Apparatuses and methods for providing temperature controlled portable container

1. A method for item delivery comprising:

receiving, at a control circuit, a temperature controlled portable container order including a list of items from a customer;

causing items on the list of items to be placed in a portable container unit including:

an insulated storage compartment configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable container unit;

a temperature control device configured to affect a temperature inside the insulated storage compartment;

a portable housing enclosing the insulated storage compartment and the temperature control device

at least one sensor having a pushable button and being in wireless communication with the control circuit;

instructing, with the control circuit, a delivery of the portable container unit with the items on the list of items to a customer premises;

notifying, via the at least one sensor, the control circuit that a retrieval request has been initiated by a customer in response to the customer pushing the button of the at least one sensor of the portable container unit; and

instructing, with the control circuit, the retrieval of the portable container unit from the customer premises.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

marking the portable container unit as available for a subsequent delivery after the portable container unit is retrieved from the customer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a vortex tube system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable container unit further comprises a power source for powering the temperature control device, the power source comprising one or more of: a power cord, a power port, a power adapter, and a battery.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment before, during, and/or after the transport of the portable housing to the customer premises.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable housing is configured to stack with other portable housings enclosing insulated storage compartments.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable housing comprises a front opening access door that is accessible when a plurality of portable housings are stacked.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable container unit further comprises an additional sensor for sensing one or more of the temperature in the insulated storage compartment, a movement of the portable housing, a location of the portable housing, and a content of the insulated storage compartment.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portable container unit is configured such that data collected by the additional sensor is communicated to the control circuit.

10. A system for item delivery comprising:

a portable container unit comprising:

an insulated storage compartment configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable container unit;

a temperature control device configured to affect a temperature inside the insulated storage compartment;

at least one sensor having a pushable button for initiating a retrieval request; and

a portable housing enclosing the insulated storage compartment and the temperature control device; and

a computer device comprising a control circuit executing a set of computer readable codes stored on a memory storage device, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

receive a temperature controlled portable container order including a list of items from a customer;

cause items on the list of items to be placed in the portable container unit;

instruct a delivery of the portable container unit with the items on the list of items to a customer premises;

receive, in response to the button of the at least one sensor of the portable container unit being pushed by the customer, a notification that the retrieval request has been initiated by the customer; and

instruct the retrieval of the portable container unit from the customer premises.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

mark the portable container unit as available for a subsequent delivery after the portable container unit retrieved from the customer.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a vortex tube system.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portable container unit further comprises a power source for powering the temperature control device, the power source comprising one or more of: a power cord, a power port, a power adapter, and a battery.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment before, during, and/or after the transport of the portable housing to the customer premises.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portable housing is configured to stack with other portable housings enclosing insulated storage compartments.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portable housing comprises a front opening access door that is accessible when a plurality of portable housings are stacked.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portable container unit further comprises an additional sensor for sensing one or more of the temperature in the insulated storage compartment, a movement of the portable housing, a location of the portable housing, and a content of the insulated storage compartment.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the portable container unit is configured such that data collected by the additional sensor is communicated to the control circuit.

19. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a host temperature control system to allow the host temperature control system to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment, and wherein the portable container unit comprises a host coupler configured to couple with the host temperature control system.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the host coupler comprises a vent to the insulated storage compartment that allows air to be exchanged with the host temperature control system.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the host coupler comprises a mechanical coupling device for securing the portable housing to the host temperature control system.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the host coupler comprises a power port for receiving power from the host temperature control system.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the host temperature control system comprises an appliance.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to automatically turn off when the host coupler is coupled to the host temperature control system.