Method and system for delivery of products within a predetermined time period
First Claim
1. A method for ensuring a delivery of a product to a delivery destination within a predetermined delivery time period comprising the steps of:
- receiving a delivery order from a customer, the delivery order containing product information, delivery location and delivery time information;
processing the received delivery order;
shipping the order to the designated delivery location;
tracking the shipped order along a delivery route to assess the progress of the shipment to the delivery destination; and
implementing an alternative delivery program, if said order tracking indicates that the shipped order will not reach the delivery destination within the predetermined delivery time as specified in the client delivery order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention describes a delivery method and system that enables deliveries to arrive at destination within the time period specified by the entity responsible for ordering the delivery. This invention provides an initial supplier of an item and also an alternate supplier of the item. The alternate supplier is preferably located in the proximity of the destination location. During the delivery process, the progress of the shipment is tracked and periodic determinations are made as to whether the shipment will be delivered at the predetermined time. If during the delivery process, there is a determination that the shipment will not reach the designated destination at the predetermined time, the alternate supplier will be contacted to supply to the item to be delivered to destination. Since, this alternate supplier is in close proximity to the destination location, this supplier should be able to deliver the order within the specified time period.
62 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for ensuring a delivery of a product to a delivery destination within a predetermined delivery time period comprising the steps of:
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receiving a delivery order from a customer, the delivery order containing product information, delivery location and delivery time information;
processing the received delivery order;
shipping the order to the designated delivery location;
tracking the shipped order along a delivery route to assess the progress of the shipment to the delivery destination; and
implementing an alternative delivery program, if said order tracking indicates that the shipped order will not reach the delivery destination within the predetermined delivery time as specified in the client delivery order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for tracking the delivery of a product to a designated destination within a predetermined delivery time comprising the steps of:
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receiving a delivery order from a customer, the delivery order containing information, which includes product information, product delivery location and product delivery time information;
supplying a product and product information to a shipping and handling entity;
determining a delivery route for the product, the delivery route containing product handover points along the route for the product;
recording the transfer of the product order from the product supplier to the shipping and handling entity;
tracking the shipped order along a delivery route based on elapsed time to assess the progress of the shipment to the delivery destination; and
implementing an alternative delivery program, if said order tracking indicates that the shipped order will not reach the delivery destination within the predetermined delivery time as specified in the client delivery order. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for ensuring a delivery of a product to a delivery destination within a predetermined delivery time period comprising:
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instructions for receiving a delivery order from a customer, the delivery order containing product information, delivery location and delivery time information;
instructions for processing the received delivery order;
instructions for shipping the order to the designated delivery location;
instructions for tracking the shipped order along a delivery route to assess the progress of the shipment to the delivery destination; and
instructions for implementing an alternative delivery program, if said order tracking indicates that the shipped order will not reach the delivery destination within the predetermined delivery time as specified in the client delivery order. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for ensuring a delivery of a product to a delivery destination within a predetermined delivery time period comprising:
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a communication interface for establishing communication between a client desiring to ship a product and a business entity that can ship the client'"'"'s product, said communication interface enabling the client to submit purchase and shipping information to the business entity;
a program that can process any information received by the business entity from the client related to the purchase and shipment of the product;
a program for tracking the shipped order along a delivery route to assess the progress of the shipment to the delivery destination;
a switchover entity capable of implementing an alternative delivery program, when said tracking program indicates that the shipped order will not reach the delivery destination within the predetermined delivery time as specified in the client delivery order; and
a database component to store all product information related to the purchase, shipment and delivery of a client order. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification