METHOD, SYSTEM, CARRIER SERVER AND MOBILE DEVICE FOR SHIPPING A PACKAGE WITHOUT THE SHIPPER BEING REQUIRED TO APPLY A SHIPPING LABEL

• US 20080004967A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Gillen, Bob
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

A method, carrier server and system are provided for shipping a package wherein a shipper can arrange for shipment of a package, simply through an interactive contact with the carrier, without the need for the shipper to use official carrier documentation or forms. In particular a shipper may contact a carrier using any communication device, such as a cellular telephone, standard landline telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop, or other wired, wireless or optically-based device, in order to communicate shipping information to the carrier and, in response, receive a unique easy identifier. Thereafter, the shipper need only associate the easy identifier with the package, for example by simply hand writing the identifier on the package, and either deposit the package at the closest drop off box or carrier facility, or leave the package to be picked up by a carrier vehicle that has been, or will shortly thereafter be, dispatched fort the purpose of picking up the package.

Claims

1. A method of shipping a package that eliminates the need for a shipper to apply a shipping label to the package, said method comprising:

receiving shipment data for shipping a package from a shipper device via a communications network;

associating an easy identifier with the shipment data received;

transmitting the easy identifier to the shipper device via the communications network, said easy identifier capable of being associated with the package;

receiving a signal from a carrier device, said signal comprising the easy identifier associated with the package, said easy identifier having been captured from the package by the carrier device;

retrieving the shipment data based on the easy identifier; and

causing a shipping label to be generated based at least in part on the shipment data retrieved, wherein the shipping label is capable of being affixed to the package by a carrier at a pickup processing location upon receipt of the package associated with the easy identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

validating the easy identifier captured by the carrier device, wherein the shipment data is retrieved and the shipping label is generated only upon validation of the easy identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the shipment data in a data storage unit, wherein associating the easy identifier with the shipment data comprises mapping the easy identifier to the shipment data in the data storage unit.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving geographic location data indicating a location of at least one of the shipper device, the package or the shipper.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the geographic location data comprises receiving the geographic location data from a global positioning system (GPS) device associated with the shipper device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the geographic location data comprises receiving the geographic location data from the shipper device, wherein the geographic location data has been input into the shipper device by the shipper.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

determining one or more drop-off locations within a geographic area proximate to at least one of the shipper device, the package or the shipper based at least in part on the geographic location data received; and

transmitting an indication of the one or more drop-off locations to the shipper device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating a map indicating the one or more drop-off locations, wherein transmitting an indication of the one or more drop-off locations to the shipper device comprises transmitting the map to the shipper device for display to the shipper.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more drop-off locations comprise one or more drop boxes.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more drop-off locations comprise one or more carrier facilities.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

selecting a carrier vehicle capable of picking up the package based at least in part on the geographic location data received; and

causing dispatch of the selected carrier vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the shipment data received is sufficient to enable generation of a shipping label; and

transmitting a request for additional information to the shipper device upon a determination that the shipment data is not sufficient.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipper device comprises a mobile communication device capable of communicating wirelessly over the communications network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup processing location is a carrier facility.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup processing location is a carrier vehicle.

16. A system for use in shipping a package that eliminates the need for a shipper to apply a shipping label to the package, said system comprising:

a carrier server capable of receiving shipment data for shipping a package from a shipper device via a communication network and storing the shipment data received, the carrier server further capable of associating an easy identifier with the stored shipment data, such that the shipment data can be retrieved based on the easy identifier, said carrier server further capable of transmitting the easy identifier to the shipper device, such that said easay identifier is capable of being associated with the package by the shipper;

a data acquisition device capable of capturing the easy identifier from a package with which the easy identifier is associated, said data acquisition device further capable of retrieving the shipment data stored by the carrier server using the captured easy identifier;

a label generation device in communication with the data acquisition device, said label generation device capable of generating a shipping label based at least in part on the shipment data retrieved by the data acquisition device; and

a printing device in communication with the label generation device, said printing device capable of printing the shipping label, wherein the shipping label is capable of being affixed by a carrier at a pickup processing location upon receipt of the package associated with the easy identifier.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a data storage unit accessible by at least the carrier server and the data acquisition device, wherein storing the shipment data received comprises storing the shipment data in the data storage unit, and wherein associating an easy identifier with the stored shipment data comprises mapping the easy identifier to the stored shipment data in the data storage unit.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a shipper device capable of transmitting the shipment data to the carrier server and receiving the easy identifier from the carrier server.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the carrier server is further capable of receiving geographic location data indicating a location of at least one of the shipper device, the package or the shipper.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) device associated with the shipper device, wherein receiving geographic location data comprises receiving the geographic location data from the GPS device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the carrier server is further capable of determining one or more drop-off locations within a geographic area proximate to at least one of the shipper device, the package or the shipper based at least in part on the geographic location data received, and transmitting an indication of the one or more drop-off locations to the shipper device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the carrier server is further capable of generating a map indicating the one or more drop-off locations, and wherein transmitting an indication of the one or more drop-off locations to the shipper device comprises transmitting the map to the shipper device for display to the shipper.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the carrier server is further capable of selecting a carrier vehicle capable of picking up the package based at least in part on the geographic location data received, and causing dispatch of the selected carrier vehicle.

24. A carrier server capable of providing shipment of a package without the need for a shipper to apply a shipping label to the package, said carrier server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, said memory storing an application executable by the processor, said application capable, upon execution, of;

receiving shipment data for shipment of a package from a shipper device via a communication network;

associating an easy identifier with the shipment data received;

transmitting the easy identifier to the shipper device, such that said easy identifier is capable of being associated with the package;

receiving a signal from a carrier device, said signal comprising the easy identifier associated with the package, said easy identifier having been captured by the carrier device;

retrieving the shipment data using the easy identifier; and

causing a shipping label to be generated based at least in part on the shipment data retrieved, wherein the shipping label is capable of being affixed to the package by a carrier at a pickup processing location upon receipt of the package associated with the easy identifier.

25. The carrier server of claim 24, wherein the application is further capable, upon execution, of receiving geographic location data indicating a location of at least one of the shipper device, the package or the shipper.

26. The carrier server of claim 25, wherein the application is further capable, upon execution, of determining one or more drop off locations within a geographic area proximate to at least one of the shipper device, the package or the shipper based at least in part on the geographic location data received, and transmitting an indication of the one or more drop-off locations to the shipper device.

27. The carrier server of claim 26, wherein the application is further capable, upon execution, of generating a map indicating the one or more drop-off locations, and wherein transmitting an indication of the one or more drop-off locations to the shipper device comprises transmitting the map to the shipper device for display to the shipper.

28. The carrier server of claim 25, wherein the application is further capable, upon execution, of selecting a carrier vehicle capable of picking up the package based at least in part on the geographic location data received, and of causing dispatch of the selected carrier vehicle.

29. A method comprising the step of:

by or on behalf of the shipper,

entering shipment data for shipping a package into a shipper device;

transmitting the shipment data from the shipper device to a carrier computer system via a communications network;

by the carrier computer system,

in response to receiving the shipment data, producing an easy identifier;

storing the shipment data in association with the easy identifier;

transmitting the easy identifier from the carrier computer system to the shipper device via the communications network;

by or on behalf of the shipper,

in response to receiving the easy identifier, associating the easy identifier with the package;

providing the package with the associated easy identifier to the carrier for delivery to a destination indicated by the shipment data;

by the carrier,

receiving the package with associated easy identifier at a pickup processing location of the carrier;

retrieving the shipment data from the carrier computer system at the pickup processing location based on the easy identifier;

generating a shipping label based at least in part on the retrieved shipment data at the pickup processing location;

applying the shipment label to the package at the pickup processing location; and

shipping the package based on the shipment data on the shipment label.

30. A method comprising the steps of:

providing shipping information to a carrier with a mobile communication device, the shipping information indicating a destination of a package to be shipped;

in response to providing the shipping information, receiving an easy identifier with the mobile communication device;

handwriting the easy identifier on the package; and

providing the package having the handwritten easy identifier to a carrier for delivery to the destination indicated by the shipping information.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

providing geographic location data indicating a location of at least one of the mobile communication device or the package.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

in response to providing the shipping information and the geographic location data, receiving data indicating a location at which the carrier can pick up the package for delivery.

33. A mobile device capable of being used to initiate shipment of a package without a shipper being required to apply a shipping label, said mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, said memory storing an application executable by the processor, wherein the application is configured, upon execution, to;

receive a command to ship a package;

receive shipping information relating to the package;

provide the shipping information to a carrier system;

receive, in response, a unique easy identifier associated with the shipping information provided; and

display the unique easy identifier, such that a user associated with the mobile device is capable of applying the unique easy identifier to the package prior to providing the package to the carrier service.

34. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein in order to receive shipping information, the application is further configured, upon execution, to:

receive an identification of a party to whom the package is to be shipped; and

access previously stored shipping information associated with the party.

35. The mobile device of claim 34, wherein, in order to receive an identification of a party, the application is further configured, upon execution, to:

receive a voice signal corresponding with the identification of the party.

36. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein in order to receive shipping information, the application is further configured, upon execution, to:

receive an identification of a location from which the package is to be shipped; and

access previously stored shipping information associated with the location

37. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein, in order to receive an identification of a location, the application is further configured, upon execution, to:

receive a voice signal corresponding with the identification of the location.

38. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein providing the shipping information to a carrier system and receiving, in response, a unique easy identifier comprises providing the shipping information and receiving the unique easy identifier over a wireless communication network.

39. The mobile device of claim 33, wherein the application is further configured, upon execution, to:

capture an image associated with the package to be shipped, and wherein providing the shipping information to the carrier system comprises providing the image captured.