Methods and apparatus for returning items via a tote delivery service
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification