Acquisition of a voice signature for status tracking and proof of delivery of shipped goods

• US 8,649,775 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ufollowit Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ufollowit Incorporated
• Inventors: Alessio, Eduardo, Landa, Pedro
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US12/344,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,871 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656

Abstract

A method used in the acquisition of a voice signature associated with the status or tracking of shipped goods is provided. The method includes initiating a call and/or data communication between a remote user and/or device and a shipment tracking system and vice versa. The call and/or data communication is then associated with a shipment. A status of the shipment is determined and a time stamp is assigned to the call. A digital voice recording is generated and if a delivery event a voice signature is acquired during the call. The voice signature is stored to the remote tracking system wherein the voice signature is associated with the shipment, shipment status and time stamp. The voice signature is transformed to text, wherein the text is associated with the voice signature. Finally an electronic shipment status based on the voice signature, text associated with the voice signature, the shipment, shipment status and time stamp is provided. The location of the event is acquired via GPS and/or cellular tower servicing the device, location, and or transforming the voice recording of an event into a latitude and longitude location and or town, city, state and/or country of event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a call between a remote user and a shipment tracking system;

associating the call with a shipment;

determining a status of the shipment;

assigning a time stamp to the call;

prompting the remote user via an automated voice prompt system to input data as voice or tones;

extracting the data from the voice or tone inputs, wherein the data is associated with the shipment, shipment status and time stamp;

acquiring a voice signature during the call;

storing the voice signature to the remote tracking system wherein the voice signature is associated with the shipment, shipment status and time stamp;

transforming the voice signature to text, wherein the text is associated with the voice signature; and

providing an electronic shipment status based on the voice recording, text associated with the voice signature, the data extracted from the voice or tone inputs, the shipment, shipment status and time stamp.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is initiated on behalf of a consignee accepting delivery of the shipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status comprises at least one status selected from the group comprising:

shipment pickup;

shipment delivery;

shipment intermediate status; and

shipment exception status.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic shipment status is provided in at least one format selected from the group consisting of:

a SMS text message;

an email message;

an update to a web based tracking system;

a facsimile transmission; and

a voice transmission.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein location information is:

received from the remote user and/or a remote device;

associated with the shipment; and

included within the electronic shipment status.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a call is initiated from a dispatching location by the remote tracking system to the remote user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the electronic shipment status.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing within a database, information associated with each shipment event, the information comprising a time stamp, event type, location, zip code, caller ID, exception information, delivery details such as voice recording for POD when the event type is a delivery event, a visual representation of readable text of name of consignee; and

visually presenting the information on a map by a location of each shipment event.

9. A shipment tracking system comprising:

a network based remote tracking system executed on a remote server, the remote tracking system operable to generate a shipping order associated with the shipment;

a delivery network operable to receive, transport and deliver the goods;

an automated voice prompt system which;

receives a call from a remote user;

prompts the remote user to input data as voice, digital data or tones;

extracts the data from the voice, digital data or tone inputs;

at least one wireless terminal, wherein a call may be established between the at least one wireless terminal and the remote tracking system, wherein a user may provide shipment status information associated with the shipment to the remote tracking system in response to prompts from the remote tracking system during the call, wherein the shipment status information comprises;

a shipment identifier associated with the shipment;

a status of the shipment;

a time stamp of the call;

a caller ID associated with the call;

a voice recording;

a text transcription, said text having been transformed from said voice recording;

a location of the shipment;

the remote tracking system operable to;

store shipment status information;

transform the voice signature to text, wherein the text is associated with the voice signature; and

provide an electronic shipment status based on the shipment status information.

10. The shipment tracking system of claim 9, wherein the call is initiated on behalf of a consignee accepting delivery of the shipment.

11. The shipment tracking system of claim 9, wherein the status of the shipment comprises at least one status selected from the group comprising:

shipment pickup;

shipment delivery;

shipment intermediate status; and

shipment exception status.

12. The shipment tracking system of claim 9, wherein the electronic shipment status is provided in at least one format selected from the group consisting of:

a SMS text message;

an email message;

an update to a web based tracking system;

a facsimile transmission; and

a voice transmission.

13. The shipment tracking system of claim 9, wherein location information is:

determined with Global Positioning Satellites (GPS);

determined by identifying a servicing cell associated with the wireless terminal;

determined by identifying an internet protocol address associated with the wireless terminal;

or

zip code or detailed location and street address of delivery event.

14. The shipment tracking system of claim 9, wherein shipment status information comprises:

exception information;

a voice recording associated with a delivery event;

a visual or digital representation of a BOL;

a scheduled delivery time;

or

optional reference number associated with the delivery event.