Business providing a service by cross-referencing a postal address to a location provided by a position locator

• US 20020184064A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schnurmann, Henri Daniel, Herzberg, Louis P.
• Application Number:
  US09/873,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20020184064A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

A method and a system for delivering a service at an address determined by cross-referencing a postal address to a location provided a position locator, e.g., GPS, is described. The service is delivered with minimum delay by allowing the service supplier prompted by a client to immediately prepare for the delivery of the service without having to return to base (i.e., point of departure) or to rely on a monitor to make the necessary arrangements. To this end, a database is created to include information pertinent to the clients of this service, and having whatever is necessary to service the clients available at all times. The service includes among others: specialized postal services, delivery of medication, response to emergencies, answering distress calls, and the like. The client includes individuals, and businesses servicing other business providers.

Claims

1. A method for providing a service, comprising the steps of:

cross-referencing a postal address of each client from a plurality of clients to a geographic location for each of said clients;

obtaining information relative to an individualized service to be provided to at least one of said plurality of clients; and

providing said individualized service to said at least one of said clients based on said cross-referencing and said information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of cross-referencing includes using a first database having said postal address and said geographic location for each of said clients, and using a second data base having said information relative to said individualized service to be delivered to each of said plurality of clients.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said second database includes information selected from the group that includes:

type of addressee, service requirements, special attention, type of occupant, mode of payment, previous postal addresses, previous terrestrial coordinates locations, forwarding postal address, forwarding terrestrial location, approved surrogates, company policies, reporting requirements and any combination of these.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said postal address and said geographic location for each of said clients and said information relative to said individualized service to be delivered to each of said plurality of clients are stored in a common data base.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of ascertaining the status of the delivery of said service.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying said at least one client when said individualized service is completed.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising notifying said at least one client of a planned delivery of said service.

8. A method for responding to a distress call initiated by an individual at an unrecognized postal location, the method comprising the steps of:

responsive to the distress call, having a monitoring station correlate from a first data base a geographic position address corresponding to the unrecognized postal address;

determining from the correlated address selected information stored in a second data base pertinent to the individual in distress;

transmitting to an emergency vehicle the selected information and the correlated geographic position address corresponding to the postal address; and

having the emergency vehicle deliver the service based on the correlated address and the selected information.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein said information includes determining a prior medical history of the person in distress from the second data base, and responsive to the medical history providing an optimum response applicable to the person in distress.

10. A method comprising:

delivering a service to a handicapped person at a postal address, the method including the steps of;

creating a first database for cross-referencing said postal address to terrestrial coordinates for each handicapped person of a plurality of handicapped persons;

creating a second database for storing details pertaining said service applicable to said handicapped person to be delivered at said postal address; and

providing said service to said handicapped person based on said cross-referenced location and on said selected information retrieved from said second database.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein said service includes providing a rapid and timely delivery of medication to said handicapped person based on a list a renewal dates stored in said second data base.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein said handicapped person initiates a call to confirm an order, that delivery is on its way as soon as confirmed by said handicapped person.

13. The method as in claim 10, wherein said service is selected from the group that includes:

verifying whether said postal service is delivered at a correct location;

determining a preferred delivery mode required by said handicapped person;

notifying a sender of completion of said delivery;

providing a specialized service according to the type of handicap of said handicapped person living at said postal address;

forming a postal handicapped client registry;

delivering said postal service at a location directed to an immobile person;

delivering of medication to the bed of a sick person and any combination thereof.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said second database includes information selected from the group that includes:

special needs of the addressee, postal service requirements, mode of payment, previous postal addresses, previous terrestrial position locations, forwarding postal address, forwarding terrestrial position location, and any combination thereof.

16. The system as in claim 14, further comprising means for ascertaining the status of the delivery of said service.

17. The system as in claim 14, further comprising means for notifying said at least one addressee or surrogate of said addressee of the completion of a particular delivery of said service.

18. The system as in claim 14, further comprising means for notifying said at least one addressee or surrogate of said addressee of a planned delivery of said service.

20. The system as in claim 19, wherein said service requester is a person in distress, and said special information includes a prior medical history of said person in distress taken from said second data base and, wherein said delivery means uses the medical history in providing an optimum response applicable to said person in distress.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said service requester is a business and said service request is for copies of a publication included in said delivery means.

14. A system for providing a service to an addressee at a postal address comprising:

a first database for cross-referencing said postal address to terrestrial coordinates for each addressee forming a cross-referenced location of a plurality of addressees;

a second database for storing selected information relative to said plurality of addressees; and

means for providing said service to at least one of said addressees based on said cross-referenced location and said selected information retrieved from said second database.

19. A system for responding to a service request call initiated by a service requester at an unrecognized postal location, the system comprising:

a monitoring station for responding to the service call and for correlating from a first data base a geographic position address corresponding to the unrecognized postal address forming a correlated geographic position address;

means for cross-referencing with said correlated address selected information stored in a second data base pertinent to said service requester;

means for transmitting to a service supplier said selected information and said correlated geographic position address corresponding to said postal address; and

delivery means for said service supplier to deliver said requested service based on said correlated address and said selected information.

22. A system for delivering at least one postal service to at least one service requester from a plurality of service requesters, each service requester being at a known postal address, the system comprising:

a cross-referencing module for cross-referencing said known postal address to terrestrial coordinates, forming a cross-referenced location for said at least one service requester;

a second database for storing information pertaining said at least one postal service applicable to each of said plurality of service requesters to be delivered at said known postal address; and

a service provider module for providing said service based on said selected information retrieved from said second database at said cross-referenced location.

23. A system as in claim 22, wherein said at least one service requester is a handicapped person.

24. The system as in claim 23 wherein said handicapped person is blind or immobilized.

25. The system as in claim 22, wherein said postal service is selected from the group of services that includes:

verification that the postal service is delivered at the correct location;

a preferred delivery mode required by a handicapped person;

notification to a sender of completion of said delivery;

delivery of a specialized postal services according to a type of handicap of a handicapped person living at said postal address;

formation of a postal client registry;

delivery of said postal service at a location directed to a client companies service needs;

delivery of medication to the bed of a sick person, and any combination thereof.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the step of cross-referencing includes using a first database having said postal address and said geographic location for each of said clients, and the step of obtaining includes using a second data base having said information relative to said individualized service to be delivered to each of said plurality of clients.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, wherein said second database includes information selected from the group that includes:

type of addressee, service requirements, special attention, client type, mode of payment, previous postal addresses, terrestrial coordinates of previous postal address, forwarding postal address, forwarding terrestrial location, approved surrogates, client company policies, financial tabulations, client account data and preferences, client reporting requirements and any combination of these.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said client is a business and said service is selected from the group of services including:

providing quick purchasing, providing pickups and deliveries, performing automated addressing and mailing services, providing pickup and delivery of employees or customers from a first location to a second location and any combination thereof.

34. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for causing delivery of a service, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of claim 28.

26. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for causing delivery of a service, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of:

cross-referencing a postal address of each client from a plurality of clients to a geographical location for said each client;

obtaining information relative to an individualized service to be provided to at least one of said plurality of clients; and

providing said individualized service to said at least one client based on said cross-referencing and said information.

27. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a delivery of a service, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect:

cross-referencing a postal address of each client from a plurality of clients to a geographic location for each of said clients;

obtaining information relative to an individualized service to be provided to at least one of said plurality of clients; and

providing said individualized service to said at least one client based on said cross-referencing and said information.

28. A business method comprising the steps of:

having a business provide a plurality of services to a plurality of clients;

cross-referencing a postal address of each client from said plurality of clients to a geographical location corresponding to said postal address;

obtaining information relative to an individualized service to be provided to at least one client from said plurality of clients; and

providing said individualized service to said at least one client based on said geographical location and said information.

32. A business method comprising the steps of:

having a business'"'"' supplier provide a plurality of services to a plurality of service providing businesses;

having said business'"'"' supplier train each of said service providing businesses in;

employing a cross-referencing of a postal address for each client of each of said service providing businesses at a geographic location corresponding to said postal address;

obtaining information relative to an individualized service to be provided to each of said clients; and

providing said individualized service to each of said clients based on said geographical location and said information.

33. A business method as in claim 32, further comprising the steps of having said businesses supplier monitor, control or direct at least one of said plurality of service providing businesses.

35. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied therein for causing delivery of a service, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture further comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of claim 32.