The present invention relates to an article receiving and distributing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an IOT based system for sending and receiving articles (letters) using an IOT based container (letterbox).
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Sending and receiving letters or quoted articles using the letterbox system is one of the essential activities. Presently, an authorized person (Postman) has to visit the location where the letterbox is installed by the authority to collect the letters received therein. The authorized person needs to conduct such activities periodically. The present method of sending and receiving letters or quoted articles is time-consuming. Further, the present system is not economical as the authorized person needs to visit the location, though the letterbox is empty i.e., without a letter(s). Sometimes the letterbox is almost full offering a new user to face difficulty in dropping the letter in the letterbox.
[0003] Also, the present system does not generate an alert for a sender and a receiver after dropping and receiving the letter by the users. The letterbox uses a conventional lock which is easy to open by a non-authorized person.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need to overcome the problems of the prior art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles, wherein the system is time-efficient.
[0007] The further object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles, wherein the system is economical.
[0008] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles, wherein the system is user-friendly.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles, wherein the system generates an alert for an authorized person periodically.
[0010] One more object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles, wherein the system generates an alert for users after receiving the articles.
[0011] The further object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles, wherein the system provides a biometric locking system, hence, the enhances the security.
[0012] One more object of the present invention is to provide a system for receiving and distributing articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention provides an article receiving and distributing system. The system includes one or more containers, an optical character recognition module, a biometric locking system, cloud storage, a communication module, a GSM module, and a controller.
[0014] The container is a letterbox or any other article receiving the box. The article is a paper or a sheet or a plastic or alike object on which a text is quoted by a first user (a sender) for a second user (receiver). The input slot receives one or more articles therein. The identifier is a mobile number and/or postal address and/or postal code and/or name of the sender and/or name of the receiver and alike.
[0015] The optical character recognition module recognizes the identifiers marked on the articles.
[0016] The biometric locking system is adapted to receive a biometric input from a user. The biometric input comprises an image or a recording or a template of a fingerprint or a palm vein or face recognition or a retina or gait or voice. The biometric locking system enables an opening and a closing of the container based on the received biometric input.
[0017] The cloud storage for storing programmable data. The programmable data comprises one or more types of predefined identifier(s) and programmable biometric data of authorized users.
[0018] The communication module transfers the data within the system. The communication module is a wired communication module or the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module is a wi-fi or a radio frequency or an internet.
[0019] The GSM module sends and/or receives an alert and/or information to the electronic device when the article is received in the container. The alert is a text message or a voice message or a call or an email or alike. The electronic device is a mobile or a tablet or a laptop or a computer or any other IoT based electronic device.
[0020] The controller is connected to the optical character recognition module, the biometric locking system, the cloud storage, the communication module, and the GSM module. The controller receives the recognized identifiers from the optical character recognition and the biometric input from the biometric locking system.
[0021] The controller matches the received identifier with the predefined identifiers stored in the cloud storage. When the received identifier is matched with the predefined identifier, the controller allows a first user to drop the article in the container. When the received identifier is not matched with the predefined identifiers stored in the cloud storage, the controller does not allow a user to drop the article in the container.
[0022] When the article is received in the container, the controller generates a signal for enabling the GSM module to send the data to an electronic device linked with the matched identifiers.
[0023] Further, the controller matches the received biometric input with the predefined biometric data of the authorized users stored in the cloud storage. When the received biometric input is matched with the predefined biometric data, the controller enables the biometric locking system to allow the authorized user to open the container for collecting the articles collected therein. When the received biometric input is not matched with the predefined biometric data, the controller disables the biometric locking system to allow the user to open the container for collecting the articles collected therein.
[0024] In one more embodiment of the system, the system generates and sends an alert to the electronic device linked with the matched identifiers when the article is received by the second user.
[0025] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may have been referred by embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[0027] These and other features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following text figure, with like reference numbers referring to like structures across the views, wherein:
[0028] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram for a system for receiving and distributing articles in accordance with the present invention.
[0029] Figure 2 represents a block diagram for a container for receiving the articles therein in accordance with the present invention.
[0030] Figure 3 represents a flow chart for a system for receiving and distributing articles in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] While the present invention is described herein by way of example using embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of drawing or drawings described and are not intended to represent the scale of the various components. Further, some components that may form a part of the invention may not be illustrated in certain figures, for ease of illustration, and such omissions do not limit the embodiments outlined in any way. It should be understood that the drawings and the detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.
[0032] As used throughout this description, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e. meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense, (i.e. meaning must). Further, the words "a" or "an" mean "at least one” and the word “plurality” means “one or more” unless otherwise mentioned. Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein are solely used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as "including," "comprising," "having," "containing," or "involving," and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited, and is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers, or steps. Likewise, the term "comprising" is considered synonymous with the terms "including" or "containing" for applicable legal purposes. Any discussion of documents acts, materials, devices, articles, and the like are included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
[0033] In this disclosure, whenever a composition or an element or a group of elements is preceded with the transitional phrase “comprising”, it is understood that we also contemplate the same composition, element, or group of elements with transitional phrases “consisting of”, “consisting”, “selected from the group of consisting of, “including”, or “is” preceding the recitation of the composition, element or group of elements and vice versa.
[0034] The present invention is described hereinafter by various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein reference numerals used in the accompanying drawing correspond to the like elements throughout the description. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the following detailed description, numeric values and ranges are provided for various aspects of the implementations described. These values and ranges are to be treated as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In addition, several materials are identified as suitable for various facets of the implementations. These materials are to be treated as exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0035] The present invention provides an article receiving and distributing system. The system includes one or more containers, an optical character recognition module, a biometric locking system, cloud storage, a communication module, a GSM module, and a controller.
[0036] More specifically, the container is a letterbox or any other article receiving box. The article is a paper or a sheet or a plastic or a like object on which a text is quoted by a first user (a sender) for a second user (receiver). The containers include an input slot and an opening and an inner space. The input slot receives one or more articles therein. The articles are provided with one or more identifiers marked. The articles are collected in the inner space. The identifiers are marked for recognizing a first user and a second user. The first user is a sender of the article. The second user is a receiver of the article. The identifier is a mobile number and/or postal address and/or postal code and/or name of the sender and/or name of the receiver and alike.
[0037] In an embodiment, the optical character recognition module recognizes characters or sequences or sequences of characters of the identifiers marked on the articles by the first user. The optical character recognition module is connected to the controller using a wireless communication module.
[0038] Further, the biometric locking system is arranged on the opening of the container. Further, the biometric locking system includes one or more types of a biometric sensor. The biometric sensor is adapted to receive a biometric input from a user. The biometric input comprises an image or a recording or a template of a fingerprint or a palm vein or faces recognition or a retina or gait or voice. The biometric locking system enables an opening and a closing of the container based on the received biometric input. The biometric locking system is connected to the controller through the wireless communication module.
[0039] Furthermore, the cloud storage for storing a programmable data. The data stored in the cloud storage is programmable by the authorized user. The authorized user is a postman or a courier personal or a delivery personal or any other person authorized by the authority. The authority may be an owner or a government official or a like. The programmable data comprises one or more type of predefined identifier(s) and a programmable biometric data of an authorized users.
[0040] In the present embodiment, the communication module transfers the data within the system. The communication module is a wired communication module or the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module is a wi-fi or a radio frequency or an internet.
[0041] The GSM (Global system for mobile communication) module is connected to the controller. The GSM module sends and/or receives an alert and/or information to the electronic device when the article is received in the container. The alert is a text message or a voice message or a call or an email or a like. The electronic device is a mobile or a tablet or a laptop or a computer or any other IoT-based electronic device. The authorized user, the first user, and the second user receive the alert on the respective linked electronic devices.
[0042] The controller is embedded with the various software and the hardware modules. The controller is connected to the optical character recognition module, the biometric locking system, the cloud storage, the communication module and the GSM module. The controller receives the recognized identifiers from the optical character recognition and the biometric input from the biometric locking system.
[0043] The controller matches the received identifier with the predefined identifiers stored in the cloud storage. When the received identifier is matched with the predefined identifier, the controller allows a first user to drop the article in the container. When the received identifier is not matched with the predefined identifiers stored in the cloud storage, the controller does not allow a user to drop the article in the container. The request for marking a correct identifier on the article is displayed on a screen connected to the controller. The screen is positioned on the container. Further, the controller counts a number of articles periodically based on a total number of identifiers recognized.
[0044] When the article is received in the container, the controller generates a signal for enabling the GSM module to send the data to an electronic device linked with the matched identifiers.
[0045] Further, the controller matches the received biometric input with the predefined biometric data of the authorized users stored in the cloud storage. When the received biometric input is matched with the predefined biometric data, the controller enables the biometric locking system to allow the authorized user to open the container for collecting the articles collected therein. When the received biometric input is not matched with the predefined biometric data, the controller disables the biometric locking system to allow the user to open the container for collecting the articles collected therein.
[0046] In one more embodiment of the system, the system generates and sends an alert to the electronic device linked with the matched identifiers when the article is received by the second user.
[0047] Various modifications to these embodiments are apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and the accompanying drawings. The principles associated with the various embodiments described herein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the description is not intended to be limited to the 5 embodiments shown along with the accompanying drawings but is to be providing the broadest scope consistent with the principles and the novel and inventive features disclosed or suggested herein. Accordingly, the invention is anticipated to hold on to all other such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the present invention and appended claims.

We Claim:

1. An article receiving and distributing system, the system comprises:
a one or more containers with an input slot for receiving one or more articles therein; wherein the articles are provided with one or more identifiers for recognizing a first user (sender) and a second user (receiver) marked thereon;
an optical character recognition module for recognizing the identifiers marked on the articles;
a biometric locking system arranged on an opening of the container adapted to receive a biometric input from a user for enabling an opening and a closing of the container based on the received biometric input;
a cloud storage for storing a programmable data comprising one or more type of predefined identifier(s) and a programmable biometric data of an authorized users;
a communication module for transferring the data;
a GSM module for sending an alert and/or information when the article is received in the container; and
a controller connected to the optical character recognition module, the biometric locking system, the cloud storage, the communication module and the GSM module; wherein the controller receives the recognized identifiers from the optical character recognition and the biometric input from the biometric locking system;
wherein the controller matches the received identifier with the predefined identifiers stored in the cloud storage, when the received identifier is matched with the predefined identifier, the controller allows a first user to drop the article in the container; Further, the controller counts a number of articles periodically based on total number of the identifiers recognized; wherein when the article is received in the container, the controller generates a signal for enabling the GSM module to send the data to an electronic device linked with the matched identifiers;
wherein the controller matches the received biometric input with the predefined biometric data of the authorized users stored in the cloud storage, when the received biometric input is matched with the predefined biometric data, the controller enables the biometric locking system to allow the authorized user to open the container for collecting the articles collected therein.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the received identifier is not matched with the predefined identifiers stored in the cloud storage, the controller does not allow a user to drop the article in the container.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the received biometric input is not matched with the predefined biometric data, the controller disables the biometric locking system to allow the user to open the container for collecting the articles collected therein.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is a letterbox and the article is a paper or a sheet or a plastic or a like object on which a message is quoted by a first user (a sender) for a second user (a receiver).
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is a mobile number and/or postal address and/or postal code and/or name of the sender and/or name of the receiver and a like.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric input comprises an image or a recording or a template of a fingerprint or a palm vein or face recognition or a retina or gait or voice.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module is a wired communication module or a wireless communication module comprising a wi-fi or a radio frequency or an internet.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile or a tablet or a laptop or a computer or any other IoT based electronic device.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system generates and sends an alert to the electronic device linked with the matched identifiers when the article is received by the second user.