Method for operating a mail item terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a mail item terminal comprising a plurality of lockers. The method allows a mail item terminal to be operated with higher client flexibility in terms of the reservation of lockers.

Description

[0001] Procedure for operating a shipment terminal

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for operating a shipment terminal having a plurality of lockers.

[0003] Shipments are often deposited for pickup at so-called shipment terminals, also known as "parcel stations." A shipment can be deposited by a delivery agent or service provider for pickup by a customer. Likewise, a customer can also deposit a shipment, e.g., for return, in a shipment portal.

[0004] In the present context, a "shipment" is understood to mean, in particular, a postal or parcel consignment that may contain a consignment item (e.g., a document, an object, etc.).

[0005] Such shipment terminals typically have multiple lockers. A shipment can be deposited in each locker. The locker is locked to protect against unauthorized access to the shipment stored there.

[0006] There is a growing customer demand for the ability to schedule the deposit and pickup of shipments at shipment terminals in advance. This is particularly relevant in times of increasing mobility and flexibility. In particular, there is growing interest in reserving lockers at a shipment terminal in advance, for example, before a shipment is deposited.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the object of proposing a method for operating a shipment terminal having a plurality of lockers, which has a higher customer flexibility with regard to the reservation of lockers.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is based on the object of providing a shipment terminal with a plurality of lockers, which has a higher customer flexibility with regard to the reservation of lockers.

[0009] These objects are achieved with a method according to claim 1 and a shipment terminal according to claim 10. Firstly, the present invention relates to a method for operating a shipment terminal having a plurality of lockers, comprising the following steps: a. receiving a reservation request with respect to one or more lockers of the plurality of lockers; b. checking the reservation request; c. issuing reservation request feedback in the form of positive feedback, wherein feedback is provided that the reservation request can be met, or in the form of negative feedback, wherein feedback is provided that the reservation request cannot be met.

[0010] The method is characterized in that in the case where no positive feedback and no negative feedback can be given, a modified feedback or a preliminary feedback is given, whereby in the case of the modified feedback a feedback is given that the reservation request cannot be met in the requested form but in a modified form, and whereby in the case of the preliminary feedback a feedback is given that the reservation request can probably be met.

[0011] Such a process enables a hierarchical reservation of lockers based on predefined criteria. This means that not only a positive decision (reservation possible) and a negative decision (reservation not possible) are possible, but customers can make a more dynamic and flexible reservation process.

[0012] The shipping terminal can be a stationary or mobile shipping terminal. The shipping terminal has, as described, several lockers. The reservation request is sent by a party or a customer, preferably electronically. The reservation request is forwarded electronically to a data processing unit. The data processing unit can be part of the shipping terminal or connected to it via signaling. The reservation request is checked in the data processing unit. The data processing unit can be a computer or a system of computers. A server can also be considered a computer.

[0013] As mentioned, the reservation request can concern the reservation of one or more lockers. In order to verify the reservation request, the data processing unit obtains information about the status or occupancy of the lockers at the shipping terminal. Once this information is available, the reservation request can be verified.

[0014] If the reservation request is accepted, a customer or party can make a reservation. It may be specified that the reservation is automatically initiated upon positive feedback. However, it may also be specified that a customer or party must separately confirm the reservation even after positive feedback.

[0015] If the reservation request is not accepted, no reservation can be made. In this case, the customer or party can be notified that a reservation is not possible at this time. A time period can be specified within which the customer can submit another reservation request. The customer can be recommended an alternative shipping terminal at which the customer or party can submit a reservation request.

[0016] The modified feedback can concern the offer of a locker that differs from a requested locker with regard to a locker criterion specified in the reservation request. This locker criterion could, for example, concern a locker size or a locker feature such as locker cooling. A variety of other locker criteria are conceivable. The customer or party can then choose whether or not to reserve this locker.

[0017] The preliminary feedback can be generated based on an algorithm, in particular an algorithm based on artificial intelligence. The preliminary feedback concerns a prediction or anticipation of the future occupancy status of a locker requested for reservation. The preliminary feedback can concern the probability of whether a locker requested for reservation will be available at a future point in time. The reservation request can be linked to a target criterion, whereby the target criterion relates to information regarding whether only positive, modified, and / or amended feedback will be accepted, or whether an acceptance decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. The customer or the party can therefore specify selection criteria (target criteria) in advance that relate to the automated acceptance of feedback.However, it may also be provided that the customer or the party decides on a case-by-case basis (i.e. manually) in the case of specific feedback whether a corresponding reservation should be executed in accordance with the feedback (acceptance decision).

[0018] In the case of positive feedback, modified feedback, or preliminary feedback, a shipment identifier of a shipment intended for storage in the requested locker can be identified, in particular by scanning. The identification, in particular the scanning, can be carried out directly at the shipment terminal. The shipment identifier can be a shipment number, a code such as a barcode or QR code, or another identifier. The shipment identifier is preferably located directly on the shipment (e.g., on a shipment label or the shipment packaging).

[0019] A first number of the plurality of lockers can be assigned to a first party, whereby the party can only submit reservation requests for the lockers assigned to it. Assigning lockers to a party can be a type of permanent reservation of lockers by a party. This means that a number of lockers are permanently reserved for reservation by a party. The lockers can therefore be "parked" or "rented" by a party.

[0020] It may be provided that a second number of the plurality of lockers is assigned to another party, whereby the party can only make reservation requests for the lockers assigned to it.

[0021] It can further be provided that a reservation request can be made for all of the lockers of the plurality of lockers or for some of the lockers of the plurality of lockers, regardless of the party. In this case, the lockers in question are therefore not assigned to a specific party. Furthermore, the invention relates to a shipping terminal with a plurality of lockers, wherein the shipping terminal is configured to carry out a method according to the invention.

[0022] Further advantageous aspects of the invention will be explained in more detail below using an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] The said shipment terminal can be used by multiple parties. A party can be an end customer, but also a provider of logistics services or a delivery agent. The allocation of locker capacities can be done in advance in the following way: i. It can be provided that an individual locker (or e.g. entire modules consisting of several lockers) is specifically assigned to one party. The locker or multiple lockers can then only be reserved by the respective party, as a kind of quota of lockers assigned to a party. ii. It can be provided that a number of lockers with a specific locker criterion (e.g. compartment size or a compartment feature such as compartment cooling) are permanently assigned to a respective party and that a maximum of this number can be reserved. iii. It can be provided to combine the variants according to i. and ii.Additionally, it may be provided that some of the lockers are not assigned to any party and can be freely reserved (e.g., by customers or parties). iv. It may also be provided that all lockers at the consignment terminal can be freely reserved. v. It may also be provided that some of the lockers at the consignment terminal can be reserved in advance.

[0024] To reserve a locker, a party can submit an electronic reservation request for a locker type in the shipment terminal (the reservation request may also include information about the size of the shipment, which is then automatically assigned to a locker type). The reservation request is submitted together with a shipment number.

[0025] A reservation request feedback is then issued.

[0026] Positive feedback is given if there is still capacity in the dispatch terminal for the party and the requested locker, i.e. the locker has not yet been assigned to a reservation.

[0027] A modified feedback is given if there is no more free capacity for the requested locker for the party but another locker (e.g. a larger compartment) can be reserved.

[0028] In the case of preliminary feedback, if all compartments available to the party are still occupied at a given time (e.g., due to uncollected shipments from customers), an algorithm (possibly also based on machine learning or artificial intelligence) calculates the probability that the compartment will be available until the shipment is delivered by the party. The preliminary feedback may (but does not have to) include a probability value for the success of the reservation.

[0029] Negative feedback occurs when there is no free capacity and no more provisional reservations can be offered.

[0030] It may be provided that the party can determine in advance whether it will accept only positive, positive and modified or preliminary feedback, or whether it will react dynamically to the response to the reservation request.

[0031] Confirmation of positive or modified feedback leads to the specific assignment of the shipment to a locker; however, in the case of modified feedback, the locker initially requested (e.g. the locker type) is also saved.

[0032] Confirmation of the preliminary feedback results in the reservation (including shipment number and locker) being placed on a waiting list for the respective shipment terminal. If a locker, which is generally available to the party based on capacity allocation rules, becomes available (due to the customer picking up a shipment), the preliminary reservation is converted into a positive reservation.

[0033] The shipment terminal can of course also be used to deposit return shipments (including stored shipments / first mile packages from the customer).

[0034] According to the procedure, the storage of returned shipments by customers is generally given priority in order to ensure a good user experience.

[0035] The storage of a return shipment can be successfully accepted if either i. there are still free lockers available for the party to whom the return shipment is assigned within the pre-allocated capacity. The return shipment can also be stored in lockers for which the respective party has already received a reservation confirmation (since return shipments must be removed before storage, thus increasing the utilization of the shipment terminal despite the guaranteed reservation), or ii. there are free lockers in the part of the shipment terminal that cannot be reserved in advance.

[0036] If necessary, the acceptance of return shipments must be blocked if the locker is reserved if the party is not able to remove return shipments first

[0037] The shipment terminal can also be used to store shipments (by a party / parcel service). When storing shipments, either all returns stored by customers and assigned to the party are first removed. Alternatively, to increase efficiency, only those return shipments can be removed in advance from lockers for which there is no reservation and no shipment needs to be stored at the same time. For lockers with reservations, the return shipments contained therein are removed as part of the shipment storage process. For this purpose, after scanning the shipment number at the shipment terminal and opening the corresponding locker, a notification for the removal is displayed (if necessary, with confirmation of the removal on the display and the corresponding feedback to the parcel service system).When storing shipments with positive feedback on the reservation request, the corresponding compartment is immediately opened when the shipment number is scanned at the shipment terminal.

[0038] When storing shipments with modified reservation request feedback, the shipment terminal first checks whether the originally requested locker (e.g., a locker type) has since become free and available to the party when the shipment number is scanned. If this is the case, the reservation is changed to the original locker (e.g., the locker type), and a corresponding locker is opened. Otherwise, the previously assigned locker with the changed locker (e.g., the locker type) is opened.

[0039] When storing shipments with preliminary feedback on the reservation request, the shipment terminal first checks whether the preliminary feedback on the reservation request has been converted into positive feedback with a clear assignment of a locker when the shipment number is scanned. If this is the case, the previously assigned locker is opened. If the preliminary reservation has not yet been converted (the shipment is still on the waiting list), but there are currently compartments of the requested compartment type available in the non-pre-reserved portion of the shipment terminal, a free locker can be assigned to this shipment based on the position on the waiting list or other criteria, and the shipment can be stored. Otherwise, a message will appear on the shipment terminal display stating that the shipment cannot currently be stored.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for operating a transmission terminal having a plurality of lockers, comprising the following steps: a. receiving a reservation request relating to one or more lockers of the plurality of lockers; b. checking the reservation request; c.Issuing reservation request feedback in the form of positive feedback, wherein feedback is given that the reservation request can be met, or in the form of negative feedback, wherein feedback is given that the reservation request cannot be met; characterized in that in the case where no positive feedback and no negative feedback can be given, modified feedback or preliminary feedback is given, wherein in the case of the modified feedback, feedback is given that the reservation request cannot be met in the requested form but in a modified form, and wherein in the case of the preliminary feedback, feedback is given that the reservation request can probably be met.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the modified feedback relates to the offering of a locker which differs from a requested locker with respect to a locker criterion specified in the reservation request, wherein the locker criterion relates, for example, to a locker size or a locker property such as locker cooling.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the preliminary feedback is generated on the basis of an algorithm, in particular an algorithm based on artificial intelligence.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reservation request is linked to a target criterion, wherein the target criterion contains information to this effect concerns whether only positive, modified, and / or amended feedback is accepted, or whether an acceptance decision is made on a case-by-case basis.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of positive feedback, modified feedback or preliminary feedback, a shipment identifier of a shipment intended for storage in the locker requested for reservation is identified, in particular by scanning.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the identification, in particular the scanning, is carried out directly at the shipment terminal.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first number of the plurality of lockers is assigned to a first party, wherein the party only can make reservation requests for the lockers assigned to her.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second number of the plurality of lockers is assigned to another party, whereby the party can only make reservation requests for the lockers assigned to it.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a reservation request can be made for all lockers of the plurality of lockers or for some of the lockers of the plurality of lockers in a party-independent manner.

10. A shipment terminal having a plurality of lockers, wherein the shipment terminal is configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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