Secure Package Locker Transfer With Authenticated Anonymous Payment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional package transfer systems lack secure methods for anonymous and authenticated exchanges between buyers and sellers, particularly in online marketplaces, leading to safety concerns, fraud risks, and the need for direct interaction, without ensuring item authenticity or enabling asynchronous payment networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing identity proofing techniques to authenticate package drop-off and pick-up users, evaluating package attributes for authenticity, and facilitating secure, anonymous fund transfers without direct party information exchange, using storage lockers that unlock only for authenticated users, and enabling immediate payment through an intermediary account.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If private parties exchange goods directly without intermediary facilities, then transaction flexibility and seller benefit are improved, but safety risks and fraud concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction flexibilityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a neutral third-party facility (safe trade facility) with automated storage lockers that mediates the transaction between buyer and seller. The facility holds the item securely in an automated locker, allowing the buyer to retrieve it after payment without the seller being physically present, thus enabling flexible private party transactions while maintaining safety through automated authentication and secure storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If buyers and sellers meet in person to exchange goods, then item verification before payment is improved, but exposure to dangerous situations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem verificationVSAvoidsafety risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The automated storage locker acts as an intermediary that holds the item securely. The buyer can verify the item is stored in the locker and retrieve it using authentication credentials after payment, without needing to meet the seller in person. This eliminates exposure to dangerous situations while maintaining the ability to verify item existence through the facility's automated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical interaction between buyer and seller with an automated electronic system. Authentication credentials (electronic keys, codes, or biometric data) replace physical key exchanges, and automated lockers replace manual item handovers. This substitution eliminates the need for in-person meetings while maintaining transaction security and item verification capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If safe trade facilities are equipped with crime deterrents and law enforcement, then safety is improved, but complexity and cost of the facility increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidfacility complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The safe trade facility operates autonomously using automated storage lockers that self-manage item storage and retrieval. The system uses automated authentication mechanisms (electronic keys, codes, or biometric scanners) to verify user identities without requiring human security personnel. Crime deterrents such as cameras and alarms operate automatically, reducing facility complexity and operational costs while maintaining high safety standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If storage lockers are used for package transfer, then secure transfer is improved, but ability to identify and authenticate users is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure transferVSAvoiduser identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual user identification processes with automated electronic authentication systems. The automated storage lockers use electronic keys, access codes, or biometric scanners to authenticate users automatically. This substitution maintains secure transfer capabilities while preserving user identification through digital credentials, preventing the loss of identification information that would occur with purely mechanical locker systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260044886A1Method, apparatus, and computer program product for secure facilitation of package transfer

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 WELLS FARGO BANK NA

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for securely facilitating a package transfer between parties. An example method includes receiving a package offer indication and performing an authentication operation to authenticate a candidate drop-off user. If the candidate drop-off user is successfully authenticated, the example method may further include unlocking a compartment of a storage locker and generating a package purchase data object. The example method may further include receiving a package placement detection alert and in response, transmitting a payment to a seller account from an intermediary account based on the package purchase data object.