System and method for processing package delivery

• US 7,543,735 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shopify Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., Nguyen, Hong Thi, Silver, Edward Michael, Roberts, Linda Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/057,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 209/584, 700/115, 700/213, 700/225, 700/226, 235/375, 235/376, 235/385, 705/1, 705/401, 705/405, 705/406, 705/407, 705/60, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• 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: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

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 based on a threshold of some characteristic of the package. 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. The acceptability of the package for delivery is determined by a response that an addressee provides to an electronic message notification of package availability. The electronic response preferably contains some authenticating information regarding the package.

Claims

1. A method for processing packages by a package carrier, the method comprising:

receiving a package having associated received package information at an intermediate site;

identifying the received package as requiring delivery authorization;

notifying an addressee of receipt of the package using a first electronic message;

receiving at the package carrier a second electronic message from the addressee comprising expected package information;

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

designating the package for delivery if the received package information matches the expected package information, wherein comparing the received package information to the expected package information and designating the package for delivery if the received package information matches the expected package information are electronically performed by the package carrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a package having associated received package information comprises receiving a package having a radio frequency identification mechanism containing received package information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the received package information comprises at least one of weight, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date and approximate delivery date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the received package as requiring delivery authorization comprises analyzing at least one parameter of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents mailing date and approximate delivery date and comparing the at least one parameter with at least one threshold level to determine that the received package requires delivery authorization.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying an addressee of receipt of the package using a first electronic message further comprises requesting confirmation of at least one of the expected package information and a confirmation of received package information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a second electronic message comprising expected package information comprises receiving an electronic message comprising at least one of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date and approximate delivery date.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

designating the package for non-delivery if the received package information does not match the expected package information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the addressee a request for additional information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the additional information comprises at least one of a digital picture of the sender, a digital picture of the package, a digital picture of the contents and a digital package identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein designating the package for delivery if the received package information matches the expected package information comprises designating the package for delivery if sender identification in the received package information is one of a list of senders in the expected package information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at the package carrier a third electronic message from a sender of the package, the third electronic message including the received package information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the received package as requiring delivery authorization comprises applying a threshold set by the sender of the package.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for processing packages, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for receiving a package having associated received package information at an intermediate site;

computer-executable instructions for identifying the received package as requiring delivery authorization;

computer-executable instructions for notifying an addressee of receipt of the package using a first electronic message;

computer-executable instructions for receiving a second electronic message from the addressee comprising expected package information;

computer-executable instructions for comparing the received package information to the expected package information; and

computer-executable instructions for designating the package for delivery if the received package information matches the expected package information.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions for receiving a package having associated received package information comprises computer-executable instructions for receiving a package having a radio frequency identification mechanism containing received package information.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the received package information comprises at least one of weight, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date and approximate delivery date.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions for identifying the received package as requiring delivery authorization comprises computer-executable instructions for analyzing at least one parameter of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents mailing date and approximate delivery date and computer-executable instructions for comparing the at least one parameter with at least one threshold level to determine that the received package requires delivery authorization.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions for notifying an addressee of receipt of the package using a first electronic message further comprises computer-executable instructions for requesting confirmation of at least one of the expected package information and a confirmation of received package information.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions for receiving a second electronic message comprising expected package information comprises computer-executable instructions for receiving an electronic message comprising at least one of weight, value, size, quantity, sender identity, recipient identity, contents, mailing date and approximate delivery date.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

computer-executable instructions for designating the package for non-delivery if the received package information does not match the expected package information.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the further comprising computer-executable instructions for receiving from the addressee a request for additional information.