Systems and methods for providing extended shipping options

• US 8,521,656 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Z-Firm LLC (The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zimberoff, Rafael, Uslontsev, Alexander, Tugushev, Stanislav, Hramadski, Aliaksandr, Levin, Avi, Anderson, Patricia
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US13/478,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20120233085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 705/330
• US Class Current: 705/330
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

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.

Claims

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 component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by;

providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field;

receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and

causing, by the computing system, the shipping provider to process a shipment by;

extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data;

processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and

processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options;

wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator of a second shipment information item is an alphanumeric tag that is interpreted by the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator of a second shipment information item identifies a network-accessible computing system configured to provide the second shipment information item to the shipping provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the shipping provider to process a shipment includes:

transmitting to the shipping provider a data field that includes both the first and second shipment information items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the shipping provider to process a shipment includes:

performing address verification with the first shipment information item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the shipping provider to process a shipment includes:

determining not to perform address verification with the first shipment information item based on contents of the second shipment information item; and

performing address verification with the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item specifying a hold at location delivery and/or an alternative delivery address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a module includes:

including in the shipment information specification user interface component a user interface control configured to access the module; and

in response to a user selection of the control, causing the module to be displayed, the module including one or more controls each configured to facilitate selection of shipment information items of types that cannot be selected by other controls of the overall user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a module includes:

dynamically embedding a widget within the shipment information specification user interface component.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipment information specification user interface component is an order entry module that is part of an electronic commerce system operated by or for a first entity that deals in goods or services sold via the electronic commerce system, and wherein the module is provided by a system operated by a second entity that is distinct from the first entity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipment information specification user interface component is part of an electronic commerce system operated by or for a first entity that deals in goods or services sold via the electronic commerce system, and wherein the module is provided by a system operated by a second entity that is distinct from the first entity and that provides third-party logistics services.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended shipping options available via the module are automatically determined based on information about the shipment and/or a person associated with the shipment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information includes at least one of:

an origination address of the shipment, a billing address of an order for the shipment, a destination shipping address associated with the shipment, an indication of the shipping provider received from the person, contents of the shipment, user demographics, prior shipment history of the person, indications of carriers or delivery companies that are local to the person, an indication of a lowest cost carrier or shipment option available for the shipment, a location of a retail store local to a recipient of the shipment, a location of a warehouse or supplier local to a recipient of the shipment, an indication that same day service is available for a recipient of the shipment, and/or purpose of the shipment.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipment information specification user interface component includes one or more controls configured for specifying shipment information, and wherein the module includes controls configured for specifying at least one shipment information item that is not otherwise available via the shipment information specification user interface component and that invokes a delivery-related service provided by a shipping carrier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one shipment information item that is not available via the shipment information specification user interface component includes at least one of:

a hold at location delivery option, an appointment delivery option, a signature required delivery option, a maximum or minimum age of recipient option, an identification required delivery option, and/or a shipment rerouting or redirection option.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, via the field, the text data includes:

receiving a uniform resource identifier that identifies a code module that is configured to provide an indication of the second shipment information item in response to receiving at least a portion of the uniform resource identifier.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the shipping provider to process a shipment includes:

incorporating the indicator of the second shipment information item into shipment information transmitted to the shipping provider by the shipment information specification user interface component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the incorporating the indicator of the second shipment information item into shipment information transmitted to the shipping provider includes:

instructing a user to copy, type, or enter the indicator of the second shipment information item into the field, wherein the field is an address text field of the shipment information specification user interface component.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a uniform resource identifier that identifies the shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to provide the second shipment information item, and further comprising:

causing the shipping provider to store information about the shipment, by transmitting to the shipping provider an HTTP request that includes the information about the shipment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information about the shipment includes a shipment tendered date, an order received date, a shipment tracking number, an indication of a shipping service used by the shipment, a shipment weight, a parcel size, and/or a number of parcels.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second shipment information item is at least one of:

an identification of available times to accept delivery, a reference to a signature/liability release authorization that is on file or available from a network-accessible server, an instruction to bundle multiple parcels or shipments into a single delivery, a shipment redirection notice, an authorization to release shipment to a party other than a party named on the shipment, an instruction regarding manner of cash on delivery collection, an instruction regarding inside delivery, an instruction regarding how to notify a sender or recipient that delivery has occurred, special handling instructions for a shipping carrier, an indication of acceptable or not acceptable alternative shipping methods, an indication of required recipient attributes, an indication of a hazardous condition associated with the shipment, an indication of a hazardous condition associated with a recipient location, and/or an instruction to a shipping carrier regarding an identification protocol to be followed by a delivery driver or robot.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type is an address field type and the second type is an extended shipping option type, and wherein the field is a text field that electronically stores in the text data both an address field information item and an extended shipping option information item.

22. A method for providing access to extended shipping options, the method comprising:

receiving via a computer-based existing shipment information specification user interface component, through a field of the existing shipment information specification user interface component, a first shipment information item of a first type;

transparently providing access to extended shipping options by providing a computer-based module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for facilitating specification of the extended shipping options via the existing shipment information specification user interface component by dynamically integrating the computer-based module into the computer-based overall user interface, thereby extending the existing shipment information specification user interface component to handle the extended shipping options;

receiving, via the field, an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type that is not the same as the first type, wherein the second shipment information item is an extended shipping option specified via the module and the shipment information specification user interface component is not configured to handle shipment information items of the second type prior to being extended, and wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a uniform resource identifier that causes a shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and

causing, by a computer system, the shipping provider to process a shipment according to the first and second shipment information items;

wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the dynamically integrating the module into the overall user interface includes at least one of:

embedding the module in the shipment information specification user interface component, including a link that references the module, and/or presenting a secondary window that renders the module.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the second shipment information item includes an alphanumeric tag or a uniform resource identifier that is interpreted by the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item.

25. 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 extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by;

providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field;

receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and

causing the shipping provider to process a shipment by;

extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data;

processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and

processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options;

wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.

26. A system for providing access to extended shipping options, the system comprising:

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 access to extended shipping options via a computer-based shipment information specification user interface component that is otherwise not configured to facilitate specification of the extended shipping options, the shipment information specification user interface component including a field, wherein the field is configured to electronically store text data and to specify a first shipment information item of a first type, by;

providing a module, distinct from the shipment information specification user interface component, for specifying the extended shipping options, the module configured to generate an indicator of a second shipment information item of a second type, that is not the same as the first type, for submission via the field;

receiving, via the field, the text data including the first shipment information item of the first type and the indicator of the second shipment information item, the second shipment information item of the second type not processed as shipment information of the first type, wherein the indicator of the second shipment information item includes a tag or a uniform resource identifier that identifies a shipping provider and causes the shipping provider to determine the second shipment information item; and

causing the shipping provider to process a shipment by;

extracting the first shipment information item and the indicator of the second shipment information item from the text data;

processing the first shipment information item according to the first type; and

processing the second shipment information item according to the second type, thereby determining one of the extended shipping options;

wherein the shipment information specification user interface component communicates that the field is for input of the first shipment information item and does not communicate that the field is for input of the indicator of the second shipment information item.