Apparatus for management of access key used for locker access

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a rack of lockers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a key-facilitation server configured to cooperate with a locker server, and also configured to receive a key-access request. The locker server is associated with a rack of lockers including a first compartment configured to allow storage of secondary equipment, a second compartment having an open locker slot configured to maintain storage of equipment, and a locker divider separating the first compartment from the second compartment. The key-access request is configured to indicate a user request configured to request usage of an access key. The access key is also configured to be usable by the locker server. The locker server is configured to receive a locker-access request. The locker-access request is configured to indicate access of a selected locker is user requested. The locker server is configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with a rack of lockers, the apparatus comprising:
 a key-facilitation server configured to:
 cooperate with a locker server associated with the rack of lockers, the rack of lockers including:
 a first compartment configured to allow storage of secondary equipment; 
 a second compartment having an open locker slot configured to maintain storage of equipment; and 
 a locker divider separating the first compartment from the second compartment; and 
 
 receive a key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate a user request configured to request usage of an access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, the locker server configured to receive a locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of a selected locker is user requested, the locker server configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rack of lockers includes:
 a mounting-rack assembly configured to be adjustable to selected vertical positions in such a way as to provide flexible positional adjustment of the rack of lockers in order to suit a topographical environment. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the key-facilitation server is further configured to:
 transmit a key-deployment indication configured to indicate approved deployment of the access key in such a way that the access key is operatively usable by the locker server. 
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request and the access key, the locker server facilitates, by using the access key, secured user access to the selected locker of the rack of lockers.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the key-facilitation server is further configured to:
 receive a user-payment record configured to indicate a payment option in which to pay for usage of the access key; and 
 transmit a payment request, in response to receiving the user-payment record, to a financial-transaction server, the payment request configured to request the financial-transaction server to transact payment for the access key. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the key-facilitation server is further configured to:
 receive a payment confirmation from a financial-transaction server, the payment confirmation configured to confirm successful payment transaction was executed in associate with a user-payment record. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the key-facilitation server is further configured to:
 transmit the key-deployment indication in response to receiving the payment confirmation from the financial-transaction server. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locker server is configured to:
 operatively connect with the selected locker; and 
 selectively lock and unlock the selected locker by using the access key, in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request, and the locker-access request configured to indicate that access to the selected locker is user requested. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the key-facilitation server is further configured to operatively communicate with a point-of-presence server; and   the point-of-presence server is configured to:
 receive the key-access request; and 
 transmit the key-access request to the key-facilitation server. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the point-of-presence server is further configured to:
 receive a key-deployment indication from the key-facilitation server; and 
 transmit the access key the access key to the locker server in such a way that in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request and the access key, the locker server facilitates, by using the access key, secured user access to the selected locker of the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for use with a rack of lockers, the apparatus comprising:
 a point-of-presence server configured to:
 cooperate with a locker server associated with the rack of lockers, the rack of lockers including:
 a first compartment configured to allow storage of secondary equipment; 
 a second compartment having an open locker slot configured to maintain storage of equipment; and 
 
 a locker divider separating the first compartment from the second compartment; 
 operatively communicate with a key-facilitation server; 
 receive a key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate a user request configured to request usage of an access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, the locker server configured to receive a locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of a selected locker is user requested, the locker server configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the rack of lockers includes:
 a mounting-rack assembly configured to be adjustable to selected vertical positions in such a way as to provide flexible positional adjustment of the rack of lockers in order to suit a topographical environment. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the point-of-presence server is further configured to:
 transmit the key-access request to the key-facilitation server. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the point-of-presence server is further configured to:
 receive a key-deployment indication from the key-facilitation server, the key-facilitation server configured to transmit the key-deployment indication configured to indicate approved deployment of the access key in such a way that the access key is operatively usable by the locker server. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the point-of-presence server is further configured to:
 transmit the access key the access key to the locker server in such a way that in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request and the access key, the locker server facilitates, by using the access key, secured user access to the selected locker of the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request and the access key, the locker server facilitates, by using the access key, secured user access to the selected locker of the rack of lockers.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the point-of-presence server is configured to:
 transmit the access key to a key-dispensing assembly, and the key-dispensing assembly configured to transmit the access key to the locker server in such a way that in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request and the access key, the locker server facilitates, by using the access key, secured user access to the selected locker of the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for use with a rack of lockers, the apparatus comprising:
 a locker server associated with the rack of lockers, the rack of lockers including:
 a first compartment configured to allow storage of secondary equipment; 
 a second compartment having an open locker slot configured to maintain storage of equipment; and 
 a locker divider separating the first compartment from the second compartment; 
   the locker server configured to:
 cooperate with a key-facilitation server, the key-facilitation server configured to receive a key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate a user request configured to request usage of an access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, and the key-facilitation server configured to transmit a key-deployment indication configured to indicate approved deployment of the access key in such a way that the access key is operatively usable by the locker server. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the rack of lockers includes:
 a mounting-rack assembly configured to be adjustable to selected vertical positions in such a way as to provide flexible positional adjustment of the rack of lockers in order to suit a topographical environment. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the locker server configured to:
 receive a locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of a selected locker of the locker server is user requested. 
   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the locker server is further configured to:
 use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers; and 
 whereby in response to the locker server receiving the locker-access request and the access key, the locker server facilitates, by using the access key, secured user access to the selected locker of the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a rack of lockers, including:
 a first compartment configured to allow storage of dry equipment; 
 a second compartment having an open locker slot, and the second compartment and the open locker slot are configured to maintain storage of equipment in such a way that the equipment is stored suspended, and the open locker slot is configured to allow sliding, at least in part, of the equipment into the second compartment so that at least some of the equipment may remain user viewable; and 
 a locker divider dividing the first compartment from the second compartment in such a way that the locker divider separates wet equipment from dry equipment. 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the rack of lockers includes:
 a mounting-rack assembly configured to be adjustable to selected vertical positions in such a way as to provide flexible positional adjustment of the rack of lockers in order to suit a topographical environment. 
   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a locker server configured to cooperate with:
 the rack of lockers; and 
 a key-facilitation server, the key-facilitation server configured to:
 receive a key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate a user request configured to request usage of an access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, the locker server configured to receive a locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of a selected locker is user requested, the locker server configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers. 
 
   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for use with a rack of lockers, the apparatus comprising:
 an object tangibly embodying an application configured to facilitate communication between the object and a key-facilitation server, the key-facilitation server configured to:   cooperate with a locker server associated with the rack of lockers including:
 a first compartment configured to allow storage of secondary equipment; 
 a second compartment having an open locker slot configured to maintain storage of equipment; and 
 a locker divider separating the first compartment from the second compartment; and 
 receive a key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate a user request configured to request usage of an access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, the locker server configured to receive a locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of a selected locker is user requested, the locker server configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers. 
   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the object includes smartphone  126 .   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the application is configured to facilitate communication between the object and the key-facilitation server via a point-of-presence server configured to:   cooperate with the locker server associated with the rack of lockers; and   receive the key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate the user request configured to request usage of the access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, the locker server configured to receive the locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of the selected locker is user requested, the locker server configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the application is configured to:
 facilitate communication between the object and the key-facilitation server  100  via the locker server associated with the rack of lockers; and 
 receive the key-access request, the key-access request configured to indicate the user request configured to request usage of the access key, the access key configured to be usable by the locker server, the locker server configured to receive the locker-access request, the locker-access request configured to indicate access of the selected locker is user requested, the locker server configured to use the access key so as to facilitate secured user access of the selected locker associated with the rack of lockers.