Systems, methods, and apparatuses for securing deliveries

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to securing deliveries and other items that may be left unattended. Generally, the present systems, methods, and apparatuses can lock or unlock a secured container via seamless integration with various native and/or third-party software components to receive and secure a delivery. For example, in certain embodiments, the present systems, methods, and apparatuses can facilitate secure package deliveries while monitoring and providing updated tracking information in real-time for that delivery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for securing a delivery, the system comprising:
 a secured container comprising a locking mechanism;   a database; and   a processor operatively connected to the database, wherein the processor is operative to:
 receive, from the locking mechanism, a delivery identifier corresponding to the delivery that uniquely identifies the delivery; 
 validate, based on the delivery identifier, that the delivery should be secured in the secured container; and 
 upon validation that the delivery should be secured in the secured container, transmitting, to the locking mechanism, instructions to open so that the delivery may be secured in the secured container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a barcode scanner that derives the delivery identifier from a scan of a barcode on the delivery. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is associated with a locking mechanism identifier that uniquely identifies the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further operative to, prior to receiving the delivery identifier from the locking mechanism, receive the delivery identifier from a third party system associated with a courier of the delivery and store the delivery identifier in the database in association with the locking mechanism identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further operative to receive, from the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism identifier along with the delivery identifier. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor, to validate that the delivery should be secured in the secured container, is further operative to compare the delivery identifier and the locking mechanism identifier received from the locking mechanism to the delivery identifier and the locking mechanism identifier stored in the database. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor, to validate that the delivery should be secured in the secured container, is further operative to determine the delivery status of the delivery from the third party system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery comprises one or more items purchased from an online retailer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery comprises food, laundry, or alcohol. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a power source, a network connection, and a shackle. 
     
     
         11 . A method for securing a delivery, comprising the steps of:
 receiving, from a locking mechanism, a delivery identifier corresponding to a delivery that uniquely identifies the delivery;   validating, based on the delivery identifier, that the delivery should be secured in a secured container; and   upon validation that the delivery should be secured in the secured container, transmitting, to the locking mechanism, instructions to open so that the delivery may be secured in the secured container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a barcode scanner that derives the delivery identifier from a scan of a barcode on the delivery. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism is associated with a locking mechanism identifier that uniquely identifies the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of, prior to receiving the delivery identifier from the locking mechanism, receiving the delivery identifier from a third party system associated with a courier of the delivery and storing the delivery identifier in a database in association with the locking mechanism identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of receiving the delivery identifier further comprises receiving the locking mechanism identifier from the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of validating that the delivery should be secured in the secured container further comprises comparing the delivery identifier and the locking mechanism identifier received from the locking mechanism to the delivery identifier and the locking mechanism identifier stored in the database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of validating that the delivery should be secured in the secured container further comprises determining the delivery status of the delivery from the third party system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the delivery comprises one or more items purchased from an online retailer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the delivery comprises food, laundry, or alcohol. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a power source, a network connection, and a shackle.