Abstract: A secure pickup and delivery container includes a lockable door, a control unit, an access element, and an anchoring element, according to an embodiment. The control unit includes a processing element and a memory that can be programmed either on-site or remotely with access privilege information such as identity (e.g. of container, delivery person, etc.), location, date, time, frequency of access, and/or package-specific information. In an embodiment, access privilege information is programmed when an intended recipient of a delivery consummates a point of sale transaction, for example over the Internet or telephone. The access element can be a keypad, a biometric scanner, a card reader, a bar-code reader, and/or a wireless control element to read a programmable token such as a smart card. Delivery personnel can enter access request information into the access element, and if it favorably compares with the access privilege information, the control unit unlocks the door.

Abstract: A collaboration of resources in a distributed environment using credentials and encryption keys is described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a first resource entity receives a communication from a second resource entity over a network. The communication is decrypted with a secret and includes a set of one or more credential and a contact identifier of the second resource entity. The second resource entity is allowed to access a resource on the first resource entity based on the one or more credentials associated with the contact identifier.