A device for securely receiving a package, the device being suitable for its attachment to an external element of a door, comprising: at least one fastener and a safety lock. Advantageously, the device further comprises: a receiving element; a pass-through retaining element; and a container bag. Also advantageously: the safety lock is configured for blocking the pass-through retaining element when said retaining element is inserted in the receiving element; and the container bag comprises through holes that can be brought together by arranging the pass-through retaining element therethrough, so that the container bag is closed when the pass-through retaining element is blocked at the receiving element. The present invention also relates to a system and a delivery method that comprise said device.

A method of notifying an individual about an item in a secure mailbox is provided. The method includes receiving an indication that an item for an intended recipient has been deposited into a secure mailbox. The method also includes, based at least in part on receiving the indication, programming an access control device of the secure mailbox to unlock the access control device in response to a credential assigned to the intended recipient and notifying the intended recipient that the item is in the secure mailbox. It is detected that the secure mailbox has been unlocked in response to the credential that is assigned to the intended recipient. Based at least in part on the detecting, re-programming the access control device of the secure mailbox to an un-programed status that includes the access control device remaining in the unlocked state.

The postal delivery notification system is an instrument that is configured for use with a mailbox. The postal delivery notification system is a sensor that monitors the contents of the mailbox. Specifically, the postal delivery notification system comprises a control system and a sensor. The sensor detects when a parcel is placed into or removed from the mailbox. The sensor is attached to the control system such that the control system receives a signal from the sensor that indicates that the parcel has been placed into or removed from the mailbox. The control system responds to the receipt of the signal by sending a first message to an appropriate authority indicating the introduction or removal of the parcel from the mailbox.

A method of notifying an individual about an item in a secure mailbox is provided. The method includes receiving an indication that an item for an intended recipient has been deposited into a secure mailbox. The method also includes, based at least in part on receiving the indication, programming an access control device of the secure mailbox to unlock the access control device in response to a credential assigned to the intended recipient and notifying the intended recipient that the item is in the secure mailbox. It is detected that the secure mailbox has been unlocked in response to the credential that is assigned to the intended recipient. Based at least in part on the detecting, re-programming the access control device of the secure mailbox to an un-programed status that includes the access control device remaining in the unlocked state.

An item drop box sensor system for detecting items deposited within a drop box may be configured to detect movement of an item deposit tray and to detect items deposited within the drop box. The drop box sensor system may comprise one or more tray movement sensors for detecting movement of the deposit tray, one or more item detection sensors configured to detect items passing into the drop box via the deposit tray, and an onboard controller for selectively activating the various sensors to conserve power and for transmitting data indicative of the status of the drop box to a central server configured for scheduling item pickups for various geographically spaced drop boxes.

A system and method for determining the addition or removal of an object from a receptacle is provided. An ultrasound sensor may emit one or more bursts of ultrasonic energy and detect the amplitude of the echoes from each respective burst over time. A microcontroller may determine a decay rate of each respective burst from the amplitudes of the respective echoes. The decay rates are compared for changes within the receptacle caused by reflection, transmission, absorption, and diffusion of the ultrasound waves. If the difference between the second and first decay rates is larger than a predetermined amount, the addition of an object is determined.

An apparatus comprising: a retaining device for retaining planar items including mail and/or documents, in which mail can be located and from which mail can be collected; a control means; a sensor means for indicating to the control means information indicative of mail and/or documents having been placed in the retaining device and/or removed from the retaining device, wherein the control means is arranged to cause, in response thereto, at least one action to be performed.

An intelligent item receptacle, system, and method for providing supplemental media content in response to depositing an item having media indicia disposed thereon. An intelligent item receptacle includes an item receptacle securely enclosing an interior volume, an item sensor configured to detect an inserted item, a camera within the interior volume configured to capture an image of the item, and an output configured to play audio or visual content to bystanders outside the item receptacle. Processing circuitry within the item receptacle analyzes the image to determine if the media indicia are present on the item and, if present, causes the output to play the audio or visual content associated with the media indicia.

Systems and methods for an intelligent collection box are provided. Implementations of the intelligent collection box include a processor, a computer-readable data storage system storing program instructions, a weighing scale, a display, a speaker, a microphone, a network interface, and a power generator. The program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the intelligent collection box to perform operations including identifying keywords spoken by the user. The operations also include authenticating the user using the keywords. The operations also include determining a request for delivery of an item based on the keywords. The operations also include responding to the request for delivery. The operations also include determining a weight of the item. The operations also include determining delivery options for the item using the weight and using delivery information. The operations also include determining that the item has been received by the collection box.

A system of lockers includes at least two groups of lockers, a control unit, a user interface, a communication unit. Each group of lockers has lockers designated for a respective parcel type. The control unit communicates with the lockers and is configured to control an opening of each locker. The user interface is configured to receive from a delivery person input indicative an identification of the delivery person. The communication unit is configured to communicate the input from the user interface to a data center. The data center is configured to store a plurality of identifications of a plurality of delivery persons associated with one or more of the lockers, for comparing the input with the plurality of identifications, and for transmitting to the control unit a command to open one or more of the lockers associated with the identification input by the delivery person.