US-20260123780-A1 - SECURE MAILBOX SYSTEM

US20260123780A1US 20260123780 A1US20260123780 A1US 20260123780A1US-20260123780-A1

Abstract

A secure mailbox system includes a mailbox body including a secure compartment defining a secure interior space and a door connected to the secure compartment. The secure mailbox system includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door upon receiving an unlock signal; a sensing device configured to determine a unique identifier associated with an access device when the access device is in proximity to the sensing device; a memory configured to store a plurality of secure unique identifiers; and a processor communicably coupled with the locking mechanism, the sensing device, and the memory. The processor is configured to receive the unique identifier of the access device in proximity to the sensing device; generate the unlock signal if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; and transmit the unlock signal to the locking mechanism.

Inventors

Cheryl A. Ecton
Vicki L. Conteh
Henry M. Winchester, III
Kevin R. Ecton

Assignees

Exchange Box, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251104

Claims (20)

1 . A secure mailbox system comprising: a mailbox body comprising: a secure compartment defining a secure interior space; and a door connected to the secure compartment wherein the door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position, such that the secure interior space is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the open position; a locking mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door upon receiving an unlock signal; a sensing device configured to determine a unique identifier associated with an access device when the access device is in proximity with the sensing device; a memory configured to store a plurality of secure unique identifiers; and a processor communicably coupled with the locking mechanism, the sensing device, and the memory wherein the processor is configured to: receive the unique identifier of the access device in proximity from the sensing device; determine if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; generate the unlock signal if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; and transmit the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to unlock the door.
2 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a remote server and a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body wherein each of the at least one of the remote server and the user device is communicably coupled to the processor and wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a notification after unlocking and/or locking of the door to the at least one of the remote server and the user device, the notification comprising data associated with unlocking and locking of the door.
3 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 further comprising a remote server communicably coupled to the processor wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an access data to the remote server after unlocking and/or locking of the door and wherein the access data comprises at least one of the unique identifier of the access device, a timestamp associated with unlocking of the door, and a timestamp associated with locking of the door after unlocking of the door.
4 . The secure mailbox system of claim 3 further comprising a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body wherein the user device is communicably coupled with the remote server and wherein the remote server is configured to transmit a notification comprising the access data to the user device.
5 . The secure mailbox system of claim 3 wherein the processor is further configured to update the plurality of secure unique identifiers stored in the memory based on a unique identifier list stored on the remote server.
6 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 further comprising an object sensing device communicably coupled to the processor wherein the object sensing device is configured to generate a detection signal upon detecting a package in the secure interior space of the secure compartment upon locking of the door after unlocking of the door.
7 . The secure mailbox system of claim 6 wherein the object sensing device comprises at least one of a motion sensor, a weight sensor, and a camera.
8 . The secure mailbox system of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an object received notification to at least one of a remote server and a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body upon receiving the detection signal from the object sensing device.
9 . The secure mailbox system of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an object unsecured notification to at least one of a remote server and a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body if the object sensing device does not generate the detection signal upon locking of the door after unlocking of the door.
10 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 further comprising an alarm device communicably coupled to the processor wherein the alarm device is configured to generate an alarm signal when a time elapsed from unlocking of the door to locking of the door is greater than a predetermined time interval.
11 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 further comprising a power supply electrically coupled to at least the processor, the power supply comprising at least one of an AC power supply, a battery, a solar module, and combinations thereof.
12 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 wherein the mailbox body further comprises a secure access point in communication with the secure interior space of the secure compartment.
13 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 wherein the sensing device is a contact reader or a proximity reader.
14 . The secure mailbox system of claim 1 wherein the mailbox body further comprises a regular compartment defining a regular interior space separate from the secure interior space of the secure compartment and wherein the regular compartment comprises a regular access point in communication with the regular interior space.
15 . The secure mailbox system of claim 14 wherein the regular compartment is positioned adjacent to the secure compartment.
16 . A secure mailbox system comprising: a mailbox body comprising: a secure compartment defining a secure interior space; and a door connected to the secure compartment wherein the door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position, such that the secure interior space is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the open position; a locking mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door upon receiving an unlock signal; a sensing device configured to determine a unique identifier associated with an access device when the access device is in proximity with the sensing device; a remote server; a memory configured to store a plurality of secure unique identifiers; and a processor communicably coupled with the locking mechanism, the sensing device, the remote server, and the memory wherein the processor is configured to: receive the unique identifier of the access device in proximity from the sensing device; determine if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; generate the unlock signal if the unique identifier matches with the one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; transmit the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to unlock the door; and transmit an access data to the remote server after unlocking and/or locking of the door wherein the access data comprises at least one of the unique identifier of the access device, a timestamp associated with unlocking of the door, and a timestamp associated with locking of the door after unlocking of the door.
17 . The secure mailbox system of claim 16 further comprising a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body wherein the user device is communicably coupled with the remote server and wherein the remote server is configured to transmit a notification comprising the access data to the user device.
18 . The secure mailbox system of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to update the plurality of secure unique identifiers stored in the memory based on a unique identifier list stored on the remote server.
19 . The secure mailbox system of claim 16 further comprising a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body and communicably coupled to the processor wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a notification after unlocking and/or locking of the door to at least one of the remote server and the user device, the notification comprising data associated with unlocking and locking of the door.
20 . A secure mailbox system comprising: a mailbox body comprising: a secure compartment defining a secure interior space; and a door connected to the secure compartment wherein the door configured to move between a closed position and an open position, such that the secure interior space is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the open position; a locking mechanism configured to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door upon receiving an unlock signal; a sensing device configured to determine a unique identifier associated with an access device when the access device is in proximity with the sensing device; an object sensing device configured to generate a detection signal upon detecting a package in the secure interior space of the secure compartment upon locking of the door after unlocking of the door; a memory configured to store a plurality of secure unique identifiers; and a processor communicably coupled with the locking mechanism, the sensing device, the object sensing device, and the memory wherein the processor is configured to: receive the unique identifier of the access device in proximity from the sensing device; determine if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; generate the unlock signal if the unique identifier matches with the one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers; transmit the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to unlock the door; and transmit an object received notification to at least one of a remote server and a user device associated with a user of the mailbox body upon receiving the detection signal from the object sensing device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/716,590 filed on Nov. 5, 2024, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to a mailbox system. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a secure mailbox system, enabling remote access, logging of access and status of the mailbox system, and securing of contents therein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Delivery of mail or couriers has increased tremendously in recent years due to an increase in different e-commerce services. Conventionally, mailboxes are used to receive mail such as magazines, bills, marketing materials, etc. Conventional mailboxes are not secured or are secured using conventional locks. Nowadays, the mailboxes are also used to receive delivery of couriers and packages including higher value item(s). In cases the mailbox is not secured, there is a risk of theft of such couriers and packages (collectively called “packages”). Further, the risk of theft may further increase when the couriers and packages do not fit inside the mailboxes and are left unattended (e.g., adjacent to the mailboxes). No efficient system exists to allow both the delivery couriers and the recipients to secure such packages to prevent or reduce theft. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a secure mailbox system. The secure mailbox system includes a mailbox body. The mailbox body includes a secure compartment defining a secure interior space. The mailbox body further includes a door connected to the secure compartment. The door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position, such that the secure interior space is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the open position. The secure mailbox system further includes a locking mechanism and a sensing device. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door upon receiving an unlock signal. The sensing device is configured to determine a unique identifier associated with an access device when the access device is in proximity with the sensing device. The secure mailbox system further includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store a plurality of secure unique identifiers. The processor is communicably coupled with the locking mechanism, the sensing device, and the memory. The processor is configured to receive the unique identifier of the access device in proximity from the sensing device and determine if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers. The processor is further configured to generate the unlock signal if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers and transmit the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to unlock the door. In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a secure mailbox system. The secure mailbox system includes a mailbox body. The mailbox body includes a secure compartment, and a door connected to the secure compartment. The secure compartment defines a secure interior space. The door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position, such that the secure interior space is inaccessible in the closed position and accessible in the open position. The secure mailbox system further includes a locking mechanism and a sensing device. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the door in the closed position and unlock the door upon receiving an unlock signal. The sensing device is configured to determine a unique identifier associated with an access device when the access device is in proximity with the sensing device. The secure mailbox system further includes a remote server, a memory, and a processor. The memory is configured to store a plurality of secure unique identifiers. The processor is communicably coupled with the locking mechanism, the sensing device, the remote server, and the memory. The processor is configured to receive the unique identifier of the access device in proximity from the sensing device and determine if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers. The processor is further configured to generate the unlock signal if the unique identifier matches with one of the plurality of secure unique identifiers and transmit the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to unlock the door. The processor is further configured to transmit access data to the remote server after unlocking and/or locking of the door. The access data includes at least one of the unique identifier of the access device, a timestamp associated with unlocking of the door, and a timestamp associated with locking of the door after unlocking of the door. In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a secure mailbox syste