DROP BOX FOR PACKAGE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application 63/666,505 filed Jul. 1, 2024 under Attorney Docket Number A1174.70242US00 and entitled “DROP BOX FOR PACKAGE STORAGE”, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Conventional storage systems may be employed for use in storing packages which may later be retrieved at a time convenient for a user. Some conventional storage systems include drop boxes which allow a user to deposit a package which may then be retrieved by another user or a courier such that the package may be stowed safely until it is ready for retrieval or shipping.

SUMMARY

According to some aspects, there is provided a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the storage system comprising: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and store the one or more packages; and a package receptacle configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein in the open configuration the package receptacle is configured to receive the one or more packages and prevent user access to the internal volume of the housing, and wherein in the closed configuration the package receptacle is configured to drop the one or more packages into the internal volume of the housing.

According to some aspects, there is provided a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the storage system comprising: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and store the one or more packages; an opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages; at least one sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the storage system; and at least one processor configured to obtain sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic from the at least one sensor.

According to some aspects, there is provided a method for controlling a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the method comprising: obtaining sensor data from at least one sensor regarding at least one characteristic of the storage system, wherein the storage system comprises: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and storage the one or more packages; an opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages; and the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to detect the at least one characteristic of the storage system; and controlling the storage system using the sensor data.

According to some aspects, there is provided at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded therein that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for controlling a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the method comprising: obtaining sensor data from at least one sensor regarding at least one characteristic of the storage system, wherein the storage system comprises: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and storage the one or more packages; an opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages; and the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to detect the at least one characteristic of the storage system; and controlling the storage system using the sensor data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects and embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures. It should be appreciated that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage system where a package receptacle is shown in an open configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the storage system of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2A-2A, where the package receptacle is shown in an open configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the package receptacle of FIG. 2A, where the package receptacle is shown in an open configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the storage system of FIG. 2A, where the package receptacle is shown in a closed configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the package receptacle of FIG. 3A, where the package receptacle is shown in a closed configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a linkage configured for use in connecting portions of the storage system of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage system of FIG. 2A illustrating further components, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a method for controlling a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computing device, in accordance with some embodiments of the technology described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the technology described herein relate to a storage system having a drop box designed to prevent undesirable user access to an internal volume of the drop box where packages are storage. Further aspects of the technology described herein relate to techniques for obtaining and using sensor data to control a storage system.

Storage systems such as drop boxes are commonly employed for use in storing one or more packages which may later be retrieved at a time convenient for a user. The user retrieving the packages may be the same individual who stored the packages, a different individual, or some other entity such as a courier who is retrieving the packages for shipping. Drop boxes typically function by allowing a user to deposit one or more packages in an opening of the drop box such that the packages fall into an internal volume of the drop box where they are stored until the packages are retrieved by a user.

The inventors have recognized that conventional storage systems including drop boxes may not prevent undesirable user access to an internal volume of the storage system where the packages are stored. That is, a user for which the packages are unintended may be able to view or access the packages stored in the storage system. For example, a drop box which includes a pivotable door may be constructed such that there is an opening to the internal volume that is exposed during operation of the drop box, which may provide undesirable user access to the stored packages.

In view of the above, the inventors have recognized benefits associated with providing a storage system configured to receive and store one or more packages, where the storage system is configured to prevent user access to an internal volume of the storage system during operation. That is, the inventors have recognized benefits associated with preventing access to the stored packages until an authorized user is present to retrieve the packages, e.g., via a key, access code, or other suitable tool which may permit the authorized user to access the internal volume of the storage system. While the embodiments disclosed herein are primarily discussed in reference to a drop box, the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any suitable storage system as the disclosure is not so limited.

In some embodiments, a storage system may include a package receptacle configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, the package receptacle may receive packages and prevent user access to an internal volume of the storage system used to store the packages. In the closed configuration, the package receptacle may similarly prevent user access to the internal volume used to store the packages while also dropping the packages received in the receptacle into the internal volume.

In some embodiments, a storage system may include a housing in addition to a package receptacle as disclosed above. The housing may have an internal volume configured to receive and store the one or more packages deposited by the user until retrieval of the packages is desired. The package receptacle may be operatively coupled to the housing and movable between the open configuration and the closed configuration to receive one or more packages and prevent the depositing of the one or more packages into the receptacle, respectively. In some embodiments, the package receptacle may include a door having a door handle, where the user may grasp the door handle to move the door of the package receptacle between the open and closed configurations.

In some embodiments, the package receptacle may include one or more portions configured to move during operation of the receptacle to prevent user access to the internal volume in both the open and closed configurations while also permitting the packages to be deposited within the internal volume. For example, in the open configuration, the package receptacle may include a first package receiving portion and a second package receiving portion, and the first and second package receiving portions may at least partially overlap to isolate the internal volume where the packages are stored from an internal space of the package receptacle where the one or more packages may be received. In the closed configuration, the first and second package receiving portions may rotate away from one another to drop the received packages into the internal volume. In such a configuration, the door of the receptacle may remain closed to prevent user access to the internal volume while the package is being dropped.

In some embodiments, the storage system may include one or more lockers operatively coupled to the housing. The lockers may be used to separately store one or more packages deposited by the user, and the internal volume of each of the lockers may be isolated from that of the internal volume of the housing which receives packages deposited in the package receptacle. For example, the internal volume of the lockers may be isolated from the rest of the internal volume of the housing by one or more partitions positioned between the respective spaces. The inventors have appreciated that providing lockers in the storage system may be beneficial for use in both depositing and retrieving packages. In particular, in some instances the internal volume of the housing receiving packages from the package receptacle may be at capacity, and thus a user may instead deposit packages in the lockers. In some embodiments, the lockers may be used to provide a coordinated deposit and retrieval event. That is, a user may deposit one or more packages in a specified locker, and another user may access the one or more packages for retrieval at a later time, e.g., the secondary user may access the specified locker via a key, an access code, or any other suitable way of accessing the locker contents.

The lockers may be of any suitable size, shape, number, or other characteristic as the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, a suitable number of lockers provided on a storage system is greater than or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, or more lockers. In some embodiments, a suitable number of lockers provided on a storage system is lesser than or equal to 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, or less lockers. Of course, numbers of lockers both greater and lesser than the foregoing are also contemplated. The lockers may also be arranged in any suitable fashion. For example, the number of lockers provided in the storage system may be arranged in any suitable number of rows (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more rows) and/or columns (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more columns). In some embodiments, the lockers may be provided adjacent to a package receptacle of the storage system, e.g., to the left and/or right of the package receptacle. In some embodiments, the plurality of lockers may be varying in size, e.g., to accommodate larger and smaller packages or to accommodate a greater number of packages as necessary. In some embodiments, when a user is accessing the lockers to deposit one or more packages, the user may be directed to a specific locker based on the size and/or number of the packages they intend to deposit.

While the use of lockers in conjunction with a package receptacle for a storage system is described above, in some embodiments the storage system may not include any lockers. That is, the storage system may include only a singular internal volume which receives packages deposited into the package receptacle.

The components of the storage system (e.g., the housing, the package receptacle, the lockers, etc.) may be constructed out of any suitable material as the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, a suitable material may include stainless steel, carbon steel, brushed steel, iron, aluminum, or any other suitable material.

As disclosed herein, in some embodiments, the packages stored in the storage system may only be accessed and retrieved by an authorized user (e.g., a courier retrieving the packages). In some embodiments, the storage system may include an access door that is only accessible by the authorized user. In some such embodiments, the authorized user may be authenticated to open the access door to retrieve the packages via a key, an access code (e.g., on a pin pad), biometric scanning (e.g., fingerprint biometrics, eye scanning, etc.), or any other suitable access method as the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, multiple access doors and corresponding authentication methods may be provided. For example, a first access door may be provided for the lockers and a second access door may be provided for the internal volume of the housing which receives packages from the package receptacle. In other embodiments, however, only a single access door may be provided for the entire internal volume of the storage system. The authentication methods described above may also be used for individual lockers to permit the depositing and retrieval of packages from specific lockers for multiple authorized users.

According to some aspects, a storage system is provided with at least one sensor for detecting at least one characteristic of the storage system. The sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic can be used, in some embodiments, to control aspects related to the storage system. For example, the inventors have recognized that it is advantageous to obtain information regarding the storage system in order to control the storage system and/or actions taken with respect to the storage system. The aspects described herein improve the storage system by enabling more efficient use of the storage system (e.g., providing information on a fullness of the storage system such that package pick-up from the storage system can be scheduled and/or placement of storage systems can be optimized) and robust protection of packages deposited within the storage system (e.g. by detecting and/or preventing tampering with the storage system, providing an optimized environment within the storage system for the packages deposited therein).

According to some aspects, there is provided a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the storage system comprising: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and store the one or more packages; an opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages; at least one sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the storage system; and at least one processor configured to obtain sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic from the at least one sensor.

In some embodiments, the storage system further comprises a door configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the door, when in the open configuration, forms the opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages.

In some embodiments, the door comprises a packages receptacle and wherein in the open configuration the package receptacle is configured to receive the one or more packages and prevent user access to the internal volume of the housing, and wherein in the closed configuration the package receptacle is configured to drop the one or more packages into the internal volume of the housing.

In some embodiments, the at least one characteristic of the storage system comprises a determination whether at least one of the one or more packages is present in the internal volume of the housing of the storage system.

In some embodiments, the at least one sensor comprises a camera.

In some embodiments, the at least one characteristic comprises at least one characteristic of the internal volume and at least one characteristic of the opening, and the at least one sensor comprises a first sensor for sensing the at least one characteristic of the internal volume and a second sensor for sensing the at least one characteristic of the opening.

In some embodiments, the first sensor is disposed within the internal volume.

In some embodiments, the storage system further comprises a door configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the door, when in the open configuration, forms the opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages and wherein the second sensor is disposed on the door.

In some embodiments, the at least one characteristic of the storage system comprises one or more of a total volume of the one or more packages present in the internal volume, a total height of the one or more packages present in the internal volume, and/or a total weight of the one or more packages present in the internal volume.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic obtained from the at least one sensor, a measure of fullness of the internal volume.

In some embodiments, the at least one characteristic of the storage system comprises a temperature within the internal volume.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the sensor data, whether the temperature within the internal volume is above an upper threshold and/or below a lower threshold.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a notification to a user when it is determined that the temperature within the internal volume is above the upper threshold and/or when it is determined that the temperature within the internal volume is below the lower threshold.

In some embodiments, the storage system further comprises a heating mechanism and the at least one processor is further configured to control the heating mechanism when it is determined that the temperature within the internal volume is above the upper threshold and/or when it is determined that the temperature within the internal volume is below the lower threshold.

In some embodiments, the at least one characteristic of the storage system comprises a status of a door of the storage system, the status of the door being either opened or closed.

In some embodiments, the at least one characteristic of the storage system further comprises a length of time during which the status of the door has remained opened.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the sensor data, whether an attempt to access the internal volume of the storage system without permission has been made.

In some embodiments, the at least one sensor comprises at least one accelerometer, the at least one accelerometer being coupled to a door of the storage system.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the sensor data, a frequency of use of the storage system.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to instruct a user to attend to the storage system based on the sensor data.

In some embodiments, the storage system further comprises at least one battery for powering the at least one sensor.

In some embodiments, the storage system further comprises an energy harvester, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to harvest energy from openings and/or closings of a door of the storage system using the energy harvester and power the at least one sensor at least in part using the energy harvested by the energy harvester.

In some embodiments, the storage system further comprises at least one solar panel and wherein the at least one sensor is powered at least in part by energy generated by the at least one solar panel.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to activate the at least one sensor when it is determined that a door of the storage system has been opened.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the sensor data and/or other data generated by the at least one processor based on the sensor data to an external device at least one a day.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the sensor data and/or other data generated by the at least one processor based on the sensor data when it is determined that at least one package has been deposited into the internal volume of the storage system.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the sensor data and/or other data generated by the at least one processor based on the sensor data when it is determined that a fullness of the internal volume is above a threshold.

According to some aspects, there is provided a method for controlling a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the method comprising: obtaining sensor data from at least one sensor regarding at least one characteristic of the storage system, wherein the storage system comprises: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and storage the one or more packages; an opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages; and the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to detect the at least one characteristic of the storage system; and controlling the storage system using the sensor data.

According to some aspects, there is provided at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded therein that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for controlling a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, the method comprising: obtaining sensor data from at least one sensor regarding at least one characteristic of the storage system, wherein the storage system comprises: a housing having an internal volume configured to receive and storage the one or more packages; an opening in the housing for receiving the one or more packages; and the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to detect the at least one characteristic of the storage system; and controlling the storage system using the sensor data.

Turning to the figures, specific non-limiting embodiments are described in further detail. It should be understood that the various systems, components, features, and methods described relative to these embodiments may be used either individually and/or in any desired combination as the disclosure is not limited to only the specific embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage system 100 where a package receptacle 120 is shown in an open configuration. The storage system 100 may include a housing 110 having an internal volume configured to receive one or more packages which may be deposited within the receptacle 120. The package receptacle 120 may include a door handle 122 and may be operatively coupled to the housing 110 such that the package receptacle may be moved (e.g., pivoted via a user grasping the door handle 122) between open and closed configurations. In the open configuration, the package receptacle 120 may expose an internal space 130 configured to receive the one or more packages. The storage system 100 may also include one or more lockers 112 that are engaged with the housing 110. As disclosed herein, the lockers 112 may be used to separately store packages independently from the internal volume of the housing 110 which receives packages deposited in the package receptacle 120.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the storage system 100 of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2A-2A, where the package receptacle 120 is shown in an open configuration. The package receptacle 120 may include a first door portion 124 and a second door portion 126. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first door portion 124 may be a front plate of the door on which the door handle 122 is attached while the second door portion 126 may be a rear plate of the door. The package receptacle 120 may also include a first package receiving portion 128 and a second package receiving portion 140. As disclosed herein, the first and second package receiving portions 128, 140 may at least partially overlap one another such that a user cannot access the internal volume 114 of the housing 110 where the packages may be stored. The storage system 100 may also include one or more partitions 116 to isolate the internal volume 114 from the internal volume of each of the lockers 112.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the package receptacle 120 of FIG. 2A, where the package receptacle is shown in an open configuration. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the package receptacle 120 is in the open configuration such that the internal space 130 may be accessed, the second door portion 126, the first package receiving portion 128, and the second package receiving portion 140 may lie approximately flat to receive one or more packages and may overlap to prevent access to the internal volume 114 as discussed above.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the storage system 100 of FIG. 2A, where the package receptacle 120 is shown in a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the first package receiving portion 128 is rotated away from the second package receiving portion 140 such that internal space 130 of the package receptacle 120 is exposed to the internal volume 114 of the housing 110, thus allowing any packages contained in the internal space 130 of the receptacle 120 to drop into the internal volume 114. To move the package receptacle 120 to the closed configuration, a user may grasp the door handle 122 and pivot the door upwards (as shown in FIG. 3A relative to the position shown in FIG. 2A).

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the package receptacle 120 of FIG. 3A, where the package receptacle 120 is shown in a closed configuration. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, pivoting the door upwards to the closed configuration causes the first package receiving portion 128 to rotate downwards and the second door portion 126 to rotate away from the first door portion 124. The first and second door portions may be rotatably coupled to one another via a hinged connection or any other suitable connection as the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, one or more linkages (e.g., linkage 150 shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C) may be coupled to the first and second door portions to urge the first and second door portions to rotate relative to one another when the package receptacle is moved to the closed configuration. The second door portion 126 may also be operatively coupled to the second package receiving portion 140 such that movement of the second door portion 126 may cause the second package receiving portion 140 to rotate away from the first package receiving portion 128. Therefore, movement of the package receptacle 120 to the closed configuration may cause the first and second package receiving portions 128, 140 to rotate away from one another to drop one or more packages contained in then internal space 130 into the internal volume 114 of the housing 110.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a linkage 150 configured for use in connecting portions of the storage system 100. The linkage 150 may include a first end 156 and a second end 158 which may be attached to first and second door portions 124, 126 (as shown in FIG. 3B), respectively. The linkage 150 may be secured to the door portions in any suitable fashion including, but not limited to fasteners (e.g., bolts, rivets, etc.), adhesives, threaded connections, welding, or any other suitable connection type as the disclosure is not so limited. The linkage 150 may include coaxial shafts 152, 154 which may be arranged to move relative to one another as the door portions 124, 126 rotate away from one another when the package receptacle is moved between open and closed configurations. Such a configuration may allow for the linkage connecting the door portions to accommodate the different distances between the first and second door portions as they are rotated away from one another. In some embodiments, the linkage 150 may include a biasing force that may cause the linkage to urge the door portions 124, 126 to rotate away from one another. For example, the linkage 150 may be spring loaded such that the door of the package receptacle is urged to the closed configuration, and the user may overcome the biasing force of the spring loading when moving the door to the open configuration to deposit a package in the package receptacle. When the user removes a force on the door, the door may be biased to return to the closed configuration with the door portions 124, 126 rotated away from one another. In other embodiments, however, the linkage 150 may urge the package receptacle to the open configuration such that the user overcomes the biasing force of the spring loading when moving the door to the closed configuration to drop the packages, and the door may be biased to return to the open configuration when the user removes a force on the door.

In some embodiments, the linkage 150 may be configured as a gas shock. In some such embodiments, the gas shock may be configured to reduce a speed at which the door portions 124, 126 rotate relative to one another. That is, when a user removes a force on the door, e.g., after moving the door to the open configuration and depositing one or more packages in the package receptacle, the gas shock may allow for the door to move to the closed configuration at a slower speed. The inventors have recognized that such a configuration may limit or prevent user injury caused by the door contacting limbs of the user during operation. In some embodiments, the linkage 150 may be configured to allow the door to remain in the open configuration absent a force applied by the user (e.g., a force applied to the door to move the door to the closed configuration). That is, the linkage 150 may allow the door to lie flat in the open configuration such that one or more packages may be deposited into the package receptacle. While such examples are disclosed, any suitable mechanism may be provided to connect the door portions 124, 126 and to optionally urge the door portions to rotate relative to one another as the disclosure is not so limited.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage system of FIG. 2A illustrating further components, according to some embodiments. As described herein, according to some aspects, storage system is provided with at least one sensor for detecting at least one characteristic of the storage system. The sensor data regarding the at least one characteristic can be used, in some embodiments, to control aspects related to the storage system.

As shown in FIG. 4, the storage system 100 is provided having an internal volume 114 configured to receive and store one or more packages. The storage system 100 includes an opening in a housing 110 of the storage system 100 for receiving the one or more packages. For example, in the illustrated embodiments, the storage system 100 comprises a package receptacle 120 that can be transitioned between an open and closed configuration to facilitate receiving the one or more packages. In the illustrated embodiment, the package receptacle 120 comprises a door portion. The door portion may comprise multiple portions (e.g., first door portion 124 and second door portion 126, in the illustrated embodiments). The package receptacle may comprise package receptacle portions, which may be multiple portions (e.g., first package receptacle portion 128 and second package receptacle portion 140).

As described herein, the storage system 100 may comprise at least one sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the storage system. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the storage system 100 comprises a first sensor 202A and a second sensor 202B. Although, in the illustrated embodiment, the storage system 100 comprises two sensors, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the storage system comprises a single sensor, and in further embodiments, the storage system comprises more than two sensors.

The sensor(s) of the storage system 100 can be controlled to obtain sensor data regarding the one or more characteristics of the storage system. As described herein, the inventors have recognized that it is advantageous to obtain information regarding the storage system and such information can be used to control the storage system and/or actions taken with respect to the storage system. For example, the sensor data may facilitate control that enables more efficient use of the storage system (e.g., by providing information on a fullness of the storage system which may be used to optimize scheduling of package pick-up from the storage system and/or to optimize placement of storage systems). For example, in some embodiments, the sensor data may be used to determine when at least one package is present inside the internal volume 114 of the storage system 100. Such information can be used by an operator who instructs drivers to pick up packages from one or more storage systems. By determining when a package is present in a particular storage system, the operator can optimize scheduling of trips to particular storage systems. As another example, in some embodiments, the sensor data may facilitate robust protection of packages deposited within the storage system. For example, the sensor data may be used to detect and/or prevent tampering with the storage system and/or to optimize an environment within the storage system (e.g., the internal volume 114) for the packages deposited therein.

Any suitable sensors can be used to obtain sensor data regarding one or more characteristics of the storage system. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) of the storage system comprise one or more inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometer(s), gyroscope(s)). In some embodiments, the sensor(s) of the storage system comprise one or more position sensors. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) of the storage system comprise one or more optical sensors (e.g., infrared sensor(s), camera(s)). Such sensors may be used to determine characteristics (e.g., dimensions including height, width, and length) of one or more packages in the storage system. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) of the storage system comprise one or more weight sensors (e.g., to detect a weight of one or more packages in the storage system). In some embodiments, the sensor(s) of the storage system comprise one or more temperature sensors. In some embodiments, the sensor(s) of the storage system comprise one or more humidity sensors.

The one or more sensors may be placed in any suitable location for obtaining sensor data regarding one or more characteristics of the storage system. For example, the storage system may comprise a door configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, the door forms an opening 204 in the housing of the storage system. A package may be deposited into the storage system (e.g., into the internal volume 114) via the opening 204 formed by the door being in the open configuration. As described herein, the door may comprise and/or form part of the package receptacle 120. The package receptacle 120 is configured to prevent user access to the internal volume 114 of the housing of the storage system 100 when in an open configuration and drop the one or more packages into the internal volume 114 of the housing when in the closed configuration.

In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be disposed on a door of the storage system. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, for example, a second sensor 202B of the one or more sensors is disposed on a second door portion 126 of the storage system 100. In some embodiments, the first door portion 124 may alternatively or additionally have one or more sensors disposed thereon. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be disposed on first and/or second package receptacle portions 128, 140. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be disposed within the internal volume and/or otherwise positioned to sense one or more characteristics of the internal volume. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first sensor 202A is disposed within the internal volume.

As described herein, the one or more sensors of the storage system 100 may be used to sense one or more characteristics of the storage system. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprises at least one characteristic of the internal volume 114. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise at least one characteristic of the opening 204 of the storage system. In some embodiments, one or more first sensors may be provided for sensing the at least one characteristic of the internal volume 114 and one or more second sensors may be provided for sensing the at least one characteristic of the opening 204.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise characteristic(s) of the one or more packages stored in the storage system. For example, the one or more characteristics may comprise a volume of the one or more package, a dimension of the one or more packages (e.g., height, length, width), and/or a weight of the one or more packages. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics may comprise a measure with respect to an individual package of the one or more packages. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise a total measure with respect to all of the packages in the internal volume (e.g., a total volume, a total weight, a total height, width, and/or length).

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise an indication of whether a package is present in the internal volume. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise an indication of a total number of packages present in the internal volume. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise a measure of a fullness of the internal volume (e.g., how much of the internal volume is occupied with packages). The metric of fullness may be provided in terms of a weight, a volume, or other dimension such as height, width, and/or length). In some embodiments, the internal volume may be considered full when the fullness (e.g., weight, volume, or other dimension such as height, width, and/or length of the packages in the internal volume) is equal to or exceeds a threshold. Such characteristics may be determined using the sensor data described herein. For example, when a weight, volume, and/or dimension exceeds a threshold, it may be determined that a package is present in the internal volume. In some embodiments, an optical sensor such as an infrared sensor and/or a camera may be used to determine whether a package is present in the internal volume.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise a status of a door of the storage system (e.g., open or closed). In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise a length of time during which the door is in an open configuration or a closed configuration. As described herein, such information may be utilized to determine whether the storage system has been tampered with and/or whether the storage system needs to be attended to in order to prevent damage to the storage system. In some embodiments, sensor data indicating that motion of the door is above a threshold can be used as an indication that the storage system has been tampered with. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise an indication that the storage system is damaged (e.g., an indication that the door is unable to be opened and/or unable to be closed).

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise an environmental characteristic of the internal volume and/or in an environment of the storage system. For example, in some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise a measure of temperature within the internal volume and/or in an environment of the storage system. In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics comprise a measure of humidity within the internal volume and/or in an environment of the storage system.

As described herein, the sensor data regarding the one or more characteristics may be used to control one or more aspects of the storage system. For example, as described herein, the one or more characteristics may comprise one or more environmental characteristics such as temperature and/or humidity (e.g., within the internal volume). In some embodiments, the storage system (e.g., at least one processor thereof) may be configured to determine, based on the sensor data, whether the temperature and/or the humidity within the internal volume is above an upper threshold and/or below a lower threshold. For example, the temperature and/or humidity of the internal volume may need to be controlled in order to protect the contents of the one or more packages as contents of the one or more packages may be damaged if the internal volume becomes too hot, too cold, and/or too humid.

In some embodiments, the storage system may transmit a notification when it is determined that the characteristic is above the upper threshold. In some embodiments, the storage system may transmit a notification when it is determined that the characteristic is below the lower threshold. The notification may prompt a user to take action with respect to the storage system. For example, the notification may prompt a user to retrieve contents of the storage system.

In some embodiments, the storage system comprises a heating mechanism 212. The heating mechanism 212 may be configured to heat the internal volume (e.g., increase the temperature thereof) in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the heating mechanism 212 may be configured to cool the internal volume (e.g., decrease the temperature thereof). The heating mechanism 212 may be any suitable device known in the art configured to increase and/or decrease the temperature of a volume.

In some embodiments, the heating mechanism 212 may comprise multiple devices. For example, in some embodiments, the heating mechanism 212 comprises a heating device configured to heat the internal volume and a cooling device configured to cool the internal volume.

In some embodiments, the heating mechanism 212 may be controlled based on a determined temperature and/or humidity of the internal volume and/or in the environment of the storage system. For example, in some embodiments, responsive to determining that the temperature in the internal volume is above an upper threshold, the heating mechanism 212 may be controlled to cool the internal volume. In the case of humidity above a threshold, the heating mechanism may be configured to heat the internal volume. In some embodiments, responsive to determining that the temperature in the internal volume is below the lower threshold, the heating mechanism may be configured to heat the internal volume. In the case of humidity below a lower threshold, the heating mechanism may be configured to cool the internal volume.

As described herein, in some embodiments, the characteristic of the storage system comprises a status of the storage system (e.g., a status of the door of the storage system). For example, the storage system (e.g., the door) may have an open status and a closed status. In some embodiments, the storage system determines the status of the door based on sensor data (e.g., data from a position sensor indicating a position of the door and/or data from a motion sensor indicating motion of the door). In some embodiments, a length of time during which the door is closed and/or opened may be determined. Aspects of the storage system may be controlled based on the determined characteristics regarding status of the storage system.

For example, in some embodiments, when it is determined that the length of time during which the door of the storage system has remained opened (e.g., without being closed) exceeds a threshold amount of time, a notification may be transmitted to a user. For example, the inventors have recognized that allowing a door to the storage system to remain open may be detrimental. For example, the storage system and/or contents (e.g., packages) therein may be vulnerable to the effects of weather when the door of the storage system remains open for an extended period of time. The notification transmitted to the user may prompt the user to take action to assess the storage system. In some embodiments, the door being in the open state for an extended period of time may be indicative of tampering with the storage system. In some embodiments, the door being in the open state for an extended period of time may indicate that the door is broken, and cannot be closed. In some embodiments, the storage system may comprise a mechanism (e.g., a biasing mechanism) which may be controlled to close the door of the storage system when it is determined that the door of the storage system has remained open for a length of time that exceeds the threshold length of time.

In some embodiments, the sensor data can be used to determine whether an attempt to access the internal volume of the storage system without permission (e.g., tampering with the storage system) has been made. The inventors have recognized that detecting tampering (e.g., attempts to gain authorized access to the contents of the storage system) is beneficial as it can be used as a trigger to take one or more further actions which mitigate and/or prevent damage, including theft, to the one or more packages in the storage system. In some embodiments, tampering may be detected based on a determination that a length of time that the door has remained in an open configuration exceeds a threshold length of time. In some embodiments, tampering can be detected based on a position of one or more components of the storage system. For example, the door of the storage system may be in a position that is not part of normal operation of the door. In some embodiments, tampering can be detected based on inertial data (e.g., acceleration data) relating to movement of one or more components (e.g., the door) of the storage system. Such data may indicate that the one or more components of the storage system has been forced open. In some embodiments, tampering may be detected based on data from an optical sensor, such as a camera. In some embodiments, tampering can be detected based on an unexpected change in fullness of the internal volume, for example, an unexpected change (e.g., decrease) in a detected volume, height, and/or weight of the one or more packages in the internal volume. For example, a change may indicate that one or more packages have been removed from the internal volume outside of a scheduled pick up of the one or more packages.

As described herein, one or more actions may be triggered in response to detecting tampering with the storage system. In some embodiments, in response to detecting tampering based on any one or multiple of the techniques described herein, a notification can be sent to a user. The notification may prompt the user to take further action (e.g., to inspect the storage system for the suspected tampering). In some embodiments, in response to detecting tampering, an alarm may be triggered. The alarm may induce a potential perpetrator of the tampering to stop any further tampering with the storage system. In some embodiments, in response to detecting tampering, one or more sensors may be activated. For example, in some embodiments an optical sensor such as a camera may be triggered to capture a photo and/or video in response to the suspected tampering.

In some embodiments, the sensor data may be used to optimize aspects of the storage system. For example, in some embodiments, a user may be instructed to attend to the storage system, such as by scheduling a package pick up, based on the sensor data. In some embodiments, a frequency of use of the storage system is determined. The frequency of use may be determined based on a number of times that a package is deposited into the storage system in a particular period of time. In some embodiments, the frequency of use for a particular day of the week, time of year, and/or time of day may be determined. The determined frequency of use of a particular storage system may be used to schedule future package pickups, which may include what time of day and/or what time of day to schedule a package pickup and/or how frequently to schedule package pickups. In some embodiments, the determined frequency of use may be used to determine where to install storage systems. For example, based on a determination that a particular storage system has a high frequency of use, it may be determined to install additional storage systems nearby the initial storage system.

As described herein, in some embodiments, sensor data may be used to determine whether at least one package has been deposited in the internal volume of the storage system. Further, in some embodiments, the sensor data may be used to determine whether a system is at and/or has exceeded a fullness threshold. Such information may be used to instruct a user to attend to the storage system, as described herein. For example, responsive to determining that a package is present in the storage system and/or responsive to determining that the fullness of the storage system is greater than and/or equal to a threshold, a package pickup may be scheduled. In some embodiments, such information may additionally or alternatively be used to optimize the storage system, for example, as described herein (e.g., with respect to use of a determined frequency of use).

In some embodiments, there is provided an external device 210. The storage system 100 may be configured to transmit information, such as sensor data and/or other data generated based on the sensor data to the external device. Other data may include information derived from processing the sensor data (e.g., a determination that a sensor measurement is above a threshold). In some embodiments, the storage system 100 may be configured to receive information from the external device 210. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor data may be transmitted to the external device 210 and the external device 210 may process the sensor data to derive information (e.g., a determination that a sensor measurement is above a threshold). In some embodiments, the external device may determine and/or instruct control of the storage device based on the sensor data.

For example, the storage system may comprise transmit circuitry (e.g., an antenna) for transmitting the information to the external device. In some embodiments, the storage system may comprise receive circuitry (e.g., an antenna) for receiving information from the external device. In some embodiments, communication between the external device and the storage system may be via a wired connection. In some embodiments, communication between the external device and the storage system may be via a wireless connection. In some embodiments, the storage system and the external device may communicate via short-range communication. In some embodiments, the external device may be configured to transmit (e.g., forward) information from the storage system to another device, such as a remote server or cloud service. Accordingly, the storage system need not be in direct communication with the remote service or cloud service.

In some embodiments, the information transmitted from the storage system may be packaged into packets of data for transmission. In some embodiments, the packaging of information into packets of data for transmission may be performed at the external device 210, subsequent to receiving information from the storage system.

In some embodiments, the sensor data and/or other data is transmitted to the external device at a predetermined frequency (e.g., daily, hourly). In some embodiments, the sensor data and/or other data is transmitted to the external device in response to an event. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor data and/or other data is transmitted to the external device responsive to determining that at least one package has been deposited into the internal volume of the storage system. In some embodiments, the sensor data and/or other data is transmitted to the external device responsive to determining that a fullness of the internal volume of the storage system is equal to and/or above a threshold.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the storage system 100 comprises electronics 205. As an example, the electronics 205 may comprise one or more printed circuit boards having one or more components thereon. The electronics 205 comprise components configured to control and power the storage system 200. For example, the storage system 100 comprises a processor 206. The processor 206 may be configured to operate the sensor(s) of the storage system to obtain the sensor data. The processor 206 may be configured to process the sensor data to obtain other data derived from the sensor data. The processor 206 may be configured to control the storage system based on the sensor data according to any of the techniques described herein, for example. The processor 206 may be configured to control communications between the storage system 100 and the external device 206. Although in the illustrated embodiment a single processor is shown, it should be appreciated that the processor 206 may comprise one or more processors.

The electronics 206 further comprise one or more components for powering the storage system. For example, in some embodiments, the storage system 100 comprises a battery 208. The storage system 100 may be powered at least in part by the battery 208. In some embodiments, the storage system 100 comprises a solar panel 207. The storage system 100 may be powered at least in part by energy captured by the solar panel 207. In some embodiments, the storage system 100 comprises an energy harvester 209. The storage system 100 may be powered at least in part by energy captured by the energy harvester 209. For example, the energy harvester 209 may capture energy from transmissions between the storage system 100 and the external device 210. In some embodiments, the energy harvester 209 may capture energy from openings and/or closings of the door of the storage system 100.

In some embodiments, the storage system 100 is configured to implement aspects which conserve power of the storage system 100. For example, in some embodiments, the storage system may be configured to operate one or more of the sensors (e.g., sensors disposed within the internal volume) when it is determined that a door to the storage system has been opened while the one or more of the sensors are otherwise off or in a sleep mode. In some embodiments, the storage system may be configured to operate one or more of the sensors (e.g., sensors disposed within the internal volume) at a predetermined frequency (e.g., each minute, each hour, each day).

In some embodiments, the storage system may not be internet-enabled. That is, the storage system may not communicate with other devices via a wired and/or wireless connection, or may communicate solely via direct local connections within the immediate area of the storage system and without communicating to the internet. In some embodiments, the storage system may be configured to communicate with a device outside of the immediate area of the storage system (e.g., a remote server or cloud service) via a device in the immediate area of the storage system (e.g., a client device such as a mobile device).

The techniques described herein may be embodied as a method, in some embodiments. FIG. 5 is a method for controlling a storage system configured to receive one or more packages, according to some embodiments.

The method 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 begins at act 502, wherein sensor data regarding one or more characteristics of the storage system is obtained from at least one sensor. For example, the one or more characteristics may be any one or more of the characteristics described herein. In some embodiments, obtaining the sensor data may comprise operating, for example with at least one processor of the storage system, one or more sensors of the storage system to obtain the sensor data. In some embodiments, obtaining the sensor data may comprise receiving the sensor data.

The method 500 may then proceed to act 504 where the storage system is controlled using the sensor data. For example, the sensor data may be used to determine whether to and/or what action to take to control the storage system. The controlling at act 504 may comprise any of the actions described herein. The sensor data may be used in any of the manners described herein.

In some embodiments, the techniques described herein can be embodied in software. For example, in some embodiments there is provided at least one computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by at least one processor (e.g., the processor 206), cause the at least one processor to perform a method. The method may be any one or more of the techniques described herein.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computing device, in accordance with some embodiments of the technology described herein. The computing system environment 800 is only one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the technology described herein.

The technology described herein is operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the technology described herein include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

The computing environment may execute computer-executable instructions, such as program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The technology described herein may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 6, an exemplary system for implementing the technology described herein includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer 810. Components of computer 810 may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 820, a system memory 830, and a system bus 821 that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit 820. The system bus 821 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.

Computer 810 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer 810 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable, and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computer 810. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

The system memory 830 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 831 and random access memory (RAM) 832. A basic input/output system 833 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer 810, such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 831. RAM 832 typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit 820. By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 6 illustrates operating system 834, application programs 835, other program modules 836, and program data 837.

The computer 810 may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile or nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, FIG. 6 illustrates a hard disk drive 841 that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a flash drive 851 that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile memory 852 such as flash memory, and an optical disk drive 855 that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk 856 such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 841 is typically connected to the system bus 821 through a non-removable memory interface such as interface 840, and magnetic disk drive 851 and optical disk drive 855 are typically connected to the system bus 821 by a removable memory interface, such as interface 850.

The drives and their associated computer storage media described above and illustrated in FIG. 6, provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer 810. In FIG. 6, for example, hard disk drive 841 is illustrated as storing operating system 844, application programs 845, other program modules 846, and program data 847. Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system 834, application programs 835, other program modules 836, and program data 837. Operating system 844, application programs 845, other program modules 846, and program data 847 are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. An actor may enter commands and information into the computer 810 through input devices such as a keyboard 862 and pointing device 861, commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 820 through a user input interface 860 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 891 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 821 via an interface, such as a video interface 890. In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers 897 and printer 896, which may be connected through an output peripheral interface 895.

The computer 810 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 880. The remote computer 880 may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 810, although only a memory storage device 881 has been illustrated in FIG. 6. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 6 include a local area network (LAN) 871 and a wide area network (WAN) 873, but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 810 is connected to the LAN 871 through a network interface or adapter 870. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 810 typically includes a modem 872 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN 873, such as the Internet. The modem 872, which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus 821 via the actor input interface 860, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 810, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 6 illustrates remote application programs 885 as residing on memory device 881. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

Embodiments of the above-described techniques can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, the embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers.

Such processors may be implemented as integrated circuits, with one or more processors in an integrated circuit component, including commercially available integrated circuit components known in the art by names such as CPU chips, GPU chips, microprocessor, microcontroller, or co-processor. Alternatively, a processor may be implemented in custom circuitry, such as an ASIC, or semicustom circuitry resulting from configuring a programmable logic device. As yet a further alternative, a processor may be a portion of a larger circuit or semiconductor device, whether commercially available, semi-custom or custom. As a specific example, some commercially available microprocessors have multiple cores such that one or a subset of those cores may constitute a processor. Though, a processor may be implemented using circuitry in any suitable format.

Further, it should be appreciated that a computer may be embodied in any of a number of forms, such as a rack-mounted computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a tablet computer. Additionally, a computer may be embedded in a device not generally regarded as a computer but with suitable processing capabilities, including a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart phone or any other suitable portable or fixed electronic device.

Also, a computer may have one or more input and output devices. These devices can be used, among other things, to present a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used to provide a user interface include printers or display screens for visual presentation of output and speakers or other sound generating devices for audible presentation of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user interface include keyboards, and pointing devices, such as mice, touch pads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, a computer may receive input information through speech recognition or in other audible format.

Such computers may be interconnected by one or more networks in any suitable form, including as a local area network or a wide area network, such as an enterprise network or the Internet. Such networks may be based on any suitable technology and may operate according to any suitable protocol and may include wireless networks, wired networks or fiber optic networks.

Also, the various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded as software that is executable on one or more processors that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number of suitable programming languages and/or programming or scripting tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine language code or intermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual machine.

In this respect, the technology described herein may be embodied as a computer readable storage medium (or multiple computer readable media) (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs (CD), optical discs, digital video disks (DVD), magnetic tapes, flash memories, circuit configurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor devices, or other tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, perform methods that implement the various embodiments of the technology described herein. As is apparent from the foregoing examples, a computer readable storage medium may retain information for a sufficient time to provide computer-executable instructions in a non-transitory form. Such a computer readable storage medium or media can be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processors to implement various aspects of the present technology as described above. As used herein, the term “computer-readable storage medium” encompasses only a computer-readable medium that can be considered to be a manufacture (i.e., article of manufacture) or a machine. Alternatively or additionally, the technology described herein may be embodied as a computer readable medium other than a computer-readable storage medium, such as a propagating signal.

The terms “program” or “software” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of computer-executable instructions that can be employed to program a computer or other processor to implement various aspects of technology described herein. Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect of this embodiment, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the present technology need not reside on a single computer or processor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present technology.

Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

Also, data structures may be stored in computer-readable media in any suitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data structures may be shown to have fields that are related through location in the data structure. Such relationships may likewise be achieved by assigning storage for the fields with locations in a computer-readable medium that conveys relationship between the fields. However, any suitable mechanism may be used to establish a relationship between information in fields of a data structure, including through the use of pointers, tags or other mechanisms that establish relationship between data elements.

Various aspects of the present technology may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.

Also, the technology described herein may be embodied as a method, examples of which have been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

Various events/acts are described herein as occurring or being performed at a specified time. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that such events/acts may occur or be performed at approximately the specified time.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

The terms “approximately,” “substantially,” and “about” may be used to mean within ±20% of a target value in some embodiments, within ±10% of a target value in some embodiments, within ±5% of a target value in some embodiments, and yet within ±2% of a target value in some embodiments. The terms “approximately” and “about” may include the target value.

Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of the technology, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Further, though advantages of the present technology are indicated, it should be appreciated that not every embodiment of the technology will include every described advantage. Some embodiments may not implement any features described as advantageous herein and in some instances. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.