Methods and apparatus for returning items via a tote delivery service

• US 8,219,463 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dearlove, Janice Vivienne, Wilke, Jeffrey A., Herrington, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levine, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Civan, Ethan D
• Application Number:
  US12/825,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for managing tote deliveries by a tote delivery service. The tote delivery service directs delivery of items ordered by customers via a network site to delivery addresses corresponding to the customers in reusable totes on upcoming tote delivery days. The totes are reusable totes configured to be delivered from a delivery facility to delivery addresses on tote delivery days and picked up from the delivery addresses on subsequent tote delivery days. The network site may allow the customers to place items into totes to be returned to the delivery facility; the totes are picked up and returned to the facility, where the returned items are removed and processed, for example to be placed into to inventory or returned to a vendor or manufacturer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

enterprise logic, implemented on one or more computer devices, receiving information indicating a plurality of items to be delivered to at least one delivery address according to a tote delivery service, wherein the information is received via a network site on which the plurality of items are offered, wherein the tote delivery service delivers items to a plurality of delivery addresses in totes on scheduled tote delivery days, wherein the totes are reusable totes configured to be delivered to the delivery addresses on tote delivery days and picked up from the delivery addresses on subsequent tote delivery days;

the enterprise logic directing the placement of at least one of the plurality of items into each of one or more totes at a tote delivery service facility to be delivered to the at least one delivery address on a scheduled tote delivery day;

the enterprise logic directing the delivery of the one or more totes from the tote delivery service facility to the at least one delivery address on the scheduled tote delivery day;

the enterprise logic receiving via a returns interface of said network site an indication of at least one item to be returned in a previously delivered tote on a scheduled tote delivery day, wherein the returns interface provides at least one user interface element via which customers indicate to the enterprise logic that particular items are to be placed in totes to be returned to the tote delivery service facility on particular scheduled delivery days; and

during said delivery, picking up from one or more delivery addresses one or more totes delivered on a previous tote delivery day for return to the tote delivery service facility;

wherein at least one of the totes returned to the tote delivery service facility contains the at least one item to be delivered to one or more entities.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

removing one or more items from the returned totes; and

the enterprise logic directing delivery of the removed items to the one or more entities.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more entities include an enterprise associated with the enterprise logic, and wherein said delivery of the removed items comprises placing at least one of the items into inventory of the enterprise.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one item placed into inventory of the enterprise is an item returned to the enterprise by a customer of the enterprise.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the item returned to the enterprise by a customer of the enterprise is for exchange, and wherein the method further comprises the enterprise logic directing the delivery of an exchange item to the customer.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one item placed into inventory of the enterprise is an item being delivered to the enterprise from a product provider for the enterprise.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more entities include a product provider for an enterprise associated with the enterprise logic, and wherein said delivery of the removed items comprises returning at least one of the items to the product provider.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more entities include an enterprise associated with the enterprise logic, and wherein said delivery of the removed items comprises transferring at least one of the items from the tote delivery service facility to a fulfillment center of the enterprise.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more entities include a rental service, and wherein said delivery of the removed items comprises returning at least one of the items to the rental service.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the items returned to the tote delivery service facility in the returned totes include at least some items that were previously delivered to customers via the tote delivery service.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the items returned to the tote delivery service facility in the returned totes include at least some items that were previously delivered to customers via a different delivery method.

12. A system, comprising:

one or more data storage devices that store data for an enterprise; and

one or more servers that implement enterprise logic executable on the one or more servers to;

implement a network site for an enterprise, wherein a plurality of items are offered on the network site;

direct delivery of tote orders via a tote delivery service to customers of the enterprise, wherein the tote delivery service delivers tote orders to the customers on scheduled tote delivery days, wherein each tote delivery includes one or more totes that include a tote order of one or more items ordered via said network site, wherein the totes are reusable totes configured to be delivered to the delivery addresses on tote delivery days and picked up from the delivery addresses on subsequent tote delivery days;

receive, via a returns interface of said network site, an indication of at least one item to be returned in a previously delivered tote on a scheduled tote delivery day, wherein the returns interface provides at least one user interface element via which customers indicate to the enterprise logic that particular items are to be placed in totes to be returned to the tote delivery service facility on particular scheduled delivery days; and

direct retrieval, from one or more delivery addresses, of one or more totes delivered on a previous tote delivery day and return of the totes to a tote delivery service facility;

wherein at least one of the totes returned to the tote delivery service facility contains the at least one item to be delivered to one or more entities.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the enterprise logic is executable on the one or more servers to direct delivery of items removed from the returned totes to the one or more entities.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more entities include the enterprise, and wherein said delivery of the removed items comprises placing at least one of the items into inventory of the enterprise.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one item placed into inventory of the enterprise is an item returned to the enterprise by a customer of the enterprise.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the item returned to the enterprise by the customer of the enterprise is for exchange, and wherein the enterprise logic is executable on the one or more servers to direct the delivery of an exchange item to the customer.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one item placed into inventory of the enterprise is an item being delivered to the enterprise from a product provider for the enterprise.

18. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more entities include a product provider for the enterprise, and wherein the enterprise logic is executable on the one or more servers to direct return of at least one of the items to the product provider.

19. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more entities include the enterprise, and wherein the enterprise logic is executable on the one or more servers to direct transfer of at least one of the items from the tote delivery service facility to a fulfillment center of the enterprise.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more entities include a rental service, and wherein the enterprise logic is executable on the one or more servers to direct return of at least one of the items to the rental service.

21. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the items returned to the tote delivery service facility in the returned totes include at least some items that were previously delivered to customers via the tote delivery service.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the items returned to the tote delivery service facility in the returned totes include at least some items that were previously delivered to customers via a different delivery method.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

directing delivery of tote orders via a tote delivery service from tote delivery service facilities to a plurality of delivery addresses, wherein the tote delivery service delivers tote orders to the delivery addresses on scheduled tote delivery days, wherein each tote delivery includes one or more totes that include a tote order of one or more items ordered via a network site on which the plurality of items are offered, wherein the totes are reusable totes configured to be delivered to the delivery addresses on tote delivery days and picked up from the delivery addresses on subsequent tote delivery days;

receiving via a returns interface of said network site an indication of one or more items to be returned in at least one previously delivered tote and delivered to an entity, wherein the returns interface provides at least one user interface element via which customers indicate to enterprise logic of the network site that particular items are to be placed in totes to be returned to the tote delivery service facility on particular scheduled delivery days;

directing retrieval, from one or more delivery addresses, of one or more totes each containing at least one of the one or more item to be delivered to the entity;

directing delivery of the retrieved totes to a tote delivery service facility; and

directing delivery of items removed from the retrieved totes to the entity.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the entity is a product distributor, and wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement directing placing at least one of the items into inventory of the product distributor.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one item placed into inventory of the product distributor is an item returned to the product distributor by a customer of the product distributor.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein the item returned to the product distributor by a customer of the product distributor is for exchange, and wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement directing the delivery of an exchange item to the customer.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one item placed into inventory of the product distributor is an item being delivered to the product distributor from a product provider.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the entity is a product provider for a product distributor that uses the tote delivery service, and wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement directing the return of at least one of the items to the product provider.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the entity is a product distributor, and wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement directing the transfer of at least one of the items from the tote delivery service facility to a fulfillment center of the product distributor.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the entity is a rental service, and wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement directing the return of at least one of the items to the rental service.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the items returned to the tote delivery service facility in the returned totes include at least some items that were previously delivered to customers via the tote delivery service.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31, wherein the items returned to the tote delivery service facility in the returned totes include at least some items that were previously delivered to customers via a different delivery method.