A mail delivery assistance system comprises a letterbox for receiving mail consignments that has an opening and an electronic locking mechanism, a data processing device that comprises a database having an address file in which a respective addressee is associated with a building address, and a reader for capturing mail consignment data of a mail consignment. The reader, during operation, is communicatively connected to the data processing device in order to send the mail consignment data to the data processing device. The data processing device checks whether the mail consignment data match an addressee in the address file, and, if this is the case, generates a control signal for the locking mechanism in order to open the opening and to allow delivery of the mail consignment.

This invention is new because it's the first device of its kind designed to be used to prevent packages from being stolen after delivery to a consumer's house. Other methods like locking boxes or special locks either already exist, or are being developed but this device is the first locking bag for that purpose that is held securely by an extended strap that closes under a door, or secures to a physical object.

A package receiving system includes a cover, a back wall coupled to the cover by a movable joint, a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a front wall. The package receiving system is movable from a collapsed state to an expanded state.

The present invention teaches a residential curbside mailbox with enhanced box handling capability, openable by barcode scanning, and with interchangeable bonnets. A body which is generally column shaped has front and rear doors which open at the top and hinge near the bottom and which have interleaved fingers or members extending from the bottom ends into the interior space of the mailbox. A box tray sits on the interleaved fingers. When either door is opened the fingers of that door lift the box tray upward and out of the box on that side. Thus a delivery person may access a box without leaving a delivery vehicle, while the homeowner may do the same without leaving the safety of the yard. In addition, an elastic cord and carefully slanted slots on side panels of the front door allow easy retention of a box even further up the front door.

The present invention teaches a residential curbside mailbox with enhanced box handling capability, openable by barcode scanning, and with interchangeable bonnets. A body which is generally column shaped has front and rear doors which open at the top and hinge near the bottom and which have interleaved fingers or members extending from the bottom ends into the interior space of the mailbox. A box tray sits on the interleaved fingers. When either door is opened the fingers of that door lift the box tray upward and out of the box on that side. Thus a delivery person may access a box without leaving a delivery vehicle, while the homeowner may do the same without leaving the safety of the yard. In addition, an elastic cord and carefully slanted slots on side panels of the front door allow easy retention of a box even further up the front door.

Item delivery system comprises at least one personal mailbox and optionally a publicly available post box. The mailbox doors are provided with an electronic lock operated by a radio frequent signal containing an authentication code, sent from a nearby personal communication device provided with software. The software contains modules for performing online payment for mail delivery services and modules for granting or revoking access to mailboxes.

Item delivery system comprises at least one personal mailbox and optionally a publicly available post box. The mailbox doors are provided with an electronic lock operated by a radio frequent signal containing an authentication code, sent from a nearby personal communication device provided with software. The software contains modules for performing online payment for mail delivery services and modules for granting or revoking access to mailboxes.

Provided is a method for access control, performed by an access control apparatus, including obtaining access authorization information that is communicated to the access control apparatus having at least one access authorization parameter and first check information; using at least the communicated access authorization parameters, the communicated first check information and a second key from a key pair, which second key is stored in the access control apparatus, to perform a first check on whether the communicated first check information has been produced by performing cryptographic operations by means of access authorization parameters corresponding to the communicated access authorization parameters using at least one first key from the key pair, and deciding whether access can be granted, based on the first check delivers a positive result and it is established that at least one predefined set of the communicated access authorization parameters respectively provides access authorization.

Provided is a method for access control, performed by an access control apparatus, including obtaining access authorization information that is communicated to the access control apparatus having at least one access authorization parameter and first check information; using at least the communicated access authorization parameters, the communicated first check information and a second key from a key pair, which second key is stored in the access control apparatus, to perform a first check on whether the communicated first check information has been produced by performing cryptographic operations by means of access authorization parameters corresponding to the communicated access authorization parameters using at least one first key from the key pair, and deciding whether access can be granted, based on the first check delivers a positive result and it is established that at least one predefined set of the communicated access authorization parameters respectively provides access authorization.

A mailbox with components which can be connected to or disconnected from the mailbox for adding or changing functional or ornamental aspects of the mailbox.