System and method for processing package delivery

• US 6,892,939 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shopify Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hong Thi, Roberts, Linda Ann, Silver, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/392,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 705/410, 705/404, 705/406, 705/407, 705/400.01, 705/409, 705/414, 705/415, 382/101, 382/103, 235/385, 235/375, 235/376, 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/462.02, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method for processing packages is provided. A package is received at an intermediate shipping site and a delivery authorization status corresponding to the package is determined. The package is delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is acceptable and the package is not delivered if the authorization status is that delivery is not acceptable.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for determining a delivery authorization status corresponding to a received package, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform the following:

receiving information identifying the received package;

receiving information identifying an expected package, wherein receiving information identifying an expected package comprises an e-mail message from one of a sender of the package and an addressee of the package;

comparing tie information identifying the expected package to the information identifying the received package; and

designating the package for delivery if the information identifying the expected package matches the information identifying the received package.

2. A The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform designating the package for non-delivery if the information identifying the expected package does not match the information identifying the received package.

3. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying the received package comprises receiving information from one of a user interface and a bar code scanner.

4. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying the received package comprises receiving package information comprising at least one of the following:

an identification of the sender of the package, the addressee or the package, and an identification of the package.

5. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein information identifying an expected package further comprises determining, from the e-mail message, information comprising at least one of the following;

an identification of the sender of the package, an identification of the addressee of the package, an identification of the package, and a projected delivery date of the package.

6. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform:

determining a sender of the package;

comparing the sender of the package to a plurality of predefined senders; and

designating the delivery authorization status as delivery is acceptable if the determined package sender matches one of the plurality of predefined senders and designating the delivery authorization status as delivery is not acceptable if the determined package sender does not match any of the plurality of predefined senders.

7. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying an expected package comprises:

parsing the e-mail message into at least one of the following;

an identification of the sender of the package, an identification of the addressee of the package, an identification of the package, and a projected delivery date of the package.

8. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying the received package and receiving information identifying an expected package comprises receiving a first e-mail message from a sender of the package and a second e-mail message from an addressee of the package.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, receiving information identifying the received package and receiving information identifying an expected package comprises:

determining, from the first e-mail message, at least one of the following;

an identification of the sender of the package, an identification of the addressee of the package, an identification of the package, and a projected delivery date of the package;

determining, from the second e-mail message, at least one of the following;

an identification of the sender of the package, an identification of the addressee of the package, and an identification of the package;

determining, from the second e-mail message, a delivery authorization status as either delivery is acceptable or delivery is not acceptable; and

designating the package for delivery it the information determined from the first e-mail message matches the information determined from the second e-mail message and if the delivery authorization status determined from the second e-mail message is delivery is acceptable.

10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform storing at least one of following:

the authorization status, the sender identification, the addressee identification, the package identification, and the projected delivery date of the package.