Customer controlled management of shipments

• US 10,664,787 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• 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: Parris, Carrie
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hiep V
• Application Number:
  US14/049,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20150100513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,421 Days
• Field of Search: 705340, 705 2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for customer controlled management of shipments. For example, customers can define handling identifiers to determine how items should be handled based on the handling identifier. Further, customers can define refund classifications to determine when refunds should be initiated.

Claims

1. A method for generating and using machine-readable handling identifiers, the method comprising:

via one or more processors;

receiving an electronic request to return an item, the electronic request input by a user selecting a visible indicia displayed by an interactive user interface executing on a user device;

determining whether to authorize the return of the item based on programmatically applying a first plurality of business rules for processing returns;

generating one machine-readable handling identifier associated with the item when programmatically applying the first plurality of business rules for processing the returns determines that the return of the item is authorized, wherein the one machine-readable handling identifier is a single Quick Response code or a single Maxi Code, wherein the single Quick Response code or the single Maxi Code comprises a collection method portion, a return category portion, and a delivery point portion, wherein;

the collection method portion indicating at least one collection method for the authorized return of the item based on a second plurality of business rules defined by a carrier, wherein the second plurality of business rules specify, based on a particular class of the item, at least one of a personnel pickup of the item, a carrier-specific drop-off location, or a carrier-designated drop-off location that is authorized by the carrier as the at least one collection method for facilitating the authorized return of the item,

the return category portion indicating whether to consolidate the item with other items at a consolidation location based on the second plurality of business rules, and

the delivery point portion indicating the delivery destination of the item after any consolidation with the other items based on the second plurality of business rules;

generating a shipping label in a digital format that is enabled for printing by a printing device, wherein the shipping label includes the one machine-readable handling identifier;

capturing an image of the one machine-readable handling identifier from the shipping label using a scanning device in a carrier'"'"'s transportation network; and

responsive to capturing the image of the one machine-readable handling identifier from the shipping label of a parcel for the item;

programmatically determining which of the collection method portion, the return category portion, and the delivery point portion is currently applicable based on tracking data for the parcel,

programmatically determining whether data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier, and

when the data associated with the captured image is determined to comply with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier, generating and providing a visible indication that the data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, the delivery point portion further indicates actions to be performed at the delivery destination.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating, by a processor, a return merchandise authorization with the item.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising programmatically determining, by a processor, whether the collection method indicated in the collection method portion is available for the item.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising programmatically determining, by a processor, whether to consolidate the item with the other items based on the return category portion.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising programmatically determining, by a processor, the delivery destination of the item based on the delivery point portion.

7. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive an electronic request to return an item, the electronic request input by a user selection of a visible indicia displayed by an interactive user interface executing on a user device;

determine whether to authorize the return of the item based on programmatically applying a first plurality of business rules for processing returns;

generate one machine-readable handling identifier associated with the item when programmatically applying the first plurality of business rules for processing the returns determines that the return of the item is authorized, wherein the one machine-readable handling identifier is a single Quick Response code or a single Maxi Code, wherein the single Quick Response code or the single Maxi Code comprises a collection method portion, a return category portion, and a delivery point portion, wherein;

the collection method portion indicating collection methods for the authorized return of the item based on a second plurality of business rules defined by a carrier, wherein the second plurality of business rules specify, based on a particular class of the item, two or more of a personnel pickup of the item, a carrier-specific drop-off location, or a carrier-designated drop-off location that is authorized by the carrier as the collection methods for facilitating the authorized return of the item,

the return category portion indicating whether to consolidate the item with other items at a consolidation location based on the second plurality of business rules, and

the delivery point portion indicating a delivery destination of the item after any consolidation with similar items based on the second plurality of business rules;

generate a shipping label in a digital format that is enabled for printing by a printing device, wherein the shipping label includes the one machine-readable handling identifier;

capture an image of the one machine-readable handling identifier from the shipping label using a scanning device in a carrier'"'"'s transportation network; and

responsive to capturing the image of the one machine-readable handling identifier from the shipping label of a parcel for the item;

programmatically determine which of the collection method portion, the return category portion, and the delivery point portion is currently applicable based on tracking data for the parcel,

programmatically determine whether data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier, and

when it is determined that the data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier, generate and provide a visible indication that the data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier.

8. The apparatus claim 7, wherein the delivery point portion further indicates actions to be performed at the delivery destination.

9. The apparatus claim 7, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to associate a return merchandise authorization with the item.

10. The apparatus claim 7, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the collection method indicated in the collection method portion is available for the item.

11. The apparatus claim 7, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether to consolidate the item with other items based on the return category portion.

12. The apparatus claim 7, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the delivery destination of the item based on the delivery point portion.

13. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

one or more executable portions that;

receive an electronic request to return an item, the electronic request input by a user selection of a visible indicia displayed by an interactive user interface executing on a user device;

determine whether to authorize the return of the item based on programmatically applying a first plurality of business rules for processing returns;

generate one machine-readable handling identifier associated with the item when programmatically applying the first plurality of business rules for processing the returns determines that the return of the item is authorized, wherein the one machine-readable handling identifier is a single Quick Response code or a single Maxi Code, wherein the single Quick Response Code or the single Maxi Code comprises a collection method portion, a return category portion, and a delivery point portion, wherein;

the collection method portion of the machine-readable handling identifier indicating one or more collection methods for the authorized return or the item based on a second plurality of business rules defined by a carrier, wherein the second plurality of business rules specify, based on a particular class of the item, at least one of a personnel pickup of the item, a carrier-specific drop-off location, or a carrier-designated drop-off location that is authorized by the carrier as the one or more collection methods for facilitating the authorized return of the item,

the return category portion indicating whether to consolidate the item with other items at an intermediate consolidation location based on the second plurality of business rules, and

the delivery point portion of the machine-readable handling identifier indicating a delivery destination of the item after any consolidation with other items based on the second plurality of business rules;

generate a shipping label in a digital format that is enabled for printing by a printing device, wherein the shipping label includes the one machine-readable handling identifier;

capture an image of the one machine-readable handling identifier from the shipping label using a scanning device in a carrier'"'"'s transportation network; and

responsive to capturing the image of the one machine-readable handling identifier from the shipping label associated with a parcel for the item;

programmatically determine which of the collection method portion, the return category portion, and the delivery point portion is currently applicable based on tracking data for the parcel,

programmatically determine whether data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier, and

when it is determined that the data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable identifier, generate and provide a visible indication that the data associated with the captured image complies with the currently applicable portion of the one machine readable handling identifier.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the delivery point portion further indicates actions to be performed at the delivery destination.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to associate a return merchandise authorization with the item.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to determine whether the collection method is available for the item based on the collection method portion.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to determine whether to consolidate the item with similar items based on the return category portion.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to determine the delivery destination of the item based on the delivery point portion.