Abstract: A parcel locker bank system for dispatching and collecting shipments by agents, and dropping-off and picking-up of shipments by users, including: a bank of lockers comprising a front side, a rear side, a control unit, a user interface facing on the front side, each locker comprising a compartment opened on the rear side of the bank, closed on the front side of the bank by an individual electronically controlled door, a remote shipping system comprising a Parcel Handling application communicates with the bank via a first long-distance communication network, and with a mobile device of the agent via a second long-distance communication network. The Parcel Handling application is operable to send data to the mobile device of the agent to guide the agent through the dispatching and collecting from the rear side and to receive data from the mobile device to verify that the agent has made no mistake.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining whether a specific type of parcel lockers of a parcel locker bank is available to store a parcel on a future day (j), parcel storage limited to a maximum number of days equal to a first number N, includes forecasting by: receiving the number of parcels delivered or to be delivered for each day between a day j and a day j?N+1, and receiving the number of parcels already announced to be delivered for each day between said day j and day j+N?1, calculating, for each day between day j to day j+N?1, a number of available parcel locker(s) for each day of this time interval, said number being based on said received numbers and on pick-up rates of parcel from parcel lockers, comparing, for each day between day j and day j+N?1, said calculated number to a threshold.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for forecasting daily available capacity of a parcel locker bank with selectively securable parcel lockers, allows storage of parcels in respective lockers during a maximum number of days (N). For a number (P) of parcel lockers, forecasting includes: receiving parcels to be or already delivered to the parcel locker bank for each day between a chosen future day (j) and N?1 days before said chosen future day (j), estimating a number (Sj) of parcel lockers that should contain a parcel on said chosen future day (j), based on said received number of parcels already or to be delivered and on pick-up rates of parcel from parcel lockers, and calculating a number (Dj) of available parcel locker(s) of said locker bank on said chosen future day (j) resulting from the subtraction of said estimated number (Sj) from said number of parcel lockers (P).

Abstract: An electronic parcel locker comprising an outside enclosure constituted of two side panels, of a bottom panel, of a top panel and of a back panel fastened together and defining a front aperture of the electronic parcel locker, and an internal structure for supporting parcels deposited in the electronic parcel locker, the internal structure being constituted of an array of bars with a same length regularly aligned essentially perpendicularly to the back panel and selectively movable between extended positions where a front end of the array of bars is aligned with the front aperture of the electronic parcel locker, and retractable positions where the bars of the array of bars corresponding to shapes of parcels to be deposited in said electronic parcel locker are retractable towards the back panel for defining temporary compartments exactly adapted to shapes of the parcels.

Abstract: An electronic parcel locker comprising an outside enclosure constituted of two side panels, of a bottom panel, of a top panel and of a back panel fastened together and defining a front aperture of the electronic parcel locker, and an internal structure for supporting parcels deposited in the electronic parcel locker, the internal structure being constituted of an array of bars with a same length regularly aligned essentially perpendicularly to the back panel and selectively movable between extended positions where a front end of the array of bars is aligned with the front aperture of the electronic parcel locker, and retractable positions where the bars of the array of bars corresponding to shapes of parcels to be deposited in said electronic parcel locker are retractable towards the back panel for defining temporary compartments exactly adapted to shapes of the parcels.

Abstract: Controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments via an electronic locker unit communicatively coupled a managing distribution center, and having lockable compartments, comprises entering an identification code of the shipment and retrieving specific information including a weight P0 associated with the shipment; opening a compartment of the electronic locker unit; depositing the shipment inside the compartment; weighing the shipment with a weighing module located inside the compartment and comparing the measured weight P with a reference weight; and locking the compartment and logging the compartment as filled and successfully locked upon close match and validation of weight comparison, said reference weight is an authorized weight interval between a minimal weight Pmin and a maximal weight Pmax determined by cumulating at least the two following: a carrier weight tolerance T1 corresponding to the weight P0 provided by the carrier, and a locker weight tolerance T2 of the scales of the weighing modules.

Abstract: Controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments via an electronic locker unit communicatively coupled to a managing distribution centre, and having lockable compartments, comprises entering an identification code of the shipment and retrieving specific information including a weight P0 associated with the shipment; opening a compartment of the electronic locker unit; depositing the shipment inside the compartment; weighing the shipment with a weighing module located inside the compartment and comparing the measured weight P with a reference weight;—and locking the compartment and logging the compartment as filled and successfully locked upon close match and validation of weight comparison, said reference weight is an authorized weight interval between a minimal weight Pmin and a maximal weight Pmax determined by cumulating at least the two following: a carrier weight tolerance T1 corresponding to the weight P0 provided by the carrier, and a locker weight tolerance T2 of the scales of the weighing modules.