Methods and Apparatus for Selling Shipping Services Through a Mediator's Web Site

• US 20080162304A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shopmedia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shopmedia, Inc.
• Inventors: Ourega, Jean Dobey
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for enabling buyers, sellers and shipping companies (or carriers) to exchange goods, services and communications, through a system provided by a third party entity, referred to herein as the “mediator”. Particular to the present invention is to enable buyers to openly select their shipping method from an independent carrier to deliver goods purchased from sellers. This invention also enables sellers to relinquish their shipping operations to independent carriers to focus more on their core business. Finally, this invention enables carriers to bypass a seller of goods, as middleman, to openly promote their services to buyers. The system allows all these parties to interact using computing devices with Web browsing capability. The mediator provides an electronic trading platform wherein sellers register their goods for sale, and carriers publish their shipping methods and rate charts, for buyers to choose from. When a buyer places an order, the seller is required to confirm the received order along with the package characteristics, for example the package weight and dimensions, which are used to compute the shipping options available for this specific package from independent carriers. These computed shipping options are presented to the buyer, who then selects the delivery method that suits his needs. Subsequently, the selected carrier is contacted with the package shipping information, including the estimated shipping price that the carrier may agree with or adjust. When a shipping agreement is reached, the system automatically schedules the package pickup and delivery dates and notifies all the parties involved. The buyer makes a payment to the mediator, as a clearinghouse, for the purchased goods and shipping costs. Subsequently at the scheduled pickup date, the carrier visits the seller to take the package and delivers it using the shipping method selected by the buyer. When the package is delivery, the seller is credited for the goods sold, while a credit is issued to the carrier for the shipping costs. The mediator also charges commission fees to both the seller of goods and the carrier for facilitated transactions.

Claims

1. A method for selling shipping services online through a mediator having a Web site, the method comprising:

defining shipping parameters;

obtaining information about said shipping services from carriers;

selecting a product to be purchased and shipped from a seller to a buyer;

obtaining information from said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product to be purchased;

obtaining information from said buyer to further specify said shipping parameters for said product to be purchased;

obtaining available shipping services among said shipping services as a function of at least a first part of said defined shipping parameters;

obtaining quotes for said available shipping services as a function of at least a second part of said defined shipping parameters;

selecting, by said buyer, a suitable quote in connection with a given available shipping service provided by a given carrier among said obtained quotes;

concluding a shipping contract between said buyer and said given carrier using said mediator; and

concluding purchase of said product between said buyer and said seller.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shipping parameters comprise product related parameters and shipping service related parameters.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said product related parameters comprise at least one of a product source location, a product destination, product dimensions, product weight, hazmat and product nature, and said shipping service related parameters comprise at least one of shipping pickup locations, shipping destinations, shipping time frames and shipping rate charts.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said defining shipping parameters is carried out by said mediator.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said carriers comprise independent carriers.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said carriers further comprise carriers specified by sellers.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said obtaining information about said shipping services is carried out by filling out a form by said carrier through said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said information comprises shipping pickup locations, shipping destinations, time frames, shipping rate charts, shipping policies and business rules.

9. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said obtaining information about said shipping services is carried out by said carrier on said mediator'"'"'s Web site using a computer device with internet connection.

10. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said obtaining information about said shipping services is carried out by retrieving said information from Web sites of said carriers.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said retrieving said information is carried out using a computer program running on said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said information is stored in an XML document on said carrier'"'"'s Web site.

13. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 12, wherein said information obtained from said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product comprises at least one of a product source location, product dimensions, product weight, hazmat, product nature and preferred pickup days times.

14. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 13, wherein said product to be purchased is disseminated on said mediator'"'"'s Web site, and said selecting a product is carried out by said buyer through said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

15. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14, wherein said obtaining information from said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product is carried out by filling out a form by said seller through said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said form is an HTML document.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said obtaining information from said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product is carried out by posting a XML document by said seller on said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said obtaining information from said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product is carried out by retrieving a XML document from said seller'"'"'s Web site using computer program running on said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

19. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 18, wherein said product to be purchased is disseminated on a third party'"'"'s Web site and said selecting a product is carried out by said buyer through said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said obtaining information from said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product is carried out by retrieving said information from said third party'"'"'s Web site.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said retrieving is carried out using a computer program running on said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said information is stored in an XML document on said third party'"'"'s Web site.

23. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 22, wherein said information obtained from said buyer to further comprises shipping parameters for said product comprises at least one of a product destination, a shipping time frame, a shipping price range and a preferred delivery time.

24. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 23, wherein said obtaining information from said buyer is carried out by filling out a form by said buyer through said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said form is an HTML document.

26. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 25, wherein said information obtained from said carriers about said shipping services, and said information obtained from said buyer and said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product is stored in a database connected to said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said obtaining available shipping services as a function of at least a part of said defined shipping parameters is carried out by selecting among said shipping services those that comply with said information obtained from said buyer and said seller to specify shipping parameters for said product.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said selecting available shipping services is carried out by computing said available shipping services using a computer program.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein:

said shipping parameters comprise product related parameters and shipping service related parameters, where said product related parameters comprise at least one of a product source location, a product destination, product dimensions, product weight, hazmat and product nature, and said shipping service related parameters comprise at least one of shipping pickup locations, shipping destinations, shipping time frames and shipping rate charts;

said information obtained from seller about said product comprises at least one of a product source location, product dimensions, product weight, hazmat and product nature; and

said information obtained from said buyer comprises at least one of a product destination, a shipping time frame and a shipping price range.

30. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said obtaining quotes for said available shipping services as a function of at least a second part of said defined shipping parameters is carried out by computing said quotes using a computer program and presenting said quotes to said buyer.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said at least a second part of said defined shipping parameters comprises at least one of a product source location, a product destination, product dimensions, product weight, product nature, hazmat and shipping time frame.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said presenting is carried out by sending an email to said buyer with a description of said computed quotes.

33. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 32, further comprising, after said selecting a suitable quote and before said concluding a shipping contract, sending to said given carrier a shipping service request in connection with said suitable quote selected by said buyer, and sending back to said buyer a request answer from said carrier in response to said shipping service request.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said sending to said given carrier a shipping service request and said sending back to said buyer a request answer are carried out by said mediator, without identifying said carrier to said buyer and said buyer to said carrier.

35. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said request comprises an account ID of said buyer.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said sending and said sending back are carried out by email.

37. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said sending to said carrier are carried out by XML document posted to said carrier'"'"'s Web site.

38. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said sending back from said carrier is carried out by filling out a form by said carrier on said mediator'"'"'s Web site or by posting an XML document by said carrier to said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

39. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said request answer sent by said carrier is selected from the group consisting of approving and declining said shipping service request.

40. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said request answer from said carrier is selected from the group consisting of approving, declining and adjusting said shipping service request.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein said request answer consists of adjusting said suitable quote, and said method further comprising sending an adjustment response from said buyer to said carrier.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, wherein said adjustment response is selected, by said buyer, from the group consisting of approving and declining said shipping service.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein said adjustment response of said buyer is sent to said carrier via said mediator'"'"'s Web site.

44. A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein said request answer consists of approving said shipping service request and said method further comprising notifying said carrier, said seller and said buyer of parameters of said shipping service.

45. A method as claimed in claim 44, wherein said parameters comprise a pickup and a delivery schedules.

46. A method as claimed in claim 44, further comprising providing billing facilities for billing said buyer for said shipping services.

47. A method as claimed in claim 46, wherein said billing facilities comprise disclosing identity of said buyer to said carrier and of said carrier to said buyer to permit to said parties to communicate with each other to conclude said shipping contract.

48. A method as claimed in claim 46, wherein said billing facilities comprise providing a billing program running on said mediator'"'"'s Web site, said billing program generating and sending an invoice to said buyer.

49. A method as claimed in claim 48, wherein said billing facilities further comprise receiving a payment carried out by said buyer and transferring said payment to said carrier.

50. A system for selling shipping services online, the system comprising:

a product selector for selecting, by a buyer, a product to be purchased, said product being offered for sale by a seller;

a shipping service information collector for obtaining information about said shipping services from carriers;

a shipping parameter collector for obtaining information to specify shipping parameters in connection with said product to be purchased, said information for specifying said parameters being provided by at least one of said buyer and said seller;

a shipping option computing module connected to said shipping service information collector and to said shipping parameter collector for computing available shipping services;

a shipping service selector connected to said shipping option computing module for selecting, by said buyer, a shipping service in connection with a given carrier among said available shipping services;

a shipping service notifying module connected to said shipping service selector for generating a shipping service request and transmitting said request to said given carrier; and

a transaction concluding module for receiving from said carrier a response to said request and transmitting said response to said buyer.

51. A system as claimed in claim 50, wherein said system is essentially provided by a mediator server.

52. A system as claimed in claim 50 or 51, wherein said product selector comprises a product purchase checkout module associated with a third party online purchasing Website and an interface in a mediator server, said checkout module sending information to said mediator.

53. A system as claimed in claim 50, 51 or 52, wherein said shipping parameter collector comprises a user interface for acquiring said information to specify said shipping parameters for said product to be purchased.

54. A system as claimed in claim 53, wherein said user interface consists of an html document.

55. A system as claimed in claim 54, wherein said html document is provided by a mediator server and said acquired information is stored in said server.

56. A system as claimed in claim 53, wherein said user interface consists of an XML document.

57. A system as claimed in claim 56, wherein said http interface is provided by a mediator server and said acquired information is stored in said server.

58. A system as claimed in claim 53, wherein said user interface consists of an applet.

59. A system as claimed in claim 58, wherein said applet is provided by a mediator server and said acquired information is stored in said server.

60. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 50 to 59, wherein said shipping option computing module comprises a computer program for computing said available shipping services.

61. A system as claimed in claim 60, wherein said computer program is provided by a mediator server.

62. A system as claimed in claim 61, wherein said shipping service information collector is provided by a mediator server wherein said acquired information is stored, and said computer program access said acquired information in said server for computing said available shipping services.

63. A system as claimed in claim 62, wherein said shipping service information collector consists of one of an applet and an html document.

64. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 50 to 63, wherein said shipping service selector consists of an applet.

65. A system as claimed in claim 64, wherein said applet is provided by a mediator server.

66. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 50 to 65, wherein said shipping service notifying module is adapted to be connectable to Internet and said transmitting said request is carried out by email.

67. A system as claimed in claim 66, wherein said transaction concluding module is adapted to be connectable to Internet and said receiving and transmitting said response is carried out by email.

68. A computer program product for providing a system for selling shipping services online, the system comprising:

a data recording medium;

a product selector encoded on said data recording medium for selecting, by a buyer, a product to be purchased, said product being offered for sale by a seller;

a shipping service information collector encoded on said data recording medium for obtaining information about said shipping services from carriers;

a shipping parameter collector encoded on said data recording medium for obtaining information to specify shipping parameters in connection with said product to be purchased, said information for specifying said parameters being provided by at least one of said buyer and said seller;

a shipping option computing module encoded on said data recording medium and connected to said shipping service information collector and to said shipping parameter collector for computing available shipping services;

a shipping service selector encoded on said data recording medium and connected to said shipping option computing module for selecting, by said buyer, a shipping service in connection with a given carrier among said available shipping services;

a shipping service notifying module encoded on said data recording medium and connected to said shipping service selector for generating a shipping service request and transmitting said request to said given carrier; and

a transaction concluding module encoded on said data recording medium for receiving from said carrier a response to said request and transmitting said response to said buyer.

69. A computer program product as claimed in claim 68, wherein said shipping parameter collector comprises a user interface for acquiring said information to specify said shipping parameters for said product to be purchased.

70. A computer program product as claimed in claim 69, wherein said user interface consists of an html document.

71. A product as claimed in claim 70, wherein said user interface consists of an XML document.

72. A product as claimed in claim 70, wherein said user interface consists of an applet.

73. A product as claimed in anyone of claims 68 to 72, wherein said shipping service information collector consists of one of an applet, an html document and an XML document.

74. A product as claimed in anyone of claims 68 to 73, wherein said shipping service selector consists of an applet.

75. A product as claimed in anyone of claims 68 to 74, wherein said shipping service notifying module is adapted to be connectable to Internet and said transmitting said request is carried out by email.

76. A product as claimed in anyone of claims 68 to 74, wherein said shipping service notifying module is adapted to be connectable to Internet and said transmitting said request is carried out by an http request.

77. A product as claimed in anyone of claims 68 to 74, wherein said shipping service notifying module is adapted to be connectable to Internet and said transmitting said request is carried out by an XML document.

78. A product as claimed in claim 75, 76 or 77, wherein said transaction concluding module is adapted to be connectable to Internet and said receiving and transmitting said response is carried out by email.

79. A product as claimed in claim 68, further comprising a rating module recorded on said data recording module for monitoring all transactions between trading partners, rates users based on their activities, and generating a member profile for each participant.