SE537904C2 - Method and post detection unit for detecting content in a mailbox - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY A mail detection unit (20) is displayed, intended for detecting contents of a mailbox (10). The mail detection unit (20) comprises an imaging unit (21) intended to take pictures of the inside (14) of the mailbox. The imaging unit (21) is arranged to take a first image of the inside of the mailbox before or during opening of the mailbox and to take a second image of the inside of the mailbox when closing the mailbox. This enables an analysis of the first and second images to detect a difference between the first and second images. Such a difference will represent a change in the contents of the mailbox. A corresponding method for detecting contents in a mailbox is also shown.

Description

METHOD AND POST DETECTION UNIT FOR DETECTING CONTENT IN A POSTBOX Technical area

This description mainly relates to a method for detecting contents in a mailbox and a mail detection unit for detecting contents in a mailbox.

Background

Mailboxes can belong to natural or legal persons, such as individuals, families or companies. A person to whom a mailbox Mr, in other words, the addressee of an object delivered to the addressee of the addressed person, is henceforth called a mailbox agar. Such mailboxes can be arranged in, for example, a staircase in a team building. A postman can deliver an item, such as a package or a letter, to such a mailbox, and the mailbox agar opens the mailbox to retrieve the delivered item. To prevent the delivered item from being stolen by a third party, the mailbox is equipped with a lock to which both the postman and the mailbox agar have a key. The mailbox agar can also deliver to the mailbox, objects addressed to third parties which objects the postman then picks up and delivers.

Among other things, an uncertainty arises as to whether an item has in fact been delivered to the mailbox or has been retrieved from the Iran mailbox. For example, a mailbox agar may have that he / she has not received a package that the postman would have delivered. At the same time, the postman may have that he / she has really delivered the package correctly. In some cases, for example if the contents of the object were valuable, such uncertainties can give rise to a protracted dispute between the post boxer and the postman or postal company.

Accordingly, there is a need for a solution that can solve such uncertainties regarding the contents of a mailbox. 1 Summary

It is an object of the invention to address at least some of the problems and issues described above. An object of the invention may be to detect objects in a mailbox. Another purpose may be to resolve ambiguities regarding the contents of a mailbox. It is possible to achieve these objects and others by using a method and a post-detection unit as defined in the appended independent claims.

In one aspect, a method of detecting contents of a mailbox is provided. The method includes taking a first image of the inside of the mailbox before or during opening of the mailbox and taking a second image of the inside of the mailbox when closing the mailbox. Therefore, an analysis of the first image and the second image is made possible to detect a difference between the first and the second image, the difference representing a change in the contents of the mailbox.

By taking a first picture of the inside of the postbox before or during opening of the postbox and then, when closing the postbox again, take a second picture, two different pictures have been taken of the inside of the postbox, before and after the postbox was open, which images can be analyzed to detect a change in the contents of the mailbox before and after the mailbox was open. Such an analysis may be needed in a later case, in the event that a dispute arises as to whether an item was actually placed in the mailbox or not. By taking a first picture before or during opening of the mailbox and a second picture at or after closing the mailbox, two pictures can be compared which show the contents of the mailbox before and after the mailbox was open. As a comparison, if photos are only taken at regular intervals, there is a risk that a photo will be taken, for example, while the mailbox is open or that it is not known whether the mailbox was opened at all.

A taken image can be the type of image heist that shows the inside of a mailbox so that objects in the mailbox are clearly detected when the image is analyzed, for example a photograph taken by a camera, or an infrared image and so on.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises sending a representation of the first image and the second image to a unit 2 external to the mailbox, for storing the images. A representation of an image can be the image itself or some type of altered image or information regarding parts of the image, etc. By sending the images or a representation of the images to an external device, it is possible to store the images for later analysis without having to personally visit the mailbox and retrieve the images. Furthermore, limited data storage capacity in the mailbox can be saved and used for other other purposes.

According to another embodiment, the first image and the second image are sent to the external device via a wireless communication technology such as nard communication, NFC, to a mobile telephone for further delivery to the external device via a mobile communication night. The postman's mobile phone can receive the images via a wireless communication technology in connection with the closing of the mailbox, after the mailbox has been loaded. The mobile phone can then in turn send the images over the mobile communication network to an external device, for example at the postal company, for storage and future possible image analysis if needed. In order to sand the images, existing communication channels were reused. A wireless communication technology such as NFC can be used for opening and closing the mailbox and the mobile communication network anyands understood for other communication of the mobile phone. This meant that no additional communication channel needed to be set up from the mailbox to be able to send images to the external device.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises receiving an opening signal which triggers the opening of a loading mechanism arranged to load and unload a device at the mailbox, the reception of the opening signal triggering the taking of the first image. The method may further comprise receiving a closing signal which triggers closing of a loading mechanism arranged to load and unload a door of the mailbox, the reception of the closing signal triggering the taking of the second image. By taking the first image when receiving a load opening signal and by taking the second image when receiving a load closing signal, it is clear that there is no possibility of inserting an object into the mailbox without the fact that the object has been entered 3 being registered. of the difference between an image taken before and an image taken after the object has been imported. Thus, it is possible to detect whether any object was actually introduced during the period when the loading mechanism was Open or not. The first picture is advantageously taken before the door is unlocked. The second image is taken down after or just after the door has been reloaded.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises detecting that the door is closed and that the loading mechanism is read before the second image is taken. In this way, it is possible to avoid the unusual case that the load is loaded without the door being closed triggering the taking of the second image. Consequently, an idiotic detection method was achieved.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises receiving an opening signal than an external communication unit and opening the loading mechanism of the mailbox upon receipt of the opening signal. The method further comprises receiving a closing signal from the external communication device and reading the mailing mechanism of the mailbox upon receipt of the closing signal.

In another aspect, a mail detection unit is provided for detecting contents of a mailbox. The mail detection unit includes an imaging unit for taking pictures of the inside of the mailbox. The imaging unit is arranged to take a first image of the inside of the postbox before or during opening of the postbox, and to take a second image of the inside of the postbox when closing the postbox, armed possible analysis of the first and the second image to detect the difference between the first image and the second image, the difference representing a change in the contents of the mailbox.

According to one embodiment, the post-detection unit is further arranged to detect that the door is closed and the loading mechanism is read before the second picture is taken. The detection that the door is closed and the loading mechanism is read can be performed by a separate detection unit connected to the post detection unit or arranged in the post detection unit, or by the control unit or the post detection unit. 4

According to a third aspect, a mailbox comprising a mail detection unit according to the second aspect is provided.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising code which is readable by a computer, which when it '

Other possible features and advantages of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of typical embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a schematic block diagram of a mailbox according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a schematic block diagram of a mailbox according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is another view from above of a schematic block diagram of a mailbox according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for detecting contents of a mailbox according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 is another flow chart illustrating another method of detecting contents of a mailbox according to another embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a mail detection unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

In summary, a solution is provided which enables detection of contents in a mailbox, or change of contents in a mailbox. This can be achieved by taking a first picture of the inside of the postbox before or shortly before the postbox is opened and taking a second picture of the inside of the postbox just after the postbox has been closed again. As a result, two pictures have been taken, one before and one after a period of time when the mailbox has been open, which is the amount of time when the contents of the mailbox could have been changed. Two such images can be analyzed to detect if the contents of the mailbox have changed while the mailbox was open. The images can be sent from the mailbox to an external device for storage, in order to make it possible to analyze the images later if necessary to resolve possible ambiguities as to whether a package was actually delivered or retrieved from the mailbox or not.

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a mailbox 10 comprising a mailbox housing 11, a door 12 and a mail detection unit, PDU, 20. The PDU 20 can be arranged in or on the door 12. The PDU 20 comprises a loading mechanism 23 for loading the door 12 to the mailbox housing 11. Alternatively, the PDU may be arranged on the housing 11 instead of on the door 10. In that case, the loading mechanism 23 may be arranged on the door 10 and then there is a connection from the PDU 20 to the loading mechanism 23. The loading mechanism may be placed separately from the PDU or be a integral part of the PDU. Fig. 2 also shows a package 50 coated on the inside 14 of the mailbox.

The PDU 20 further includes an imaging unit 21 for taking a picture of the inside 14 of the mailbox 10. The PDU further includes a communication unit 26 for communicating below the outside of the mailbox. The communication unit 26 may be a communication unit such as a napkin communication unit, NFC unit, or a Zigbee unit for communicating with a corresponding NFC unit or Zigbee unit of an opening device outside the mailbox. The PDU further includes a controller 22 for controlling the operation of the PDU. The control unit 22 can be arranged to receive a laser opening signal received via the communication unit 26 from an external opening device 30 (see Fig. 3). The control unit 22 is arranged to, based on the received laser aperture signal, send a signal to the imaging unit 21 to take a first picture of the inside of the mailbox. The picture will then show the contents of the mailbox, in this case the package 50. Then the control unit 6 22 sends a signal to the loading mechanism 23 to unload the door. The door is now Open and it is possible for the person who opened the door to place an item in the mailbox and / or to take an item out of the mailbox.

When the person who has opened the door has performed his / her task, he / she closes the door and triggers loading of the loading mechanism 23. The loading mechanism 23 can be read by the control unit 22 receiving a loading signal Than an external Opening device 30, via the communication unit 26, and that the control unit sends a loading signal to the loading mechanism 23. When the control unit receives the loading signal from the external opening device, and / or after it detects that the door is loaded again, the control unit can send a signal to the imaging unit 21 which takes a second picture of the inside of the mailbox.

The first and second images taken are then sent by the control unit 21 via the communication unit 26 to an external unit 40, which is a unit external in relation to the mailbox. The external unit 40 may be a back-end web portal arranged, for example, at the postal company. The first and second images can be stored at the external device 40. At the external device 40, an analysis of the two images can be performed to detect if any object has been delivered or taken out in the time between the two images was taken. Such an analysis can be performed manually. The analysis can alternatively be performed by the flagon type of image analysis program to detect differences between the images.

Fig. 3 shows a mailbox 10 whose PDU 20 communicates with an external communication device 30. The external communication device 30 may be a mobile telephone or some other type of mobile station as a lift, such as a PDA and so on.

The mobile station 30 can be used as an external opening device to trigger opening of the door loading mechanism. The mobile station may have a control unit 33, a narphalt communication unit 31 and a cellular communication unit 32. The first and second images are sent to the mobile station 30 Than the mailbox 10 by narwhal communication technology via the mailbox communication unit 26 and the mobile station 7 the narwhal communication unit 31. The images are then passed on. to the external unit 40 via the mobile station's cellular communication unit 32 and via a mobile communication network 60.

The user of the mobile station 30 may have the opportunity to analyze the first and second image himself in his mobile station to get a confirmation that the package he / she intended to place in the mailbox was actually placed in the mailbox.

By analyzing the first and second images, it is possible to detect that no change occurred between the two images, for example that no packet was delivered in the mailbox while the mailbox was open. Such detection can, especially if performed automatically, trigger a signal that no packet has been delivered. The triggered signal may be an alarm signal to the person who opened the mailbox, for example the postman, that no package was delivered. The alarm signal can be sent to the postman's mobile station or can be issued by the PDU, for example.

According to another embodiment, the first image and the second image are sent to the external unit 40 via wired communication Than the mailbox. The first image and the second image can be sanded via wired communication from the mailbox to a base station belonging to the mobile communication network 60 for further delivery via the mobile communication network to the external device 40. Alternatively, the first and second images can be sanded via wired communication via any type of communication night, such as the Internet or a public telephone, PSTN, connected to the external device. Alternatively, the PDU 20 may be provided with a mobile communication unit for direct wireless communication below a base station belonging to the mobile communication network 60.

Fig. 4 shows a method according to the invention for detecting contents of a mailbox 10. The method comprises taking 102 a first image of the inside of the mailbox before or during opening of the mailbox and taking 108 a second image of the inside of the mailbox when closing the mailbox, to enable analysis of the first and second images to detect a difference between the first and second images, the difference representing a change in the contents of the mailbox. The method can be performed by a mail detection unit 20 arranged in a mailbox.

Fig. 5 is another method according to an embodiment which can be performed by the post box PDU 20, or more specifically the method can be performed by the PDU controller 22. In this method, the PDU 20 first receives 101 an opening signal to open the post box loading mechanism 23. The opening signal can be received Than an external communication unit 30. In response to receiving such a signal, the PDU triggers its imaging unit 21 to take 102 a first image of the inside of the mailbox. Then the loading mechanism of the 104 mailbox opens. The postman or whoever has opened the mailbox is doing his job, for example leaving a package 50 in the mailbox.

After closing the mailbox, the postman places his communication device against the PDU and a closing signal for closing the loading mechanism of the mailbox is emitted. The shut-off signal is received 105 at the PDU. In response to receiving the closing signal, the 106 PDUn closes the loading mechanism 23. Thereafter, an optional step of detecting 107 that the door is closed and the load is loaded can be performed to avoid a situation where the door is still open and the locking mechanism is unintentionally loaded, and to avoid that a second picture is taken in such a situation. Then 108 a second image is taken of the inside of the mailbox. The first image and the second image can be sanded 110 for storage to an external device 40 external to the mailbox 10. This allows analysis of the first and second images to detect a difference between the first and second images. The difference represents a change in the contents of the mailbox. In the previous example shown where the postman delivered a package 50 during this time, the difference between the images, i.e. the difference in what is shown in the pictures be the package 50.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a large scale PDU. In addition to the functions shown in connection with Figures 2 and 3, the PDU 20 may also include a memory 27 in which a computer program may be stored. The daytorp program may include code that is readable by a computer, which code when it '

Although the above description contains a number of specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the concept described herein, but rather provide only illustrations of some exemplary embodiments of the described concept. References to elements in singulars are not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so described, but rather "one or more". All structural and functional equivalents of the constituents of the embodiments described above which are known to those skilled in the art are expressly to be understood as incorporated in this application.

Claims (15)

PATENT REQUIREMENTS A method of detecting contents of a mailbox (10), the method comprising: taking (102) a first image of the inside of the mailbox (14) before or during opening of the mailbox; take (108) a second view of the inside of the mailbox (14) when closing the mailbox; enable analysis of the first image and the second image to detect a difference between the first image and the second image, the difference representing a change in the contents of the mailbox. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending (110) a representation of the first image and the second image to a unit (40) external to the mailbox (10) for storing the images. The method of claim 2, wherein the first image and the second image are sanded (110) to the external device (40) via a wireless communication technology such as naphtha communication technology, NFC, to a mobile station (30) for further delivery to the external device ( 40) via a mobile communication night. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, further comprising: receiving (101) an opening signal triggering the opening of a loading mechanism (23) arranged to load and unlock a door to the mailbox, the reception of the opening signal triggering the reception (102) of the first image. The method of any of claims 1-4, further comprising: receiving (105) a closing signal triggering closing of a loading mechanism (23) arranged to load and unload the mailbox door, wherein the receipt of the closing signal triggers the taking (108) of the second image. The method of claim 5, further comprising: 11 detecting (107) that the mandrel is closed and that the loading mechanism (23) is loaded before the second image is taken. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising: receiving (101) an opening signal from an external communication device; Open (104) the loading mechanism of the mailbox upon receipt of the opening signal; receiving (105) a shut-off signal from the external communication device; bar (106) the loading mechanism of the mailbox upon receipt of the bar signal. A mail detecting unit (20) for detecting contents of a mailbox (10), the mail detecting unit (20) comprising: an imaging unit (21) for taking pictures of the inside of the mailbox (14), the imaging unit (21) being arranged to take a first image of the inside of the mailbox before or during opening of the mailbox, and taking a second image of the inside of the mailbox when closing the mailbox, thereby enabling analysis of the first image and the second image to detect a difference between the first image and the second the image which difference represents a change in the contents of the mailbox. The mail detection unit (20) of claim 8, further comprising a communication unit (26) for transmitting a representation of the first image and the second image to a unit (40) external to the mailbox, for storing the images. The mail detection unit (20) according to claim 9, wherein the communication unit (26) is arranged to transmit the first image and the second image to the external unit (40) via a wireless communication technology such as nanphalt communication technology, NFC, to a mobile station (30) for further delivery to the external device (40) via a mobile communication network. 12 A mail detection unit (20) according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein the communication unit (26) is further arranged to receive an opening signal which triggers the opening of a loading mechanism (23) arranged to read and unload an associated mailbox, and wherein the imaging unit (21) is arranged to trigger the taking of the first image when the opening signal is received. A mail detection unit (20) according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein the communication unit (26) is further arranged to receive a closing signal which triggers closing of a loading mechanism (23) arranged to load and unload a door belonging to the mailbox, and wherein the imaging unit (21) is arranged to trigger the taking of the second image upon receipt of the bar signal. The mail detection unit (20) according to claim 12, wherein the mail detection unit is further arranged to detect that the door is closed and the loading mechanism (23) is loaded before the second image is taken. A mailbox (10) comprising a mail detection unit (20) according to any of claims 8-13. A computer program product comprising code readable by a computer, which code when it runs in a mail detection unit (20) or that the mail detection unit performs the method according to any one of claims 1-7. 13 1/4 23 H 26 i PDU "(V 12