Enhanced payments for shipping
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving, via a kiosk, input information, from a user, entered via a user interface of the kiosk;
transmitting, via the kiosk, a portion of the input information to a computer system;
confirming a first determination that the portion of the input information corresponds to stored identification data of the user, and a second determination that an account for a wireless services provider of the user is valid for mobile payments via the account for the wireless services provider;
generating a code for shipping authorization based on both the first and second determinations being confirmed;
causing display, via a display device of the kiosk, of a request for input of the code;
receiving, via the user interface of the kiosk, an input from the user in response to the display of the request; and
in response to determining that the input comprises the code,(a) authorizing a shipment of a parcel during a predefined time period in which the code is valid;
(b) automatically printing, via the kiosk, a shipping label to be affixed to the parcel;
(c) determining, via the kiosk, shipping charges for the shipment of the parcel based on a weight of the parcel automatically determined by the kiosk; and
(d) enabling a payment of the shipment of the parcel based on the shipping charges.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for initiating shipment of and payment for shipping a parcel. For example, in one embodiment, a customer/user can receive a message on a user device from a carrier that includes an authorization code for shipping a parcel. After the customer/user ships the parcel, the carrier can charge a variety of accounts for the shipping charges, including a wireless services provider associated with the user device. In another embodiment, the customer/user can interact with a kiosk to ship the parcel. In this embodiment, the carrier can also charge a variety of accounts for the shipping charges, including a wireless services provider.
117 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving, via a kiosk, input information, from a user, entered via a user interface of the kiosk; transmitting, via the kiosk, a portion of the input information to a computer system; confirming a first determination that the portion of the input information corresponds to stored identification data of the user, and a second determination that an account for a wireless services provider of the user is valid for mobile payments via the account for the wireless services provider; generating a code for shipping authorization based on both the first and second determinations being confirmed; causing display, via a display device of the kiosk, of a request for input of the code; receiving, via the user interface of the kiosk, an input from the user in response to the display of the request; and in response to determining that the input comprises the code, (a) authorizing a shipment of a parcel during a predefined time period in which the code is valid; (b) automatically printing, via the kiosk, a shipping label to be affixed to the parcel; (c) determining, via the kiosk, shipping charges for the shipment of the parcel based on a weight of the parcel automatically determined by the kiosk; and (d) enabling a payment of the shipment of the parcel based on the shipping charges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An 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 a kiosk to:
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receive input information, from a user, entered via a user interface of the kiosk; transmit the input information to a computer system; confirming a first determination that the input information corresponds to stored identification data of the user, and a second determination that an account for a wireless services provider of the user is valid for mobile payments via the account for the wireless services provider; generating a code for shipping authorization based on both the first and second determinations being confirmed; cause display, via a display device of the kiosk, of a request for input of the code; receive, via the user interface, an input from the user in response to the display of the request; and in response to a determination that the input comprises the code, (a) authorize a shipment of a parcel during a predefined time period in which the code is valid; (b) automatically print a shipping label to be affixed to the parcel; (c) determine shipping charges for the shipment of the parcel based on a weight of the parcel automatically determined by the kiosk; and (d) enable a payment of the shipment of the parcel based on the shipping charges. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A 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 that when executed;
receives input information, from a user, entered via a user interface of the kiosk; enables a computer system to generate a code for shipping authorization in response to a first determination that the input information corresponds to stored identification data of the user, and a second determination that an account for a wireless services provider of the user is valid for mobile payments via the account for the wireless services provider; displays, via a display device of the kiosk, of a request for input of the code; receives an input, via the user interface, from the user in response to the display of the request; in response to a determination that the input comprises the code, (a) authorizes a shipment of a parcel during a predefined time period in which the code is valid; (b) automatically prints a shipping label to be affixed to the parcel; (c) determines shipping charges for the shipment of the parcel based on a weight of the parcel automatically determined by the kiosk; and (d) enables a payment of the shipment of the parcel based on the shipping charges. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
Specification