SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING SHIPPING OF PARCELS
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of enabling a user to ship a parcel from an access point, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a processor, from a computing device associated with a user, a request to ship a parcel, the request including shipping information;
at least partially in response to receiving the request, generating, by a processor, a first unique identifier and associating, by a processor, the shipping information with the first unique identifier;
receiving, by a processor, confirmation of receipt of the parcel and presentation of the first unique identifier at an access point;
at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation of the receipt of the parcel and the presentation of the first unique identifier, facilitating, by a processor, placement of a label on the parcel, the label comprising a second unique identifier;
associating, by a processor, the second unique identifier with the shipping information in a data store;
facilitating shipment, by a processor, of the parcel from the access point to a parcel handling facility;
reading, by a processor, the second unique identifier and using, by a processor, information from the second unique identifier to retrieve the shipping information from the data store;
at least partially in response to retrieving the shipping information, facilitating, by a processor, printing of a shipping label comprising the shipping information and placement of the shipping label on the parcel at the handling facility; and
facilitating, by a processor, delivery of the parcel from the handling facility to a final destination based at least in part on the shipping information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shipping system, according to various embodiments, is configured for: (1) receiving a request to ship a parcel, the request including shipping information; (2) providing the user with a unique identifier for use in shipping the parcel; (3) receiving an indication that the user has presented the parcel and the unique identifier at an access point; (4) in response to receiving the indication, facilitating placement of a pre-printed bar code (or other indicia) on the parcel at the access point and associating it with the shipping information; (5) facilitating delivery of the parcel from the access point to a handling facility and (6) facilitating placement of a shipping label on parcel at the handling facility. The system may then use the shipping label to facilitate shipment of the parcel from the handling facility to the parcel'"'"'s final destination.
21 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method of enabling a user to ship a parcel from an access point, the method comprising:
-
receiving, by a processor, from a computing device associated with a user, a request to ship a parcel, the request including shipping information; at least partially in response to receiving the request, generating, by a processor, a first unique identifier and associating, by a processor, the shipping information with the first unique identifier; receiving, by a processor, confirmation of receipt of the parcel and presentation of the first unique identifier at an access point; at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation of the receipt of the parcel and the presentation of the first unique identifier, facilitating, by a processor, placement of a label on the parcel, the label comprising a second unique identifier; associating, by a processor, the second unique identifier with the shipping information in a data store; facilitating shipment, by a processor, of the parcel from the access point to a parcel handling facility; reading, by a processor, the second unique identifier and using, by a processor, information from the second unique identifier to retrieve the shipping information from the data store; at least partially in response to retrieving the shipping information, facilitating, by a processor, printing of a shipping label comprising the shipping information and placement of the shipping label on the parcel at the handling facility; and facilitating, by a processor, delivery of the parcel from the handling facility to a final destination based at least in part on the shipping information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
-
-
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein receiving presentation of the first unique identifier at the access point comprises reading, by a processor, the machine-readable indicia at the access point.
-
10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:
-
receiving, from a computing device associated with a user, a request to ship a parcel, the request including shipping information for the parcel; at least partially in response to receiving the request; generating a parcel identifier; associating the parcel identifier with the shipping information; and providing the parcel identifier to the user; receiving the parcel identifier from a computer at an access point; at least partially in response to receiving the parcel identifier; associating a pre-printed barcode with the shipping information; and facilitating placement of the pre-printed barcode on the parcel at the access point; facilitating delivery of the parcel from the access point to a parcel handling facility; receiving confirmation of delivery of the parcel at the parcel handling facility; at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation of the delivery, facilitating placement of a shipping label on the parcel, the shipping label containing the shipping information; and facilitating shipment of the parcel from the parcel handling facility to a final destination, the final destination being based at least in part on the shipping information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A computer system comprising:
at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for; receiving a request to ship a parcel; at least partially in response to receiving the request; associating the request with a unique identifier; and providing the unique identifier to a user; receiving the unique identifier at an access point; at least partially in response to receiving the unique identifier at the access point; facilitating placement of a barcode on the parcel; and associating the barcode with the unique identifier; facilitating delivery of the parcel from the access point to a shipping hub; receiving confirmation of the delivery of the parcel to the shipping hub; at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation of the delivery, facilitating placement of shipping information associated with the request on the parcel; and facilitating delivery of the parcel to a final destination, where the final destination is determined based at least in part on the request to ship the parcel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification