Patent Publication Number: US-2022230132-A1

Title: System and Method For Enabling Unattended Package Delivery to Multi-Dwelling Properties

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/717,906, filed Dec. 17, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to package delivery from an e-commerce service and, more specifically, relates to package delivery at multi-dwelling locations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     E-commerce services have increasingly become a way for consumers to purchase items. E-commerce services often include a delivery feature whereby a delivery agent (person, robot, or drone, for example) delivers a package containing an item to the consumer&#39;s home. 
     One issue is that online shoppers are not always home at the time a delivery agent attempts to deliver the package to the consumer&#39;s home. The delivery agent may leave the package at the consumer&#39;s home when the consumer is not there, for example, by placing the package on the consumer&#39;s porch or near the front door. This leaves the package in an unsecure location, where a passerby may steal the package. 
     Various approaches to addressing unattended delivery include the use of package delivery lock boxes or allowing a delivery agent one-time access to enter a user&#39;s home or garage to place the package inside. 
     An issue exists, however, for multi-dwelling properties such as apartments, business parks, office buildings, condominiums, or gated communities that include a gate, door, or barrier common to all occupants that the occupants pass through to access their dwellings. The term dwelling is used herein to refer to personal dwellings such as apartments, condominiums, houses as well as professional dwellings such as offices. These gates, doors, or barriers often require a code, key, or key card to enter. A delivery agent may be unable to pass beyond the common barrier of a multi-dwelling property to make deliveries to the individual dwellings. The delivery agent may simply leave the package outside the gate, door, or barrier—this leaves the package in an unsecure location subject to theft and subject to being damaged by the elements such as rain, snow, sun, and extreme heat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an example of a delivery agent at a multi-dwelling property with packages to deliver to dwellings of the property; 
         FIG. 2  is an example schematic view of the delivery agent of  FIG. 1  unlocking an access control device of the multi-dwelling property; 
         FIG. 3  is an example block diagram of the access control device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is constituted by  FIGS. 4A and 4B  of which  FIG. 4A  is an example block diagram of a control device used by the delivery agent in  FIG. 2  to unlock the access control device, and  FIG. 4B  is an example block diagram of a server computer the control device of  FIG. 2  communicates with via a network; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an example method of updating user accounts of an e-commerce service wherein the user accounts are each associated with a dwelling of a multi-dwelling property; 
         FIG. 6  is an example schematic view of a server computer receiving information from various sources over a network to assemble a set of dwellings associated with a multi-dwelling property; 
         FIG. 7  is an example schematic view of a server computer comparing the assembled set of dwellings of  FIG. 6  with a database of user accounts to determine dwellings associated with e-commerce service accounts; 
         FIG. 8  depicts an example method of the server computer of  FIG. 7  comparing the set of dwellings with the database of user accounts; 
         FIG. 9  is an example block diagram of a user device that may be used to opt-in to a feature of an e-commerce service; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of an example method of the user device of  FIG. 9  opting into a feature of an e-commerce service. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A multi-dwelling property, such as an apartment, condominium, gated community, office building, or business park, may install an access control device that controls access to the property via an associated movable barrier such as a main door, barrier, or gate as some examples. The access control device communicates with a server over a network. A delivery agent has a control device that communicates with the access control device directly or over a network to receive temporary access to the multi-dwelling property for the purpose of delivering a package or packages. 
     In some situations, occupants of a multiple dwelling property are not aware that a delivery agent-controllable access control device has been installed. The occupants therefore do not grant permission for delivery agents associated with an e-commerce service to deliver the occupants&#39; packages beyond the movable barrier, which complicates delivery of the packages to the dwellings of the occupants. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes a server computer receiving a communication that indicates an access control device may be controlled by a client application. The client application may be associated with an e-commerce service. The term e-commerce service as used herein refers to one or more entities that facilitate online purchasing of items. Examples of e-commerce services include e-commerce marketplaces, online auction sites, consumer-to-consumer, and business-to-consumer. E-commerce services may have their own delivery agents or may partner with a delivery service so that the delivery service&#39;s delivery agents deliver items. The client application may be an application on a user device, for example, a smartphone application. The client application may also be a web page accessed via a browser of a user device, for example, a website of the e-commerce service access on a personal computer. The access control device may be associated with a property and configured to selectively allow access to the property relative to interaction with the client application. The method includes a determination that the property associated with the access control device is constituted by dwellings beyond the access control device, and that at least one of the dwellings is associated with an e-commerce service. This identification of the at least one dwelling may be based on a reconciliation of addresses of the at least one dwelling with information of user accounts associated with the e-commerce service. The method includes causing, relative to the reconciliation, an update to at least one of the user accounts associated with the at least one of the dwellings. This update may opt-in at the least one user account to a feature of the e-commerce service, such as allowing delivery agents to have temporary control of the movable barrier of the property. The update may automatically opt-in the at least one user account to the feature of the e-commerce service, or may request, prompt or suggest that the user account opt-in to the feature. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, a server computer may process property information from a data source to identify a property constituted by dwellings. The dwellings may be configured in a hierarchy. The server computer may identify an access control device configured to selectively allow access to the property. The server computer may determine a number of the dwellings associated with an e-commerce service, based on reconciliation of addresses of the dwellings with information of user accounts associated with the e-commerce service. When the quantity of dwellings associated with an e-commerce service is greater than a predetermined threshold, the server computer may output a communication that permits controllability of the access control device by a client application relative to interaction with the client application. Furthermore, in yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a server computer may process property information from a data source to identify a property constituted by dwellings beyond an access control device. The dwellings may be configured in a hierarchy, with the access control device at a top of the hierarchy to selectively allow access to the property. The server computer may determine, based on reconciliation between addresses of the dwellings and information of user accounts, a subset of the dwellings associated with an e-commerce service. When a count or quantity of dwellings, which constitute the subset, is determined to be greater than a predetermined threshold, the server computer may output a communication that prompts an update or augmentation of the access control device. The update or augmentation may cause controllability of the access control device by a client application. 
     Turning now to the Figures, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a delivery agent  100 , such as a person, drone, or robot, is delivering a package  102  to a multi-dwelling property  110 . The multi-dwelling property  110  has a movable barrier  120  that limits access to the dwellings of the multi-dwelling property  110 . 
     Regarding  FIG. 2 , the multi-dwelling property  110  includes an access control device  300  that permits access beyond the barrier  120  to be granted over a network  202  that includes, for example, a local Wi-Fi network and the internet. The access control device  300  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The access control device  300  may include, for example, an electric strike plate, a smart lock with a deadbolt, a gate operator, or a telephone entry system. The access control device  300  comprises a memory  302 , communication circuitry  304 , a processor  306 , and an actuator  308 . The memory  302  may include one or more of ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, F-RAM and MRAM as examples. The memory  302  may be configured to store computer-readable instructions and information pertaining to whether certain users, codes, and/or devices are authorized to gain access to the multi-dwelling property  110  via the access control device  300 . 
     The communication circuitry  304  of the access control device  300  is configured to communicate  208  over the network  202  with a remote computer, such as a server computer  204 . The network  202  includes one or more networks, such as a cellular phone (3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 5G) network, a long range or wide-area wireless network such as WiMax, and the internet as some examples. Alternatively or additionally, the communication circuitry  304  may communicate directly with a control device  400  of the delivery associate  100 . The communication circuitry  304  may include circuitry to communicate over a wired or wireless connection. The wireless connection may include short or long range connections such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), cellular, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, Z-wave and near field communication (NFC) as examples. 
     The processor  306  is configured to communicate  206  with the memory  302 , the communication circuitry  304 , and the actuator  308 . The processor  306  may communicate with one or more server computers  204  over the network  202 . The processor  306  may operate the actuator  308  in response to a command received through the communication circuitry  304 . For example, the delivery agent  100  may include or use the control device  400  that communicates a request to enter the multi-dwelling property  110  to the server computer  204 . If the communication includes authorized identifying information, the server computer  204  sends an open command to the access control device  300 . In another example, the control device  400  of the delivery agent  100  may communicate a code or token to the access control device  300 . The access control device  300  may receive a communication from the server  204  indicating the code or token to expect from the control device  400 , along with a command to open if the expected code or token is received. The access control device  300  may then open when the processor  306  of the access control device  300  determines that the code or token received from the control device  400  is the expected code or token. 
     The access control device  300  may be configured to unlock or open the movable barrier  120  in response to receiving a communication authorizing access. For example, the processor  306  of the access control device  300  may send a command to the actuator  308  to operate. The actuator  308  may include a motor configured to unlock or open a door or gate. As an example, the motor may be configured to move a deadbolt between locked and unlocked positions. As another example, the actuator  308  may be configured to release a latch of a door or gate to unlock the door or gate. In another example, the actuator  308  is configured to move a door, gate, or barrier arm to an open position to allow entry. 
     The access control device  300  may be configured to communicate with a remote computer over a network. In one example, the remote computer is the server computer  204 . The server computer  204  may be a server computer associated with the e-commerce service and/or a server device associated with the access control device  300  manufacturer. The access control device  300  may be configured to operate the actuator  308  in response to a communication from the server computer  204  to allow access to the multi-dwelling property  110 . The communication from the server computer  204  may be initiated by a communication from a client application of a control device  400  that contains authorized information, such as an ID, passcode, and/or location of the control device  400 . Additionally or alternatively, the client application may be configured to communicate directly with the access control device  300  such that the communication sent from the control device  400  is received directly by the access control device  300 . 
     The access control device  300  may include a user interface such as a keyboard, keypad, and/or microphone. The access control device  300  may be configured to allow access in response to the entry of a correct password, passcode, credentials, PIN code, and/or voice command as some examples. 
     The control device  400  may be, for example, a handheld package scanner, tablet computer, or smartphone. The control device  400 , as shown in  FIG. 4A , comprises a memory  402 , communication circuitry  404 , a processor  406 , a package sensor  408 , a user interface  410 , and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) circuitry  412 , such as a GPS chipset. The memory  402  may include one or more memory devices that store programs defined by computer-readable instructions, and information for operating the control device  400 . The communication circuitry  404  enables the control device  400  to communicate via wireless protocols, for example, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), cellular, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee and near field communication (NFC). The control device  400  also has a user interface  410  that allows for receipt, from a user, of an input e.g. a command, or that allows for indication, to the user, of an output. The user interface  410  may include as examples, a touchscreen, virtual or physical buttons, a microphone, a speaker, a hologram, an augmented reality display, and/or lights. The user interface  410  may also indicate or display information to the user. The control device  400  may also include a sensor such as a package sensor  408 . The package sensor  408  may be, for example, a bar code scanner or a camera for reading an indicium of the package being delivered, such as a barcode. 
     The control device  400  may communicate  206  a request for access beyond the barrier  120  to the server computer  204  over the network  202 . The request sent from the control device  400  may include additional information to verify that the request for access is valid and should be granted. Information sent to verify the validity of the request may include proof that the delivery agent  100  is making a delivery to a dwelling beyond the access control device  300 . This verification information may include an identification code of the delivery agent  100 , an identification code of the control device  400 , the location of the control device  400 , and evidence the delivery agent  100  is in possession of a package to be delivered to a dwelling beyond the barrier controlled by the access control device  300 . The location of the control device  400  may include coordinates of the control device  400  which may be determined using GPS or multilateration (e.g. triangulation) of radio or cellular signals. Additionally or alternatively, the location of the control device  400  may be detected by the access control device  300  or server computer  204  determining that the control device  400  has connected to or detects a Wi-Fi network of the multi-dwelling property. Evidence that the delivery agent  100  is in possession of a package may include a photo of the package or a label of the package captured by a camera of the control device  400 . Alternatively, the delivery agent  100  may use the package sensor  408  to scan a bar code of the package to show possession of a package for delivery. The photo or scan may include the time the photo was taken or the package scanned. The server computer  204  makes a determination whether the requester, such as the delivery agent  100 , has authorization to pass beyond the barrier  120 . The remote server  204  may approve the request for entry and send a code or token to the control device  400  for the control device  400  to use to interact with or control the access control device  300 . Alternatively or additionally, the remote server  204  may send a communication to the access control device  300 , authorizing the access control device  300  to open the barrier  120  in response to the control device  400  presenting the code or token to the access control device  300 . This may be, as examples, the delivery agent  100  entering via the user interface of the access control device  300  a valid password, passcode, credential, PIN code, or a voice command. In another example, the remote server  204  sends a message to the access control device  300  to actuate or open. Upon determining the message is valid, the access control device  300  may then temporarily allow access beyond the barrier  120  for a specified period of time, e.g., ten minutes. In another example, the access control device  300  is configured to only allow access in response to receive the code or token from the control device  400  for a specified number of instances, e.g., one time. 
     The barrier  120  may include many different types of barriers that obstruct access to an area, such as a door, gate, and/or barrier arm as examples. In one example, the barrier  120  includes a door and the access control device  300  temporarily unlocks the door so the delivery agent  100  may open the door and pass through. In another example, the access control device  300  opens the door for the delivery agent  100 . In yet another example, the barrier  120  includes a gate and the access control device  300  opens the gate for the requester. The gate may be a gate of a gated community allowing a delivery agent to drive past the gate. In another example, the gate is an entrance to an apartment building or condominium. In the example of delivering packages, the determination of whether the delivery agent is authorized to pass beyond a barrier  120  by the access control device  300  may include determining whether the delivery agent  100  is scheduled to deliver a package to an address within the multi-dwelling property  110  on a particular day within a time window. 
     Once this network connected access control device  300  has been installed or otherwise activated, occupants of the multi-dwelling property  110  may change their delivery preference settings in their user accounts for one or more e-commerce services, to grant the delivery agent  100  permission to pass beyond the barrier  120  to deliver packages containing items ordered via the e-commerce service in a more secure area within the multi-dwelling property  110 . The area within the multi-dwelling property  110  is relatively safer for unattended delivery because the area is beyond the barrier  120 . The area beyond the barrier  120  may include a common entryway or area of a building, an area outside of a door of an apartment or condominium units, or a front porch of a home within a gated community. 
     In some situations, the entity in charge of managing the common areas of multi-dwelling property  110 , such as a building management company or a homeowners&#39; association, may not notify the occupants of the multiple dwelling property  110  that the multi-dwelling property  110  has the network connected access control device  300 . Due to this lack of knowledge, the occupants do not grant permission for delivery agents of an e-commerce service to operate the access control device  300  to deliver packages to a more secure location, i.e., beyond the barrier  120 . Moreover, occupants of the multi-dwelling unit  110  may not even know they can authorize delivery agents  100  to operate the access control device  300  or may find it difficult or burdensome to permit delivery agents  100  access on their own. 
     Regarding  FIG. 4B , the server computer  204  includes a memory  450 , communication circuitry  452 , and a processor  454 . The memory  450  is configured to store information relating to user accounts such as a name or names associated with an account, contact information, user email address, billing information, purchase history, and/or delivery addresses. The memory  450  may be more than a single physical unit of memory. For example, user information may be stored on more than one server computer  204 . 
     The communication circuitry  452  comprises hardware to communicate with other devices. The communication circuitry  452  may be configured to communicate via a wired connection such as a T1 or T3 connection, an ethernet link, fiberoptic cables, and/or other approaches. The communication circuitry  452  may be configured to communicate over one or more networks, such as the internet. The communication circuitry  452  may include components to allow the communication circuitry to communicate wirelessly, for example, using wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), cellular, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee and near field communication (NFC). In some embodiments, the communication circuitry  452  is configured to communicate via both wired and wireless connections. 
     The processor  454  is configured to communicate with the memory  450  and the communication circuitry  452 . In one embodiment, the processor  454 , memory  450 , and communication circuitry  452  are contained in a single device. In other embodiments, the processor  454 , memory  450 , and communication circuitry  452  are in different physical locations, such as in a plurality of server computers, but are operably connected to function as a system. 
     The processor  454  is configured to carry out a variety of operations, including method  500  shown in  FIG. 5 . Method  500  is an example method for updating user account settings to grant an authorized delivery agent  100  control of a movable barrier of a property. The method  500  may be carried out by one or more computers. In one example, the computers are remote server computers. The server computers may be server computers associated with an e-commerce platform the occupants of the multi-dwelling property  110  use to purchase items. In another example, at least one of the server computers is operated by the e-commerce service and at least one server is operated by the manufacturer of the access control device  300 . 
     The method  500  includes receiving  502  a communication indicating controllability of an access control device  300  by a client application associated with an e-commerce service. The access control device  300  may be associated with a property and configured to selectively allow access to the property relative to interaction with the client application of the e-commerce service. The communication received may indicate that the property has been installed and/or configured with an access control device  300  (or that the same has been active) to allow a client application on a control device  400  to control the movable barrier  120  of the property. The communication may indicate that the property is at a particular location (e.g., street address, latitude/longitude, or GPS coordinates) and includes an access control device  300 . 
     The communication may be received  502  by a server computer  204 , such as one or more server computers of the e-commerce service. In one example, the communication may be received at the server computer  204  from an access control device  300  upon installation and/or activation of the access control device  300 . In another example, the communication may be generated by a user device of an installer of the access control device  300 . Still further, the communication may be sent by a computer searching a database of properties having access control devices  300 . In another example, when a property has been configured with an access control device  300 , the location (e.g. street address) of the property is entered into an approved list (stored in a list server) or data structure of properties configured to allow delivery agents  100  to gain entry via an access control device  300 . The server computer  204  may automatically receive a message from the list server indicating that the property has been configured and/or activated to selectively allow client applications to control the movable barrier  120  of the property, as described above. 
     Next, the server computer  204  determines  504  whether the property is constituted by dwellings beyond the access control device  300 . This operation may include determining that the property is a multi-dwelling property  110  and identifying a set of dwellings associated with the property. The remote server  204  may receive information from one or more data sources about the property and process that information which was received to determine whether the property is a multi-dwelling property  110 . The determination of whether the property is a multi-dwelling property  110  may include receiving information indicating the property is a multi-dwelling property  110 . In one example, by receiving  502  a communication that indicates controllability of a movable barrier of a particular make or model of access control device  300 , it is implied that the property is a multi-dwelling property  110  because the access control device  300  of that make or model is only installed with respect to multi-dwelling properties. In another example, the device sending the communication in step  502  receives confirmation from a human, e.g., an installer or a property manager, that the property is a multi-dwelling property  110  and communicates the confirmation to the server computer  204 . 
     Alternatively or additionally, the server computer  204  may determine  504  whether a property is a multi-dwelling property  110  by processing property information from data sources to determine a hierarchy of the dwellings within the property. The hierarchy of the building may be a determination of how the multi-dwelling property  110  is organized. For example, the server computer  204  may determine that the multi-dwelling property  110  is an apartment building or condominium because the units share a common street address (e.g., 123 Main Street), but each unit further has a unit number (e.g., Apt 101, 102, 103 . . . ). As another example, the server computer  204  may determine that the multi-dwelling property  110  is a gated community because property records indicate that there is a security checkpoint for a subdivision of houses. The server computer  204  may search and analyze data and information from a variety of sources to determine whether the property is a multi-dwelling property  110  and/or to determine the hierarchy of the multi-dwelling property  110 . For example, the server computer  204  may analyze street ownership and/or maintenance data or records that indicate whether a street is publicly or privately owned and maintained. For example, information indicating a subdivision is a privately owned or maintained street may factor into a determination of whether the subdivision is a gated community. The server computer  204  may analyze real estate listing data to use in determining the hierarchy of a building or set of properties, such as that provided by multiple listing services (MLS) and/or an internet-based real estate listing service. For example, a property and an adjacent property that both pay association fees may be determined to be part of the same homeowner&#39;s association. As another example, a real estate listing may also indicate whether the property is part of a gated community. The server computer  204  may analyze zoning records, permits, and/or other construction data that may indicate or factor into a determination that a set of properties are associated with a gated community. In one approach. the server computer  204  may review news stories or advertisements about a property or gated community. As examples, the server computer may review a news story that a gated community is being built at a particular location or review an advertisement for the sale or rent of property as being part of a gated community. As yet another example, the server computer  204  may process map or GIS data to identify barriers such as gates or guard shacks. The server computer  204  may use one or more of the information sources discussed above to make a determination of whether the property is multi-dwelling property  110  and to determine the hierarchy of the property. 
     Regarding  FIG. 6 , an example is provided of determining the dwellings associated with a multi-dwelling property  110 . Specifically, a data structure or database  602  of the dwellings associated with each multi-dwelling property  110  may be assembled by a server computer  600 . The database  602  may be assembled by first compiling information, such as the street address, of the multi-dwelling properties  110 . The server  600  then uses one or more sources to determine a set of dwellings associated with the multi-dwelling property  110 . For example, the set of dwellings may be assembled by reviewing a list of dwellings associated with a particular street address, a property index number, or a subdivision map. The server  600  may also use other sources of property information for the multi-dwelling property  110  and/or the dwellings themselves including, as examples, a property records (e.g., deed/title information server) database  606 , map database  608 , a GIS (geographic information system) database  610 , a tax records database  612  (e.g., database or server of an assessor&#39;s office), and a real estate information aggregator database  614  (e.g., multiple listing service (MLS), Zillow, etc.). The server  600  uses one or more of sources of property information and determines which dwellings are associated with the multi-dwelling property  110  and assembles them into a set of units. 
     Regarding  FIGS. 5 and 7 , in one embodiment, a server computer  700  identifies  506  at least one of the dwellings, such as a subset of the dwelling, of the multi-dwelling property  110  as being associated with an e-commerce service. This identification  506  may be based on a reconciliation of addresses of the dwellings of the multi-dwelling property  110  with the information of user accounts associated with the e-commerce service, which may be stored in a user account data structure or database  702 , accessible by or otherwise associated with a server  703  of an e-commerce service. As shown in  FIG. 7 , this reconciliation may be done by the server computer  700  comparing the information of the dwellings associated with the multi-dwelling property  110  stored in the database  602  of the server computer  600  with the information of the user account database  702 . For example, the server computer  700  may identify a dwelling of a multi-dwelling property  110  as being associated with an e-commerce service if the mailing address  705  in the set  707  of units associated with the multi-dwelling property  110  matches a delivery address  709  of a user account stored in the e-commerce server  703 . As another example, the mailing address  705  of the dwelling may be compared to the billing/ship-to addresses and/or contact information in the user account database  702 . 
     Regarding  FIG. 8 , the identification  506  may also include the server computer  700  performing a coarse filtering  802  or scanning the user account database  702  for accounts listing addresses with the same city as the multi-dwelling property  110 , then a fine filtering  804  or scanning for user accounts including the street address (or addresses) of the multi-dwelling property  110 . The server computer  700  may then compare  806  whether an address, such as a delivery address including a unit number, associated with the user account corresponds to one of the dwellings associated with the multi-dwelling property  110 . If the user account address corresponds to an address of the dwellings associated with the multi-dwelling property  110 , then the server  700  associates the dwelling of the multi-dwelling property  110  with the user account. 
     Once the user accounts of the subset of dwellings of the multi-dwelling property  110  have been determined, the server computer  700  may cause  508  an update to the identified user accounts associated with the dwellings of the multi-dwelling property  110  to opt-in the identified user accounts to a feature of the e-commerce service. This feature may be unattended delivery of items ordered from the e-commerce service wherein a delivery agent  100  can open the barrier  120  to deliver a package inside of the multi-dwelling property  110 . The unattended delivery may be facilitated by the delivery agent  100  using a client application, such as web-based or application-based, on the control device  400  to interact with the access control device  300  to gain entry beyond the movable barrier  120  of the multi-dwelling property  110 . In another example, the unattended delivery may be facilitated by the delivery agent  100  interfacing with the access control device  300  such as by entering a password, PIN code, or using a voice command. The password, PIN code, or voice command used to gain access beyond the movable barrier  120  may be provided to the delivery agent  100  on the control device  400  from the server. 
     The operation of causing  508  an update may optionally include the server computer  700  notifying  510  the identified user accounts associated with the multi-dwelling property  110  that the multi-dwelling property  110  has been configured to allow access to delivery agents  100  via the access control device  300 . The notification may alert users that their account has been updated. In one embodiment, the notification may be an email sent to the email address associated with the user account. In another embodiment, the notification is a notification presented to the user by way of the e-commerce service&#39;s application on the user&#39;s device, e.g. a tablet computer or smartphone. The user may be notified in more than one approach, for example, by email and by notification to the user through an e-commerce application. The user may also be notified by receiving a phone call or a letter in the mail. The notification may alert the user that the user&#39;s user account has been configured to permit delivery agents  100  to make deliveries beyond the barrier  120  of a multi-dwelling property  110 . In an example of an apartment building, the notification may notify the user that the building now includes the access control device  300  and that the delivery agents  100  may open the locked entry door of the apartment building to place the user&#39;s packages inside the building. As another example, the notification may notify a user that the user&#39;s user account has been automatically opted-in to the delivery feature, so that packages will automatically be delivered beyond the movable barrier  120  of the multi-dwelling property  110 . 
     A user may have to opt-in before the user&#39;s account is updated or the user&#39;s account may be updated automatically. For example, the operation of causing  508  the update may entail the server computer  700  receiving  512  input from a user indicating the user would like to opt-in to the feature of the e-commerce service before updating the user&#39;s user account. The notification provided in the operation of notifying  510  may give the users the option of pressing a virtual button or using voice control to grant access to delivery agents to deliver packages beyond a barrier of their multi-dwelling property  110 . This could be, as an example, a notification on a smartphone that users can open which leads to a web page displaying the question, “Would you like to grant XYZ Delivery Service access to you building?” The web page may display virtual buttons by which the user may select “Yes” or “No”. In another example the notification includes a hyperlink to a web site of the e-commerce service where the user may update delivery preference settings, which includes the option to allow delivery agents  100  to enter the multi-dwelling property  110  to delivery packages. Once the server computer  700  receives  512  input from a user indicating the user would like to update the user&#39;s user account to opt-in to the feature, the server computer  700  updates the user account. 
     In another approach, the server computer  700  may identify that multiple user accounts are associated with a multi-dwelling property  110 , then determine whether the multi-dwelling property  110  has an access control device  300 . For example, the server computer  700  may review the user account database  702  and determine which user accounts are associated with a particular street address. The server computer  700  may then determine whether the building at the particular street address is a multi-dwelling property  110 . The operation of determining whether a building at an address is a multi-dwelling property  110  may involve an operation similar to the determining  504  operation discussed above, including searching or compiling information from a variety of property data sources including, as examples, a map database  608 , tax records database  612 , real estate information aggregator database  614 , and/or property records database  606 . In another example, the server computer  700  determines that the identified user accounts share the same street address, but further include additional unit numbers. For example, the server computer  700  determines that multiple user accounts are associated with 123 Main Street, but the user accounts have separate unit numbers. The server computer  700  may then determine that 123 Main Street is a multi-dwelling property  110 . The server computer  700  may determine whether the multiple dwelling properties  110  identified include an access control device  300 . Upon determining that a multi-dwelling property  110  has been configured with the access control device  300 , the server computer  700  may then notify  510  the identified user accounts and receive  512  authorization from users. 
     In another approach, the server computer  700  may process property information from a data source, such as property records  606 , to identify a property that includes multiple dwellings beyond a common movable barrier  120 . The server computer  700  may determine whether any of the dwellings associated with the multi-dwelling property  110  are associated with a specific e-commerce service. This may include reconciling or comparing the addresses of the dwellings of the multi-dwelling property  110  with information about user accounts. Once a subset of dwellings in a multi-dwelling property  110  associated with an e-commerce service has been determined, the server computer  700  may output a communication that updates the user accounts associated with the subset of dwellings of the multi-dwelling property  110  upon a determination that the subset of dwellings within the multi-dwelling property  110  associated with user accounts of an e-commerce service is greater than a threshold. For example, the predetermined threshold may be more than a certain percentage of dwellings within a multi-dwelling property  110  are associated with the e-commerce service. The percentage may be, as an example, more than 25% or more than 50% of the dwellings are associated with user accounts of the e-commerce service. 
     Regarding  FIG. 9 , an example user device  900  is shown and hereafter described for granting permission to delivery agents  100  to access a multi-dwelling property  110 . The user device  900  includes a memory  902 , communication circuitry  904 , a processor  906 , and a user interface  908 . The memory  902  may include instructions to facilitate authorization of a delivery agent  100  to access the multi-dwelling property  110 . The user device  900  includes communication circuitry  904  that allows the user device  900  to communicate over a network, such as a cellular network, a local area network, and/or the internet. The communication circuitry  904  may communicate via wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), cellular, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee or near field communication (NFC) connections as some examples. The user device  900  includes the processor  906  which is in communication with the memory  902  and the communication circuitry  904 . The processor  906  is configured to use the communication circuitry  904  to communicate over a network with one or more server computers and/or the access control device  300 . In some embodiments, the user device  900  may also communicate with the control device  400  of the delivery agent  100 . The processor  906  is configured to provide information to and receive input from a user via the user interface  908 . The user interface  908  of the user device  900  may include a touchscreen, a speaker, a microphone, augmented reality display, virtual or physical buttons, and/or voice control as examples. 
     In some embodiments, the user device  900  includes a smartphone. In one example, the program stored in memory is an application, where the application has a feature to facilitate the grant of access to the multi-dwelling property  110  to a delivery agent  100 . The user device  900  may also be configured to access to the internet, and in particular, a website associated with an e-commerce service. In another embodiment, the user device  900  includes a personal computer, tablet, computer, smart watch, or a smart wearable device. 
     The processor  906  of the user device  900  may be configured to carry out computer-readable instructions to facilitate the delivery agent  100  opening the movable barrier  120  to deliver a package. These instructions may be carried out in accordance with example method  1000  shown in  FIG. 10 . Method  1000  begins with the user device  900  receiving  1002  an input from a user placing an order with an e-commerce service for delivery of an item to a multi-dwelling property  110 . The user input may include the user touching an area of a touchscreen of the user device user interface  908  associated with placing an order. In another example, the user may use a mouse of the user device user interface  908  to click on an icon to place an order. In yet another example, a user speaks a command to confirm that they would like to place an order. The user device  900  then transmits  1004  the order to a remote computer, such as a server computer. The user device  900  then receives  1006  a message from the server computer indicating that the multi-dwelling property  110  to which the user has requested delivery has been configured to allow delivery agents to gain access beyond a movable barrier of the multi-dwelling property, and that the user&#39;s account has been (or may be) updated. The user device  900  notifies  1008  the user that the multi-dwelling property  110  where the ordered items will be delivered has been configured to allow the user to grant the delivery agent  100  access to the multi-dwelling property  110 . This notification may be displayed to the user through the user interface  908 . The notification may be an email to the user, a notification popping up on a screen of the user device  900 , or an audio notification to the user. The user device  900  may also prompt the user to authorize the delivery agent  100  to deliver the ordered items beyond the movable barrier  120  of the multi-dwelling property  110 . The user device  900  may optionally receive  1010  input from a user requesting an update be made to their account. The user may provide user input to the user interface  908  authorizing the delivery agent  100  to operate the access control device  300  of the multi-dwelling property  110  and grant the delivery agent  100  access to the multi-dwelling property  110  for the purpose of making a delivery. 
     While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended for the present invention to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that the phrase “at least one of” as used herein be interpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to encompass A, B, or both A and B.