SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ITEM DELIVERY NOTIFICATION

• US 20080133261A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Ray, Christine R. L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,830,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and system for providing item delivery notification consistent with the invention includes sending a first notification to a recipient at a recipient notification address, the first notification indicating that an item has been placed in a delivery system directed to the recipient at a first address. Next, the method involves sending a second notification to a sender at a sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered. Then the method involves sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered. And finally, the method involves sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method for providing item delivery services, comprising:

sending a first notification to a recipient at a recipient notification address provided by a sender, the first notification indicating that an item has been placed in a delivery system directed to the recipient at a first address different from the recipient notification address;

sending a second notification to the sender at a sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered; and

if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address;

sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered,

sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered and including an identifier of the recipient,

generating, at the recipient notification address, an item retrieval document including the identifier of the recipient,

receiving, at an item retrieval location, the item retrieval document from the recipient, and

presenting the item to the recipient at the item retrieval location after the item retrieval document has been received.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving the first address, the sender notification address, and the recipient notification address from the sender.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the following comprise an e-mail address:

the sender notification address and the recipient notification address.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth notifications are sent using at least one of the following media:

regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, and an interactive voice response system.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising processing the item comprising at least one of the following:

a mailpiece and a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the fourth notification further indicates the item retrieval location.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising generating a label for the item, wherein the label indicates the first address and associates the first address, the sender, and the recipient.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing a notice at the first address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the notice indicating that the item has not been delivered.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the notice further indicates the item retrieval location.

35. The method of claim 26 further comprising returning the item to the sender if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address.

36. The method of claim 26 further comprising sending a fifth notification to the sender at the sender notification address, the fifth notification indicating that the item has been presented to the recipient.

37. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving the item in the delivery system from the sender.

38. A system for providing item delivery services, comprising:

a component for sending a first notification to a recipient at a recipient notification address provided by a sender, the first notification indicating that an item has been placed in a delivery system directed to the recipient at a first address different from the recipient notification address;

a component for sending a second notification to the sender at a sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered;

a component for performing the functions, if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, of;

sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered,

sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered and including an identifier of the recipient, and

generating, at the recipient notification address, an item retrieval document including the identifier of the recipient; and

a component at an item retrieval location for receiving the item retrieval document from the recipient and presenting the item to the recipient.

39. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for receiving, from the sender, the first address, the sender notification address, and the recipient notification address.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein at least one of the following comprise an e-mail address:

the sender notification address and the recipient notification address.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth notifications are sent using at least one of the following media:

regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, and an interactive voice response system.

42. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for processing the item comprising at least one of the following:

a mailpiece and a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the fourth notification further indicates the item retrieval location.

44. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for generating a label for the item, wherein the label indicates the first address and associates the first address, the sender, and the recipient.

45. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for providing a notice at the first address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the notice indicating that the item has not been delivered.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the notice further indicates the item retrieval location.

47. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for returning the item to the sender if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address.

48. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for sending a fifth notification to the sender at the sender notification address, the fifth notification indicating that the item has been presented to the recipient.

49. The system of claim 38 further comprising a component for receiving the item in the delivery system from the sender.

50. A method for providing item delivery services, comprising:

receiving, from a sender, a first address of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mailbox corresponding to a recipient, a sender notification address and a recipient notification address, the sender notification address and the recipient notification address comprising e-mail addresses;

receiving an item, from the sender, in a delivery system directed to a recipient at the USPS mailbox;

processing the item comprising at least one of the following;

a mailpiece and a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package;

generating a label for the item, wherein the label indicates the first address and associates the first address, the sender, and the recipient.

sending a first notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address, the first notification indicating that the item has been placed in the delivery system;

sending a second notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the USPS mailbox, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered;

sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the USPS mailbox, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered;

sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the USPS mailbox, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered and including an identifier of the recipient;

generating, at the recipient notification address, an item retrieval document including the identifier of the recipient;

receiving the item retrieval document at an item retrieval location;

presenting, at the item retrieval location, the item to the recipient after the item retrieval document has been received, if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the USPS mailbox; and

sending a fifth notification to the sender at the sender notification address that the item has been presented to the recipient.