Systems and methods of locating and selling items at attended delivery/pickup locations

• US 9,811,798 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• 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: Lievens, Daniel, Dethier, Vincent, Henderickx, Peter, Pirenne, Luc, Payre, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Michelle L
• Application Number:
  US14/201,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• 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 system and method for locating nearby attended delivery/pickup locations with a particular item in stock is described. The system receives a request from an individual to purchase a particular item from an on-line retailer. The system receives information associated with attended delivery/pickup locations, including location and inventory information. The system then determines which (if any) attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., the attended delivery/pickup locations are not the on-line retailer) are near the individual and have the particular item in stock and notifies the individual. In various embodiments, the system enables the user to purchase or reserve the particular item at the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

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

(A) receiving, at a first server, an item notification associated with a user from a second server associated with a third-party seller, wherein the item notification comprises an indication that the user wishes to purchase a particular item from the third-party seller, and wherein the item notification is transmitted based on a user selection of a user-selectable indicium on a website associated with the third-party seller;

(B) receiving, at the first server, a location frequented by the user as indicated by a GPS location system associated with a user computing device;

(C) receiving, at the first server, delivery/pickup location information associated with each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein;

i) the delivery/pickup location information comprises a geographic location associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations; and

ii) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations comprise;

1) a primary form of business other than receiving and storing one or more parcels; and

2) a capacity for storing one or more parcels;

(D) determining that a subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations are located near the user, based at least in part on;

i) the location associated with the user; and

ii) the location information associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations;

(E) receiving, at the first server, inventory information associated with each of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein the inventory information comprises the particular item offered for sale by the third-party seller;

(F) searching the inventory information associated with each of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations for the particular item;

(G) at least partially based on searching the inventory associated with each of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, determining that at least one attended delivery/pickup location of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations has the particular item in stock; and

(H) determining that the at least one attended delivery/pickup location is the closest attended delivery/pickup location to the location frequented by the user;

(I) transmitting an inventory notification to the user computing device, wherein the inventory notification comprises;

i) an indication of the location of the at least one attended delivery/pickup location; and

ii) an indication that the at least one attended delivery/pickup location has the particular item in stock;

(J) receiving a purchase notification from the user comprising a designated attended delivery/pickup location, wherein the designated attended delivery/pickup location is the at least one attended delivery/pickup location closest to the location frequented by the user;

(K) generating an electronic receipt associated with the location of the designated attended delivery/pickup location;

(L) transmitting the electronic receipt to the user computing device;

(M) upon pickup of the particular item in stock at the designated attended delivery/pickup location, validating the electronic receipt by;

i) receiving a geographic location from the user computing device upon presentation of the electronic receipt at the designated attended delivery/pickup location, and

ii) determining the geographic location of the user computing device matches the designated attended delivery/pickup location associated with the electronic receipt;

(N) generating an electronic token based on validating the electronic receipt; and

(O) transmitting the electronic token to the third party seller to validate the identity of who picked up the particular item.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configured for enabling the user to purchase the particular item.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the computer system is further configured for receiving notice that the user has purchased the particular item.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the computer system is further configured for, at least partially in response to receiving the notice that the user has purchased the particular item, facilitating reserving the particular item for pickup from the at least one attended delivery/pickup location.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configured for enabling the user to reserve the particular item for purchase at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the particular item is an item that is frequently purchased at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

(A) the particular item is an item of a plurality of items, wherein each of the plurality of items are a recently released product associated with a particular company; and

(B) the particular company has reserved space at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location for the storage of the plurality of items.

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

(A) receiving at a first server, from a client device, an item notification associated with a user, wherein the item notification is received from a second server associated with a third-party seller, wherein the item notification is received based on a user selection of a user-selectable indicium on a website associated with the third-party seller, wherein the item notification comprises;

i) an indication that the user desires to purchase a particular item that is offered for sale by the third-party seller; and

ii) a location frequented by the user as indicated by a GPS location system associated with the client device;

(B) receiving, at the first server, delivery/pickup location information associated with each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein;

i) the delivery/pickup location information comprises a geographic location associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations; and

ii) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations comprise;

1) a business other than receiving and storing one or more parcels; and

2) a capacity for storing one or more parcels;

(C) receiving, at the first server, inventory information associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein the inventory information comprises the particular item offered for sale by the third-party seller;

(D) searching the inventory information associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations for the particular item;

(E) at least partially based on searching the inventory associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, determining that at least one attended delivery/pickup location of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations has the particular item in stock;

(F) determining that the at least one attended delivery/pickup location is the closest attended delivery/pickup location to the location frequented by the user;

(G) transmitting, to the client device, an inventory notification, wherein the inventory notification comprises;

i) an indication of the location of the at least one attended delivery/pickup location; and

ii) an indication that the at least one attended delivery/pickup location has the particular item in stock;

(H) enabling the user to purchase the particular item;

(I) receiving, from the user, a purchase notice with a designated attended delivery/pickup location;

(J) generating an electronic receipt associated with the location of the designated attended delivery/pickup location;

(K) transmitting the electronic receipt to the client device;

(L) upon pickup of the particular item at the designated attended delivery/pickup location, validating the electronic receipt by;

i) receiving a geographic location from the client device when the electronic receipt is presented at the designated attended delivery/pickup location, and

ii) determining if the geographic location of the client device matches the location of the designated attended delivery/pickup location associated with the electronic receipt;

(M) generating an electronic token based on validating the electronic receipt; and

(N) transmitting the electronic token to the third-party seller to validate the identity of the user who picked up the particular item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises, at least partially in response to receiving the notice that the user has purchased the particular item, facilitating reserving the particular item for pickup by the user from the at least one attended delivery/pickup location.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the particular item is an item that is frequently purchased at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein:

(A) the particular item is an item of a plurality of items, wherein each of the plurality of items are a recently released product associated with a particular company; and

(B) the particular company has reserved space at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location for the storage of the plurality of items.

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

(A) receiving, at a first server, a notification associated with a user, wherein the notification comprises an indication that the user wishes to purchase a particular item that is offered for sale by the third-party seller, wherein the notification is received from a second server associated with a third-party seller, wherein the notification is received based on a user selection of a user-selectable indicium on a website associated with the third-party seller;

(B) receiving, at the first server, a location frequented by the the user as indicated by a GPS location system associated with a user computing device;

(C) receiving, at the first server, delivery/pickup location information associated with each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein;

i) the delivery/pickup location information comprises a geographic location associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations; and

ii) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations comprises;

1) a primary form of business other than receiving and storing one or more parcels; and

2) a capacity for storing one or more parcels;

(D) determining that a subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations are located near the user, based at least in part on;

i) the location associated with the user; and

ii) the location information associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations;

(E) receiving, at the first server, inventory information associated with each of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein the inventory information comprises the particular item that is offered for sale by the third-party seller;

(F) searching the inventory information associated with each of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations for the particular item;

(G) at least partially based on searching the inventory associated with each of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations, determining that at least one attended delivery/pickup location of the subset of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup locations has the particular item in stock; and

(H) determining that the at least one attended delivery/pickup location is the closest attended delivery/pickup location to the location frequented by the user;

(I) transmitting a notification to the user computing device, wherein the notification comprises;

i) an indication of the location of the at least one attended delivery/pickup location; and

ii) an indication that the at least one attended delivery/pickup location has the particular item in stock,

(J) receiving notice that the user has purchased the particular item;

(K) at least partially in response to receiving the notice that the user has purchased the particular item, transmitting an electronic receipt to the user computing device, wherein the electronic receipt enables the user to pick up the particular item at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location;

(L) upon pickup of particular item in stock at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location, validating the electronic receipt by;

i) receiving a geographic location from the user computing device upon presentation of electronic receipt at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location,

ii) determining the geographic location of the user computing device matches the at least one attended delivery/pickup location;

(M) generating an electronic token based on validating the electronic receipt; and

(N) transmitting the electronic token to the third-party seller to validate the identity of the user who picked up the particular item.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

(A) the particular item is an item of a plurality of items, wherein each of the plurality of items are a recently released product associated with a particular company; and

(B) the particular company has reserved space at the at least one attended delivery/pickup location for the storage of the plurality of items.