Systems and methods for using network data in an automated delivery system

• US 10,650,384 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kohli, Manoneet
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tungate, Scott M
• Application Number:
  US15/168,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/409 Device specific authentication in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for using network data in an automated delivery system is provided. The method is implemented using a delivery validation server in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving an online order originating from a user computer device. The online order includes a delivery address and network information associated with a wireless network associated with the delivery address. The method also includes configuring a delivery device based on the network information and the delivery address, and receiving a delivery confirmation message transmitted from the delivery device through the wireless network associated with the delivery address. The delivery device is connected to the wireless network based on the network information.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for using network data in an automated delivery system, said method implemented using a delivery validation server in communication with a memory, said method comprising:

receiving, at the delivery validation server, an online order originating from a user computer device, wherein the online order includes a delivery address and network information for a wireless network associated with the delivery address;

configuring a delivery device to communicate with the wireless network associated with the delivery address by transmitting the network information and the delivery address from the delivery validation server to the delivery device, wherein the delivery device is configured to travel to the delivery address and connect to the wireless network associated with the delivery address using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device; and

receiving, from the delivery device, a delivery confirmation message transmitted through the wireless network associated with the delivery address, wherein the delivery confirmation message is transmitted from the delivery device to the wireless network and routed from the wireless network to the delivery validation server via the Internet, and wherein the delivery confirmation message includes routing information indicating that the delivery confirmation message was transmitted through the wireless network, thereby confirming that the delivery device connected to the wireless network using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting, to the user computer device, a request to add the delivery device to a trusted device list associated with the wireless network; and

further configuring the delivery device based on the request.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the request includes a media access control (MAC) address to add to the trusted device list and wherein configuring the delivery device further comprises configuring a wireless module associated with the delivery device to use the MAC address included in the request when accessing the wireless network.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network information includes a one-time use passcode to access the wireless network.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with at least one of the user computer device, a cardholder router, and a wireless access point and wherein the method further comprises validating the delivery address based on the IP address.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the IP address associated with the user computer device is captured in an authentication process for a payment card transaction associated with the online order.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving, from the delivery device, a no connection message indicating that the delivery device was unable to connect to the wireless network at the delivery address.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the no connection message includes a signal strength of the wireless network at the delivery address and wherein the method further comprises:

validating the delivery address based upon at least the signal strength of the wireless network detected by the delivery device; and

instructing the delivery device to complete the delivery despite the delivery device being unable to access the wireless network.

9. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the no connection message indicates that the wireless network was not present at the delivery address and wherein the method further includes instructing the delivery device not to complete the delivery.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device includes a username and password for accessing the wireless network.

11. A delivery validation server for using network data in an automated delivery system, said delivery validation server comprising one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices, said processor programmed to:

receive an online order originating from a user computer device, wherein the online order includes a delivery address and network information for a wireless network associated with the delivery address;

configure a delivery device to communicate with the wireless network associated with the delivery address by transmitting the network information and the delivery address from the delivery validation server to the delivery device, wherein the delivery device is configured to travel to the delivery address and connect to the wireless network associated with the delivery address using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device; and

receive, from the delivery device, a delivery confirmation message transmitted through the wireless network associated with the delivery address, wherein the delivery confirmation message is transmitted from the delivery device to the wireless network and routed from the wireless network to the delivery validation server via the Internet, and wherein the delivery confirmation message includes routing information indicating that the delivery confirmation message was transmitted through the wireless network, thereby confirming that the delivery device connected to the wireless network using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device.

12. The delivery validation server in accordance with claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

transmit, to the user computer device, a request to add the delivery device to a trusted device list associated with the wireless network; and

further configure the delivery device based on the request.

13. The delivery validation server in accordance with claim 12, wherein the request includes a media access control (MAC) address to add to the trusted device list and the processor is further programmed to configure a wireless module associated with the delivery device to use the MAC address included in the request when accessing the wireless network.

14. The delivery validation server in accordance with claim 11, wherein the network information includes a one-time use passcode to access the wireless network.

15. The delivery validation server in accordance with claim 11, wherein the network information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with at least one of the user computer device, a cardholder router, and a wireless access point and wherein the method further comprises validating the delivery address based on the IP address.

16. The delivery validation server in accordance with claim 15, wherein the IP address associated with the user computer device is captured in an authentication process for a payment card transaction associated with the online order.

17. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a delivery validation server having at least one processor coupled to at least one memory device, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive an online order originating from a user computer device, wherein the online order includes a delivery address and network information for a wireless network associated with the delivery address;

configure a delivery device to communicate with the wireless network associated with the delivery address by transmitting the network information and the delivery address from the delivery validation server to the delivery device, wherein the delivery device is configured to travel to the delivery address and connect to the wireless network associated with the delivery address using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device; and

receive, from the delivery device, a delivery confirmation message transmitted through the wireless network associated with the delivery address, wherein the delivery confirmation message is transmitted from the delivery device to the wireless network and routed from the wireless network to the delivery validation server via the Internet and wherein the delivery confirmation message includes routing information indicating that the delivery confirmation message was transmitted through the wireless network, thereby confirming that the delivery device connected to the wireless network using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device.

18. A method for validating delivery in an automated delivery system, said method implemented using a delivery device including at least one processor in communication with a memory, wherein the delivery device includes a wireless module configured to connect to Wi-Fi networks and transmit messages, said method comprising:

receiving, from a delivery validation server, delivery information for a package to be delivered, the delivery information including a delivery address and network information for a wireless network associated with the delivery address, wherein the network information received from the delivery validation server is previously received at the delivery validation server as part of an online order originating from a user computer device;

configuring the wireless module to communicate with the wireless network based on the network information included in the online order and received at the delivery device from the delivery validation server;

receiving the package for delivery to the delivery address;

travelling to the delivery address;

scanning for one or more wireless signals associated with the wireless network based on the network information;

connecting, via the wireless module, to the wireless network associated with the wireless signal based on the network information;

delivering the package at the delivery address; and

transmitting, via the wireless module through the wireless network, a delivery confirmation message to the delivery validation server, wherein the delivery confirmation message is transmitted from the delivery device to the wireless network and routed from the wireless network to the delivery validation server via the Internet, and wherein the delivery confirmation message includes routing information indicating that the delivery confirmation message was transmitted through the wireless network, thereby confirming that the delivery device connected to the wireless network using the network information included in the online order and received at the delivery device from the delivery validation server.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

receiving at least one wireless signal associated with the wireless network;

determining a strength of the wireless signal; and

validating the delivery address based on the strength of the wireless signal exceeding a predetermined threshold.

20. The method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

determining a current location of the delivery device;

determining a distance between the current location and the delivery address; and

scanning for one or more wireless signals based on the determined distance.

21. An automated delivery system, said system comprising:

a delivery validation server comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory; and

a delivery device comprising;

at least one processor in communication with at least one memory;

a wireless module configured to connect to wireless networks; and

a transportation means configured to transport a package to a location,

wherein said delivery validation server is configured to;

receive an online order originating from a user computer device,

wherein the online order includes a delivery address and network information for a wireless network associated with the delivery address, and wherein the network information enables the delivery device to communicate with the wireless network;

transmit, to the delivery device from the delivery validation server, delivery data including the network information included in the online order and the delivery address; and

receive, from the delivery device, a delivery confirmation message transmitted through the wireless network associated with the delivery address, wherein the delivery confirmation message is transmitted from the delivery device to the wireless network and routed from the wireless network to the delivery validation server via the Internet, and wherein the delivery confirmation message includes routing information indicating that the delivery confirmation message was transmitted through the wireless network, thereby confirming that the delivery device connected to the wireless network using the network information included in the online order and transmitted from the delivery validation server to the delivery device, and

wherein said delivery device is configured to;

receive, from the delivery validation server, delivery data for the online order;

configure the wireless module based on the network information;

receive a package for delivery to the delivery address;

travel to the delivery address;

scan for a wireless signal associated with the wireless network based on the network information;

connect, via the wireless module, to the wireless network associated with the wireless signal based on the network information;

deliver the package at the delivery address; and

transmit, via the wireless module through the wireless network, a delivery confirmation message to the delivery validation server.