Methods and systems for user requested mail delivery services

• US 20050234911A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Hess, Juliaann Sanders, Sullivan, Charles K.
• Application Number:
  US10/934,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234911A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/32 Post and telecommunications franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for handling customer requests regarding delivery services. These methods and systems include receiving via a network, such as the Internet, a customer request regarding delivery services, validating the received information and sending the information to a database for recordation. Then, in response, receiving an indication from the database regarding whether the information was successfully recorded and sending to the customer a confirmation number regarding the recorded information. For example, a user desiring hold mail or redelivery services may navigate to a web page of the delivery service for requesting these services. The user may then enter information regarding their request for services. This request may then be forwarded to a database that is accessible by the particular delivery unit that provides delivery services to the user'"'"'s address. The delivery unit may then retrieve and handle the user'"'"'s request accordingly.

Claims

1. A method for handling customer requests associated with special delivery services, comprising:

receiving via a network a customer request for a special delivery service;

validating the customer request;

sending the customer request to a database for recordation;

receiving an indication from the database whether the customer request was successfully recorded; and

sending the customer a confirmation number associated with the recorded customer request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer request includes a request to hold items to be delivered to the customer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer request includes a request to redeliver items to the customer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer request includes beginning and ending dates for the special delivery services.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer request includes a customer address and a ZIP code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer request includes a customer additional request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer request includes a modification of the customer request already existing in the database.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising confirming availability of requested special delivery services based on the customer ZIP code.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein validating further comprises querying the database to verify the customer address and the ZIP code.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein querying further comprises matching the customer address with one of a stored customer addresses in the database.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein validating further comprises confirming the customer address and the ZIP code.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing the confirmation number associated with the recorded customer request.

13. A method for handling customer requests associated with special delivery services, comprising:

receiving via a network a customer request for a special delivery service;

validating the customer request;

recording the customer request in a database;

sending via a network an indication of whether the customer request was successfully recorded; and

sending the customer a confirmation number regarding the customer request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer request includes a request to hold items to be delivered to the customer.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer request includes a request to redeliver items to the customer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer request includes beginning and ending dates for the special delivery services.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer request includes a customer address and a ZIP code.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer request includes a customer additional request.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer request includes a modification of the customer request already existing in the database.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising confirming availability of requested special delivery services based on the customer ZIP code.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein validating received customer request further comprises querying the database to verify the customer address and the ZIP code.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein querying the database further comprises matching the customer address with one of a stored customer addresses in the database.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein validating received customer request further comprises confirmation of the customer address and the ZIP code by the customer.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising printing of the confirmation number associated with the recorded customer request.

25. A method for forwarding to individual carriers a customer request for special services, comprising:

retrieving via a network a customer request for a special delivery service; and

sending the customer request to a delivery unit.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the customer request includes a request to hold items to be delivered to the customer.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the customer request includes a request to redeliver items to the customer.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the customer request includes beginning and ending dates for the special delivery services.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the customer request includes a customer address and a ZIP code.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the customer request includes a customer additional request.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the customer request includes a modification of the customer request already existing in the database.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein retrieving further comprises printing the customer request.

33. A system for handling customer requests associated with special delivery services, comprising:

a network connection;

a server coupled to the network connection and receiving customer request associated with the special delivery services; and

a database coupled to the network connection and recording the customer request associated with the special delivery services.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the server comprises a server sending received customer request to the database and the database comprising a database validating the customer request.