Method and system for providing shipment tracking and notifications
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for tracking an article, which is being transported to a destination at the request of a user, the method comprising:
- tracking, at an Internet package tracking site, status information of the article, such status information being acquired by a mobile communication device in or attached to the article; and
allowing an authorized representative to be aware of the status information from the Internet package tracking site,wherein the status information includes at least position information and physical condition information,wherein the mobile communication device includes at least a position sensor and a physical condition sensor,wherein at least a portion of the status information is related to a condition insured by an insurance on the article,wherein there is a cost to the user to have the article transported to the destination, andwherein the method further comprisesdetermining if the portion of the status information related to the condition insured indicates that a threshold value has been exceeded; and
,providing a benefit to the user if the determining determines that the portion of the status information related to the condition insured indicates that the threshold value has been exceeded.
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Abstract
Improved approaches for monitoring status of articles being shipped are disclosed. The monitoring can produce notifications to interested parties. The notifications typically contain status information pertaining to the articles being shipped. Alternatively, interested parties can gain access to status information pertaining to the articles being shipped via a website. According to one embodiment, the status information includes at least position (location) information and shipping conditions information.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for tracking an article, which is being transported to a destination at the request of a user, the method comprising:
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tracking, at an Internet package tracking site, status information of the article, such status information being acquired by a mobile communication device in or attached to the article; and allowing an authorized representative to be aware of the status information from the Internet package tracking site, wherein the status information includes at least position information and physical condition information, wherein the mobile communication device includes at least a position sensor and a physical condition sensor, wherein at least a portion of the status information is related to a condition insured by an insurance on the article, wherein there is a cost to the user to have the article transported to the destination, and wherein the method further comprises determining if the portion of the status information related to the condition insured indicates that a threshold value has been exceeded; and
,providing a benefit to the user if the determining determines that the portion of the status information related to the condition insured indicates that the threshold value has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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6. A computer-implemented method for tracking an article, which is being transported to a destination, the method comprising:
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tracking, at an Internet package tracking site, status information of the article, such status information being acquired by a mobile communication device in or attached to the article; and allowing an authorized representative to be aware of the status information from the Internet package tracking site, wherein the status information includes at least position information and a type of physical condition information, wherein the mobile communication device includes at least two types of sensing mechanisms, one for sensing position and the other for sensing the type of physical condition, and wherein at least one piece of information in the status information is related to a condition insured by an insurance on the article, wherein a certain amount of money needs to be paid by a user to have the article transported to the destination, and wherein the method further comprises initiating a process to pay at least a portion of the certain amount of money back to the user in view of a piece of status information exceeding a predefined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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16. An article tracking system for tracking an article being transported to a destination at the request of a user, where there is a cost to the user to have the article transported to the destination, the article tracking system comprising:
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a tracking server configured to (i) track status information of the article, the status information includes at least position information and physical condition information, the status information being provided to the tracking server by a mobile communication device in or attached to the article, the mobile communication device including at least a position sensor and a physical condition sensor;
(ii) determine, while the article is being transported, whether the status information indicates that a threshold value has been exceeded;
(iii) enable access to the status information by way of accessing an Internet package tracking site hosted by the tracking server or by way of receiving an electronic notification providing the status information; and
(iv) provide a benefit to the user if the status information indicates that the threshold value has been exceeded,wherein the threshold value is associated with a limit condition for the transport of the article, wherein the limit condition is a guaranteed or an insured condition for the transport of the article. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification