Systems and methods for providing personalized delivery services

• US 7,657,466 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shroff, Sumeet Pradeep, Rizzo, Joe, Klingenberg, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel; Vanel
• Application Number:
  US11/425,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20070005452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/27, 705/22, 705/410, 235/385, 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 705/334
• 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 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing personalized delivery services by a carrier providing a package delivery service. Typically, the consignee indicates a delivery preference to be applied to delivery of a package, such as indicating a specific location where the package is to be left upon delivery, if the consignee is not present to accept the package. In one embodiment, the consignee may be notified by the carrier of the scheduled delivery of the package, and may be linked to the carrier'"'"'s web site to indicate a delivery preference. Alternatively, the delivery preference may be indicated by the consignee proactively accessing the web site. After conveying a delivery preference, the carrier'"'"'s systems communicate the delivery preference at the appropriate time to a portable computing device which informs the delivery personnel of the consignee'"'"'s delivery preference. Other embodiments allow the consignor to indicate delivery preferences.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a portable computing device associated with a delivery person delivering a package;

a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name;

a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least consignee contact information and a specific location at a consignee delivery address where a package is to be placed by a delivery person, wherein said consignee contact information includes at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of a consignee name, email address, and telephone number; and

a processor in communication with the package level detail database, the consignee profile database, and the portable computing device, said processor configured to;

receive by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier,

upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieve from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number,

upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, transmit a notification message to the consignee by electronic communication over a network in accordance with consignee contact information included in a consignee profile record associated with the consignee name in the consignee profile database, said notification message including;

a notification to the consignee of an impending delivery of the package, and

an invitation for the consignee to provide to the carrier a specific location at a consignee delivery address where the package is to be placed by a delivery person,

prior to delivery of the package, receive an indication from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location, wherein said indication has been sent by the consignee in response to the notification message,

prior to delivery of the package, store the specific location in the consignee profile record,

prior to delivery of the package, retrieve from the consignee profile database the specific location associated with the consignee name, and

prior to delivery of the package, communicate to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a delivery preference message including at least the specific location.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scanner configured to scan the package in order to determine the package identification number.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is in communication with the scanner, said processor further configured to receive by electronic communication across a network from the scanner the indication of the package identification number representative of the package.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification message to the consignee comprises an email message transmitted to an email address stored in the consignee profile record.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the email message comprises at least one type of data selected from the group consisting of an estimated delivery date of the package, the package identification number, and the specific location.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the invitation for the consignee to provide to the carrier a specific location comprises a link to the carrier web site through which the consignee may provide the specific location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification message to the consignee comprises a telephonic message transmitted to a telephone number stored in the consignee profile record.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to receive, prior to delivery of the package, a touch-tone response from the consignee indicating the specific location, wherein said touch-tone response has been sent by the consignee in response to the notification message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication received from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location comprises a modification of a previous indication of a specific location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication received from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location comprises an initial indication of a specific location.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to set a flag, prior to delivery of the package, in the package level detail record associated with the package identification number to indicate that the specific location is stored in the consignee profile record.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to store the specific location, prior to delivery of the package, in the package level detail record associated with the package identification number.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is configured to display for the delivery person, prior to delivery of the package, the delivery preference message including at least the specific location.

14. A system comprising:

a portable computing device associated with a delivery person delivering a package;

a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name;

a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least a consignee name and a specific location at a consignee delivery address where a package is to be placed by a delivery person; and

a processor in communication with the package level detail database, the consignee profile database, and the portable computing device, said processor configured to;

receive by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier,

upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieve from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number,

upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, retrieve from a consignee profile record stored in the consignee profile database a specific location at a consignee delivery address where the package is to be placed by a delivery person, wherein said specific location is associated with the consignee name, and

prior to delivery of the package, communicate to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a message including at least the specific location.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a scanner configured to scan the package in order to determine the package identification number.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is in communication with the scanner, said processor further configured to receive by electronic communication across a network from the scanner the indication of the package identification number representative of the package.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive profile information for the consignee profile record via a carrier web site upon consignee registration with the carrier web site.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to receive profile information for the consignee profile record via a carrier web site upon a consignee being prompted to provide profile information to the carrier web site if the consignee visits the web site to track the package.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the specific location where the package is to be placed by the delivery person is a default preference to be applied to all packages shipped by the consignee.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the specific location where the package is to be placed by the delivery person is a preference to be applied only to the package that is represented by the package identification number.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the portable computing device is configured to display, prior to delivery of the package, the message including at least the specific location.

22. A system comprising:

a portable computing device associated with the delivery person delivering a package;

a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name;

a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least a consignee name and at least one delivery preference; and

a processor in communication with the package level detail database, the consignee profile database, and the portable computing device, said processor configured to;

receive by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier,

upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieve from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number,

upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, retrieve from the consignee profile database at least one delivery preference associated with the consignee name, wherein said delivery preference is selected from the group consisting of a time after which the package is to be delivered to the consignee, a redirect delivery preference indicating the package is to be redirected to a consignee specified address, a refuse delivery preference indicating the package is not to be delivered to the consignee, a reschedule delivery preference indicating the package is to be delivered after a specified time, and a will call delivery preference indicating the package is to be held by the carrier for pickup by the consignee, and

prior to delivery of the package, communicate to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a message including at least the delivery preference.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the portable computing device is configured to display, prior to delivery of the package, the message including the delivery preference.

24. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable computing device associated with a delivery person delivering a package;

providing a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name;

providing a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least consignee contact information and a specific location at a consignee delivery address where a package is to be placed by a delivery person, wherein said consignee contact information includes at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of a consignee name, email address, and telephone number;

receiving by a computer processor by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier;

upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieving by the computer processor from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number,

upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, transmitting by the computer processor a notification message to the consignee by electronic communication over a network in accordance with contact information included in a consignee profile record associated with the consignee name in the consignee profile database, said notification message including;

a notification to the consignee of an impending delivery of the package, and

an invitation for the consignee to provide to the carrier a specific location at a consignee delivery address where the package is to be placed by a delivery person,

prior to delivery of the package, receiving by the computer processor an indication from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location, wherein said indication has been sent by the consignee in response to the notification message,

prior to delivery of the package, storing by the computer processor the specific location in the consignee profile record,

prior to delivery of the package, retrieving by the computer processor from the consignee profile database the specific location associated with the consignee name, and

prior to delivery of the package, transmitting by the computer processor to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a delivery preference message including at least the specific location.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of receiving by a computer processor by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier comprises the step of receiving by the computer processor from a scanner by electronic communication across a network the indication of the package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the notification message to the consignee comprises an email message transmitted to an email address stored in the consignee profile record.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the email message comprises at least one type of data selected from the group consisting of an estimated delivery date of the package, the package identification number, and the specific location.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the invitation for the consignee to provide to the carrier a specific location comprises a link to the carrier web site through which the consignee may provide the specific location.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the notification message to the consignee comprises a telephonic message transmitted to a telephone number stored in the consignee profile record.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving by the computer processor an indication from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location comprises the step of receiving by the computer processor, prior to delivery of the package, a touch-tone response from the consignee indicating the specific location, wherein said touch-tone response has been sent by the consignee in response to the notification message.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the indication received from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location comprises a modification of a previous indication of a specific location.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the indication received from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location comprises an initial indication of a specific location.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of storing by the computer processor the specific location in the consignee profile record further comprises the step of setting a flag by the computer processor, prior to delivery of the package, in the package level detail record associated with the package identification number to indicate that the specific location is stored in the consignee profile record.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of storing by the computer processor the specific location in the consignee profile record further comprises the step of storing the specific location, prior to delivery of the package, in the package level detail record associated with the package identification number.

35. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of displaying for the delivery person by the portable computing device, prior to delivery of the package, the delivery preference message including at least the specific location.

36. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable computing device associated with a delivery person delivering a package;

providing a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name;

providing a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least a consignee name and a specific location at a consignee delivery address where a package is to be placed by a delivery person;

receiving by a computer processor by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier,

upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieving by the computer processor from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number,

upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, retrieving by the computer processor from a consignee profile record stored in the consignee profile database a specific location at a consignee delivery address where the package is to be placed by a delivery person, wherein said specific location is associated with the consignee name, and

prior to delivery of the package, transmitting to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a message including at least the specific location.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of receiving by a computer processor by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier comprises the step of receiving by a computer processor from a scanner by electronic communication across a network the indication of the package identification number associated with a package to be shipped by a carrier.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein profile information included in the consignee profile record is received via a carrier web site upon consignee registration with the carrier web site.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein profile information included in the consignee profile record is received via a carrier web site upon a consignee being prompted to provide profile information to the carrier web site if the consignee visits the web site to track the package.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the specific location where the package is to be placed by the delivery person is a default preference to be applied to all packages shipped by the consignee.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the specific location where the package is to be placed by the delivery person is a preference to be applied only to the package that is represented by the package identification number.

42. The system of claim 36, further comprising the step of displaying for the delivery person by the portable computing device, prior to delivery of the package, the message including at least the specific location.

43. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a portable computing device associated with the delivery person delivering a package;

providing a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name;

providing a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least a consignee name and at least one delivery preference;

receiving by a computer processor by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier,

upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieving by the computer processor from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number,

upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, retrieving by the computer processor from a consignee profile record stored in the consignee profile database at least one delivery preference associated with the consignee name, wherein said delivery preference is selected from the group consisting of a time after which the package is to be delivered to the consignee, a redirect delivery preference indicating the package is to be redirected to a consignee specified address, a refuse delivery preference indicating the package is not to be delivered to the consignee, a reschedule delivery preference indicating the package is to be delivered after a specified time, and a will call delivery preference indicating the package is to be held by the carrier for pickup by the consignee, and

prior to delivery of the package, transmitting to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a message including at least the delivery preference.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of displaying for the delivery person by the portable computing device, prior to delivery of the package, the message including at least the delivery preference.