SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PARCEL REDIRECTION TO A PRIMARY DELIVERY LOCATION

• US 20160071051A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• 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: Tibbs, Andy, Slayton, John
• Application Number:
  US14/942,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20160071051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

A system in various embodiments, is configured to redirect one or more parcels from one or more alternate delivery locations to a primary delivery location, which may, for example, include a residence or office of the intended recipient of the one or more parcels. In various embodiments, the system is configured to redirect the parcel in response to a request without further authentication from the intended parcel recipient.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of redirecting one or more parcels scheduled for delivery to one or more alternate delivery locations to a primary delivery location, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, an indication that one or more parcels are scheduled for delivery to one or more alternate delivery locations, the one or more parcels having an intended recipient;

at least partially in response to receiving the indication, notifying, by a processor, the intended parcel recipient of the one or more scheduled deliveries;

receiving from the intended parcel recipient, by a processor, a request to redirect at least one of the one or more parcels to a primary delivery location associated with the intended parcel recipient;

at least partially in response to receiving the request, determining, by a processor, whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels; and

at least partially in response to determining that the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels, substantially automatically facilitating, by a processor, redirection of the at least one of the one or more parcels from the one or more alternate delivery locations to the primary delivery location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the primary delivery location is selected from a group consisting of:

a residence of the intended parcel recipient; and

an office of the intended parcel recipient.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein:

the primary delivery location is the residence of the intended parcel recipient; and

determining whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels comprises substantially automatically determining that the intended parcel recipient is authorized based at least in part on receiving the request in reply to the notification of the one or more scheduled deliveries.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the request comprises receiving the request from an intended parcel recipient account associated with a common carrier; and

determining whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels comprises substantially automatically determining that the intended parcel recipient is authorized based at least in part on receiving the request from the intended parcel recipient account.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the request comprises receiving the request from a computing device associated with the intended parcel recipient; and

determining whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels comprises;

determining, by a processor, that the intended parcel recipient is substantially currently logged into the intended parcel recipient account on the computing device; and

at least partially in response to determining that the intended parcel recipient is substantially currently logged into the intended parcel recipient account on the computing device, determining that the intended parcel recipient is authorized.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

determining whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels comprises;

determining, by a processor, a source of the request;

at least partially in response to determining the source of the request, determining, by a processor, whether the source of the request is associated with the intended parcel recipient; and

at least partially in response to determining that the source of the request is associated with the intended parcel recipient, determining that the intended parcel recipient is authorized.

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

the source of the request is a text message;

determining the source of the request comprises determining a phone number from which the text message was received; and

determining whether the source of the request is associated with the intended parcel recipient comprises determining whether the phone number is associated with the intended parcel recipient.

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

the source of the request is an e-mail;

determining the source of the request comprises determining an e-mail address from which the e-mail was received; and

determining whether the source of the request is associated with the intended parcel recipient comprises determining whether the e-mail address is associated with the intended parcel recipient.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more parcels scheduled for delivery to the one or more alternate delivery locations comprise one or more items purchased by the intended parcel recipient as part of an order from an online retailer;

the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving, by a processor, information associated with the order, the information comprising authentication information associated with the intended parcel recipient; and

determining whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized to redirect the at least one of the one or more parcels comprises determining whether the intended parcel recipient is authorized based at least in part on the authentication information associated with the intended parcel recipient.

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

receiving order information associated with an order for one or more items made by a user via an online retailer, the order information comprising authenticating information associated with the user;

receiving an indication that a parcel containing the one or more items is scheduled for delivery at an alternate delivery location;

at least partially in response to receiving the indication, notifying the user of the scheduled delivery;

receiving, from the user, a request to redirect the parcel to a primary delivery location;

at least partially in response to receiving the request, substantially automatically authenticating the request based at least in part on the authenticating information associated with the user; and

at least partially in response to substantially automatically authenticating the request, redirecting the parcel to the primary delivery location.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein:

the order information comprises the primary delivery location;

the primary delivery location comprises a home address of the user.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the alternate delivery location is a location selected from the group consisting of:

i. a grocery store;

ii. a gas station;

iii. a locker bank; and

iv. a pharmacy.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein:

the authentication information comprises a first IP address of a computing device from which the user placed the order; and

substantially automatically authenticating the request comprises;

determining a second IP address of a computing device from which the system received the request; and

determining whether the first IP address is the second IP address.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein:

the authentication information comprises contact information associated with the user; and

substantially automatically authenticating the request comprises;

determining a source of the request; and

determining, based at least in part on the contact information, whether the source of the request is associated with the user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further storing computer-executable instructions for:

determining a cost to redirect the parcel; and

enabling the intended parcel recipient to provide payment to cover the cost.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the cost comprises determining the cost based at least in part on a distance between the alternate delivery location and the primary delivery location.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the primary delivery location is selected from a group consisting of:

a residence of the user; and

an office of the user.

18. A computer-implemented method of redirecting a parcel from an alternate delivery location to a primary delivery location, comprising:

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

at least partially in response to receiving the indication, retrieving, by a processor, alternate delivery location information associated with the primary delivery location, the 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;

determining, based at least in part on the alternate delivery location information, a suitable alternate delivery location;

redirecting, by a processor, the parcel from the primary delivery location to the suitable alternate delivery location;

notifying, by a processor, an intended parcel recipient of the redirection of the parcel to the suitable alternate delivery location;

at least partially in response to the notification, receiving, by a processor, a request from the intended parcel recipient to re-redirect the parcel to the primary delivery location;

at least partially in response to the request, substantially automatically authenticating the request; and

at least partially in response to substantially automatically authenticating the request, re-redirecting the parcel to the primary delivery location.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein substantially automatically authenticating the request comprises substantially automatically authenticating the request based at least in part on receiving the request in reply to the notification of the redirection of the parcel to the suitable alternate delivery location.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein:

receiving the request comprises receiving the request from an intended parcel recipient account associated with a common carrier; and

substantially automatically authenticating the request comprises substantially automatically authenticating the request based at least in part on receiving the request from the intended parcel recipient account.