Secure parcel delivery in the absence of the intended recipient

1. A method of securing delivery of a parcel, the method comprising:

constructing an access-restricted area with a portal;

fitting the portal with an electronically-controlled lock having a controller that has an input interface;

receiving, directly at the controller from a parcel delivery company over a network, a tracking number generated by the parcel delivery company as a unique identifier to track the status of a parcel;

receiving directly at the controller an email from the parcel delivery company wherein the email contains the tracking number;

electronically parsing the email to determine the tracking number;

configuring the electronically-controlled lock to unlock when a recipient access code is input to the input interface by a recipient, wherein the recipient access code is different from the tracking number and is not unique for the parcel;

enabling the electronically-controlled lock to use the tracking number as an access code to a open the electronically-controlled lock;

unlocking the electronically-controlled lock when the enabled tracking number is input to the input interface of the electronically-controlled lock by a delivery person; and

locking the electronically-controlled lock after one of the group of conditions consisting of detecting the parcel within the access-restricted area or the lapse of a predetermined amount of time has occurred.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising disabling the tracking number as an access code after the tracking number is input to the input interface of the electronically-controlled lock.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

defining a delivery time window in which delivery of the parcel will be accepted; and

comparing a current time to the delivery time window; wherein the act of unlocking the electronically controlled lock occurs when the tracking number is input by the delivery person during the delivery time window.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

accessing status information for the parcel via a parcel delivery company's Internet-based software program, and

wherein the act of enabling the tracking number as an access code is performed after the parcel delivery company's Internet-based software program indicates that the parcel is out for delivery.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sending an electronic notification to a recipient after the tracking number is input to the input interface by the delivery person.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sending an email to a recipient by the controller of the electronically-controlled lock after the tracking number is input to the input interface.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising

displaying on a display a request that the parcel be placed inside a secured area; and

displaying on the display instructions for operating the electronically controlled lock to the delivery person.

8. A system for securing a delivered parcel comprising:

a secured area with a portal held closed by an electronically controlled lock having a processor; and

a user interface configured to receive a tracking number from a delivery person;

the processor configured to

receive directly an email from a parcel delivery company through an Internet connection wherein the email contains the tracking number, and

parse the email to derive the tracking number, and

store the tracking number as an access code to the electronically controlled lock, and

unlock the electronically controlled lock when the tracking number is input by the delivery person,

wherein the tracking number is generated by the parcel delivery company as a unique identifier for tracking the status of a parcel.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to disable the tracking number as an access code after the tracking number is input by the delivery person.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to unlock the electronically controlled lock when a recipient access code is input by a recipient, wherein the recipient access code is not unique for the specific parcel.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to

access status information for the parcel via the parcel delivery company's Internet-based software program; and

enable the tracking number as an access code after the parcel delivery company's Internet-based software program indicates that the parcel is out for delivery.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the secured area is includes a receptacle with a door that is held closed by the lock.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the secured area is includes an interior area of a building.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to send an electronic notification to a recipient after the tracking number is input by the delivery person.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic notification includes an email sent through the Internet connection.

16. The system of claim 8 further comprising a display wherein the display is configured to request that the parcel be placed inside the secured area and provide instructions for operating the lock.

17. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface is includes a keypad.

18. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface is includes a touch screen.

19. A system for securing a delivered parcel comprising:

a secured area with a portal held closed by an electronically controlled lock having a processor;

a user interface configured to receive a tracking number from a delivery person;

a display; and

a wide-area network (“WAN”);

the processor configured to

receive directly an email from a parcel delivery company through the WAN, wherein the email contains the tracking number,

parse the email to determine the tracking number,

access status information for the parcel via a parcel delivery company's WAN-based software program,

enable the tracking number as an access code to the electronically controlled lock after the parcel delivery company's Internet-based software program indicates that the parcel is out for delivery,

output to the display

a request that the parcel be placed inside and

instructions for operating the lock,

unlock the electronically controlled lock when the enabled tracking number is input by the delivery person,

disable the tracking number after the tracking number is input by the delivery person, and

lock the electronically controlled lock;

wherein the tracking number is generated by a parcel delivery company as a unique identifier for tracking the status of a parcel.