SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY SIGNING FOR A DELIVERED PACKAGE

• US 20120246077A1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FedEx Corporation
• Original Assignee: FedEx Corporation
• Inventors: Ainsworth, Miley, SKAAKSRUD, Ole-Petter
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0615 Anonymizing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity

Abstract

There is disclosed a method. The method includes identifying, using a mobile device, an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination. The electronic token having been encrypted by a first key associated with a particular party. The method also includes electronically signing, using the mobile device, for the at least one physical package. This includes initiating a decryption of the encrypted electronic token with a second key associated with the particular party.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, using a mobile device, an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination, the electronic token having been encrypted by a first key associated with a particular party; and

electronically signing, using the mobile device, for the at least one physical package, including initiating a decryption of the encrypted electronic token with a second key associated with the particular party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first key is a public key of the particular party and the second key is a private key of the particular party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second key is stored on the mobile device in a protected format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular party is different from a receiving party associated with the mobile device when the mobile device electronically signs for the package.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein electronically signing for the package completes delivery of the package.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, from location information associated with a second party delivering the package, that the package is in transit; and

requesting that the second party deliver the package to a location associated with the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the requesting causes the second party to deviate from a planned delivery route.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

releasing a payment associated with the package upon electronically signing for the package.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a second party delivering the package to check-in at a delivery location using a delivering mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the check-in comprises at least one of a near field communication (NFC) bump or a Bluetooth message between the mobile device and the delivering mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the encrypted electronic token from the delivering mobile device during the check-in.

12. A computer-readable medium storing program instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

identifying, using a mobile device, an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination, the electronic token having been encrypted by a first key associated with a particular party; and

electronically signing, using the mobile device, for the at least one physical package, including initiating a decryption of the encrypted electronic token with a second key associated with the particular party.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first key is a public key of the particular party and the second key is a private key of the particular party.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second key is stored on the mobile device in a protected format.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the particular party is different from a receiving party that is associated with the mobile device when the mobile device electronically signs for the package.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein electronically signing for the package completes delivery of the package.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

determining, from location information associated with a second party delivering the package, that the package is in transit; and

requesting that the second party deliver the package to a location associated with the mobile device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the requesting causes the second party to deviate from a planned delivery route.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

releasing a payment associated with the package upon electronically signing for the package.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

enabling a second party delivering the package to check-in at a delivery location using a delivering mobile device.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the check-in comprises at least one of a near field communication (NFC) bump or a Bluetooth message between the mobile device and the delivering mobile device.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, the method further comprising:

receiving the encrypted electronic token from the delivering mobile device during the check-in.

23. A system comprising:

a receiving mobile device configured to;

identify an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination, the electronic token having been encrypted by a first key associated with a particular party; and

electronically sign for the at least one physical package, including initiating a decryption of the encrypted electronic token with a second key associated with the particular party.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the first key is a public key of the particular party and the second key is a private key of the particular party.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiving mobile device is further configured to store the second key in a protected format.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the particular party is an ordering party, the system further comprising:

an ordering device configured to order the package according to user input from the ordering party, wherein the ordering party is different from a receiving party that is associated with the receiving mobile device when the receiving mobile device electronically signs for the package.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein electronically signing for the package completes delivery of the package.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a delivering mobile device, and wherein the receiving mobile device is further configured to:

determine, from location information associated with the delivering mobile device, that the package is in transit; and

send a request for the delivering mobile device requesting that the package be delivered to a location associated with the receiving mobile device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the delivering mobile device is configured to:

generate a new delivery route that deviates from a previously-planned delivery route.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiving mobile device is further configured to:

release a payment associated with the package upon electronically signing for the package.

31. The system of claim 23, further comprising a delivering mobile device configured to check-in at a delivery location.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the check-in comprises at least one of a near field communication (NFC) bump or a Bluetooth message between the receiving mobile device and the delivering mobile device.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the receiving mobile device is further configured to receive the encrypted electronic token from the delivering mobile device during the check-in.

34. A method performed by a mobile device, the method comprising:

identifying an encrypted electronic token associated with at least one physical package designated for delivery to a destination, the electronic token having been encrypted by a key associated with a party that is associated with the at least one physical package.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the party initiated shipment of the at least one package.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the party delivered the at least one package.