Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to systems, devices and methods for
purchasing, ordering, delivering and receiving goods or other items.
2. Description of the Related Art
The recent upsurge in e-commerce whereby a consumer
accesses a website over the Internet to purchase goods for delivery to
the home, office or other site has created a need for secure
systems/methods for scheduling and tracking deliveries of the
purchased items, as well as for providing a safe and secure site for
receipt of the goods when they are delivered to an unoccupied site.
The convenience of being able to avoid making trips to a brick and
mortar store or outlet to purchase goods, and having the goods
delivered to home, office or other site is off-set by the problems
surrounding the secure delivery of the goods to the purchaser. If the
purchaser is not available on-site to receive the goods, delivery must
either be re-scheduled or the goods must be left unsecured at the site,
thereby being subject to theft or damage.
US patent no. 6,933,832 describes a system and method which
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enables the delivery, and safe and secure receipt of purchased items
or other goods, at an unattended site.
The patented method and system enables the delivery of at least
one purchased or ordered item to a locked storage container,
associated with a corresponding customer, the method comprising,
following the purchase or order of the at least one item, determining
the availability of the locked storage container to receive the delivery
at one or more times, identifying a time interval during which the
delivery can be made, and sending to the locked storage container an
access signal allowing a delivery agent access to the locked storage
container only during the time interval for delivery thereto of the at
least one item.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects are realized by the present
invention, one embodiment of which relates to an improved method
for the delivery of at least one ordered item to at least one locked
storage container, associated with a corresponding customer
comprising, following the ordering of the delivery, determining the
availability of the locked storage container to receive the delivery at
one or more times; identifying a time interval during which the
delivery can be made to the locked storage container; sending a signal
to the locked storage container allowing access by a delivery agent
that is delivering the at least one ordered item to the locked storage
container only during the time interval, the improvement wherein the
delivery agent is an unmanned aircraft; e.g., a drone.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a storage container.
FIG. 2 is a flow sheet depicting the steps of the method of the
invention overlaid on the main components or participants in the
method.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the front of a storage container.
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the rear of a storage container.
FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the interior of a storage container.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system utilizing a computer as the
controller between the electronic key to the storage appliance and the
communications network.
FIG. 7 is a simplified flow chart of the delivery method.
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the top of a storage container of the
invention equipped with a loading dock for an unmanned aircraft
delivery agent
FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a side of the storage container of the
invention docking with an unmanned aircraft delivery agent
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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The present invention is predicated on the unexpected discovery
that the method for the delivery of at least one purchased or ordered
item to a locked storage container, associated with a corresponding
customer, the method comprising, following the purchase or order of
the at least one item, determining the availability of the locked storage
container to receive the delivery at one or more times, identifying a
time interval during which the delivery can be made, sending to the
locked storage container an access signal allowing a delivery agent
access to the locked storage container only during the time interval for
delivery thereto of the at least one item can be vastly improved by
enabling the delivery to be made by an unmanned delivery aircraft;
i.e., a drone aircraft.
The method of the invention is predicated on the provision of at
least one locked storage container at a fixed site/location/address
which is accessible by means of an identifier which unlocks an entry
door to the interior of the locked storage container. It will be
understood by those skilled in the art that an "identifier" includes a
physical device, such as a key, electronic key, smart card, magnetic
card, or similar device carried or transported by a delivery agent; a
biometric property such as fingerprint, voice pattern as recognized by
a machine, retinal scan of a delivery person; wireless communication
options such as any duplex, half-duplex, or full-duplex communication
method including but not limited to: Near Field Communications (NFC),
WiFi, Bluetooth, Radio, RFID, Mesh Networking Protocols (i.e. FabFi,
G.hn, etc.), Ethernet, Telephone, Fiber Optic, Optical, Barcode, QR
Code, or any combination of methods, or any other element which
operates to unlock the appliance, locker or device upon being sensed
and identified by the latter.
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According to the improved method of the invention, identification
may be supplied by the act of the unmanned aircraft docking with the
locked storage container or by any of the above described wireless
communications. Alternatively, the unmanned aircraft may
communicate with a central server that would then negotiate directly
with the container, remotely, to unlock it and grant access.
A typical location for the locked storage container is near or
affixed to the exterior of a home or office. The locked storage
container is capable of receiving and storing goods for delivery or
pickup with a level of security preventing unauthorized entry or theft
and with protection against pests and unfavorable weather conditions.
The locked storage container may be equipped with multiple storage
areas, some of which may be cooled or heated. The container may be
free-standing, secured to a fixed location or affixed to a structure.
The locked storage container is preferably in electronic
communication with a computer or computer network by any of a
variety of means, including, but not limited to a telephonic signal,
television cable, computer network cable, radio signal or the like.
The locked storage container receives and transmits data to the
computer or computer network via a "scheduler" which is capable of
organizing and recording a schedule of deliveries and pickups utilizing
the appliance, locker or device and transmitting instructions to the
appliance allowing it to identify an identifier authorized to access the
appliance in accordance with a schedule. The locked storage container
is preferably identifiable by the computer or computer network with
which it is communicating by identification number, name or location.
Each locked storage container is also preferably associated with a
particular customer's account records.
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Still another embodiment of the invention comprises a method
and system of scheduling and tracking deliveries, of receiving
deliveries utilizing a specialized device, of making and processing
payment, of inventorying items scheduled for delivery and items
delivered and of making information about deliveries available through
a variety of means. Users of the method and system may be entities
desiring to make deliveries and/or to receive deliveries. Users of the
method and system may schedule delivery, track shipment and
delivery, make secure delivery via a specialized appliance, locker or
device, make and confirm payment, inventory items scheduled for
delivery and delivered. Users of the method and system may access
data regarding the appliance, device or locker and/or delivery location
stored on the computer or computer network and accessed by a
variety of means including telephone, radio, computer network or the
Internet. The type of data which may be accessed includes, but is not
limited to, data concerning the location of the locked storage container
and alternative delivery locations, the capacity and type of storage of
the appliance, the type and availability of storage capacity at the time
and date of intended delivery and special instructions or other
information pertaining to the delivery appliance and location and
method of payment.
The present invention may alternately be described as a method
or system of: delivery of ordered items by means of an unmanned
aircraft (drone) to one of a plurality of locked storage containers, each
associated with a corresponding customer, using a delivery system
including a scheduler, the steps including: ordering a first delivery of
one or more goods for a first customer associated with a first locked
storage container of the plurality of locked storage containers;
following the ordering of the first delivery, determining the availability
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of the first locked storage container to receive the first delivery at one
or more times by use of the scheduler; identifying, using the
scheduler, a first time interval during which the first delivery can be
made; and the delivery system sending to the first locked storage
container an access signal allowing a first delivery unmanned aircraft
which is delivering the delivery to access the first locked storage
container only during the first time interval. The steps include:
ordering a second delivery of one or more goods for the first
customer; following the ordering of the second delivery, determining
the availability of the first locked storage container to receive the
second delivery at one or more times by use of the scheduler;
identifying, using the scheduler, a second time interval during which
the second delivery can be made; and the delivery system sending to
the first locked storage container an access signal allowing a second
delivery unmanned aircraft which is delivering the second delivery to
access the first locked storage container only during the second time
interval.
A delivery can be ordered for one or more goods for a second
customer associated with a second locked storage container of the
plurality of locked storage containers. Following the ordering of the
last-mentioned delivery, the availability of the second locked storage
container to receive the last-mentioned delivery at one or more times
by use of the schedule is determined. The method identifies, using the
scheduler, a second customer time interval during which the last-
mentioned delivery can be made; and the delivery system sends to the
second locked storage container an access signal allowing an
unmanned aircraft which is delivering the last-mentioned delivery to
access the second locked storage container only during the second
customer time interval. The first delivery unmanned aircraft opens the
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first locked storage container using an identifier corresponding to the
first delivery unmanned aircraft and the second delivery unmanned
aircraft opens the first locked storage container using an identifier
corresponding to the second delivery unmanned aircraft.
Following the ordering, the size of the delivery is determined
using the delivery system. Available room within the first locked
storage container is checked by use of the delivery system. Upon
availability as indicated by the checking step, the delivery system
reserves sufficient room within the first locked storage container to
receive the delivery.
Following the first delivery, an account of the first customer is
charged for the first delivery to the first locked storage container
signaling the delivery system of the insertion of the first delivery into
the first locked storage container. The first locked storage container
signals the delivery system of the insertion of the first delivery into the
first locked storage container based on access by the first delivery
unmanned aircraft.
The invention may alternately be described as a method and
system of delivery of ordered items to a plurality of locked storage
containers by an unmanned aircraft using a delivery system, the steps
including: ordering a delivery of one or more goods to a first
customer; following the ordering, determining the size of the delivery
using the delivery system; checking available room within a first
locked storage container of the plurality of locked storage containers,
the first locked storage container corresponding to the first customer,
by use of the delivery system; upon availability, reserving, by
operation of the delivery system, sufficient room within the first locked
storage container to receive the delivery; and delivering the delivery to
within the first locked storage container. Upon finding that the
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available room within the first locked storage container is insufficient
for the size of the delivery, the ordered delivery is divided into at least
first and second partial deliveries for separate delivery upon there
being available room. The delivery system includes a scheduler and
the method further includes the steps of: following the ordering of the
delivery, determining the availability of the first locked storage
container to receive the first and parts at one or more times by use of
the scheduler; identifying, using the scheduler, a first time interval
during which the first partial delivery can be made and a second time
interval during which the second partial delivery can be made; and the
delivery system sending to the first locked storage container an access
signal allowing access to the first locked storage container only during
the first time interval for delivery of the first partial delivery and during
the second time interval for delivery of the second partial delivery.
Prior to dividing the ordered delivery, input is received from the
customer indicating the customer's preference for a complete delivery
or delivery in multiple portions; and the scheduler schedules delivery
according to the customer's preference. The method of further includes
the step of: charging an account of the first customer for a delivery
upon the locked storage container signaling the delivery system of the
insertion of a delivery into the locked storage container.
The invention may alternately be described as a method for
delivery of ordered items to a plurality of locked storage containers by
an unmanned aircraft using a delivery system, the steps including:
ordering a delivery of one or more goods to a customer; delivering the
delivery to within one of the locked storage containers corresponding
to the customer; and automatically sending a DELIVERY MADE signal
from the one of the locked storage containers signaling the delivery
system of the insertion of the delivery into the one of the locked
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storage containers. Upon the delivery system receiving the DELIVERY
MADE signal, the delivery system performs one or more steps selected
from the group consisting of: charging an account of the customer for
the delivery; and automatically initiating a communication to the
customer. The delivery system includes a scheduler and further
includes the steps of: following the ordering, determining the
availability of the one of the locked storage containers to receive the
delivery at one or more times by use of the scheduler; identifying,
using the scheduler, a first time interval during which the delivery can
be made; and the delivery system sending to the one of the locked
storage containers an access signal allowing a first delivery unmanned
aircraft which is delivering the delivery to access the one of the locked
storage containers only during the first time interval. The method
further includes the steps of: following the ordering, determining the
size of the delivery using the delivery system; and checking available
room with the one of the locked storage containers by use of the
delivery system.
The delivery system of the present invention may be described
as including: at least one locked storage container corresponding to a
customer, an order receiver for receiving orders for delivery by an
unmanned aircraft of one or more goods for customer; availability
determiner for determining the availability of the locked storage
container to receive deliveries at one or more times; a scheduler
receiving availability information from the availability determiner and
operable to identify a time interval during which the delivery can be
made and operable to send to a locked storage container an access
signal allowing a delivery unmanned aircraft that is delivering a
delivery to access the locked storage container only during the time
interval identified by the scheduler, wherein the storage container is
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equipped with an element for receiving the access signal and landing
and loading docks whereby an unmanned aircraft may dock therewith,
access the interior of a locked storage container and deliver goods
thereinto.
The locked storage container of the present invention is an
appliance equipped as described above with docking means for a drone
aircraft to dock therewith and securely deliver goods/items therein,
without requiring a person in attendance to accept delivery and which
includes: a storage container; a lock controlling access to the storage
container; and a communication link connected to the lock and
operable to receive an access signal from a remote location to allow
access to the storage container; and wherein the lock is responsive to
the communication link receiving the access signal by unlocking upon
presentation of an identifier such as described above.
FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a prior art method and system which is improved
by the present invention as described, for example, in US patent no.
6,933,832.
FIG. 1 shows an appliance 10 according to the present invention.
The appliance 10 is a locked storage container with a door handle 12
and an electronic lock 14. The lock 14 may be accessed by a universal
key, other physical device or other identifier (including biometric
properties as discussed above). The lock 14 is capable of identifying
electronically or by other means the key (more generally the identifier)
being used for unlocking or opening the appliance. However, in the
preferred design the appliance 10 is capable of identifying specific keys
authorized for entry and/or permitting access by unlocking the door
based on instructions communicated to it by a scheduler, remotely
located. The scheduler is connected to lock 14 via communications link
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16 such as a modem or other interface to the telephone system, the
Internet or other communications, and discussed in more detail below.
The appliance is also capable of denying entry to keys not authorized
for delivery or not authorized for delivery at that time. The appliance is
preferably capable of recording and/or transmitting a log or other
itemized listing of authorized and unauthorized attempt(s) at opening
the appliance and may include among other information the electronic
identity of each key, the date and time of the attempt.
The access to appliance 10 may be explained by an example. A
first delivery person working for a first company may have an
electronic key, such as a smart card or magnetic card, unique to that
individual or the first company. Alternately, and in lieu of the key or
other physical access device, a biometric property (such as fingerprint,
voice pattern, retinal pattern) of the delivery person may be read by
an optional biometric sensor 15. A second delivery person working for
a second company may have an electronic key, such as a smart card
or magnetic card, unique to that individual or the second company.
The first delivery person may be scheduled for accessing the appliance
during a first time interval such as between 9 AM and 12 noon on a
given day, whereas the second delivery person may be scheduled for
accessing the appliance 10 during a second time interval such as
between 1 PM and 4 PM on the same day. Under such circumstances,
the lock 14 could only be opened by the first delivery person's
electronic key (not shown) during the first time interval, whereas the
lock 14 could only be opened by the second delivery person's
electronic key (not shown) during the second time interval. This
assumes that the scheduler switches the lock 14 into an access state
in which it is unlockable by an electronic ey. Alternately, the scheduler
could simply unlock the lock 14 so that a person could insert items in
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the appliance without needing a lock.
The time intervals might be much longer then the several hour
time intervals above. For example, a time interval of 24 or more hours
for a delivery might be used. Further, the first and second time
intervals might overlap or even be identical (i.e., two deliveries
scheduled for the same time interval).
In a typical use of the device, system and method of the
invention, and with particular reference to FIG. 2, a flow chart is
shown overlaid on the main components or participants linked as
shown. Discussing first, the main components or participants, the
customer 18 is linked to website/retail partner 20 which in turn is
linked to a scheduler website software 22 and delivery partner 24. The
delivery partner 24 in turn is linked to website/retail partner 20 and
also to the customer's home delivery attendant 26. The various
illustrated links between 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 would preferably be
internet links, but telephone or other links could also be used for some
or all of the links. It should be understood that the components 18
through 26 are shown for a particular customer, but in practice there
would be a plurality of customers 18 each having an associated home
delivery attendant 26. Additionally, the scheduler website/software
may interact with a plurality of retail outlets 20 and a plurality of
delivery partners 24. For example, there may be a retailer 20 for
books, a different retailer 20 for clothing, and numerous other
retailers, some competitive with others, all linked to the scheduler 22.
The various delivery partners may be specialized on a geographic
basis, a delivery basis (i.e., one delivers within one day, another
delivers within three days, etc.), and possibly by the type of delivery
being made. As will be discussed below, some orders may involve
products requiring special handling such as refrigeration in transit and
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the delivery partner delivering such products may need a refrigerator
section in a delivery truck.
Turning now to the flow chart part of FIG. 2, the steps are
numbered 28 to 50, steps 40 and 44 being within a common box. At
box 28, a consumer accesses an e-commerce website over the
Internet to purchase goods for home delivery. The consumer identifies
himself/herself as an account holder. The retailer/vendor 20
electronically looks up and verifies the account of the consumer
against a register or database of accounts made available on-line by
the scheduler 22. An account holder is an authorized user of an
appliance(s) 10 (FIG. 1 only) capable of unattended receipt/delivery
and of electronically communicating with a specialized computer
program (scheduler) which schedules deliveries to the appliance and
reports deliveries to the account holder. The consumer selects items
for purchase and delivery and fills an electronic shopping cart.
It will be understood that the invention also contemplates delivery of
items ordered by telephone, mail, or in person at a retail store. The
invention also may be used for receiving items that do not involve a
commercial transaction. For example, a neighbor could return a
borrowed item to the person owning the storage container.
As the shopping cart is loaded with goods selected, the
estimated total size of the bundle of items as measured by the
dimensions of height, width and depth is calculated (with software
provided by the scheduler) based on information provided by the
seller. Accessing information (provided by the scheduler over a
computer network of the Internet) regarding the type and capacity of
the appliance and the estimated remaining capacity of the appliance at
the projected time/date of delivery, the estimated size of the bundle of
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items is compared against the total volume (including the various
dimensions) of space remaining available in the consumer's designated
appliance(s) on the time/date of the proposed date of delivery. Thus,
an order that has a length of 5 feet will require 5 feet available within
the appliance 10. If the volume or any dimension of the order exceeds
available capacity, the consumer is given the option of splitting the
delivery into two or more deliveries, of rescheduling the delivery for
another time when capacity is available, or of removing items from the
shopping cart.
The retailer or seller notifies the consumer of the final purchase
price including shipping and handling. At step 30, the consumer
authorizes the purchase and indicates method of payment. The
consumer may arrange for payment to seller directly or by debit or
credit accounts linked to the consumer's account. The seller finalizes
the sale. At block 32, the seller notifies the scheduler 22 (a specialized
computer program running on a delivery system computer) of the
time/date of the intended delivery and the estimated size of the
bundle of items. The scheduler reserves the capacity in the designated
appliance for the scheduled time/date of the delivery. The seller also
electronically provides to the scheduler (in format specified by the
scheduler) an inventory of items purchased, itemized prices of each
item purchased, itemized shipping and handling costs, and any other
information permitted by the scheduler including coupon or "cents off"
offers and other advertising and promotional information. This
information provided by the seller may be made accessible by the
scheduler to the consumer by a variety of means and formats,
including computer networks, the Internet, electronic mail, telephone
or printed matter.
The seller prepares the order for shipment. If any of the items
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are unavailable at the time that the order is being filled or if other
items are added to the shipment for any reason, the estimated size of
the bundle of items is adjusted. At step 34, the seller accesses
information provided by the scheduler regarding the then available
capacity at the time/date of delivery. If space is available, the
shipment is scheduled at step 36. If space is unavailable, the shipment
is adjusted interactively until available space capacity can be
confirmed and reserved. At step 38, the seller electronically provides
to the scheduler information to update the order, including any
shipping information, routing or tracking numbers, etc., and any
additional advertising or promotional information.
Preceding the time/date of each scheduled delivery, the
scheduler communicates at step 40 electronic instructions to the
appliance to permit entry to delivery personnel using a key which is
identified by the appliance and matches a key authorized for entry for
the scheduled delivery at that date/time (a time interval within an
assigned date, or optionally, more than one date). If a key does not
match a key authorized for entry at that time/date, entry will be
denied. Once entry is gained for an authorized key, that key will be
locked out until re-authorized.
When a delivery is made to the appliance 10 at step 42, the
appliance communicates to the scheduler (by sending a "delivery
made" signal) that the delivery was completed at step 44. Debit or
credit sales at the point of delivery are processed for payment (costs
of the goods and/or delivery applied to an account of the customer) at
step 46. The scheduler updates the consumer's account with the
time/date of receipt. The vendor selling the goods or service making
the delivery may also provide information to the customer's account
regarding the time/date of delivery, promotional material and other
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information specified above, including a "thank you" for the purchase
at step 48.
The scheduler updates the consumer's account with various
information regarding each purchase and scheduled delivery at step
50. The consumer may access this information through a variety of
means including a computer network, an email, the Internet (i.e.,
checking a web page), a text message to the consumer's pager, or
telephone. The consumer may review his/her account through a
variety of views including available capacity by time period, committed
capacity by time period, chronological list of scheduled deliveries,
chronological list of scheduled deliveries by vendor, chronological list
of scheduled deliveries by vendor classification (i.e., groceries, dry
cleaning, etc.), deliveries made, deliveries missed, inventory of items
ordered or delivered (by vendor, vendor classification, time period,
etc.), inventory of items ordered but not shipped, calculation of costs
(by vendor, vendor type, time period, method of payment, shipping
and handling, etc.).
The consumer account holder may request to be notified at
various stages of the shipping and delivery process. In addition to
information, which is updated to the consumer's account and available
by means previously specified, the notification may be made via
electronic mail, voice or text pager, or telephone, smart phone, Ipad
type device or an app.
Although the discussion refers to consumers placing the orders,
it will be understood that the person ordering may also be a business
customer ordering supplies for a business.
Turning now to FIGS. 2-5, the appliance 10 details will be
discussed. Door handle 12 and electronic lock 14 are on the front of
the appliance 10 and would be used by delivery persons to access the
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appliance via a front door 15. Door handle 52 and key lock 54 would
be used by the customer (i.e., appliance owner) to access the rear
door 55 of the appliance 10. In practice, the appliance 10 may have its
front door 15 on the outside of a house (not shown) with the rear door
55 on the inside of the house. In that case, the appliance would fit in
an opening in the wall of the house in similar fashion to some room air
conditioners. The inside of the appliance 10 includes an insulated
compartment 56 where items such as hot food (pizza, etc.) may
maintain their heat. Dry goods or bulk items may be placed within
compartment 58 which is subdivided by a shelf 60. A refrigerated
compartment 62 and dry cleaning section 64 with a bar 66 for hanging
clothes are also included. Although not separately shown, a heated
compartment and a freezer compartment may also be included.
Turning now to FIG. 6, the electronic lock 14 is connected to a
computer/controller 68 that is in the appliance 10. The
computer/controller 68, which may operate solenoids or other
actuators (not shown) in order to unlock lock 14 or render it accessible
(i.e., ready to be unlocked) via electronic key 70, communicates via
communication link 16 with the scheduler 22. The link 16 may connect
to scheduler 22 via the internet, telephone system, cable, wireless or
other technique.
A digital signature 71 may be stored within computer 68 and
may be used for acknowledging special deliveries. For example, the
delivery of certain pharmaceutical products may require a signature to
acknowledge receipt. Upon the insertion of a pharmaceutical delivery
(or any other delivery where signature is desired or required), the
computer 68 may send, as part of a DELIVERY MADE signal, an
appended digital signature to authenticate the delivery. Alternately,
the electronic key 70 may be part of or connected to a small computer
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carried by the delivery person and operable to receive the digital
signature acknowledging receipt of the delivery. Recent changes in the
law in the United States, among other countries, may allow such
digital signatures to be used in situations where written signatures
were previously used.
Turning now to FIG. 7, but also considering FIG. 2, a flow chart
of some key aspects of the method of the present invention will be
discussed. Except as otherwise noted the steps in FIG. 7 are
performed by scheduler 22. The order is placed at step 72 by a
customer on his/her computer which communicates it to the scheduler
22. At block 74, the scheduler 22 determines the dimensions of the
order. These dimensions may have been supplied to scheduler 22 by
the retailer 20. At block 76, the scheduler 22 compares the dimensions
of the order with the available space within the appliance 10 for a
given time period. The scheduler may keep a running total of space
available within the appliance. Alternately, the computer 68 of FIG. 6
may keep a running total of space available that is supplied, upon
automated request, to the scheduler.
If block 76 determines that not enough space is available,
control goes to block 78 where the order is divided into two or more
portions for separate delivery before returning to block 74.
Once block 76 determines that sufficient space is available,
control goes to block 80 where space for the delivery is reserved.
Next, block 82 sends an access signal from the scheduler 22 to the
appliance 10 such that a delivery person may unlock it during a
prescribed time interval. Block 84 indicates that the delivery is made,
after which block 86 corresponds to the computer 68 of the appliance
sending a delivery made signal to the scheduler. Upon receipt of
the signal indicating delivery, the scheduler 22 or another part of the
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WO 2016/081017
PCT/US2015/000135
delivery system computer on which the scheduling software runs,
sends a charge account signal. The charge account signal debits or
charges the customer's account for the delivery which had just been
made.
FIG. 8 illustrates the method and system of the present
invention, which comprises an improvement over the prior art system
and method described above. Depicted is the top of a storage
container 10, in which is positioned a hatch 100, ports 102 for docking
with an unmanned delivery aircraft, and fixture 104 for receiving the
hereinbefore described access signal from the unmanned aircraft.
FIG. 9 depicts the storage container 10 shown in Fig. 8 being
approached by unmanned delivery aircraft 106 carrying the cargo to
be delivered 108. The aircraft is fitted with elements 110 for docking
with ports 102 (Fig. 8), after sending signal 112 to receiving fixture
104 and receiving therefrom an access signal which opens hatch 100
(Fig. 8). After docking is successfully completed, cargo 108 is delivered
through open hatch 100 (Fig. 8). The unmanned aircraft 106 then
undocks from the container 10 and hatch door 100 closes and locks.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any of the
scheduling, signaling and communication techniques described above
may be employed in connection with the improved delivery system and
method of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof.
Although various specific constructions and steps have been
shown and discussed, these are for illustrative purposes only. Various
modifications will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Therefore,
the scope of the present invention should be determined with
reference to the claims appended hereto.
