CONCEPTS FOR ELECTRONIC DOOR HANGERS

• US 20150142691A1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• 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: GILLEN, ROBERT J., GUBLER, KENNETH BRADLEY
• Granted Patent: US 10,192,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• 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 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, a connection between an electronic door hanger and a customer computing entity can be established at a customer'"'"'s location. With a connection established, information about an attempted (e.g., successful/unsuccessful) pick-up or delivery can be automatically provided to the customer computing entity.

Claims

1. A method for providing notifications, the method comprising:

responsive to a connection button associated with a customer computing entity being activated, automatically establishing a connection between an electronic door hanger and the customer computing entity within a configurable time period; and

responsive to automatically establishing the connection between the electronic door hanger and the customer computing entity, automatically providing, via a user computing entity operated by a carrier operator at the customer'"'"'s location, a notification regarding a pick-up or a delivery of an item to the customer computing entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection button is an physical connection button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection button is a soft connection button.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing display, via the electronic door hanger, of the notification regarding the pick-up or the delivery of the item to the electronic destination address associated with the customer'"'"'s notification preferences.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is selected from the group consisting of a closed connection and an open connection.

6. A system comprising a user computing entity and an electronic door hanger, the system configured to:

responsive to a connection button associated with a customer computing entity being activated, automatically establish, via the electronic door hanger, a connection between an electronic door hanger and the customer computing entity within a configurable time period; and

responsive to automatically establishing the connection between the electronic door hanger and the customer computing entity, automatically provide, via the user computing entity operated by a carrier operator at the customer'"'"'s location, a notification regarding a pick-up or a delivery of an item to the customer computing entity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the connection button is an physical connection button.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the connection button is a soft connection button.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is further configured to cause display of the notification, via the electronic door hanger, regarding the pick-up or the delivery of the item to the electronic destination address associated with the customer'"'"'s notification preferences.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the connection is selected from the group consisting of a closed connection and an open connection.