System and method for processing package delivery

• US 10,366,363 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shopify Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silver, Edward Michael, Roberts, Linda Ann, Nguyen, Hong Thi, Zellner, Samuel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Daniel I
• Application Number:
  US15/069,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20160260050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

A method for processing packages is provided. A package is received at an intermediate shipping site and a delivery authorization status corresponding to the package is determined based on a threshold of some characteristic of the package. The package is delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is acceptable and the package is not delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is not acceptable. The acceptability of the package for delivery is determined by a response that an addressee provides to an electronic message notification of package availability. The electronic response preferably contains some authenticating information regarding the package.

Claims

1. A server device, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing executable instructions that, when executed by the hardware processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

optically scanning package information encoded in a bar code associated with a package;

receiving a radio transmission comprising a short message service text message sent from a device associated with an addressee of the package;

machine parsing the short message service text message to determine a text segment;

electronically comparing the package information encoded in the bar code to the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message sent from the device associated with the addressee;

authorizing a delivery of the package to the addressee in response to the package information encoded in the bar code matching the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message sent from the device associated with the addressee; and

designating the package for non-delivery to the addressee in response to the package information encoded in the bar code failing to match the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message sent from the device associated with the addressee.

2. The server device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise matching an address specified by the package information.

3. The server device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining a match with an address specified by the text segment.

4. The server device of claim 1, wherein the package information includes at least one of weight, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date, and approximate delivery date.

5. The server device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise comparing at least one parameter of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents mailing date, and approximate delivery date with a threshold level to determine whether the package requires delivery authorization.

6. The server device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise requesting a confirmation of the package information.

7. The server device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the text segment includes at least one of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date, and approximate delivery date.

8. The server device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving from the addressee a request for additional information.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising a hardware processor, an optical scan of package information encoded in a bar code, the package information associated with a package;

receiving, by the system, a radio transmission comprising a short message service text message that is sent from an address that is associated with an addressee of the package;

machine parsing, by the system, the short message service text message to determine a text segment;

electronically comparing, by the system, the package information encoded in the bar code to at least a portion of the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message; and

authorizing, by the system, a delivery of the package to the addressee in response to the package information encoded in the bar code matching the at least the portion of the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising designating the package for non-delivery in response to the package information encoded in the bar code failing to match the at least the portion of the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the package information includes weight, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date, approximate delivery date, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing, by the system, a parameter of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents mailing date, or approximate delivery date with a threshold level to determine whether the package requires delivery authorization.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising requesting, by the system, confirmation of the package information.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least the portion of the text segment includes at least one of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date, and approximate delivery date.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, by the system, a request from the addressee for additional information.

16. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

receiving an optical scan of package information encoded in a bar code, the package information associated with a package;

receiving a radio transmission comprising a short message service text message sent from an address associated with an addressee of the package;

machine parsing the short message service text message to determine a text segment;

electronically comparing the package information encoded in the bar code to the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message; and

authorizing a delivery of the package to the addressee in response to the package information encoded in the bar code matching the text segment determined from the machine parsing of the short message service text message.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise designating the package for non-delivery to the addressee in response to the package information failing to match the text segment.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the operations further comprise determining a physical address associated with the addressee.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise determining a match with an address.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise requesting confirmation of the package information.