a parcel or package  40 . For tracking purposes, the parcel bears a standard identification means  42  of any kind such as a barcode and/or a RFID tag. Each compartment comprises at least a weighing device  50 . In a particular embodiment, each compartment can also comprise a sensing device  60  for verifying the presence of the shipment. As illustrated on  FIG. 3A and 3B , each weighing device comprises preferably a series of thin force sensors  52   i  linked together to a circuit board  54 , attached to a lower base  56 , and located under an upper bearing plate  58 . 
         [0041]    The operation on the electronic locker apparatus in a shipment delivery mode is summarized below in view of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0042]    In a first steps  100 , the delivery agent logs on the locker unit for example via the keyboard  30  of the electronic locker apparatus (“locker unit” in the following description). In a second step  101 , the control software of the locker unit activates all scales of the locker unit; if scales cannot be switched on, an out of order message is displayed on screen. In a following step  102 , the delivery agent selects a “Deliver parcels” function on a displayed menu on the touchscreen  30  and in a step  103  scans the barcode of a first parcel with the scanner  30  to enter the identification code. 
         [0043]    In a further step  104 , the locker unit sends the parcel identification code to the managing distribution centre. At step  105 , the managing distribution centre checks if the parcel is declared. In case of a negative response, a refusal message NOK is returned and the parcel is rejected and will not be delivered (step  106 ). If Yes (positive response at the test of step  105 ) two values Pmin and Pmax are set and a message OK is returned to the locker unit with the relevant authorized Pmin-Pmax weight interval calculated in a step  107  according to the invention and explained below in view of  FIG. 5 . The parcel is then accepted for further processing (step  108 ). 
         [0044]    In the following step  109  the control software of the locker unit determines a suitable compartment and in a step  110  a check is performed with the relevant scale to detect if the compartment is empty. At step  111 , the value returned by the scale is verified. In case of a negative response at this test, meaning that the compartment is not empty, an event is generated corresponding to an error or problem, and sent to the managing distribution centre; the compartment is declared as defective and another compartment is selected (step  112 ). Otherwise, the operating process continues and the control software of the locker unit opens the selected compartment (step  113 ). 
         [0045]    In a further step  114  the delivery agent puts the parcel in the compartment and closes the compartment&#39;s door (step  115 ). In case of an error or problem (step  116 ) the compartment is declared as defective and an error event is sent to the managing distribution centre. Otherwise, the weight of the parcel is measured with the weighing device  50  (step  117 ). At step  118 , the measured weight P is compared to the authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax. If weight P is within the authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax, then the parcel is considered as delivered (step  119 ); the measured weight P is stored and a “Parcel Delivered” event is sent to the managing distribution centre. If weight P is outside the authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax (negative response at the test of step  118 ), then the parcel is not considered as delivered. The compartment is reopened and the delivery agent is asked to remove the parcel and further close the compartment. A “weight out of bounds” event is generated and sent to the managing distribution centre (step  120 ). The reason might be a problem with the scale or the weight declaration. At step  121 , the locker unit checks whether the compartment is closed. In case of a negative response, an error is generated and sent to the managing distribution centre (return to step  116 ). If the compartment is closed (positive response at the test of step  121 ), a new test at a step  122  is made to determine if the compartment is empty, for instance with the presence sensor  60 . The compartment&#39;s door reopens when the compartment is not recognized as empty and an error message is sent to the managing distribution centre (step  123 ). At step  124 , the locker unit checks whether the delivery agent has removed the parcel thus correcting the previous error. In case of a positive response, the door is closed, the check of this closing can be made at the step  121 . Otherwise, a “box open” event is generated and sent to the managing distribution centre (return to step  116 ). 
         [0046]    In the final step  125  the delivery agent can now either proceed with next parcel by returning to step  103  or stop and return to home page of the touchscreen  30 . 
         [0047]    In summary, when the delivery agent  32  scans the ID code  42  on parcel  40 , a checking operation is performed in the managing distribution centre  22  to confirm the declaration of the parcel. If it is the case, all information on the parcel is retrieved, in particular its authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax, and sent to the locker unit. 
         [0048]    As soon as the delivery agent closes the compartment  28   i  after deposition of the parcel, this latter is weighed. If its weight P is within the stored authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax, then the parcel is accepted; otherwise the compartment opens again and the delivery agent is asked to remove the parcel. 
         [0049]    When the delivery agent closes a presumed empty compartment, a checking operation is performed with the weighing module for confirming this state; otherwise the compartment opens again and the delivery agent is asked to remove the parcel. 
         [0050]    The determination of the authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax is now explained with reference to  FIG. 5 . According to the invention, the weight calculation is done in accordance with a declared weight PO and three tolerances T 1 , T 2 , T 3 :
       the carrier who uses specific scales with their own tolerance T 1 ;   the parcel locker with its own scales and tolerance T 2 ; and   the declared shipment weight the tolerance T 3  of which differs according to its relevant weight range Pi, Pi+1.       
 
         [0054]    The calculation of the minimum Pmin and maximum Pmax weights authorized for a parcel with a declared weight PO is carried out by taking successively the tolerances defined as follows into account. Here are the successive steps of calculation in which:
       X is the weight tolerance value of the carrier   Y is the weight tolerance value of the locker   Z is the weight tolerance value of the weight range       
 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Calculation step 
                 Minimum weight Pmin 
                 Maximum weight Pmax 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Carrier tolerance 
                 A = P0 * (1 − X/100) 
                 A = P0 * (1 + X/100) 
               
               
                 Locker tolerance 
                 B = A * (1 − Y/100) 
                 B = A * (1 + Y/100) 
               
               
                 Weight range 
                 C = B * (1 − Z/100) 
                 C = B * (1 + Z/100) 
               
               
                 tolerance (%) 
               
               
                 or 
                 or 
                 or 
               
               
                 Weight range 
                 C = B − Z 
                 C = B + Z 
               
               
                 tolerance (value) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       EXAMPLE 1 
       [0058]    Carrier tolerance: 4% 
         [0059]    Locker tolerance: 3% 
         [0060]    Weight range tolerance: 2% 
         [0061]    Declared parcel weight: 1,200 g 
         [0062]    Calculation of authorized minimum weight Pmin: 
         [0000]      1,200*(1−4/100)=1,152 g
 
         [0000]      1,152*(1−3/100)=1,117.44 g
 
         [0000]      1,117.44*(1−2/100)=1,095.09=1,095 g
 
         [0063]    Calculation of authorized maximum weight Pmax: 
         [0000]      1,200*(1+4/100)=1,248 g 
         [0000]      1,248*(1+3/100)=1,285.44 g 
         [0000]      1,285.44*(1+2/100)=1,311.14=1,311 g 
       EXAMPLE 2 
       [0064]    Carrier tolerance: 4% 
         [0065]    Locker tolerance: 3% 
         [0066]    Weight range tolerance: 50 g 
         [0067]    Declared parcel weight: 1,200 g 
         [0068]    Calculation of authorized minimum weight Pmin: 
         [0000]      1,200*(1−4/100)=1,152 g
 
         [0000]      1,152*(1−3/100)=1,117.44 g
 
         [0000]      1,117.44−50=1,087.44=1,067 g
 
         [0069]    Calculation of authorized maximum weight Pmax: 
         [0000]      1,200*(1+4/100)=1,248 g 
         [0000]      1,248*(1+3/100)=1,285.44 g 
         [0000]      1,285.44+50=1315.44=1,335 g 
         [0070]    According to the carrier, weight tolerance T 1  is a fixed percentage that has a value X comprised between 1% and 5% of the weight P 0 . 
         [0071]    According to the locker system, weight tolerance T 2  is a fixed percentage that has a value Y comprised between 1% and 5% of the weight P 0 . It preferably takes into account the external environment variations such as vibrations and temperature and humidity changes. 
         [0072]    According to the weight range of the shipment, weight tolerance T 3  is:
       either a fixed percentage that has preferably a value Z1 corresponding to 3% for a weight P 0  below 1.0 kg, 2% for a weight P 0  between 1.0 kg and 5.0 kg and 1% for a weight P 0  above 5.0 kg; or   a fixed weight value Z2, e.g., 20 g for a weight PO below 1.0 kg, 50 g for a weight P 0  between 1.0 kg and 5.0 kg and 100 g for a weight PO above 5.0 kg.       
 
         [0075]    If P 0  is unknown or set to 0, then the weighing system sets a default Pmin-Pmax couple with Pmin equal to 60 g and Pmax equal to 30 kg. 
         [0076]    Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of steps described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only one embodiment of the present invention, and does not serve as a limitation of alternative methods within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0077]    For instance, the values X, Y, Z may be stored in a database of the locker unit and the calculation of the authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax performed by the locker unit. 
         [0078]    The specific information can also be recorded in a remote database distinct from the managing distribution database and accessible by the electronic locker unit. This information can also be downloaded into a mobile terminal  32 A of the delivery agent when leaving the managing distribution centre. It can further be transmitted to the locker unit along with the scanning of the parcel identification code. 
         [0079]    The authorized weight interval Pmin-Pmax can be defined by differently cumulating weight tolerances T 1 , T 2 , T 3 .