Systems and methods for providing personalized delivery services

• US 8,108,259 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• 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: Klingenberg, Robert, Rizzo, Joe, Shroff, Sumeet Pradeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel, Vanel
• Application Number:
  US12/616,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100076903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/27, 705/22, 705/410, 235/385, 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 705/22
• 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 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data
• 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 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

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 method for providing delivery instructions to a parcel delivery carrier by a consignee comprising the steps of:

transmitting, via one or more processors, an electronic notification to the consignee indicating a scheduled delivery of a parcel to the consignee by the parcel delivery carrier, wherein the electronic notification includes a package tracking identifier associated with the parcel;

generating an electronic image of a delivery authorization form (DAF);

generating a DAF identifier associated with the electronic image of the DAF;

associating the DAF identifier with the package tracking identifier in a package level detail (PLD) database operated by the parcel delivery carrier;

transmitting, via the one or more processors, the electronic image of the DAF to the consignee, wherein the electronic image of the DAF (a) is capable of being printed and (b) includes indicia information indicating the package tracking identifier;

receiving a delivery instruction associated with the electronic image of the DAF from the consignee;

receiving an electronic signature from the consignee to create a signed DAF;

transmitting the signed DAF to the parcel delivery carrier;

updating a parcel record associated with the parcel in the PLD database to indicate the DAF has been signed; and

electronically, via the one or more processors, communicating the delivery instruction along with the package tracking identifier to a portable computing device used by a delivery person of the parcel delivery carrier prior to an initial delivery attempt of the parcel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the consignee initiates a tracking request at a package tracking web site operated by the parcel delivery carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic image of the DAF is transmitted as an attachment to an email message addressed to the consignee, wherein the email message further comprises the electronic notification to the consignee.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the email message includes a web site address for the consignee to request the electronic image of the DAF.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request for the electronic image of the DAF associated with the parcel identified by the package tracking identifier at a package tracking web site;

generating the electronic image of the DAF via a web server of the parcel delivery carrier; and

transmitting, via the one or more processors, the electronic image of the DAF to a communications network for delivery to the consignee as an attachment in an email message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the request for the electronic image of the DAF is received from the consignor originating shipment of the parcel.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the request for the electronic image of the DAF is received from the consignee of the parcel.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of receiving an indication from the consignee at the web site operated by the parcel delivery carrier specifying a location at the consignee'"'"'s address for delivery of the parcel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic image of the delivery authorization form (DAF) provided to the consignee includes a name and address of the consignee obtained from the parcel record retrieve from the PLD database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the electronic signature by the consignee of the DAF comprises using a computer mouse at a consignee'"'"'s computer to enter an electronic signature.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the electronic signature by the consignee of the DAF comprises selecting an icon on a web page displayed on a computer to the consignee.

12. A method of providing delivery instructions to a carrier comprising:

transmitting, via one or more processors, a package tracking number to a consignor associated with a parcel shipped to a consignee;

receiving at a web server a tracking request from the consignee, said tracking request including the package tracking number;

transmitting, via the one or more processors, a query to a package level detail (PLD) database using the tracking number to retrieve a package level detail (PLD) record associated with the parcel;

in response to receiving the tracking request, causing display of a delivery status of the package indicating that the package has not been delivered;

causing display of a plurality of delivery options pertaining to the delivery of the package;

receiving input from the consignee (a) selecting one of the plurality of delivery options comprising a delivery instruction for the delivery of the parcel and (b) authorizing delivery of the parcel;

transmitting, via the one or more processors, to the PLD database the package tracking number along with an indication of the delivery options comprising a delivery instruction for the delivery of the parcel;

storing an indication of receiving the electronic indication in the PLD database associated with the PLD record; and

transmitting the delivery instruction from the PLD database to a portable computing device on the day of the delivery of the parcel, wherein the portable computing device is used by a delivery person delivering the parcel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving at a web server a tracking request from the consignee, said tracking request including the package tracking number comprises the steps of:

transmitting, via the one or more processors, the package tracking number to the consignee in an email message, said email message (a) sent to the consignee by indicating initiating shipment of the parcel and (b) comprising a hyperlink to the web server hosting a tracking web site operated by the carrier; and

receiving, via the one or more processors, a tracking request from the consignee, said tracking request including the package tracking number.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving input from the consignee authorizing delivery of the parcel further comprises:

accessing, via the one or more processors, the PLD database to determine that the consignor allows the consignee to waive signature upon receipt of the package; and

receiving input from the consignee authorizing delivery of the parcel without signature by the consignee.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the delivery instruction to the portable computing device indicates authorization from the consignee for delivery of the parcel without signature.

16. A system for providing information pertaining to delivery of a parcel, comprising:

a web site server comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage devices, the web site server configured to;

receive a request from a consignee, the request indicating a package tracking identifier for the parcel scheduled to be delivered to the consignee,

initiate a query to retrieve information regarding the parcel identified by the package tracking identifier,

generate an electronic image of a delivery authorization form (DAF) which is transmitted to the consignee in response to the request,

receive a delivery instruction after the transmission of the DAF wherein the delivery instruction pertains to the delivery of the parcel, and

receive an electronic signature from the consignee authorizing the delivery of the parcel, the web site server configured to communicate the delivery instruction;

a package level detail (PLD) database comprising delivery records including a PLD record associated with the package tracking identifier, the PLD database configured to;

receive the query from the web site server and

transmit in response to the query at least a subset of the PLD record to the web site server, and

associate a DAF identifier with the delivery record; and

a portable computing device used by delivery personnel in conjunction with the delivery of the parcel comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage areas, the portable computing device configured to;

receive at least a portion of the delivery record transmitted from the PLD database,

receive the delivery instruction regarding delivery of the parcel, and

cause display of said delivery instruction to the delivery personnel at the time of delivering the parcel.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the PLD database is further configured to store an indication of the electronic signature from the consignee associated with the PLD record.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a portable computer updating system configured to communicate with the portable computer and the PLD database.