Biometric information for picking up a shipment
Biometric authorization methods in compartment systems allow secure and convenient shipment pickup by using biometric features to replace physical codes, addressing the inconvenience of carrying authorization information.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102023123067
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-08-28
AI Technical Summary
Conventional compartment systems require authorization information for pickup, which must be carried by the recipient and complicates pickup by third parties.
A method utilizing biometric information to authorize shipment pickup, where biometric features are used in conjunction with authorization information to unlock compartments, eliminating the need for physical authorization codes.
Facilitates flexible and secure shipment collection without the need to carry physical authorization codes, enhancing convenience and security.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical FieldExample embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, systems, and computer programs for using biometric information in collecting shipments from a compartmented facility.BackgroundCompartment systems are widely used, for example, in the form of locker or parcel compartment systems. An example of a compartmented facility is a parcel station which a user can use to receive or send mailpieces. If a receiver wishes to pick up a shipment stored in a compartment installation, this conventionally requires authorization information (for example in the form of a pick-up code). This authorization information is authorized to pick up the shipment and is to be presented on site at the compartment system, for example, before an stored shipment is issued by the compartment system (e.g. by opening a compartment of the compartment system). Such a requirement for authorization information for picking up items of mail may be disadvantageous, since the authorization information must necessarily be carried along by the mail receiver during the pickup and, in addition, the pickup of the mail by a third person (e.g. who the receiver wishes to transmit the mail pickup) is made more difficult.Document WO 2023 / 122810 A1 relates to a method for checking the authorisation of a person, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing identity data of a person, wherein this identity data is checked for authenticity, and generating a signed first 2D code, wherein the first 2D code contains first person-specific data, and the person-specific data contains biometric information about the person, b) storing an authorisation document associated with a person in a database and / or a software application and generating a corresponding second 2D code, wherein the 2D code contains information about the authorisation of a person and second person-specific data of the person, c) querying the first and second 2D codes, d) visually generating the first 2D code and the second 2D code, e) visually reading the first and second 2D codes and analyzing the data stored in the first and second 2D codes, and f) outputting the result of the analysis according to step e).Summary of an Exemplary Embodiment of the Present DisclosureThe object therefore arises, inter alia, to make the collection of a shipment from a compartment installation more advantageous and in particular more flexible.According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed that comprises:obtaining authorisation information, wherein the authorisation information authorizes to pick up a shipment from a compartment installation;obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of a person;determining, at least partially based on the authorization information and the biometric information, an authorization display information, wherein the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information authorizes to pick up the shipment from the compartment system; andproviding the entitlement indication information and the biometric information, wherein providing the entitlement indication information and the biometric information comprises:transmitting the biometric information and the authorisation display information to a backend server.For example, the method according to the first aspect may be performed at least partially or completely by a user device (e.g. a smartphone).An item of authorisation information authorizes to pick up a shipment from a compartment system, so that, for example, a presentation of the authorisation information to the corresponding compartment system after checking the authorisation information leads to a specific compartment of the compartment system being opened and the shipment being able to be removed from the compartment for pick-up. The authorization information can thus (e.g. only) authorize to pick up a specific shipment, so that the authorization information loses its validity with the pick-up of this specific shipment and does not authorize it to pick up further shipment from corresponding compartment systems.An item of authorisation information can be formed in a variety of ways. These may be, for example, letters, numbers, symbols, patterns, bit sequences or the like. A combination of the above formats is also possible. For example, the authorization information can be an optical pattern (e.g. a QR or a barcode) or can be represented by an optical pattern. In particular, an item of authorisation information can be, for example, a password (e.g. a password selected by a user or a device, e.g. randomly). Authorization information may also or instead also contain a user identifier, for example a customer number, personalities, a personal cryptographic key or similar information (e.g. information that can be uniquely assigned to a user). An item of authorisation information can be graphically representable, readable for humans and / or machines and / or electronically and / or by radio, among other things.An item of authorisation information can be transmitted, for example, from the user device (e.g. a smartphone of the user who wishes to pick up a shipment from the compartment installation) to the control unit of the compartment installation. This transmission can be carried out, for example, by means of a radio connection (e.g. Bluetooth). In another example, the authorization information can be transmitted by means of an optical pattern, wherein the optical pattern is displayed on a screen of the user device for detection by a detection unit of the control unit of the compartment system. The optical pattern can be, for example, a QR or barcode and the detection unit can be, for example, a scanner for scanning corresponding patterns. In another example, the authorization information is transmitted by means of displaying the authorization information on a screen of the user device for visual detection by a user of the user device, who then inputs the authorization information at an input unit of the control unit of the compartment system, in particular a keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen. The authorization information can be displayed, for example, as an alphanumeric character string on the screen of the user device.A determination can then be made as to whether the authorization information obtained at the control unit of the compartment system authorizes the pickup of a shipment, so that the control unit of the compartment system optionally effects the opening and unlocking of the compartment of the compartment system (e.g. by controlling a corresponding lock control unit of the compartment system).The authorisation information can be obtained, for example, at the user device. This is to be understood to mean that the authorization information is received, for example, from a backend server, or that the authorization information is captured by means of an image recording device of the user device. In another example, the entitlement information may be generated by the user device.A biometric feature is to be understood, for example, as a feature which uniquely identifies a person. Accordingly, such a biometric feature of a person is suitable for identifying and / or authenticating this person.For example, a biometric feature of a person may be a facial feature of that person. A facial feature can be, for example, an eye position and / or an eye distance, a nose shape and / or a nose position, a shape of the mouth and / or lip contours or a facial shape (e.g. the proportions of forehead, cheeks and chin). Further examples of biometric features are fingerprint features (e.g., a pattern of lines and vertebrae on fingertips) or human voice features (e.g., pitch, tone color, and speech).A biometric feature can be detected by the user device by means of at least one biometric sensor, for example, wherein the at least one biometric sensor can be part of the user device.Biometric information is obtained, for example, by determining the biometric information based on at least one of the previously recorded biometric features. This determination can comprise 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. Obtaining biometric information is therefore to be understood as meaning, for example, the determination of the biometric information based on at least one biometric feature, wherein the obtaining can additionally comprise the capturing of the at least one biometric feature. In one example, the biometric information may include a model (e.g., a mathematical model that describes a person's face, for example), wherein the model is determined based on at least one previously captured biometric feature (e.g., a person's face feature). Accordingly, the biometric information can represent the at least one biometric feature or a plurality of biometric features.The biometric information obtained can thus be understood as electronic information (e.g. as binary encoded electronic data) which is present, for example, in a computer readable format for biometric information (e.g. in a specialized format for face recognition purposes such as ISO / IEC 19794-5 or ANSI INCITS 385).An authorization display information item can be understood, for example, as an information element (e.g. a variable or an attribute as part of a data structure) which indicates for a specific biometric information item that this biometric information item authorizes the pickup of a specific shipment from a compartment system. If an authorization indication information item is determined, for example, on the basis of a biometric information item and an authorization information item, this determined authorization indication information item indicates that the biometric information item authorizes the pickup of that shipment which also authorizes the authorization information item to pickup.Accordingly, the biometric information can be understood as further / additional / alternative authorization information. In one example, the originally obtained authorisation information can lose its validity after determining the authorisation indication information and can therefore no longer be used for collecting the shipment. In other examples, the originally obtained authorisation information retains its validity after determining the authorisation indication information, so that optionally the authorisation information or the biometric information can be used for collecting the shipment.Providing the authorization indication information and the biometric information can be understood, for example, to mean that the user device transmits the authorization indication information and the biometric information to a backend server (e.g. via 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 via a communication connection).According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed that comprises:obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of a person;determining whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment; andwhen it is determined that the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment, causing a compartment of a compartment system in which the shipment is stored to be opened, wherein the determination as to whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment comprises:determining whether there is authorisation display information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipmentFor example, the method according to the second aspect can be carried out at least partially or completely by a control unit of a compartment system or by a backend server.If the obtaining of biometric information is carried out by a control unit of a compartment system, the obtaining can comprise the capturing of the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information by means of a biometric sensor of the compartment system. In this case, the biometric feature can be detected as described above with respect to the method according to the first aspect. The biometric information can then be obtained at the control unit of the compartment system as described above with respect to the method according to the first aspect and, for this purpose, can be determined, for example, on the basis of the detected biometric feature.If obtaining biometric information is performed from a backend server, the obtaining may include receiving the biometric information at the backend server from a control unit of a compartmental facility (e.g., via a communication interface of the control unit that allows access to the Internet or other network to which the backend server is connected). In such a case, the biometric information is obtained at the control unit of the compartment system, for example, before transmission to the backend server, in that, for example, the biometric feature represented by the biometric information is detected by at least one biometric sensor of the compartment system.Determining whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment comprises ascertaining whether there is authorization indication information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipment. Such present authorisation indication information may be authorisation indication information, for example, which has been previously determined at a user device as described above for the method according to the first aspect.For example, determining whether the obtained biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment may include comparing the obtained biometric information with at least one already present biometric information (e.g., a plurality of already present biometric information). In this case, it is determined, for example, whether the biometric information obtained matches one of the already present biometric information. If the biometric information obtained matches biometric information already present, it is then determined, for example, whether there is authentication information indicating that the biometric information already present, which matches the biometric information obtained, is authorized to pick up a shipment. If there is authentication information of this kind, it is determined, for example, that the biometric information obtained is authorized to pick up a shipmentFor example, the obtained biometric information may match a present biometric information when the biometric characteristic represented by the obtained biometric information matches the biometric characteristic represented by the present biometric information. Such a match can also be given, for example, if the respective biometric features match one another within a predefined tolerance.If the determination as to whether the biometric information authorizes the pickup of a shipment is carried out by the control unit of a compartment system, the control unit can, for example, carry out a comparison of the biometric information obtained with at least one biometric information already present, wherein the biometric information already present can be stored, for example, in a data memory of the control unit and is retrieved from this data memory for the purpose of the comparison. In another example, already present biometric information may be requested by the control unit at a backend server, whereupon the requested already present biometric information is transmitted from the backend server to the control unit and compared at the control unit with the obtained biometric information. In another example, the determination can comprise a transmission of the biometric information obtained from the control unit of the compartment system to the backend server, wherein the backend server performs a comparison of the transmitted biometric information with at least one biometric information already present at the backend server and subsequently sends a result of the comparison back to the control unit. It can then be determined at the control unit, based on the received result of the comparison, that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipment if the received result indicates that the biometric information obtained matches a biometric information already present at the backend server and, in addition, an authorization display information is present which indicates that the biometric information already present authorizes to pick up a shipmentIf the determination as to whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment is carried out by the backend server, the backend server can carry out a comparison of the biometric information previously received by the control unit of the compartment installation with at least one biometric information already present at the backend server and thus determine whether there is authorization indication information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipment.An effect of opening a compartment of a compartment system is then carried out (for example only when it is determined that the biometric information obtained authorizes the pickup of a shipment. This is the case, for example, if it is previously determined that there is authorization display information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes the pickup of a shipment. If it is determined, for example, that the biometric information obtained does not authorize the pickup of a shipment, information can be output (e.g. via a user interface of the control unit of the compartment system) which indicates that there is no shipment for pickup in the compartment system for the person of whom the biometric information obtained represents a biometric feature.If the bringing about of the opening is carried out by the control unit of a compartment system, the bringing about of the opening can comprise, for example, the actuation of a corresponding lock control unit of a compartment of the compartment system in which the respective consignment is stored. In this case, the lock control unit is actuated, for example, in such a way that it opens the compartment of the compartment system (for example by a lock of the compartment being unlocked).If the causing of the opening is carried out by a backend server, the causing of the opening can comprise, for example, the backend server sending a command to the control unit of a compartment system to open a specific compartment of this compartment system. This control unit then controls, for example, a corresponding lock control unit, so that the compartment is opened. For example, the effect of the opening in such a case comprises the backend server first determining in which compartment system the transmission for which the biometric information obtained authorizes to be collected is stored and then transmitting an opening command to the control unit of the determined compartment system.For example, after effecting the opening, the obtained biometric information as well as the present biometric information and the present permission indication information are deleted.According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed that comprises:providing authorization information, wherein the authorization information authorizes to pick up a shipment from a compartment system;obtaining authorisation indication information and biometric information, wherein the authorisation indication information is determined before obtaining at least partially based on the authorisation information and the biometric information, and wherein the authorisation information indicates that the biometric information authorizes to pick up the shipment from the compartment system; andproviding the authentication information and the biometric information.For example, the method according to the third aspect can be carried out at least partially or completely by a backend server.The provision of the authorization information is to be understood, for example, in such a way that the backend server provides the authorization information to a person (e.g. to the recipient of the shipment for which the authorization information authorizes to be collected), so that the person is authorized to collect the shipment from a compartment installation by means of the authorization information. For example, the backend server sends the authorization information to a user device of the person to be authorized (e.g. via a communication connection between backend server and user device). In a further example, the backend server sends the authorization information to a portable delivery agent device (e.g. the delivery agent device of the delivery agent, which has previously stored the respective shipment in a compartment installation). In such a case, the authorization information can be printed out, for example, in the form of a barcode by the delivery agent device (e.g. a handheld device equipped with a scanner and printer), wherein the printed barcode (e.g. printed on a pickup card) is subsequently placed by the delivery agent into a mailbox of the person who is the recipient of the shipment for whom the authorization information authorizes for pickup.For example, the authorisation information provided by the backend server is obtained at a user device as described for the method according to the first aspect. Accordingly, at a later point in time, authorisation display information is determined at the user device on the basis of the authorisation information obtained and biometric information obtained. This authorisation indication information is transmitted back together with the biometric information, for example, from the user device to the backend server, so that the authorisation indication information and the biometric information are obtained at the backend server according to the method of the third aspect.After obtaining authentication information and biometric information, the backend server provides the obtained authentication information and biometric information, for example. The provided authorization display information and biometric information can be understood hereafter as a present biometric information or as a present authorization display information.The provision of the authorisation display information and the biometric information can comprise, for example, the storage of this information in a data memory of the backend server. In a further example, the provision of the authorization display information and the biometric information can comprise that this information is sent to the control unit of a compartment system, wherein this information is subsequently stored in a data memory of this control unit. For this purpose, the backend server can, for example, first determine in which compartment installation the shipment for which the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information authorizes for collection was previously stored. The backend server can then send the two items of information to the control unit of the specific compartment system. For example, a method according to the second aspect can run on this compartment system in the further course, during which the stored shipment is collected.According to the aspects of the present disclosure described above, a user as a shipment recipient can advantageously capture one or more biometric features of his person (e.g. a facial feature) by means of his user device (e.g. a smartphone) on the basis of a received conventional authorization information item for the collection of a shipment. The user device then determines that, in addition or as an alternative to the conventional authorization information, biometric information representing the detected biometric feature authorizes for the pickup of the shipment. The user can accordingly subsequently have the biometric feature of corresponding sensors of the compartment system recorded on the relevant compartment system, so that after a check the corresponding shipment is issued. Thus, it is advantageously no longer necessary to carry along and bring the conventional authorization information at the compartment system for the output of an stored shipment.Instead of conventional authorization information, the acquisition of a biometric feature is advantageously sufficient for picking up an stored shipment, so that a recipient does not have to carry any additional information or evidence in order to pick up the respective shipment. Advantageously, the biometric information can authorize the collection of a specific shipment, so that after the collection of this shipment they can be deleted from all data memories (e.g. data memories of the control unit of the compartment system or of the backend server). It is thus advantageously ensured that the (e.g. sensitive) biometric information is stored only temporarily until the time of the shipment collection.According to each of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure, each of them is further disclosed:a computer program comprising program instructions which cause a processor to execute and / or control the method according to the respective aspect of the present disclosure when the computer program runs on the processor. In this case, either all steps of the method can be controlled, or all steps of the method can be carried out, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be carried out. The computer program can be distributed, for example, via a network such as the Internet, a telephone or mobile radio network and / or a local network. The computer program may be at least partially software and / or firmware of a processor. It may likewise be implemented at least partially as hardware. The computer program can be stored, for example, on a computer-readable storage medium, e.g., a magnetic, electrical, optical and / or other type of storage medium. The storage medium can be part of the processor, for example, a (non-volatile or volatile) program memory of the processor or a part thereof. The storage medium can be, for example, a physical or physical storage medium.a device configured to execute and / or control the method according to the respective aspect of the present disclosure or comprising respective means for executing and / or controlling the steps of the method according to the respective aspect of the present disclosure. In this case, either all steps of the method can be controlled, or all steps of the method can be carried out, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be carried out. One or more of the means may also be executed and / or controlled by the same unit. For example, one or more of the means may be formed by one or more processors.An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory comprising program code, wherein the memory and the program code are configured to cause an apparatus with the at least one processor to execute and / or control at least the method according to the respective aspect of the present disclosure. In this case, either all steps of the method can be controlled, or all steps of the method can be carried out, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be carried out.Further advantages of the exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are described below with reference to exemplary embodiments, the disclosure of which is intended to apply equally to all aspects of the present disclosure.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, the authorisation information is represented by a pickup code.For example, the permission information is given by a pickup code, so that the permission information can be obtained by acquiring the pickup code. In another example, the authorization information is represented by more than one pickup code, for example by a new pickup code being repeatedly generated at specific time intervals on the basis of authorization information present at a user device, said new pickup code representing the authorization information in each case in a time-limited manner in order to increase the integrity of the pickup code.A pickup code can be understood to mean, for example, a code, wherein this code authorizes a mail item stored for pickup when being brought to a compartment installation (e.g. the bringing of the pickup code brings about an opening of a compartment, so that the stored mail item can be removed). The pickup code, which represents an item of authorisation information, can be of various designs. A pickup code may include, for example, letters, numbers, and / or optical patterns (e.g., a QR code or a barcode). A pickup code can be presented to a compartment system, for example, by manually inputting the pickup code, which consists of numbers and / or letters, for example, by a user at an input unit of a control unit of the compartment system (e.g., a keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen with a screen keyboard), or by transmitting the pickup code from the user device to the control unit of the compartment system by means of a radio connection (e.g., Bluetooth). In other examples, where the pickup code is given by an optical pattern (e.g., a QR code or a barcode), the pickup code may be advanced to the compartment system, for example, by a control unit of the compartment system having a detection unit, such as a scanner, which may optically detect information. The acquisition unit can thus acquire, for example, the pickup code in the form of a barcode or a QR code from a screen of the user device or from a pickup card.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, obtaining the authorisation information further comprises:receiving the authorisation information from a backend server; orcausing the authorization information to be recorded by means of an image recording device of a user device.For example, the authorization information at the user device can be received from a backend server (e.g. via 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 via a communication connection). For example, the backend server sends the authentication information to the user device after the authentication information is generated at the backend server. For example, the user of the user device is informed via a user interface of the user device that there is authorisation information after receiving the authorisation information and authorizes the user to pick up a shipment addressed to it from a compartment installation.In another example, the authorization information is captured at the user device by means of an image recording device (e.g. a camera) of the user device. This is to be understood, for example, in that a camera of the user device acquires (e.g. photographs) a pickup code (e.g. a barcode or a QR code) present in printed form, and the authorisation information represented by the pickup code is acquired by acquiring the pickup code. In addition to photographing the pickup code, the acquisition of the pickup code can also comprise the subsequent execution of a recognition algorithm, wherein the recognition algorithm recognizes the authorization information represented by the pickup code. The pickup code can be printed on a pickup card, for example, wherein the pickup card is inserted beforehand by a delivery agent into a mailbox of the person who is the recipient of the shipment for which the authorization information authorizes for pickup. In such a case, the authorization information can have been printed out, for example, in the form of a barcode by a delivery agent device of the delivery agent (e.g. a handheld device equipped with a scanner and printer) after the delivery agent has stored the shipment in a compartment installation.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, obtaining the biometric information further comprises:causing the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information to be recorded using one or more biometric sensors of the user device.Effecting the capturing of the at least one biometric feature can be understood, for example, to mean that the user device actuates at least one biometric sensor in such a way that the at least one biometric sensor then captures the at least one biometric feature. For example, the user device then determines the biometric information based on the at least one detected biometric feature.For example, a biometric sensor may be provided by a camera (e.g., comprising one or more image sensors) of the user device, wherein the camera, for example, captures images of a face from different angles and distances. Based on the captured images, one or more facial features may be determined, for example, by means of image processing (e.g., an image analysis algorithm). Further, a camera (e.g., an infrared camera) of the user device may, for example, capture a three-dimensional shape of a face, for example, by first projecting a dot pattern onto the face and then the camera capturing the reflected dot pattern. In another example, a biometric sensor may be a fingerprint sensor of the user device (e.g., comprising one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors, and / or pressure sensors). In a further example, a biometric sensor may be provided by a microphone of the user device, wherein the microphone detects a spoken voice, for example, and the detected audio signals are analyzed by means of audio processing in order to determine characteristic voice features such as pitch or frequency patterns.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, obtaining the biometric information further comprises:requesting biometric information to another user device;receiving the requested biometric information from the further user device.In one example, the user device, which has received authorisation information in a previous step, carries out a request to a further user device. For example, the user device sends a request message to the further user device (e.g. via an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a DSL interface, a local area network (LAN) interface, or a further radio interface such as e.g. WLAN or Bluetooth, by means of which the user device communicates with the further user device via a communication connection). The transmitted request message indicates, for example, that biometric information is requested by the further user device, wherein the requested biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of a person.Similar to the user device, the further user device can also be understood as a smartphone, for example, but it can likewise be provided by other forms of electronic end user devices (e.g. desktop computer, laptop or tablet). For example, a user of the further user device is different from the user of the user device.For example, the step of requesting the biometric information at a further user device is triggered by a user action at the user device, wherein, based on the user action, for example, the further user device is determined. Thus, the request to another user device is only triggered, for example, if the user of the device has initiated this requestFor example, the further user device carries out obtaining of the requested biometric information in response to the request received from the user device. This obtaining can comprise the capturing of at least one biometric feature by one or more biometric sensors of the further user device, wherein the further user device determines, for example, the requested biometric information based on the at least one captured biometric feature in such a way that the requested biometric information represents the at least one biometric feature captured by the further user device.For example, after the further user device has determined the requested biometric information, the further user device can send the requested biometric information to the user device that originally requested the biometric information (e.g. via the communication link via which the request for the biometric information was previously sent to the further user device).For example, after receiving the requested biometric information from the further user device, the user device subsequently determines the entitlement indication information based at least in part on the obtained entitlement information and the biometric information received from the further user device.Advantageously, biometric information can be obtained by the request of a further user device, said biometric information representing a biometric feature of a third person (i.e. a user of the further user device) This third person can be, for example, a person who the original recipient of the stored shipment (i.e. a user of the user device) wishes to transmit the collection of the stored shipment. By detecting a biometric feature of this third person and furthermore determining an authorization display information item which indicates that a biometric information item representing the biometric feature of the third person authorizes the pick-up of the shipment, a third person can be authorized flexibly by the original recipient of the conventional authorization information item for the pick-up of the shipment. Advantageously, it is not necessary for the third person to obtain the conventional authorisation information and to bring it to the compartment installation when picking up the shipment. At the same time, the described transmission of the collection authorization is secure with respect to fraud attempts, since the transmission runs via the user device of the original recipient of the conventional authorization information and is thus under the control of the original recipient, who can decide whether and from which further user device biometric information is requested.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the first aspect, the providing of the authorisation display information and the biometric information further comprises:transmitting the biometric information and the authorisation display information to a backend server.For example, the user device transmits the entitlement indication information and the biometric information to a backend server (e.g., via an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a DSL interface, or a local area network (LAN) interface, by means of which it can communicate with the backend server via a communication link). The authorization indication information and biometric information transmitted to the backend server can be understood hereafter as present biometric information or as present authorization indication information.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the second aspect, obtaining the biometric information further comprises:causing the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information to be recorded using one or more biometric sensors of the compartment system.Effecting the capturing of the at least one biometric feature can be understood, for example, to mean that the control unit of the compartment system actuates at least one biometric sensor of the compartment system in such a way that the at least one biometric sensor thereupon captures the at least one biometric feature.In another example, the causing of the capturing can be carried out by a backend server, wherein the backend server sends, for example, a command to the control unit of a compartment system to capture at least one biometric feature. This control unit then controls, for example, at least one biometric sensor of the compartment system in such a way that this biometric sensor detects a biometric feature.For example, a biometric sensor may be provided by a camera (e.g., comprising one or more image sensors) of the compartment system, wherein the camera, for example, captures images of a face from different angles and distances. Based on the captured images, one or more facial features may be determined, for example, by means of image processing (e.g., an image analysis algorithm). Furthermore, a camera (e.g. an infrared camera) of the compartment system can, for example, capture a three-dimensional shape of a face, for example by initially projecting a point pattern onto the face and the camera then capturing the reflected point pattern. In another example, a biometric sensor may be a fingerprint sensor of the compartment system (e.g., comprising one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors, and / or pressure sensors). In a further example, a biometric sensor can be provided by a microphone of the compartment system, wherein the microphone detects a spoken voice, for example, and the detected audio signals are analyzed by means of audio processing in order to determine characteristic voice features such as pitch or frequency patterns.Within the scope of the method according to the second aspect, the determination of whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment further comprises:determining whether there is authorisation display information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipmentFor example, determining whether there is authentication information indicating that the obtained biometric information authenticates to pick up a shipment includes comparing the obtained biometric information with at least one already present biometric information (e.g., a plurality of already present biometric information). In this case, it is determined, for example, whether the biometric information obtained matches one of the already present biometric information. If the biometric information obtained matches biometric information already present, it is then determined, for example, whether there is authorisation display information which indicates that the biometric information already present, which matches the biometric information obtained, authorizes the pickup of a shipment. If such authorization display information is present, it is determined, for example, that the biometric information obtained authorizes the pickup of a shipment.For example, the obtained biometric information may match a present biometric information when the biometric characteristic represented by the obtained biometric information matches the biometric characteristic represented by the present biometric information. Such a match can also be given, for example, if the respective biometric features match one another within a predefined tolerance. Such a tolerance may be required, for example, because the biometric characteristic represented by the obtained biometric information has been detected by a biometric sensor of a compartment system and the biometric characteristic represented by the present biometric information has been detected by a biometric sensor of a user device, wherein the biometric sensors of the user device and the compartment system differ, for example, and record the same biometric characteristic of a person differently.If the determination as to whether there is authorization display information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes the pickup of a shipment is carried out by the control unit of a compartment system, the control unit can, for example, carry out a comparison of the biometric information obtained with at least one biometric information already present, wherein the biometric information already present can be stored, for example, in a data memory of the control unit and is retrieved from this data memory for the purpose of the comparison. In another example, already present biometric information may be requested by the control unit at a backend server, whereupon the requested already present biometric information is transmitted from the backend server to the control unit and compared at the control unit with the obtained biometric information. In another example, the determination can comprise a transmission of the biometric information obtained from the control unit of the compartment system to the backend server, wherein the backend server performs a comparison of the transmitted biometric information with at least one biometric information already present at the backend server and subsequently sends a result of the comparison back to the control unit. It can then be determined at the control unit, based on the received result of the comparison, that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipment if the received result indicates that the biometric information obtained matches a biometric information already present at the backend server and, in addition, an authorization display information is present which indicates that the biometric information already present authorizes to pick up a shipmentIf the determination as to whether there is authentication information indicating that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipment is carried out by the backend server, the backend server can carry out a comparison of the biometric information previously received by the control unit of the compartment installation with at least one biometric information already present on the backend server and thus determine whether there is authentication information indicating that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipmentIn an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the second aspect, causing the compartment to open further comprises:determining, at least partially on the present authorization display information, the compartment of the compartment system in which the shipment authorized to pick up the biometric information is storedFor example, the authorization display information indicates whether biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment stored in a compartment system. For example, for such a shipment identified by the displayed identifier, the authorization display information indicates by means of an identifier of a shipment for which particular shipment the authorization display information authorizes to pick up Furthermore, for example for such a shipment which is identified by the displayed identifier, it is stored in a data memory in which compartment of which compartment installation the particular shipment has been stored. In this way, the compartment of a compartment system can be determined at least partially on the basis of the authorization display information, in which compartment the shipment authorized to pick up the biometric information is storedThe determination of the compartment of the compartment system in which the shipment, for the collection of which the biometric information authorizes, is stored can be carried out selectively by a backend server or by a control unit of the compartment system. In this case, for example, both at the backend server and at the control unit of the compartment system, it can be stored in a corresponding data memory in which compartment of the compartment system which shipment was stored.In an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the third aspect, the provision of authorisation information comprises the transmission of the authorisation information to a user device, wherein the obtaining of authorisation indication information and biometric information comprises the receiving of the authorisation indication information and biometric information from the user device, and wherein the provision of the authorisation indication information and biometric information comprises the transmission of the authorisation indication information and biometric information to a control unit of a compartment systemFor example, a backend server transmits the provided authorisation information to a user device, at which the authorisation information is received as described for the method according to the first aspect and is used for determining authorisation indication information. For example, the backend server receives the authorisation indication information and the biometric information from the user device, which transmits the two information as described for the method according to the first aspect to the backend server.In an exemplary embodiment of the methods according to the various aspects, the at least one biometric feature of the person is a facial feature of the person.According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a system is disclosed which comprises at least one device according to the first aspect, one device according to the second aspect and one device according to the third aspectFor example, the device according to the first aspect is a user device (e.g. a smartphone), the device according to the second aspect is a control unit of the compartment system or a backend server, and the device according to the third aspect is a backend server. For example, the system may include other devices and / or components of devices.The exemplary embodiments described above and exemplary configurations of all aspects of the present disclosure are also intended to be understood as disclosed in all combinations with one another. In particular, the disclosure of a method step also applies to the disclosure of means for carrying out the respective method step. The disclosure of means for carrying out a method step also applies to the disclosure of the method step itself.Further advantageous exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be gathered from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments, in particular in conjunction with the figures. The appended figures are intended, however, for purposes of illustration only, and not to identify the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale, and are intended to reflect, by way of example only, the general concept of the present invention. In particular, features included in the figures are not to be considered as a necessary part of the present invention in any way.The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a system according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure; FIGS. 3 aand 3 b show schematic representations of an exemplary environment in which a method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure runs; FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary environment in which a method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure operates; FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a user device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control unit of a compartment system according to the second aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a backend server according to the second or third aspect of the present disclosure; and FIG. 10 illustrates example embodiments of storage media.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTSFIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1 according to an aspect of the present disclosure.System 1 comprises, by way of example, a compartment system 130 (e.g. compartment system 5 illustrated in FIG. 5 ) with a control unit 131 of compartment system 130 (e.g. the control unit illustrated in FIG. 8 ), a backend server 120 (e.g. backend server 9 illustrated in FIG. 9 ) and a user device 110 (e.g. user device 7 illustrated in FIG. 7 ), which is to be understood, by way of example, as a user device of a user 140 who wishes to pick up a shipment stored in compartment system 130.The user device 110 is configured in particular for remote communication; it therefore 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 it can communicate with the backend server 120 via the communication connection 115. The user device 110 may be understood as a smartphone, for example, but may also be other forms of end-user electronic devices (e.g., desktop computer, laptop, or tablet).The control unit 131 of the compartment system 130 is configured, for example, with at least one communication interface for communication with the backend server 120, that is to say has, for example, a communication interface which enables access to the Internet or to another network to which the backend server 120 is connected. The control unit 131 is thus configured in particular for remote communication, i.e. 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 it can communicate with the backend server 120 via the communication connection 125.For example, the backend server 120 may manage and / or communicate with a plurality of compartment systems including the compartment system 130 and / or a plurality of users including the user 140. The backend server 120 can communicate with the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130, for example, via a communication link 125.For example, the illustrated user 140 would like to pick up a shipment addressed to the user 140, which was stored in the compartment system 130 during shipment delivery, from the compartment system 130. The methods according to the various aspects of the present disclosure for the purpose of such collection are described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6.FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 200 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. Method 200 is described below by way of example with reference to system 1 shown in FIG. 1.Step 201 is obtaining an item of authorisation information, wherein the authorisation information authorizes to pick up a shipment from a compartment installation.For example, the smartphone 110 receives as a user device, via the communication link 115, from the backend server 120 an item of authorisation information, wherein the authorisation information authorizes the pickup of a shipment which was previously stored in the compartment installation 130. This transmission is addressed to the person 140, who can have the authorization information represented by a QR code displayed on his smartphone 110. Upon pick-up of shipment, the person 140 can present the QR code to the compartment system 130, so that the latter is detected by a scanner of a control unit 131 and the control unit 131 brings about the opening of a corresponding compartmentIn another example, the person 140 receives a pickup card with a printed barcode representing the authorisation information. the person 140 then uses the camera of his smartphone 110 to capture the barcode, whereby the authorisation information is obtained on the smartphone 110.Step 202 is obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person.For example, a camera or fingerprint sensor of the smartphone 110 captures a biometric feature of the person 140 (e.g., a facial feature or fingerprint of the person 140), and the smartphone 110 then determines biometric information based on the captured biometric feature.Step 203 is determining, based at least in part on the entitlement information and the biometric information, entitlement indication information, wherein the entitlement indication information indicates that the biometric information authorizes to pick up the shipment from the compartmented facilityFor example, based on the authorization information obtained in step 201 and the biometric information obtained in step 202, the smartphone 110 determines an authorization display information in step 203, wherein the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information obtained in step 202 authorizes the pickup of the shipment addressed to the person 140 from the compartment system 130. In this case, the biometric information can, for example, only authorize the pickup of the specific shipment, to which the authorization information obtained in step 201 is also authorizedStep 204 is providing the entitlement indication information and the biometric information, wherein providing the entitlement indication information and the biometric information comprises:transmitting the biometric information and the authorisation display information to a backend server.For example, the smartphone 110 transmits the authentication information determined in step 203 and the biometric information obtained in step 202 to the backend server 120 via the communication link 115.FIGS. 3 aand 3 b show schematic representations of an exemplary environment in which a method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure runs.FIGS. 3 aand 3 b show, by way of example, a smartphone 310 which is intended to be understood as a user device and can correspond to the smartphone 110 as part of the system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The smartphone 310 is operated by a user 335, which can correspond to the person 140 within the system 1. In the environment illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 3 aand 3 b, the method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 can run, for example, as described below.First, the smartphone 310 receives an item of authorisation information which is given by a pickup code 330 (e.g. a barcode) (cf. step 201). The authorisation information authorizes the person 335 to pick up a shipment from a compartment system. As illustrated in FIG. 3 a by way of example, the authorisation information on the smartphone 310 of the person 335 is obtained by the pickup code 330 printed on a pickup card being captured by a camera 325 of the smartphone 310, such that the smartphone 310 receives the authorisation information represented by the pickup code 330. In another example, the smartphone 310 receives the entitlement information (e.g., represented by a QR code 315) from a backend server (e.g., via an interface to a cellular cellular cellular cellular cellular cellular cellular cellular cellular system).Subsequently, a further camera 320 of the smartphone 310, i.e. the biometric sensor, captures a facial feature of the person 335 (cf. step 202), wherein the smartphone 310 determines biometric information, which represents the captured facial feature, based on the captured facial feature (cf. step 203). Using this biometric information and the permission information, the smartphone 310 determines permission display information indicating that the biometric information permits retrieval of the shipment from a compartment system.In addition to smartphone 310, a smartphone 350 is shown in FIG. 3 bas an exemplary further user device. In one example, the smartphone 310 on which the permission information represented by the QR code 315 has been previously obtained makes a request to the smartphone 350. For this purpose, the smartphone 310 sends a request message to the smartphone 350 via the communication connection 340 (e.g. by means of an interface to a cellular mobile radio system, a WLAN interface or a Bluetooth interface). The transmitted request message indicates that biometric information is requested from the smartphone 350, wherein the requested biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of the person 355 that is different from the person 335. Thus, the request to the smartphone 350 is only triggered if the person 335 has initiated this requestFor example, in response to the request received from the smartphone 310, the smartphone 350 performs receiving of the requested biometric information. This obtaining may include capturing a facial feature of the person 355 by a camera 345 as a biometric sensor of the smartphone 350, wherein the smartphone 350 determines the requested biometric information based on the captured facial feature such that the requested biometric information represents the captured facial feature of the person 355.After the smartphone 350 determines the requested biometric information, the smartphone 350 may send the requested biometric information to the smartphone 310 via the communication link 340 that originally requested the biometric information. The smartphone 310 subsequently determines the entitlement indication information based on the obtained entitlement information (e.g., represented by the QR code 315) and the biometric information received from the smartphone 350.Advantageously, the request from the smartphone 350 can obtain biometric information representing a biometric feature of the third person 355. This third person 355 can be a person who the original recipient 335 of the stored shipment wishes to transmit the collection of the stored shipment. By detecting a biometric feature of this third person 355 and furthermore determining an authorization display information item which indicates that a biometric information item representing the biometric feature of the third person 355 authorizes the pickup of the shipment, the third person 355 can be flexibly authorized by the original recipient 335 of the conventional authorization information item to pick up the shipment. Advantageously, it is not necessary for the third person 355 to obtain the conventional authorization information (e.g. represented by the QR code 315) and to bring it forward at the compartment system when picking up the shipment. At the same time, the described transmission of the pickup authorization is secure with respect to fraud attempts, since the transmission runs via the smartphone 310 of the original recipient 335 of the conventional authorization information and is thus under the control of the original recipient 335, which can decide whether and from which further smartphone biometric information is requested.FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 400 according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. Method 400 is described below by way of example with reference to system 1 shown in FIG. 1.With regard to the system 1, the method 400 can be carried out by the backend server 120 or by the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130. The method 400 can run, for example, temporally according to the method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2, that is to say after a person 140 has captured at least one biometric feature by himself with his smartphone 110 and a corresponding item of authorisation display information has been determined by the smartphone 110 and transmitted to the backend server 120. For example, person 140 has then moved to compartment system 130 in order to pick up the shipment addressed to him and stored in compartment system 130.Step 401 is obtaining biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric feature of a person.If the obtaining of biometric information is carried out by the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130, the control unit 131 controls, for example, a biometric sensor of the compartment system 130 so that the latter detects a biometric feature of the person 140. If a facial feature or a fingerprint has been detected by the person 140 as a biometric feature, as described above with respect to step 202 of the method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2, then precisely that biometric feature is likewise detected by a biometric sensor of the compartment system 130 in step 401If the obtaining of biometric information from the backend server 120 is carried out, the backend server 120 receives the biometric information from the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130 via the communication link 125. Before the biometric information is transmitted, the biometric information is obtained at the control unit 131 by the biometric feature represented by the biometric information being detected by a biometric sensor of the compartment system 130.Step 402 is determining whether the biometric information is authorized to pick up a shipment.If the determination as to whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment is carried out by the backend server 120, the backend server 120 determines, for example, whether an authorization display information item is present in a data memory of the backend server 120, which indicates that the biometric information obtained in step 401 authorizes to pick up a shipment. This present authorization display information is the authorization display information which was previously determined on the smartphone 110 as described for the method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 and was subsequently transmitted to the backend server 120.For example, the determination in step 402 may comprise a comparison of the biometric information obtained in step 401 with a plurality of biometric information present in a data store of the backend server 120. It is thereby determined whether the biometric information obtained matches one of the already present biometric information. If the biometric information obtained matches a biometric information already present, it is then determined by the backend server 120 whether there is authorisation display information which indicates that the biometric information already present, which matches the biometric information obtained, authorizes the pickup of a shipment. If there is such authorisation display information, it is determined in step 402 that the biometric information obtained authorizes the pickup of a shipment. In this case, the biometric information obtained can match a biometric information present if the biometric feature represented by the biometric information obtained (here e.g. a facial feature or fingerprint of the person 140) matches the biometric feature represented by the biometric information present (e.g. within a predefined tolerance).In another example, the determination in step 402 may be performed by the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130. The control unit 131 then determines, for example, whether there is authorisation display information in a data memory of the control unit 131, which authorisation display information indicates that the biometric information obtained in step 401 authorizes the collection of a shipment. For example, the determination in step 402 can comprise, as described above, a comparison of the biometric information obtained in step 401 with a multiplicity of biometric information present. In this case, the already present biometric information can be stored in a data memory of the control unit 131 or be requested by the control unit 131 at the backend server 120, whereupon the requested already present biometric information is transmitted from the backend server 120 to the control unit 131 and compared at the control unit 131 with the biometric information obtained. In another example, the determination in step 402 may comprise a transmission of the biometric information obtained from the control unit 131 to the backend server 120, wherein the backend server 120 performs the comparison described above and subsequently sends a result of the comparison back to the control unit 131. It can then be determined at the control unit 131 on the basis of the received result of the comparison that the biometric information obtained in step 401 authorizes the pickup of a shipmentStep 403 is causing a compartment of a compartment system in which the consignment is stored to open if it is determined that the biometric information authorizes the collection of a consignment. In this case, the determination of whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment comprises a determination of whether there is authorization display information which indicates that the biometric information obtained authorizes to pick up a shipment.The opening in step 403 is effected (for example only if it is determined in step 402 that the biometric information obtained authorizes the pickup of a shipment. Otherwise, the control unit 131 can output information (e.g. via a user interface of the control unit 131) which indicates that there is no shipment for pickup in the compartment system 130 for the person 140 of whom the biometric information obtained represents a biometric feature.If the bringing about of the opening is carried out by the control unit 131 in step 403, the bringing about of the opening can comprise the actuation of a corresponding lock control unit of a compartment of the compartment system 130 in which the respective consignment is stored. In this case, the lock control unit is controlled in such a way that it opens the compartment of the compartment system 130 (for example by unlocking a lock of the compartment).When the causing of the opening is performed by the backend server 120 in step 403, the causing of the opening may include the backend server 120 sending a command to the control unit 131 to open a certain compartment of the compartment system 130. The control unit 131 then controls a corresponding lock control unit, so that the compartment is opened. The effect of the opening can comprise in such a case that the backend server 120 first determines in which compartment installation the shipment for which the biometric information obtained authorizes to be collected is stored and then sends an opening command to the control unit 131.After step 403, the biometric information obtained in steps 202 and 402 is deleted from the corresponding data stores (e.g., at the backend server 120 and / or the control unit 131).According to the methods illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a person 140 can advantageously record one or more biometric features of his person (e.g. a facial feature) as a shipment recipient by means of his smartphone 110 on the basis of conventional authorization information for the collection of a shipment obtained in step 201. Thereupon, it is determined by the smartphone 110 in step 203 that, in addition or as an alternative to the conventional authorization information, biometric information representing the detected biometric feature authorizes for the pickup of the shipment. In step 204, the smartphone 110 transmits a corresponding biometric information item and an authorization display information item to a backend server 120, which is in communication with the compartment system 130, in which the shipment is stored. The person 140 can accordingly subsequently have the biometric feature of corresponding sensors of the compartment system 130 detected at the relevant compartment system 130 in step 401, so that after a check in step 402, the corresponding shipment is issued in step 403. Thus, it is advantageously no longer necessary to carry along and bring the conventional authorization information at the compartment system 130 for the output of the stored shipment.Instead of conventional authorization information, the capturing of a biometric feature is advantageously sufficient on site at the compartment system for picking up an stored shipment, so that the person 140 does not have to carry any additional information or evidence in order to pick up the respective shipment. Advantageously, the biometric information can authorize the collection of a specific shipment, so that it can be deleted from all data memories (e.g. data memories of the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130 or of the backend server 120) after the collection of this shipment. It is thus advantageously ensured that the (e.g. sensitive) biometric information is stored only temporarily until the time of the shipment collection.FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an example environment in which a method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure runs.The compartment system 5 illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises, for example, a control unit 510 which controls the functions of the compartment system 5. the compartment system 5 can be a compartment system 130 of the system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein an exemplary embodiment of the control unit 510 can be provided by the control unit 8 illustrated in FIG. 8.In addition, the compartment system 5 comprises a plurality of compartments 520 which are configured, for example, for receiving items of mail (e.g. letters, packages, packets) or deliveries or articles (e.g. valuable articles, luggage, etc.). At least some of the compartments 520 are each closable by means of a respective door or flap. At least some of the compartments 520 are provided with a respective lock in order to be able to control the access of persons to these individual compartments 520 of the compartment system 5.The lock of a respective compartment 520 is controllable by the control unit 510, in particular in electronic form. In particular, the control unit 510 may control at least the process of locking and / or unlocking the lock and thus closing and / or opening the respective compartment 520. The control of the lock of a compartment 520 can be effected, for example, by a lock control unit, wherein all lock control units or those of one or more modules of the compartment system 5 are controlled, for example, by the superordinate control unit 510 of the compartment system 5.In addition, the compartment system 5 comprises a biometric sensor, which is provided by the camera 530 by way of example. The camera 530 captures images of a face of the person 540 from different angles and distances, for example, so that the control unit 510 of the compartment system 5 can determine one or more facial features of the person 540 based on the captured images, for example by means of image processing (e.g. an image analysis algorithm). Furthermore, the camera 530 (e.g. as an infrared camera) of the compartment system 5 can capture a three-dimensional shape of the face of the person 540, for example by initially projecting a point pattern onto the face and the camera subsequently capturing the reflected point pattern.In the environment illustrated in FIG. 5 by way of example, the method 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 can run, for example, as described below.For example, the control unit 510 controls the camera 530 of the compartment system 5 so that the camera 530 detects a facial feature of the person 540 (see step 401). The person 540 is the recipient of the shipment 550 which is stored in the compartment installation 5. Based on the detected facial feature, the control unit 510 then determines biometric information representing the facial feature.In a next step (cf. step 402), the control unit 510 determines whether an authorisation display information item is present in a data memory of the control unit 510, which authorisation display information item indicates that the biometric information item obtained beforehand authorizes the pickup of a shipment. For example, this determination may comprise a comparison of the biometric information obtained with a plurality of biometric information present, which may be stored in a data store of the control unit 510 or may be requested by the control unit 510 at a backend server.If the control unit 510 determines that the biometric information obtained authorizes the collection of a shipment, it causes the compartment of the compartment system 5 in which the shipment 550 is stored to be opened (cf. step 403).FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 600 according to the third aspect of the present disclosure. Method 600 is described below by way of example with reference to system 1 shown in FIG. 1.With respect to system 1, method 600 may be performed by backend server 120. Steps 601 to 603 can therefore be understood to correspond to the steps of method 200 shown in FIG. 2 and method 400 shown in FIG. 4.Step 601 is the provision of an item of authorisation information, wherein the item of authorisation information authorizes the pickup of a shipment from a compartment installation.The provision in step 601 is to be understood such that the backend server 120 provides the authorization information of the person 140 (e.g. to the recipient of the shipment for which the authorization information authorizes to pick up) so that the person 140 is authorized to pick up the shipment from the compartment system 130 by means of the authorization information. For example, the backend server 120 sends the authorization information via the communication link 115 to the smartphone 110 of the person 140 to be authorized. In another example, the backend server 120 sends the authorization information to a portable delivery agent device (e.g., the delivery agent device of the delivery agent that previously stored the respective shipment in the compartment system 130). In such a case, the authorization information can be printed out, for example, in the form of a barcode by the delivery agent device (e.g. a handheld device equipped with a scanner and printer), wherein the printed barcode (e.g. printed on a pickup card) is subsequently inserted by the delivery agent into a mailbox of the person 140.Step 602 is obtaining an entitlement indication information and a biometric information, wherein the entitlement indication information is determined prior to obtaining based at least in part on the entitlement information and the biometric information, and wherein the entitlement information indicates that the biometric information authorizes to pick up the shipment from the compartmented facilityFor example, the authorization information provided by the backend server 120 in step 601 is obtained on the smartphone 110 as described for the method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 for step 201. Accordingly, at a later time, permission indication information is determined on the smartphone 110 based on the permission information obtained in step 201 and the biometric information obtained in step 202. This authorisation indication information is transmitted back together with the biometric information from the smartphone 110 to the backend server 120, so that the authorisation indication information and the biometric information are obtained at the backend server 120 in step 602.Step 603 is providing the entitlement display information and biometric information.The authorization display information and biometric information provided in step 603 can be understood as present biometric information or as present authorization display information in the further course.The provision in step 603 can comprise the storage of this information in a data memory of the backend server 120. In a further example, the provision in step 603 can comprise this information being sent to the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130, this information subsequently being stored in a data memory of the control unit 131. For this purpose, the backend server 120 can first determine in which compartment system 130 the shipment for which the authorization display information indicates that the biometric information authorizes collection was previously stored. Subsequently, the backend server 129 may send the two information to the control unit 131 of the particular compartment system 130. In the further course, a method 400 as shown in FIG. 4 can run on this compartment system, during which the stored shipment is collected.FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a user device 7 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The user device 7 can be, for example, a smartphone, that is to say in particular a mobile telephone with the capability of executing more complex programs, so-called apps, independently. The user device 7 may represent, for example, the smartphone 110 as part of the system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1.The user device 7 comprises a processor 70, a program memory 71, a working memory 72, a payload memory 73, a communication interface 74, an image recording device 75, at least one biometric sensor 76, and a user interface 77.The processor 70 executes, for example, a program according to the first aspect of the present disclosure stored in the program memory 71, for example, as an app or firmware. The working memory 72 is used in particular for storing temporary data during the execution of this program. The payload data memory 73 is used for storing data which are required during the execution of the program. This can be, for example, biometric information and authorization information.The communication interface 74 includes, for example, one or more interfaces for communicating the user device with at least one other device (e.g., with the backend server 120 as part of the system 1 shown in FIG. 1 ). The communication interface 74 may in particular be configured to communicate according to a cellular mobile radio system such as a 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G or future cellular mobile radio system. Furthermore, the communication interface 74 may additionally comprise a BLE and / or Bluetooth radio interface with a BLE transmitter and / or receiver. For example, the radio interface 74 can additionally or alternatively comprise a WLAN radio interface with at least one WLAN transmitter and / or receiver.The image recording device 75 can be provided by a camera of the user device 7, for example by a rear-side camera of a smartphone as the user device 7.The at least one biometric sensor 76 can be designed in various ways. The biometric sensor 76 may be a camera (e.g., a camera that serves simultaneously as the image recording device 75), wherein the camera acquires images of a face from various angles and distances, for example. Furthermore, a camera (e.g., an infrared camera) as the biometric sensor 76 may acquire a three-dimensional shape of a face, for example, by first projecting a point pattern onto the face and the camera then acquiring the reflected point pattern. The biometric sensor 76 may further be a fingerprint sensor (e.g., comprising one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors, and / or pressure sensors). The biometric sensor 76 can furthermore be provided by a microphone, wherein the microphone detects a spoken voice, for example, and the detected audio signals are analyzed by means of audio processing in order to determine characteristic voice features such as pitch or frequency patterns.The user device 7 may include any number of different biometric sensors 76, which may be arranged differently on the user device 7.The user interface 77 can be configured as a screen and keyboard or as a touch-sensitive display (touchscreen) and, for example, enable a user of the user device 7 to operate the user device.FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control unit 8 of a compartment system (e.g., the compartment system 130 shown in FIG. 1 or the compartment system 5 shown in FIG. 5 ) according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.The control unit 8 comprises a processor 80, a program memory 81, a working memory 82, a payload memory 83, a communication interface 84, a drive unit 85 for the locks or lock control units of the compartments of the compartment system, at least one biometric sensor 86 and an optional input unit / user interface 87. The processor 80 executes, for example, a program according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, which is stored in the program memory 81, for example as firmware. Working memory 82 is used in particular for storing temporary data during the execution of this program.The payload data memory 83 is used for storing data which are required during the execution of the program. In the present case, this can be, for example, information which can be used by the control unit 8 in order to determine whether biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment from the compartment system Further data such as, for example, shipment information can be stored, for example, in the payload data memory 83, for example in data structures which represent an assignment of stored shipments, authorization information and / or respective compartments of the compartment system.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, which is based on electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic signals or fields, in particular on Bluetooth, NFC and / or RFID. The control unit 8 is also configured, for example, for direct communication with a backend server (e.g., the backend server 120) shown in FIG. 1, and therefore has, for example, a communication interface which allows access to the Internet or to another network to which the backend server is connected.The control unit 85 of the control unit 8 of a compartment system makes it possible to open or unlock an individual compartment of the compartment system in a targeted manner in order to make possible the opening, in particular by controlling the lock of the compartment or a lock control unit of the compartment. In addition, locking of a respective compartment can be effected. The control unit 85 is connected, for example, via a respective wiring to all locks or lock control units of the compartment system or is connected to a bus to which all locks or lock control units of the compartment system are also connected.The at least one biometric sensor 86 can be designed in various ways. The biometric sensor 86 may be provided by a camera of the compartment system connected to the control unit 8, wherein the camera captures images of a face from different angles and distances, for example. Furthermore, a camera (e.g. an infrared camera) as biometric sensor 86 may detect a three-dimensional shape of a face, for example by initially projecting a dot pattern onto the face and the camera subsequently detecting the reflected dot pattern Biometric sensor 86 may furthermore be provided by a fingerprint sensor of control unit 8 (which may comprise e.g. one or more image sensors, capacitive sensors, thermal sensors and / or pressure sensors). The biometric sensor 86 can furthermore be provided by a microphone of the control unit 8, wherein the microphone detects a spoken voice, for example, and the detected audio signals are analyzed by means of audio processing in order to determine characteristic voice features such as pitch or frequency pattern.The control unit 8 of a compartment system can have any number of different biometric sensors 86, which can be arranged differently on the compartment system. For example, a camera as a biometric sensor 86 is arranged on the compartment system in such a way that it can capture the face of a person who uses the compartment system. A fingerprint sensor as a biometric sensor 86 is arranged, for example, at the front side of the compartment system so that it is easily accessible to a person using the compartment system.The input unit / user interface 87 is optional and configured for communication with a deliverer / deliverer and / or a user. This can comprise, for example, an output unit for displaying (e.g. via a screen or via compartment-specific light indicators) or for acoustically outputting information and / or a unit for obtaining information and / or data (e.g. a keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen with a screen keyboard or a speech recognition module).Moreover, the control unit 8 may include a detection unit such as a scanner that can optically detect information (e.g., a bar or QR code from a screen of a mobile device). In a further example, a detection unit of the control unit is configured to read NFC tags which are fastened to a respective shipment, for example, and are inserted into the shipment. The detection unit may additionally or alternatively be capable of detecting and processing acoustic signals (e.g. by means of speech recognition).FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a backend server 9 according to the second or third aspect of the present disclosure. The backend server 9 can be, for example, a compartment system management server.The backend server 9 comprises a processor 90, a program memory 91, a working memory 92, an optional payload memory 93 and at least one communication interface 94. the processor executes, for example, a program according to the second aspect of the present disclosure stored in the program memory 91, for example, as firmware. Working memory 92 is used in particular for storing temporary data during the execution of this program.The payload data memory 93 is used for storing data which are required during the execution of the program. In the present case, this can be, for example, information which can be used by the backend server 9 in order to determine whether biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment from the compartment system. Furthermore, they can be user identifiers, user contact data such as e-mail addresses and mobile radio numbers, compartment system identifiers and shipment data. All data can be stored in encrypted form, for example. In addition, information about a plurality of compartment systems can be stored in the payload data memory 93.The at least one communication interface 94 may be configured to communicate with a control unit of a compartment system (e.g., the control unit 131 of the compartment system 130 shown in FIG. 1 ) or a mobile device (e.g., the smartphone 110 of the user 140 shown in FIG. 1 ). This communication can be based on the Internet Protocol (IP), for example. For example, for this purpose, the at least one communication interface 94 is designed as a local area network (LAN) interfaceIn the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9, the processor 70, 80 or 90 can be, for example, in each case a control unit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller such as a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASICs) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGAs). In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9, the program memory and / or the payload data memory can be, for example, a persistent memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM) memory. The program memory can be permanently connected to the respective processor 70, 80 or 90, for example, but can alternatively also be releasably connected to the respective processor 70, 80 or 90, for example as a memory card, diskette or optical data carrier medium (e.g. a CD or DVD). The working memory of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9 is used, for example, for storing temporary results during the processing of the program instructions; this is, for example, a volatile memory, such as a random access memory (RAM) memory.FIG. 10 illustrates example embodiments of storage media on which, for example, a computer program according to various aspects of the present disclosure may be stored. The storage medium can be, for example, a magnetic, electrical, optical and / or other type of storage medium. The storage medium can be part of a processor, for example a (non-volatile or volatile) program memory of the processor or a part thereof, for example. Embodiments of a storage medium are a flash memory 1000, an SSD hard disk 1001, a magnetic hard disk 1002, a memory card 1003, a memory stick 1004 (e.g. a USB stick), a CD-ROM or DVD 1005 or a floppy disk 1006.The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described in this specification should also be understood as disclosed in all combinations with one another. In particular, the description of a feature encompassed by an embodiment is also intendedUnless explicitly explained to the contrary, in the present case it should not be understood that the feature is essential or essential for the function of the exemplary embodiment. The sequence of the method steps described in this specification in the individual flowcharts is not obligatory; alternative sequences of the method steps are conceivable- unless otherwise stated. The method steps can be implemented in various ways, thus an implementation in software (by program instructions), hardware or a combination of both is conceivable for implementing the method steps.Terms such as "comprising", "having", "including", "containing" and the like used in the claims do not exclude further elements or steps. The phrase "at least partially" includes both the case "partially" and the case "completely". The phrase "and / or" is to be understood to mean that both the alternative and the combination are to be disclosed, i.e., "A and / or B" means "(A) or (B) or (A and B)". A plurality of units, persons or the like in the context of this specification means a plurality of units, persons or the like. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. A single device can carry out the functions of several units or devices mentioned in the patent claims. Reference numerals indicated in the claims should not be regarded as limitations of means and steps used.
Claims
A method (200), the method comprising: obtaining (201) authorisation information, wherein the authorisation information authorizes to pick up a shipment (550) from a compartmented installation (130; 5); obtaining (202) biometric information, wherein the biometric information represents at least one biometric characteristic of a person (140, 335); determining (203), based at least in part on the authorisation information and the biometric information, authorisation indication information, wherein the authorisation indication information indicates that the biometric information authorizes to pick up the shipment (550) from the compartmented installation (130; 5); and providing (204) the authorisation indication information and the biometric information, wherein the providing (204) the authorisation indication information and the biometric information comprises: transmitting the biometric information and the authorisation indication information to a backend server (120).The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the entitlement information is represented by a fetch code (315;330).The method (200) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein obtaining (201) the authorisation information comprises: receiving the authorisation information from a backend server (120); or causing the authorisation information to be acquired by means of an image recording device (325) of a user device (110; 310).The method (200) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein obtaining (202) the biometric information comprises: causing the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information to be detected with one or more biometric sensors (320) of the user device (110; 310).The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein obtaining (202) the biometric information comprises: - requesting the biometric information at a further user device (350); - receiving the requested biometric information from the further user device (350).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 authorizes to pick up a shipment (550); and - if it is determined that the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment (550), causing an opening (403) of a compartment of a compartment installation (130; 5) in which the shipment (550) is stored, wherein the determining (402) whether the biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment (550) comprises: - determining whether there is authorization indication information indicating that the obtained biometric information authorizes to pick up a shipment (550)The method (400) according to claim 6, wherein obtaining (401) the biometric information comprises: - causing a detection of the at least one biometric feature represented by the biometric information with one or more biometric sensors (530) of the compartment system (5).The method (400) according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein causing the opening (403) of the compartment comprises: - determining, at least partially on the present authorisation display information, the compartment of the compartment installation (5) in which the shipment (550) authorised to pick up the biometric information is stored.A method (600), the method comprising: - providing (601) authorisation information, wherein the authorisation information authorizes to pick up a shipment (550) from a compartment system (130; 5); - obtaining (602) authorisation indication information and biometric information, wherein the authorisation indication information is determined before the obtaining at least partially based on the authorisation information and the biometric information, and wherein the authorisation information indicates that the biometric information authorizes to pick up the shipment (550) from the compartment system (130; 5); and - providing (603) the authorisation indication information and the biometric information.The method (600) of claim 9, wherein providing (601) entitlement information comprises transmitting the entitlement information to a user device (110;310), wherein obtaining (602) entitlement indication information and biometric information comprises receiving the entitlement indication information and biometric information from the user device (130;310), and wherein providing (603) the entitlement indication information and biometric information comprises transmitting the entitlement indication information and biometric information to a controller (131;510) of a compartment system (130;5)The method (600) of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one biometric feature of the person (335;540) is a facial feature of the person.A computer program comprising program instructions that cause a processor (70; 80; 90) to execute and / or control the method (200; 400; 600) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when the computer program runs on the processor (70; 80; 90).A user device (110;310;7) configured to perform and / or control the method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 11 or comprising means (71-77) for performing and / or controlling the steps of the method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 11.An apparatus (120;130;510;8;9) configured to perform and / or control the method (400) according to any one of claims 6 to 8 and 11 or comprising means (81-87;91-94) for performing and / or controlling the steps of the method (400) according to any one of claims 6 to 8 and 11.A backend server (120;9) configured to execute and / or control the method (600) according to any one of claims 9 to 11 or comprising means (91-94) for executing and / or controlling the steps of the method (600) according to any one of claims 9 to 11.A system (1) comprising the user device (110;310;7) according to claim 13, the device (120;130;510;8;9) according to claim 14 and the backend server (120;9) according to claim 15. *****
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Method for checking the authorization of a person
WO2023122810A1