Internet package shipping systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for processing information associated with a package handled by a shipping service provider in connection with delivery of the package to an intended recipient, comprising:
- a dispatch computer system configured to generate a dispatch order for same day pickup of the package from one of a plurality of locations in response to receipt and validation of a customer-entered order for pickup and shipping of the package to the intended recipient;
an order-receiving computer system configured to receive the customer-entered pickup and shipping order from an Internet accessible computer system and communicate said customer-entered pickup and shipping order to the dispatch computer system;
a package information processing computer system associated with the order-receiving computer system and configured to process pickup and shipping information entered by the customer via the Internet accessible computer system, including validating that the dispatch computer system is capable of initiating same day pickup of the package at the location;
a shipping alternative computer system configured to generate at least one alternative shipping option that is an alternative to same day pickup in response to a lack of validation of the customer-entered order and communicate the alternative shipping option to the Internet accessible computer system,wherein the order-receiving computer system, the package information processing computer system and the shipping alternative computer system are all configured to be accessible from a common application of the Internet accessible computer system; and
a communication computer system configured to communicate said dispatch order to a selected service person,whereby the selected service person is instructed by display of the dispatch order on a communications receiving device to pick up the package at the location for delivery via the shipping service provider to the intended recipient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods for shipping a package (12) from a package sender (16) to an intended recipient (18), utilizing Internet communications (30) to place shipping orders, request on demand package pickup, maintain and utilize prestored profile information, view shipping history, track orders, etc. A package sender (16) with an Internet-accessible computer (20) accesses an Internet site and associated shipping system (10) operated by a shipping service provider (14). The package sender (16) enters information required for shipping the package (12), including shipping options and methods for payment. The options and payment for the shipment transaction are validated. If the transaction is validated, printer indicia are communicated to the customer'"'"'s computer (20), which is enabled to locally print a prepaid label (25) containing special machine-readable (876) as well as human-readable indicia (904). The shipping service provider (14) acquires the package by drop-off, standard pickup or on call pickup, scans the machine readable indicia, verifies other indicia of authenticity, and processes the package (12) in accordance with information encoded on the label.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A system for processing information associated with a package handled by a shipping service provider in connection with delivery of the package to an intended recipient, comprising:
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a dispatch computer system configured to generate a dispatch order for same day pickup of the package from one of a plurality of locations in response to receipt and validation of a customer-entered order for pickup and shipping of the package to the intended recipient; an order-receiving computer system configured to receive the customer-entered pickup and shipping order from an Internet accessible computer system and communicate said customer-entered pickup and shipping order to the dispatch computer system; a package information processing computer system associated with the order-receiving computer system and configured to process pickup and shipping information entered by the customer via the Internet accessible computer system, including validating that the dispatch computer system is capable of initiating same day pickup of the package at the location; a shipping alternative computer system configured to generate at least one alternative shipping option that is an alternative to same day pickup in response to a lack of validation of the customer-entered order and communicate the alternative shipping option to the Internet accessible computer system, wherein the order-receiving computer system, the package information processing computer system and the shipping alternative computer system are all configured to be accessible from a common application of the Internet accessible computer system; and a communication computer system configured to communicate said dispatch order to a selected service person, whereby the selected service person is instructed by display of the dispatch order on a communications receiving device to pick up the package at the location for delivery via the shipping service provider to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for pick up of a package by a shipping service provider for delivery of the package to an intended recipient, comprising:
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an Internet accessible computer system configured to allow a customer to enter an order to pick up the package on a same day as the order is entered and ship the package to an intended recipient;
a dispatch computer system configured to in response to receipt of said customer-entered order, validate that a selected service person is capable of picking up the package on the same day and generate a dispatch order for pickup of the package by the selected service person from one of a plurality of locations in response to successful validation;a shipping alternative computer system configured to generate at least one alternative shipping option in response to a lack of validation of the customer-entered order and communicate the alternative shipping option to the Internet accessible computer system; an order-receiving computer system configured to receive the customer-entered pickup and shipping order from said Internet accessible computer system and communicate said customer-entered pickup and shipping order to the dispatch computer system, wherein the dispatch computer system, the shipping alternative computer system, and the order-receiving computer system are all configured to be accessible from a common application of the Internet accessible computer system; a communication computer system configured to communicate said dispatch order to the selected service person; and a communications receiving device used by the selected service person and configured to receive the dispatch order, whereby the selected service person is instructed by display of the dispatch order on the communications receiving device to pick up the package at the location for delivery via the shipping service provider to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for delivery of a package by a shipping service provider to an intended recipient, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an order entered by a customer at an Internet accessible computer system to pickup on a same day as the order is entered and ship the package to an intended recipient; communicating the pickup and shipping order to an order-receiving computer system; at the order-receiving computer system, processing the pickup and shipping order to validate information associated with the order, including validating that a dispatch computer system is capable of initiating the order on the same day; in response to successful validation of information associated with the pickup and shipping order, communicating the pickup and shipping order to the dispatch computer system; in response to an unsuccessful validation of information associated with the pickup and shipping order, generating at least one alternative shipping option; at the dispatch computer system, generating a dispatch order for pick up of the package at one of a plurality of locations; communicating the dispatch order to a selected service person; receiving the dispatch order at a communications receiving device associated with the selected service person; and in response to receipt of the dispatch order, picking up the package at the location for delivery to the intended recipient; wherein receiving the customer-entered order and generating at least one alternative shipping option in response to unsuccessful validation are all accessible through a common application of the Internet accessible computer system. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for processing information associated with a package handled by a shipping service provider in connection with delivery of the package to an intended recipient, comprising:
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receiving a customer-entered order from an Internet accessible computer system, said customer-entered order requesting same day pick up and shipping of the package to the intended recipient; validating that a dispatch computer system is capable of initiating the customer-entered same day pickup and shipping order and one of communicating the customer-entered pickup and shipping order to the dispatch computer system in response to a successful validation; and generating at least one alternative shipping option in response to unsuccessful validation, wherein receiving the customer-entered order for same day pickup and shipping and generating at least one alternative shipping option in response to unsuccessful validation are all accessible through a common application on the Internet accessible computer system; at the dispatch computer system, generating a dispatch order for pick up of the package from one of a plurality of pickup locations; and communicating the dispatch order to a selected service person by displaying the dispatch order on a communications receiving device to the selected service person to pick up the package for delivery via the shipping service provider to the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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Specification