Biometric information for extracting a post

Abstract

A method is disclosed, where the method comprises:-obtaining authorization information, where the authorization information is authorized for removing a shipment from a storage compartment facility; obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of the person; -determining authorization display information based at least in part on the authorization information and the biometric information, the authorization display information showing that the biometric information is authorized for removal of the item from the storage compartment facility; and providing the authorization display information and the biometric information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, devices, systems, and computer programs for using biometric information when retrieving consignments from a locker facility. Background Art

[0002] Storage compartment facilities are used for various purposes, for example, in the form of locker storage compartment facilities or parcel storage compartment facilities. An example of a storage compartment facility is a parcel station that a user can use to receive or send a parcel. If the recipient wants to take out the mail stored in the storage compartment facility, authorization information (for example, in the form of a pickup code) is usually required for this purpose. The authorization information is authorized to be used to take out the mail, and the authorization information should be shown on the spot at the storage compartment facility, and then the stored mail is given by the storage compartment facility (for example, by opening the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility). This requirement for authorization information for taking out the mail may be disadvantageous, because the recipient of the mail must carry the authorization information when taking it out, and it is also difficult for the mail to be taken out by a third party (for example, a third party to whom the recipient wants to transfer the taking out of the mail). Summary of the invention

[0003] The object therefore arises in particular to design the removal of mail items from the storage compartment facility in a more advantageous and in particular more flexible manner.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed, the method comprising the following items:

[0005] - obtaining authorization information, wherein the authorization information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment from the storage facility;

[0006] - obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person;

[0007] -determining authorization display information based at least in part on the authorization information and the biometric information, wherein the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information is authorized to be used to retrieve the consignment from the storage facility; and

[0008] - Provide authorization display information and biometric information.

[0009] The method according to the first aspect may, for example, be at least partially or completely performed by a user device (eg a smartphone).

[0010] The authorization information is authorized for taking out mail from the storage compartment facility, so that, for example, after checking the authorization information, presenting the authorization information at the corresponding storage compartment facility enables opening of a specific storage compartment of the storage compartment facility and extracting mail from the storage compartment for taking out. Thus, the authorization information may (for example only) be authorized for taking out a specific mail, so that the authorization information loses its validity with the taking out of the specific mail and is not authorized for taking out another mail from the corresponding storage compartment facility.

[0011] The authorization information can be various. The authorization information can be, for example, letters, numbers, symbols, patterns, bit sequences, etc. It can also be a combination of the above formats. The authorization information can be, for example, an optical pattern (such as a QR code or a barcode) or represented by an optical pattern. In particular, the authorization information can be, for example, a password (for example, a password selected by the user or the device, for example randomly). In addition or in lieu thereof, the authorization information can also include a user identification code, such as a customer number, personal details, a personal encryption key or similar (for example, uniquely assignable to a user) information. The authorization information can be, in particular, image-presentable, readable and / or transmittable electronically and / or by radio for humans and / or machines.

[0012] The authorization information can be transmitted to the control unit of the storage compartment facility from the user device (e.g., the smart phone of the user who wants to take out the consignment from the storage compartment facility). This transmission can be realized by means of a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth). In another example, the authorization information can be transmitted by an optical pattern, wherein the optical pattern is displayed on the screen of the user device, so as to be acquired by the acquisition unit of the control unit of the storage compartment facility. The optical pattern can be, for example, a QR code or a barcode, and the acquisition unit can be, for example, a scanner for scanning corresponding patterns. In another example, the transmission of the authorization information is realized by means of displaying the authorization information on the screen of the user device, so as to be visually acquired by the user of the user device, and the user then inputs the authorization information on the input unit, especially keyboard or touch-sensitive screen of the control unit of the storage compartment facility. Here, the authorization information can be displayed on the screen of the user device as an alphanumeric string, for example.

[0013] Subsequently, it can be determined whether the authorization information obtained on the control unit of the storage compartment facility is authorized for retrieving the mailed items, so that the control unit of the storage compartment facility can prompt the opening and unlocking of the storage compartments of the storage compartment facility when necessary (for example, by manipulating the corresponding lock control unit of the storage compartment facility).

[0014] For example, the authorization information may be obtained on the user device. This should be understood as, for example, receiving the authorization information from a backend server, or obtaining the authorization information with the aid of an image capture device of the user device. In another example, the authorization information may be generated by the user device.

[0015] Biometric features, for example, should be understood as features that uniquely identify a person. Accordingly, such biometric features of a person are suitable for identification and / or authentication of the person.

[0016] Biometric features of a person may be, for example, facial features of the person. Facial features may be, for example, eye position and / or eye spacing, nose shape and / or nose position, mouth shape and / or lip contour or face shape (e.g., forehead, cheek and chin proportions). Further examples of biometric features are fingerprint features (e.g., patterns of lines and swirls on a fingertip) or features of a person's voice (e.g., pitch, timbre and manner of speaking).

[0017] The biometric feature may be acquired by the user device, for example, by means of at least one biometric sensor, wherein the at least one biometric sensor may be part of the user device.

[0018] The biometric information is obtained, for example, by determining the biometric information based on at least one of the previously acquired biometric features. This determination may include one or more steps, such as processing the at least one biometric feature and / or encoding the biometric information based on the at least one biometric feature. Accordingly, obtaining biometric information should be understood as, for example, determining the biometric information based on at least one biometric feature, wherein the obtaining may additionally include obtaining the at least one biometric feature. In an example, the biometric information may include a model (e.g., a mathematical model, which, for example, describes a person's face), wherein the model is determined based on at least one previously acquired biometric feature (e.g., a facial feature of a person). Accordingly, the biometric information may represent the at least one biometric feature or multiple biometric features.

[0019] Accordingly, the biometric information obtained may be understood as electronic information (e.g., binary-encoded electronic data), which is present, for example, in a computer-readable format for biometric information (e.g., in a dedicated format for facial recognition purposes, such as ISO / IEC 19794-5 or ANSI INCITS 385).

[0020] The authorization display information can be understood, for example, as an information element (e.g., a variable or attribute as part of a data structure), which, for a specific biometric information, shows that the biometric information is authorized to be used to take out a specific mailed item from a storage compartment facility. Accordingly, after checking the biometric information, presenting the biometric information at the corresponding storage compartment facility can, for example, open a specific storage compartment of the storage compartment facility and extract the mailed item from the storage compartment for removal. If, for example, the authorization display information is determined based on the biometric information and the authorization information, the determined authorization display information shows that the biometric information is authorized to be used to take out the following mailed item, that is, the authorization information is also authorized for its removal.

[0021] Accordingly, the biometric information may be understood as additional / additional / alternative authorization information. In an example, after the authorization display information is determined, the authorization information initially obtained may lose its validity and thus no longer be used for the removal of the mailed item. In another example, after the authorization display information is determined, the authorization information initially obtained retains its validity, so that the authorization information or the biometric information may be selectively used for the removal of the mailed item.

[0022] Providing authorization display information and biometric information can be understood, for example, as: the user device transmits the authorization display information and biometric information to the back-end server (for example, via an interface to a cellular mobile wireless system, a DSL interface or a local area network (LAN) interface, by means of which the user device can communicate with the back-end server via a communication connection).

[0023] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed, the method comprising the following items:

[0024] - obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person;

[0025] - Determining whether the biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment; and

[0026] -When it is determined that the biometric information is authorized for retrieval of the mail, prompting the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility where the mail is stored to be opened.

[0027] The method according to the second aspect may be at least partially or completely executed by a control unit of the storage compartment facility, or a backend server, for example.

[0028] If the acquisition of the biometric information is performed by the control unit of the storage compartment facility, the acquisition may include acquiring the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information by means of a biometric sensor of the storage compartment facility. Here, the biometric feature may be acquired as described above in relation to the method according to the first aspect. Subsequently, the biometric information may be acquired on the control unit of the storage compartment facility as described above in relation to the method according to the first aspect, and for this purpose the biometric information may be determined, for example, based on the acquired biometric feature.

[0029] If the acquisition of the biometric information is performed by the back-end server, the acquisition may include receiving the biometric information from the control unit of the storage facility on the back-end server (e.g., via a communication interface of the control unit, which communication interface may enable access to the Internet or other network connected to the back-end server). In this case, the biometric information is obtained on the control unit of the storage facility, for example, before being transmitted to the back-end server, by acquiring a biometric feature represented by the biometric information, for example, through at least one biometric sensor of the storage facility.

[0030] Determining whether the biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment may, for example, include determining whether there is authorization display information, which indicates that the obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment. Such existing authorization display information may, for example, be authorization display information determined in advance at the user device as described above with respect to the method according to the first aspect.

[0031] For example, determining whether the obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the mail may include comparing the obtained biometric information with at least one existing biometric information (e.g., among a plurality of existing biometric information). Here, for example, it is determined whether the obtained biometric information is consistent with one of the existing biometric information. If the obtained biometric information is consistent with the existing biometric information, then, for example, it is determined whether there is authorization display information showing that the existing biometric information consistent with the obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the mail. If such authorization display information is present, it is determined, for example, that the obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the mail.

[0032] For example, the obtained biometric information may be consistent with the existing biometric information when the biometric features represented by the obtained biometric information are consistent with the biometric features represented by the existing biometric information. Such consistency may also be achieved, for example, when the corresponding biometric features are consistent with each other within a predetermined tolerance.

[0033] If the determination of whether the biometric information is authorized for the removal of the mail is performed by the control unit of the storage compartment facility, the control unit can, for example, perform a comparison of the obtained biometric information with at least one existing biometric information, wherein the existing biometric information can, for example, be stored in a data memory of the control unit and retrieved from the data memory for the comparison. In another example, the control unit can request the existing biometric information on the back-end server, and then the requested existing biometric information is transmitted to the control unit by the back-end server and compared with the obtained biometric information on the control unit. In another example, the determination can include: transmitting the obtained biometric information from the control unit of the storage compartment facility to the back-end server, wherein the back-end server performs a comparison of the transmitted biometric information with at least one biometric information already present on the back-end server, and then sending the comparison result back to the control unit. Then, if the received result shows that the obtained biometric information is consistent with the biometric information already present on the back-end server and there is also authorization display information showing that the existing biometric information is authorized for the removal of the mail, then the control unit can determine that the obtained biometric information is authorized for the removal of the mail based on the received comparison result.

[0034] If the determination of whether the biometric information is authorized for retrieving mail is performed by the back-end server, the back-end server can compare the biometric information previously received by the control unit of the storage compartment facility with at least one biometric information already present on the back-end server and thereby determine whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized for retrieving mail.

[0035] When (e.g., only when) it is determined that the obtained biometric information is authorized for the removal of mail, the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility is prompted to open. This is the case, for example, when it is previously determined that there is authorization display information showing that the obtained biometric information is authorized for the removal of mail. For example, if it is determined that the obtained biometric information is not authorized for the removal of mail, the following information can be output (e.g., by means of a user interface of the control unit of the storage compartment facility), which indicates that there is no mail to be removed in the storage compartment facility for the person whose biometric characteristics are represented by the obtained biometric information.

[0036] If the opening is caused by the control unit of the storage compartment facility, the causing of the opening may, for example, include operating the corresponding lock control unit of the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility in which the relevant mailing is stored. Here, the lock control unit is operated, for example, in such a way that it opens the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility (for example, by unlocking the lock of the storage compartment).

[0037] If the opening is caused by the back-end server, the causing opening may, for example, include: the back-end server sends a command to the control unit of the storage compartment facility to open a specific storage compartment of the storage compartment facility. Then, the control unit, for example, manipulates the corresponding lock control unit, thereby opening the storage compartment. In such a case, the causing opening may, for example, include: the back-end server first determines in which storage compartment facility the consignment that the obtained biometric information is authorized to be taken out is stored, and then sends an opening command to the control unit of the determined storage compartment facility.

[0038] For example, after prompting the opening, the acquired biometric information as well as the existing biometric information and the existing authorization display information are deleted.

[0039] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed, the method comprising the following items:

[0040] - providing authorization information, wherein the authorization information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment from the storage facility;

[0041] - obtaining authorization display information and biometric information, wherein the authorization display information is determined based at least in part on the authorization information and the biometric information and then obtained, and wherein the authorization information indicates that the biometric information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment from the storage facility; and

[0042] - Provide authorization display information and biometric information.

[0043] The method according to the third aspect may, for example, be at least partially or completely executed by a backend server.

[0044] Providing authorization information, for example, should be understood as: the back-end server provides authorization information to a person (for example, a recipient of mail that the authorization information authorizes to take out), so that the person is authorized to take out mail from the storage compartment facility with the help of the authorization information. For example, the back-end server sends the authorization information to the user device of the person to be authorized (for example, by the communication connection between the back-end server and the user device). In another example, the back-end server sends the authorization information to a portable delivery device (for example, a delivery device of a courier, who has previously stored the relevant mail in the storage compartment facility). In such a case, the authorization information can be printed out by a delivery device (for example, a handheld device equipped with a scanner and a printer) in the form of a barcode, wherein the printed barcode (which is, for example, printed on a pickup card) is, for example, then placed by the courier in the mailbox of the person, who is the recipient of the mail that the authorization information authorizes to take out.

[0045] For example, the authorization information provided by the backend server is obtained on the user device as described in relation to the method according to the first aspect. Accordingly, at a later point in time, authorization display information is determined on the user device based on the obtained authorization information and the obtained biometric information. For example, the authorization display information is transmitted back to the backend server by the user device together with the biometric information, thereby obtaining the authorization display information and the biometric information on the backend server according to the method of the third aspect.

[0046] After obtaining the authorization display information and the biometric information, the backend server, for example, provides the obtained authorization display information and the obtained biometric information. The provided authorization display information and biometric information can be understood as existing biometric information or existing authorization display information in a further process.

[0047] Providing authorization display information and biometric information can, for example, include storing these information in a data storage device of the back-end server. In another example, providing authorization display information and biometric information can include sending these information to a control unit of a storage facility, wherein these information are then stored in a data storage device of the control unit. To this end, the back-end server can, for example, first determine in which storage facility the authorization display information shows that the consignment that the biometric information is authorized to take out is previously stored. Subsequently, the back-end server can send these two information to the control unit of the determined storage facility. At the storage facility, for example, the method according to the second aspect can be performed in a further process to take out the stored consignment within the scope of the method.

[0048] According to the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure, a user who is the recipient of a consignment can advantageously obtain one or more biometric features (e.g., facial features) of his / her personnel based on the conventional authorization information obtained for the retrieval of the consignment by means of his / her user device (e.g., a smart phone). Then, it is determined by the user device that: in addition to or instead of the conventional authorization information, the biometric information representing the acquired biometric feature is authorized for the retrieval of the consignment. Accordingly, the user can then cause the corresponding sensor of the storage compartment facility at the relevant storage compartment facility to acquire the biometric feature, so that the corresponding consignment is given after inspection. Therefore, advantageously, it is no longer necessary to carry and present conventional authorization information at the storage compartment facility for the giving out of the stored consignment.

[0049] Instead of conventional authorization information, it is advantageously sufficient to obtain a biometric feature to retrieve the stored mail, so that the recipient does not have to carry additional information or proof to retrieve the relevant mail. Advantageously, the biometric information can be authorized for retrieval of a specific mail, so that after the mail is retrieved, the biometric information can be deleted from all data storage devices (e.g., data storage devices of a control unit of a storage compartment facility or of a backend server). Thus, it is advantageously ensured that (e.g., sensitive) biometric information is only temporarily stored until the time when the mail is retrieved.

[0050] In addition, according to each of the above aspects of the present disclosure, it is accordingly disclosed that:

[0051] -A computer program, the computer program includes program instructions, when the computer program is run on a processor, these program instructions cause the processor to implement and / or control the method according to the corresponding aspects of the present disclosure. Among others, in this specification, "processor" should be understood as a control unit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller (such as a microcontroller), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Here, either all steps of the method can be controlled or all steps of the method can be implemented, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be implemented. The computer program can, for example, be distributed via a network such as the Internet, a telephone network or a mobile wireless network and / or a local area network. The computer program can be at least partially software and / or firmware of the processor. The computer program can also be implemented as hardware at least in part. The computer program can, for example, be stored on a computer-readable storage medium, such as a magnetic, electrical, optical and / or other form of storage medium. The storage medium can, for example, be a part of a processor, such as a (non-volatile or volatile) program memory of a processor or a part thereof. The storage medium can, for example, be a specific and / or physical storage medium.

[0052] -A device, which is configured to implement and / or control the method according to the corresponding aspects of the present disclosure, or the device includes corresponding means for implementing and / or controlling the steps of the method according to the corresponding aspects of the present disclosure. Here, either all steps of the method can be controlled or all steps of the method can be implemented, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be implemented. One or more of these devices can also be implemented and / or controlled by the same unit. For example, one or more of these devices can be composed of one or more processors.

[0053] - A device, comprising at least one processor and at least one memory containing program code, wherein the memory and the program code are configured to cause the device having the at least one processor to at least implement and / or control the method according to the corresponding aspect of the present disclosure. Here, either all steps of the method can be controlled or all steps of the method can be implemented, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be implemented.

[0054] Further advantages of exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are described below with the aid of exemplary embodiments, the disclosure of which should apply equally to all aspects of the present disclosure.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, the authorization information is represented by a pickup code.

[0056] For example, the authorization information is given by the pickup code, so that the authorization information can be obtained by obtaining the pickup code. In another example, the authorization information is represented by more than one pickup code, in such a way that, for example, a new pickup code is repeatedly generated at a specific time interval based on the authorization information existing on the user device, and the new pickup code accordingly represents the authorization information in a limited time to improve the integrity of the pickup code.

[0057] The pickup code can be understood as a code, for example, wherein the code is authorized to be used for taking out the mail stored in the lock when it is presented at the storage compartment facility (for example, the presentation of the pickup code prompts the storage compartment to be opened so that the stored mail can be extracted). The pickup code representing the authorization information can be designed to be various. The pickup code can include letters, numbers and / or optical patterns (for example, QR codes or bar codes). The way to present the pickup code at the storage compartment facility can be, for example, that the user manually inputs a pickup code consisting of numbers and / or letters on an input unit (for example, a keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen with an on-screen keyboard) of the control unit of the storage compartment facility, or the pickup code is transmitted from the user device to the control unit of the storage compartment facility by means of a wireless connection (for example, Bluetooth). In another example where the pickup code is given by an optical pattern (for example, a QR code or a bar code), the way to present the pickup code at the storage compartment facility can be, for example, that the control unit of the storage compartment facility has an acquisition unit, for example, a scanner that can acquire information optically. Therefore, the acquisition unit can acquire the pickup code in the form of a barcode or a QR code from the screen of the user device or from the pickup card, for example.

[0058] In an exemplary implementation of the method according to the first aspect, obtaining authorization information further includes:

[0059] - Receive authorization information from a backend server; or

[0060] - Providing access to authorization information with the aid of an image capture device of the user device.

[0061] For example, authorization information can be received from the back-end server on the user device (for example, via an interface to a cellular mobile wireless system, a DSL interface, or a local area network (LAN) interface, by means of which the user device can communicate with the back-end server via a communication connection). For example, after the authorization information is generated on the back-end server, the back-end server sends the authorization information to the user device. After receiving the authorization information, the user of the user device, for example, through the user interface of the user device, learns that the authorization information exists and that the authorization information authorizes the user to take out the mail addressed to him from the storage compartment facility.

[0062] In another example, authorization information is obtained on the user device by means of an image capture device (e.g., a camera) of the user device. This should be understood, for example, as follows: the camera of the user device obtains (e.g., captures) a pickup code (e.g., a barcode or a QR code) that exists in a printed manner, and the authorization information represented by the pickup code is obtained by acquiring the pickup code. In addition to capturing the pickup code, acquiring the pickup code may also include subsequently executing a recognition algorithm, wherein the recognition algorithm recognizes the authorization information represented by the pickup code. The pickup code may be printed, for example, on a pickup card, wherein the pickup card is placed in advance by the courier in the mailbox of a person who is the recipient of the mail that the authorization information authorizes to retrieve. In such a case, after the courier deposits the mail in the storage compartment facility, the courier's courier device (e.g., a handheld device equipped with a scanner and a printer) may print out the authorization information, for example, in the form of a barcode.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, obtaining biometric information further comprises:

[0064] -Utilizing one or more biometric sensors of the user device to facilitate acquisition of the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information.

[0065] Prompting the acquisition of the at least one biometric feature can be understood, for example, as: the user device manipulates at least one biometric sensor so that the at least one biometric sensor subsequently acquires the at least one biometric feature. For example, the user device then determines the biometric information based on the acquired at least one biometric feature.

[0066] The biometric sensor can be implemented, for example, by a camera of a user device (the camera, for example, includes one or more image sensors), wherein the camera, for example, acquires facial images from different angles and distances. Based on the acquired images, one or more facial features can be determined, for example, by image processing (e.g., an image analysis algorithm). In addition, the camera of the user device (e.g., an infrared camera) can, for example, acquire the three-dimensional shape of the face, for example, by first projecting a light spot pattern onto the face, and the camera then acquires the reflected light spot pattern. In another example, the biometric sensor can be implemented by a fingerprint sensor of the user device (the fingerprint sensor, for example, includes one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors, and / or pressure sensors). In another example, the biometric sensor can be implemented by a microphone of the user device, wherein the microphone, for example, acquires voice and analyzes the acquired audio signal by audio processing to determine unique sound features such as pitch or frequency patterns.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, obtaining biometric information further comprises:

[0068] - Request biometric information from another user device;

[0069] -Receiving requested biometric information from another user device.

[0070] In the example, the user device that obtained the authorization information in the previous step performs a request to another user device. For example, the user device sends a request message to the other user device for this purpose (for example, via an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a DSL interface, a local area network (LAN) interface, or another wireless interface, such as WLAN or Bluetooth, by means of which the user device communicates with the other user device via a communication connection). The request message sent, for example, shows a request for biometric information from another user device, wherein the requested biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of a person.

[0071] Similar to the user device, the other user device may also be understood as a smart phone, but the user device may also be implemented by other forms of electronic terminal user devices (such as desktop computers, laptops or tablet computers). For example, the user of the other user device is different from the user of the user device.

[0072] For example, the step of requesting biometric information from another user device is triggered by a user operation on the user device, wherein the other user device is determined based on the user operation, for example. Therefore, for example, the request to the other user device is triggered only when the user of the device makes the request.

[0073] For example, the further user device performs the acquisition of the requested biometric information in response to the request obtained from the user device. The acquisition may include: acquiring at least one biometric feature through one or more biometric sensors of the further user device, wherein the further user device determines the requested biometric information, for example based on the acquired at least one biometric feature, in a manner such that the requested biometric information represents the at least one biometric feature acquired by the further user device. For example, the acquisition of the at least one biometric feature by the further user device may be performed as described above for acquiring the at least one biometric feature by the user device.

[0074] For example, after another user device determines the requested biometric information, the other user device can send the requested biometric information to the user device that originally requested the biometric information (e.g., via a communication connection that was previously used to send the request for biometric information to the other user device).

[0075] For example, after a user device receives the requested biometric information from another user device, the user device then determines authorization display information based at least in part on the obtained authorization information and the biometric information received by the other user device.

[0076] Advantageously, by requesting another user device, biometric information representing the biometric features of a third person (i.e., the user of the other user device) can be obtained. The third person can be, for example, the original recipient of the stored mail (i.e., the user of the user device) to whom the retrieval of the stored mail is to be transferred. By obtaining the biometric features of the third person and also determining the authorization display information showing that the biometric information representing the biometric features of the third person is authorized to be used for retrieval of the mail, the original recipient of the conventional authorization information can flexibly authorize the third person to retrieve the mail. Advantageously, the third person does not need to obtain conventional authorization information and does not need to present conventional authorization information at the storage compartment facility when retrieval of the mail. At the same time, the transmission of the retrieval authorization described prevents fraud attempts because the transmission is carried out by the user device of the original recipient of the conventional authorization information and is therefore subject to the original recipient, who can decide whether to request biometric information or which other user device to request biometric information.

[0077] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, providing authorization display information and biometric information further comprises:

[0078] -Transmit biometric information and authorization display information to the backend server.

[0079] For example, the user device transmits the authorization display information and the biometric information to the backend server (for example, via an interface to a cellular mobile wireless system, a DSL interface, or a local area network (LAN) interface, by means of which the user device can communicate with the backend server via a communication connection). The authorization display information and the biometric information transmitted to the backend server can be understood as existing biometric information or existing authorization display information in the further process.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the second aspect, obtaining biometric information further comprises:

[0081] - utilizing one or more biometric sensors of the storage compartment facility to facilitate acquisition of the at least one biometric characteristic represented by the biometric information.

[0082] Prompting the acquisition of the at least one biometric feature can be understood, for example, as follows: the control unit of the storage compartment facility controls at least one biometric sensor of the storage compartment facility so that the at least one biometric sensor subsequently acquires the at least one biometric feature. For example, the control unit of the storage compartment facility then determines the biometric information based on the acquired at least one biometric feature.

[0083] In another example, the acquisition may be performed by a backend server, wherein the backend server, for example, sends a command to a control unit of the storage compartment facility to acquire at least one biometric feature. The control unit then, for example, operates at least one biometric sensor of the storage compartment facility so that the biometric sensor acquires the biometric feature.

[0084] The biometric sensor can be implemented, for example, by a camera of a storage compartment facility (the camera, for example, includes one or more image sensors), wherein the camera, for example, acquires facial images from different angles and distances. Based on the acquired image, one or more facial features can be determined, for example, by image processing (e.g., an image analysis algorithm). In addition, the camera of the storage compartment facility (e.g., an infrared camera), for example, can acquire the three-dimensional shape of the face, for example, in a manner that a light spot pattern is first projected onto the face, and the camera then acquires the reflected light spot pattern. In another example, the biometric sensor can be implemented by a fingerprint sensor of a storage compartment facility (the fingerprint sensor, for example, includes one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors, and / or pressure sensors). In another example, the biometric sensor can be implemented by a microphone of a storage compartment facility, wherein the microphone, for example, acquires voice and analyzes the acquired audio signal by audio processing to determine unique sound features such as tones or frequency patterns.

[0085] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the second aspect, determining whether the biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment further comprises:

[0086] - Determine whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized to be used for retrieving the mailed item.

[0087] For example, "determining whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail" may include: comparing the obtained biometric information with at least one existing biometric information (for example, among multiple existing biometric information). Here, for example, it is determined whether the obtained biometric information is consistent with one of the existing biometric information. If the obtained biometric information is consistent with the existing biometric information, then, for example, it is determined whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the existing biometric information that is consistent with the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail. If such authorization display information exists, it is determined, for example, that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail.

[0088] For example, the obtained biometric information may be consistent with the existing biometric information when the biometric feature represented by the obtained biometric information is consistent with the biometric feature represented by the existing biometric information. Such consistency may also be achieved, for example, when the corresponding biometric features are consistent with each other within a predetermined tolerance. Therefore, such a tolerance may be required, for example, because the biometric feature represented by the obtained biometric information has been acquired by a biometric sensor of the storage compartment facility, and the biometric feature represented by the existing biometric information has been acquired by a biometric sensor of the user device, wherein the biometric sensors of the user device and the storage compartment facility are, for example, different from each other and acquire the same biometric feature of the person in different ways.

[0089] If the control unit of the storage compartment facility performs the determination of whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail, the control unit can, for example, perform a comparison of the obtained biometric information with at least one existing biometric information, wherein the existing biometric information can, for example, be stored in a data memory of the control unit and retrieved from the data memory for comparison. In another example, the control unit can request the existing biometric information on the back-end server, and then the requested existing biometric information is transmitted to the control unit by the back-end server and compared with the obtained biometric information on the control unit. In another example, the determination can include: transmitting the obtained biometric information from the control unit of the storage compartment facility to the back-end server, wherein the back-end server performs a comparison of the transmitted biometric information with at least one biometric information already existing on the back-end server, and then sends the comparison result back to the control unit. Then, if the received result shows that the obtained biometric information is consistent with the biometric information already existing on the back-end server and there is also authorization display information showing that the existing biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail, then the control unit can determine that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail based on the received comparison result.

[0090] If the back-end server executes "determining whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail", the back-end server can compare the biometric information received in advance by the control unit of the storage compartment facility with at least one biometric information already existing on the back-end server and thereby determine whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail.

[0091] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the second aspect, causing the storage compartment to open further comprises:

[0092] - Based at least in part on the existing authorization display information, determining a storage compartment of the storage compartment facility in which the consignment for which the biometric information is authorized for retrieval is stored.

[0093] For example, the authorization display information shows whether the biometric information is authorized to be used for taking out the mail stored in the storage compartment facility. Here, it particularly relates to the mail for which the original authorization information is authorized to be taken out. For example, the authorization display information shows, by means of the identification code of the mail, for which specific mail the authorization display information is authorized to be used for taking out. In addition, for example, for such mail identified by the displayed identification code, in which storage compartment of which storage compartment facility the specific mail is stored, it is stored in the data memory. In this way, the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility in which the mail for which the biometric information is authorized to be used for taking out is stored can be determined at least in part based on the authorization display information.

[0094] Determining the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility in which the mailed item that the biometric information is authorized to be used for retrieval is stored can be selectively performed by the back-end server or by the control unit of the storage compartment facility. Here, for example, which mailed item is stored in which storage compartment of the storage compartment facility can be stored in a corresponding data memory on the back-end server and the control unit of the storage compartment facility.

[0095] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the third aspect, providing authorization information includes transmitting the authorization information to a user device, wherein obtaining authorization display information and biometric information includes receiving authorization display information and biometric information from the user device, and wherein providing authorization display information and biometric information includes transmitting the authorization display information and biometric information to a control unit of a storage compartment facility.

[0096] For example, the backend server transmits the provided authorization information to a user device, where the authorization information is received as described in relation to the method according to the first aspect, and the authorization information is used to determine the authorization display information. For example, the backend server receives the authorization display information and the biometric information from the user device, where the user device transmits the two information to the backend server as described in relation to the method according to the first aspect. The authorization display information and the biometric information are then transmitted by the backend server to a control unit of the storage compartment facility, where the two information are received as described in relation to the method according to the second aspect.

[0097] In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to different aspects, the at least one biometric feature of the person is a facial feature of the person.

[0098] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system is disclosed, which includes at least the device according to the first aspect, the device according to the second aspect, and the device according to the third aspect.

[0099] For example, the device according to the first aspect is a user device (e.g., a smart phone), the device according to the second aspect is a control unit of a storage compartment facility, or a backend server, and the device according to the third aspect is a backend server. The system may, for example, include further devices and / or components of the device.

[0100] The above-described embodiments and exemplary designs of all aspects of the present disclosure are also to be understood as being disclosed in all combinations with one another. In particular, the disclosure of a method step also applies to the disclosure of an apparatus for performing the corresponding method step. Likewise, the disclosure of an apparatus for performing a method step also applies to the disclosure of the method step itself.

[0101] Further advantageous exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments, in particular in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings shall only be used for illustrative purposes and shall not be used to determine the scope of protection of the claims. The drawings are not necessarily shown to scale and shall only reflect the overall concept of the present invention by way of example. In particular, the features contained in the drawings shall in no way be regarded as essential components of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0102] In the attached picture:

[0103] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

[0104] Figure 2 A flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure;

[0105] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A schematic diagram showing an exemplary environment for performing the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure;

[0106] Figure 4 A flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure;

[0107] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing an exemplary environment for performing the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure;

[0108] Figure 6 A flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure;

[0109] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing an exemplary implementation of a user equipment according to the first aspect of the present disclosure;

[0110] Figure 8A schematic diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a control unit of a storage compartment facility according to the second aspect of the present disclosure;

[0111] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram showing an exemplary implementation of a backend server according to the second aspect or the third aspect of the present disclosure; and

[0112] Fig.10 An exemplary embodiment of a storage medium is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0113] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1 according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown.

[0114] The system 1 illustratively includes: a storage compartment facility 130 (e.g. Figure 5 The storage compartment facility 5 shown in FIG. 5 ) has a control unit 131 of the storage compartment facility 130 (e.g. Figure 8 The control unit shown in FIG. 1 ); the backend server 120 (eg Fig. 9 The backend server 9 shown in FIG. 1 ); and the user device 110 (eg Figure 7 The user device 7 shown in the figure should be understood as a user device of a user 140 who wants to retrieve the mail stored in the storage compartment facility 130.

[0115] In particular, the user device 110 is configured for remote communication, so the user device has, for example, an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a DSL interface or a local area network (LAN) interface, by means of which the user device can communicate with the backend server 120 via a communication connection 115. The user device 110 can be understood as a smart phone, for example, but the user device can also be implemented by other forms of electronic end user devices (such as desktop computers, laptops or tablet computers).

[0116] The control unit 131 of the storage compartment facility 130 is exemplarily configured to communicate with the backend server 120 using at least one communication interface, i.e., for example, a communication interface capable of accessing the Internet or other networks connected to the backend server 120. In particular, the control unit 131 is therefore configured for remote communication, for example, having an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a DSL interface or a local area network (LAN) interface, by means of which the control unit can communicate with the backend server 120 via the communication connection 125.

[0117] The backend server 120 can manage and / or communicate with multiple storage facilities including the storage facility 130 and / or multiple users including the user 140, for example. The backend server 120 can communicate with the control unit 131 of the storage facility 130, for example, via the communication connection 125.

[0118] The user 140 shown, for example, wants to take out the mail addressed to the user 140 from the storage compartment facility 130, and the mail is stored in the storage compartment facility 130 during the mail delivery process. Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 Methods according to different aspects of the present disclosure for such removal purposes are described.

[0119] Figure 2 A flowchart showing an exemplary implementation of the method 200 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 Method 200 is described with reference to system 1 shown in FIG.

[0120] Step 201 is obtaining authorization information, wherein the authorization information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment from the storage facility.

[0121] For example, the smartphone 110 used as a user device receives authorization information from the backend server 120 via the communication connection 115, wherein the authorization information is authorized for taking out the mailed items pre-stored in the storage compartment facility 130. The mailed items are sent to the person 140, who can display the authorization information represented by the QR code on his smartphone 110. When taking out the mailed items, the person 140 can present the QR code at the storage compartment facility 130, so that the scanner of the control unit 131 obtains the QR code, and the control unit 131 prompts the corresponding storage compartment to be opened.

[0122] In another example, the person 140 obtains a pickup card with a printed barcode representing the authorization information. The person 140 then uses the camera of his smartphone 110 to capture the barcode, thereby obtaining the authorization information on the smartphone 110.

[0123] Step 202 is obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person.

[0124] For example, a camera or fingerprint sensor of smartphone 110 acquires biometric features of person 140 (eg, facial features or fingerprints of person 140 ), and smartphone 110 then determines biometric information based on the acquired biometric features.

[0125] Step 203 is determining authorization display information based at least in part on the authorization information and the biometric information, wherein the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information is authorized to be used to retrieve the consignment from the storage facility.

[0126] For example, in step 203, the smart phone 110 determines authorization display information based on the authorization information obtained in step 201 and the biometric information obtained in step 202, wherein the authorization display information shows that the biometric information obtained in step 202 is authorized to be used for taking out the mail addressed to the person 140 from the storage compartment facility 130. Here, the biometric information may, for example, be authorized only for taking out specific mail, and the authorization information obtained in step 201 is also authorized for taking out.

[0127] Step 204 is to provide authorization display information and biometric information.

[0128] For example, the smart phone 110 transmits the authorization display information determined in step 203 and the biometric information obtained in step 202 to the backend server 120 via the communication connection 115 .

[0129] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A schematic diagram of an exemplary environment for performing the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is shown.

[0130] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A smartphone 310 is shown as an example, which is to be understood as a user device and can be used with a computer as a Figure 1 1 corresponds to the smartphone 110 which is a part of the system 1 shown in FIG. Here, the smartphone 310 is operated by a user 335, who can correspond to the person 140 within the system 1. Figure 3a and Figure 3b In the environment exemplarily shown in FIG. , for example, the following can be performed Figure 2 Method 200 shown in FIG.

[0131] First, the smart phone 310 receives authorization information, which is given by a pickup code 330 (e.g., a barcode) (see step 201). The authorization information authorizes the person 335 to take the consignment from the storage facility. Figure 3a As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the way to obtain the authorization information on the smart phone 310 of the person 335 is that the camera 325 of the smart phone 310 obtains the pickup code 330 printed on the pickup card, so that the smart phone 310 obtains the authorization information represented by the pickup code 330. In another example, the smart phone 310 receives the authorization information (e.g., represented by the QR code 315) from the backend server (e.g., via an interface to a cellular mobile wireless system).

[0132] Subsequently, the other camera 320 of the smart phone 310 is used as a biometric sensor to obtain facial features of the person 335 (see step 202), wherein the smart phone 310 determines biometric information representing the acquired facial features based on the acquired facial features (see step 203). By using the biometric information and the authorization information, the smart phone 310 determines the authorization display information showing that the biometric information is authorized for taking the consignment out of the storage compartment facility.

[0133] As a supplement to the smart phone 310, Figure 3b 3 shows a smartphone 350 as an exemplary further user device. In the example, the smartphone 310, on which the authorization information represented by the QR code 315 was obtained in advance, performs a request to the smartphone 350. To this end, the smartphone 310 sends a request message to the smartphone 350 via a communication connection 340 (for example, by means of an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a WLAN interface or a Bluetooth interface). The request message sent shows that biometric information is requested from the smartphone 350, wherein the requested biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of a person 355, who is different from the person 335. The step of requesting biometric information from the smartphone 350 is triggered by a user operation of the person 335 on the smartphone 310, wherein the smartphone 350 is determined based on the user operation. Therefore, the request to the smartphone 350 is triggered only after the person 335 makes the request.

[0134] For example, smartphone 350 performs obtaining of requested biometric information in response to a request obtained from smartphone 310. The obtaining may include obtaining facial features of person 355 through camera 345 as a biometric sensor of smartphone 350, wherein smartphone 350 determines the requested biometric information based on the obtained facial features, such that the requested biometric information represents the obtained facial features of person 355.

[0135] After the smart phone 350 determines the requested biometric information, the smart phone 350 can send the requested biometric information to the smart phone 310 that originally requested the biometric information via the communication connection 340. The smart phone 310 then determines the authorization display information based on the obtained authorization information (e.g., represented by the QR code 315) and the biometric information received by the smart phone 350.

[0136] Advantageously, biometric information representing a biometric feature of a third person 355 may be obtained by requesting smart phone 350. Third person 355 may be a person to whom the original recipient 335 of the deposited consignment wants to have the retrieval of the deposited consignment transferred. By obtaining the biometric feature of the third person 355 and also determining authorization display information showing that the biometric information representing the biometric feature of the third person 355 is authorized for retrieval of the consignment, the original recipient 335 of the conventional authorization information may flexibly authorize the third person 355 to retrieval the consignment. Advantageously, third person 355 does not need to obtain conventional authorization information and does not need to present conventional authorization information (e.g., represented by QR code 315) at the storage compartment facility when retrieval of the consignment. At the same time, the transmission of the withdrawal authorization described protects against fraud attempts because the transmission is performed via the smartphone 310 of the original recipient 335 of the regular authorization information and is therefore subject to the original recipient 335, who can decide whether to request biometric information or which other smartphone to request biometric information from.

[0137] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an exemplary implementation of the method 400 according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 1 Method 400 is described with reference to system 1 shown in FIG.

[0138] Referring to system 1, method 400 may be performed by backend server 120 or control unit 131 of storage facility 130. Method 400 may be performed, for example, in time Figure 2 , that is, after the person 140 has acquired at least one biometric feature using his smartphone 110 and after the corresponding authorization display information is determined by the smartphone 110 and transmitted to the backend server 120. For example, the person 140 then goes to the storage facility 130 to take out the mail addressed to the person and stored in the storage facility 130.

[0139] Step 401 is to obtain biometric information, where the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person.

[0140] If the biometric information is obtained by the control unit 131 of the storage facility 130, the control unit 131, for example, controls the biometric sensor of the storage facility 130 so that the biometric sensor acquires the biometric features of the person 140. Figure 2When facial features or fingerprints are previously acquired from person 140 as biometric features by the biometric sensor of smart phone 110 as described in step 202 of method 200 shown in FIG, the biometric features are also acquired by the biometric sensor of storage compartment facility 130 in step 401 .

[0141] If obtaining the biometric information is performed by the backend server 120, the backend server 120 receives the biometric information from the control unit 131 of the storage facility 130 via the communication connection 125. Before transmitting the biometric information, the biometric information is obtained on the control unit 131 by acquiring the biometric feature represented by the biometric information through the biometric sensor of the storage facility 130.

[0142] Step 402 is to determine whether the biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment.

[0143] If the determination of whether the biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment is performed by the backend server 120, the backend server 120, for example, determines whether there is authorization display information in the data storage of the backend server 120, which indicates that the biometric information obtained in step 401 is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment. The existing authorization display information is as shown in Figure 2 The authorization display information is determined in advance on the smart phone 110 and then transmitted to the backend server 120 as described in the method 200 shown in FIG.

[0144] The determination in step 402 may, for example, include comparing the biometric information obtained in step 401 with a plurality of biometric information present in a data storage of the backend server 120. Here, it is determined whether the obtained biometric information is consistent with one of the existing biometric information. If the obtained biometric information is consistent with the existing biometric information, it is then determined by the backend server 120 whether there is authorization display information showing that the existing biometric information consistent with the obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment. If such authorization display information exists, it is determined in step 402 that the obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment. Here, when the biometric feature represented by the obtained biometric information (here, for example, the facial features or fingerprints of the person 140) is consistent with the biometric feature represented by the existing biometric information (for example, within a predetermined tolerance), the obtained biometric information may be consistent with the existing biometric information.

[0145] In another example, the determination in step 402 may be performed by the control unit 131 of the storage facility 130. The control unit 131 then determines, for example, whether there is authorization display information in the data storage of the control unit 131, which indicates that the biometric information obtained in step 401 is authorized for use in taking out the consignment. As described above, the determination in step 402 may, for example, include comparing the biometric information obtained in step 401 with a plurality of existing biometric information. Here, the existing biometric information may be stored in the data storage of the control unit 131 or requested by the control unit 131 to the backend server 120, and then the requested existing biometric information is transmitted from the backend server 120 to the control unit 131, and compared with the obtained biometric information on the control unit 131. In another example, the determination in step 402 may include transmitting the obtained biometric information from the control unit 131 to the backend server 120, wherein the backend server 120 performs the above-mentioned comparison and then sends the comparison result back to the control unit 131. Then, it can be determined at the control unit 131 based on the received comparison result that the biometric information obtained in step 401 is authorized for retrieving the consignment.

[0146] Step 403 is: when it is determined that the biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail, prompting the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility where the mail is stored to open.

[0147] When (e.g., only when) it is determined in step 402 that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the consignment, the prompting of opening in step 403 is performed. In other cases, control unit 131 may output (e.g., via a user interface of control unit 131) the following information, that is, the information shows that there is no consignment in storage compartment facility 130 that can be taken out by person 140 whose biometric characteristics are represented by the obtained biometric information.

[0148] If the prompting of opening in step 403 is performed by the control unit 131, the prompting of opening may include operating the corresponding lock control unit of the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility 130 where the relevant mailed items are stored. Here, the lock control unit is operated in such a way that it opens the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility 130 (for example, by unlocking the lock of the storage compartment).

[0149] If the prompting of opening in step 403 is performed by the backend server 120, the prompting of opening may include: the backend server 120 sends a command to the control unit 131 to open a specific storage compartment of the storage compartment facility 130. Then, the control unit 131 operates the corresponding lock control unit, thereby opening the storage compartment. In such a case, prompting of opening may include: the backend server 120 first determines in which storage compartment facility the consignment that the obtained biometric information is authorized to be taken out is stored, and then sends the opening command to the control unit 131.

[0150] After step 403, the biometric information obtained in steps 202 and 402 is deleted from the corresponding data storage (eg, on the backend server 120 and / or the control unit 131).

[0151] According to Figure 2 and Figure 4 According to the method shown in FIG. 4 , the person 140 can advantageously, as the consignee, obtain one or more biometric features (e.g., facial features) of the person in step 202 based on the conventional authorization information obtained in step 201 by means of his smart phone 110 for the purpose of retrieving the consignment. Then, the smart phone 110 determines in step 203 that, in addition to or in lieu of the conventional authorization information, the biometric information representing the obtained biometric features is authorized for retrieving the consignment. In step 204, the smart phone 110 transmits the corresponding biometric information and authorization display information to the backend server 120, which communicates with the storage compartment facility 130 where the consignment is stored. Accordingly, in step 401, the person 140 can then cause the corresponding sensor of the storage compartment facility 130 to obtain the biometric feature at the relevant storage compartment facility 130, so that after checking in step 402, the corresponding consignment is given in step 403. Advantageously, therefore, it is no longer necessary to carry and present conventional authorization information at the locker facility 130 for the release of stored consignments.

[0152] Instead of conventional authorization information, it is advantageously sufficient to obtain the biometric feature on the spot at the storage compartment facility to remove the stored mail, so that the personnel 140 do not have to carry additional information or proof to remove the relevant mail. Advantageously, the biometric information can be authorized for the removal of a specific mail, so that after the mail is removed, the biometric information can be deleted from all data storage devices (e.g., the data storage device of the control unit 131 of the storage compartment facility 130 or the back-end server 120). Therefore, it is advantageously ensured that (e.g., sensitive) biometric information is only temporarily stored until the time point when the mail is removed.

[0153] Figure 5A schematic diagram of an exemplary environment for performing the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is shown.

[0154] exist Figure 5 The storage compartment facility 5 shown in FIG. 5 includes, for example, a control unit 510 that controls the functions of the storage compartment facility 5. The storage compartment facility 5 may be Figure 1 The storage compartment facility 130 of the system 1 shown in FIG. 1 , wherein an exemplary embodiment of the control unit 510 can be Figure 8 The control unit 8 shown in FIG.

[0155] In addition, the storage compartment facility 5 includes a plurality of storage compartments 520, which are configured, for example, to receive mail (e.g., letters, parcels, small parcels) or delivery objects or articles (e.g., valuables, luggage, etc.). At least some of these storage compartments 520 can be closed by means of corresponding doors or covers. At least some of these storage compartments 520 are provided with corresponding locks so that supervisors can access each storage compartment 520 of the storage compartment facility 5.

[0156] The locks of each storage compartment 520 can be controlled, in particular electronically, by a control unit 510. The control unit 510 can in particular at least control the process of locking and / or unlocking the lock, and thus control the closing and / or opening of each storage compartment 520. The control of the locks of the storage compartment 520 can be carried out, for example, by a lock control unit, wherein all lock control units or lock control units of one or more modules of the storage compartment facility 5 are controlled, for example, by a superior control unit 510 of the storage compartment facility 5.

[0157] In addition, the storage compartment facility 5 includes a biometric sensor, which is exemplarily implemented by a camera 530. The camera 530, for example, acquires images of the face of the person 540 from different angles and distances, so that the control unit 510 of the storage compartment facility 5 can determine one or more facial features of the person 540 based on the acquired images, for example, by image processing (e.g., an image analysis algorithm). In addition, the camera 530 of the storage compartment facility 5 (e.g., as an infrared camera) can acquire the three-dimensional shape of the face of the person 540, for example, by first projecting a light spot pattern onto the face, and the camera then acquires the reflected light spot pattern.

[0158] exist Figure 5 In the environment exemplarily shown in FIG. , for example, the following can be performed Figure 4 Method 400 shown in FIG.

[0159] For example, the control unit 510 controls the camera 530 of the storage facility 5 so that the camera 530 acquires the facial features of the person 540 (see step 401). The person 540 is the recipient of the mail 550 stored in the storage facility 5. The control unit 510 then determines the biometric information representing the facial features based on the acquired facial features.

[0160] In the next step (see step 402), control unit 510 determines whether there is authorization display information in the data storage of control unit 510, which indicates that the previously obtained biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment. For example, the determination may include comparing the obtained biometric information with a plurality of existing biometric information, which may be stored in the data storage of control unit 510 or may be requested by control unit 510 from a backend server.

[0161] If the control unit 510 determines that the obtained biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail, the control unit causes the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility 5 in which the mail 550 is stored to be opened (see step 403).

[0162] Figure 6 A flowchart showing an exemplary implementation of the method 600 according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 Method 600 is described with reference to system 1 shown in FIG.

[0163] Referring to system 1, method 600 may be performed by backend server 120. Accordingly, steps 601 to 603 may be understood as Figure 2 The method shown in 200 and Figure 4 Corresponding to the steps of method 400 shown in .

[0164] Step 601 is providing authorization information, wherein the authorization information is authorized for use in removing consignments from a storage facility.

[0165] The provision in step 601 should be understood as: the backend server 120 provides the authorization information to the person 140 (e.g., the recipient of the mail that the authorization information authorizes to take out), so that the person 140 is authorized to take out the mail from the storage compartment facility 130 with the help of the authorization information. For example, the backend server 120 transmits the authorization information to the smart phone 110 of the person 140 to be authorized via the communication connection 115. In another example, the backend server 120 sends the authorization information to a portable delivery device (e.g., a delivery device of a courier, who has previously stored the relevant mail in the storage compartment facility 130). In such a case, the authorization information can be printed out by the delivery device (e.g., a handheld device equipped with a scanner and a printer), for example, in the form of a barcode, wherein the printed barcode (e.g., printed on a pickup card) is then placed in the mailbox of the person 140 by the courier.

[0166] Step 602 is obtaining authorization display information and biometric information, wherein the authorization display information is determined at least in part based on the authorization information and the biometric information, and then the obtaining is performed, and wherein the authorization information shows that the biometric information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment from the storage compartment facility.

[0167] For example, as related Figure 2 As described for step 201 of the method 200 shown in FIG. 1 , the authorization information provided by the backend server 120 in step 601 is obtained on the smart phone 110. Accordingly, at a later time point, the authorization display information is determined on the smart phone 110 based on the authorization information obtained in step 201 and the biometric information obtained in step 202. The authorization display information is transmitted back to the backend server 120 from the smart phone 110 together with the biometric information, so that the authorization display information and the biometric information are obtained on the backend server 120 in step 602.

[0168] Step 603 is to provide authorization display information and biometric information.

[0169] The authorization display information and biometric information provided in step 603 may be understood as existing biometric information or existing authorization display information in further processes.

[0170] The providing in step 603 may include storing the information in a data memory of the back-end server 120. In another example, the providing in step 603 may include sending the information to the control unit 131 of the storage facility 130, wherein the information is then stored in the data memory of the control unit 131. To this end, the back-end server 120 may first determine in which storage facility 130 the consignment whose biometric information is authorized to be taken out is previously stored. The back-end server 129 may then send the two pieces of information to the control unit 131 of the determined storage facility 130. At the storage facility, the following may be performed in a further process. Figure 4 The method 400 shown includes removing stored mail items.

[0171] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing an exemplary implementation of a user device 7 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is shown. The user device 7 may be, for example, a smart phone, that is, a mobile phone that can independently implement relatively complex programs (i.e., so-called Apps). The user device 7 may, for example, represent a Figure 1 Smart phone 110 as part of system 1 is shown in FIG.

[0172] The user device 7 comprises a processor 70 , a program memory 71 , a working memory 72 , a user data memory 73 , a communication interface 74 , an image capture device 75 , at least one biometric sensor 76 and a user interface 77 .

[0173] For example, the processor 70 implements a program according to the first aspect of the present disclosure stored in a program memory 71, for example as an App or as firmware. The working memory 72 is used in particular to store temporary data during the execution of this program. The user data memory 73 is used to store data required when executing the program. This may involve, for example, biometric information and authorization information.

[0174] The communication interface 74 includes, for example, one or more interfaces for the user device to communicate with at least one other device (for example, a Figure 1 1 ) to communicate with a backend server 120 that is part of the system 1 shown in . Therefore, the communication interface 74 can be configured in particular to communicate according to a cellular mobile wireless system (such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G) or a future cellular mobile wireless system. In addition, the communication interface 74 can additionally include a BLE and / or Bluetooth wireless interface with a BLE transmitter and / or receiver. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless interface 74 can, for example, include a WLAN wireless interface with at least one WLAN transmitter and / or receiver.

[0175] The image capture device 75 may be implemented by a camera of the user device 7, for example, by a rear camera of a smartphone as the user device 7. The image capture device 75 may also be a biometric sensor 76 of the user device 7, which will be described below, for example.

[0176] The at least one biometric sensor 76 can be designed in various forms. The biometric sensor 76 can be implemented by a camera (for example, a camera that is also used as an image capture device 75), wherein the camera, for example, acquires facial images from different angles and distances. In addition, a camera (for example, an infrared camera) can be used as a biometric sensor 76 to acquire the three-dimensional shape of the face, for example, in a manner that a light spot pattern is first projected onto the face, and the camera then acquires the reflected light spot pattern. The biometric sensor 76 can also be implemented by a fingerprint sensor (the fingerprint sensor, for example, includes one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors and / or pressure sensors). The biometric sensor 76 can also be implemented by a microphone, wherein the microphone, for example, acquires speech and analyzes the acquired audio signal by audio processing to determine unique sound features such as tones or frequency patterns.

[0177] The user device 7 may have any number of different biometric sensors 76 , which may be arranged differently on the user device 7 .

[0178] The user interface 77 may be designed as a screen and keyboard or a touch-sensitive display (touch screen) and may, for example, enable a user of the user device 7 to operate the user device.

[0179] Figure 8 A storage compartment facility (eg Figure 1 Storage compartment facilities shown in 130 or Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control unit 8 of a storage compartment facility 5) is shown in FIG.

[0180] The control unit 8 comprises a processor 80, a program memory 81, a working memory 82, a user data memory 83, a communication interface 84, an operating unit 85 for a lock or a lock control unit of a storage compartment of a storage compartment facility, at least one biometric sensor 86 and an optional input unit / user interface 87. For example, the processor 80 implements a program according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, for example as firmware, stored in the program memory 81. The working memory 82 is used in particular to store temporary data during the execution of this program.

[0181] The user data memory 83 is used to store data required for executing the program. In the present case, this may involve information that can be used by the control unit 8, for example, to determine whether the biometric information is authorized for taking out the consignment from the storage compartment facility. Additional data (such as shipping information) may be stored in the user data memory 83, for example, in a data structure representing the assignment relationship of the deposited consignment, authorization information and / or the corresponding storage compartment of the storage compartment facility.

[0182] The communication interface 84 comprises, for example, an interface for wireless communication, for example by means of optical transmission and / or by means of communication based on electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic signals or fields, in particular communication based on Bluetooth, NFC and / or RFID. The control unit 8 is also configured, for example, to communicate with a backend server (e.g. Figure 1 The control unit may communicate directly with the back-end server 120 shown in the figure, that is, the control unit may have a communication interface capable of accessing the Internet or other networks connected to the back-end server.

[0183] The control unit 85 of the control unit 8 of the storage compartment facility can realize that a single storage compartment of the storage compartment facility is opened or unlocked in a targeted manner, so that it can be opened especially by controlling the lock of the storage compartment or the lock control unit of the storage compartment. In addition, the unlocking of the corresponding storage compartment can be realized. For example, the control unit 85 is connected to all locks or lock control units of the storage compartment facility by corresponding wiring, or is connected to a bus, and all locks or lock control units of the storage compartment facility are linked to the bus.

[0184] The at least one biometric sensor 86 can be designed in various forms. The biometric sensor 86 can be implemented by a camera of the storage compartment facility connected to the control unit 8, wherein the camera, for example, acquires facial images from different angles and distances. In addition, a camera (for example, an infrared camera) can be used as a biometric sensor 86 to acquire the three-dimensional shape of the face, for example, in a manner that a light spot pattern is first projected onto the face, and the camera then acquires the reflected light spot pattern. The biometric sensor 86 can also be implemented by a fingerprint sensor of the control unit 8 (the fingerprint sensor, for example, includes one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors and / or pressure sensors). The biometric sensor 86 can also be implemented by a microphone of the control unit 8, wherein the microphone, for example, acquires speech and analyzes the acquired audio signal by audio processing to determine unique sound features such as tones or frequency patterns.

[0185] The control unit 8 of the storage compartment facility can have any number of different biometric sensors 86, which can be arranged differently on the storage compartment facility. For example, a camera used as a biometric sensor 86 is arranged on the storage compartment facility so that it can capture the face of the person using the storage compartment facility. The fingerprint sensor used as the biometric sensor 86 is, for example, arranged on the front side of the storage compartment facility so that the fingerprint sensor is easily accessible to the person using the storage compartment facility.

[0186] The input unit / user interface 87 is optional and is configured for communicating with the courier / deliverer and / or the user. For example, this may include an output unit for displaying (e.g., by means of a screen or a dedicated light display for the storage compartment) or acoustically outputting information and / or a unit for obtaining information and / or data (e.g., a keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen with an on-screen keyboard or a voice recognition module).

[0187] Furthermore, the control unit 8 can have an acquisition unit, for example a scanner, which can acquire information optically (for example a barcode or QR code from the screen of a mobile device). In a further example, the acquisition unit of the control unit is configured to read, for example, an NFC tag fastened to and / or inserted into the corresponding mail item. The acquisition unit can additionally or alternatively acquire and process acoustic signals (for example by means of voice recognition).

[0188] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram showing an exemplary implementation of a backend server 9 according to the second aspect or the third aspect of the present disclosure is shown. The backend server 9 may be, for example, a storage compartment facility management server.

[0189] The backend server 9 comprises a processor 90, a program memory 91, a working memory 92, an optional user data memory 93 and at least one communication interface 94. For example, the processor implements a program according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, for example as firmware, stored in the program memory 91. The working memory 92 is used in particular to store temporary data during the execution of this program.

[0190] User data memory 93 is used for storing required data when executing program. In the present case, for example, the information that back-end server 9 can use can be related to here, so that determine whether biometric information is authorized to be used for taking out the consignment from storage compartment facility. Other data (such as shipping information) can for example be stored in user data memory 93, for example, be stored in the data structure of the assignment relation of the corresponding storage compartment of the deposited consignment, authorization information and / or storage compartment facility of representative. In addition, data can for example be user identification code, user contact data (such as email address and mobile wireless number), storage compartment facility identification code and consignment data. All data can for example be encrypted storage. In user data memory 93, information about multiple storage compartment facilities can also be stored.

[0191] The at least one communication interface 94 may be configured to communicate with a control unit (eg, Figure 1 The control unit 131 of the storage compartment facility 130 shown in FIG. 1 ) or a mobile device (e.g. Figure 1 140) of the user 140 shown in FIG. 140). For example, such communication can be based on the Internet Protocol (IP). For example, the at least one communication interface 94 is implemented as a local area network (LAN) interface.

[0192] For example, in Figures 7 to 9 In the embodiment of the present invention, the processor 70, 80 or 90 can be a control unit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller (such as a microcontroller), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Figures 7 to 9 In the embodiment of the present invention, the program memory and / or the user data memory may be, for example, a permanent memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM). For example, the program memory may be fixedly connected to the corresponding processor 70, 80 or 90, but alternatively may also be connected to the corresponding processor 70, 80 or 90 in a detachable manner, for example as a memory card, a floppy disk or an optical data storage medium (such as a CD or DVD). Figures 7 to 9 The working memory of the embodiment is used, for example, to store temporary results during the execution of program instructions. The working memory is, for example, a volatile memory, such as a random access memory (RAM) memory.

[0193] Fig.10Exemplary embodiments of storage media are shown, for example, computer programs according to various aspects of the present disclosure may be stored on these storage media. The storage medium may be, for example, magnetic, electrical, optical and / or other types of storage media. The storage medium may be, for example, a part of a processor, for example, a (non-volatile or volatile) program memory of the processor or a part thereof. Embodiments of storage media are flash memory 1000, SSD hard disk 1001, magnetic hard disk 1002, memory card 1003, memory stick 1004 (e.g., USB stick), CD-ROM or DVD 1005, or floppy disk 1006.

[0194] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described in this specification are also to be understood as being disclosed in all combinations with one another. In particular, the description of the features included in the embodiments - as long as they are not explicitly stated to the contrary - should not be understood here as meaning that the features are necessary or important for the function of the embodiment. The order of the method steps listed in this specification and in the various flow charts is not mandatory, and an alternative order of these method steps is also conceivable unless otherwise stated. These method steps can be implemented in different ways and methods, so it is conceivable to implement these method steps in software (via program instructions), hardware, or a combination of the two.

[0195] Terms such as "comprises", "having", "including", "containing", etc. used in the patent claims do not exclude other elements or steps. The expression "at least partially" includes both the case of "partially" and the case of "completely". The expression "and / or" should be understood as follows: both alternative solutions and combination solutions should be disclosed, that is, "A and / or B" means "(A) or (B) or (A and B)". A plurality of units, persons, etc. in the context of this specification means a plurality of units, persons, etc. The use of indefinite articles does not exclude a plurality. A single device can implement the functions of multiple units or devices mentioned in the patent claims. The figure marks given in the patent claims should not be regarded as limitations on the devices and steps used.

Claims

1. A method (200), wherein the method comprises: - obtaining (201) authorization information, wherein the authorization information is authorized for use in obtaining a storage compartment facility (130; 5 ) to remove the mailed item (550); - obtaining (202) biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person (140, 335); - determining (203) authorization display information based at least in part on the authorization information and the biometric information, wherein the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment (550) from the storage compartment facility (130; 5); and - Providing (204) said authorization display information and said biometric information.

2. The method (200) according to claim 1, wherein the authorization information is represented by a pickup code (315; 330).

3. The method (200) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein obtaining (201) the authorization information comprises: - receiving the authorization information from the backend server (120); or - Prompting the acquisition of the authorization information by means of an image capturing device (325) of the user device (110; 310).

4. The method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein obtaining (202) the biometric information comprises: - utilizing one or more biometric sensors (320) of the user device (110; 310) to facilitate acquisition of the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information.

5. The method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein obtaining (202) the biometric information comprises: - requesting said biometric information from another user device (350); - Receiving the requested biometric information from the further user device (350).

6. The method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said providing (204) said authorization display information and said biometric information comprises: - Transmitting the biometric information and the authorization display information to a backend server (120).

7. A method (400), comprising: - obtaining (401) biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person (540); - determining (402) whether the biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving the consignment (550); as well as - When it is determined that the biometric information is authorized for taking out the mail (550), the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility (130; 5) storing the mail (550) is prompted to open (403).

8. The method (400) of claim 7, wherein said obtaining (401) said biometric information comprises: - utilizing one or more biometric sensors (530) of the storage compartment facility (5) to facilitate acquisition of the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information.

9. The method (400) of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said determining (402) whether said biometric information is authorized for use in retrieving a consignment (550) comprises: - Determine whether there is authorization display information, which shows that the obtained biometric information is authorized to be used to retrieve the consignment (550).

10. The method (400) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the causing the storage compartment to open (403) comprises: - Based at least in part on existing authorization display information, determine the storage compartment of the storage compartment facility (5) in which the consignment (550) for which the biometric information is authorized for retrieval is stored.

11. A method (600), wherein the method comprises: - providing (601) authorization information, wherein the authorization information is authorized for use in obtaining a storage unit from a storage unit facility (130; 5 ) to remove the mailed item (550); - obtaining (602) authorization display information and biometric information, wherein the authorization display information is determined and then obtained based at least in part on the authorization information and the biometric information, and wherein the authorization information indicates that the biometric information is authorized to be used to remove the consignment (550) from the storage compartment facility (130; 5); and - Providing (603) the authorization display information and the biometric information.

12. A method (600) according to claim 11, wherein providing (601) authorization information includes transmitting the authorization information to a user device (110; 310), wherein obtaining (602) authorization display information and biometric information includes receiving the authorization display information and the biometric information from the user device (130; 310), and wherein providing (603) the authorization display information and the biometric information includes transmitting the authorization display information and the biometric information to a control unit (131; 510) of a storage compartment facility (130; 5).

13. The method (600) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one biometric feature of the person (335; 540) is a facial feature of the person.

14. A computer program comprising program instructions which, when the computer program is run on a processor (70; 80; 90), cause the processor (70; 80; 90) to implement and / or control the method (200; 400; 600) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A user device (110; 310; 7), which is configured to implement and / or control the method (200) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and 13, or the user device includes a device (71-77) for implementing and / or controlling the steps of the method (200) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and 13.

16. A device (120; 130; 510; 8; 9) configured to implement and / or control a method (400) according to one of claims 7 to 10 and 13, or comprising means (81-87; 91-94) for implementing and / or controlling the steps of a method (400) according to one of claims 7 to 10 and 13.

17. A back-end server (120; 9), which is configured to implement and / or control the method (600) according to one of claims 11 to 13, or the back-end server includes a device (91-94) for implementing and / or controlling the steps of the method (600) according to one of claims 11 to 13.

18. A system (1), comprising a user device (110; 310; 7) according to claim 15, a device (120; 130; 510; 8; 9) according to claim 16 and a backend server (120; 9) according to claim 17.

Images