Systems and methods for providing enhanced shipping and receiving services

• US 20080133659A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Aldrey, Raul, Guntupalli, Anil, Sharma, Sudhanshu, Crespo, Diego
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method includes receiving, from a sender, a contact selection related to a shipping request, identifying package shipping data associated with the selected contact, and providing the shipping request, including the package shipping data, to a shipping provider. The method further includes receiving a package identifier related to the shipping request from the shipping provider and associating the package identifier to a sender identifier related to the sender and a contact identifier related to the selected contact.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a sender, a contact selection related to a shipping request;

identifying package shipping data associated with the selected contact;

providing the shipping request, including the package shipping data, to a shipping provider;

receiving a package identifier related to the shipping request from the shipping provider; and

associating the package identifier to a sender identifier related to the sender and a contact identifier related to the selected contact.

2. The method of claim 1, further including providing a package status to at least one of the sender and the selected contact based on the association.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact selection is performed using a computer based graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the contact selection is effected by dragging and dropping a contact name from a contact list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the package shipping data is stored in an computer based address book associated with the sender.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the package status includes at least one of a package delivered indicator, a current package location, an estimated package delivery date, and a package origination location.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the package status is provided via an automatically generated notification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sender identifier and the contact identifier include at least one of a telephone number, an e-mail address, and an instant messaging client ID.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification includes at least one of a telephone call, an instant text message, and an e-mail.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a priority may be assigned to the notification.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the providing includes displaying a geographic representation including an indicator indicating a current package location relative to features of the geographic representation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the package shipping data includes at least one of a shipping address, a method for providing the package to the shipping provider, a package weight, and a notification preference.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the package identifier includes a package tracking number.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the notification further prompts the sender to contact the selected contact.

15. A computer readable medium with code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the method according to claim 1.

16. A system comprising:

an interface configured to receive a selection of a contact for a shipping request from a sender;

an identifying component communicatively coupled to the interface to receive an indication of the selection of the contact and configured to identify package shipping data associated with the contact;

a providing component communicatively coupled to the identifying component and configured to provide the shipping request, including the package shipping data, to a shipping provider;

a receiving component configured to receive a package identifier associated with the shipping request from the shipping provider;

a data repository communicatively coupled to the receiving component and configured to store the package identifier and associate the package identifier to a sender identifier related to the sender and a contact identifier related to the selected contact; and

a notification component communicatively coupled to the data repository and configured to provide a package status notification to at least one of the sender and the selected contact based on the association.

17. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of an incoming telephone call, including an identifier associated with the incoming telephone call;

retrieving package status information related to at least one package based on the identifier; and

providing the package status information to a recipient of the telephone call.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier includes at least one of a telephone number, an e-mail address, and an instant messaging client ID.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the providing includes displaying a geographic representation including at least one indicator indicating a current package location relative to features of the geographic representation.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the providing occurs automatically upon receipt of the telephone call.

21. A computer readable medium with code embodied therein for causing a computer to perform the method according to claim 17.

22. A system comprising:

a user terminal configured to receive a telephone call;

a determining component configured to determine an identifier associated with the telephone call;

a requesting component configured to request package status information related to at least one package based on the identifier; and

a display configured to provide the package status information to a recipient of the telephone call.