Systems and methods for delivery of an item

• US 10,387,824 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gillen, Robert J., Hensley, Roberta Walton
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US13/839,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Generally, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods that can identify the location of a consignee and propose one or more alternative delivery location(s). The proposed delivery location may be based on the current location of the consignee, current address on the package to be delivered, information located in a social network (private or public), “to-be” location as determined by the consignee which would be transmitted to the carrier and/or a predicted consignee location. In other embodiments, the consignee or “carrier” may suggest an alternative fixed location or alternative mobile location. In some embodiments, the consignee may indicate an alternative recipient of the item.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a plurality of alternative delivery locations for an item en transit to a user based at least in part on real-time location information of a mobile device associated with the user, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a user profile, via a computer system, identifying a mobile device associated with a user, the user profile (a) comprising a delivery address to which items can be delivered, (b) stored in a database comprising a plurality of user profiles, and (c) comprising a mobile device identifier of the mobile device;

receiving, via the computer system, shipping indicia electronically captured from an item to be delivered to the user, the shipping indicia comprising a delivery address to which the item is to be delivered;

associating, via the computer system, the shipping indicia for the item with the user profile based at least in part on the shipping indicia;

providing, via the computer system, an interactive user interface for display via the mobile device, the interactive user interface comprising visually selectable indicia of an alternative delivery option;

responsive to a user selection of the visually selectable indicia of the alternative delivery option presented via the interactive interface executing on the mobile device, receiving, via the computer system, real-time location information identifying a geographic location of the mobile device, the real-time location information (a) determined by a location determining aspect of the mobile device and (b) provided by the mobile device;

responsive to the computer system receiving the real-time location information provided by the mobile device, dynamically determining, via the computer system, a plurality of alternative delivery locations associated with the geographic location based at least in part on the real-time location information, each of the plurality of alternative delivery locations being associated with an address that is different than the delivery address of the shipping indicia for the item, wherein each of the plurality of alternative delivery locations is not within a configurable distance from the delivery address;

generating and providing, via the computer system, a presentation of the plurality of alternative delivery locations for display via the interactive interface executing on the mobile device, wherein the presentation comprises visually selectable indicia, when displayed, that enables the user to select one of the plurality of alternative delivery locations for delivery of the item;

receiving, via the computer system as input from the interactive interface, a selection of one of the plurality of alternative delivery locations user;

responsive to receiving the selection of one of the plurality of alternative delivery locations;

electronically changing the delivery address for the item to reflect the address of the selected alternative delivery location of the plurality of alternative delivery locations, and

providing a first digital image comprising a first unique identifier to the mobile device for display via the interactive interface of the mobile device, wherein the first unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of a barcode, a Quick Response code, and a Maxicode;

receiving a displayed unique identifier captured from the interactive interface of the mobile device, the displayed unique identifier captured by a portable carrier device;

determining whether the first unique identifier and the displayed unique identifier are the same; and

responsive to determining that the first unique identifier and the displayed unique identifier are the same, providing, for display via an interface executing on the portable carrier device, a notification to release the item to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

sending a notification of receipt of the item wherein the notification includes indicia identifying the one or more alternative delivery locations for selection by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

sending a notification of receipt of the item wherein the notification includes a hyperlink to a carrier webpage; and

providing the carrier webpage that comprises indicia identifying the one or more alternative delivery locations.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

analyzing user data to identify location patterns; and

determining one or more alternative delivery locations based at least in part on the identified location patterns.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile associates a user to a mobile device and the one or more alternative delivery locations are within a threshold distance of the real-time location information received from the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile associates a user to a social network and the one or more alternative delivery locations are within a threshold distance of a check-in location received from the social network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more alternative delivery locations are within a threshold distance of a destination address derived from the shipping indicia.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more alternative delivery locations comprises a dynamic location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more alternative delivery locations comprises a vehicle location.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

receiving authorization from the user to enter a vehicle associated with the vehicle location; and

unlocking the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein unlocking the vehicle comprises sending a request to a third party to unlock the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the unique identifier includes a security code.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

sending a delivery notification wherein the notification includes a unique identifier; and

scanning the unique identifier to confirm the identity of the user when delivering the item to the user.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a personal identification number (PIN) for use by the user; and

receiving the PIN from the user by the carrier service provider.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

predicting the location of the user based at least in part on the received real-time location information and wherein the determining one or more alternative delivery locations is also based at least in part on the predicted location of the user.

16. An apparatus for identifying a plurality of alternative delivery locations for an item en transit to a user based at least in part on real-time location information of a mobile device associated with the user, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

store a user profile, identifying a mobile device associated with a user, the user profile (a) comprising a delivery address to which items can be delivered, (b) stored in a database comprising a plurality of user profiles, and (c) comprising a mobile device identifier of the mobile device;

receive shipping indicia electronically captured from an item to be delivered to the user, the shipping indicia comprising a delivery address to which the item is to be delivered;

associate the shipping indicia for the item with the user profile based at least in part on the shipping indicia;

provide an interactive user interface for display via the mobile device, the interactive user interface comprising visually selectable indicia of an alternative delivery option;

responsive to a user selection of the visually selectable indicia of the alternative delivery option presented via the interactive interface executing on the mobile device, receive real-time location information identifying a geographic location of the mobile device, the real-time location information (a) determined by a location determining aspect of the mobile device and (b) provided by the mobile device;

responsive to receiving the real-time location information provided by the mobile device, dynamically determine a plurality of alternative delivery locations associated with the geographic location based at least in part on the real-time location information, each of the plurality of alternative delivery locations being associated with an address that is different than the delivery address of the shipping indicia for the item, wherein each of the plurality of alternative delivery locations is not within a configurable distance from the delivery address;

generate and provide a presentation of the plurality of alternative delivery locations for display via the interactive interface executing on the mobile device, the interactive interface enabling the user to select one of the plurality of alternative delivery locations for delivery of the item, wherein each of the plurality of alternative delivery locations is not within a configurable distance from the delivery address;

receive, as input from the interactive interface, a selection of one of the plurality of alternative delivery locations;

responsive to receiving the selection of one of the plurality of alternative delivery locations;

electronically change the delivery address for the item to reflect the address of the selected alternative delivery location of the plurality of alternative delivery locations, and

provide a first digital image comprising a first unique identifier to the mobile device for display via the interactive interface of the mobile device, wherein the first unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of a barcode, a Quick Response code, and a Maxicode;

receive a displayed unique identifier captured from the interactive interface of the mobile device, the displayed unique identifier captured by a portable carrier device;

determine whether the first unique identifier and the displayed unique identifier are the same; and

responsive to determining that the first unique identifier and the displayed unique identifier are the same, provide, for display via an interface executing on the portable carrier device, a notification to release the item to the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, send a notification of receipt of the item wherein the notification includes indicia identifying the one or more alternative delivery locations for selection by the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, send a notification of receipt of the item wherein the notification includes a hyperlink to a carrier webpage;

and provide the webpage that comprises indicia identifying the one or more alternative delivery locations.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user profile associates a user to a mobile device and the one or more alternative delivery locations comprises are within a threshold distance of the real-time location information received from the mobile device.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more alternative delivery locations comprises a dynamic location.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more alternative delivery locations comprises a vehicle location.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, send a delivery notification wherein the notification includes a unique identifier;

and scan the unique identifier to confirm the identity of the user when delivering the item to the user.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, predict the location of the user based at least in part on the received location information, and wherein the determining one or more alternative delivery locations is also based at least in part on the predicted location of the user.