Modular locker system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bank branches and retail stores face challenges in efficiently managing customer transactions and product delivery due to limited space and the need for a hybrid experience between online shopping and brick-and-mortar interactions, with existing solutions failing to optimize space usage and customer convenience.
Innovation Solution
A modular locker system comprising a control cube and slave lockers that are electrically coupled, allowing for easy configuration and installation, enabling customers to retrieve products or withdraw cash without human interaction, with features like serial port interfaces, NFC, and Wi-Fi for connectivity, and integrated user interfaces for secure and convenient transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional brick-and-mortar store layouts are used, then customer service quality is maintained, but space utilization is inefficient and customer capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the traditional counter service function into multiple distributed smart lockers arranged in a grid pattern. Each locker is an independent service unit that can be accessed individually, replacing the need for a large centralized counter and enabling higher customer capacity within limited space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional counter layout to a three-dimensional grid arrangement of smart lockers. This spatial reconfiguration allows customers to access services from multiple directions simultaneously, increasing customer capacity without proportionally increasing the footprint area.
2Productivity
If more service counters are added to increase customer capacity, then customer service capability improves, but the space footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each smart locker in the grid serves multiple functions: product dispensing, cash withdrawal, and customer authentication. This multi-functionality allows a single compact unit to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized counters, increasing customer capacity without proportional space increase.
3Ease of operation
If automated locker systems are implemented, then customer self-service capability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart lockers are equipped with automated authentication and dispensing mechanisms that allow customers to complete transactions independently. The system handles product verification, cash management, and locker access automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity for users.
4Device complexity
If a centralized control system is used to manage all lockers, then system control is simplified, but communication overhead and response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines centralized management architecture with distributed control execution. The centralized server handles high-level coordination and data management, while each smart locker contains local control logic that can autonomously execute transactions. This hybrid approach maintains simplified overall control while minimizing communication overhead through local decision-making at each locker.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a modular locker system. The modular locker system may include a plurality of slave lockers and a control cube. Each of the plurality of slave lockers may have a slave processing unit. The control cube may have a master processing unit electrically coupled to the slave processing unit of each of the plurality of slave lockers. The control cube may be configured to: receive a customer code, and transmit an unlock command to one of the plurality of slave lockers in response to receiving the customer code.