TRANSFERABLE SHIPMENTS

• US 20130297457A1
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active 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: Zhu, Joe Yunzhou
• Application Number:
  US13/465,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for transferable shipments. For example, in various embodiments, items being transported by a carrier can be re-routed after shipment from the consumer who originally purchased the item to another consumer.

Claims

1. A method for providing items to consumers, the method comprising:

providing, via one or more processors, at least one item available for purchase by one or more consumers;

completing, via the one or more processors, a transaction selling the at least one item to a first consumer;

indicating, via the one or more processors, the at least one item sold to the first consumer as being transferable, wherein indicating the item as being transferable comprises (a) indicating a delivery area associated with the delivery location of the first consumer, (b) indicating a time period for which the at least one item is transferable;

providing, via the one or more processors, the at least one item available for transfer to one or more consumers; and

completing, via the one or more processors, a transaction transferring the at least one item to a second consumer after shipment of the at least one item has begun.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery location of the first consumer and the delivery location of the second consumer are within or proximate the same delivery area.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying a carrier system of the at least one item to be delivered to the first consumer.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising notifying the carrier system of the at least one item to be transferred to the second consumer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first consumer is provided with an incentive for allowing the at least one item to be transferred.

6. 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:

provide at least one item available for purchase by one or more consumers;

complete a transaction selling the at least one item to a first consumer;

indicate the at least one item sold to the first consumer as being transferable, wherein indicating the item as being transferable comprises (a) indicating a delivery area associated with the delivery location of the first consumer, (b) indicating a time period for which the at least one item is transferable;

provide the at least one item available for transfer to one or more consumers; and

complete a transaction transferring the at least one item to a second consumer after shipment of the at least one item has begun.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the delivery location of the first consumer and the delivery location of the second consumer are within or proximate the same delivery area.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to notify a carrier system of the at least one item to be delivered to the first consumer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to notify the carrier system of the at least one item to be transferred to the second consumer.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first consumer is provided with an incentive for allowing the at least one item to be transferred.

11. A computer program product for providing items to consumers, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to provide at least one item available for purchase by one or more consumers;

an executable portion configured to complete a transaction selling the at least one item to a first consumer;

an executable portion configured to indicate the at least one item sold to the first consumer as being transferable, wherein indicating the item as being transferable comprises (a) indicating a delivery area associated with the delivery location of the first consumer, (b) indicating a time period for which the at least one item is transferable;

an executable portion configured to provide the at least one item available for transfer to one or more consumers; and

an executable portion configured to complete a transaction transferring the at least one item to a second consumer after shipment of the at least one item has begun.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the delivery location of the first consumer and the delivery location of the second consumer are within or proximate the same delivery area.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising an executable portion configured to notify a carrier system of the at least one item to be delivered to the first consumer.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to notify the carrier system of the at least one item to be transferred to the second consumer.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first consumer is provided with an incentive for allowing the at least one item to be transferred.