Method and system for delivery of goods

• US 9,937,531 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartcom Labs OY
• Original Assignee: Bookit Oy Ajanvarauspalvelu
• Inventors: Salonen, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US12/401,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20100235251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,318 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The present publication discloses a method and system for delivering goods from main system (S₁) via subsystem (S₂) to an end address (D₁-D_n) of the customer (3). According to the invention the end address (D₁-D_n) of the customer (3) is enquired (4) from the customer via telecommunications network by a multiple choice enquiry (4), the end address (D₁-D_n) selected by the customer is received (5) and the goods are delivered to the selected end address (D₁-D_n).

Claims

1. A delivery service operation method comprising:

storing, in a computer, for each of a plurality of delivery service customers;

at least one communication address for communicating with a respective mobile terminal of the customer over a telecommunication network; and

a set of two or more different delivery addresses, each delivery address indicating a delivery location;

for each of a plurality of delivery items to be delivered by the delivery service, wherein each delivery item is associated with a respective recipient who is one of the plurality of delivery service customers;

transferring the delivery item from a sorting office to a branch office associated with the recipient;

using the computer to send an inquiry to the mobile terminal of the recipient over the telecommunication network, the inquiry being a text message, wherein the inquiry text message comprises a listing of two or more of the stored different delivery addresses for the recipient that receives the inquiry message;

receiving, from the recipient'"'"'s mobile terminal, a text message reply which comprises a selection of one of the listed delivery addresses selected by the recipient on their mobile terminal; and

delivering the delivery item by the delivery service to the delivery location indicated by the delivery address corresponding to the selection included in the reply text message,

wherein each text inquiry message and corresponding text reply message share an identification, whereby, for each text reply message received, the corresponding text inquiry message can be identified.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using multiple text inquiry-reply pairs to determine at least one of the delivery addresses for the delivery item and the branch office associated with the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a determined location of the recipient'"'"'s mobile terminal to determine which of multiple branch offices the delivery item is to be delivered to from the sorting office.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each listed delivery addresses is listed with a corresponding selection symbol that is one character in length.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the text messages are sent using a telecommunication protocol that is Short Message Service Protocol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the inquiry and the reply text messages are Short Message Service messages.

5. A data processing system comprising:

a computer which stores a database which includes, for each of a plurality of delivery service customers;

at least one communication address for communicating with a respective mobile terminal of the customer over a telecommunication network;

a set of two or more different delivery addresses, each delivery address indicating a delivery location;

wherein the data processing system controls operation of a delivery service, wherein the operation comprises;

for each of a plurality of delivery items, each of which being associated with a respective recipient who is one of the plurality of delivery service customers;

the data processing system sending instructions, which cause transferal of the delivery item from a sorting office to a branch office associated with the recipient;

the data processing system sending a text message inquiry to the mobile terminal of the recipient over the telecommunication network, wherein the text message inquiry comprises a listing of two or more of the stored different delivery addresses for the recipient that receives the inquiry text message, wherein the listed two or more of the stored different delivery addresses are provided in the inquiry text message;

the data processing system receiving, from the recipient'"'"'s mobile terminal of the recipient, a reply text message which comprises a selection of one of the listed delivery addresses selected by the recipient on their mobile terminal, the reply text message being received over the telecommunication network; and

the data processing system sending instructions which cause delivery of the delivery item by the delivery service to the delivery location indicated by the delivery address corresponding to the selection included in the reply text message,

wherein each inquiry text message and corresponding reply text message share an identification, whereby, for each reply text message received, the corresponding inquiry text can be identified.

6. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein the data processing system uses multiple inquiry-reply text message pairs to determine at least one of the delivery addresses for the delivery item and the branch office associated with the recipient.

7. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein the data processing system uses a determined location of the recipient'"'"'s mobile terminal to determine which of multiple branch offices the delivery item is to be delivered to from the sorting office.

8. The data processing system of claim 5, wherein each listed delivery addresses is listed with a corresponding selection symbol that is one character in length.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the text messages are sent using a telecommunication protocol that is Short Message Service Protocol.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the inquiry and the reply text messages are Short Message Service messages.