Importance

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Abstract

There is provided a lock box system that is adapted to deposit objects into and retrieve objects from a plurality of compartments of the lock box system, each compartment having an unambiguous identifier and a door that can be locked by an associated locking device. An exemplary lock box system comprises a data processing unit that is adapted to determine which compartments contain an object, whereby dimensions of at least two of the compartments differ from each other and these dimensions of the compartments are stored in the data processing unit. The exemplary lock box system also comprises a centralized facility reading device that is connected to the data processing unit, the centralized facility reading device having a detector that is adapted to simultaneously detect a plurality of RFID transponders located within a defined area around the centralized facility reading device, the centralized facility reading device additionally comprising a data reading device that is adapted to simultaneously read out data from the plurality of RFID transponders, wherein the data read out from a particular one of the plurality of RFID transponders contains at least dimensions of an associated object. The exemplary lock box system further comprises a receiving and processing device connected to the data processing unit, the receiving and processing device being adapted to receive the data read out from the particular one of the plurality of RFID transponders, the receiving and processing device being adapted to, based on dimensions of the associated object and a query of an occupation status of the plurality of compartments, identify a free one of the plurality of compartments having dimensions sufficiently large to accommodate the associated object. The exemplary lock box system additionally comprises a transmitter that is adapted to transmit the identity of the free one of the plurality of compartments to the control unit. In addition, the exemplary lock box system comprises a control unit connected to the data processing unit, the control unit having an actuator that is adapted to actuate the locking device via control signals, the control unit being adapted to simultaneously or consecutively generate and/or transmit control signals to the locking device associated with the identified free one of the plurality of compartments to open the door of the identified free one of the plurality of compartments.

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First Claim