Locker system using barcoded wristbands

Abstract

A locker system includes one or more banks of electronic lockers. Each locker has a door lock that releasably retains the door in the closed position. The locker system also includes at least one barcode scanner selectively unlocks the door of at least one of the lockers. A locker manager is coupled to each of the electronic lockers via an electronic network. The locker manager stores a list of unique barcodes that are each associated with a locker rental plan including at least one locker account. Each locker account includes an activation indication, a use indication, a locker type indication, and a duration. The unique barcodes are printed or otherwise included on wristbands, which may be scanned at the barcode scanner to gain access to one or more of the lockers.

1 . A locker management system comprising:
 a plurality of lockers, each locker including an enclosure defining an interior that is accessible through an access opening, each locker including a door that is configured to move between a closed position and an open position, the door inhibiting access to the enclosure interior when in the closed position and the door enabling access to the enclosure interior through the access opening when in the open position, each locker also including a door lock, the door lock of each locker being configured to releasably retain the respective door in the closed position;   a locker manager electronically connected to the respective door lock of each locker via an electronic network, the locker manager including an electronic processor and electronic memory, the electronic memory storing physical aspects about each locker, the processor configured:
 to control access to the lockers by locking an unlocking the door locks; 
 to create a plurality of locker accounts for users in response to requests and to associate each locker account with a respective barcode; 
 to associate at least some of the barcodes with privileges that provide priority to obtain lockers having particular physical aspects; 
 to receive activation requests for locker access, each request for locker access being associated with a particular one of the lockers and one of the barcodes; 
 to deny access to any of the lockers having a particular physical aspect when a barcode associated with the respective request for the locker is not associated with the privilege providing priority to obtain a locker having the particular physical aspect; and 
 to provide access to any of the lockers having a particular physical aspect when a barcode associated with the respective request for the locker is associated with the privilege providing priority to obtain a locker having the particular physical aspect. 
   
     
     
         2 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical aspects include a location of each of the lockers; and wherein one of the privileges includes priority to obtain a locker located close to ground. 
     
     
         3 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical aspects include a location of each of the lockers; and wherein one of the privileges includes priority to obtain a locker located in a desirable area. 
     
     
         4 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical aspects include a size of each of the lockers; and wherein one of the privileges includes priority to obtain a large size locker. 
     
     
         5 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , wherein the physical aspects include whether each of the lockers; and wherein one of the privileges includes priority to obtain a locker that meets ADA specifications. 
     
     
         6 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wristbands, each wristband being configured to store one of the unique barcodes to enable scanning of the respective barcode at the barcode scanner. 
     
     
         7 . The locker management system of  claim 6 , wherein each wristband has the respective unique barcode printed thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one barcode scanner includes a plurality of barcode scanners, and wherein each of the barcode scanners is associated with the door lock of a respective one of the lockers. 
     
     
         9 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lockers includes at least one bank of lockers, wherein the barcode scanner is configured to operate the door lock of each locker in the bank. 
     
     
         10 . The locker management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a barcode scanner associated with the plurality of electronic lockers, the barcode scanner being operationally coupled to the door lock of at least one locker to selectively unlock the door. 
     
     
         11 . A method of managing a locker system comprising:
 providing a plurality of lockers, each locker including an enclosure defining an interior that is accessible through an access opening, each locker including a door that is configured to move between a closed position and an open position, the door inhibiting access to the enclosure interior when in the closed position and the door enabling access to the enclosure interior through the access opening when in the open position, each locker also including a door lock, the door lock of each locker being configured to releasably retain the respective door in the closed position;   providing a locker manager electronically connected to the lockers via an electronic network, the locker manager storing physical aspects about each locker in electronic memory and controlling access to each of the lockers;   creating a plurality of locker accounts for users in response to requests and associating each locker account with a respective barcode;   associating a first of the locker accounts with a privilege that provides priority to a respective user of the first locker account to obtain one of the lockers that has a particular physical aspect;   receiving an activation request for a first of the lockers that has the particular physical aspect, the activation request including a barcode associated with a second of the locker accounts that is not associated with a privilege providing priority to obtain one of the lockers having the particular physical aspect; and   denying access to the first locker.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving another activation request from the first locker, the activation request including another barcode that is associated with the first locker account; and   allowing access to the first electronic locker.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein storing the physical aspects includes storing a location of each of the lockers; and wherein associating the first locker account with the privilege includes associating the first locker account with priority to obtain a locker located close to ground. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein storing the physical aspects includes storing a size of each of the lockers; and wherein associating the first locker account with the privilege includes associating the first locker account with priority to obtain a large size locker. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein storing the physical aspects includes storing whether the locker meets ADA specifications; and wherein associating the first locker account with the privilege includes associating the first locker account with priority to obtain a locker meeting ADA specifications. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the activation request is received from a barcode scanner associated with the first locker. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein creating the plurality of locker accounts for users in response to requests comprises receiving the requests from at least one kiosk having a user interface, the kiosk being configured to dispense wristbands displaying the respective barcodes.