COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR ROUTING PACKAGE DELIVERIES
First Claim
1. A combined carrier shipping system for shipping a plurality of packages, said combined carrier shipping system comprising:
- a first carrier physical delivery system configured to deliver one of the packages to a consignee location;
a second carrier physical delivery system also configured to deliver said one of the packages to the consignee location; and
a shipment ordering system connected in communication with the first carrier physical delivery system, wherein the shipment ordering system is configured to;
record a request to ship the package and package information associated with the package, said package information including at least the consignee location for delivery of the package,determine whether the consignee location meets a stored condition for single carrier delivery by the first carrier physical delivery system,in response to the single carrier condition being met, initiate delivery by the first carrier physical delivery system from a starting location to the consignee location, andin response to the single carrier condition not being met, initiate delivery of the package by the first carrier physical delivery system from the starting location to an intermediate location for further delivery by the second carrier physical delivery system to the consignee location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shipping system for shipping packages involving the coordinated use of at least a first carrier and a second carrier. The shipping system includes physical delivery facilities for the physical delivery of packages, the physical delivery facilities including at least one transfer location at which the second carrier may take over delivery responsibilities for a package. The shipping system also includes an information system having a shipper computer system configured to record and determine whether the delivery address of a package is an efficient destination for the first carrier. If not an efficient destination, such as a delivery address having a rural zip code, the shipper computer system is configured to label the package for delivery to one of the transfer locations, allowing the first carrier to transfer the selected package to the second carrier for completion of the less efficient portion of the delivery.
101 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A combined carrier shipping system for shipping a plurality of packages, said combined carrier shipping system comprising:
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a first carrier physical delivery system configured to deliver one of the packages to a consignee location; a second carrier physical delivery system also configured to deliver said one of the packages to the consignee location; and a shipment ordering system connected in communication with the first carrier physical delivery system, wherein the shipment ordering system is configured to; record a request to ship the package and package information associated with the package, said package information including at least the consignee location for delivery of the package, determine whether the consignee location meets a stored condition for single carrier delivery by the first carrier physical delivery system, in response to the single carrier condition being met, initiate delivery by the first carrier physical delivery system from a starting location to the consignee location, and in response to the single carrier condition not being met, initiate delivery of the package by the first carrier physical delivery system from the starting location to an intermediate location for further delivery by the second carrier physical delivery system to the consignee location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A combined carrier shipping system for shipping a plurality of packages, said combined carrier shipping system comprising:
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a primary carrier physical delivery system; one or more secondary carrier physical delivery systems; and a shipment ordering system connected in communication with the primary carrier physical delivery system, wherein the shipment ordering system is configured to; record a request to ship one of the packages and package information associated with the package, said package information including at least a consignee location for delivery of the package, determine whether the consignee location meets a stored efficiency condition for single carrier delivery by the primary carrier physical delivery system, in response to the single carrier efficiency condition being met, initiate delivery by the primary carrier physical delivery system from a starting location to the consignee location, and in response to the single carrier efficiency condition not being met, initiate delivery of the package by the primary carrier physical delivery system from the starting location to an intermediate location for further delivery by one or more of the secondary carrier physical delivery systems to the consignee location. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification