Notification systems and methods that permit change of quantity for delivery and/or pickup of goods and/or services

• US 9,013,334 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eclips LLC
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US14/197,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/995.1, 340/988, 340/989, 340/502, 340/504, 340/506
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• 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 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated computer-based notification systems. A representative method, among others that are disclosed herein, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: permitting a first one or more data transfers with a first personal communications device (PCD) for scheduling an order relating to arrival or departure of a mobile thing (MT) at a stop location and to pickup or delivery of a good or service at the stop location; during the first one or more data transfers, requesting and permitting input or selection of quantity information relating to the good and/or service; causing initiation of a second one or more data transfers with the first PCD or a second PCD designated during the first one or more data transfers, prior to completion of the pickup or delivery of the good or service at the stop location; during the second one or more data transfers, permitting a change to the quantity information of the good or service associated with the order that was established during the first one or more data transfers; and permitting the MT to arrive at or depart from the stop location to permit pickup or delivery of the good or service in accordance with the changed quantity information established during the second one or more data transfers. A representative system, among others, can be a computer system that has been programmed to perform the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A method for an automated notification system, wherein:

(a) the automated notification system comprises an architecture as follows;

a data manager that is operable to access information in memory;

a monitoring module that is operable to access travel or location information associated with one or more mobile things (MTs);

a message manager that is operable to cause communication of message information to one or more personal communications devices (PCDs); and

a response system feedback analyzer that is operable to analyze response information from the PCDs; and

(b) the method comprises;

permitting a first one or more data transfers with a first PCD for scheduling an order relating to arrival or departure of an MT at a stop location for pickup or delivery of a good or service at the stop location;

during the first one or more data transfers, requesting and permitting input or selection of quantity information relating to the good and/or service;

causing initiation of a second one or more data transfers with the first PCD or a second PCD designated during the first one or more data transfers, prior to completion of the pickup or delivery of the good or service at the stop location;

during the second one or more data transfers, permitting a change to the quantity information of the good or service associated with the order that was established during the first one or more data transfers; and

permitting the MT to arrive at or depart from the stop location to permit pickup or delivery of the good or service in accordance with the changed quantity information established during the second one or more data transfers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second one or more data transfers involve a text message communicated from the notification system to the first or second PCD.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second one or more data transfers involve an email message communicated from the notification system to the first or second PCD.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the first one or more data transfers, permitting input or selection of contact information defining how to contact a party in connection with the second one or more data transfers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the second one or more data transfers, communicating authentication information from the notification system to the first or second PCD, whichever applicable, the authentication information including at least a numerical code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising directly or indirectly monitoring travel or location information corresponding to the MT, in order to determine when to initiate the second one or more data transfers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scheduling the second one or more data transfers after the input or selection of the quantity information established during the first one or more data transfers; and

initiating the second one or more data transfers, when appropriate, pursuant to the scheduling.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a monetary charge of different fees for the input or selection of the quantity information and the change in the quantity information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the quantity information and the changed quantity information are associated with a time period and a changed time period, respectively, associated with the pickup or delivery of the good or service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the second one or more data transfers, indicating a current status of the quantity information; and

during the second one or more data transfers, providing a link to the first or second PCD, whichever applicable, that permits the first or second PCD, whichever applicable, to be communicatively coupled to a party or entity in order to effectuate the change in the quantity information.

11. An automated notification system, comprising:

a data manager that is operable to access information in memory;

a monitoring module that is operable to access travel or location information associated with one or more mobile things (MTs);

a message manager that is operable to cause communication of message information that is communicated to one or more personal communications devices (PCDs);

a response system feedback analyzer that is operable to analyze response information from the PCDs; and

computer program code executed by one or more processors, the code comprising;

instructions to permit a first one or more data transfers with a first PCD for scheduling an order relating to arrival or departure of an MT at a stop location and to pickup or delivery of a good or service at the stop location;

instructions to, during the first one or more data transfers, request and permit input or selection of quantity information relating to the good and/or service;

instructions to cause initiation of a second one or more data transfers with the first PCD or a second PCD designated during the first one or more data transfers, prior to completion of the pickup or delivery of the good or service at the stop location;

instructions to, during the second one or more data transfers, permit a change to the quantity information of the good or service associated with the order that was established during the first one or more data transfers; and

instructions to permit the MT to arrive at or depart from the stop location to permit pickup or delivery of the good or service in accordance with the changed quantity information established during the second one or more data transfers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second one or more data transfers involve a text message communicated from the notification system to the first or second PCD.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second one or more data transfers involve an email message communicated from the notification system to the first or second PCD.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

Instructions to, during the first one or more data transfers, permit input or selection of contact information defining how to contact a party in connection with the second one or more data transfers.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

instructions to, during the second one or more data transfers, communicate authentication information from the notification system to the first or second PCD, whichever applicable, the authentication information including at least a numerical code.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

Instructions to, directly or indirectly, monitor travel or location information corresponding to the MT, in order to determine when to initiate the second one or more data transfers.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

instructions to schedule the second one or more data transfers after the input or selection of the quantity information established during the first one or more data transfers; and

instructions to initiate the second one or more data transfers, when appropriate, pursuant to the scheduling.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

instructions to cause a monetary charge of different fees for the input or selection of the quantity information and the change in the quantity information.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the quantity information and the changed quantity information are associated with a time period and a changed time period, respectively, associated with the pickup or delivery of the good or service.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program code further comprises:

instructions to, during the second one or more data transfers, indicate a current status of the quantity information; and

instructions to, during the second one or more data transfers, provide a link to the first or second PCD, whichever applicable, that permits the first or second PCD, whichever applicable, to be communicatively coupled to a party or entity in order to effectuate the change in the quantity information.