Systems and methods for defining attributes of attended delivery/pickup locations

• US 9,195,950 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schenken, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sweeney, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US14/201,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 701/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• 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 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A computer system for defining attributes associated with attended delivery/pickup locations is described. In various embodiments, the system is configured to enable an authorized user (e.g., a manager of an attended delivery/pickup location) to define certain attributes of a particular attended delivery/pickup location. In some embodiments, the system is configured to verify that the particular user is authorized to define the one or more attributes associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location (e.g., by checking a list of one or more authorized users). The attributes may be: 1) one or more times the particular attended delivery/pickup location is open for individuals to pick up a parcel; and 2) a certain product and/or brand the particular attended delivery location will accept. Once the one or more attributes are defined, in one or more embodiments, the system is configured to accept or reject parcel delivery requests based at least in part on the attributes.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for;

(A) receiving a list of one or more authorized users, wherein the one or more authorized users are one or more users that are authorized to define a plurality of attributes associated with a particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(B) storing, in memory, the list of one or more authorized users;

(C) receiving a request from a particular user to define at least one attribute of the plurality of attributes associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(D) determining whether the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users;

(E) at least partially in response to determining that the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users, enabling the particular user to define the at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(F) storing the defined at least one attribute in memory;

(G) receiving a delivery request to facilitate delivery of at least one parcel to the particular attended delivery/pickup location, the delivery request comprising at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of the at least one parcel;

(H) determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup location will receive the at least one parcel based at least in part on;

1) the at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

2) the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of the at least one parcel;

(I) based at least in part on determining that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will receive the at least one parcel, facilitating delivery of the at least one parcel to the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(J) at least partially in response to determining that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not receive the at least one parcel, rejecting the delivery request, wherein the one or more authorized users comprise one or more users selected from the group consisting of;

(A) one or more managers of the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(B) one or more employees of the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(C) one or more owners of the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the defined at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location comprises at least one day the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not be open for parcel delivery.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein:

(A) the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of the at least one parcel comprises a desired parcel delivery time; and

(B) determining the particular attended delivery/pickup location will receive the at least one parcel comprises determining the desired parcel pickup time is not the at least one day the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not be open for parcel delivery.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein:

(A) the particular attended delivery/pickup location is open for regular business other than accepting one or more parcels for users; and

(B) the at least one time the particular attended delivery/pickup location will be open for parcel pickup comprises at least one hour the particular attended delivery/pickup location will be open for regular business.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the defined at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location comprises at least one product description the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein:

(A) the at least one parcel contains at least one product;

(B) the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of the at least one parcel comprises a product description associated with the at least one product contained in the at least one parcel; and

(C) determining the particular attended delivery/pickup location will receive the at least one parcel comprises determining the product description associated with the at least one product contained in the at least one parcel is the at least one product description the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein:

(A) the defined at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location comprises at least one SKU number the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept;

(B) the at least one parcel comprises a SKU number associated with the at least one product contained in the at least one parcel;

(C) the at least one SKU number the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept comprises at least one SKU number; and

(D) determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup location will receive the at least one parcel comprises determining the SKU number of the at least one product contained in the at least one parcel is at least partially the at least one SKU number the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein:

(A) the product description associated with the at least one product contained in the at least one parcel comprises a description of a particular brand of computing product; and

(B) the at least one product description the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept comprises the particular brand of computing product.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readable instructions for:

(A) receiving at least one defined attribute associated with a particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(B) receiving a list of one or more authorized users, wherein the one or more authorized users are one or more users that are authorized to change the at least one defined attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(C) storing, in memory, the list of one or more authorized users;

(D) receiving a request from a particular user to change the at least one defined attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(E) determining whether the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users;

(F) at least partially in response to determining that the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users, enabling the particular user to change the at least one defined attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(G) storing the changed at least one defined attribute in memory;

(H) receiving an acceptance request for the particular attended delivery/pickup location to accept at least one parcel associated with a parcel sender, the acceptance request comprising at least one characteristic associated with the at least one parcel;

(I) determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the at least one parcel based at least in part on;

1) the changed at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

2) the at least one characteristic associated with the at least one parcel; and

(J) based at least in part on determining the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the at least one parcel, facilitating acceptance of the at least one parcel at the particular attended delivery/pickup location, wherein the one or more authorized users comprise one or more users selected from the group consisting of;

(A) one or more managers of the particular attended delivery/pickup location,

(B) one or more employees of the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(C) one or more owners of the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein receiving the acceptance request for the particular attended delivery/pickup location to accept the at least one parcel comprises receiving a scan of a barcode associated with the at least one parcel from a client device associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein:

(A) the barcode associated with the at least one parcel comprises at least one product SKU number associated with one or more products contained in the at least one parcel;

(B) the changed at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location comprises an acceptance SKU; and

(C) determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the at least one parcel comprises determining that the product SKU is substantially equivalent to the acceptance SKU.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein facilitating acceptance of the at least one parcel at the particular attended delivery/pickup location comprises sending a notification indicating acceptance of the at least one parcel to the client device associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the list of one or more authorized users comprises one or more managers of the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the defined at least one attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location comprises at least one time the particular attended delivery/pickup location will be open for parcel pickup.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein:

(A) the at least one characteristic associated with the delivery of the at least one parcel comprises a desired parcel pickup time; and

(B) determining the particular attended delivery/pickup location will receive the at least one parcel comprises determining the desired parcel pickup time is about the at least one time the particular attended delivery/pickup location will be open for parcel pickup.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein:

(A) the particular attended delivery/pickup location is open for regular business other than accepting one or more parcels for users; and

(B) the at least one time the particular attended delivery/pickup location will be open for parcel pickup comprises at least one hour the particular attended delivery/pickup location will be open for regular business.

17. A computer-implemented method, by at least one processor, comprising:

(A) receiving;

i) a defined time attribute associated with a particular attended delivery/pickup location, the defined time attribute comprising at least one time the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept one or more parcels; and

ii) a defined product attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location, the defined product attribute comprising one or more products the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept;

(B) receiving a list of one or more authorized users, wherein the one or more authorized users are one or more users that are authorized to change;

i) the defined time attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

ii) the defined product attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(C) storing, in memory, the list of one or more authorized users;

(D) receiving a request from a particular user to change the defined time attribute;

(E) determining whether the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users;

(F) at least partially in response to determining that the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users, enabling the particular user to change the defined time attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(G) storing the changed defined time attribute in memory;

(H) receiving an acceptance request for the particular attended delivery/pickup location to accept at least one parcel associated with a parcel sender;

the acceptance request comprising at least one characteristic associated with the at least one parcel;

(I) determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the at least one parcel based at least in part on;

1) the defined time attribute associated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

2) the at least one characteristic associated with the at least one parcel; and

(J) based at least in part on determining the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the at least one parcel, facilitating acceptance of the at least one parcel at the particular attended delivery/pickup location, wherein the one or more authorized users comprise one or more users selected from a group consisting of;

(A) one or more managers of the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(B) one or more employees of the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(C) one or more owners of the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein determining whether the particular attended delivery/pickup location will accept the at least one parcel is further based at least in part on the defined product attribute.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein:

the defined product attribute comprises one or more specific brands of product; and

the at least one characteristic associated with the at least one parcel comprises at least one product brand associated with the at least one product contained in the at least one parcel.

20. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for;

(A) storing a list of at least one particular product brand of products that a particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

(B) receiving a delivery request to facilitate delivery of at least one parcel to the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(C) receiving at least one characteristic associated with at least one product contained in the at least one parcel;

(D) determining, based at least in part on the characteristic, whether the at least one product includes one or more products of the at least one particular product brand that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

(E) at least partially in response to determining that the at least one product does not include one or more products of the at least one particular brand, facilitating delivery of the at least one parcel to the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(F) at least partially in response to determining that the at least one product includes one or more products of the at least one particular brand, rejecting the delivery request.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

enabling one or more users to define at least one particular product brand that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

receiving a list of one or more authorized users, wherein the one or more authorized users are one or more users that are authorized to define the at least one particular product brand that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

storing, in memory, the list of one or more authorized users;

receiving a request from a particular user to define the at least one particular product brand that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

determining whether the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users; and

at least partially in response to determining that the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users, enabling the particular user to define the at least one particular product brand that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the one or more authorized users comprise one or more users selected from the group consisting of:

(A) one or more managers of the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(B) one or more employees of the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(C) one or more owners of the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

24. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the computer system is configured for;

(A) storing a list of at least one particular product that a particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

(B) receiving a delivery request to facilitate delivery of at least one parcel to the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(C) receiving at least one characteristic associated with at least one product contained in the at least one parcel;

(D) determining, based at least in part on the characteristic, whether the at least one product includes the at least one particular product that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

(E) at least partially in response to determining that the at least one product does not include the at least one particular product, facilitating delivery of the at least one parcel to the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(F) at least partially in response to determining that the at least one product includes the at least one particular product, rejecting the delivery request.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the list of at least one particular product that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept comprises at least one SKU associated with the at least one particular product.

26. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

enabling one or more users to define the at least one particular product that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

receiving a list of one or more authorized users, wherein the one or more authorized users are one or more users that are authorized to define the at least one particular product that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

storing, in memory, the list of one or more authorized users;

receiving a request from a particular user to define the at least one particular product that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept;

determining whether the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users; and

at least partially in response to determining that the particular user is on the list of one or more authorized users, enabling the particular user to define the at least one particular product that the particular attended delivery/pickup location will not accept.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the one or more authorized users comprise one or more users selected from the group consisting of:

(A) one or more managers of the particular attended delivery/pickup location;

(B) one or more employees of the particular attended delivery/pickup location; and

(C) one or more owners of the particular attended delivery/pickup location.