Systems and methods of modifying item delivery utilizing linking

• US 20040211834A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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: Fleckenstein, James J., Miller, Matthew T., Garcia, Daniel, Barta, Craig M., Aubuchon, Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/848,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Generally described, under one aspect of the invention, an indicia associated with a delivery modification authorization left at an intended recipient'"'"'s first location. This indicia is “linked” to the parcel(s) that were intended for delivery to the first location. This can be done by a handheld portable data acquisition device that includes a scanning or reading means, allowing information to be acquired from the delivery modification authorization as well as from the parcels, and stored on the handheld portable data acquisition device. The indicia is then used to access alternate delivery instructions that have been established by the intended recipient. The alternate delivery instructions are provided to the delivery agent. The parcel(s) are then delivered in accordance with the alternate delivery instructions.

Claims

10. A method for modifying the delivery of one or more unique items each intended for delivery at a first location and each having a unique identity and having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a delivery modification authorization at the first location having a unique alternate delivery code thereon;

B) reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization;

C) reading said item code from at least one of said items;

D) linking said alternate delivery code with said item code;

E) reading stored alternate delivery information regarding the item in response to receipt of a description of said one of said delivery modification authorization from a delivery agent; and

F) modifying delivery plans of said item based upon said stored alternate delivery information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein reading stored alternate delivery information regarding the item in response to receipt of a description of said delivery modification authorization from a delivery agent comprises accessing a database having instructions for delivery of said one or more items to a second location and authorization for delivery of said one or more items to said second location.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein reading stored alternate delivery information regarding the item in response to receipt of a description of said delivery modification authorization from a delivery agent comprises accessing a database having instructions for unattended delivery of said one or more items at said first location and authorization for unattended delivery of said one or more items at said first location.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization includes scanning a barcode with a barcode reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein reading said item code from at least one of said items includes scanning a barcode from each item with a barcode reading device attached to data acquisition device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization includes reading an RFID device with an RFID reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein reading said item code from at least one of said items includes reading an RFID device from each item with an RFID reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

17. A method for modifying the delivery a plurality of unique items each intended for delivery at a first location and each having a unique identity and having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a delivery modification authorization at said first location, said delivery modification authorization having a unique alternate delivery code thereon;

B) reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization;

C) reading said item codes from each of said items;

D) linking said alternate delivery code with said item codes;

E) reading stored alternate delivery information regarding the items in response to receipt of a description of said delivery modification authorization; and

F) modifying delivery plans of said items based upon said alternate delivery information.

18. A method of altering the delivery of one or more items each having an item code and each intended for delivery at a first location having a delivery modification authorization with an alternate delivery code, comprising:

A) transporting said one or more items to said first location;

B) reading said item code from each of said one or more items;

C) reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization;

D) using the alternate delivery code to access information about said one or more items wherein said information includes alternate delivery instructions for the one or more items; and

E) modifying the delivery plans of said one or more items based upon said alternate delivery instructions.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said alternate delivery instructions include transporting said one or more items to a second location for delivery.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said alternate delivery instructions include the unattended delivery of said one or more items at said first location.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization includes scanning a barcode with a barcode reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein reading said item code from each of said one or more items includes scanning a barcode from each item with a barcode reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

23. A method of an intended recipient providing alternate delivery instructions and authorization to a delivery service for the delivery of one or more items, comprising:

contacting said delivery service;

providing one or more alternate delivery instructions related to the one or more items intended for delivery to said intended recipient at a first location to said delivery service;

authorizing said one or more alternate delivery instructions for execution by said delivery service; and

receiving a delivery modification authorization having at least one indicia from said delivery service, wherein each said indicia is associated with at least one of said one or more alternate delivery instructions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein contacting the delivery service comprises accessing a delivery service website through an Internet connection.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein contacting the delivery service comprises contacting the delivery service through a telephone connection.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein providing one or more alternate delivery instructions related to the one or more items intended for delivery to said intended recipient at a first location to said delivery service comprises providing instructions for the delivery of said one or more items to a second location.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein providing one or more alternate delivery instructions related to the one or more items intended for delivery to said intended recipient at a first location to said delivery service comprises providing instructions for the unattended delivery of said one or more items to the first location.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein authorizing said one or more alternate delivery instructions for execution by said delivery service comprises an authorization provided by a digital signature.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein authorizing said one or more alternate delivery instructions for execution by said delivery service comprises an authorization provided by a password.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving a delivery modification authorization having at least one indicia from said delivery service comprises printing a delivery modification on a printer.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving a delivery modification authorization having at least one indicia from said delivery service includes an indicia comprised of a barcode.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving a delivery modification authorization having at least one indicia from said delivery service includes an indicia comprised of an RFID device.

33. A method of modifying the delivery of one or more items each having an item code and each intended for delivery at a first location by a delivery service, comprising:

transporting the one or more items to the first location by a delivery agent;

reading the item codes from the one or more items;

reading a unique indicia from a delivery modification authorization found at the first location;

linking the item codes to the unique indicia;

accessing a database by said unique indicia, wherein said database has one or more database records containing alternate delivery instructions indexed by the unique indicia;

retrieving said alternate delivery instructions associated with said unique index;

displaying said alternate delivery instructions to said delivery agent; and

modifying the delivery of said one or more items in accordance with said alternate delivery instructions.

1. A method for modifying the delivery of a one or more unique items each intended for delivery at a first location and each having a unique identity and having a different item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a delivery modification authorization having a unique alternate delivery code thereon at said first location;

B) reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization;

C) reading said item code from each of said one or more items;

D) linking said alternate delivery code with said item code from each of said one or more items;

E) providing a database having alternate delivery instructions and authorization for alternate delivery of said one or more items, said database accessible by said alternate delivery code;

F) reading said alternate delivery instructions from said database; and

G) delivering said one or more items in accordance with said alternate delivery instructions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a database having alternate delivery instructions comprises providing a database having instructions for unattended delivery of said one or more items at said first location and authorization for unattended delivery of said one or more items at said first location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said alternate delivery code is a machine-readable indicia.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization includes scanning a barcode with a barcode reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein reading said alternate delivery code from said delivery modification authorization includes reading an RFID device with a RFID reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said item code is a machine-readable indicia.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein reading said item code from each of said one or more items includes scanning a barcode from each item with a barcode reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein reading said item code from each of said one or more items includes reading an RFID device from each item with an RFID reading device attached to a data acquisition device.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein reading a unique indicia from a delivery modification authorization found at the first location comprises reading one or more barcodes with a scanning device attached to a data acquisition device.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein reading a unique indicia from a delivery modification authorization found at the first location comprises reading one or more RFID devices with a scanning device attached to a data acquisition device.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein modifying the delivery of said one or more items in accordance with said alternate delivery instructions includes delivering said one or more items to a second location.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein modifying the delivery of said one or more items in accordance with said alternate delivery instructions includes leaving said one or more items unattended at said first location.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising storing a record of the delivery of said one or more items in accordance with said alternate delivery instructions.

34-35. -35. (canceled)

41. A method of delivering one or more items each having an item code to an intended recipient by a delivery service, wherein the intended recipient has indicated alternate delivery arrangements for the delivery of items shipped to the intended recipient, comprising:

A) providing an Internet website that may be accessed by the intended recipient;

B) allowing the intended recipient to enter certain alternate delivery information at said website, wherein such information is comprised of instructions for the delivery of the one or more items intended for the intended recipient at a first location and authorization information that authorizes the delivery service to deliver the one or more items in accordance with the alternate delivery information;

C) storing the intended recipient'"'"'s alternate delivery information on a server and assigning a unique indicia to the stored alternate delivery information;

D) providing the intended recipient with a delivery modification authorization that includes said unique indicia;

E) receiving one or more items for delivery to the intended recipient at said first location;

F) transporting said one or more items to said first location by a delivery agent;

G) reading said item code from each of said one or more items;

H) reading said unique indicia from said delivery modification authorization;

I) linking said item codes from each of said one or more items to said unique indicia;

J) accessing said server and retrieving said alternate delivery information

K) displaying said alternate delivery information to said delivery agent; and

L) delivering said one or more items while adhering to the alternate delivery information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a database having alternate delivery instructions and authorization for alternate delivery of said one or more items comprises providing a database having instructions for delivery of said one or more items to a second location and authorization for delivery of said one or more items to said second location.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein reading the item codes from the one or more items comprises reading one or more barcodes with a scanning device attached to a data acquisition device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the alternate delivery information includes instructions for the delivery of said one or more items at a second location for said one or more items to be delivered to the intended recipient.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the second location includes retail postal facilities.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the alternate delivery information includes instructions for the unattended delivery of said one or more items at said first location.

45-1. The method of claim 33, wherein reading the item codes from the one or more items comprises reading one or more RFID devices with a scanning device attached to a data acquisition device.

45-2. The method of claim 41, wherein the alternate delivery information includes an intended recipient'"'"'s email address so that the intended recipient may be notified of the alternate delivery of said one or more items.

46. A computer-readable storage medium containing a database of computer-readable information for modifying the delivery of one or more packages intended for a customer by a delivery service, said database accessible by a set of computer-executable instructions and said database containing database records, wherein each said database record is at least comprised of:

a unique identifier that is associated with a delivery modification authorization; and

alternate delivery instructions,

wherein a delivery modification authorization identifier is received into a computer device and said computer-executable instructions cause said database to be accessed and searched for a database record having a unique identifier that matches the delivery modification authorization identifier, and if such database record is found then the alternate delivery instructions for that database record are displayed to the delivery service.

47. A system for modifying the delivery of one or more items each having an item code and each intended for delivery at a first location by a delivery service, said system comprised of:

a data acquisition device, wherein said data acquisition device reads the item codes from the one or more items;

a delivery modification authorization found at the first location, wherein said data acquisition device reads a unique indicia from the delivery modification authorization and electronically links the item codes to the unique indicia;

a first database that is accessed by said unique indicia, wherein said first database has one or more database records containing alternate delivery instructions indexed by the unique indicia and said alternate delivery instructions associated with said unique indicia are retrieved from said first database and displayed on said data acquisition device; and

a second computer database, wherein said linked item codes and said unique indicia are stored.