Systems and Methods for Parcel Delivery to Alternate Delivery Locations

• US 20140222711A1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Shroff, Sumeet, Tibbs, Andy, Slayton, John, Grubb, Chris, Touch, Linda, Estes, Mark, Usherwood, Robbyn
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/337
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

A system, in various embodiments, is configured to redirect undeliverable parcels to alternate delivery locations. The parcels may be undeliverable due to an unavailability of an intended recipient of the parcels to sign for the parcels or otherwise take delivery of the parcels at the delivery address. The system may be configured to determine a suitable alternate delivery location based at least in part on: one or more parcel recipient preferences, one or more parcel shipper preferences, a location of the delivery address, etc. The system may be further configured to notify the parcel recipient of a redirection of the parcel to the alternate delivery address.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor, wherein said computer system is configured for;

(A) receiving, from a delivery driver, an indication that delivery of one or more parcels is not possible at a primary delivery location;

(B) at least partially in response to receiving the indication, retrieving alternate delivery location information associated with said primary delivery location, said alternate delivery location information comprising information selected from a group consisting of;

i. one or more parcel recipient alternate delivery preferences; and

ii. one or more parcel shipper alternate delivery preferences;

(C) determining, based at least in part on said alternate delivery location information, a suitable alternate delivery location; and

(D) facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels from said primary delivery location to said suitable alternate delivery location.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

said system is further configured for receiving, from an intended recipient of said one or more parcels, said one or more parcel recipient alternate delivery preferences; and

said alternate delivery location information comprises said one or more parcel recipient alternate delivery preferences.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein:

said one or more parcel recipient alternate delivery preferences comprise;

a first preferred alternate delivery location and;

a second preferred alternate delivery location.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein:

determining said suitable alternate delivery location comprises determining an availability of said first preferred alternate delivery location to accept delivery of said one or more parcels; and

said computer system is further configured for;

at least partially in response to determining that said first preferred alternate delivery location has said availability, facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels to said first preferred alternate delivery location; and

notifying said intended recipient of said delivery of said one or more parcels to said first preferred alternate delivery location.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein said computer system is further configured for:

at least partially in response to determining that said first preferred alternate delivery location does not have said availability to accept delivery of said one or more parcels, determining whether said second preferred alternate delivery location has availability to accept delivery of said one or more parcels;

at least partially in response to determining that said second preferred alternate delivery location has said availability to accept delivery of said one or more parcels, facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels to said second alternate delivery location; and

notifying said intended recipient of said delivery of said one or more parcels to said second preferred alternate delivery location.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein said computer system is further configured for:

at least partially in response to determining that said second preferred alternate delivery location does not have said availability to accept delivery of said one or more parcels, substantially automatically determining said suitable alternate delivery location, said suitable alternate delivery location being a location other than said first preferred alternate delivery location or said second preferred alternate delivery location.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

said alternate delivery location information comprises said one or more parcel shipper alternate delivery preferences;

said one or more parcel shipper alternate delivery preferences comprise a preference to not deliver said one or more parcels to an alternate delivery location;

facilitating said delivery of the one or more parcels from said primary delivery location to said suitable alternate delivery location comprises facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels to a temporary holding location; and

said computer system is further configured for facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels from said temporary holding location to said primary delivery location.

8. A computer implemented method of directing parcels to alternate delivery locations, comprising:

(a) receiving, by a processor, an indication that delivery of a parcel is not possible at a primary delivery location;

(b) retrieving, by a processor, alternate delivery location information associated with said primary delivery location;

(c) determining, by a processor, based at least in part on said alternate delivery location information, an appropriate alternate delivery location; and

(d) redirecting, by a processor, said parcel to said appropriate alternate delivery location.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein said alternate delivery location information comprises one or more locations of alternate delivery locations within a particular distance of said primary delivery location.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein said particular distance is based at least in part on a population density of an area associated with said primary delivery location.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein said alternate delivery location information comprises a capacity of one or more alternate delivery locations to accept redirected parcels.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein said alternate delivery location information comprises alternate delivery location preferences of a recipient of said parcel.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein said alternate delivery location information comprises alternate delivery location preferences of a shipper of said parcel.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 8, further comprising substantially automatically reserving space at said appropriate alternate delivery location, by a processor, for said parcel.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein said determining said appropriate alternate delivery location is further based at least in part on a size of said parcel, a weight of said parcel, or a size and weight of said parcel.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

(A) receiving, from a delivery driver, an indication that delivery of a parcel to a primary delivery location is not possible;

(B) at least partially in response to receiving said indication, determining a suitable alternate delivery location for said parcel;

(C) at least partially in response to determining said suitable alternate delivery location, facilitating delivery of said parcel to said suitable alternate delivery location; and

(D) notifying an intended recipient of said parcel of said delivery of said parcel to said suitable alternate delivery location.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining said suitable alternate delivery location comprises:

receiving one or more locations of one or more potential alternate delivery locations;

determining which of said one or more potential alternate delivery locations are most proximate to a route of said delivery driver; and

at least partially in response to determining which of said one or more potential alternate delivery locations are most proximate to said route, facilitating delivery of said parcel to said most proximate alternate delivery location.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

said non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

at least partially in response to receiving said indication that said delivery of said parcel is not available, providing a selection of one or more alternate delivery locations to said intended recipient;

receiving a selection of one or said one or more alternate delivery locations from said intended recipient; and

at least partially in response to receiving said selection, facilitating delivery of said parcel to said selected alternate delivery location.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining said suitable alternate delivery location comprises determining said suitable alternate delivery location based at least in part on a population density of an area associated with said primary delivery location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining said suitable alternate delivery location comprises determining said suitable alternate delivery location based at least in part on one or more delivery preferences associated with a shipper of said parcel.