Method, system, and computer readable medium for shipping a package to a customer while preserving customer privacy

• US 7,376,598 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Orbke, Wayne H., Estes, Jacquelyn, Troxel, Kerry J., Rios, Julie F., Pensabene, Phillip A., Robinson, Jacquelyn M., Penn, Maria C., Ray, Christine R. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J.
• Application Number:
  US11/287,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/1, 705/74, 705/50, 705 60- 62
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention facilitate in sending a package (112) to a customer at a physical address via a shipper (106) while preserving customer privacy. In accordance with an embodiment, an order is received from the customer (102). The order may include a unique identifier corresponding to the customer. A package (110) is sent to the shipper (106) in fulfillment of the order, the package including the unique identifier. Then, the customer'"'"'s physical address is derive from the unique identifier and the package is delivered (112) from the shipper to the customer'"'"'s physical address.

Claims

1. A method for sending a package to a customer at a physical address via a shipper while preserving customer privacy, comprising:

generating an electronic token for the customer by a shipping computer, the electronic token associated with the physical address of the customer;

receiving an order from the customer, the order including the electronic token;

validating, by the shipping computer, the electronic token, wherein validating the electronic token comprises at least determining whether the electronic token has expired due to being used a predetermined number of times;

converting the electronic token into an identifier in response to determining that the electronic token is valid;

sending the package to the shipper in fulfillment of the order, the package including the identifier;

deriving the physical address from the identifier; and

dispatching the package from the shipper to the customer for delivery at the physical address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning an electronic account number to the customer using a registration system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic account number is the identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a random number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a bar code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to a payment company to charge the customer for the order; and

charging a financial account of the customer for the order.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising labeling the package with a label that contains the physical address of the customer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the labeling stage occurs at one of a delivery unit, a business mail entry unit, a plant, a computer forwarding service unit, or a third party relabeler.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic token is an encrypted data structure, the customer'"'"'s account number, or a random number.

10. A computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for sending a package to a customer at a physical address via a shipper while preserving customer privacy, the method comprising:

generating an electronic token for the customer by a shipping computer, the electronic token associated with the physical address of the customer;

receiving an order from the customer, the order including the electronic token;

validating, by the shipping computer, the electronic token, wherein validating the electronic token comprises at least determining whether the electronic token has expired due to being used a predetermined number of times;

converting the electronic token into an identifier in response to determining that the electronic token is valid;

sending the package to the shipper in fulfillment of the order, the package including the identifier;

deriving the physical address from the identifier; and

dispatching the package from the shipper to the customer for delivery at the physical address.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the electronic token is an encrypted data structure, the customer'"'"'s account number, or a random number.

12. A registration system including a database for sending a package to a customer while preserving customer privacy, comprising:

means for receiving a registration request from the customer, the registration request including a name, a physical address, and a financial information of the customer;

means for creating an account for the customer in the database based on the registration request;

means for generating an electronic token for the customer by a shipping computer, the electronic token associated with the physical address of the customer;

means for receiving an order from the customer, the order including the electronic token;

means for validating, by the shipping computer, the electronic token, wherein validating the electronic token comprises at least determining whether the electronic token has expired due to being used a predetermined number of times;

means for converting the electronic token into an identifier in response to determining that the electronic token is valid;

means for converting the unique identifier into the name and the physical address of the customer; and

means for providing the name and the physical address of the customer to the shipper.

13. The registration system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for requesting a digital certificate from a digital certificate authority; and

means for providing the digital certificate to the customer.

14. The registration system of claim 12, wherein the unique identifier is a random number or a barcode.

15. The registration system of claim 12, wherein the electronic token is an encrypted data structure, the customer'"'"'s account number, or a random number.