Systems and methods for customized shipment notifications

• US 10,482,415 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2013
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• 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: Dotterweich, Andrew, Perez, Juan, Mense, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tungate, Scott M
• Application Number:
  US14/099,468
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention involve systems, methods, and computer program products that provide enhanced messages. In embodiment, a method for sending messages is provided that includes receiving shipping data that includes a destination address for delivery of an item, a message address for sending a notification message, customized data and a trigger event. In response to an occurrence of the triggering event, a notification message is sent to the message address and providing access to the customized data.

Claims

1. A method for sending messages comprising:

providing, over a communications network, a graphical user interface to a shipper computing device, the graphical user interface includes;

a first field, a second field, and a third field, the first field associated with a hyperlink that points to at least one of;

an audio file, an image file, or a video file, that includes a personal message associated with a shipper of an item, the second field corresponding to a user selection of a predefined triggering event to receive a notification message about, the third field corresponding to a user selection of an electronic message address that the notification message will be sent to;

receiving, over the communications network and from the shipper computing device, by a computer system, shipping data comprising a destination address for delivery of the item;

at least partially in response to the receiving, over the communications network, the shipping data, generating a digital shipping label that is to be affixed to the item and that comprises machine-readable indicia of a carrier-specific tracking identifier scanned by a mobile station to obtain tracking information regarding transport of the item through a carrier'"'"'s transportation network and presenting the tracking information to a user interface of a display device to enable user interaction with the tracking information and provide visibility of the item in transit, the mobile station configured to be operated by carrier personnel during delivery of the item;

receiving, over the communications network and based on a first user input into the third field of the graphical user interface and by the computer system, the electronic message address for sending the notification message;

receiving, over the communications network and based on a second user input into the second field of the graphical user interface and by the computer system, an identification of the predefined triggering event for sending the notification message;

detecting first coordinates of a geolocation at which the at least one of the audio file, the image file, and the video file was captured by the mobile station of the carrier personnel;

storing the at least one of;

the audio file, the image file, and the video file, by a computer system, in association with the shipping data, the electronic message address and the triggering event identification;

detecting second coordinates of a geolocation of the item as the item is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network, in part, in response to the mobile station scanning the carrier-specific tracking identifier;

based at least in part on receiving a first indication that the mobile station has scanned the carrier-specific tracking identifier and third user input into the first field, transmitting, over the communications network, the hyperlink to the mobile station and causing the mobile station to prompt the carrier personnel to select the hyperlink comprising the at least one of the audio file, the image file, and the video file;

receiving, over the communications network, a second indication that the hyperlink has been selected, wherein the at least one of the audio file, the image file, and the video file is configured to be played for a recipient of the item on the mobile station; and

at least partially in response to the receiving of the second indication that the hyperlink has been selected, automatically transmitting, over the communications network, the notification message to the electronic message address, and providing access within the mobile station to enable user interaction with at least one of the audio file, the image file, and the video file of the customized data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized data comprises instructions associated with the item.

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

receiving, by the computer system, an identification of a second triggering event for sending a second notification message;

receiving, by the computer system, a second customized data to be included with the second notification message;

storing the second customized data, by the computer system, in association with the shipping data, the message address and the second triggering event identification; and

in response to an occurrence of the second triggering event, sending the second notification message to the message address, by the computer system, and providing access to the second customized data.

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

receiving a return message request;

capturing return customized data; and

sending the return message to the shipper and providing access to the return customized data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the return customized data comprises an image, captured by a service personnel using the mobile station, of the item proximate the time of delivery of the item.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of capturing a location in association with capturing the return customized data.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the return message request is received from the consignee of the item.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the first coordinates, at which the at least one of the audio, image and video content was captured, to provide audio of proof of delivery of the item to the destination address.

9. A computer system 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 computer system to at least:

receive, over a communications network and from a shipper computing device, shipping data comprising a destination address for delivery of an item;

receive, over the communications network and based on a first user input into a graphical user interface of the shipper computing device, an electronic message address for sending a notification message;

receive, over the communications network and based on a second user input into the graphical user interface, an identification of a predefined triggering event for sending the notification message;

detect, via a geolocation sensor, a geolocation at which the at least one of an audio file, an image file, and a video file was captured by the communication device of the service provider;

receive, over the communication network and via the shipper computing device, customized data comprising at least one of the audio file, the image file, and the video file, to be included with the notification message;

transmit, over the communication network and to a communication device of a service provider while on a delivery route to deliver the item, the customized data;

store the customized data in association with the shipping data, the electronic message address and the triggering event identification;

in response to a mobile scanning device scanning the carrier-specific tracking identifier, detect a geolocation of the item as the item is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network, in part; and

based on;

the detecting via the geolocation sensor, the mobile scanning device scanning the carrier-specific tracking identifier, and an occurrence of the predefined triggering event, automatically transmit the notification message to the electronic message address, and providing access to the retrieved customized data to the communication device to enable user interaction with at least one of the audio file, the image file, and the video file of the customized data that was;

(i) captured by the communication device of the service provider while on a delivery route to deliver the item and (ii) tailored for the shipper pertaining to the item being shipped and includes a personal message about the shipper.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the customized data further comprises a hyperlink.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the customized data is a hyperlink that points to the audio file, the image file, or the video file located on the shipper'"'"'s computer system.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the customized data comprises instructions associated with the item.

13. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the computer system to at least:

receive, by the computer system, an identification of a second triggering event for sending a second notification message;

receive, by a computer system, a second customized data to be included with the second notification message;

store the second customized data, by a computer system, in association with the shipping data, the message address and the second triggering event identification; and

in response to an occurrence of the second triggering event, send the second notification message to the message address, by the computer system, and providing access to the second customized data.

14. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the computer system to at least:

receive a return message request;

receive return customized data; and

send the return message to the shipper and providing access to the return customized data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the return customized data comprises an image captured by the carrier of the item after being delivered.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the return message request is received from the consignee of the item.

17. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the computer system to at least:

utilize the detected geolocation, at which the at least one of the audio, image and video content was captured, to provide audio of proof of delivery of the item to the destination address.

18. A computer program product for facilitating customized messages, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code stored therein, the computer-readable program code, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

provide, over a communications network, a graphical user interface to a shipper computing device, the graphical user interface includes a plurality of fields;

receive, in response to a selection of the first field of the plurality of fields within the graphical user interface, from a shipper shipping data comprising a destination address for delivery of an item;

generate, in response to a selection of a second field of the plurality of fields within the graphical user interface, a digital shipping label that is to be affixed to the item and that comprises machine-readable indicia of a carrier-specific tracking identifier scanned by a mobile scanning device to obtain tracking information regarding transport of the item through a carrier'"'"'s transportation network and present the tracking information to a user interface of a display device to enable user interaction with the tracking information and provide visibility of the item in transit;

receive, in response to a selection of a third field of the plurality of fields within the graphical user interface, an electronic message address for sending a notification message;

receive, in response to a selection of a fourth field of the plurality of fields within the graphical user interface, an identification of a predefined triggering event for sending the notification message;

receive, in response to a download within the graphical user interface, customized data comprising at least one of captured audio, image and video content, captured by a communication device of a service provider while delivering the item, to be included with the notification message, which further comprises a personal message about the shipper of the item, generated by the service provider delivering the item;

detect, in response to the download within the graphical user interface, a geolocation at which the at least one of the audio, image and video content was captured;

store the customized data in association with the shipping data, the electronic message address and the triggering event identification selected within the graphical user interface;

detect a geolocation of the item as the item is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network, in part, in response to the mobile device scanning the carrier-specific tracking identifier; and

in response to (a) detecting that the carrier-specific tracking identifier is scanned by the mobile scanning device during delivery of the item, retrieve the stored customized data and in response to (b) an occurrence of the triggering event selected in the graphical user interface, automatically transmit the notification message to the electronic message address, by the computer system, and providing access to the retrieved customized data to the user interface of the display device to enable user interaction with at least one of the audio, the image and the video content of the customized data that was (i) captured by the communication device of the service provider while delivering the item, was downloaded on the graphical user interface, and (ii) is tailored for the shipper pertaining to the item being delivered and includes the personal message about the shipper.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the customized data further comprises a hyperlink.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the customized data is a hyperlink that points to an audio file, an image file, or a video file located on the shipper'"'"'s computer system.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the customized data comprises instructions associated with the item.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer-readable program code, when executed by one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive an identification of a second triggering event for sending a second notification message;

receive a second customized data to be included with the second notification message;

store the second customized data, by a computer system, in association with the shipping data, the message address and the second triggering event identification; and

in response to an occurrence of the second triggering event, send the second notification message to the message address, by the computer system, and providing access to the second customized data.

23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer-readable program code, when executed by one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive a return message request;

receive return customized data; and

send the return message to the shipper and providing access to the return customized data.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the return customized data comprises an image captured by the carrier of the item after being delivered.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the return message request is received from the consignee of the item.

26. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

an executable portion configured to utilize the detected geolocation, at which the at least one of the audio, image and video content was captured, to provide audio of proof of delivery of the item to the destination address.