DeliveryPoints: Common Features

Overview

The sophistication - and cost - of the “delivery point” varies hugely. A new apartment block being designed to support localnet may have completely integrated delivery to every apartment with shared refrigerated and frozen storage areas in a dedicated elevator shaft. At the other extreme, an isolated house miles from the nearest road may just have a DeliveryPost at the roadside where the mailbox used to be. In all cases, however, there are some common principles that apply to all such DeliveryPoints.

Unattended Delivery

Localnet cannot work unless goods can be left without having to see or speak to the householder. (There are localnet services where that is actually required but it must not be a necessary part of every delivery). The delivery staff will not have the time and the householder does not want the inconvenience of having to be “in” when they call. All delivery points are therefore designed to allow either the householder or the authorised localnet staff member to both collect boxes and deliver boxes to and from the DeliveryPoint.

Secure

All localnet containers include a latching mechanism so they can be securely attached to each other or a similar mechanism on a DeliveryPoint. This latching mechanism will only release when the householder or an authorised staff member attempts to remove a box. Boxes left attached, even to roadside DeliveryPoints are therefore much more secure than was the case for post put in mailboxes.

Connected

All DeliveryPoints can sense which boxes are attached to them and can communicate with the localnet system. This is almost always done via a wireless connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) to avoid the need for wiring. They can also communicate directly with the IT devices carried by staff members and can recognise the presence of their householder from an electronic key or tag the householder (and other members of their family) can be issued with. In many cases the owner's smartphone can be sensed and the latches unlocked.

Powered

To stay connected and to sense the boxes, each DeliveryPoint requires power. When built into or onto a house, this will often be a mains power connection but outdoor cabinets and posts will often use solar cells and batteries to avoid having to connect them to mains which could be some distance away.