SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING EXTENDED SHIPPING OPTIONS
First Claim
1. A method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
- in a computing system, providing access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the user interface including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by;
receiving, via the field, the first shipment information item of the first type and an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type that is not the same as the first type, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type and instead processed to determine one or more of the extended shipping options, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider that determines the second shipment information item, the shipping provider separate from the shipment information specification user interface; and
causing the shipping provider to parse the stored data of the field to process the first shipment information item according to the first type and to process the indicated second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining the one or more extended shipping options;
wherein the shipment information specification user interface does not communicate that the field is to be used for storing the indicator of the second shipment information item.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for providing extended shipping options are described. In some embodiments, a user may specify extended shipping options that are not otherwise provided by or accessible via an existing shipment information specification user interface. In one embodiment, the user accesses a module configured to facilitate specification of extended shipping options and in response, provide an indicator of the specified extended shipping option, such as a tag or uniform resource identifier. The indicator of the extended shipping option is then incorporated into a user interface element, such as an address field, of the shipment information specification user interface. Once the user finalizes the order, the indicator of the extended shipping option is transmitted along with other shipment information items to a merchant and/or carrier system, where services specified by the extended shipping option are initiated.
41 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
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in a computing system, providing access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the user interface including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by; receiving, via the field, the first shipment information item of the first type and an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type that is not the same as the first type, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type and instead processed to determine one or more of the extended shipping options, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider that determines the second shipment information item, the shipping provider separate from the shipment information specification user interface; and causing the shipping provider to parse the stored data of the field to process the first shipment information item according to the first type and to process the indicated second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining the one or more extended shipping options; wherein the shipment information specification user interface does not communicate that the field is to be used for storing the indicator of the second shipment information item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31)
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7. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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24-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A system for providing access to extended shipping options from a user interface not otherwise configured to provide extended shipping options, the system comprising:
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a processor; a memory; and instructions that are stored in the memory and that are configured, when executed by the processor, to perform a method comprising; providing a computer-based shipment information specification user interface that does not include any user interface controls that are configured to facilitate user selection of extended shipping options; providing access to an extended shipping option module that is configured to; receive a first shipment information item of a first type, the first shipment information item specified by a user via the extended shipping option module, the first shipment information item being an extended shipping option that cannot be selected directly via any user interface controls of the shipment information specification user interface; and cause data to be transmitted to a shipping provider, the data including the first shipment information item of the first type and a second shipment information item of a second type that is not the same as the first type, the data obtained from a user interface control of the shipment information specification user interface, the user interface control operable by the user to enter the second shipment information item; and causing the shipping provider to prepare a shipment in accordance with the first and second shipment information items. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 32)
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30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that are configured, when executed, to cause a computing system to perform a method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:
providing access to the extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the user interface including a field configured to electronically store data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by; receiving, via the field, the first shipment information item of the first type and an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type that is not the same as the first type, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, and instead processed to determine one or more of the extended shipping options, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider that determines the second shipment information item, the shipping provider separate from the shipment information specification user interface; and causing the shipping provider to parse the stored data of the field to process the first shipment information item according to the first type and to process the indicated second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options; wherein the shipment information specification user interface does not communicate that the field is to be used for storing the indicator of the second shipment information item.
Specification