Computer-implemented process for improved delivery of commodities to consumers

Abstract

The invention provides an improved method of logistics and/or operations for conducting a direct-to-consumer e-commerce retail business. The logistics and/or operations system of the present invention may be used in connection with any online or e-commerce retail sector, including, for example, but not limited to, food retail (i.e., grocery retail), electronics, home goods, books, clothing, and shoes.

Claims

1. A distribution device comprising: a plurality of compartments configured to respectively receive and store one or more containers deposited by a first user and to provide access to and retrieval of the one or more containers by a second user; a latch configured to restrict movement of the one or more containers to and from a given compartment; an environmental control device configured to control an environment of the distribution device, wherein the environmental control device separately regulates a specific environment in each of the plurality of compartments based on environmental requirements of contents in the one or more containers in each of the plurality of compartments and collected environmental information of each of the plurality of compartments; a first one-way valve for air flow into the distribution device and second one-way valve for air flow out of the distribution device, wherein operation of the first and second one-way valves is enabled by a pressure change within the distribution device caused by a respirating organism occupying the distribution device; and an electronic device comprising a memory and configured to: communicate with an external device to receive delivery information regarding the one or more containers to be deposited by the first user, wherein the delivery information identifies the one or more containers and identifies the distribution device, operate in concert with the given compartment and the latch by: storing contents of the given compartment in the memory, the contents corresponding to the delivery information and the one or more containers deposited by the first user and retrieved by the second user, and operating the latch to provide access to the given compartment; wherein the electronic device comprises an interface device configured to receive information utilized by the electronic device to authenticate the first or second users; wherein the information utilized by the electronic device to authenticate the second user is supplied by the second user and encrypted upon being supplied by the second user; wherein the given compartment comprises a space saving drawer comprising one or more removable dividers configured to allocate available space of the given compartment into sub-compartments to store a number of the one or more containers according to varying sizes; wherein the space-saving drawer comprises a plurality of machine-readable markings configured to denote respective positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the plurality of machine-readable markings are spaced apart from each other on a wall of the space-saving drawer to correspond to the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers and to a plurality of possible positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the electronic device records the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers from one or more machine-readable markings of the plurality of machine-readable markings, wherein the space saving drawer further comprises: a blocking material configured to obstruct viewing and accessing by the second user of at least a given sub-compartment of the sub-compartments; and an electro-mechanical mechanism configured to operate to move the blocking material into a determined position; and wherein the electronic device (i) controls the electro-mechanical mechanism to enable the moving of the blocking material when the space saving drawer is fully inserted into the given compartment; and (ii) operates the latch to allow the space saving drawer to be pulled out once the moving of the blocking material is complete.

2. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments vary in size with respect to each other to accommodate varying container sizes of the one or more containers.

3. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of compartments configured to respectively receive and store the one or more containers deposited by the first user and to provide access to and retrieval of the one or more containers by the second user is individually labeled by an identification value that is associated with the contents stored by the memory.

4. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the given compartment comprises a thermal insulation lining.

5. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the environmental control device comprises a thermosensor, a humidity sensor, a thermometer, a pressure sensor, or a light sensor.

6. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the environmental control device comprises a water retention device.

7. The distribution device of claim 6, wherein the water retention device comprises a liquid containing and collecting device configured to provide temperature management inside the distribution device.

8. The distribution device of claim 6, wherein the water retention device comprises a rainwater cooling device configured to supply rainwater to a plurality of chambers of the distribution device.

9. The distribution device of claim 8, wherein the rainwater cooling device comprises plants configured to trap water and provide temperature management inside the distribution device.

10. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the environmental control device communicates conditions of the environment to the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to prevent access to the given compartment when the environment differs from the environmental requirements of the contents in the one or more containers in the given compartment.

11. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device electro-mechanically operates the latch to provide access to the given compartment in response to the authentication of the first or second users.

12. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a lock operated electro-mechanically by the electronic device in response to the interface device receiving the information and the authentication of the first and second users.

13. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a card reader configured to receive and read a number of a card of the second user, and wherein the electronic device compares the number of the card with a value stored within the contents on the memory to determine whether to provide the access to the given compartment and the retrieval of the one or more containers the second user, wherein the value is included in the delivery information provided by the external device to the distribution device.

14. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a card reader configured to receive and read a number of a card of the second user, wherein the number of the card is passed through a one way hash operation to obtain a hash value, wherein the hash value is compared with a plurality of hashes in a table of orders stored within the contents on the memory, and wherein the electronic device electro-mechanically operates the latch to provide access to the given compartment when the hash value matches one of the plurality of hashes.

15. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a fingerprint reader, a retinal scanner, a touch screen panel, a physical keypad, a microphone, a camera, a radio frequency identification receiver, a radio transceiver, or a voice activated scanner.

16. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a sobriety testing device configured to measure an alcohol content in an exhaled breath of the second user.

17. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the first user is a delivery person and the second user is a customer.

18. The distribution device of claim 1, comprising surveillance equipment configured to monitor access to the distribution device.

19. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical mechanism comprises a plurality of powered gears, and wherein the determined position grants access to at least one of the sub-compartments.

20. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the space saving drawer comprises: a set of tracks; a floor positioned between the set of tracks and an opening of the compartment; the sub-compartments positioned between the floor and the opening of the compartment; and the blocking material extending across a width of the space saving drawer between the set of tracks and configured to wrap circumferentially around the floor and the sub-compartments to prevent damage to the one or more containers as the blocking material is repositioned.

21. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device associates the one or more containers with corresponding ones of the sub-compartments created by the one or more removable dividers.

22. A system, comprising: a distribution device comprising a plurality of compartments configured to respectively receive and store one or more containers deposited by a first user and to provide access to and retrieval of the one or more containers by a second user; an external device comprising a first memory for storing delivery information regarding the one or more containers to be deposited by the first user; an environmental control device configured to control an environment of the distribution device, wherein the environmental control device separately regulates a specific environment in each of the plurality of compartments based on environmental requirements of contents in the one or more containers in each of the plurality of compartments and collected environmental information of each of the plurality of compartments; and a computer-implemented ordering sub-system in communication with the external device and configured to: receive an order from the second user, wherein the order identifies the contents in the one or more containers and identifies the distribution device, generate the delivery information based on the order, and transfer the delivery information to the external device, wherein the distribution device further comprises a latch, and an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a second memory and is configured to: communicate with the external device to receive the delivery information regarding the one or more containers to be deposited by the first user, operate in concert with a given compartment of the plurality of compartments and the latch by storing the contents in the one or more containers in the given compartment in the second memory, the contents corresponding to the delivery information and the one or more containers deposited by the first user and retrieved by the second user, and operating the latch to provide access to the given compartment; wherein the electronic device comprises an interface device configured to receive information utilized by the electronic device to authenticate the first or second users; and wherein the information utilized by the electronic device to authenticate the second user is supplied by the second user and encrypted upon being supplied by the second user; wherein the given compartment comprises a space saving drawer comprising one or more removable dividers configured to allocate available space of the given compartment into sub-compartments to store a number of the one or more containers according to varying sizes; wherein the space-saving drawer comprises a plurality of machine-readable markings configured to denote respective positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the plurality of machine-readable markings are spaced apart from each other on a wall of the space-saving drawer to correspond to the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers and to a plurality of possible positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the electronic device records the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers from one or more machine-readable markings of the plurality of machine-readable markings; wherein the space saving drawer further comprises: a blocking material configured to obstruct viewing and accessing by the second user of at least a given sub-compartment of the sub-compartments; and an electro-mechanical mechanism configured to operate to move the blocking material into a determined position; wherein the electronic device (i) controls the electro-mechanical mechanism to enable the moving of the blocking material when the space saving drawer is fully inserted into the given compartment; and (ii) operates the latch to allow the space saving drawer to be pulled out once the moving of the blocking material is complete; and wherein the distribution device includes a first one-way valve for air flow into the distribution device and second one-way valve for air flow out of the distribution device, wherein operation of the first and second one-way valves is enabled by a pressure change within the distribution device caused by a respirating organism occupying the distribution device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the external device is a personal computer or a smartphone.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first user is a delivery person and the second user is a customer.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer-implemented ordering sub-system is configured to track an identity of the one or more containers placed in the distribution device and associate the identity of one or more containers with an identity of each of the plurality of compartments of the distribution device to facilitate retrieval by the second user.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the distribution device is located within a geographical region and is configured to temporarily house the one or more containers in anticipation of retrieval by the second user.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the geographical region is a county, a city, a town, a village, a borough, a neighborhood, a city block, or a food desert.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more containers comprises food items locally-grown in a geographical region of the distribution device.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein each of the one or more containers comprises thermal or environmental sensors configured to detect environmental conditions of the one or more containers.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer-implemented ordering sub-system is configured to collect information regarding the environmental requirements of the contents and collect the environmental information from the one or more containers from an environmental control device of the container.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer-implemented ordering sub-system is configured to utilize the information to determine if the contents of the one or more containers have experienced environmental conditions outside of the environmental requirements based on the environmental information.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the computer-implemented ordering sub-system is configured to cancel the depositing by the first user or the retrieval by the second user of the one or more containers in response to determining that the contents of the one or more containers have experienced the environmental conditions outside of the environmental requirements.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more containers are reusable by subsequent second users.

34. The system of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of compartments configured to respectively receive and store the one or more containers deposited by the first user and to provide access to and retrieval of the one or more containers by the second user is individually labeled by an identification value that is associated with the contents stored by the second memory.

35. The distribution device of claim 1, wherein the environmental control device separately regulates at least two of temperature, humidity, pressure and light in each of the plurality of compartments.

36. The system of claim 22, wherein the environmental control device separately regulates at least two of temperature, humidity, pressure and light in each of the plurality of compartments.

37. A distribution device comprising: a plurality of compartments configured to respectively receive and store one or more containers deposited by a first user and to provide access to and retrieval of the one or more containers by a second user; wherein the second user authorizes one or more other users in addition to the second user to access and retrieve the one or more containers; a latch configured to restrict movement of the one or more containers to and from a given compartment; an environmental control device configured to control an environment of the distribution device, wherein the environmental control device separately regulates a specific environment in each of the plurality of compartments based on environmental requirements of contents in the one or more containers in each of the plurality of compartments and collected environmental information of each of the plurality of compartments; a first one-way valve for air flow into the distribution device and second one-way valve for air flow out of the distribution device, wherein operation of the first and second one-way valves is enabled by a pressure change within the distribution device caused by a respirating organism occupying the distribution device; and an electronic device comprising a memory and configured to: communicate with an external device to receive delivery information regarding the one or more containers to be deposited by the first user, wherein the delivery information identifies the one or more containers and identifies the distribution device, operate in concert with the given compartment and the latch by: storing contents of the given compartment in the memory, the contents corresponding to the delivery information and the one or more containers deposited by the first user and retrieved by at least one of the one or more users authorized by the second user and the second user, and operating the latch to provide access to the given compartment; wherein the electronic device is configured to provide the access to the second user and to the one or more other users by respectively interfacing with different electronic access mechanisms storing user specific information; wherein the given compartment comprises a space saving drawer comprising one or more removable dividers configured to allocate available space of the given compartment into sub-compartments to store a number of the one or more containers according to varying sizes; wherein the space-saving drawer comprises a plurality of machine-readable markings configured to denote respective positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the plurality of machine-readable markings are spaced apart from each other on a wall of the space-saving drawer to correspond to the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers and to a plurality of possible positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the electronic device records the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers from one or more machine-readable markings of the plurality of machine-readable markings; wherein the space saving drawer further comprises: a blocking material configured to obstruct viewing and accessing by the second user of at least a given sub-compartment of the sub-compartments; and an electro-mechanical mechanism configured to operate to move the blocking material into a determined position; and wherein the electronic device (i) controls the electro-mechanical mechanism to enable the moving of the blocking material when the space saving drawer is fully inserted into the given compartment; and (ii) operates the latch to allow the space saving drawer to be pulled out once the moving of the blocking material is complete.

38. A system, comprising: a distribution device comprising a plurality of compartments configured to respectively receive and store one or more containers deposited by a first user and to provide access to and retrieval of the one or more containers by a second user; wherein the second user authorizes one or more other users in addition to the second user to access and retrieve the one or more containers; an external device comprising a first memory for storing delivery information regarding the one or more containers to be deposited by the first user; an environmental control device configured to control an environment of the distribution device, wherein the environmental control device separately regulates a specific environment in each of the plurality of compartments based on environmental requirements of contents in the one or more containers in each of the plurality of compartments and collected environmental information of each of the plurality of compartments; and a computer-implemented ordering sub-system in communication with the external device and configured to: receive an order from the second user, wherein the order identifies the contents in the one or more containers and identifies the distribution device, generate the delivery information based on the order, and transfer the delivery information to the external device, wherein the distribution device further comprises a latch, an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a second memory and is configured to: communicate with the external device to receive the delivery information regarding the one or more containers to be deposited by the first user, operate in concert with a given compartment of the plurality of compartments and the latch by storing the contents in the one or more containers in the given compartment in the second memory, the contents corresponding to the delivery information and the one or more containers deposited by the first user and retrieved by at least one of the one or more users authorized by the second user and the second user, and operating the latch to provide access to the given compartment; wherein the electronic device is configured to provide the access to the second user and to the one or more other users by respectively interfacing with different electronic access mechanisms storing user specific information; wherein the given compartment comprises a space saving drawer comprising one or more removable dividers configured to allocate available space of the given compartment into sub-compartments to store a number of the one or more containers according to varying sizes; wherein the space-saving drawer comprises a plurality of machine-readable markings configured to denote respective positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the plurality of machine-readable markings are spaced apart from each other on a wall of the space-saving drawer to correspond to the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers and to a plurality of possible positions of the one or more removable dividers; wherein the electronic device records the respective positions of the one or more removable dividers from one or more machine-readable markings of the plurality of machine-readable markings; wherein the space saving drawer further comprises: a blocking material configured to obstruct viewing and accessing by the second user of at least a given sub-compartment of the sub-compartments; and an electro-mechanical mechanism configured to operate to move the blocking material into a determined position; wherein the electronic device (i) controls the electro-mechanical mechanism to enable the moving of the blocking material when the space saving drawer is fully inserted into the given compartment; and (ii) operates the latch to allow the space saving drawer to be pulled out once the moving of the blocking material is complete; and wherein the distribution device includes a first one-way valve for air flow into the distribution device and second one-way valve for air flow out of the distribution device, wherein operation of the first and second one-way valves is enabled by a pressure change within the distribution device caused by a respirating organism occupying the distribution device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following detailed description, given by way of example, but not intended to limit the invention solely to the specific embodiments described, may best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the logistic of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 provides a schematic in the form of a flowchart representing an overview of an embodiment of the logistic of the present invention, in operation from the point that the customer creates an order to the time the customer obtains their ordered goods.

(4) FIG. 3 provides a schematic in the form of a flowchart representing an embodiment of how a customer may place an order using a computer-implemented device (e.g., personal computer or smart phone connected to the internet), as a component of the logistic of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 provides a schematic in the form of a flowchart representing an embodiment of the fulfillment stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 provides a schematic in the form of flowchart representing an embodiment of the sorting stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 provides a schematic in the form of flowchart representing an embodiment of the packing stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 provides a schematic in the form of flowchart representing an embodiment of the delivery stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the distribution device (also referred to as a product pick-up device and the like) of the present invention, which is placed or is physically situated at a waypoint site, or equivalently, a product distribution location or site.

(10) FIG. 9 is a further embodiment of the embodiment shown in the preceding figure, but modified to show a water retention device for the purpose of facilitating cooling of the device, or otherwise facilitating the regulation of the environment (e.g., moisture level, temperature).

(11) FIG. 10 is a side view of a particular space-saving design of a component of the distribution devices of the present invention (top image), and a top view of the same (lower image).

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the distribution device of the present invention with the addition of one way valves to provide emergency air flow; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention, depicting the inside of the door to a compartment of distribution device of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 13 depicts an embodiment of the distribution device of the invention showing the movement of air through the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(15) In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural, and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

(16) A new and useful system of logistics and/or operations for fulfilling customer orders of retail products and/or food and delivering said orders to the customer via a distribution system that employs geographically-specific distribution centers that include a product pick-up unit (i.e., product kiosk, product pick-up device, product depository device) to which a plurality of customer orders may be delivered, and from which a plurality of customers may independently or together retrieve their orders. In certain embodiments, the product depository devices include various devices and mechanisms, e.g., onboard computers, thermostats, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, heaters, air conditioning units, that allow the local environment of the product depository devices, and in particular, the specific environment in each compartment or space to which an order is stored or placed until customer pick-up is complete, to be regulated locally or remotely by a computer-implemented device. In other embodiments, each order along the entire logistics process, includes various monitoring devices, e.g., thermosensors, that allow the moisture and temperature and other sensors sufficient to measure and ascertain the precise environment local to the order itself at any point along the logistic. Such monitoring and measuring may be done remotely or locally via computer-implemented devices.

(17) The system of logistics and/or operations of the present invention, in one embodiment, is particularly suited for improving the process of e-commerce in the food retail sector, i.e., where a food shopper seeks to place a food or grocery order using a computer-implemented device (e.g., a personal computer or mobile device connected to the internet) and requests the order to be delivered directly to their home or place of work. Current systems for online food retail services where ordered food is delivered to the home have numerous disadvantages, including: (a) lack of flexibility from the standpoint of the consumer because the consumer will need to plan an appropriate time to receive the order at the designated delivery site (e.g., home); (b) lack of flexibility from the standpoint of the seller or food retailer because the food retailer needs to conduct accurate scheduling of multiple orders executed by each delivery truck to the correct customers at specific times or time windows, resulting in higher costs; and (c) lack of throughput on the part of the retail seller because of time constraints imposed by limited delivery times and a limited number of stops feasible per day per delivery truck. These restrictions lead to inefficiencies (due to constraints imposed by time and customer convenience and/or requests, there are significant limitations on the total number of customer orders that can be processed per delivery truck), reduced capacity to handle increasing customer orders due to said restrictions, and ultimately higher costs. In the context of online food retailers, these problems are solved and overcome with the solution of the invention. Additional benefits stem from the present invention, too, including, for example: (i) capacity to integrate greater variety of locally-grown food sources during delivery phase due to the increased route distance that results from proceeding in accordance with the inventive logistics; (ii) improved benefits to the environment, e.g., fewer delivery trucks required relative to the number of customers serviced, i.e., the ratio of number of customers serviced to the number of delivery truck required to service said customers substantially increases by using the logistics of the invention versus standard logistics (e.g., retail-store-to-house delivery); integration of increased variety and quality of food retail by being able to integrate locally-grown foods; increased economic benefit to the farming community, which may introduce increased levels of locally-grown produce and food into the stream of commerce. Importantly, due to the reduced economic costs resulting from using the logistics of the invention, the present invention also benefits lower income sectors and food deserts (places having no actual local grocery stores or sources of healthy food) by making good, healthy readily available and with minimal additional costs, if any at all, other than the prices of the food products themselves.

(18) Various terms having the same meaning may be used throughout the specification. Specific terms are as follows.

(19) As used herein, a fulfillment center or site refers to a building where product inventory is stored and where orders are fulfilled for consumers. Equivalent terms include distribution center.

(20) As used herein, a waypoint site or location or waypoint pickup site or location or the like refers to the geographical location, e.g., a neighborhood (e.g., nearby a cluster of mailboxes), a street corner, a community center, a church, or any equivalent location indoors or outdoors, whereby a product pick-up device is placed. Other equivalent terms for a waypoint site include a product distribution location or site.

(21) As used herein, a product pick-up device refers to the physical device which temporarily stores fulfilled orders until the point at which the customer picks up or retrieves her order therefrom. The product pick-up device may equivalently be referred to as a distribution device or a product kiosk or the like. In certain embodiments, the product pick-up device comprises a plurality of spaces or chambers which may be environmentally regulated by local (e.g., by rainwater cooling devices) or remote means (e.g., via computer thermosensors etc.) and which may be accessed by a customer in order to retrieve her order.

(22) As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, and, and the include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a kiosk is a reference to one or more kiosks and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

(23) Referring now to the invention in more detail, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the logistic of the present invention. The logistic scheme includes a point of origin 101. The point of origin 101 can include, for example, a warehouse or other order fulfillment facility or otherwise inventory storage site. From the point of origin 101, a delivery vehicle (e.g., a delivery truck) travels along routes 104 to service a locality 106 (e.g., a city, town, neighborhood, county). Trucks travel between waypoint pickup locations 102 (depicted as open circles), obviating the need to travel between the substantially greater number of customer locations 103 (depicted as dots) (e.g., representing a customer located at a private residence, home, business, school, university, etc.). During transit, the truck may optionally source from local suppliers 107 (e.g., local farms, sources of locally-grown food). Locally-grown food picked up during transit may be used to fulfill certain orders on the vehicle itself just prior to delivery of orders to each waypoint pickup location 102 or to specific waypoint pickup locations 102. As can be seen visually from FIG. 1, each potential customer 103 may be serviced via a limited number of waypoint pickup locations 102 (in this case, 5 waypoint pickup locations), thereby directly increasing the efficiency of the logistics by maximizing or increasing the ratio of serviced customers to the number of delivery trucks. In other words, the waypoint pickup locations function as a temporary deposit site for placed orders for a plurality of customers, upon which at a later point access their order by accessing the product pick-up device (not shown in the figure, but each waypoint pickup location 102 would include at least 1 product pick-up device, but may include more than 1) at the waypoint pickup location 102 to obtain the purchased and delivered goods.

(24) As an alternative embodiment, a customer could arrange to have a local courier pick-up the order from the waypoint pickup location and deliver the order to the customer, i.e., conduct a last-mile delivery, for a nominal additional fee. This option may be suitable for the impaired or elderly.

(25) Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic is provided in the form of a flowchart representing an overview of an embodiment of the logistic of the present invention, in operation from the point that the customer creates an order and ending with that order being delivered to the customer. FIGS. 3-7 are exploded views showing specific steps of the logistic in more detail.

(26) To help illustrate the logistic of the invention, the logistic is examined in the following narrative.

(27) Bob places an order by scheduling a waypoint delivery and adding items to it. He is free to do this in any order, and may add/change/remove items and/or change or cancel the scheduled waypoint delivery right until his order enters the fulfillment process. In one embodiment, Bob is notified of the cutoff time after which he would no longer be able to modify his order.

(28) The order system itself is preferably a computer-implemented order system, such as that described in U.S. provisional application No. 61/547,752, filed Oct. 17, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented order system is connected to the internet and can be in the form of a personal computer or a mobile device (e.g., smart phone) which has an internet connection.

(29) Bob also has the option of choosing to pickup his order himself from the waypoint pickup site, sending his own agent, or having the system select a courier to bring his order to him. He is free to change this selection even after the fulfillment of his order begins.

(30) If Bob chooses waypoint pickup, he decides upon a set of people who are authorized to pick up his order, and provides information for the distribution device to authenticate them. In this case, Bob chooses his son Jake and enters Jake's credit card number. The system hashes Jake's credit card number using a one way function rendering the credit card number computationally irretrievable. Bob also chooses to authorize himself in case Jake forgets to pick up the order, and his hashed credit card number is retrieved from a previous waypoint delivery.

(31) Sally is in a similar situation to Bob, except that she chooses to have her order brought to her by a courier selected by the system. She pays the additional fee, if any, and chooses the best delivery place/time for her. The system then automatically selects the closest available waypoint delivery and assigns a courier to bring her order to her. Sally similarly provides her credit card number, which is hashed, for authentication at the time of delivery if necessary. Sally's order process follows similarly to Bob's as described below.

(32) Bob further provides payment information if needed. Alternatively this information may be retrieved from his previously stored account information.

(33) After the cutoff time associated with the waypoint delivery Bob selected, Fernando, a manager at the fulfillment facility, assigns Bob's order to a new wave and begins the fulfillment process. Bob can no longer make changes to his items of the waypoint delivery he scheduled, but he can choose to switch to delivery rather than waypoint pickup.

(34) Fred, a picker in the fulfillment facility, receives a list of items belonging to the wave which are located in his section. The system directs him to pick these items in the order they appear throughout his section. In one embodiment, single LED lights underneath each product bin light up in sequence directing him to the next product, and an earpiece reads the quantity to pull. After pulling these items Fred actuates a button to advance to the next product, and the LED under the next product to pick now illuminates.

(35) If any item is out of stock, Fred indicates this to the system, which either directs him to either pull an alternative product or credits the customer's account, according to the customer's wishes. If Fred is able to locate a suitable replacement, he scans the item, and this item is now associated with the customer's order. Any pricing adjustments may be made accordingly.

(36) Once Fred has picked his items, he brings them to the sorting station assigned to the wave and confirms this with the system. Once all items for the wave have been picked and brought to the sorting station, the sorting process begins.

(37) Sorting may be accomplished using a variety of devices and techniques. In one embodiment, a system of compartments is employed, underneath each of which is a single multicolor LED. Felix, one of the workers assigned to the sorting station, begins sorting the wave by scanning an item. The LED under the correct compartment is illuminated using the color previously assigned to Felix. His colleagues do the same and their compartments are illuminated using their colors. If any compartment is momentarily assigned to two workers, the LED alternately flashes their colors.

(38) If Felix encounters an item that he cannot scan for whatever reason, he simply sets it aside. Once all items that can be scanned have been placed in their correct compartments, the system displays a list of products which have not been scanned. For each of these items on the list, Felix attempts to locate the item in the set-aside collection. If he is able to find the item, he indicates this to the system, and the system illuminates the proper LED. If not, he indicates this to the system, and the customer's account is credited.

(39) Once the wave has been fully sorted into component orders, each order is packed by a team of packers. Francois, a packer, begins by scanning a compartment on the sorting station, and selecting and scanning an appropriately sized delivery container. Items may be packed together or separately depending on their environmental requirements (e.g. temperature, moisture content) or other considerations. Francois scans each of the containers he selects for the customer's order and the system associates it to their order electronically. Alternatively or additionally, he may label the containers physically. Environmental monitoring devices (e.g., a thermosensor, humidity sensor) may be added to any container, in which case Francois scans these devices to associate them to the container.

(40) Once the orders are packed, they are routed to their appropriate staging area for loading onto a delivery vehicle, in the reverse order of the scheduled delivery route.

(41) Steve, the driver of the delivery vehicle, preferably has a mobile device, to which is downloaded the scheduled delivery route, turn by turn directions, information on all orders to be delivered, as well as information on items to pick up locally for future customer orders.

(42) Steve makes his first stop at a first waypoint pickup location, and begins by identifying himself to the product distribution device (or product kiosk system). All available compartments of the device open. Steve removes any empty delivery containers from the compartments, along with any previous orders that were not picked up. He then removes the orders from his delivery vehicle, scanning each container, until he reaches orders to be delivered to the second waypoint pickup location. This process is repeated until all orders have been delivered.

(43) As he scans each container, his mobile device (or other suitable computer-implemented device) presents a list of the other containers belonging to that customer's order, as well as any preferences the user has expressed for the physical placement of their order. Bob is relatively tall, so he has expressed a preference to not have a compartment close to the ground. Steve chooses the best available compartment to match the order and scans it to associate the compartment to the customer's order, unless a compartment has been pre-assigned by the system. As he scans subsequent containers belonging to that order, the system will remind him of the correct compartment to place them. If he runs out of room in any compartment, he scans another compartment to further associate this compartment to the customer's order.

(44) Once all containers to be delivered have been loaded into compartments, Steve interfaces his mobile device or other computer-implemented device with the product distribution device, and transmits the list of orders along with identifying information. In this case, among this information are Bob and Jake's hashed credit card numbers.

(45) Steve then secures all compartments and moves on to his next waypoint pickup site as directed by his computer-implemented device (e.g., mobile device), which may alternately be a location from which to pick up items for subsequent customer orders, such as a site location to pick up locally-grown food or produce.

(46) When Steve returns to the warehouse, all empty delivery containers he retrieved are scanned, and the corresponding customers' deposits are refunded as needed. In addition, all locally sourced items Steve has picked up are recorded as inventory and routed to the appropriate location in the fulfillment facility.

(47) As Bob might have predicted, Jake forgot to pick up the order on his way home, so Bob travels to the waypoint and slides his credit card into the distribution device to identify himself. His credit card number is passed through the same one way function as before to obtain the hash, and this hash is compared with hashes in the table of orders recorded by the distribution device. His hash matches one of the two hashes associated with his order, so the distribution device verifies that the environmental sensors associated with his order (if any) are reading within proper tolerances, and if so the correct compartments open. Bob removes his order. He has the option of removing his items from the containers and placing the empty containers back in the compartments right away, but in this case he chooses to use the containers to bring his items home, and plans to return them a different day.

(48) Sally's order proceeds slightly differently. Tim, the courier assigned by the system travels to the waypoint and identifies himself to the distribution device. The device opens the correct compartments, and Tim's mobile device directs him as to where to deliver Sally's order. He may or may not need to authenticate Sally depending on the situation. Once he delivers her order, he marks it as delivered on his mobile device.

(49) This illustrative scenario involving the above characteristics corresponds to the flowcharts that summarize the logistics system of the present invention as depicted in FIGS. 3-7. More in particular, FIG. 3 provides a schematic in the form of a flowchart representing an embodiment of how a customer may place an order using a computer-implemented device (e.g., personal computer or smart phone connected to the internet), as a component of the logistic of the present invention. FIG. 4 provides a schematic in the form of a flowchart representing an embodiment of the fulfillment stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention. FIG. 5 provides a schematic in the form of flowchart representing an embodiment of the sorting stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention. FIG. 6 provides a schematic in the form of flowchart representing an embodiment of the packing stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention. FIG. 7 provides a schematic in the form of flowchart representing an embodiment of the delivery stage of the invention, as a component of the logistic of the present invention.

(50) The logistics system of the invention involves the use of one or more product pickup devices (or distribution devices) which are physically situated at the waypoint pickup location or site. The product pickup devices comprise a plurality of spaces or compartments in which the orders may be placed by the delivery people, and from which the customer may access and obtain their order at a subsequent timepoint. Preferably, each of the plurality of spaces or compartments comprise one or more security measures, such as, locks (e.g., digital locks that may be accessed by a swipable card or other similar electronic key/lock device), surveillance equipment to monitor those who approach the pickup device, and environmental control devices, such as thermosensors and humidity sensors, and computer-implemented devices for regulating, measuring, and changing the environment of the overall device and its compartments (e.g., changing the temperature or pressure or humidity level, or controlling airflow). Any conceivable variation in shape, size, material, and appearance, is contemplated, so long as the device may function as intended as a distribution device.

(51) FIG. 8 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the distribution device (also referred to as a product pick-up device and the like) of the present invention, which is placed or is physically situated at a waypoint site, or equivalently, a product distribution location or site.

(52) FIG. 8 shows two variations of distribution devices 201 and 206. Compartments 202 are depicted secured by doors 203, which in turn are locked/unlocked by electronic device 204 and human interface element 205.

(53) In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 8, human interface device 205 may for example be a credit card reader (i.e., a magnetic card reader) so that when a customer swipes their card, electronic device 204 may compare the card number with a stored value (optionally using a one-way function) to determine whether access should be granted and which compartment to open. In another embodiment, interface device 205 may be a fingerprint reader, retinal scanner, touch screen panel, physical keypad, or microphone, camera, RFID receiver, or other radio transceiver (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, and so on). Furthermore interface device 205 may comprise a combination of these or other devices, and may additionally comprise a means to verify sobriety in the case that distribution device 201 is used to distribute alcohol, e.g., a cognitive testing device or a device measuring alcohol content in exhaled breath.

(54) In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 8, compartments 202 may or may not be sized uniformly, in order to accommodate the greatest number of simultaneous customer orders. Material selection may vary according to the goods being stored, e.g., in the case of food, compartments 202 may and doors 203 may be lined with thermal insulation.

(55) FIG. 9 is a further embodiment of the embodiment shown in the preceding figure, but modified to show a water retention device for the purpose of facilitating cooling of the device, or otherwise facilitating the regulation of the environment (e.g., moisture level, temperature).

(56) As shown in FIG. 9, distribution device 201 is shown with a liquid (e.g., water) containing and collecting device 301 to assist with temperature management inside the distribution device. In particular, device 301 may house soil and plants to trap water and help regulate temperature inside distribution device 201.

(57) The embodiment of FIG. 9 can be constructed so that containing and collecting device 301 is open to its top to permit evaporation to the air (e.g., as described above), or it may be closed to form part of an absorption refrigeration system.

(58) FIG. 10 is a side view of a particular space-saving design of a component of the distribution devices of the present invention (top image), and a top view of the same (lower image). The upper image shows a space saving drawer 401 for use within distribution device 201 is shown in side view and top view respectively. Removable dividers 407 permit allocating available space as it is needed to store a maximal number of items of varying size. Blocking material 403 obstructs viewing and accessing goods located underneath, and is attached to tracks 404. Powered gears 409 and unpowered gears 410 move tracks 404 along their length which in turn move blocking material 403 to expose space 406 between dividers 407 while restricting access to goods stored in other compartments. Powered gears 409 measure movement of tracks 404 and work in concert with electronic device 204 pictured in FIG. 8 to precisely position blocking material 403 to grant access to and only to the desired compartment 406. Floor 412 is positioned above tracks 404 and blocking material 403 as it wraps around the underside of the compartments to prevent damage to goods as blocking material 403 is repositioned. Blocking material 403 can be repositioned while drawer 401 is fully inserted into collection distribution device 201 and latch 402 can be actuated to allow the drawer to be pulled out once the process is complete. This helps maximize the number of simultaneous customers each distribution device can support.

(59) In one embodiment, the construction details of the device shown in FIG. 10 are such that blocking material 403 is rigid, visually opaque, and such that the assembly of blocking material 403, tracks 404, and gears 409 and 410 is resistant to tampering. Tracks 404 might for example be constructed from metal drive-chain links, and blocking material 403 might be constructed from thin metal strips extending across the width of the drawer from track to track.

(60) In FIG. 11, a perspective view of drawer 401 is shown partially protruding from distribution device 201. Blocking material 403, tracks 404, and gears 409 and 410 are not shown for clarity. Markings 413 readable by machine and or human users are provided to denote the position of dividers 407 as they've been placed in drawer 401. Locking strip 414 placed over the edge to one side of dividers 407 can be secured to drawer 401 to prevent dividers from being removed or repositioned except by authorized workers. Markings 413 are used in conjunction with electronic device 204 pictured in FIG. 8 to record the position of dividers 407 and associate contents with compartments 406 created between the dividers.

(61) FIG. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention, depicting the inside of the door to a compartment of distribution device of the present invention. The figure shows a front view of the inside of door 203 of distribution device 201 of the invention of FIG. 8. Button 506 attached to mechanical override 504 of lock 502 can be actuated from the inside by pushing it substantially toward the face of door 203 as permitted by hinges 507. Button 506 is ideally marked in a luminescent manner, e.g., using a phosphorescent marking to ensure it is visible even in the dark at least for some time (e.g., after the door is closed), or by using light emitting electronics. Furthermore, override 504 may be actuated from the outside by pulling cable 505 through opening 508 of door 203, and cable 505 may in turn be secured on the outside of door 203 by mechanical lock. Cable 505 may be housed in a sheath along its length (not depicted in the diagram separately from cable 505), the sheath being attached to opening 508 to prevent airflow through opening 508 into the compartment 202 covered by door 203.

(62) Still referring to the embodiment of FIG. 8, FIG. 12 shows that lock 502 may actuate (i.e., retract latch 503) electronically or electro-mechanically in concert with electronic device 204. Marking 510 may be machine and/or human readable (e.g., it may employ barcode or RFID) to uniquely label each compartment of each distribution device 201. The contents of each compartment 202 may therefore be associated with compartment 202 in the memory of electronic device 204 via interface device 205, permitting electronic device 204 to open the correct compartment for each user of the device when that user is authenticated using interface 205.

(63) FIG. 13 depicts an embodiment of the distribution device of the invention showing the movement of air through the device. The figure depicts a side schematic view of distribution device 201 as shown with the addition of an air intake one-way valve 602 and an air output one-way valve 603, to ensure that if an animal or person were to become trapped inside, fresh air is exchanged with the outside of device 201 when the animal or person breathes (and therefore causes pressure changes inside device 201), but in such a way that zero air exchange occurs otherwise.

(64) While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

(65) Additional aspects of the invention may be understood by the following numbered paragraphs:

(66) 1. A process of delivering items for multiple recipients from a fulfillment facility to central pickup locations, from which multiple recipients may retrieve their items; and/or the process of retrieving items from central drop off locations, at which multiple senders may drop off their items.
2. The process of paragraph 1, wherein some or all of the pickup locations are generally unattended.
3. The process of paragraph 1, wherein certain additional items are retrieved from other locations during the process.
4. A distribution device comprising at least one compartment, such that each compartment may be secured and opened irrespective of the others.
5. The distribution device of paragraph 4, facilitating the process described in paragraph 1.
6. The distribution device of paragraph 4, such at least one compartment is secured by a computer or software controlled lock.
6. A. The distribution device of paragraph 6, such that at least one lock may be mechanically actuated.
6. B. The distribution device of paragraph 4 such that electronic power is provided by solar panels.
6. C. The distribution device of paragraph 4 such that electronic power is provided by energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves.
6. D. The distribution device of paragraph 4 such that the device further comprises an exterior fascia suitable for outdoor placement.
6. E. The distribution device of paragraph 6D such that the device further comprises a slanting roof to prevent water runoff from interacting with the user.
7. The distribution device of paragraph 6, such that the computer or software may be reconfigured to grant or revoke access to each compartment.
8. The distribution device of paragraph 6, such that the computer or software may be reconfigured to grant drop-off-only or pickup-only access.
9. The distribution device of paragraph 6, such the device further comprises a magnetic card reader for the purpose of authenticating users and granting access.
10. The process of paragraph 1 facilitated by the distribution device of paragraph 9, wherein users may be granted access by authorizing a magnetic card in their possession prior to the start of the process.
11. The distribution device of paragraph 4, such that at least one compartment may be repositioned with respect to the other components of the device, and further comprising at least one moveable member, such that the member(s) may be used to block or allow physical access to certain parts of the compartment.
12. The distribution device of paragraph 11 wherein at least one moveable member is visually opaque.
13. The distribution device of paragraph 4 such that at least one compartment may be repositioned with respect to the other components of the device, and further comprising at least one moveable member, such that the member(s) may be used to segment the compartment.
14. The distribution device of paragraph 13 such that at least one moveable member provides thermal insulation or other environmental separation.
15. The distribution device of paragraph 4 such that at least one compartment provides emergency egress from the interior of the compartment while remaining secure from the outside.
16. The distribution device of paragraph 4, such that at least one compartment provides for ventilation in the event of occupancy by a respirating organism, but not otherwise.
17. The distribution device of paragraph 4, wherein passive cooling is provided by evaporative heat loss.
18. The distribution device of paragraph 4 wherein the device additionally comprises a refrigeration or environmental control system.
19. The distribution device of paragraph 18 wherein at least one compartment may be environmentally regulated separately from the others.
20. The distribution device of paragraph 7, such that access to at least one compartment may be granted or revoked based on environmental conditions inside the compartment, or some part thereof.
21. The distribution device of paragraph 7, such that access to at least one compartment may be granted or revoked based on environmental conditions inside at least one container within the compartment.
22. A process in which items for multiple customers are prepared in a fulfillment facility, such that items comprising several orders may be picked in one batch, and such that items in this batch may be separated into orders for individual customers and subsequently packed.
23. A device comprising at least one light substantially adjacent to at least one bin containing items of a certain type, such that the light may be actuated to direct a worker to the bin.
24. The device of paragraph 23 wherein the device comprises multiple lights, at least two of which are connected and controlled by a string of at least one conducting wire.
25. The device of paragraph 23 further comprising a mobile computer connected to the device.
26. The device of paragraph 25 wherein the mobile computer is not connected physically to the device but is connected via wireless data transmission and receipt.
27. The device of paragraph 25 wherein the mobile computer further comprises a visual display indicating additional information about the items to be handled.
28. The device of paragraph 25 wherein the mobile computer further comprises an audio interface communicating additional information about the items to be handled.
29. The device of paragraph 25 wherein the mobile computer presents a human interface which can be used to record the result of handling the item.
30. The device of paragraph 29 wherein the human interface is a speech recognition interface.
31. The device of paragraph 29 wherein the human interface is a push button.
32. The device of paragraph 29 wherein the human interface is a touch screen.
33. The device of paragraph 6, additionally comprising a mobile computer with which information may be exchanged.
33. A. The device of paragraph 6 additionally comprising at least one machine readable label on at least one compartment.
34. The device of paragraph 24 wherein additional lights may be added to a string of wire to which additional lights are connected by means of insulation displacement.
35. The process of paragraph 1 further comprising a device to which instructions for delivery and pickup may be electronically submitted.
36. The process of paragraph 35 wherein the device presents an interface for ordering products.
37. The process of paragraph 36 wherein the device presents contextually relevant alternative suggestions for at least one product.
38. The process of paragraph 37 wherein at least one alternative suggestion is optimized for health and/or environmental impact.