A locker communication system

Abstract

A locker communication system for a locker system having a plurality of lockers arranged in at least one locker bank 11. The locker communication system comprises at least one unidirectional antenna 1

Description

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to electronic locker systems and more particularly to a locker communication system for electronic lockers including smart asset management lockers. Background to the Invention Smart locker systems include sensors and monitoring devices to track locker usage and detect any unauthorised access attempts. These sensors may include: • Door position sensors to detect whether a locker door is open or closed. • Weight sensors to monitor changes in the weight of the locker contents. • Tamper sensors to detect any physical tampering with the locker. • RFID sensors to know if items are inside a locker. Administrators can remotely manage a smart locker system through a central control panel or software interface. Users typically interact with smart lockers through a digital interface, which could be a touchscreen, a mobile app or a website. To access a locker, users must authenticate themselves by providing one of the following: • PIN code. • RFID card or key fob. • Biometric identification (fingerprint, facial recognition). • QR code or barcode. • Mobile phone Bluetooth credential Once the user has identified themselves to the smart locker system, the identification tendered is then transmitted to the central controller and if authenticated, a signal is then sent to the assigned locker to undertake action. Further, the lock at each locker and / or sensors associated with each locker also communicate with a central controller for the locker system. Given the layout of the lockers in a locker system, the central controller is provided separated from all lockers. Wireless communication and data technologies are used in a locker system to provide communication and data transfer between the lockers; however, wireless technologies typically require more power compared to a wired system and as a result take longer to authenticate users, or require the use of a native mobile phone application which replaces the controller and delivers the credential in a Bluetooth payload. Due to the system constantly advertising in Bluetooth, it has higher power consumption. This increased power consumption leads to higher demands on batteries. While wireless technologies can detect data, such as if a device is inside or outside a locker, there are no commercially available systems that offer this feature. These systems are often wired since they provide more stable connection and longer battery life. Therefore, wireless technologies are limited in environments with significant interference or where long-term durability is crucial. There is also an additional problem in that the locker system is usually manufactured from metal for security reasons. This creates a problem with wireless communication technologies and their ability to communicate through the metal structure of the lockers, which adversely affects the reliability of the signal to / from the central controller due to the Faraday effect of the metal structure on wireless transmissions. To illustrate this problem, Figure 6 shows a smart locker system with an omnidirectional antenna at the central controller located on one side of the system and showing signal strength loss for the lockers in the system. It is to be noted in this Figures that the signal is often travelling through a planar wall or shelf or floor at an angle which increases the effective thickness It would therefore be a significant advance to provide a solution for integrating wireless technologies to operate effectively through multiple layers of material (metal or otherwise) while maintaining efficient, long-lasting battery power and reliable connectivity. It is an object to provide a locker communication system which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates any one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages or provides the user with a useful or commercial choice. Summary of the Invention According to an aspect, there is provided a locker communication system for a locker system having a plurality of lockers arranged in at least one locker bank, each locker having at least one local locker transmitter and a central controller to communicate with each at least one local locker transmitter, the locker communication system comprising at least one unidirectional antenna located above or below at least one locker bank and associated with the central controller. According to another aspect, there is provided an electronic locker system comprising a plurality of lockers arranged in at least one locker bank, each locker having at least one local locker transmitter and a central controller to communicate with each at least one local locker transmitter; and a locker communication system comprising at least one unidirectional antenna located above or below the at least one locker bank and associated with the central controller. Providing a locker communication system for a locker system as described with the at least one unidirectional antenna located above or below the at least one locker bank means that the signal path from the at least one unidirectional antenna is parallel with at least the sidewalls of the lockers (which are preferably metal for security) meaning that the signal can be directed towards the at least one local locker transmitter more directly, which results in less signal degradation or loss. The locker system in relation in which the locker communication system may be used may have a plurality of lockers arranged into at least one locker bank. In one form, the plurality of lockers may be arranged into a rectangular array of lockers. Each at least one bank of lockers may include a number of lockers, optionally between 1 and 10 lockers, preferably between 2-5 lockers. The lockers in each bank may be positioned vertically one above the other. The lockers in each bank may be provided within an outer locker housing or cabinet. Where multiple banks of lockers are provided in a locker system, the outer locker housings or cabinets of the banks may be attached to or relative to one another. For example, the outer locker housings or cabinets of the banks may be attached to a wall surface to position the outer locker housings or cabinets of the banks adjacent to one another. Each outer locker housing or cabinet may have a rear wall, a pair of spaced apart, opposed side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The front wall of the outer locker housing or cabinet may be closed by one or more doors. The number of doors may correspond with the number of lockers provided in the locker bank. Internally of the outer locker housing or cabinet, the lockers may be defined through the provision of a shelf. The shelf may function as the base of one locker and the ceiling of a lower locker. The at least one locker bank may comprise an outer skin of metal on: • at least the top, front and rear sides (if the locker bank has a locker bank on both sides); • at least the top, front, rear and one side (if the locker bank is an end locker bank in a locker system and / or if the locker bank has a locker bank on both sides); or • at least the top, front, rear and both sides (if the locker bank is an end locker bank in a locker system and / or if the locker bank has a locker bank on both sides and / or if the locker bank is a single standalone locker bank in a locker system). The base of the locker bank may be metal in each of the above configurations. The front of the locker bank may include at least one locker door. Each at least one door may be made of metal. A shelf forming the bottom of each locker in the locker bank may be metal or non-metal. A shelf may comprise a metal sheet. A shelf may be reinforced or supported by a reinforcing or stiffening member or assembly. In one form, a shelf may have a planar transverse support surface and at least one, but possibly more than one depending peripheral portions which together define a cavity under the support surface. A reinforcing member may be provided within the cavity to strengthen the support surface. The reinforcing or stiffening member or assembly may be non-metallic. In one configuration, the at least one locker bank may comprise an outer skin of metal on the top, bottom, front and rear sides, and opposed side walls defining a metal outer housing, and the signal between the at least one unidirectional antenna and the at least one local locker transmitter of each locker now travels perpendicularly through the shelves, which means that even if the shelves themselves are made of metal as well, the effective travel thickness is known for the signal is known. The locker system may be configured for use as an asset management locker system used to provide controlled access to one or more assets with sign-in and sign-out monitoring of the one or more assets. A bulkhead may be provided within the locker, behind the door. The bulkhead may divide the internal volume of the locker into a forward portion accessible to a use when the locker door is open, and a rear portion behind the bulkhead, within the locker. The one or more assets may be stored at least partially behind the bulkhead when in the locker. The bulkhead may be positioned spaced behind the door within the locker. The bulkhead may be parallel to the door. The bulkhead within each locker may be metal. One or more openings may be provided through the bulkhead. The shape, number and location of the one or more openings may be dependent on the one or more assets to be managed. Each one or more opening may be associated with an asset holder to hold an asset whilst in the locker. The asset holder may be configured to hold the asset. In one form, the asset holder may be configured as a tunnel or sleeve or similar into which the asset is at least partially received when in the locker. The tunnel or sleeve or similar may be configured so that the asset can only be placed thereinto in one orientation. The asset holder may be provided at an angle within the locker. In one form, the asset holder may be angled downwardly towards the rear of the locker. This may assist with retention of the asset within the asset holder under the force of gravity. It may assist with drawing the asset within the asset holder to provide auto-alignment of the asset with the reader. An abutment or stop feature may be provided in or on the asset holder to prevent over-insertion of the asset into the asset holder. The abutment or stop feature may be a shoulder or protrusion which extends into or at least partially across the asset holder. The abutment or stop feature may abut a portion of the asset once properly located within the asset holder. Each holder may be provided with a reader to read a unique identifier provided on an asset placed within the asset holder. The reader may be provided relative to the asset holder. In one embodiment, the reader may be located on the asset holder. The reader may be provided on the tunnel or sleeve or similar into which the asset is at least partially received when in the locker, such that when the asset is at least partially received within the tunnel or sleeve or similar, the unique identifier provided on an asset is positioned to be read by the reader. The tunnel or sleeve or similar may be provided mounted on a mount, to position the tunnel or sleeve or similar within the locker and relative to the opening in the bulkhead. The tunnel or sleeve or similar and the mount may be non-metallic. Any material may be used, for example a plastic or composite material. The mount may elevate the asset holder to a position into which the asset can be placed to position the asset within the locker, behind the bulkhead and sufficiently far from the door of the locker to prevent any damage to the asset when the door is closed. The mount may be attached to a rear side of the bulkhead. One or more holder (and respective mount) may be provided within the locker. If more than one holder is provided in a locker, the asset holders may be spaced apart laterally. A minimum separation distance may be required to ensure that the signals from each reader are distinguishable from one another, without interference. The readers associated with the asset holders may be provided on opposite sides of the respective holders. In one form, the unique identifier may be or include an RFID tag which can be attached to the asset. The reader may correspond to the form of the unique identifier. For example, if the unique identifier is an RFID tag, then the reader may be an RFID reader. More than one reader may be provided. More than one type of reader may be provided, for different purposes. For example, a primary reader, such as an RFID reader may be provided to read the unique identifier, for example, an RFID tag, on an asset to identify the asset. A secondary reader, which may also be an RFID reader may be provided relative to each holder to be used to identify a user who is removing an asset. For example, a user may have a personalised fob or tag to identify themselves to a local locker controller via a corresponding reader. This may allow the system to associate a particular asset removed, with a particular user, via the secondary reader. A local locker controller may transmit this information to the central controller via the unidirectional antenna. Each locker door may have an electronic door lock. Each electronic door lock may communicate with the central controller. Each electronic lock may have an associated a digital interface, which could be a touchscreen, a mobile app or a website. An access interface may be provided on the locker door. To access a locker, a user may authenticate themselves by providing one of the following (for example): • PIN code. • RFID card or key fob. • Biometric identification (fingerprint, facial recognition). • QR code or barcode. • Mobile phone Bluetooth credential. Once the user has presented a request for authentication to the smart locker system, via the access interface, the request for authentication tendered is then transmitted to the central controller and if authenticated, a signal may be sent to the assigned locker to undertake action, for example, unlock the electronic lock. Alternatively, a locker may have a local locker controller to accept a request for authentication, via the access interface, and if authenticated by the local locker controller, the local locker controller may unlock the electronic lock. In this configuration, the local locker controller may function to control the opening of the electronic lock and communication between the local locker controller and any remote device may be for lock configuration and for returning logs to a central server / controller for example. The local locker controller may control all aspects of the locker control. In this case, the logic may be local to each locker, local locker controller and / or electronic lock. In this configuration, the local locker controller and / or electronic lock may operate according to one or more workflows which are pre-loaded (and / or updated by firmware updates). The local locker controller and / or electronic lock may be switched between modes to move into different workflows remotely, for example upon instructions from a central controller and / or central server. The lock at each locker, local locker controller, any reader and / or sensors associated with each locker may also communicate with a central controller for the locker system. Given the layout of the lockers in a locker system, the central controller may be provided separated from all lockers. A local locker transmitter may be provided in each locker to communicate with the central controller. The local locker transmitter may be associated with the electronic lock, local locker controller, any reader and / or any sensors associated with a locker to communicate with the central controller for the locker system. The local locker transmitter may transmit data from the locker to the central controller. The local locker transmitter may be passive or active. The local locker transmitter may be mounted on the tunnel or sleeve or similar or the mount for the tunnel or sleeve or similar. The system may further comprise a BLE update device. The BLE update device may be associated with the electronic lock to provide data to / from the electronic lock. For example, the data may be or comprise such as a list of whitelisted RFID tags / fobs / stickers, a list of blacklisted RFID tags / fobs / stickers, updates to user access credentials, changes to system configuration(s) and / or logs to reported back to a remote server. The locker communication system may comprise at least one unidirectional antenna located above or below the at least one locker bank and associated with the central controller. The at least one unidirectional antenna may be located above or below the at least one locker bank centrally relative to the at least one locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna may be located above or below the at least one locker bank offset from the centre of the at least one locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna located above the at least one locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna may be directed downwardly toward the locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna located at the top of the at least one locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna located below the at least one locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna may be directed upwardly toward the locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna located at the bottom of the at least one locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna may have a dispersion pattern or radiation pattern which is controlled or shaped through the configuration of the antenna used. The dispersion pattern or radiation pattern of the at least one unidirectional antenna may be shaped to cover only the lockers in the locker bank. This may minimise any overlap of signal area from any at least one unidirectional antenna provided relative to an adjacent locker bank. At least one unidirectional antenna may be provided for each locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna may be mounted on the upper member of the uppermost locker in a locker bank, if mounted above the locker bank or on the lower member of the lowermost locker in a locker bank, if mounted below the locker bank. The at least one unidirectional antenna located above or below the at least one locker bank may be provided on a sidewall of the locker bank. Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a locker system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is an axonometric view of an internal layout of a locker from the system illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the internal layout shown in Figure 2 with the front wall / bulkhead removed. Figure 4 is a front view of the configuration shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the configuration shown in Figure 2 along line C-C. Figure 6 is a front view of a smart locker system with an omnidirectional antenna and showing signal direction and strength. Figure 7 is a front view of a smart locker system with a pair of unidirectional antennas and showing signal direction and strength. An electronic locker system of an embodiment is shown in the accompanying Figures. The electronic locker system shown is configured as an asset management locker system. The locker system comprises a plurality of lockers 10 arranged in at least one locker bank 11. Each locker 10 has a local locker transmitter. A central controller 13 is provided in a control cabinet 12 adjacent to one of the locker banks 11. The central controller communicates with each local locker transmitter via a unidirectional antenna 16 located above each locker bank 11. As shown, the plurality of lockers 10 arranged into a rectangular array of lockers 10, with the illustrated embodiment including two side-by-side locker banks 11, of five lockers 10 in each locker bank 11. The lockers 10 in each bank 11 are shown positioned vertically one above the other. The lockers 10 in each bank 11 are provided within an outer locker housing or cabinet. As shown, the outer locker housings or cabinets of adjacent locker banks 11 are attached to one another. Each outer locker housing or cabinet may have a rear wall, a pair of spaced apart, opposed side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The front wall of the outer locker housing or cabinet may be closed by one or more doors as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The number of doors may correspond with the number of lockers 10 provided in the locker bank 11. Internally of the outer locker housing or cabinet, the lockers 10 are defined through the provision of a shelf. The shelf may function as the base of one locker 10 and the ceiling of a lower locker 10. Each locker bank 11 illustrated has an outer skin of metal on the top, front (door), rear and both sides. The front of the locker banks 11 include a locker door for each locker and each door is made of metal. In the illustrated embodiment, the shelf 40 forming the bottom of each locker 10 in the locker bank is metal. As shown in Figure 5, the shelf comprises a metal sheet 14 reinforced or supported by a reinforcing or stiffening member 14. In the illustrated form, the shelf 40 has a planar upper transverse support surface and a depending peripheral portion to define a cavity under the support surface. The reinforcing or stiffening member 14 is provided within the cavity to strengthen the support surface. The reinforcing or stiffening member 14 shown is non-metallic, to minimise metal in the dispersion pattern of the unidirectional antenna 16 located above each locker bank 11. The metal sheet used in the illustrated embodiment is 1mm in thickness. In the illustrated configuration, the signal between the unidirectional antenna 16 and the local locker transmitter of each locker 10 travels perpendicularly through the shelves 40, which means that with the thickness of the metal sheet of the shelves being 1mm each, the effective metal thickness of 4mm for the signal in each locker bank, is known. As mentioned, the illustrated locker system is configured for use as an asset management locker system used to provide controlled access to one or more assets 20 with sign-in and sign-out monitoring of the one or more assets 20. In this configuration, a bulkhead 21 is provided within the locker 10, behind the door. The bulkhead 21 divides the internal volume of the locker 10 into a forward portion accessible to a use when the locker door is open, and a rear portion behind the bulkhead 21, within the locker 10. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the assets 20 are stored at least partially behind the bulkhead 21 when in the locker 10. The bulkhead 21 is positioned within the locker, spaced behind the door as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The bulkhead 21 is parallel to the door. The bulkhead 21 within each locker is metal, but due to its positioning and orientation, the signal path from the unidirectional antenna 16 is parallel to the bulkhead 21 so that the signal does not need to pass through the bulkhead 21. As shown, a pair of openings 19 are provided through the bulkhead 21. The shape, number and location of the openings 19 may be dependent on the assets 20 to be managed. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, each opening is associated with an asset holder 22 to hold an asset 20 whilst in the locker 10. The asset holder 22 is configured (shape and dimension) to hold the asset 20. As shown, the asset holder 22 is configured as a tunnel into which the asset 20 is at least partially received when in the locker 10. The asset holder 22 may be configured so that the asset 20 can only be placed thereinto in one orientation. The asset holder 22 or tunnel is shown provided at an angle within the locker 10. As shown, particularly in Figure 5, the asset holder 22 is angled downwardly towards the rear of the locker 10. An abutment or stop feature may be provided in or on the asset holder 22 to prevent over-insertion of the asset 20 into the asset holder 22. The abutment or stop feature may abut a portion of the asset once properly located within the asset holder 22. Each asset holder 22 may be provided with a reader to read a unique identifier provided on an asset 20 placed within the asset holder 22. In the illustrated embodiment, an RFID sticker or tag 23 is applied to each asset 20 and an RFID reader 24 is provided on the asset holder 22. In the illustrated embodiment, a BLE update device 25 (powered by batteries 26) is also provided on the asset holder 22, preferably associated with the electronic lock to provide data to / from the electronic lock from a remote central controller and / or server. The RFID reader 24 is provided on the asset holder 22 into which the asset 20 is at least partially received when in the locker 10, such that when the asset 20 is at least partially received within the asset holder 22 as shown in Figure 5 in particular, the RFID sticker or tag 23, which uniquely identifies that particular asset 20, is positioned to be read by the RFID reader 24. The asset holder 22 is shown provided mounted on a mount 27, to position the asset holder 22 within the locker 10 and relative to the opening 19 in the bulkhead 21. The asset holder 22 and the mount 27 shown are both non-metallic. The mount 27 elevates the asset holder 22 to a position into which the asset 20 can be placed to position the asset 20 within the locker 10, behind the bulkhead 21 and sufficiently far from the door of the locker 10 to prevent any damage to the asset 20 when the door is closed. The mount 27 shown is also attached to a rear side of the bulkhead 21. As shown two asset holders 22 are spaced apart laterally within each locker 10. A minimum separation distance may be required to ensure that the signals from each reader are distinguishable from one another, without interference. The readers associated with the asset holders 22 may be provided on opposite sides of the respective asset holders 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each locker door has an electronic door lock 30 which communicates with the central controller 13. Each electronic lock 30 may have an associated a digital interface, which could be a touchscreen, a mobile app or a website. An access interface may be provided on the locker door as shown in Figure 1. To access a locker 10, a user may authenticate themselves by providing one of the following (for example): • PIN code. • RFID card or key fob. • Biometric identification (fingerprint, facial recognition). • QR code or barcode. Once the user has presented a request for authentication to the smart locker system, via the access interface, the request for authentication tendered is then transmitted to the central controller 13 and if authenticated, a signal may be sent to the assigned locker 10 to undertake action, for example, unlock the electronic lock 30. Once the locker door is unlocked, the user may then remove an asset form the asset holder 22. The user may utilise a personalised fob or tag to identify themselves to the local locker controller via the reader. This may associate the particular asset 20 removed with the user, via the fob or tag. The local locker controller may then transmit this information to the central controller 13 via the unidirectional antenna 16. A local locker transmitter may be provided in each locker to communicate with the central controller 13. The local locker transmitter may be associated with the electronic lock, local locker controller, any reader and / or any sensors associated with a locker 10 to communicate with the central controller 13 for the locker system. The local locker transmitter may transmit data from the locker to the central controller 13. The local locker transmitter may be passive or active. In the illustrated embodiment, the unidirectional antenna 16 is located above each locker bank 11, directed downwardly toward the locker bank 11. As shown in Figure 7, the unidirectional antenna 16 may have a dispersion pattern or radiation pattern which is controlled or shaped through the configuration of the antenna 16 used. The dispersion pattern or radiation pattern of the at least one unidirectional antenna may be shaped to cover only the lockers 10 in a respective locker bank 11. This may minimise any overlap of signal area from any unidirectional antenna 16 provided relative to an adjacent locker bank 11. In the illustrated embodiment, a unidirectional antenna 16 is provided for each locker bank 11. The unidirectional antenna 16 is mounted on the upper member of the uppermost locker 10 in a locker bank 11. The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A locker communication system for a locker system having a plurality of lockers arranged in at least one locker bank, each locker having at least one local locker transmitter and a central controller to communicate with each at least one local locker transmitter, the locker communication system comprising at least one unidirectional antenna located above or below the at least one locker bank and associated with the central controller.

2. A locker communication system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one unidirectional antenna is located above the at least one locker bank and is directed downwardly toward the locker bank.

3. A locker communication system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least one unidirectional antenna has a dispersion pattern or radiation pattern which is controlled or shaped to cover only the lockers in the locker bank.

4. A locker communication system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a single unidirectional antenna is provided for each locker bank.

5. An electronic locker system comprisinga. a plurality of lockers arranged in at least one locker bank, each locker having a locker door with an electronic lock, at least one local locker transmitter and a central controller to communicate with each at least one local locker transmitter; andb. a locker communication system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

6. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plurality of lockers arranged into the at least one locker bank are positioned vertically in relation to each other.

7. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the lockersin each locker bank are provided within an outer locker housing or cabinet, each outer locker housing or cabinet having a rear wall, a pair of spaced apart,opposed side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall of the outer locker housing or cabinet is closed by the respective locker door.

8. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 7 wherein an outer skin of metal is provided on at least the top wall, rear wall and both side walls and the one or more doors.

9. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein a shelf is provided to form the bottom of each locker and a top wall of a lower locker.

10. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 further comprising a bulkhead provided within at least one of the plurality of lockers, behind the locker door.

11. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the bulkhead is positioned spaced behind the locker door within the locker.

12. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the bulkhead is parallel to the door.

13. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 further comprising one or more openings provided through the bulkhead, each one or more opening associated with an asset holder to hold an asset whilst in the locker.

14. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the asset holder is configured as a tunnel or sleeve or similar into which the asset is at least partially received when in the locker.

15. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the asset holder is provided angled downwardly towards a rear of the locker.

16. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein each asset holder is provided with a reader to read a unique identifier provided on an asset placed within the asset holder.

17. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein each asset holder is provided with a secondary reader to read a unique identifier provided to a user.

18. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the reader is provided on the asset holder into which the asset is at least partially received when in the locker, such that when the asset is at least partially received within the asset holder, the unique identifier provided on an asset is positioned to be read by the reader.

19. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 18 wherein each asset holder is provided mounted on a mount, to position the asset holder within the locker and relative to the opening in the bulkhead.

20. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 19 wherein each asset holder and / or the mount is non-metallic.

21. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 20 comprising more than one asset holder provided within the locker.

22. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 21 wherein the electronic lock communicates with the central controller via the at least one local locker transmitter.

23. An electronic locker system as claimed in claim 22 wherein each electronic lock has an associated digital interface to access a locker, wherein once the user has presented a request for authentication to the electronic lock, via the digital interface, the request for authentication tendered is then transmitted to the central controller and if authenticated, a signal is sent to the locker to unlock the electronic lock.

24. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 23 wherein the central controller is provided separated from the plurality of lockers.

25. An electronic locker system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 24 wherein the local locker transmitter is associated with the electronic lock, a local lockercontroller, any reader and / or any sensors associated with the locker to transmit data from the locker to the central controller.s