CUSTOMER CONTROLLED MANAGEMENT OF SHIPMENTS

• US 20120303540A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marcus, Stuart, Bowling, Russell, Slayton, John, Campbell, Randy
• Application Number:
  US13/174,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303540A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for customer controlled management of shipments. For example, in various embodiments, a customer can provide information prior to a first delivery attempt of an item by a carrier to receive messages regarding shipment of the item and to have the item delivered in accordance with the provided information.

Claims

1. A method for receiving authorization to deliver at least one item, the method comprising:

electronically receiving shipping data corresponding to an item to be delivered to a customer by a carrier, wherein the shipping data indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item; and

electronically receiving authorization from the customer to deliver the item without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (1) after shipment of the item has begun and (2) prior to a first delivery attempt of the item.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating and transmitting a message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer, the message indicating that the item will be delivered without an in-person signature from the customer.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising causing display of at least a portion of the shipping data corresponding to the item to be delivered to the customer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least a portion of the shipping data is displayed via a dashboard.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically generating a message comprising at least a portion of the shipping data regarding the item to be delivered to the customer, wherein the message indicates an expected delivery date of the item; and

automatically transmitting the message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer prior to the first delivery attempt of the item.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message further indicates (1) an expected delivery time of the item and (2) that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item.

7. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive shipping data corresponding to an item to be delivered to a customer by a carrier, wherein the shipping data indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item; and

receive authorization from the customer to deliver the item without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (1) after shipment of the item has begun and (2) prior to a first delivery attempt of the item.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to generate and transmit a message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer, the message indicating that the item will be delivered without an in-person signature from the customer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause display of at least a portion of the shipping data corresponding to the item to be delivered to the customer.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least a portion of the shipping data is displayed via a dashboard.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

automatically generate a message comprising at least a portion of the shipping data regarding the item to be delivered to the customer, wherein the message indicates an expected delivery date of the item; and

automatically transmit the message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer prior to the first delivery attempt of the item.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the message further indicates (1) an expected delivery time of the item and (2) that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item.

13. A computer program product for receiving authorization to deliver at least one item, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive shipping data corresponding to an item to be delivered to a customer by a carrier, wherein the shipping data indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item; and

an executable portion configured to receive authorization from the customer to deliver the item without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (1) after shipment of the item has begun and (2) prior to a first delivery attempt of the item.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to generate and transmit a message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer, the message indicating that the item will be delivered without an in-person signature from the customer.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising an executable portion configured to cause display of at least a portion of the shipping data corresponding to the item to be delivered to the customer.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the at least a portion of the shipping data is displayed via a dashboard.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to automatically generate a message comprising at least a portion of the shipping data regarding the item to be delivered to the customer, wherein the message indicates an expected delivery date of the item; and

an executable portion configured to automatically transmit the message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer prior to the first delivery attempt of the item.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the message further indicates (1) an expected delivery time of the item and (2) that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item.