PRODUCT DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150178678A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Carr, David Jon, Ramsden, Richard Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/136,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20150178678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/002 for postal parcels and letters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data

Abstract

Example systems and methods for delivering products are described. In one implementation, a parcel shipped from an online merchant is received by a local merchant. A customer identity affixed to the parcel is used to identify a particular customer. Based on customer contact information, the customer is notified of receipt of the parcel by the local merchant. Upon receipt of a request to deliver the parcel from the customer, a delivery is scheduled to deliver both the parcel and a grocery order to the customer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a parcel shipped from an online merchant, wherein the parcel is received by a local merchant;

identifying a customer identity affixed to the parcel;

identifying, using one or more processors, a particular customer based on the customer identity;

identifying, using the one or more processors, contact information associated with the particular customer;

notifying, using at least a portion of the contact information, the particular customer of the parcel;

receiving, from the particular customer, a request to deliver the parcel and a grocery order to the particular customer; and

scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order to the particular customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a customer identity associated with the parcel includes identifying a customer name on a shipping label affixed to the parcel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a customer identity associated with the parcel includes identifying a unique customer ID affixed to the parcel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a weight and volume associated with the parcel; and

communicating the weight and volume associated with the parcel to a delivery management system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the parcel at a physical location within the local merchant; and

communicating the physical location of the parcel to a delivery management system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order includes determining a total volume associated with the parcel and the grocery order.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order includes determining a total weight associated with the parcel and the grocery order.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order includes:

determining a total volume associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

determining a total weight associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying delivery vehicles with volume and weight capacity to deliver the parcel and the grocery order; and

communicating available delivery times to the particular customer based on the identified delivery vehicles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order includes:

determining a total volume associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

determining a total weight associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying delivery vehicles with volume and weight capacity to deliver the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying a plurality of available delivery time slots based on the identified delivery vehicles; and

communicating the plurality of available delivery time slots to the particular customer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a selected delivery time slot from the particular customer;

identifying a particular delivery vehicle associated with the selected delivery time slot; and

scheduling the particular delivery vehicle to deliver the parcel and the grocery order.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order includes:

determining a total volume associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

determining a total weight associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

estimating a delivery time to deliver the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying delivery vehicles with volume capacity, weight capacity, and available time to deliver the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying a plurality of available delivery time slots based on the identified delivery vehicles; and

communicating the plurality of available delivery time slots to the particular customer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein estimating a delivery time to deliver the parcel and the grocery order includes determining delivery conditions at a delivery address associated with the particular customer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein estimating a delivery time to deliver the parcel and the grocery order is based on the total volume and the total weight of the parcel and the grocery order.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, an online grocery order from a customer, the customer having a customer identity, wherein the online grocery order is received by a local merchant;

identifying, using the one or more processors, at least one parcel awaiting delivery to the customer based on the customer identity, wherein the parcel was received by the local merchant from a different online merchant;

notifying the customer of the at least one parcel awaiting delivery; and

offering to deliver the at least one parcel to the customer with the grocery order.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, from the customer, a response to the offer to deliver the at least one parcel with the grocery order; and

delivering the at least one parcel with the grocery order responsive to receiving a positive response to the offer.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order to the particular customer responsive to receiving a positive response to the offer to deliver the at least one parcel with the grocery order.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein scheduling delivery of the parcel and the grocery order includes:

determining a total volume associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

determining a total weight associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying delivery vehicles with volume and weight capacity to deliver the parcel and the grocery order;

identifying a plurality of available delivery time slots based on the identified delivery vehicles; and

communicating the plurality of available delivery time slots to the customer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a selected delivery time slot from the customer;

identifying a particular delivery vehicle associated with the selected delivery time slot; and

scheduling the particular delivery vehicle to deliver the parcel and the grocery order.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a memory to store data associated with an online order; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to;

receive a parcel shipped from an online merchant, wherein the parcel is received by a local merchant;

identify a customer identity affixed to the parcel;

identify a particular customer based on the customer identity;

identify contact information associated with the particular customer;

notify, using at least a portion of the contact information, the particular customer of the parcel;

receive, from the particular customer, a request to deliver the parcel and a grocery order to the particular customer; and

schedule delivery of the parcel and the grocery order to the particular customer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the one or more processors further configured to:

determine a total volume associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

determine a total weight associated with the parcel and the grocery order;

identify delivery vehicles with volume and weight capacity to deliver the parcel and the grocery order; and

communicate available delivery times to the particular customer based on the identified delivery vehicles.