• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    14 ABSTRACT A post detection unit (20) is disclosed for detecting content of a postbox (10). Thepost detection unit (20) comprises an image capturing unit (21) for capturingimages of the interior (14) of the postbox. The image capturing unit (21) isarranged to capture a first image of the interior of the postbox before or duringopening of the postbox, and to capture a second image of the interior of thepostbox at c|osing of the postbox. Thereby an analysis of the first and the secondimage is enabled for detecting a difference between the first and the secondimage. Such a difference would represent a change in the content of the postbox.A corresponding method for detecting content of a postbox is also disclosed. (Fig. 2)
    公开号:SE1350608A1
    申请号:SE1350608
    申请日:2013-05-17
    公开日:2014-11-18
    发明作者:Andreas Kammensjö；Mattias Hultgren；Henrik Samuelsson
    申请人:Combiplate Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [1] [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a method for detectingcontent of a postbox and a post detection unit for detecting content of apostbox.
    [2] [0002] Postboxes may belong to physical orjuridical persons, such as individualpersons, families or companies. A person to whom a postbox belongs, in otherwords, the addressee of an object that is delivered to the postbox addressed to theperson, is hereinafter called a postbox holder. Such postboxes may be arrangedfor example in a staircase of an apartment building. A postman may deliver anobject, such as a parcel or a letter, to such a postbox, and the postbox holderopens the postbox to collect the delivered object. To avoid that the deliveredobject is stolen by a third party, the postbox is equipped with a lock to which boththe postman and the postbox holder has a key. The postbox holder may alsodeliver objects addressed to third parties to the postbox for the postman to collectand deliver.
    [3] [0003] Sometimes an uncertainty appears whether an object has actually beendelivered to the postbox or has been collected from the postbox. For example, apostbox holder may claim that he/she has not received a parcel that the postmanshould have delivered. At the same time, a postman may claim that he/she hasactually delivered the parcel correctly. ln certain cases, for example if the contentof the object was valuable, such an uncertainty may give rise to a lengthy disputebetween the postbox holder and the postman or the postal company.
    [4] [0004] Consequently, there is a need for a solution that may solve suchuncertainties concerning contents of a postbox.
    [5] [0005] lt is an object of the invention to address at least some of the problemsand issues outlined above. An object of the invention may be to detect objects of apostbox. Another object may be to solve uncertainties regarding content of apostbox. lt is possible to achieve these objects and others by using a method anda post detection unit as defined in the attached independent claims.
    [6] [0006] According to one aspect, a method is provided for detecting content of apostbox. The method comprises capturing a first image of the interior of thepostbox before or during opening of the postbox and capturing a second image ofthe interior of the postbox at closing of the postbox. Thereby it is enabled ananalysis of the first and the second image for detecting a difference between thefirst and the second image, the difference representing a change in the content of the postbox.
    [7] [0007] By capturing a first image of the interior of the postbox before or duringopening of the postbox, and thereafter, at closing of the postbox again capturing asecond image, two different images have been captured of the interior of thepostbox before and after the postbox was opened, which images can be analyzedto detect a change in the content of the postbox before and after the postbox wasopened. Such an analysis may be necessary at a later occasion if there is adispute whether an object was actually placed in the postbox or not. By capturinga first image before or during opening of the postbox and a second image at orafter closing of the postbox, two images can be compared showing the content ofthe postbox before and after the postbox was opened. ln comparison, if imagesare only taken at regular intervals there is a risk that an image is taken for exampleduring the time when the postbox is open or that it is not known whether the postbox was actually opened at all.
    [8] [0008] A captured image may be any type of image showing the interior of thepostbox such that objects residing in the postbox are clearly detected whenanalyzing the image, for example a photograph captured (or taken) by a camera,or an infrared image etc.
    [9] [0009] According to an embodiment, the method further comprises sending arepresentation of the first image and the second image to a unit external to thepostbox for storing of the images. A representation of an image may be the imageitself or some kind of a|tered image or information regarding parts of the image etc.By sending the images or a representation of the images to an external unit it ispossible to store the images for later analysis without having to personally visit theactual postbox and collect the images. Further, sparse data storage capacity in thepostbox can be saved and used for other purposes.
    [10] [00010] According to an embodiment, the first image and the second image issent to the external unit through a wireless communication technology such asnear field communication, NFC, technology to a mobile station for further deliveryto the external unit through a mobile communication network. The postman'smobile station may receive the images via a wireless communication technology inconnection with the closing of the postbox, after the postbox has been locked. Themobile station may then in turn send the images over the mobile communicationnetwork to an external unit at e.g. the postal company for storing and futurepossible image analysis if it would be necessary. Already existing communicationchannels are reused for sending the images. A wireless communicationtechnology such as NFC may be used for opening and closing of the postbox andthe mobile communication network is of course used for other communication ofthe mobile station. Consequently, no extra communication channel has to be set up from the postbox for being able to send the images to the external unit.
    [11] [00011] According to another embodiment, the method further comprisesreceiving an opening signal triggering opening of a locking mechanism arranged tolock and unlock a door of the postbox, wherein the receiving of the opening signaltriggers the capturing of the first image. The method may further comprisereceiving a closing signal triggering closing of a locking mechanism arranged tolock and unlock a door of the postbox, wherein the receiving of the closing signaltriggers the capturing of the second image. By capturing the first image atreception of a lock opening signal and by capturing the second image at receptionof a lock closing signal it is clear that there is no possibility to insert an object into the postbox without the fact that the object has been inserted is registered by thedifference between an image taken before and an image taken after the object hasbeen inserted. Thereby it is possible to detect whether there was actually anyobject inserted during the period the locking mechanism was open or not. The firstimage is advantageously taken before the door is unlocked. The second image isadvantageously taken after, orjust after, the door has been locked again.
    [12] [00012] According to another embodiment, the method further comprisesdetecting that the door is closed and that the locking mechanism is locked beforethe second image is captured. Thereby it is avoided that the exceptional casewhere the lock may be locked without the door being closed triggers taking of thesecond image. Consequently, a foolproof detection method is achieved.
    [13] [00013] According to another embodiment, the method further comprisesreceiving an opening signal from an external communication device and openingthe locking mechanism of the postbox at reception of the opening signal. Themethod further comprises receiving a closing signal from the externalcommunication device and closing the locking mechanism of the postbox atreception of the closing signal.
    [14] [00014] According to another aspect, a post detection unit is provided fordetecting content of a postbox. The post detection unit comprises an imagecapturing unit for capturing images of the interior of the postbox. The imagecapturing unit is arranged to capture a first image of the interior of the postboxbefore or during opening of the postbox, and to capture a second image of theinterior of the postbox at closing of the postbox, thereby enabling analysis of thefirst and the second image for detecting a difference between the first and thesecond image, the difference representing a change in the content of the postbox.
    [15] [00015] According to an embodiment, the post detection unit is further arrangedto detect that the door is closed and the locking mechanism is locked before thesecond image is captured. The detection that the door is closed and the lockingmechanism is locked may be performed by a separate detection unit connected to the post detection unit or arranged in the post detection unit, or by the control unitof the post detection unit.
    [16] [00016] According to a third aspect, a postbox is provided, comprising a postdetection unit according to the second aspect.
    [17] [00017] According to a fourth aspect, a computer program product is providedcomprising computer readable code means, which when run in a post detectionunit causes the post detection unit to perform the corresponding method accordingto the first aspect.
    [18] [00018] Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below.
    [19] [00019] The solution will now be described in more detail by means of exemplaryembodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
    [20] [00020] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a schematic block diagram of a postbox according to the invention.
    [21] [00021] Fig 2 is a view from above of a schematic block diagram of a postbox according to an embodiment of the invention.
    [22] [00022] Fig 3 is another view from above of a schematic block diagram of apostbox according to another embodiment of the invention.
    [23] [00023] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for detecting content in apostbox according to an embodiment..
    [24] [00024] Fig. 5 is another flow chart illustrating another method for detectingcontent in a postbox according to another embodiment.
    [25] [00025] Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a post detection unit according to an embodiment of the invention.
    [26] [00026] Briefly described, a solution is provided to facilitate detection of contentof a postbox, or change of content of a postbox. This may be achieved bycapturing a first image of the interior of a postbox before orjust before the postboxis opened and by capturing a second image of the interior of the postbox just afterthe postbox has been closed again. Thereby two images have been captured, onebefore and one after a time span when the postbox was opened which is the timespan when the content of the postbox could have been changed. Two suchimages may be analyzed to detect if the content of the postbox was changedduring the time the postbox was opened. The images may be sent from thepostbox to an external unit for storing, for being able to analyze the images lateron, if it would be necessary for solving possible uncertainties whether a parcel wasactually delivered or collected from the postbox or not.
    [27] [00027] Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a postbox 10 comprising apostbox housing 11, a door 12 and a post detection unit, PDU 20. The PDU 20may be arranged in or on the door 12. The PDU 20 comprises a lockingmechanism 23 for locking the door 12 to the post box housing 11. Alternatively,the PDU 20 may be arranged on the housing 11 instead of on the door 10. ln thatcase the locking mechanism 23 may be arranged on the door 10 and there is aconnection from the PDU 20 to the locking mechanism 23. The locking mechanismmay be positioned separate from the PDU or as an integrated part of the PDU. lnfig. 2 there is also shown a parcel 50 positioned in the interior 14 of the postbox.
    [28] [00028] The PDU 20 further comprises an image capturing unit 21 for capturingan image of the interior 14 of the postbox 10. The PDU further comprises acommunication unit 26 for communicating with the outside of the postbox. Thecommunication unit 26 may be a communication unit such as a near fieldcommunication, NFC, unit or a Zigbee unit for communicating with acorresponding NFC unit or Zigbee unit of an opening device outside the postbox.The PDU further comprises a control unit 22 for controlling the operation of thePDU. The control unit 22 may be arranged to receive a lock opening signal received via the communication unit 26 from an external opening device 30 (see fig. 3). Based on the received lock opening signal, the control unit 22 is arrangedto send a signal to the image capturing unit 21 to capture a first image of theinterior of the postbox. The image will then show the content of the postbox, in thiscase the parcel 50. Thereafter, the control unit 22 sends a signal to the Iockingmechanism 23 to uniock the door. The door is now open and it is possible for theperson that has opened the door to deliver an object into the postbox and/or totake an object out from the postbox.
    [29] [00029] When the person that has opened the door has performed his/her duties,he/she closes the door and triggers Iocking of the Iocking mechanism 23. TheIocking mechanism 23 may be locked by the control unit 22 receiving a Iockingsignal from an external opening device 30, via the communication unit 26, and thecontrol unit sending a Iocking signal to the Iocking mechanism 23. When receivingthe Iocking signal from the external opening device, and/or after detecting that thedoor is locked again, the control unit may send a signal to the image capturing unit21 that captures a second image of the interior of the postbox.
    [30] [00030] The captured first image and second image are then sent by the controlunit 21 via the communication unit 26 to an external unit 40, which is a unitexternal to the postbox. The external unit 40 may be a back-end web portalarranged for example at the postal company. The first and second image may bestored at the external unit 40. At the external unit 40 an analysis of the two imagesmay be made to detect if any objects have been delivered or removed betweenthe two images. Such an analysis may be performed manually. The analysis mayalternatively be performed by some kind of image analysis program to detectdifferences between the images.
    [31] [00031] Fig. 3 shows a postbox 10 which PDU 20 is in communication with anexternal communication device 30. The external communication device 30 may be a mobile phone or any other type of mobile station, such as a PDA etc.
    [32] [00032] The mobile station 30 may be used as an external opening device fortriggering opening of the Iocking mechanism of the door. The mobile station may have a control unit 33, a near field communication unit 31 and a cellular communication unit 32. The first and the second images are sent to the mobilestation 30 from the postbox 10 through near field communication technology viathe communication unit 26 of the postbox and the near field communication unit 31of the mobile station. The images are then further delivered to the external unit 40via the cellular communication unit 32 of the mobile station and via a mobile communication network 60.
    [33] [00033] The user of the mobile station 30 may have the possibility to analyze thefirst and the second images himself/herself in the mobile station to get aconfirmation that the parcel he/she intended to place in the postbox actually wasplaced in the postbox.
    [34] [00034] By analyzing the first and the second images it is possible to detect thatno change occurred between the two images, e.g. that no parcel was delivered inthe postbox during the time the postbox was opened. Such a detection, especiallyif it is performed automatically, may trigger a signal that no packet was delivered.The triggered signal may be as an alarm signal to the person, e.g. the postman,that opened the postbox, that no packet was actually delivered. The alarm signalmay be sent to the postman's mobile station or may be issued at the PDU, for example.
    [35] [00035] According to another embodiment, the first image and the second imageis sent to the external unit 40 through wireline communication from the postbox.The first image and the second image may be sent through wirelinecommunication from the postbox to a base station of the mobile communicationnetwork 60 for further delivery through the mobile communication network to theexternal unit 40. Alternatively, the first and the second image may be sent throughwireline communication via any kind of communication network, e.g. the lnternet ora Public Switch Telephone Network, PSTN, to the external unit. Alternatively, thePDU 20 may be arranged with a mobile communication unit for direct wireless communication with a base station of the mobile communication network 60.
    [36] [00036] Fig. 4 shows a method according to the invention for detecting content of a postbox 10. The method comprises capturing 102 a first image of the interior of the postbox before or during opening of the postbox and capturing 108 a secondimage of the interior of the postbox at closing of the postbox, thereby enablinganalysis of the first and the second image for detecting a difference between thefirst and the second image, the difference representing a change in the content ofthe postbox. The method may be performed by a post detection unit 20 arrangedin a postbox.
    [37] [00037] Fig. 5 is another method according to an embodiment, which may beperformed by the PDU 20 of the postbox, or more specifically the method may beperformed by the control unit 22 of the PDU. ln this method, the PDU 20 firstreceives 101 an opening signal for opening the locking mechanism 23 of thepostbox. The opening signal may be received from an external communication unit30. ln response to reception of such a signal, the PDU triggers its image capturingunit 21 to capture 102 a first image of the interior of the postbox. Thereafter, thelocking mechanism of the postbox is opened 104. The postman or whoever hasopened the postbox, performs his duties, e.g. leaves a parcel 50 in the postbox.
    [38] [00038] After closing the postbox, the postman puts his communication devicetowards the PDU and a closing signal for closing the locking mechanism of thepostbox is issued. The closing signal is received 105 at the PDU. ln response tothe reception of the locking signal, the PDU closes 106 the locking mechanism 23.Thereafter, an optional step of detecting 107 that the door is closed and the lock islocked may be performed to avoid a situation where the door is still open but thelocking mechanism locks unintentionally, and to avoid that a second image iscaptured at such a situation. Thereafter, a second image is captured 108 of theinterior of the postbox. The first image and the second image may then be sent110 to an external unit 40 external to the postbox 10 for storage. Thereby, analysisof the first and the second image for detecting a difference between the first andthe second image is enabled. The difference represents a change in the content ofthe postbox. ln the previously mentioned example where the postman delivered aparcel 50 during this time, the difference between the images, i.e. the difference in what is shown in the images, would be the parcel 50.
    [39] [00039] Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a PDU 20 in a larger scale. Except forthe functions shown in connection with figures 2 and 3, the PDU 20 may alsocomprise a memory 27 in which a computer program may be stored. Thecomputer program may comprise computer readable code means, which when runin a computer, such as the control unit 22 of the PDU 20, causes the PDU toperform the corresponding method according to the invention. The memory 27may be connected to the control unit 22. ln the memory, a computer programproduct comprising a computer readable medium and the computer program beingstored on the computer readable medium may be stored.
    [40] [00040] Although the description above contains a plurality of specificities, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the concept described herein butas merely providing illustrations of some exemplifying embodiments of thedescribed concept. lt will be appreciated that the scope of the presently describedconcept fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious tothose skilled in the art, and that the scope of the presently described concept isaccordingly not to be limited. Reference to an element in the singular is notintended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one ormore." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassedhereby. Moreover, it is not necessary for an apparatus or method to address eachand every problem sought to be solved by the presently described concept, for it to be encompassed hereby.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1] 1. A method for detecting content of a postbox (10), the method comprising: capturing (102) a first image of the interior (14) of the postbox before orduring opening of the postbox; capturing (108) a second image of the interior (14) of the postbox atclosing of the postbox; thereby enabling analysis of the first and the second image for detectinga difference between the first and the second image, the difference representing achange in the content of the postbox.
    [2] 2. Method according to c|aim 1, further comprising sending (110) arepresentation of the first image and the second image to a unit (40) external tothe postbox (10) for storing of the images.
    [3] 3. Method according to c|aim 2, wherein the first image and the secondimage is sent (110) to the external unit (40) through a wireless communicationtechnology such as near field communication, NFC, technology to a mobile station(30) for further delivery to the external unit (40) through a mobile communicationnetwork.
    [4] 4. Method according to any of claims 1-3, further comprising: receiving (101) an opening signal triggering opening of a lockingmechanism (23) arranged to lock and unlock a door of the postbox,wherein the receiving of the opening signal triggers the capturing (102) of the first image.
    [5] 5. Method according to any of claims 1-4, further comprising: receiving (105) a closing signal triggering closing of a lockingmechanism (23) arranged to lock and unlock a door of the postbox,wherein the receiving of the closing signal triggers the capturing (108) of thesecond image. 12
    [6] 6. Method according to claim 5, further comprising: detecting (107) that thedoor is closed and the Iocking mechanism (23) is locked before the second image is captured.
    [7] 7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: receiving (101) an opening signal from an external communicationdevice, opening (104) the Iocking mechanism of the postbox at reception ofthe opening signal, receiving (105) a closing signal from the external communication device, closing (106) the Iocking mechanism of the postbox at reception of theclosing signal.8. A post detection unit (20) for detecting content of a postbox (10), the post detection unit (20) comprising:
    [8] 8. An image capturing unit (21) for capturing images of the interior (14)of the postbox;wherein the image capturing unit (21) is arranged to capture a first image of theinterior of the postbox before or during opening of the postbox, and to capture asecond image of the interior of the postbox at closing of the postbox, therebyenabling analysis of the first and the second image for detecting a differencebetween the first and the second image, the difference representing a change in the content of the postbox.
    [9] 9. Post detection unit (20) according to claim 8, further comprising acommunication unit (26) for sending a representation of the first image and thesecond image to a unit (40) external to the postbox for storing of the images.
    [10] 10. Post detection unit (20) according to claim 9, wherein thecommunication unit (26) is arranged to send the first image and the second imageto the external unit (40) through a wireless communication technology such as 13 near field communication, NFC, technology to a mobile station (30) for furtherdelivery to the external unit (40) through a mobile communication network.
    [11] 11. Post detection unit (20) according to any of claims 8-10, wherein thecommunication unit (26) is further arranged to receive an opening signal triggeringopening of a locking mechanism (23) arranged to lock and unlock a door of thepostbox, and wherein the capturing unit (21) is arranged to trigger the capturing ofthe first image at reception of the opening signal.
    [12] 12. Post detection unit (20) according to any of claims 8-11, wherein thecommunication unit (26) is further arranged to receive a closing signal triggeringclosing of a locking mechanism (23) arranged to lock and unlock a door of thepostbox, and wherein the capturing unit (21) is arranged to trigger the capturing of the second image at reception of the closing signal.
    [13] 13. Post detection unit (20) according to claim 12, the post detection unitfurther being arranged to detect that the door is closed and the locking mechanism(23) is locked before the second image is captured.
    [14] 14. A post box (10) comprising a post detection unit (20) according to any ofclaims 8-13.
    [15] 15. A computer program product, comprising computer readable code means, which when run in a post detection unit (20) causes the post detection unit to perform the corresponding method according to any of claims 1-7.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP2997554A1|2016-03-23|
    WO2014184332A1|2014-11-20|
    SE537904C2|2015-11-17|
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1350608A|SE537904C2|2013-05-17|2013-05-17|Method and post detection unit for detecting content in a mailbox|SE1350608A| SE537904C2|2013-05-17|2013-05-17|Method and post detection unit for detecting content in a mailbox|
    PCT/EP2014/060049| WO2014184332A1|2013-05-17|2014-05-16|Method and post detection unit for detecting content of a postbox|
    EP14724739.9A| EP2997554A1|2013-05-17|2014-05-16|Method and post detection unit for detecting content of a postbox|
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