Apparatus and method to determine whether to unlock a delivered-package vault
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery receptacles are inadequate for ensuring recipient-specific requirements, particularly for sensitive items like pharmaceuticals, as they lack secure and flexible access control mechanisms for non-Postal Service deliveries.
Innovation Solution
A delivered-package vault with a selectively-lockable access portal and a control circuit that communicates with a remote source to verify recipient-specific requirements, such as age or identity, to unlock the portal only for authorized recipients, and allows authorized delivery personnel to add new packages without immediate removal of previous items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an unsecured container is used for delivery, then ease of access is improved, but security and recipient-specific requirement verification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical locking systems with an electronic control system that uses biometric authentication (fingerprint sensors) and electronic communication interfaces to verify recipient identity and grant access, thereby maintaining ease of access while significantly improving security
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary between the recipient and the container access mechanism, verifying recipient-specific requirements through communication with remote sources (such as prescription databases or delivery authorization systems) before granting access, thus resolving the contradiction between easy access and secure verification
2Reliability
If a keyed lock secures the container, then security is improved, but flexibility for recipient-specific requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic access control system where the control circuit can adaptively change authentication requirements based on recipient-specific data. The system dynamically adjusts which verification methods are needed (fingerprint, PIN, remote authorization) depending on the package type and recipient identity, providing both security and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The control system serves multiple functions: it acts as a secure lock, a database for recipient verification, a communication interface with remote sources, and an automated authentication system. This multi-functional approach replaces the single-function keyed lock with a versatile system that handles both security and adaptive access control
3Productivity
If multiple packages are delivered sequentially, then delivery capacity is improved, but access control complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically manages multiple packages through self-service mechanisms: it autonomously tracks which packages are inside the container, automatically verifies recipient identity against the delivery list, and grants access without requiring manual intervention for each package. The system self-updates its state as packages are delivered or removed
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the container state (which packages are present), track delivery attempts, and adjust access control decisions based on this information. The system receives feedback from remote sources about authorized recipients and provides feedback about access decisions, creating a closed-loop control system that manages complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A delivered-package vault has a selectively-lockable access portal that is configured to contain at least one package, which package has at least one recipient-specific requirement associated therewith. The delivered-package vault also includes a two-way communications interface configured to communicate with a remote source having that at least one recipient-specific requirement and further includes a control circuit that operably couples to the two-way communications interface and the selectively-lockable access portal. The control circuit is configured to communicate with the remote source regarding the at least one recipient-specific requirement for the at least one package that is presently in the delivered-package vault and to unlock the selectively-lockable access portal to thereby provide access to the at least one package by a recipient who meets the at least one recipient-specific requirement.