The patent application titled “Delivery Reservation Apparatus and Method” explains a blockchain-based management system for delivery lockers that can safe keep items until the buyers sign and collect them. The patent filing was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 5.
A “blockchain reservation” system is suggested for “some embodiments” of a set up to identify free and occupied lockers:
“Each space on the docking station has a corresponding capacity unit for each location on the docking station. The transactions for the capacity units are tracked in a ledger, with available capacity units indicating an open location on the docking station or contracted out capacity units indicating that either the location has a locker secured thereto or that the location is reserved for a future delivery.”
The patent filing also states that “each docking station can be a node within a blockchain network.” Furthermore, the filing makes repeated references to a “public ledger” which would function as an open record of unoccupied and booked units within the system.
Notably, Walmart had also filed a patent application for a blockchain-powered system that could be used to track a range of data, including environmental conditions, package contents and location, among others.
Walmart has also partnered with IBM to create a blockchain system for tracking it global food supply chain. Back in April, the company announced its readiness to use blockchain for live food business. Additionally, the company has filed blockchain patents for medical records, energy consumption management system, and customer resale marketplace.