Secure storage of tablet computers

Abstract

A locker apparatus including a plurality of lockers 10 is provided. Each locker is for storing a tablet computer 200 and comprises a housing and at least one locking mechanism. The housing comprises a movable chamber 24, such as an open top slidable drawer, for storing the tablet computer. When the movable chamber is in a partially open position, the tablet computer is irremovable from the movable chamber and user interface circuitry 210 of the tablet computer is accessible to the user. When the movable chamber is in an open position, the tablet computer is removable from the movable chamber by the user. The locking mechanism prevents the movable chamber from moving from the partially open position to the fully open position. The locker apparatus further includes control circuitry to determine that a predetermined signal has been received from a tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of a particular locker of the plurality of lockers, and respond by controlling the locking mechanism of the particular locker to enable the movable chamber of the particular locker to move from the partially open position to the open position and enable the user to remove a tablet computer from the particular locker.

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to secure storage of tablet computers. In particular, they relate to secure storage of tablet computers in a logistics environment. BACKGROUND In a logistics environment, hand portable electronic devices might be used to manage and track parcels. The hand portable electronic devices might be stored in lockers when they are not in use. BRIEF SUMMARY According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a locker apparatus including a plurality of lockers, wherein each locker is for storing a tablet computer and each locker comprises: a housing comprising a movable chamber for storing a tablet computer, wherein: when the movable chamber is in a first, closed, position, the tablet computer is inaccessible and irremovable from the movable chamber by a user; when the movable chamber is in a second, partially open, position, the tablet computer is irremovable from the movable chamber and user interface circuitry of the tablet computer is at least partially accessible to the user; and when the movable chamber is in a third, open, position, the tablet computer is removable from the movable chamber by the user; at least one locking mechanism configured to prevent the movable chamber from moving from the second position to the third position; and wherein the locker apparatus further includes: control circuitry configured to determine that at least one predetermined signal has been received from a tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of a particular locker of the plurality of lockers, and respond by controlling the at least one locking mechanism of the particular locker to enable the movable chamber of the particular locker to move from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position and thereby enable the user to remove a tablet computer from the particular locker. The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section, describes various features that may be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function The movable chamber may be arranged to move in a first direction from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The movable chamber may be arranged to move in the first direction from second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. The movable chamber may be arranged to move in a second direction from the third, open, position to the second, partially open, position. The movable chamber may be arranged to move in the second direction from the second, partially open, position to the first, closed, position. The housing of each locker may comprise an open top slidable drawer that provides the movable chamber. The control circuitry may be configured to control the at least one locking mechanism to prevent the movable chamber from moving from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The control circuitry may be configured to enable the movable chamber to move from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position, in response to reception of at least one predetermined signal by the locker apparatus. Each locker may comprise power supply circuitry configured to supply power to a battery of each tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of that locker. Each movable chamber may comprise a battery charge indicator for a tablet computer stored in that movable chamber. The power supply circuitry may comprise an electrical connection that is configured to electrically connect a tablet computer in the movable chamber with the power supply circuitry when the movable chamber is in the first, closed, position. The electrical connection may be a severable electrical connection that is configured to electrically disconnect the tablet computer in the movable chamber from the power supply circuitry when the movable chamber moves from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The electrical connection may be configured such that the tablet computer in the movable chamber remains electrically disconnected when the movable chamber moves from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. The at least one predetermined signal received from the tablet computer may be an electrical signal that is communicated using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. Each locker may comprise receiver circuitry configured to receive at least one of light signals or audio signals from a tablet computer stored in the movable chamber. The at least one predetermined signal received from the tablet computer may be at least one of a predetermined light signal or a predetermined audio signal received by the receiver circuitry. The receiver circuitry may be arranged to receive one or more light signals. The receiver circuitry may be arranged to receive one or more light signals from a display of a tablet computer stored in the movable chamber. The receiver circuitry may comprise an at least one optical sensor for simultaneously receiving a plurality of light signals. The plurality of light signals may comprise a two-dimensional pattern displayed by the display. Each light signal of the plurality of light signals may emanate from a different portion of the display of a tablet computer stored in the movable chamber. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a locker apparatus including a plurality of lockers, wherein each locker is for storing a tablet computer and each locker comprises: a housing comprising open top slidable drawer for storing a tablet computer, wherein: the open top slidable drawer has a partially open position in which the tablet computer is irremovable from the movable chamber and user interface circuitry of the tablet computer is at least partially accessible to the user; and the open top slidable drawer has an open position in which the tablet computer is removable from the movable chamber by the user; at least one locking mechanism configured to prevent the movable chamber from moving from the partially open position to the open position; and wherein the locker apparatus further includes: control circuitry configured to determine that at least one predetermined signal has been received from a tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of a particular locker of the plurality of lockers, and respond by controlling the at least one locking mechanism of the particular locker to enable the movable chamber of the particular locker to move from the partially open position to the open position and thereby enable the user to remove a tablet computer from the particular locker. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims. While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all of the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all of the features, in any combination, may be implemented by / comprised in / performable by an apparatus, a method, and / or computer program instructions as desired, and as appropriate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a locker apparatus comprising a plurality of lockers; FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of electronic components of a locker in the locker apparatus; FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevation of a locker; FIG. 4A illustrates a plan view schematic of the locker illustrated in FIG. 3 when the locker is closed; FIG. 4B illustrates a plan view schematic of the locker illustrated in FIG. 3 when the locker is partially open; FIG. 4C illustrates a plan view schematic of the locker illustrated in FIG. 3 when the locker is fully open; FIG. 5A illustrates a plan view of the locker when partially open as shown in FIG. 4B, where a tablet computer is present in the locker; FIG. 5B illustrates a plan a plan view of the locker when fully open as shown in FIG. 40, where a tablet computer is present in the locker; and FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a locker apparatus 1000. The locker apparatus 1000 may be used, for example, in a logistics environment to store tablet computers and manage access to those tablet computers. The locker apparatus 1000 comprises a plurality of lockers 100. An individual locker is labelled with the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates fifteen lockers 100 in a 3 x 5 grid. In other examples, more or fewer lockers might be provided than those illustrated in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the manner in which the lockers 100 are arranged relative to each other might be different from that illustrated in FIG. 1. At least some of the lockers 100 are for storing a tablet computer. FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of an individual locker 10 of the plurality of lockers 100 in the locker apparatus 1000, and, in particular, electronic circuitry of the locker 10. Each locker 10 of the plurality of lockers might be the same as that illustrated in FIG. 2. The locker 10 comprises at least one locking mechanism 16, power supply circuitry 17, receiver circuitry 18, a battery charge indicator 19 and control circuitry 20. The control circuitry 20 is operationally coupled to the locking mechanism(s) 16, the power supply circuitry 17, the receiver circuitry 18 and the battery charge indicator 19. Any number or combination of intervening elements can exist between the control circuitry 20 and these elements 16-19 (including no intervening elements). The control circuitry 20 (more specifically, the processor 12 of the control circuitry 20) is configured to control and provide outputs to the locking mechanism(s) 16, the power supply circuitry 17 and battery charge indicator 19. The control circuitry 20 (more specifically, the processor 12 of the control circuitry 20) is configured to receive inputs from the receiver circuitry 18. The illustrated locker 10 also comprises a housing 22 which may house at least the locking mechanism 16, the power supply circuitry 17, the receiver circuitry 18 and the control circuitry 20. The locker 100 comprises a chamber in which a tablet computer may be stored. The housing 22 defines the chamber. In some examples, each locker 10 might include its own control circuitry 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In other examples, the control circuitry 20 might be shared between the plurality of lockers 100. Such shared control circuitry 20 might be positioned in one of the lockers 10 or elsewhere in the locker apparatus 1000. The control circuitry 20 comprises at least one processor 12 and one or more memories 14. A single processor 12 will be referenced hereinafter for clarity of explanation. The processor 12 may be a single core or multi-core processor. The processor 12 may also comprise an output interface via which data and / or commands are output by the processor 12 and an input interface via which data and / or commands are input to the processor 12. The processor 12 is configured to read from and write to the memory 14. Although the memory 14 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which may be integrated / removable and / or may provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage. The memory 14 might include multiple memories that are located in different locations. The memory 14 includes at least one non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a computer program 8 comprising computer program instructions (computer program code), which controls the operation of the locker apparatus 1000 when loaded into the processor 12. The computer program instructions, of the computer program 8, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus 100 to perform part of the method illustrated in FIG. 6. The processor 12, by reading the memory 14, is able to load and execute the computer program 8. The power supply circuitry 17 is configured to supply electrical power to a tablet computer that is stored in the chamber of a locker 10. The power supply circuitry 17 might be configured to supply electrical power to the tablet computer via a wired connection. In such embodiments, the power supply circuity 17 may be provided by at least part of a (wired) computer bus, such as bus that is compliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard. Alternatively or additionally, the power supply circuitry 17 may be configured to supply electrical power to the tablet computer via a wireless connection (e.g., that operates in accordance with a Qi standard). In such embodiments, the power supply circuitry 17 may be configured to transmit a timevarying magnetic field in order to induce an electric current in a circuit of the tablet computer. The control circuitry 20 may control the battery charge indicator 19 at least in part based on inputs received from a tablet computer via the receiver circuitry 18. The battery charge indicator 19 may be located, at least in part, on an exterior surface of the locker 10. This may enable a user to view the battery charge indicator 19. The battery charger indicator 19 may, for example, comprise light emitting circuitry, such as one or more light emitting diodes. The battery charger indicator 19 may be configured to display states depending on the detected charge of a tablet computer located in a locker 10. For example, the battery charge indicator may have a first display state that indicates a first charge amount, and a second display state that indicates a second charge amount. The first charge amount and / or the second charge amount may be a range. For example, the first charge amount might indicate that the battery of the tablet computer is charged to 85%-100% of its capacity, and the second charge amount might indicate that the battery of the tablet computer is charged to less than 85% of its capacity. The first display state might, for example, comprise display of a green indicator and the second display state might, for example, comprise display of a red indicator. It will be appreciated that there might be more or fewer display states than two and / or the display state they might be indicate different charge amounts than those indicated here. The receiver circuitry 18 may be for receiving at least one predetermined signal from a tablet computer. The receiver circuitry 18 may be positioned to receive the predetermined signal(s) from the tablet computer when the tablet computer is located in the chamber of the locker 10. The predetermined signal(s) might be or include one or more wired signals. The receiver circuitry 18 may, for example, form part of a (wired) computer bus. In some embodiments, the receiver circuitry 18 may form part of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) that is configured to receive one or more predetermined USB signals. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined signal(s) might be or include one or more wireless signals. For instance, in some embodiments, the wireless signal(s) may be or comprise a (visible) light signal and the receiver circuitry 18 might be or comprise one or more optical sensors, such as one or more photodiodes. The light signal might, for example, be output by the display of the tablet computer. In such embodiments, the housing 22 might be substantially opaque, such that little or no light enters the chamber when the locker 10 is closed. The display of the tablet computer may extend over a majority of a front face of the hand portable electronic device. The display is an electronic display that is capable of displaying images and text. The display may comprise an array of pixels that are arranged in columns and rows. The display might, for example, be or comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. The receiver circuitry 18 may be positioned in the chamber of the locker 10. The receiver circuitry 18 may be positioned in the chamber relative to the tablet computer such that the receiver circuitry 18 is able to receive light and / or audio signals from the tablet computer when the tablet computer located in the chamber. For example, the receiver circuitry 18 may be positioned to receive light signals from a portion of the display of the tablet computer. The receiver circuitry 18 may directly oppose the display of the tablet computer when the tablet computer is in the movable chamber 24. The receiver circuitry 18 may comprise at least one optical sensor for simultaneously receiving a plurality of light signals. For example, the receiver circuitry 18 may comprise an array of optical sensors for receiving a plurality of light signals (e.g., an array of photodiodes). Each optical sensor in the array may be configured / positioned to substantially simultaneously receive a different light signal to the other optical sensors in the array, where each light signal emanates from a different portion of the display of the tablet computer. The receiver circuitry 18 may therefore be able to detect a particular two-dimensional pattern of light that is displayed by the display of the tablet computer. The pattern may be static or time-varying. Instead of an array of optical sensors being provided, the receiver circuitry 18 might include a single optical sensor, such as an image sensor, for detecting the different light signals / two-dimension pattern. In such an example, different regions of the optical sensor may simultaneously receive light emanating from different portions of the display. The image sensor might, for example, be a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. The wireless signal(s) may be or comprise an audio signal and the receiver circuitry 18 may comprise a microphone for receiving such an audio signal. In these embodiments, the housing 22 might be sound-proofed, or at least comprise some material having sound-damping or sound absorption properties to mitigate the entry of sound waves into the chamber when the locker 10 is closed. The one or more locking mechanisms 16 may be configured to lock the locker 10 to limit and prevent user access to the chamber of the locker 10. The one or more locking mechanisms 16 may be configured to unlock the locker 10 to provide partial or full user access to the chamber. A user is considered to have no access to a chamber of a locker 10 if it is not possible for the user to interact with user interface circuitry of the tablet computer while the tablet computer is stored in the chamber, and the tablet computer is irremovable from the chamber. When the user has no access to the chamber of the locker 10, it may be that the user cannot touch the tablet computer stored in the chamber. The user interface circuitry might, for example, include one or more keys, a touch sensitive display, and / or one or more biometric sensors such as imaging circuitry and / or a fingerprint sensor. A user is considered to have partial access to the chamber of the locker 10 if it is possible for the user to interact with the user interface circuitry of the tablet computer while the tablet computer is stored in the chamber, but the tablet computer is irremovable from the chamber. In this regard, it may be that the user can interact with some, but not all of the user interface circuitry. For instance, the user might be able to touch some, but not all, of the surface area of a touch sensitive display of the tablet computer. A user is considered to have full access to the chamber of the locker 10 if the tablet computer is removable from the chamber. The chamber may be a movable chamber. The movable chamber may be movable between at least three positions. The movable chamber may have a first, closed, position in which a user has no access to the chamber. That is, when the movable chamber is in the first position, a tablet computer stored in the chamber is inaccessible and irremovable from the movable chamber by a user. The movable chamber may have a second, partially open, position in which the tablet computer is irremovable from the movable chamber and user interface circuitry is at least partially accessible to the user. For instance, a portion of a touch sensitive display may be accessible to the user. The user interface circuitry of the tablet computer may become at least partially accessible to the user when the movable chamber moves from the first, open, position to the second, partially open, position. The movable chamber may have a third, open, position, in which the tablet computer is removable from the movable chamber by the user. The movable chamber may be arranged to move from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The movable chamber may be arranged to move from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. The second position may be intermediate the first and third positions. The one or more locking mechanisms 16 may be configured to lock the movable chamber in the first, closed, position under the control of the control circuitry 20. The locking of the movable chamber in the first, closed, position may prevent movement of the movable chamber from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The one or more locking mechanisms 16 may be configured to unlock the movable chamber, under the control of the control circuitry 20, while the movable chamber is in the first, closed, position. This unlocking may enable the movable chamber to move from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The one or more locking mechanisms 16 may be configured to lock the movable chamber in the second, partially open, position under the control of the control circuitry 20. Locking of the movable chamber in the second, partially open, position may prevent movement of the movable chamber from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. The one or more locking mechanisms 16 may be configured to unlock the movable chamber, under the control of the control circuitry 20, while the movable chamber is in the second, partially, position. This unlocking may enable the movable chamber to move from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. As explained above, the one or more locking mechanisms 16 are controlled by the control circuitry 20. If the control circuitry 20 determines that the receiver circuitry 18 has received at least one predetermined signal from a tablet computer, it may respond by causing a locking mechanism 16 to transition from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. This transition from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration may enable a movable chamber in which the tablet computer is stored to be moved from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. This is described in further detail below. FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevation of a locker 10 of the plurality of lockers 100 in the locker apparatus 1000. In this example, the housing 22 of the locker 10 comprises an outer housing 7 and an open top slidable drawer 11. The drawer 11 is arranged to move (e.g., translate) relative to the outer housing 7. The open top of the drawer 11 is not visible in FIG. 3. The drawer 11 may comprise a user handle 9. In the illustrated example, the battery charge indicator 19 and the user handle 9 are located on a front face 8 of the drawer 11. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the drawer 11 provides the movable storage chamber. FIG. 3 illustrates the drawer 11 when the drawer 11 and the movable storage chamber provided by it are in the first, closed, position. FIG. 4A illustrates a plan view schematic of the locker 10 illustrated in FIG. 3. As explained above, when the movable chamber 24 is in the first, closed, position as shown in FIG. 4A, any tablet computer stored in the movable chamber 24 is inaccessible and irremovable from the movable chamber 24 by a user. A dotted line marked with the reference numeral 111 depicts an outer periphery of the drawer 11 within the outer housing 7. A dotted line marked with the reference numeral 110 depicts a portion of the chamber 24 within the drawer 11 that is arranged to receive a tablet computer. The location 110 might be defined by one or more retention members, that could, for instance, be one or more foam inserts. The one or more retention members may limit movement of a tablet computer when the tablet computer is placed into the chamber at the location 110 by a user. Use of a drawer 11 may advantageously provide efficient use of space for storing tablet computers, which typically have a shape that approximates to a rectangular prism, where the length and width of the rectangular prism is somewhat greater than its depth. As explained above, each locker 10 may include power supply circuitry 17 that is configured to supply electrical power to (a battery of) a tablet computer stored in the chamber 24. The power supply circuitry may include a severable electrical connection 30 via which power is supplied to a tablet computer stored in the chamber 24. The severable electrical connection may, for example, include a first electrical connector 32 located in the outer housing 7 and a second electrical connector 34 located in the drawer 11. If the severable electrical connection 30 is severed, power may cease to be supplied to the tablet computer stored in the movable chamber 24 via the power supply circuitry 17. In the illustrated example, the electrical connectors 32, 34 are electrically connected when the movable chamber 24 is in the first, closed, position. If the movable chamber 24 is moved from the first, closed, position (for example, to the second, partially open, position), the electrical connection between the connectors 32, 34 is broken. This may be sensed by the tablet computer stored in the chamber 24. The tablet computer may therefore be configured to sense when the movable chamber 24 has moved from the first, closed, position (for example, to the second, partially open, position) by sensing the severance of the electrical connection. When this is sensed by the tablet computer, at least some of the user interface circuitry of the tablet computer may be switched on. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the severable electrical connection 30 need not form part of the power supply circuitry 17. For example, instead the tablet computer could periodically receive a predefined signal from the control circuitry 20 via the severable electrical connection 30 and, in the event that the predefined signal is not received within a threshold period of time of the last predefined signal being received, the tablet computer may determine that the movable chamber 24 has moved from the first, closed, position (for example, to the second, partially open, position). An advantage of using the power supply circuitry 17 to determine that the movable chamber 24 has moved from the first, closed, position (for example, to the second, partially open, position) is, however, that no such additional signalling need be used. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a severable electrical connection 30 need not be used. The severable electrical connection 30 is, in effect, a sensor 30 which enables the tablet computer to determine whether the movable storage compartment has been moved from the first, closed, position (for example, to the second, partially open, position). The sensor could be any type of contact or contactless proximity sensor. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4A, the one or more locking mechanisms include a first locking mechanism 16a and a second locking mechanism 16b. While this example is described in relation to the use of first and second locking mechanisms 16a, 16b, it is envisaged that more or fewer locking mechanisms might be used. In this example, the first locking mechanism 16a is configured to prevent movement of the movable chamber 24 from the first, closed, position to the second, partially, open position when the first locking mechanism 16a is in a locked configuration. The first locking mechanism 16a is configured to enable movement of the movable chamber 24 from the first, closed, position to the second, partially, open position when the first locking mechanism 16a is in an unlocked configuration. In this example, the second locking mechanism 16b is configured to prevent movement of the movable chamber 24 from the second, partially open, position to the third, open position when the second locking mechanism 16b is in a locked configuration. The second locking mechanism 16b is configured to enable movement of the movable chamber 24 from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position when the second locking mechanism 16b is in an unlocked configuration. The control circuitry 20 may control the first locking mechanism 16a based, for example, at least in part on signals received from an external computer via a transceiver of the locker apparatus 1000. For instance, the control circuitry 20 may transition the first locking mechanism 16a between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration based on such signals. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuitry 20 may control the first locking mechanism 16a based, for example, at least in part on a time of day. For instance, the control circuitry 20 may control the first locking mechanism 16a to transition from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration at the start of a shift (e.g., workers’ warehouse shift) and to transition from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration outside shift hours. Advantageously, this may provide high security outside shift hours. FIG. 4B illustrates a plan view schematic of the locker 10 illustrated in FIG. 4A when the movable chamber 24 has moved from the first, closed position to the second, partially, open position. As explained above, when the movable chamber 24 is in the second, partially open, position in FIG. 4B, any tablet computer stored in the movable chamber 24 is irremovable from the movable chamber 24 and user interface circuitry of the tablet computer is at least partially accessible to the user. The movable chamber 24 may be arranged to move in a first direction from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The movement of the movable chamber 24 from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position may be translational movement. For instance, the open top slidable drawer 11 may slide to move the movable chamber 24 from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. A user may cause this movement by grabbing the handle 9 on the front face of the drawer 11 and pulling the handle 9. The first locking mechanism 16a may prevent such movement. FIG. 4C illustrates a plan view schematic of the locker 10 illustrated in FIG. 4B when the movable chamber 24 has moved from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. As explained above, when the movable chamber 24 is in the third, open, position in FIG. 40, any tablet computer stored in the movable chamber 24 is removable from the movable chamber 24 by the user. The movable chamber 24 may be arranged to move in the first direction from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. The movement of the movable chamber 24 from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position may be translational movement. For instance, the open top slidable drawer 11 may slide to move the movable chamber 24 from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. A user may cause this movement by grabbing the handle 9 on the front face of the drawer 11 and pulling the handle 9. The second locking mechanism 16b may prevent such movement FIG. 5A corresponds with FIG. 4B, and illustrates a plan view of the locker 10 when the movable chamber 24 is in the second, partially open, position as shown in FIG. 4B, where a tablet computer 200 is present in the movable chamber 24. Fig. 5B corresponds with FIG. 40, and illustrates a plan view of the locker 10 when the movable chamber is open as shown in FIG. 4C, where a tablet computer 200 is present in the movable chamber 24. FIG. 6 illustrates a method. In the method, initially a tablet computer 200 is located in the movable chamber 24 of a locker 10, such as the locker 10 illustrated in FIGs 4A to 5B. The movable chamber 24 is initially in the first, closed, position as illustrated in FIG. 4A. The first locking mechanism 16a might initially be in a locked configuration, and might therefore initially prevent a user from moving the movable chamber 24 from the first, closed, position. The second locking mechanism 16b might also initially be in a locked configuration. In this example, a transceiver at the locker apparatus 1000 receives a signal or a particular time of day is reached and, in response, the control circuitry 20 controls the first locking mechanism 16a to transition from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. Upon this transition, the movable chamber 24 remains in the first, closed, position as illustrated in FIG. 4A. The transition, however, enables the movable chamber 24 to be moved from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position in response to user force. A user then grasps the handle 9 and applies a force to the movable chamber 24 to cause the movable chamber 24 to move from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The second locking mechanism 16b is in the locked configuration and prevents the movable chamber 24 from moving from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. For example, the second locking mechanism 16b may include a stop that, when the second locking mechanism 16b is in a locked configuration, causes the movement of the movable chamber 24 to stop in the second, partially open, position. That is, the second locking mechanism 16b may resist the motion of the movable chamber 24 when the movable chamber 24 reaches the second, partially open, position, thereby preventing it from moving further in the same direction (to the third, open, position). FIGs 4B and 5A illustrate the movable chamber 24 in its second, partially open, position. When the movable chamber 24 moves from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position, the tablet computer 200 determines, using the sensor 30, that this has occurred and responds by activating the at least a portion of the user interface circuitry 210. The activation of the user interface circuitry 210 may ready the user interface circuitry to receive input from a user. The activation of the user interface circuitry 210 may enable user to authenticate themselves. For instance, where the user interface circuitry 210 includes a touch sensitive display 210, it may cause at least a portion of the touch sensitive display 210 to display a graphical input interface which enables a user to authenticate themselves. Fig. 5A illustrates the touch sensitive display 210 displaying selectable graphical elements (e.g., in the form of a keypad or keyboard) that, through their selection, enable a user to authenticate themselves. The selectable graphical elements may be displayed automatically upon activation of the touch sensitive display (that is, no user input is required following the activation of the display) or in response to one or more user inputs (e.g., at the touch sensitive display) following the activation of the touch sensitive display. In other examples, in addition or as an alternative to the activation of a touch sensitive display, one or more biometric sensors may be readied for user input such as imaging circuitry and / or a fingerprint sensor. It can be seen in FIG. 5B that when the movable chamber 24 is in the second, partially open, position, the user interface circuitry 210 of the tablet computer 200 is at least partially accessible to the user. The user interface circuitry 210 may become accessible to the user when the movable chamber 24 moves from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. For instance, movement of the movable chamber 24 from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position may reveal some, but not all, of the touch sensitive display 210 of the tablet computer 200 to cause it to become accessible. In the illustrated example, the user is able to provide touch inputs to at least a portion of the touch sensitive display 210. It may be that the user is only able to provide touch inputs to some, but not all of the surface area of the touch sensitive display 210 when the movable chamber 24 in its second, partially open, position. If selectable graphical elements are displayed on the touch sensitive display 210, they are displayed in the portion of the touch sensitive display 210 that is touchable by the user when the movable chamber 24 in its second, partially open, position. The user provides input to the user interface circuitry to authenticate themselves, such as by entering a code or password by selecting the selectable graphical elements displayed on the touch sensitive display 210. Alternatively, user may provide biometric input may be provided to one or more biometric sensors. At block 601 of FIG. 6, in response to the user authenticating themselves, the tablet computer 200 transmits at least one predetermined signal which is received by the receiver circuitry 18 of the locker 10. As explained above, the predetermined signal(s) may be one or more wired or wireless signals, such as a USB signal, one or more light signals and / or one or more audio signals. At block 602 of FIG. 6, the control circuitry 20 processes the predetermined signal(s) and responds in block 603 of FIG. 6 by controlling the locking mechanism(s) 16 of the locker 10 to enable the movable chamber 24 to move from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position and thereby enable the user to remove the tablet computer 200 from the locker 10. In the example illustrated in FIGs 4A to 5B, the control circuitry 20 controls the second locking mechanism 16b to transition from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. Upon this transition, the movable chamber 24 remains in the second, partially open, position as illustrated in FIGs. 4B and 5A. The transition, however, enables the movable chamber 24 to be moved from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position in response to user force. A user then grasps the handle 9 and applies a force to the movable chamber 24 to cause the movable chamber 24 to move from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. When the movable chamber 24 is in the third, open, position, the user may remove the tablet computer from the movable chamber 24 of the locker 10. The direction of movement of the movable chamber 24 when moving from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position is as it was when the movable chamber 24 moved from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position. The second, partially open, position is intermediate the first, closed, position and the third, open, position along the path of movement of the movable chamber 24. It can be seen in FIG. 4C that the electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors 32, 34 that was configured to disconnect when the movable chamber moved from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position remains electrically disconnected when the movable chamber 24 moves from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position. Embodiments of the invention may advantageously provide improved security for a logistics company, by only enabling a tablet computer 200 to be removed from a locker 10 if a user is able to successfully authenticate themselves. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention provide a particularly cost-effective security solution by enabling the user interface circuitry 210 of the tablet computer 200 to be used for the authentication process, potentially avoiding the need for such user interface circuitry in the locker apparatus 1000 itself. The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to “comprising only” or by using “consisting”. In this description, the wording ‘connect’, ‘couple’ and ‘communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected / coupled / in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e., so as to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and / or software components. As used herein, the term "determine / determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information), accessing (for example, accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, "determine / determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like. In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ‘example’ or ‘for example’ or ‘can’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’ or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example. Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not. The term ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a / an / the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning. The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result. In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described. The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance it should be understood that the applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A locker apparatus including a plurality of lockers, wherein each locker is for storing a tablet computer and each locker comprises:a housing comprising a movable chamber for storing a tablet computer, wherein: when the movable chamber is in a first, closed, position, the tablet computer is inaccessible and irremovable from the movable chamber by a user;when the movable chamber is in a second, partially open, position, the tablet computer is irremovable from the movable chamber and user interface circuitry of the tablet computer is at least partially accessible to the user; and when the movable chamber is in a third, open, position, the tablet computer is removable from the movable chamber by the user;at least one locking mechanism configured to prevent the movable chamber from moving from the second position to the third position;and wherein the locker apparatus further includes:control circuitry configured to determine that at least one predetermined signal has been received from a tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of a particular locker of the plurality of lockers, and respond by controlling the at least one locking mechanism of the particular locker to enable the movable chamber of the particular locker to move from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position and thereby enable the user to remove a tablet computer from the particular locker.

2. The locker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable chamber is arranged to move in a first direction from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position, and arranged to move in the first direction from second, partially open, position to the third, open, position.

3. The locker apparatus of claim 2, wherein the movable chamber is arranged to move in a second direction from the third, open, position to the second, partially open, position, and arranged to move in the second direction from the second, partially open, position to the first, closed, position.

4. The locker apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing of each locker comprises an open top slidable drawer that provides the movable chamber.

5. The locker apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the at least one locking mechanism to prevent the movable chamber from moving from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position.

6. The locker apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuitry is configured to enable the movable chamber to move from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position, in response to reception of the at least one predetermined signal by the locker apparatus.

7. The locker apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein each locker comprises power supply circuitry configured to supply power to a battery of each tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of that locker.

8. The locker apparatus of claim 7, wherein each movable chamber comprises a battery charge indicator for a tablet computer stored in that movable chamber.

9. The locker apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the power supply circuitry comprises an electrical connection is configured to electrically connect a tablet computer in the movable chamber with the power supply circuitry when the movable chamber is in the first, closed, position.

10. The locker apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electrical connection is a severable electrical connection that is configured to electrically disconnect the tablet computer in the movable chamber from the power supply circuitry when the movable chamber moves from the first, closed, position to the second, partially open, position.

11. The locker apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrical connection is configured such that the tablet computer in the movable chamber remains electricallydisconnected when the movable chamber moves from the second, partially open, position to the third, open, position.

12. The locker apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one predetermined signal received from the tablet computer is an electrical signal that is communicated using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

13. The locker apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the receiver circuitry is configured to receive at least one of light signals or audio signals from a tablet computer stored in the movable chamber, and the at least one predetermined signal received from the tablet computer is at least one of a predetermined light signal or a predetermined audio signal received by the receiver circuitry.

14. The locker apparatus of claim 13, wherein the receiver circuitry is arranged to receive one or more light signals.

15. The locker apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiver circuitry is arranged to receive one or more light signals from a display of a tablet computer stored in the movable chamber.

16. The locker apparatus of claim 14 or 15, wherein the receiver circuitry comprises an at least one optical sensor for simultaneously receiving a plurality of light signals.

17. The locker apparatus of claim 16, when dependent on claim 14, wherein the plurality of light signals comprises a two-dimensional pattern displayed by the display.

18. The locker apparatus of any of claims 13 to 17, wherein each light signal ofthe plurality of light signals emanates from a different portion of the display of a tablet computer stored in the movable chamber.

19. A locker apparatus including a plurality of lockers, wherein each locker is for storing a tablet computer and each locker comprises:a housing comprising open top slidable drawer for storing a tablet computer, wherein:the open top slidable drawer has a partially open position in which the tablet computer is irremovable from the movable chamber and user interface circuitry of the tablet computer is accessible to the user; andthe open top slidable drawer has an open position in which the tablet computer is removable from the movable chamber by the user;at least one locking mechanism configured to prevent the movable chamber from moving from the partially open position to the open position;and wherein the locker apparatus further includes:control circuitry configured to determine that at least one predetermined signal has been received from a tablet computer stored in a movable chamber of a particular locker of the plurality of lockers, and respond by controlling the at least one locking mechanism of the particular locker to enable the movable chamber of the particular locker to move from the partially open position to the open position and thereby enable the user to remove a tablet computer from the particular locker.

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