CONNECTION-BASED OR COMMUNICATION-BASED SERVICES AND DETERMINATIONS

• US 20170132558A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• 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: Perez, Juan
• Granted Patent: US 10,878,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, computing entities can establish direct communications with one another using a variety of protocols and standards. Such direction communications can be monitored or attempted to be established to determine whether an item is allowed or disallowed for delivery.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, via one or more processors, whether to allow delivery of an item based at least in part on a first computing entity and a second computing entity being in direct communication with each other; and

responsive to determining to allow delivery of the item based at least in part on the first computing entity and the second computing entity being in direct communication with each other, providing, via one or more processors, a notification for display indicating that the item is allowed to be delivered.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a time and a location at which the first computing entity and the second computing entity were in direct communication with each other.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving shipping data for the item; and

requesting a determination whether to allow delivery of the item based at least in part on the first computing entity and the second computing entity being in direct communication with each other.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the shipping data comprises a unique customer profile identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising identifying a customer profile based at least in part on the unique customer profile identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) determining whether to allow delivery of the item is further based at least in part on one or more configurable parameters and (b) the one or more configurable parameters are selected from the group consisting of a location, a day, and a time.

7. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

determine whether to allow delivery of an item based at least in part on a first computing entity and a second computing entity being in direct communication with each other; and

responsive to determining to allow delivery of the item based at least in part on the first computing entity and the second computing entity being in direct communication with each other, provide a notification for display indicating that the item is allowed to be delivered.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to store a time and a location at which the first computing entity and the second computing entity were in direct communication with each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive shipping data for the item; and

request a determination whether to allow delivery of the item based at least in part on the first computing entity and the second computing entity being in direct communication with each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shipping data comprises a unique customer profile identifier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to identify a customer profile based at least in part on the unique customer profile identifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein (a) determining whether to allow delivery of the item is further based at least in part on one or more configurable parameters and (b) the one or more configurable parameters are selected from the group consisting of a location, a day, and a time.

13. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to determine whether to allow delivery of an item based at least in part on a first computing entity and a second computing entity being in direct communication with each other; and

an executable portion configured to, responsive to determining to allow delivery of the item based at least in part on the first computing entity and the second computing entity being in direct communication with each other, provide a notification for display indicating that the item is allowed to be delivered.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising an executable portion configured to store a time and a location at which the first computing entity and the second computing entity were in direct communication with each other.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive shipping data for the item; and

an executable portion configured to request a determination whether to allow delivery of the item based at least in part on the first computing entity and the second computing entity being in direct communication with each other.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the shipping data comprises a unique customer profile identifier.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising an executable portion configured to identify a customer profile based at least in part on the unique customer profile identifier.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein (a) determining whether to allow delivery of the item is further based at least in part on one or more configurable parameters and (b) the one or more configurable parameters are selected from the group consisting of a location, a day, and a time.