US 11,941,571 B2
System and method for vending items
Rao Pärnpuu, Tabasalu (EE); Javier Amate, Espoo (FI); and Phillip Lindberg, Helsinki (FI)
Assigned to STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES OÜ, Tallinn (EE)
Appl. No. 17/598,514
Filed by STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES OÜ, Tallinn (EE)
PCT Filed Mar. 20, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/057886
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 27, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/200854, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19166641 (EP), filed on Apr. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0180306 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/0832 (2023.01); G06F 21/32 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2023.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 10/0832 (2013.01) [G06F 21/32 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0607 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for delivering restricted items to users, the method comprising:
detecting, in an item database and with a processing component, a restricted item selected by a user for delivery;
accessing, in a user database and with the processing component, a user profile associated with the user;
verifying, with the processing component, presence in the user database and/or in a separate database of an authorization for delivery of the restricted item associated with the user profile;
upon detecting a first authorization associated with the user profile, authorizing dispatch of the restricted item to the user at a delivery location wherein authorizing dispatch comprises authorizing dispatch of a mobile robot carrying the restricted item to the delivery location;
transporting the restricted item to the delivery location by the mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot comprises an item space, wherein the item space comprises a lid and an electronic lock and wherein the electronic lock is locked during transit;
prior to the user receiving the restricted item, performing a second authorization to confirm a user's identity;
upon a successful second authorization unlocking the electronic lock;
upon a failed attempt to perform the second authorization, establishing communication between the user and a remote operator terminal via the mobile robot; and
performing with the remote operator terminal the second authorization and/or a repetition of the first authorization.