Systems and methods for providing extended shipping options
First Claim
1. A method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
- in a computing system, providing access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by;
providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field;
receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and
causing, by the computing system, the shipping provider to process a shipment by;
extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data;
processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and
processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options;
wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for providing extended shipping options are described. In some embodiments, a user may specify extended shipping options that are not otherwise provided by or accessible via an existing shipment information specification user interface. In one embodiment, the user accesses a module configured to facilitate specification of extended shipping options and in response, provide an indicator of the specified extended shipping option, such as a tag or uniform resource identifier. The indicator of the extended shipping option is then incorporated into a user interface element, such as an address field, of the shipment information specification user interface. Once the user finalizes the order, the indicator of the extended shipping option is transmitted along with other shipment information items to a merchant and/or carrier system, where services specified by the extended shipping option are initiated.
140 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
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in a computing system, providing access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by; providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field; receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and causing, by the computing system, the shipping provider to process a shipment by; extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data; processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options; wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
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receiving via a computer-based existing shipment information specification user interface component, through a field of the existing shipment information specification user interface component, a first shipment information item of a first type; transparently providing access to extended shipping options by providing a computer-based module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for facilitating specification of the extended shipping options via the existing shipment information specification user interface component by dynamically integrating the computer-based module into the computer-based overall user interface, thereby extending the existing shipment information specification user interface component to handle the extended shipping options; receiving, via the field, an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type that is not the same as the first type, wherein the second shipment information item is an extended shipping option specified via the module and the shipment information specification user interface component is not configured to handle shipment information items of the second type prior to being extended, and wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a uniform resource identifier that causes a shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and causing, by a computer system, the shipping provider to process a shipment according to the first and second shipment information items; wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that are configured, when executed, to cause a computing system to perform a method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
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providing access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by; providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field; receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and causing the shipping provider to process a shipment by; extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data; processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options; wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.
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26. A system for providing access to extended shipping options, the system comprising:
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a processor; a memory; and instructions that are stored in the memory and that are configured, when executed by the processor, to perform a method comprising; providing access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by; providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field; receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and causing the shipping provider to process a shipment by; extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data; processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options; wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.
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Specification