SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANAGING ITEM PICKUP AT ATTENDED DELIVERY/PICKUP LOCATIONS

• US 20140279666A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• 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: Lievens, Daniel, Dethier, Vincent, Pirenne, Luc
• Granted Patent: US 10,929,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/339
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• 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 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating pick up of items delivered to attended delivery/pickup locations. In various embodiments, the system is configured for confirming an identity of a person attempting to pick up a parcel from an attended delivery/pickup location before releasing the parcel to the person. The system may confirm the identity by receiving identifying information, by confirming a geographic location of a person attempting to retrieve the parcel, etc. In some embodiments, the system may be configure to enable parcel recipients to provide other persons the authorization to retrieve parcels and may be further configured to confirm this authorization before releasing parcels to a person other than the intended parcel recipient.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of delivering a parcel to an alternate delivery/pickup location, said method comprising:

providing, by at least one processor, a selection of one or more attended delivery/pickup locations to a first user;

receiving, by at least one processor, a request from said first user to deliver one or more parcels to a particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations, said one or more parcels having one or more intended parcel recipients;

facilitating delivery, by at least one processor, of said one or more parcels from an origin location to said particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations;

receiving, by at least one processor, an indication of a delivery of said one or more parcels at said particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations;

receiving, by at least one processor, an indication that said one or more intended parcel recipients is attempting to pickup said one or more parcels from said particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations;

confirming, by at least one processor, an identity of said one or more intended parcel recipients; and

at least partially in response to said confirmation, enabling release, by at least one processor, of said one or more parcels to said one or more confirmed intended parcel recipients.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said one or more intended parcel recipients comprise said first user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said confirming said identity of said one or more intended parcel recipients comprises receiving an identifying input from said one or more intended parcel recipients.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said identifying input is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) an image of a machine-readable indicia associated with said one or more intended parcel recipients;

(b) an electronic ID associated with said one or more intended parcel recipients; and

(c) an image of a photo ID associated with said one or more intended parcel recipients.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

said method further comprises facilitating provision, by at least one processor, of an electronic ID card associated with said one or more intended parcel recipients to said one or more intended parcel recipients; and

said identifying input comprises said electronic ID card.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein:

receiving said identifying input from said one or more intended parcel recipients comprises receiving said identifying input from a representative associated with said particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations; and

enabling release of said one or more parcels to said one or more confirmed intended parcel recipients comprises providing one or more instructions to said representative to release said one or more parcels.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein said method further comprises enabling, by at least one processor, said one or more intended parcel recipients to display said electronic ID card on a computing device associated with said one or more intended parcel recipients.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein confirming said identity of said one or more intended parcel recipients comprises determining that said computing device associated with said one or more intended parcel recipients is located at a geographic location associated with said particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said confirming said identity of said one or more intended parcel recipients comprises substantially automatically confirming a location of said one or more intended parcel recipients.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said confirming said location of said one or more intended parcel recipients comprises determining that a computing device associated with said one or more parcel recipients is geographically located at said particular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations.

11. A computer system for facilitating delivery of a parcel to a recipient comprises:

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

(a) receiving, from a first user, a first request to deliver one or more parcels to an attended delivery/pickup location, said request comprising an intended recipient for said one or more parcels;

(b) at least partially in response to receiving said first request;

providing an electronic identification to said intended recipient; and

facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels to said attended delivery/pickup location;

(c) receiving, at said attended delivery/pickup location, a second request to retrieve said one or more delivered parcels by a second user;

(d) at least partially in response to receiving said second request, confirming an authorization of said second user to retrieve said one or more parcels, said confirming comprising receiving, from said second user, said electronic identification; and

(e) at least partially in response to said confirming that said second user has said authorization, facilitating a release of said one or more parcels to said second user.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said computer system is further configured for enabling said intended recipient to provide said electronic identification to said second user.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said electronic identification comprises one or more machine readable indicia.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said computer system is further configured to display said electronic identification on a computing device associated with said second user.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said second user is said intended recipient.

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

(a) receiving, from a first user, a first request to deliver one or more parcels to an attended delivery/pickup location, said first request comprising an intended recipient for said one or more parcels;

(b) at least partially in response to receiving said first request facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels to said attended delivery/pickup location;

(c) receiving, at said attended delivery/pickup location, a second request to retrieve said one or more delivered parcels by a second user;

(d) at least partially in response to receiving said second request, confirming an authorization of said second user to retrieve said one or more parcels; and

(e) at least partially in response to said confirming that said second user has said authorization, facilitating a release of said one or more parcels to said second user.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said first request is a request to deliver one or more items ordered form an online retail website to said attended delivery/pickup location.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said confirming said authorization of said second user to retrieve said one or more parcels comprises substantially automatically confirming a location of said second user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein confirming said location of said second user comprises determining that a computing device associated with said second user is geographically located at said attended delivery/pickup location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein said facilitating said release of said one or more parcels to said second user comprises displaying an instruction to release said one or more parcels on a display associated with a computing device associated with said attended delivery/pickup location to a representative associated with said attended delivery/pickup location.