SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON-DEMAND TRANSPORTATION OF PARCELS

• US 20160086128A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fetch1 Transport LLC
• Original Assignee: Fetch1 Transport LLC
• Inventors: Geiger, Edwin Troy, Kopp, Bryan, DeCrescenzo, William Anthony, Harker, Joe
• Application Number:
  US14/859,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20160086128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

The invention described herein is a system and method for on-demand transportation of parcels in real time. The system and method described herein automate the process of locating local parcel carriers, typically driving vehicles, and engaging one of those parcel carriers to pick up a parcel from a given location and delivering the parcel to a particular destination location in real time based on a predetermined cost of delivery and payment for the delivery.

Claims

1. A method for on-demand delivery of parcels, comprising:

providing a server with server software configured for communicating with smartphones;

providing downloadable application software for installation and execution on the smartphones;

a subscribed driver having downloaded and installed the application software on a driver smartphone;

a user having downloaded and installed the application software on a user smartphone;

the user initiating a request to deliver a parcel having delivery particulars, the request sent to the server;

the server alerting the subscribed driver of the request to deliver the parcel, its delivery particulars and cost to deliver;

the subscribed driver accepting the request to deliver the parcel;

the subscribed driver retrieving the parcel from a pickup address;

the subscribed driver delivering the parcel to the delivery address;

the subscribed driver providing proof of delivery to the server;

the server alerting the user that the parcel has been delivered;

the user acknowledging delivery of the parcel; and

the server making payment to the subscribed driver.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivery particulars comprise:

parcel size, parcel weight, pickup address, delivery address, and optional special instructions.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivery particulars are consisting of:

parcel size, parcel weight, pickup address and delivery address.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the server alerting the subscribed driver of the cost to deliver comprises calculating the shortest drivable distance between the pickup address and the delivery address.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the server alerting the subscribed driver of the request to deliver the parcel further comprises the application software generating a map indicating location of an available pickup address and subscribed driver location.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user initiating a request to deliver a parcel having delivery particulars further comprises the application software providing a graphical means for selecting parcel size.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the graphical means for selecting parcel size comprises three buttons on a graphical user interface for selecting one of small, medium and large.

8. A system for on-demand delivery of parcels, comprising:

a server having associated server software installed and running, the server configured for communicating with mobile smartphones through at least one cellular data network;

a user smartphone having associated application software installed, running and in communication with the server;

a plurality of driver smartphones each having the associated application software installed, running and in communication with the server;

a payment processor in communication with the server, user smartphone and the plurality of driver smartphones, the payment processor configured for verifying, holding and dispersing user payments from a user to associated driver accounts and a server merchant account;

the user smartphone configured to gather delivery particulars for a delivery need and submit the particulars to the server;

the server configured to calculate a cost of delivery and return the cost of delivery to the user smartphone;

the user smartphone configured to submit payment based on the cost of delivery to a holding account at the payment processor;

the payment processor configured to advise the server of the user payment submitted;

the server configured to alert the plurality of driver smartphones regarding the delivery need, delivery particulars and payment for delivery;

one of the plurality of driver smartphones submitting to the server an offer to drive;

the server alerting the user smartphone of the offer to drive;

the one of the plurality of driver smartphones continuously posting driver smartphone location to the server;

the server updating driver location information and sending same to the user smartphone;

the user smartphone configured to display the location of the driver, the pickup address and delivery address for viewing;

the one of the plurality of driver smartphones posting a delivery signature or delivery photo to the server;

the server configured to authorize the payment processor to make payment for delivery;

the payment processor configured to pay the driver account for delivery, less a server fee placed in the server merchant account and the payment processor confirming payments made to the server; and

the server configured to alert the user smartphone of delivery completion.