SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFYING PACKAGE DELIVERY CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting a shipping level-of-service for a shipment, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a shipping company computing system from a merchant computing system, a shipping request including an initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment, wherein the shipping company computing system is associated with a shipping company hired to deliver the shipment;
sending, by the shipping company computing system, tracking information to a customer computing device, wherein the tracking information includes a unique tracking number associated with the shipment;
receiving, by the shipping company computing system and from the customer computing device, a request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment to a second shipping level-of-service;
dispatching, by the shipping company computing system, updated shipping instructions to a delivery agent in accordance with the second shipping level-of-service;
determining, by the shipping company computing system, a cost adjustment amount associated with the request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service, wherein the second shipping level of service is more expensive than the initial shipping level-of-service; and
receiving a payment from the customer prior to dispatching the updated shipping instructions, wherein the payment includes an agreement by the customer to at least one of waive rights associated with the shipment, receive downgraded shipping on a set number of future shipments, or receive advertisements with the shipment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing customer requested shipping levels-of-service changes directly via a shipping company and independent of the merchant that sold the goods are described. During an online shopping transaction, a customer purchases goods from a merchant via the merchant'"'"'s website. After the purchase is complete, the customer can directly interact with the shipping company to change the level-of-service of the shipment. The customer may request that a higher or lower level-of-service be used in delivering the goods. In exchange, the shipping company will require payment from the customer or return payment back to the customer. The payment may be in the form of money or loyalty points with the shipping company.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting a shipping level-of-service for a shipment, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a shipping company computing system from a merchant computing system, a shipping request including an initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment, wherein the shipping company computing system is associated with a shipping company hired to deliver the shipment; sending, by the shipping company computing system, tracking information to a customer computing device, wherein the tracking information includes a unique tracking number associated with the shipment; receiving, by the shipping company computing system and from the customer computing device, a request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment to a second shipping level-of-service; dispatching, by the shipping company computing system, updated shipping instructions to a delivery agent in accordance with the second shipping level-of-service; determining, by the shipping company computing system, a cost adjustment amount associated with the request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service, wherein the second shipping level of service is more expensive than the initial shipping level-of-service; and receiving a payment from the customer prior to dispatching the updated shipping instructions, wherein the payment includes an agreement by the customer to at least one of waive rights associated with the shipment, receive downgraded shipping on a set number of future shipments, or receive advertisements with the shipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 27, 28)
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3-26. -26. (canceled)
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29-38. -38. (canceled)
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39. A shipping company computing system associated with a shipping company hired to deliver a shipment, the system comprising:
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a memory; a network interface configured to provide data communication with a merchant computing system and a customer computing device over a network; and a processor configured to; receive a shipping request including an initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment from the merchant computing system, send tracking information to the customer computing device, wherein the tracking information includes a unique tracking number associated with the shipment, receive a request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment to a second shipping level-of-service from the customer computing device, dispatch updated shipping instructions to a delivery agent in accordance with the second shipping level-of-service, determine a cost adjustment amount associated with the request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service, wherein the second shipping level of service is more expensive than the initial shipping level-of-service; and receive a payment from the customer prior to dispatching the updated shipping instructions, wherein the payment includes an agreement by the customer to at least one of waive rights associated with the shipment, receive downgraded shipping on a set number of future shipments, or receive advertisements with the shipment. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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40-53. -53. (canceled)
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60-66. -66. (canceled)
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67. A non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied therein that, when executed by a processor of a shipping company computing system, cause the processor to:
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receive a shipping request including an initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment from a merchant computing system, send tracking information to a customer computing device, wherein the tracking information includes a unique tracking number associated with the shipment, receive a request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service for the shipment to a second shipping level-of-service from the customer computing device, dispatch updated shipping instructions to a delivery agent in accordance with the second shipping level-of-service, determine a cost adjustment amount associated with the request to modify the initial shipping level-of-service, wherein the second shipping level-of-service is more expensive than the initial shipping level-of-service, receive a payment from the customer prior to dispatching the updated shipping instructions, wherein the payment includes accumulated loyalty points associated with the customer, an agreement by the customer to waive rights associated with the shipment, to receive downgraded shipping on a set number of future shipments, or to receive advertisements with the shipment.
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68-114. -114. (canceled)
Specification