Patent Publication Number: US-2018053365-A1

Title: Package as a key

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 62/375,628, filed Aug. 16, 2016, entitled “Package as Key,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a system for automatically opening an entrance to the building to receive packages delivered to the building, and more specifically for a secure system for automatically opening an entrance to a building to receive packages delivered to the building. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Purchasing products online is a large business and is becoming larger. These products are typically delivered as packages to customers&#39; homes. Many times they may be delivered during the day when the customer is not at home. Since these packages are left many times on porches or near the house in the yard they are prone to theft. 
     Attempts have been made to create systems to receive packages. For example U.S. Application 2015/0120529 A1, published Apr. 30, 2015 “Door Access and Package Delivery”, and U.S. Application 2015/0156031 A1 published Jun. 4, 2015 “Environmental Sensing With a Doorbell at a Smart Home” both naming Google, Inc. as the applicant, and both hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein, describe a system for receiving a package. However, these do not implement a secondary independent verification system. One may possibly find out the code and get access to a person&#39;s home. 
     Currently, there is a need for a secure, automated system for receiving a package at a building when there is no one present. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to aspects of the present inventive concepts there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the inventive concepts will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows. 
     At least one embodiment of the current invention provides an automatic system for receiving a package purchased through an e-commerce system that is delivered to a building. The system includes an identification device having package information attached to the package. 
     A local controller at the building adapted to communicate with the e-commerce system to receive package and delivery information. 
     An automated lock at the building functions to lock or unlock an entrance to the building when activated. 
     A smart doorbell device is adapted to include a package recognition device and functions to acquire the package information from the identification device when activated and the package is placed near the automated doorbell device. 
     The local controller is coupled to the automated lock and the doorbell recognition device, and activates the automated doorbell device to acquire package information from the identification device. It also compares the package information acquired from the doorbell recognition device to package information provided by the e-commerce system to determine if they match. 
     The local controller also receives a time of arrival information (TOA) of the package to the building and creates a delivery time window around the TOA. 
     The local controller activates the automated lock to unlock an entrance to the building if the acquired package information from the doorbell recognition device is consistent with the package information provided by the e-commerce system, and the package is received within the delivery time window. 
     The current invention may also be described as a method of automatically receiving a package ordered through an e-commerce system and delivered to a building by providing an identification device having package information on the package, communicating package and delivery information from the e-commerce system to a local controller, placing the package in proximity to a doorbell recognition device, acquiring package information from the identification device by a doorbell recognition device. 
     The method also includes creating a delivery time window from the delivery information, comparing the package information from the doorbell recognition device to the package information provided by the e-commerce system, unlocking an automated lock on an entrance to the building when the doorbell recognition device identifies the package within the delivery time window, allowing a delivery person to bring the package inside the building, and locking the entrance after the delivery person has left. 
     The method may further include monitoring the actions of the delivery person when inside of the building. It includes acquiring information about the delivery company from a delivery company identification device that includes information on the delivery company. The method further includes reading the delivery company information from company identification device with the doorbell recognition device to verify the identity of the delivery company. 
     The current invention may also be described as an automatic system for receiving a package that was purchased on an e-commerce system that is delivered to a building having a home automation system capable of unlocking an entrance to the building. The automatic system includes an identification device having package information on the package, a local controller at the building that communicates with the e-commerce system to receive package and delivery information which includes a delivery time window, an automated lock on the building functioning to unlock and lock an entrance when activated, and a doorbell recognition device able to acquire package information from the identification device when the package is placed near the automated doorbell device, when the automated doorbell device is activated. 
     The automatic system having the local controller coupled to the automated lock and the doorbell recognition device, functions to activate the automated doorbell device to acquire information from the identification device within a delivery window, compare the package information acquired from the doorbell recognition device to package information provided by the e-commerce system; and activate the home control system to unlock and open the entrance if the acquired package information from the doorbell recognition device is consistent with the package information provided by the e-commerce system, and within the delivery time window. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and further advantages may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the concepts. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various example embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various example embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  shows the delivery person and delivery vehicle delivering a package purchased by a customer on-line that is being delivered to a building indicated by the customer; 
         FIG. 2  shows the interaction between equipment in the building, the package, the delivery person and the e-commerce site; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic block diagram showing the major parts of the automatic system for receiving a package according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the garage door is automatically opened to receive the delivered package; 
         FIG. 5  is a modified flow diagram showing the interaction between various elements of the system for receiving a package at a door of the building; 
         FIG. 6  is a modified flow diagram showing the interaction of various elements of the system for receiving a package into a garage of the building. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The current invention attempts to solve the problems indicated in the “Background” above. It effectively allows the package being delivered to be a key to the home owner&#39;s door. In conjunction with other equipment, it allows a delivery person delivering a package to have access to a home or apartment. This allows the delivery person to put the package just inside the homeowner&#39;s property in a secure manner. The owner&#39;s door is then locked after the package has been received. 
     This invention involves using a smart lock, smart doorbell (with camera), and an internal camera to allow a door to be automatically unlocked so that a package can be set just inside the door (instead of left on the porch.) 
     The structure and functioning of the automated system  100  for receiving a package will be described in connection with the workflow diagram of  FIG. 5  and the structure shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     In step  201 , a customer  117  interacts through a customer&#39;s mobile device  118  to connect to a website of an e-commerce site  101  to purchase a product on-line. This product is intended to be delivered as a package  110  to a delivery location (building  102 ) identified by customer  117 . The customer  117  typically receives a shipping notice on customer&#39;s mobile device  118  from e-commerce system  101 . 
     In step  203 , the customer  117  is given an option to authorize delivery without requiring a signature when delivered. This is referred to pre-signing for package  110 . 
     In step  205 , e-commerce system  101  sends shipping information a local controller  106  in building  102 . This shipping information may indicate package information, such as the type and size of the package, a predetermined code, such as a barcode, and some other identifying information allowing local controller  106  to identify the package. The shipping information may also indicate the date/time of arrival, or a time window of arrival being a period of time around an estimated time of arrival. 
     In step  207 , local controller  106  logs the information received. 
     In step  209 , a package delivery company, indicated in  FIG. 1  by driver/delivery person  113  and delivery vehicle  115  transports package  110  to building  102  for delivery. The delivery person  113  and delivery vehicle  115  may be from a separate delivery company. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5 and 2 , in step  211 , delivery person  113  rings a smart doorbell  105 . 
     In step  213 , the smart doorbell  105  interacts with local controller  106  to indicate that the doorbell was rung. 
     In step  215  the local controller  106  determine if it is close to a delivery time of arrival (TOA) or within a delivery time window for delivery of a package  110 . In one embodiment, the TOA is provided by the ecommerce system  101 . 
     In another embodiment, if a separate delivery company is being used, the delivery company may provide the TOA. 
     In still another embodiment, there is a tracking device  112  on the package that is tracked during delivery and the TOA is updated based upon the tracking information. 
     In another embodiment, there is a tracking device  112 ′ on the delivery vehicle  115  is tracked during delivery and the TOA is updated based upon the tracking information. 
     If the package is being delivered within the delivery time window, a message is provided to the delivery person  113  to position the package  110  and identification device  111  in a location/position so that the smart doorbell  105  can read package information from identification device  111 . The message may be an audible message sent to a speaker in smart doorbell  105 , a text message printed on the messaging screen on smart doorbell  105 , or other means of locally notifying delivery person  113  of the instructions. 
     The smart doorbell  105  includes a package recognition device  119 . 
     In one embodiment, the identification device  111  may be a barcode and the package recognition device  119  may be a barcode reader. 
     In another embodiment the identification device  111  might be an RFID tag, and the package recognition device  119  can be an RFID reader. 
     In another embodiment the identification device  111  may be a magnetic strip with coded information and the package recognition device  119  has the capability to read information from the magnetic strip. 
     In another embodiment, the identification device  111  may be a QR code, and the package recognition device  119  is a QR code reader. 
     In still another embodiment the identification device is a visible feature, and the package recognition device  119  is a camera. 
     The information acquired by package recognition device  119  is then sent to local controller  106  for processing in step  219 . 
     In step  221 , local controller  106  processes the information received, then compares it to package information previously received from e-commerce site  101 . 
     Optionally, in step  223  customer  117  receives a message on customer&#39;s mobile device  118  indicating that the package  110  is being delivered. 
     In step  225  local controller  106  activates automated door lock  104  to unlocked door  103 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, local controller  106  receives permission from customer  117  on customer&#39;s mobile device  118  before unlocking door  103 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, local controller  106  is coupled to sensors, such as motion sensor, which can determine if there is a person present in the building. If so, the local controller  106  has built-in logic which will not unlock the door to allow the delivery person to deliver the package. 
     Also in an alternative embodiment, if the local controller  106  determines that there is at least one person in the building, it may indicate change the delivery to be made to the garage, or other predetermined location. The processing then follow as described for delivery to the garage as explained below. Upon changing the delivery location, some type of notice will be displayed to the delivery person, possibly through the smart doorbell, indicating the change in delivery location. 
     In step  227  automated lock  104  unlocks door  103 . 
     Optionally, internal cameras  107  may be activated to monitor the actions of delivery person  113 . 
     In step  229  delivery person  113  opens door  103  and sets package  110  inside of door  103 . In step  231 , smart doorbell  105  senses that delivery person  113  has closed the door. 
     In step  233 , automated lock  104  also verifies that the door  103  has been closed. 
     In step  235 , camera  107  verifies that the package has been delivered and that the delivery person  113  has not wandered into building  102 . 
     In step  237  local controller  106  provides a command to automated lock  104  to lock door  103 . 
     In step  239 , automated lock  104  locks door  103 . 
     And in step  241 , local controller  106  sends a notification to customer&#39;s mobile device  118  notifying customer  117  that the package  110  has been delivered and it is secured within building  102 . 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     In an alternative embodiment, a secondary identification may be required for additional security. This may be that the local controller  106  receives information form the delivery company as to the identity of the delivery person  113  or the delivery vehicle  115 . The identity of the delivery person is then checked by the smart doorbell  105 /local controller  106 . This may be by interacting with driver&#39;s mobile device  114 . Alternatively, the location of the vehicle  115  may be determined by finding tracking device  112 ′. If the delivery vehicle  115  is in the vicinity, it is probably the proper package  110  being delivered. 
     The structure and functioning of another automated system  100  for receiving a package will be described in connection with the workflow diagram of  FIG. 6  and the structure shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     In step  301  of  FIG. 6  a customer  117  interacts through a customer&#39;s mobile device  118  to connect to an e-commerce system  101  to purchase a product on-line. This product is intended to be delivered as a package  110  to a delivery location (building  102 ) identified by customer  117 . The customer  117  typically receives a shipping notice on customer&#39;s mobile device  118  from e-commerce system  101 . 
     In step  303 , the customer  117  is given an option to authorize delivery without requiring a signature when delivered. This is referred to pre-signing for package  110 . 
     In step  305 , e-commerce system  101  sends shipping information a local controller  106  in building  102 . This shipping information will indicate package information, such as the type and size of the package, a predetermined code, such as a barcode, and some other identifying information allowing local controller  106  to identify the package. The shipping information may also indicate the date/time of arrival, or a time window of arrival being a period of time around an estimated time of arrival. 
     In step  307 , local controller  106  logs the information received. 
     In step  309 , driver, or delivery person  113  and delivery vehicle  115 , brings package to building  102  for delivery. As indicate above, these may be from a separate delivery company. 
     In step  311 , delivery person  113  rings a smart doorbell  105 . 
     In step  313 , the smart doorbell  105  interacts with local controller  106  to indicate that the doorbell was rung and request information on package delivery. 
     In step  315  the local controller  106  determine if it is close to a delivery time of arrival or within a delivery time window for delivery of a package  110  as previously specified by e-commerce system  101 . 
     If not, the ringing of the smart doorbell  105  is ignored. 
     If so, a message is provided to the delivery person  113  to position an identification device  111  in a location/position so that the smart doorbell  105  can read package information from identification device  111 . The message may be an audible message sent to a speaker in smart doorbell  105 , a text message printed on the messaging screen on smart doorbell  105 , or other means of locally notifying delivery person  113  of the instructions. 
     The smart doorbell  105  includes a package recognition device  119 . 
     In one embodiment, the identification device  111  may be a barcode and the package recognition device  119  may be a barcode reader. In another embodiment the identification device  111  might be an RFID tag, and the package recognition device  119  can be an RFID reader. In another embodiment the identification device  111  may be a magnetic strip with coded information and the package recognition device  119  has the capability to read information from the magnetic strip. 
     In another embodiment, the identification device  111  may be a QR code, and the package recognition device is a QR code reader. 
     In still another embodiment the identification device is a visible feature, and the package recognition device  119  is a camera. 
     The information acquired by package recognition device  119  is then sent to local controller  106  for processing in step  319 . 
     In step  321 , local controller  106  processes the information received, then compares it to package information previously received from e-commerce system  101 . 
     Optionally, in step  323  customer  117  receives a message on customer&#39;s mobile device  118  indicating that the package  110  is being delivered. 
     As indicated for a previous embodiment above, additionally, the identity of the delivery person  113  is verified/or the location of the delivery vehicle  115  for additional security. 
     In step  325  local controller  106  contacts a home automation system  123  that operates various devices in the house, such as a garage door opener  109  to open a garage door  121 . The present invention may be retrofitted to an existing home automation system, or installed with the current system. 
     In an alternative embodiment, local controller  106  receives permission from customer  117  on customer&#39;s mobile device  118  before opening the garage door  121 . 
     In step  343 , smart doorbell  105  announces to the delivery person that the delivery should be made to the garage. In one embodiment, there can be an audio device such as a speaker connected to smart doorbell  105 . In other embodiments, there can be a video display which can play a video which indicates the delivery should be made to the garage. 
     In step  345  the automated door opener  109  is activated to open garage door  121 . In one embodiment the automated door opener  109  is activated by local controller  106 . In another embodiment, automated door opener  109  is activated by local controller  106  acting through home automation system  123 . 
     In step  329 , delivery person  113  places package  110  into the garage and indicates that the delivery has been made. 
     In one embodiment, delivery person  113  activates driver&#39;s mobile device  114  to notify e-commerce system  101  that the delivery has been made. E-commerce system  101  then notifies local controller  106  that the delivery has been made, which then activates automated door opener  109  to close the garage door  121 , or notifies home automation system  123  to activate automated door opener  109  to close the garage door  121 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the delivery person  113  is simply instructed to press a manual closed-door button for the automated door opener  109 . 
     Home automation system  123 , and or local controller  106  would read a sensor indicating the garage door has been closed. 
     In still another alternative embodiment, delivery person  113  operates driver&#39;s mobile device  114 , to directly contact local controller  106  to indicate the delivery has been made. Local controller  106  then causes automated door opener  109  to close garage door  121 . Delivery person  113  uses information provided by the customer  117  to e-commerce system  101  when the product was purchased to contact local controller  106  to indicate that the package has been delivered. 
     Optionally, internal cameras  107  may be activated to monitor the actions of delivery person  113 . 
     In step  331 , home automation system  123  verifies that the garage door has been closed. 
     In step  335 , camera  107  verifies that the package has been delivered and that the delivery person  113  has not wandered around the garage. 
     In step  341 , local controller sends a notification to customer&#39;s mobile device  118  notifying customer  117  that the package  110  has been delivered and it is secured within building  102 . 
     If there are obstructions that don&#39;t allow the garage door to close, the delivery person is notified to correct the situation. This may be done by an audio message from an audio device in the garage coupled to the local controller  106  and/or automated home system  123 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the message may be sent to driver&#39;s mobile device  114  of delivery person  113 . This way, there can be communication between the delivery person and the automatic system  100 . 
     Although a few examples have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.