System and method for shipping and delivering parcels to a virtual address
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-based method for shipping and delivering a parcel, comprising:
- reserving a terminal for a parcel;
placing the parcel in the terminal, the parcel having a virtual delivery address of a recipient;
picking up the parcel by a carrier;
converting, through a central computer system, the virtual address into a postal address;
delivering the parcel to a destination terminal drop-box corresponding to the postal address;
notifying the recipient of the delivery of the parcel; and
unlocking the drop-box only upon verifying the recipient'"'"'s identity.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-based system and method for shipping and delivering a parcel, including reserving a terminal for a parcel; placing the parcel in the terminal, the parcel having a virtual delivery address of a recipient; picking up the parcel by a carrier; converting, through a central computer system, the virtual address into a postal address; delivering the parcel to a destination terminal drop-box corresponding to the postal address; notifying the recipient of the delivery of the parcel; and unlocking the drop-box only upon verifying the recipient'"'"'s identity.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A computer-based method for shipping and delivering a parcel, comprising:
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reserving a terminal for a parcel;
placing the parcel in the terminal, the parcel having a virtual delivery address of a recipient;
picking up the parcel by a carrier;
converting, through a central computer system, the virtual address into a postal address;
delivering the parcel to a destination terminal drop-box corresponding to the postal address;
notifying the recipient of the delivery of the parcel; and
unlocking the drop-box only upon verifying the recipient'"'"'s identity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for shipping a parcel, comprising:
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reserving a terminal for placing a parcel to be shipped;
accessing a terminal for placing the parcel;
securing the parcel in the terminal;
automatically notifying a carrier that the parcel has been placed in the terminal for pick up and shipment;
picking up, by the carrier, the parcel from the terminal;
scanning the parcel at the terminal;
sending a notification that the carrier has picked up the parcel from the terminal;
computing an estimated time of arrival of the parcel at a destination;
transporting the parcel to a destination terminal based on a virtual address;
securing the parcel to the destination terminal; and
notifying a recipient that the parcel is available for pick up. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for delivering a parcel to a user, comprising:
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reserving a terminal drop-box for receiving a parcel to be delivered;
identifying the carrier at the terminal;
identifying the parcel to be delivered at the terminal;
automatically opening the drop-box based on the identification of the parcel;
securing the parcel in the opened drop-box; and
automatically notifying the recipient of the receipt of the parcel at the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for transporting a parcel, comprising:
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reserving a drop-box at a terminal;
identifying a valid sender to access the reserved drop-box, whereby the sender can place a parcel in the drop-box;
identifying a valid carrier to access the reserved drop-box, whereby the carrier can pick-up the parcel;
communicating to the sender that the parcel has been picked up;
transporting the parcel to a destination terminal according to a virtual address on the parcel;
identifying a valid carrier to access the destination terminal, whereby the carrier can place the parcel at the destination terminal;
communicating to a recipient that the parcel has been delivered; and
identifying the valid recipient to access the drop-box, whereby the recipient can pick up the parcel. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A system for shipping and delivering parcels, comprising:
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a processor configured to control the shipping and delivering of one or more parcels;
a terminal for receiving a parcel to be shipped;
one or more boxes within each terminal for securing one or more parcels being shipped, each box having a locking door;
a locking key for securing the parcel in the box;
a scanner for identifying the parcel;
a control unit for communicating with the processor and with the boxes; and
a central computer system for notifying senders, carriers, and recipients the status of the parcel during the parcel'"'"'s transportation from the sender to the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A terminal for securing parcels to be shipped and delivered, comprising:
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one or more drop-boxes, each drop-box comprising;
a space for receiving one or more parcels;
a door for securing the space against unauthorized access;
a sensor for recognizing when a parcel has been placed in the space; and
a locking device for securing the door against unauthorized opening;
a scanning device for identifying a parcel;
a user interface for identifying a sender, a carrier, or a recipient seeking to access a drop-box; and
a communications device for communicating with a central computer system.
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40. A computer system encoded with computer software, which, when executed by a computer, provide for the shipment and delivery of a parcel, wherein the computer software is provided for:
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reserving a terminal for a parcel, the parcel having the virtual address of a recipient;
notifying a carrier that the parcel has been placed in the terminal;
converting, through a central computer system, the virtual address into a postal address;
computing, based on the virtual address, the transportation of the parcel to a destination terminal drop-box;
notifying the recipient of the delivery of the parcel to the destination terminal drop-box; and
unlocking the destination drop-box only upon verifying the recipient'"'"'s identity. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A computer-based system for shipping and delivering a parcel to a recipient, comprising:
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means for reserving a drop-box at a terminal for receiving a parcel to be shipped to a recipient, the parcel having a virtual address;
means for locking the drop-box after the parcel has been placed therein;
means for notifying a carrier that the parcel is ready for pick up for shipping;
means for notifying a central computer system that the parcel has been picked up by the carrier;
means for translating the virtual address to a traditional address;
means for instructing the transportation of the parcel to the traditional address; and
means for notifying the recipient that the parcel is available for pick up at a terminal corresponding to the traditional address.
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43. An entity-relationship database structure, comprising:
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a delivery options table;
a recipients table;
a black-list table;
an address table; and
a senders table, wherein the tables of the database structure interact to control delivery of a parcel from a sender to a recipient.
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44. A computer-based method for shipping a parcel, comprising:
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receiving a parcel for shipment to a recipient, the parcel having a virtual address;
converting the virtual address into a postal address;
transporting the parcel to a destination terminal based on the postal address;
securing the parcel in the destination terminal; and
notifying the recipient that the parcel is available for pick up. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A computer-based method for shipping a parcel, comprising:
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reserving a terminal for a parcel;
securing the parcel in the terminal;
automatically notifying a carrier that the parcel is ready for pick up;
picking up the parcel from the secured terminal by use of a digital unlocking key;
automatically notifying a sender that the parcel has been picked up; and
transporting the parcel to a delivery address. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. A computer-based method for delivering a parcel, comprising:
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receiving a parcel for shipment to a recipient, the parcel having a virtual delivery address;
converting the virtual delivery address into a postal address;
transporting the parcel to a destination terminal based on the postal address;
securing the parcel in the destination terminal; and
notifying the recipient that the parcel is available for pick up. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A computer-based method for shipping and delivering a parcel, comprising:
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reserving, by a sender, a terminal for a parcel, wherein the parcel is to be picked up by a recipient;
locking the parcel in the terminal;
automatically notifying the recipient, through a central computer system, that the parcel has been secured in the terminal; and
picking up the parcel from the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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Specification