RESERVATION FOR LOCKER SYSTEMS

Description

Area

[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a system for operating at least one electronic locker system, each locker system comprising a plurality of locker units, components of the system, and methods performed by these components. background

[0002] Currently, if a party wishes to deposit a shipment in an electronic locker system, such as a Packstation, a specific locker must be reserved for that party.

[0003] However, this approach is very rigid and inflexible and results in far more locker units being reserved than are actually used, thus creating unused locker unit capacity.

[0004] DE 10 2006 047797 A1 is an example of operating a locker system for depositing and retrieving items. Summary of some exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0005] The present invention therefore has the object of overcoming this problem.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for operating at least one electronic locker system, each locker system comprising a plurality of locker units, is disclosed, comprising: Determining information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system, in which a consignment assigned to a party is to be deposited, by a computer processing unit, based on reservation information for this locker system assigned to the party, wherein the reservation information assigned to the party contains compartment type-related information which, for each locker type of at least one locker type of the locker system, comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, selecting a locker unit of the at least one locker unit based on the determined and provided information; detecting an identifier physically assigned to the consignment to be deposited in the locker system by detection means; and linking the detected identifier of the consignment to the selected locker unit.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for operating at least one electronic locker system is disclosed, the method comprising the following: Receiving an electronic request assigned to a party for the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system from at least one locker system, checking whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available for the party, and if the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available for the party, adapting reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system, which comprises locker type-related information, wherein the compartment type-related information for the locker type of the locker system comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, for the dynamic reservation of the specific number of locker units of the locker type of the locker system.

[0008] According to each of these aspects of the invention, there are further disclosed: A computer program comprising program instructions that cause a processor to execute and / or control the method according to the respective aspect of the invention when the computer program is running on the processor. In this specification, a processor is understood to include, among other things, control units, microprocessors, microcontrol units such as microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Either all steps of the method can be controlled, or all steps of the method can be executed, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be executed. The computer program can, for example, be distributable via a network such as the Internet, a telephone or mobile network, and / or a local area network. The computer program can be at least partially software and / or firmware of a processor.It can equally be implemented at least partially as hardware. The computer program can, for example, be stored on a computer-readable storage medium, e.g. a magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, optical and / or other type of storage medium. The storage medium can, for example, be part of the processor, for example a (non-volatile or volatile) program memory of the processor or a part thereof. A device configured to carry out and / or control the method according to the respective aspect of the invention or comprising respective means for carrying out the steps of the method according to the respective aspect of the invention. 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 can also be executed and / or controlled by the same unit. For example, one or more of the means can be formed by one or more processors. A device which comprises at least one processor and at least one memory which contains program code, wherein the memory and the program code are configured to cause the device with the at least one processor to execute and / or control at least the method according to the respective aspect of the invention. In this case, either all steps of the method can be controlled, or all steps of the method can be executed, or one or more steps can be controlled and one or more steps can be executed.

[0009] The device can, for example, comprise the computer processing unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system or a server that can be connected to the locker system via a communications connection. Thus, for example, the method according to the first aspect and / or the method according to the second aspect can be executed, for example, at least partially or entirely, by a computer processing unit of a locker unit, and / or at least partially or entirely by a computer processing unit of the server.

[0010] Each locker system of the at least one locker system comprises a plurality of locker units. For example, each of the locker units of the plurality of locker units is assigned a locking device configured to open or lock the respective locker unit. The locking device can be controlled via an electrical signal, with a locker system, for example, having a control unit for controlling the locking devices of the locker units.

[0011] A locker system of the at least one locker system can comprise different types of locker units, wherein the different locker types differ, for example, in shape and / or size. For example, at least one locker unit of a locker system can be assigned to a first locker type, and at least one locker unit of this locker system can be assigned to a second locker type, and at least one locker unit of this locker system can be assigned to a third locker type, wherein, for example, the first locker type can be small, the second locker type can be medium, and the third locker type can be large.It is understood that the invention is not limited to exactly three different types of lockers, but can include any number of at least two different types of lockers.

[0012] A locker system of the at least one locker system can be connected to a server, for example, via a data network, wherein the server can be configured to control a locker system of the at least one locker system. This data network can, for example, include the Internet and / or other data networks.

[0013] If a party wishes to deposit a shipment in a locker unit of a locker system, this occurs based on reservation information assigned to the party for this locker system, which can be stored, for example, in the server and / or in a memory of the corresponding locker system. This reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system comprises compartment type-related information that contains, for each locker type of at least one locker type of the corresponding locker system, information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of that locker type. Thus, a party can reserve a number of locker units of a locker type in advance for a specific locker system. This reservation is discussed in detail in the second aspect of the invention.For example, a party can access the server electronically via an interface and store there corresponding compartment type-related information for one or more locker types of a locker system.

[0014] A shipment may, for example, be a parcel, but may also be any other item that is to be deposited in a locker unit of a locker system, for example for the transfer of the item from one party to a recipient.

[0015] The number of locker units can be a number of exactly one or a number of two or more locker units. This locker type-related information assigned to the party and the locker system, which includes information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type for each locker type of at least one locker type in the corresponding locker system, does not contain an assignment to a specific or multiple specific locker units of the locker type. As a result, only a number of locker units of the respective locker type are reserved for the party at the respective locker system, without any specific assignment to locker units of the locker system.

[0016] According to the first aspect of the invention, when a party wishes to deposit a shipment in a locker unit of a locker system, information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system, in which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited, is provided by a data processing unit, based on reservation information for this locker system assigned to the party. This data processing unit can, for example, be arranged in the locker system or also arranged in the server. This information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system, in which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited, can, for example, only comprise the aforementioned compartment type-related information or, alternatively, also comprise further information.

[0017] Based on this determined information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system in which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited, a locker unit of the at least one locker unit of the locker system is selected. This selection process can be carried out at least with the support of the data processing unit of the locker system and / or the data processing unit of the server. When selecting a locker unit of the at least one locker unit, the party's reservation information, which includes the compartment type-related information, can thus be taken into account for this locker system.Because the compartment type-related information does not include an assignment to a specific locker unit or several specific locker units of the locker system, when making a reservation based on the compartment type-related information, no specific locker unit of the locker system needs to be reserved in advance. Instead, for example, only the number of locker units for the respective reserved locker type of the locker system is reserved in advance, so that, for example, the server and / or the corresponding locker system ensures that at least the reserved number of locker units for the respective reserved locker type of the locker system is kept free for the party, whereby this keeping free can depend, for example, on other factors such as the priority of parties and / or a specific point in time until which the reservation is to be valid.This can offer the advantage that no specific locker unit is reserved in advance for a shipment, thus blocking it by this reservation. As a result, a shipment is only assigned when the shipment is deposited in the corresponding locker system, for example. This can prevent, for example, a locker unit reserved specifically for a shipment from turning out to be defective when attempting to deposit it in the locker system, and thus preventing the shipment from being deposited in the locker system because only the number of locker units for the respective locker type in the locker system is reserved.

[0018] Thus, the selection of a locker unit of the at least one locker unit of the locker system occurs chronologically after a reservation is made based on the locker type-related information. For example, this selection only occurs when the party wishes to deposit the shipment in the corresponding locker system on-site, such as after the party has registered or identified themselves at the corresponding locker system or at the server for subsequent deposit of the shipment in the locker system.

[0019] Furthermore, a physically assigned identifier is recorded for each shipment to be deposited in the locker system, such as an identifier applied to the shipment, which can be a barcode, an alphanumeric print, or another suitable identifier. This identifier can, for example, represent a shipment ID, which can be used to track the shipment.For example, the locker system can comprise means for detecting this identifier physically assigned to the shipment, such as a scanner or other suitable means, or a mobile terminal can be provided which comprises these means for detecting this identifier physically assigned to the shipment, wherein the mobile terminal can transmit the detected identifier to the locker system, for example via a preferably wireless communication connection, and / or can transmit the detected identifier to the server, for example via a preferably wireless communication connection.

[0020] After selecting a locker unit of the locker system, for example, this locker unit is automatically opened by the locker system or, for example, information can be displayed on the locker system's display means as to which locker unit of the locker system is to be used to deposit the consignment, so that the party can deposit the consignment in the opened locker unit or in the displayed locker unit.

[0021] Furthermore, the recorded identifier of the shipment is linked to the selected locker unit. Thus, the shipment is only assigned to the selected locker unit of the locker system when the shipment is deposited at the locker unit, not during the preceding dynamic reservation.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, the locker system of the at least one locker system comprises a plurality of different locker types, which preferably differ from one another in size.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, the reservation information associated with the party comprises information about at least one statically reserved locker unit of the locker system.

[0024] Thus, for example, in addition to a compartment-type-specific reservation, which does not include a reservation of a specific locker unit within a locker system, a party can also reserve at least one locker unit within the locker system permanently and thus statically. However, with this static reservation of at least one locker unit within a locker system, the statically reserved locker is not assigned to a shipment during the reservation process; rather, only the at least one statically reserved locker unit within the locker system is reserved for the corresponding party. The number of statically reserved locker units within a locker system reduces the number of potentially available dynamically reservable locker units of a locker type.For example, a static reservation of a locker unit can remain in place, in contrast to the dynamic reservation of a number of locker units of a locker type, so that the statically reserved locker units of a locker system are continuously available to the corresponding locker.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the method comprises displaying a number of locker units of the locker system available to the party for at least one locker type based on the information about at least one locker unit of a locker system on at least one of the following displays: (i) a display of the locker system; and (ii) a display on a mobile electronic device configured for use by a party.

[0026] The party can thus be shown how many locker units of the respective locker type are available for depositing shipments for one or more locker types within the locker system. For example, the party can be identified in advance at the locker system or on the server.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the selection of a locker unit of the at least one locker unit of the locker system is carried out at least partially based on the number of locker units of the locker system available to the party displayed for the party for at least one locker type by detecting an interaction of a deliverer with the locker system.

[0028] Thus, for example, the party can decide which locker type to use for the shipment to be deposited based on the number of locker units available to it for a particular locker type (or for several different locker types) displayed to it and enter the selection by making a corresponding input at the input interface of the locker system or at a corresponding input interface (not shown) of the mobile device. Capturing a selection of a locker type can therefore represent part of the step for selecting a locker unit.

[0029] Once the locker type has been determined, the final selection of a locker unit of the selected locker type in which the shipment is to be deposited can be made. This can be done, for example, by the computer processing unit of the corresponding locker system or by the server. Alternatively, the selection of a locker unit of the selected locker type can also be based on the party's interaction with the locker system, such as via the locker system's input interface or via the input interface of the mobile device, or based on the party's interaction with the server, such as via the locker system's input interface or via the input interface of the mobile device.If several locker units of the selected locker type are available for the party, these locker units can be displayed, for example, via corresponding information on the display device of the locker unit or on the display device of the mobile device.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the number of locker units of the locker system available to the party is determined for at least one locker type based on at least one of: (i) a number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type; (ii) a number of statically reserved locker units of the locker type; (iii) a number of unreserved locker units of the locker type; and (iv) a sum of the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, the number of statically reserved locker units of the locker type, and the number of unreserved locker units of the locker type.

[0031] For example, the number of locker units available to the party for a particular locker type may be one of the following: The number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type in the locker facility; The sum of the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type and the number of available statically reserved locker units of the locker type; The sum of the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, the number of available statically reserved locker units of the locker type, and the number of unreserved locker units of the locker type.

[0032] Thus, the number of locker units available to the party for a particular locker type (or several different locker types) is determined based on the reservation information assigned to the party for this locker system. This information, in addition to the locker type-specific reservation information, can optionally also include information about at least one statically reserved locker unit in the locker system. Furthermore, the number of locker units available to the party for a particular locker type can also take into account other free locker units of that locker type, so that the party can be shown how many locker units of that particular locker type are currently available to the party.For example, this number of locker units available to the party can be determined for each of the different locker types in the locker system, so that the party can be shown an overall overview that indicates the number of locker units available for each of the different locker types. For example, this number of locker units available to the party for a particular locker type (or for several different locker types) can be understood as part or as a whole of the information about at least one locker unit in the locker system in which a shipment assigned to the party is to be deposited.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the displaying further comprises displaying information about available statically reserved locker units of the locker type, which indicates these statically reserved lockers of the locker system.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the selection of a locker unit of the at least one locker unit of the locker system is carried out based on an algorithm which is executed by a data processing system which is operatively connected to the locker system.

[0035] The data processing system can, for example, represent the computing unit of the corresponding locker system in which the shipment is to be deposited, or the computing unit of the server.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, when selecting a locker unit of the at least one locker unit based on the information provided, a locker unit is preferably selected which represents a locker unit statically reserved for the party.

[0037] Thus, for example, for a party, the statically reserved locker units of a specific locker type of a locker system can initially be used to deposit shipments, and subsequently locker units of the specific locker type of the locker system can be used for depositing, which as such specific locker units have not been explicitly reserved by the party, but where a reservation of a number of locker units for the specific locker type has been made through the locker type-related information or which have not even been reserved for the party at all, but are nevertheless freely available.

[0038] For example, if a statically reserved locker unit was used to deposit the shipment, corresponding information about the occupied statically reserved locker unit can be stored in a database in the locker system and / or the server, so that this statically reserved locker unit is marked as "unavailable" and, if applicable, is no longer taken into account when determining the number of locker units available to the party for this locker type.

[0039] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the locker type to which the shipment is to be assigned is determined based on one of the following: (i) a database entry associated with the shipment's identification number, which includes information about the size of the shipment or the locker type; (ii) an input of information about the size of the shipment or the locker type at the locker system; and (iii) an input of information about the size of the shipment or the locker type on a mobile electronic device configured for use by a party.

[0040] For example, according to (ii) or (iii), a selection of a locker type of the locker system can be determined, for example, through the input interface of the locker system or through an input interface of the mobile device. Thus, for example, the party can decide, based on the optionally displayed number of locker units available to it for a particular locker type (or for several different locker types), which locker type should be used for the shipment to be deposited, and enter the selection by making a corresponding input at the input interface of the locker system or at a corresponding input interface (not shown) of the mobile device.Furthermore, the party can also enter information about the size of the shipment via the respective input interface, whereby a computer processing unit such as that of the corresponding locker system or the server determines a suitable locker type of the corresponding locker system based on the recorded information about the size of the shipment.

[0041] For example, based on the identifier that is physically assigned to the shipment and that was recorded, a locker type or the size of the shipment can be determined, whereby a suitable locker type of the locker system can be determined from the size of the shipment, as explained above.

[0042] For example, this determination of a locker type can be based on a database entry that is assigned to the shipment's identification number and contains information about the shipment's size or the locker type. For example, based on the shipment's size, a suitable locker type for the corresponding locker system can be determined. This database entry can, for example, be part of a database stored in the locker system or on the server.For example, when making a reservation, such as the dynamic reservation of a locker type, an identifier (such as a shipment ID) of the corresponding shipment can be generated or determined by incrementing the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the respective locker type based on the locker type-related information. This identifier can be linked to the corresponding locker type and saved as a database entry. This shipment can then be assigned the corresponding identifier.

[0043] Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the party can eliminate the need to select the locker type during the process of depositing the shipment at the corresponding locker facility.

[0044] However, the party may be given the opportunity, for example, to select a different locker type via the input interface of the locker system or the input interface of the mobile device, which differs from the locker type determined based on the database entry.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the number of locker units of the locker system available to the party is displayed for at least one locker type based on a size of the shipment or based on a locker type assigned to the shipment.

[0046] For example, only the number of locker units available to the party in the locker system for the locker type assigned to the shipment is displayed.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, the adaptation of the reservation information associated with the party occurs when the shipment identification number has been linked to the selected locker unit.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, if the shipment has been linked to a locker unit associated with the number of dynamically reserved locker units of a locker type, adjusting comprises reducing the number of dynamically reserved locker units of that locker type.

[0049] Thus, after a locker unit of a locker system has been occupied by more than the number of locker units of a locker type in the locker system dynamically reserved for the party, the party will have access to a number of dynamically reserved locker units of this locker type at this locker system reduced by one counter.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, two or more parties are provided, and each of the two or more parties is assigned reservation information for at least one locker system of the at least one locker system.

[0051] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, different priorities are assigned to the two or more parties.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, at least one party of the at least one party is a logistics provider.

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, the removal of a shipment deposited in a locker unit of a locker system, which is assigned to a party, is detected and the reservation information assigned to another party for this locker system is adjusted.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment of all aspects of the invention, the compartment type-related information for a locker system assigned to a party does not include any information about an assignment of a shipment to a locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system.

[0055] Thus, dynamic reservation based on the locker type-related information assigned to a party avoids reserving a specific locker unit or several specific locker units of the locker system, which would then be blocked and can only be used by that party.

[0056] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, identifiers of two or more shipments are linked to a locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system.

[0057] For example, a party can deposit two or more shipments in one locker unit of a locker system.

[0058] In an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the shipment is used for exchanging objects, in particular keys.

[0059] According to the second aspect of the invention, an electronic request assigned to a party for the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system from at least one locker system is received; a check is made as to whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available to the party; and if the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available to the party, an adaptation of reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system, which comprises locker type-related information, wherein the locker type-related information for the locker type of the locker system comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, for the dynamic reservation of the specific number of locker units of the locker type of the locker system.

[0060] This second aspect can be configured to make reservations for one or more locker systems. The method can, for example, be executed, at least partially or entirely, by a computing unit of a locker system and / or at least partially or entirely by a computing unit of the server.

[0061] The computer processing unit receives an electronic request assigned to a party for the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type in a locker system from at least one locker system. For example, a party can connect such an electronic request to the computer processing unit using a terminal device that connects to the computer processing unit via a communications connection, which may include, for example, the Internet, so that this electronic request can be received by the computer processing unit.

[0062] As already explained with regard to the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system for a party with regard to the first aspect of the invention, the request for the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system from at least one locker system is intended to result in a reservation of a number of locker units of the specific locker type, but not to result in a reservation of specific locker units of this locker type of the locker system.

[0063] A check is then made to determine whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available for the party at the locker facility. For example, this check may include checking whether, of the number of locker units of the specific locker type generally available at the locker facility, less reservations already made (which may also include reservations made by other parties), a sufficient number of remaining locker units of the locker type are still available for the party.

[0064] If the verification in step 1 is successful, the process can continue with an adjustment of reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system, which includes compartment type-related information. The compartment type-related information for the locker type of the locker system includes information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type for the dynamic reservation of the specified number of locker units of the locker type of the locker system. For example, if the request for a dynamic reservation includes a number of x locker units of a locker type, where x is a natural number (from 1, 2, 3, ...), the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system is increased by the number x.If the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system assigned to the party before the adjustment of the information corresponds to a number of zero reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system, the reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system will be adjusted such that the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system corresponds to a number of x dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type. The term "adjustment" can therefore also be understood, for example, as the creation of new information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of a locker type of a locker system if this information did not previously exist.

[0065] If the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system assigned to the party before the information is adjusted corresponds to a number of n (where n is a natural number) reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system, the reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system shall be adjusted such that the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system corresponds to a number of n+x dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type.

[0066] Furthermore, for example, if the complete number of x locker units of the locker type of the locker system is not available to the party, at least a dynamic reservation of a number of z locker units of the locker type of the locker system can be carried out for the party, with z from the natural numbers and z less than x, if the party has at least a number of z locker units of the locker type of the locker system available, wherein this dynamic reservation comprises increasing the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the first locker type of the locker system by a number of z locker units.

[0067] This reservation information can be used, for example, as reservation information for the first aspect of the invention.

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the locker type associated with the request represents a first locker type of the locker system, and the locker system comprises at least one further locker type, wherein the method further comprises checking whether a dynamic reservation for a further locker type of the locker system, which differs from the first locker type, is possible if the requested number of locker units of the locker type is not available to the party.

[0069] For example, this additional locker type can be a locker type that is larger than the first locker type, such as one number larger than the first locker type. For example, if it is determined that at least one locker unit of the additional locker type is available for the party, at least one locker unit of the additional locker type can be reserved at the locker system.

[0070] Furthermore, for example, this exemplary embodiment may only be permitted for a party from a first group of at least one party, while this embodiment is not permitted for a party not assigned to the first group. Thus, a party not assigned to the first group cannot switch to another locker type.

[0071] Furthermore, dynamic reservation, according to the procedure for reserving an additional locker type, may not be permitted for any additional locker type. For example, if the first locker type is a locker type with a certain minimum size, no additional locker type larger than this specified minimum size can be used, resulting in a failed check.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, if the check as to whether a dynamic reservation of at least one further locker type of the locker system, which differs from the first locker type, is possible is positive, the locker type-related information assigned to the party and the locker system is adapted to dynamically reserve a number of locker units of the further locker type of the locker system, wherein the locker type-related information for the further locker type of the locker unit comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the further locker type.

[0073] For example, if the request includes a dynamic reservation of a number of x locker units of a locker type, where x is a natural number (from 1, 2, 3, ...), and if, for example, none of the x requested locker units could be dynamically reserved, and the number of y locker units of the other locker type of the locker system is available, then, for example, the number of x locker units of the other type of the locker system can be dynamically reserved for the party if x is less than or equal to y, by increasing the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the other locker type of the locker system by a number of x locker units.Or, for example, the number of y locker units of the additional locker system type can be dynamically reserved for the party if x is greater than y by increasing the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the additional locker type of the locker system by a number of y locker units.

[0074] If a dynamic reservation of a number of z locker units of the first locker type of the locker system for the party could already be carried out in advance, with z from the natural numbers and z less than x, whereby this dynamic reservation includes increasing the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the first locker type of the locker system by a number of z locker units, the number x in the above-mentioned example is reduced by the already reserved number of z locker units.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment of each of the aspects of the invention, two or more parties are provided, and each of the two or more parties is assigned reservation information for at least one locker system of the at least one locker system.

[0076] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the aspects of the invention is assigned different priorities to the two or more parties.

[0077] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, checking whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available to the party depends on the priority assigned to the party.

[0078] Furthermore, for example, the verification for a party as to whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available at the locker facility for the party can be carried out at a specific time, which depends on the respective party. If, for example, there are several parties who can make a reservation, different priorities can be assigned to the parties, whereby, for example, up to a certain time, which, for example,within a time frame (such as a day or a week), only a party with a certain priority can make a dynamic reservation, so that the check up to this point in time can only be carried out for one or more parties that have this certain priority, so that this check for another party that has a lower priority than this certain priority can only be carried out after this certain point in time. This makes it possible for a party with a certain priority to make a dynamic reservation with priority, and parties with a lower priority to only be allowed to make dynamic reservations secondarily. Several successively staggered points in time can also be used, e.g.within a time frame (such as a day or a week), with each of the points in time being assigned a corresponding different priority from a plurality of priorities.

[0079] Furthermore, for example, the incoming requests from one party or from several parties can be collected up to a certain point in time, with the check then being carried out for each party as to whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available at the locker system for the party, and the subsequent steps in the event of a successful or negative check being carried out in the order of the parties' priorities, starting with the party with the highest priority and then checking for the parties in descending order of priority whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available at the locker system for the party.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, if the check as to whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available for the party is negative, information associated with the party about the number of locker units of the locker type of the locker system of the request for which no dynamic reservation has been made is stored.

[0081] This exemplary embodiment can be used, for example, if the full number x of compartments requested by the party could not be dynamically reserved. This dynamic reservation can also include, for example, any reserved number of locker units of the additional locker type. For example, if, of the requested number of x compartments, the number z of locker units of the first locker type were dynamically reserved, and, for example, the number y of locker units of the additional locker type were dynamically reserved for the party, the number of locker units of the locker type requested for which no dynamic reservation was made can correspond to the number xzy.This allows a reservation of this remaining number of non-dynamically reserved compartments of the first locker type of the specific locker system for the party, which can be taken into account later if, for example, locker units of this first locker type become available again.

[0082] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the removal of a consignment deposited in a locker unit of a locker system, which is assigned to a first party, is detected.

[0083] This detection can be carried out based on a suitable detection means of the corresponding locker system, whereby the actual detection can take place in the computing processing unit of the locker system or in the computing processing unit of the server.

[0084] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, if information about a number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system for which no dynamic reservation has been made is stored for a further party, and if the locker type of this information corresponds to the locker type of the locker system from which the shipment was taken and if the locker system of this information corresponds to the locker system from which the shipment was taken, the number of dynamically reserved locker units of this locker type of the locker system of the further party is increased.

[0085] Thus, it can be checked whether information about a number of locker units of a locker type in a locker system t, for which no dynamic reservation was made, is stored for another party other than the first party. The locker type of this information must correspond to the locker type in the locker system from which the shipment was taken, and the locker system of this information must correspond to the locker system from which the shipment was taken. This information about a number of locker units of a locker type in a locker system for which no dynamic reservation was made can, for example, have been stored in advance for this other party.

[0086] If this check is successful, the reservation information for the additional party can be adjusted in such a way that the information assigned to the additional party regarding the number of dynamically reserved locker units of this locker type in the locker system is incremented.

[0087] In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, a number of dynamically reserved locker units of a locker type is removed from the locker type-related information of a locker system of a party if the number of dynamically reserved locker units of a locker type of the locker system has not been used by the party until a certain point in time.

[0088] This allows the previously dynamically reserved number of locker units of a locker type in a locker system to be released for new reservations. The timing may depend, for example, on the priority of the party that made the dynamic reservation.

[0089] The above-described embodiments and exemplary configurations of all aspects of the present invention are also to be understood as disclosed in all combinations with one another.

[0090] Further advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention can be found in the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures. However, the figures appended to the application are intended only for the purpose of illustration and not to define the scope of the invention. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended merely to reflect the general concept of the present invention by way of example. In particular, features contained in the figures should in no way be considered a necessary part of the present invention.

[0091] They show: Fig. 1: A schematic representation of a system in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are used; Fig. 2: a flowchart of a first exemplary embodiment of a method according to a first aspect of the invention; Fig. 3a: a flowchart of a second exemplary embodiment of a method according to a first aspect of the invention; Fig. 3b: a flowchart of a third exemplary embodiment of a method according to a first aspect of the invention; Fig. 4: a flowchart of a first exemplary embodiment of a method according to a second aspect of the invention; Fig. 5: a flowchart of a second exemplary embodiment of a method according to a second aspect of the invention; Fig. 6a: a flowchart of a third exemplary embodiment of a method according to a second aspect of the invention; and Fig.6b: a flowchart of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a method according to a second aspect of the invention; .

[0092] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 100 in which exemplary embodiments of the invention can be used. The system comprises at least one electronic locker system 110. Although in Figure 1 only a single locker system 110 is shown, Figure 1 should not be understood as limiting, ie there may also be two or more electronic locker systems 110 in the system 100.

[0093] Each locker system 110 of the at least one locker system comprises a plurality of locker units 111-113, 121-123, 131-133. For example, each of the locker units 111-113, 121-123, 131-133 of the plurality of locker units 111-113, 121-123, 131-133 is assigned a locking means configured to open or close the respective locker unit 111-113, 121-123, 131-133. The locking means can be controlled via an electrical signal, wherein, for example, a locker system 110 has a control unit for controlling the locking means of the locker units 111-113, 121-123, 131-133.

[0094] The locker system 110 can comprise different types of locker units, with the different locker types differing, for example, in shape and / or size. Fig. 1locker units 111-113 shown as examples can be assigned to a first locker type, which Fig. 1 The locker units 121-123 shown as examples can be assigned to a second locker type and the Fig. 1 The locker units 131-133 shown as examples may be assigned to a third locker type. The first locker type may, for example, be small, the second locker type may, for example, be medium, and the third locker type may, for example, be large. It is understood that the invention is not limited to exactly three different locker types, but may encompass any number of at least two different locker types.

[0095] The locker system 110 can be connected to a server 160, for example, via a data network 170, wherein the server 160 can be configured to control a locker system 110 of the at least one locker system 110. This data network can, for example, include the Internet and / or other data networks.

[0096] The Fig. 1 system shown and the one in Fig. 2 The method shown, which represents a first exemplary embodiment of a method according to a first aspect of the invention, can be used to operate at least one electronic locker system 110.

[0097] If a party wishes to deposit a shipment in a locker unit of a locker system 110, this occurs based on reservation information assigned to the party for this locker system 110, which can be stored, for example, in the server 160 and / or in a memory of the corresponding locker system 110. This reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system 110 comprises compartment type-related information that contains, for each locker type of at least one locker type of the corresponding locker system, information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type. Thus, a party can reserve a number of locker units of a locker type in advance for a specific locker system 110.For example, a party can access the server 160 electronically via an interface and store there corresponding compartment type-related information for one or more locker types of a locker system.

[0098] The number of locker units can be a number of exactly 1 or a number of two or more locker units. This locker type-related information assigned to the party and the locker system 110, which includes information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type for each locker type of at least one locker type of the corresponding locker system, does not include an assignment to a specific or multiple specific locker units of the locker type; as a result, only a number of locker units of the respective locker type are reserved for the party at the respective locker system, without any specific assignment to locker units of the locker system.

[0099] If a party wishes to deposit a shipment in a locker unit of a locker system 110, information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system in which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited is provided by a data processing unit, based on reservation information assigned to the party for this locker system, such as by reference numeral 210 in Fig. 2 This data processing unit can, for example, be located in the locker system 110 or also in the server 160. This information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system in which a consignment assigned to a party is to be deposited can, for example, only comprise the aforementioned locker type-related information or, alternatively, also comprise further information.

[0100] Based on this determined information about at least one locker unit of a locker system of the at least one locker system in which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited, a locker unit of the at least one locker unit of the locker system is selected in which the shipment is to be deposited, as indicated, for example, by reference numeral 220 in Fig. 2This selection process is carried out at least with the support of the data processing unit of the locker system 110 and / or the data processing unit of the server 160. When selecting a locker unit of the at least one locker unit, the party's reservation information, which includes the locker type-related information, can thus be taken into account for this locker system.Because the compartment type-related information does not include an assignment to a specific locker unit or several specific locker units of the locker system, no specific locker unit of the locker system needs to be reserved in advance when making a reservation based on the compartment type-related information, but rather, for example, only the number of locker units for the respective reserved locker type of the locker system is reserved in advance, so that, for example, the server 160 and / or the corresponding locker system 110 ensures that at least the reserved number of locker units for the respective reserved locker type of the locker system is kept free for the party, wherein this keeping free can depend, for example, on other factors such as the priority of parties and / or a specific point in time until which the reservation is to be valid.This can demonstrate the advantage that no specific locker unit is reserved in advance for a shipment and is thus blocked by this reservation, so that an assignment of a shipment only occurs, for example, when the shipment is deposited in the corresponding locker system 110. This can, for example, prevent a locker unit permanently reserved for a shipment from proving to be defective when attempting to deposit it in the locker system, and thus making it no longer possible to deposit the shipment in the locker system because only the number of locker units is reserved for the respective locker type of the locker system 110.

[0101] Thus, the selection of a locker unit of the at least one locker unit of the locker system 110 in step 220 occurs chronologically after making a reservation based on the locker type-related information. For example, this selection only occurs when the party wishes to deposit the shipment in the corresponding locker system 110 on-site, such as after the party has registered or identified itself at the corresponding locker system 110 or at the server 160 for subsequent deposit of the shipment in the locker system.

[0102] Furthermore, a physically assigned identifier is recorded for each shipment to be deposited in the locker system, such as an identifier applied to the shipment, which can be a barcode, an alphanumeric print, or another suitable identifier. This identifier can, for example, represent a shipment ID, which can be used to track the shipment.For example, the locker system 110 may comprise means for detecting this identifier physically assigned to the shipment, such as a scanner or other suitable means, or a mobile terminal 180 may be provided which comprises these means for detecting this identifier physically assigned to the shipment, wherein the mobile terminal can transmit the detected identifier to the locker system 110, for example via a preferably wireless communication connection 182, and / or can transmit the detected identifier to the server 160, for example via a preferably wireless communication connection 181.

[0103] After selecting a locker unit in step 210 on the locker system 110, for example, this locker unit is automatically opened by the locker system 110 or, for example, information can be output on the display means 140 of the locker system as to which locker unit of the locker system 110 is to be used to deposit the shipment, so that the party can deposit the shipment in the opened locker unit or in the displayed locker unit.

[0104] Furthermore, in step 240, the recorded identifier of the shipment is linked to the selected locker unit. Thus, the shipment is only assigned to the selected locker unit of the locker system 110 when the shipment is deposited at the locker unit.

[0105] Furthermore, the reservation information assigned to a party and a locker system can also include information about at least one statically reserved locker unit of the corresponding locker system. Thus, for example, in addition to a compartment-type-related reservation, which does not include a reservation of a specific locker unit of a locker system, a party can also reserve at least one locker unit of the locker system permanently and thus statically. However, with this static reservation of at least one locker unit of a locker system, the statically reserved locker is not assigned to a shipment during the reservation process; instead, only the at least one statically reserved locker unit of the locker system is reserved for the corresponding party.The number of statically reserved locker units of a locker system reduces the number of potentially available dynamically reservable locker units of a locker type. For example, a static reservation of a locker unit can remain in place, unlike the dynamic reservation of a number of locker units of a locker type, so that the statically reserved locker units of a locker system 110 are continuously available to the corresponding locker.

[0106] Fig. 3a shows an exemplary flowchart of a method 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. This method 300 can be used, for example, for the Fig. 2 The exemplary procedures shown can be used and, for example, complement this.

[0107] In step 310, an identification of a party who wishes to deposit a shipment in a locker system 110 of the at least one locker system 110 is recorded.

[0108] For example, a party wishing to deposit a shipment in a particular locker system can identify or log in to the locker system via an interaction with the locker system at the locker system 110, such as via an input interface 150, which can comprise, for example, a keypad and / or a touchpad and / or a card reader and / or a transponder reader configured to read RFID transponders or NFIC transponders or other transponders, and / or another input means, wherein, for example, an identifier of the party is captured by the input interface 150 during the login process.Alternatively, the party can log in to the locker system by transmitting the identifier to the locker system 110 via an optionally provided mobile terminal 180, which can connect to the corresponding locker system 110, for example, via a preferably wireless communication connection 182.

[0109] Furthermore, the optional mobile terminal 180 can, for example, also be configured to connect to the server 160 via a preferably wireless communication connection 181, wherein the party's identifier can be transmitted to the server 160 via this communication connection and, for example, information about the selected locker unit can be transmitted to the server 160, wherein the registration or identification of the party can either take place in the data processing unit of the server 160, or the server forwards data received from the mobile terminal 180 (such as the identifier) ​​at least partially to the corresponding locker system 110 via the communication connection 171, so that the party can register with the locker system 110.

[0110] Thus, for example, through this identification of the party by the locker system 110 and / or by the server 160, the reservation information assigned to this party can be at least partially read out from a database which is stored either in the locker system 110 and / or on the server 160 by the computer processing unit of the locker system 110 and / or the server 160 and used by this computer processing unit to determine information about at least one locker unit of the locker system in which a shipment assigned to the party is to be deposited, in step 210.

[0111] In step 320 of method 300, a number of locker units available to the party is displayed for at least one locker type. This display can be made, for example, on the display device 140 of the locker system and / or on a display device of the party's mobile terminal 180. The party can thus be shown how many locker units of the respective locker type are available to the party for depositing shipments for one locker type of the locker system 110 or for multiple locker types of the locker system 110.

[0112] The determination of the number of locker units available to the party for at least one locker type of the locker system 110 can be carried out, for example, by the server 160 or by the computing unit of the corresponding locker system 110. For example, the number of locker units available to the party for a respective locker type of at least one locker type can represent one of the following numbers: The number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type in the locker facility; The sum of the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type and the number of available statically reserved locker units of the locker type; The sum of the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, the number of available statically reserved locker units of the locker type, and the number of unreserved locker units of the locker type.

[0113] Thus, the number of locker units available to the party for a respective locker type (or several different locker types) is determined based on the reservation information assigned to the party for this locker system, which, in addition to the locker type-related reservation information, can optionally also include information about at least one statically reserved locker unit of the locker system 110. Furthermore, the number of locker units available to the party for a respective locker type can also take into account other free locker units of the locker type, so that the party can be shown how many locker units of the respective locker type are currently available to the party.For example, this number of locker units available to the party can be displayed for each of the different locker types in the locker system 110, so that the party can be shown an overall overview that indicates the number of locker units available for each of the different locker types. For example, this number of locker units available to the party for a respective locker type (or for several different locker types) can be understood as part or as a whole of the information about at least one locker unit of the locker system in which a shipment assigned to the party is to be deposited, which is determined in step 210.

[0114] In step 330, a selection of a locker type of the locker system is recorded, for example, by the input interface 150 of the locker system 110 or by the mobile terminal 180. Thus, for example, the party can decide, based on the number of locker units available to it for a particular locker type (or for several different locker types) displayed to it, which locker type should be used for the shipment to be deposited, and enter the selection by a corresponding input at the input interface 150 of the locker system 110 or at a corresponding input interface (not shown) of the mobile terminal 180. The recording of a selection of a locker type in step 330 can therefore be part of the Fig. 2 illustrated step 220 for selecting a locker unit.

[0115] Once the locker type has been determined, the final selection of a locker unit of the selected locker type in which the shipment is to be deposited can be made. This can be performed, for example, by the computing unit of the corresponding locker system 110 or by the server 160. Alternatively, the selection of a locker unit of the selected locker type can also be based on an interaction of the party with the locker system, such as via the input interface 150 of the locker system 110 or via the input interface of the mobile terminal 180, or based on an interaction of the party with the server, such as via the input interface 150 of the locker system 110 or via the input interface of the mobile terminal 180.If several locker units of the selected locker type are available for the party, these locker units can be displayed, for example, via corresponding information on the display device 140 of the locker unit or on the display device of the mobile terminal.

[0116] The selection of a locker unit of the selected locker type may, for example, preferably comprise the selection of a locker unit that represents a statically reserved locker unit for the party. Thus, for example, a party may initially use the statically reserved locker units of a specific locker type to deposit shipments, and subsequently use locker units of the specific locker type for depositing that have not been explicitly reserved by the party as such, but where a reservation of a number of locker units for the specific locker type has been made using the locker type-related information.

[0117] For example, if a statically reserved locker unit was used to deposit the shipment, corresponding information about the occupied statically reserved locker unit can be stored in a database in the locker system 110 or the server 160, so that this statically reserved locker unit is marked as "unavailable" and, if applicable, is no longer taken into account when determining the number of locker units available to the party for this locker type for step 210.

[0118] Furthermore, for example, if the shipment has been linked to a locker unit that is assigned to the number of dynamically reserved locker units of a locker type, the number of dynamically reserved locker units of this locker type for this party can be reduced. This reduction can be performed, for example, by the computing unit of the locker system 110 or by the server 160, wherein the reduction can represent the decrementing of the number of dynamically reserved locker units of this locker type for the corresponding party.

[0119] Fig. 3b shows an exemplary flowchart of a method 300' according to another exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. This method 300' can be used, for example, for the Fig. 2 The exemplary procedures shown can be used and, for example, complement this.

[0120] In step 310, the identification of a party who wishes to deposit a shipment in a locker system 110 of the at least one locker system 110 is recorded. This recording corresponds to the Fig. 3a explained recording 310.

[0121] In step 340, a locker type is determined based on the identifier physically assigned to the shipment and captured in step 230. For example, this locker type determination can be based on a database entry associated with the shipment's identification number and containing information about the shipment's size or the locker type. For example, based on the information about the shipment's size, a correspondingly suitable locker type of the corresponding locker system can be determined. This database entry can, for example, be part of a database stored in the locker system 110 or on the server 160.For example, when making a reservation, such as the dynamic reservation of a locker type, an identifier (such as a shipment ID) of the corresponding shipment can be generated or determined by incrementing the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the respective locker type based on the locker type-related information. This identifier can be linked to the corresponding locker type and saved as a database entry. This shipment can then be assigned the corresponding identifier.

[0122] Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the party may not have to select the locker type during the process of depositing the shipment at the corresponding locker facility 110.

[0123] Subsequently, the method 300' may include the final selection of a locker unit of the selected locker type, as already explained for method 300.

[0124] For all exemplary embodiments, for example, two or more parties can be provided, and each of the two or more parties is assigned reservation information for at least one locker system of the at least one locker system. This reservation information assigned to one of the parties accordingly contains at least one locker type-related information assigned to the corresponding party, which for each locker type of at least one locker type of the locker system comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, and which can optionally also contain information about at least one statically reserved locker unit of the corresponding locker system. At least one party of these multiple parties can, for example, represent a logistics provider.

[0125] For example, different priorities can be assigned to two or more parties.

[0126] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a first exemplary embodiment of a method 400 according to a second aspect of the invention.

[0127] This method 400 can be used, for example, for the Fig. 1 The system 100 shown can be used and used to operate at least one locker system 110 of the at least one locker system 110, wherein the method 400 is configured to make reservations for one or more locker systems 110. The method 400 can, for example, be executed, at least partially or entirely, by a computing unit of a locker unit 110, and / or at least partially or entirely by a computing unit of the server 160.

[0128] In step 410, the computing unit receives an electronic request assigned to a party for the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system from at least one locker system. For example, a party can connect such an electronic request to the computing unit using a terminal device that connects to the computing unit via a communications connection, which may include, for example, the Internet, so that this electronic request can be received by the computing unit.

[0129] As already explained with regard to the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system for a party with regard to the first aspect of the invention, the request for the dynamic reservation of a specific number of locker units of a locker type of a locker system from at least one locker system is intended to result in a reservation of a number of locker units of the specific locker type, but not to result in a reservation of specific locker units of this locker type of the locker system.

[0130] In step 420, a check is made to determine whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available for the party at the locker facility. For example, this check in step 420 may include checking whether, from the number of locker units of the specific locker type that are generally available at the locker facility, a sufficient number of remaining locker units of the locker type are still available for the party, minus reservations already made for this locker type.

[0131] Furthermore, for example, the execution of step 420 for a party to check whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available at the locker facility for the party can be carried out at a specific time, which depends on the respective party. For example, if there are several parties that can make a reservation, different priorities can be assigned to the parties, for example, until a specific time, which, for example,within a time frame (such as a day or a week), only a party with a certain priority can make a dynamic reservation, so that the check in step 420 can only be carried out for one or more parties that have this certain priority up to this point in time, so that this check in step 420 for another party that is assigned a lower priority than this certain priority can only be carried out after this certain point in time. This makes it possible for a party with a certain priority to make a dynamic reservation with priority, and parties with a lower priority to be allowed to make dynamic reservations secondarily. Several successively staggered points in time, e.g.can be within a time frame (such as a day or a week), with each of the points in time being assigned a corresponding different priority from a plurality of priorities.

[0132] Furthermore, for example, alternatively, the requests received in step 410 can be collected by one party or by several parties up to a certain point in time, wherein the check is then carried out for each party as to whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available to the party at the locker system 110, and the subsequent steps, in the event of a successful or negative check, are carried out in the order of the parties' priorities, starting with the party which has the highest priority and then checking for the parties in descending order of priority whether the requested number of locker units of the locker type is available to the party at the locker system.

[0133] If the check in step 420 is successful, the method 400 can continue with step 430 to adapt reservation information associated with the party and the locker system, which comprises compartment type-related information, wherein the compartment type-related information for the locker type of the locker unit comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type, for dynamically reserving the determined number of locker units of the locker type of the locker system. For example, if the request for a dynamic reservation includes a number of x locker units of a locker type, where x is a natural number (from 1, 2, 3, ...), the information associated with the party regarding the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110 is increased by the number x.If the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110 assigned to the party before performing step 430 corresponds to a number of zero reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110, the reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system is adjusted such that the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110 corresponds to a number of x dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type.If the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110 assigned to the party before performing step 430 corresponds to a number of n (where n represents a natural number) reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110, the reservation information assigned to the party and the locker system is adjusted such that the information about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type of the locker system 110 corresponds to a number of n+x dynamically reserved locker units of the locker type.

[0134] This reservation information can be used, for example, as reservation information for the first aspect of the invention.

[0135] Fig. 5shows a flowchart of a second exemplary embodiment of a method 500 according to a second aspect of the invention, which can be used, for example, for the Fig. 4 illustrated first exemplary embodiment of the method 400 can be used.

[0136] For example, the method 500 may be used as a continuation of the method 400 if it was determined in step 420 that the number of locker units requested by the party are not available at the locker facility for the party, ie, the reference number 425 in Fig. 4 can be identified by the reference number 505 in Fig. 5 be connected.

[0137] It is assumed that the locker system for which the party wished to make a dynamic reservation through the request received in step 410 comprises various types of locker units (i.e., a plurality of locker units), wherein the various locker types differ, for example, in shape and / or size, as already explained in the first aspect of the invention. Thus, the locker system 110 can have a number of at least one locker unit for each of the various locker types.

[0138] In step 510, a check is performed to determine whether a dynamic reservation for another locker type in the locker system is possible for the party. This additional locker type differs from the locker type in the request, which may be referred to as the first locker type. For example, this additional locker type may be a locker type that is larger than the first locker type, such as one number larger than the first locker type.For example, if it is determined that at least one locker unit of the additional locker type is available for the party, at least one locker unit of the additional locker type can be reserved at the locker system 110, and the method can, in step 520, adjust the locker type-related information assigned to the party and the locker system to dynamically reserve a number of locker units of the additional locker type of the locker system. For example, if the request includes a dynamic reservation of x locker units of a locker type, where x is a natural number (from 1, 2, 3,...) and, for example, none of the x requested locker units could be dynamically reserved, and the number of y locker units of the additional locker type of the locker system is available, the number of x locker units of the additional type of the locker system can, for example, be dynamically reserved for the party if x is less than or equal to y, by increasing the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the additional locker type of the locker system by a number of x locker units.Or, for example, the number of y locker units of the additional locker system type can be dynamically reserved for the party if x is greater than y by increasing the information assigned to the party about the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the additional locker type of the locker system by a number of y locker units.

[0139] If a dynamic reservation of a number of z locker units of the first locker type of the locker system for the party could already be carried out in advance, with z being the natural numbers and z being less than x, wherein this dynamic reservation comprises increasing the information assigned to the party regarding the number of dynamically reserved locker units of the first locker type of the locker system by a number of z locker units, then in the aforementioned example, the number x is reduced by the already reserved number of z locker units. This dynamic reservation of only z locker units of the first locker type for the party can be possible, for example, in method 400 after step 420 and before reference number 425.

[0140] Furthermore, for example, the Fig. 5The method 500 shown may only be permitted for a party from a first group of at least one party, while the method 500 is not permitted for a party not assigned to the first group. Thus, a party not assigned to the first group cannot switch to another locker type.

[0141] Furthermore, for example, the dynamic reservation according to method 500 for reserving an additional locker type may not be permitted for any additional locker type. For example, if the first locker type is a locker type with a certain minimum size, no additional locker type with a size larger than this certain minimum size can be used, and method 500 ends, if it is started at all, at reference numeral 515.

[0142] Fig. 6ashows a flowchart of a third exemplary embodiment of a method 600 according to a second aspect of the invention. The method 600 includes, in step 610, storing information associated with the party regarding the number of locker units of the locker type of the request for which no dynamic reservation has been made.

[0143] The method 600 can be used, for example, if the full number x locker units of the party's request could not be dynamically reserved, wherein this dynamic reservation can, for example, also include the number of locker units of the additional locker type reserved in step 520, if applicable. For example, if, of the requested number of x locker units, the number z of locker units of the first locker type were dynamically reserved and, for example, the number y of locker units of the additional locker type were dynamically reserved for the party, the number of locker units of the locker type of the request for which no dynamic reservation was made can correspond to the number xzy.This allows a reservation of this remaining number of non-dynamically reserved locker units of the first locker type of the specific locker facility for the party, which can be taken into account later if, for example, locker units of this first locker type become available again.

[0144] Fig. 6b shows a flowchart of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a method 600' according to a second aspect of the invention, which can be carried out, for example, after the Fig. 6a The procedure 600 shown has been carried out for at least one party.

[0145] In step 630 of the method, the removal of a shipment deposited in a locker unit of a locker system 110, which shipment is assigned to a first party, is detected. This detection can be performed based on a suitable detection means of the corresponding locker system 110, whereby the actual detection can be performed in the computer processing unit of the locker system or in the computer processing unit of the server 160.

[0146] In step 630, a check is carried out to determine whether information about a number of locker units of a locker type in a locker system for which no dynamic reservation was made is stored for another party, which differs from the first party. The locker type of this information must correspond to the locker type in the locker system from which the shipment was taken, and the locker system of this information must correspond to the locker system from which the shipment was taken. This information about a number of locker units of a locker type in a locker system for which no dynamic reservation was made can, for example, have been stored in advance for this other party in step 610 of method 600.

[0147] If this check in step 630 is successful, the reservation information for the additional party can be adjusted such that the information assigned to the additional party regarding the number of dynamically reserved locker units of this locker type of the locker system is incremented.

[0148] 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 should not be understood in this case to mean that the feature is essential or essential for the function of the embodiment, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The sequence of the method steps described in this specification in the individual flow diagrams is not mandatory; alternative sequences of the method steps are conceivable. The method steps can be implemented in various ways; for example, an implementation in software (by program instructions), hardware, or a combination of both is conceivable for implementing the method steps.Terms used in the claims such as "comprise," "have," "include," "contain," and the like do not exclude further elements or steps. The phrase "at least partially" encompasses both "partially" and "fully." The phrase "and / or" is intended to indicate that both the alternative and the combination are disclosed, thus "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 multiple units, persons, or the like. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. A single device may perform the functions of multiple units or devices recited in the claims. Reference numerals indicated in the claims are not to be construed as limitations on the means and steps employed.

Claims

1. Method for operating at least one electronic lock box facility (110), each lock box facility (110) comprising a plurality of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133), comprising: - Determining (210) information about at least one lock box unit (110) of a lock box facility (110) of the at least one lock box facility (110) into which a shipment assigned to a party is to be deposited, by a computing unit (160), based on reservation information assigned to the party for this lock box facility (110), wherein the reservation information assigned to the party contains lock box type-related information which, for each lock box type of at least one lock box type of the lock box facility, contains information about the number of dynamically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type, - selection (220) of a lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) from the at least one lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) based on the determined information provided; - Detecting (230) one of the identifiers physically assigned to the shipment to be deposited in the lock box facility (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) by means of detection means, - Linking (240) the detected identifier of the shipment to the selected lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133), - Detecting (620) the removal of an identifier (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) from a lock box unit (111, 112, 1113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) of the at least one lock box facility (110) which is assigned to a first party, - Checking (630) whether information about a remaining number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of a lock box type of the lock box facility (110) for which no dynamic reservation could be made is stored for a further party which is different from the first party, and whether the lock box type of this information corresponds to the lock box type of the lock box facility (110) from which the shipment was removed, and - if the check is successful (640), adjusting the reservation information assigned to the other party by increasing the number of dynamically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of this lock box type of the lock box facility (110).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises displaying a number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) for at least one lock box type based on the information about at least one lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) on at least one of the following displays: - a display (140) of the lock box facility; and - a display on a mobile electronic device (180) which is set up for use by a party.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the selection of a lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the at least one lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) is at least partially based on the number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) for at least one lock box type in each case by detecting an interaction of a delivery person with the lock box facility (110).

4. Method according to one of claims 2 and 3, comprising determining the number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) for at least one lock box type based on at least one of the following: - a number of dynamically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type; - a number of statically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type; - a number of non-reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type; and - a sum of the number of dynamically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type, the number of statically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type and the number of non-reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when selecting a lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the at least one lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) is selected based on the information provided, preferably a lockable lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) which represents a lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) statically reserved for the party.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lock box facility (110) of the at least one lock box facility (110) comprises a plurality of different lock box types, which preferably differ in size, wherein the lock box type to which the shipment is to be assigned is determined based on one of the following: - a database entry assigned to the identification number of the shipment, which comprises information about the size of the shipment or the lock box type; - an entry of information about the size of the shipment or the lock box type at the lock box facility (110); and - an entry of information about the size of the shipment or the type of locker on a mobile electronic device (180) which is set up for use by a party.

7. Method according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the display of a number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110) for at least one lock box type is based on a size of the shipment or based on a lock box type assigned to the shipment.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising adapting the reservation information assigned to the party if the identification number of the shipment has been linked to the selected lock box unit.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservation information assigned to the party comprises information about at least one ly statically reserved lock box unit (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box facility (110).

10. Device (100) for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Method for operating at least one electronic lock box facility (110), comprising: - Receiving (410) an electronic request assigned to a first party for the dynamic reservation of a certain number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of a lock box type of a lock box facility (110) from the at least one lock box facility (110), - checking (420) whether the requested number of lock box units of the lock box type is available for the first party, and - if the requested number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type is available for the first party, adjustment (430) of reservation information assigned to one of the first party and the lock box facility (110), which comprises lock box type-related information, wherein the lock box type-related information for the lock box type of the lock box facility (110) comprises information about the number of dynamically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type for dynamically reserving the specified number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type of the lock box facility (110), and - if checking whether the requested number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type for the first party is negative, (i) if at least one number of lock box units of the lock box type of the lock box facility is available to the first party, , for the first party, of a dynamic reservation of the number of available lock box units of the lock box type of the lock box facility by increasing the information assigned to the first party about the number of dynamically reserved lock box units of the lock box type of the lock box facility by the number of available lock box units of the lock box type of the lock box facility, and (ii) storing (610) information assigned to the first party about the remaining number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the lock box type of the lock box facility (110) of the request for which no dynamic reservation could be made.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the lock box type assigned to the request represents a first lock box type of the lock box facility (110), and the lock box facility (110) comprises at least one further lock box type, wherein the method further comprises checking (510) whether a dynamic reservation for a further lock box type of the lock box facility (110) that differs from the first lock box type is possible if the requested number of lock box units of the lock box type is not available for the first party.

13. Method according to claim 12, comprising, if the check (510) whether a dynamic reservation of at least one further lock box type of the lock box facility (110) which differs from the first lock box type is possible is positive, the adaptation (520) of the lock box type-related information assigned to the first party and the lock box facility (110) for dynamic reservation of a number of lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the further lock box type of the lock box facility (110) is positive, wherein the lock box-type-related information for the further lock box type of the lock box facility (110) includes information about the number of dynamically reserved lock box units (111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133) of the further lock box type.

14. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, comprising detecting the removal of a consignment deposited in a lock box unit of a lock box facility, which is assigned to a further party, and, if information about a number of lock box units of a lock box type of a lock box facility for which no dynamic reservation has been made is stored for the first party, and if the lock box type of this information corresponds to the lock box type of the lock box facility from which the item was removed, and if the lock box facility of this information corresponds to the lock box facility from which the item was removed, increasing the number of dynamically reserved lock box units of this lock box type of the lock box facility of the first party.

15. Apparatus (160) for carrying out the method according to one of claims 11 to 14.