System and method for conducting a shipping transaction
First Claim
1. A system for conducting shipping transactions, the system comprising:
- a plurality of ordering stations, each ordering station having a user interface with a display device and at least one input device;
a data processing system in communication with the display device and the at least one input device, the data processing system being adapted for selective connection to a first network, for displaying information using the graphical display device, for receiving information from the input device and for selective communication with at least one shipper ordering and tracking system via the first network, wherein a first portion of the data processing system is adapted for processing shipping preference information and item information received from a customer during a shipping transaction, for constructing a menu of shipping product options, for displaying the menu to the customer using the display device and for receiving a shipping product selection from the customer, and wherein a second portion of the data processing system is adapted for use in communicating transaction information to any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system and for use in receiving shipping product information and tracking information from any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shipping transaction system comprises a plurality of ordering stations, each ordering station having a user interface with a display device and at least one input device. The system further comprises a data processing system in communication with the display device and the at least one input device. The data processing system is adapted for selective connection to a first network, for displaying information using the graphical display device, for receiving information from the input device, and for selective communication with at least one shipper ordering and tracking system via the first network. A first portion of the data processing system is adapted for processing shipping preference information and item information received from a customer during a shipping transaction. The first portion of the data processing system is also adapted for constructing a menu of shipping product options, for displaying the menu to the customer using the display device and for receiving a shipping product selection from the customer for shipping an item. A second portion of the data processing system is adapted for use in communicating transaction information to any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system and for use in receiving product information and tracking information from any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A system for conducting shipping transactions, the system comprising:
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a plurality of ordering stations, each ordering station having a user interface with a display device and at least one input device;
a data processing system in communication with the display device and the at least one input device, the data processing system being adapted for selective connection to a first network, for displaying information using the graphical display device, for receiving information from the input device and for selective communication with at least one shipper ordering and tracking system via the first network, wherein a first portion of the data processing system is adapted for processing shipping preference information and item information received from a customer during a shipping transaction, for constructing a menu of shipping product options, for displaying the menu to the customer using the display device and for receiving a shipping product selection from the customer, and wherein a second portion of the data processing system is adapted for use in communicating transaction information to any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system and for use in receiving shipping product information and tracking information from any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for conducting shipping transactions, the system comprising a plurality of ordering stations, each ordering station having a data processor, a user interface having a display device and at least one input device in communication with the data processor, a network port in communication with the data processor and a network, wherein each data processor includes:
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a data input and validation module for processing shipping preference information and item information received from a customer during a shipping transaction;
a cost calculation module for determining costs of shipping product options;
a shipping option construction module for constructing a menu of shipping product options configured for display to the customer using the display device;
a transaction completion module for receiving a shipping product selection from the customer and for assembling transaction information; and
a shipper interface module adapted for communicating transaction information to any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system via the network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for conducting shipping transactions, the system comprising:
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a plurality of ordering stations, each ordering station having a user interface with a display device and at least one input device, the user interface being in communication with a network port in selective communication with a first network;
a transaction server in communication with the first network, the transaction server being adapted for selective communication with the user interface of each ordering station via the first network, the transaction server including;
a data input and validation module for processing shipping preference information and item information received from a customer during a shipping transaction, a total cost calculation module for determining costs of shipping product options, a shipping option construction module for constructing a menu of shipping product options configured for display to the customer using the display device, and a transaction completion module for receiving a shipping product selection from the customer and for assembling transaction information;
a shipper interface server in communication with the transaction server and being adapted for selective communication with a plurality of shipper ordering and tracking systems via a second network, the shipper interface server including a shipper interface module adapted for communicating transaction information to any of the at least one shipper ordering and tracking system via the first network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An ordering station for a shipping transaction system having a data processing system, the ordering station comprising:
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a kiosk structure having a support platform, and cabinet walls defining a cabinet interior space;
a display device disposed on the support platform and being in selective communication with the data processing system via a network, the display device being adapted for displaying instructions and information transmitted to the display device by the data processing system via the network during a shipping transaction;
at least one user input device in selective communication with the data processing system via the network, the at least one input device being adapted for receiving shipment information and transmitting the shipment information to the data processing system via the network during a shipping transaction; and
a printer disposed in the cabinet interior space, the printer being in selective communication with the network and being adapted for receiving shipping label information from the data processing system and for printing a shipping label for application to an item to be shipped. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A method of conducting a shipping transaction using a shipping transaction system having a data processing system in selective communication with at least one shipper purchasing and tracking system, the method comprising:
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providing an ordering station having a user interface with a graphic display device and at least one input device, the user interface being in communication with the data processing system;
receiving shipment information into the data processing system, the shipment information including customer shipping preferences and characteristics of an item to be shipped, at least a portion of the shipment information having been entered into the shipping transaction system by a customer using the at least one input device;
receiving shipping product information into the data processing system from the at least one shipper purchasing and tracking system;
determining a set of shipping product options using the shipment information and the shipping product information;
displaying the set of shipping product options to the customer using the graphic display device;
receiving a shipping product selection from the customer using the at least one input device; and
receiving the item to be shipped into a storage area for later pick-up. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification