CN104937621A - Customer controlled management of shipments - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems, methods, an apparatus, and computer program products are provided for customer controlled management of shipments. For example, in various embodiments, a customer can provide information prior to a first delivery attempt of an item by a carrier to receive messages regarding shipment of the item and to have the item delivered in accordance with the provided information.

Description

Client's control and management of shipping

Background technology

Shipping customer improves just gradually for the expectation of various pick-up service.Thus, new concept is needed to strengthen customer experience and informativeness by improving transport experience.

Summary of the invention

Usually, the embodiment of the application is provided for the system of client's control and management of shipping, method, device and computer program.

According to an aspect, provide a kind of method for revising the delivery service grade treating at least one article sent by carrier.In one embodiment, the method comprises (A) receives electronically for the article treating to be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request that the first delivery service grade is revised as automatically the second delivery service grade, and wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) customer profiling is upgraded, to reflect for the article treating to be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request that the first delivery service grade is revised as automatically the second delivery service grade; (C) receive the ship data corresponding with article electronically, wherein this ship data instruction, these article (1) will be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier; And (2) be associated with customer profiling; And the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade for these article by (D) automatically, wherein (1) is before the first time at least in part based on the article of customer profiling sends trial, for these article, the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade and occurs; And (2) these article are delivered according to the second delivery service grade subsequently.

According on the other hand, provide a kind of computer program for revising the delivery service grade treating at least one article sent by carrier.This computer program can comprise at least one computer-readable recording medium with computer readable program code part stored therein, this computer readable program code part comprises and can perform part, this can perform part and be configured to (A) and receive for the article treating to be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request that the first delivery service grade is revised as automatically the second delivery service grade, and wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) customer profiling is upgraded, to reflect for the article treating to be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request that the first delivery service grade is revised as automatically the second delivery service grade; (C) receive the ship data corresponding with article, wherein this ship data instruction, these article (1) will be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier; And (2) be associated with customer profiling; And the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade for these article by (D) automatically, wherein (1) is before the first time at least in part based on the article of customer profiling sends trial, for these article, the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade and occurs; And (2) these article are delivered according to the second delivery service grade subsequently.

According to another aspect, provide a kind of device, it at least one storer comprising at least one processor and comprise computer program code.In one embodiment, at least one storer and computer program code be configured to utilize this processor make this device at least (A) receive for the article treating to be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request that the first delivery service grade is revised as automatically the second delivery service grade, wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) customer profiling is upgraded, to reflect for the article treating to be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request that the first delivery service grade is revised as automatically the second delivery service grade; (C) receive the ship data corresponding with article, wherein this ship data instruction, these article (1) will be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier; And (2) be associated with customer profiling; And the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade for these article by (D) automatically, wherein (1) is before the first time at least in part based on the article of customer profiling sends trial, for these article, the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade and occurs; And (2) these article are delivered according to the second delivery service grade subsequently.

According to an aspect, provide a kind of method for revising the delivery service grade treating at least one article sent by carrier.In one embodiment, the method comprise (A) receive for (1) hang oneself identify consignor; And (2) treat the article sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request the first delivery service grade being revised as automatically the second delivery service grade, wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) upgrade customer profiling, with reflect for (1) hang oneself identify consignor; And (2) treat the article sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request the first delivery service grade being revised as automatically the second delivery service grade; (C) receive the ship data corresponding with article, wherein this ship data instruction, these article (1) will be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier; (2) be associated with customer profiling; And (3) hang oneself the consignor identified; And the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade for these article by (D) automatically, wherein (1) is before the first time at least in part based on the article of customer profiling sends trial, for these article, the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade and occurs; And (2) these article are delivered according to the second delivery service grade subsequently.

According on the other hand, provide a kind of computer program for revising the delivery service grade treating at least one article sent by carrier.This computer program can comprise at least one computer-readable recording medium with computer readable program code part stored therein, this computer readable program code part comprises and can perform part, this can perform part be configured to (A) receive for (1) hang oneself identify consignor; And (2) treat the article sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request the first delivery service grade being revised as automatically the second delivery service grade, wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) upgrade customer profiling, with reflect for (1) hang oneself identify consignor; And (2) treat the article sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request the first delivery service grade being revised as automatically the second delivery service grade; (C) receive the ship data corresponding with article, wherein this ship data instruction, these article (1) will be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier; (2) be associated with customer profiling; And (3) hang oneself the consignor identified; And the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade for these article by (D) automatically, wherein (1) is before the first time at least in part based on the article of customer profiling sends trial, for these article, the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade and occurs; And (2) these article are delivered according to the second delivery service grade subsequently.

According to another aspect, provide a kind of device, it at least one storer comprising at least one processor and comprise computer program code.In one embodiment, at least one storer and computer program code be configured to utilize this processor make this device at least (A) receive and to hang oneself the consignor identified for (1); And (2) treat the article sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request the first delivery service grade being revised as automatically the second delivery service grade, wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) upgrade customer profiling, with reflect for (1) hang oneself identify consignor; And (2) treat the article sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier, the request the first delivery service grade being revised as automatically the second delivery service grade; (C) receive the ship data corresponding with article, wherein this ship data instruction, these article (1) will be sent according to the first delivery service grade by carrier; (2) be associated with customer profiling; And (3) hang oneself the consignor identified; And the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade for these article by (D) automatically, wherein (1) is before the first time at least in part based on the article of customer profiling sends trial, for these article, the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade and occurs; And (2) these article are delivered according to the second delivery service grade subsequently.

According to an aspect, provide a kind of method for receiving the mandate of sending at least one article.In one embodiment, the method comprises (A) receives request for having instruction and not needed to client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization to autograph, and wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) customer profiling is upgraded, to reflect the request for there is instruction not needed to client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization to autograph; (C) receive the ship data corresponding to the article treating to be sent by carrier, wherein the instruction of this ship data is requested for article delivery from autographing of client; And (D) upgrades the ship data corresponding to article automatically, will be delivered to client so that be at least partly based on customer profiling instruction article and not need to autograph, wherein these article be delivered subsequently and need to autograph.

According to another aspect, provide a kind of computer program for receiving the mandate of sending at least one article.Described computer program can comprise at least one computer-readable recording medium with the computer readable program code part be stored in wherein, described computer readable program code part comprises and can perform part, be configured to (A) and receive request for having instruction and not needed to described client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization to autograph, wherein said request is associated with customer profiling; (B) customer profiling is upgraded, to reflect the request for there is instruction not needed to described client by article delivery by described carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of described client, automatic authorization to autograph; (C) receive and treat to be delivered to the corresponding ship data of the article of client by described carrier, wherein said ship data instruction is requested for article delivery from autographing of described client; And (D) upgrades the ship data corresponding to article so that be at least partly based on described customer profiling and indicate article will be delivered to described client and not need to autograph, wherein said article are delivered subsequently and do not need to autograph.

According to another aspect, provide a kind of device, it at least one storer comprising at least one processor and comprise computer program code.In one embodiment, at least one storer and computer program code be configured to utilize this processor to make this device at least (A) receives for having the article of instruction from the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, article delivery is not needed the request of autographing by automatic authorization to client by carrier, wherein this request is associated with customer profiling; (B) customer profiling is upgraded, to reflect the request for there is instruction not needed to client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization to autograph; (C) receive the ship data corresponding to the article treating to be sent by carrier, wherein the instruction of this ship data is requested for article delivery from autographing of client; And (D) upgrades the ship data corresponding to article automatically, will be delivered to client so that be at least partly based on customer profiling instruction article and not need to autograph, wherein these article be delivered subsequently and need to autograph.

Accompanying drawing explanation

After briefly describing the present invention, hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawing, accompanying drawing also unnecessaryly to be drawn in proportion, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the skeleton diagram that can be used to the system implementing embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the example schematic diagram of carrier's system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is the example schematic diagram of movement station according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is that illustrate can the process flow diagram of the operation that can use according to various embodiments of the present invention and method;

Fig. 5-14,15A, 15B, 16-18,19A, 19B, 20-25,26A and 26B show the example input and output of various embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment

The present invention is more fully described later with reference to accompanying drawing, illustrated therein is more of the present invention and not all embodiments.Really, these inventions may be implemented as multiple different form and should not be interpreted as being limited in the embodiment set forth herein; Further, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure just meet application legal requiremnt.Term "or" used herein represents selectivity and associativity, unless otherwise mentioned.Term " explanation " and " example " are normally used as example, and do not have the expression of quality grade.Similar marker instruction similar components from start to finish.

I. method, device, system and computer program

As will be appreciated that, various embodiment can be implemented in every way, comprises the method for being embodied as, device, system or computer program.Therefore various embodiment can take complete hardware embodiment or processor to be programmed to perform the form of the embodiment of some step.And various embodiment can take the form of computer program on computer-readable recording medium, and this computer-readable recording medium has the computer-readable program instructions be comprised in storage medium.Any suitable computer-readable recording medium can be utilized, and comprises hard disk, CD-ROM, light storage device or magnetic memory apparatus.

The block diagram of various embodiment reference method, device, system and computer program and process flow diagram illustrate and are described hereinafter.Should be understood to, each square frame during block diagram and process flow diagram illustrate partly can be embodied as by computer program instructions logic step or operation that such as processor in computing systems performs respectively.These computer program instructions can be loaded into computing machine (such as special purpose computer or other programmable data treating apparatus), to produce the machine of special configuration, thus make the function of specifying in instruction realization flow figure square frame (one or more) performed on computing machine or other programmable data treating apparatus.

These computer program instructions can also be stored in the computer-readable memory that computing machine or other programmable data treating apparatus can be made to run in a specific way, thus making the instruction be stored in computer-readable memory produce a kind of goods, it comprises the computer-readable instruction for the function of specifying in implementing procedure figure square frame (one or more).This computer program instructions can also be loaded in computing machine or other programmable data treating apparatus, be performed on computing machine or other programmable devices to make a series of exercisable step, to produce computer-implemented process, thus the instruction performed on computing machine or other programmable devices is made to be that the function of specifying in implementing procedure figure square frame (one or more) provides operation.

Therefore, block diagram and process flow diagram illustrate in square frame support for perform appointed function various combinations, for performing the combination of the operation of appointed function and the programmed instruction for performing appointed function.It should also be understood that for, block diagram and process flow diagram illustrate in each square frame and block diagram and process flow diagram illustrate in the combination of square frame can be implemented by the combination of the special hardware based computer system or specialized hardware and computer instruction that perform function or the operation specified.

II. the system architecture of example

Fig. 1 provides the explanation of the system that can be combined with various embodiment of the present invention.As shown in Figure 1, this system can comprise one or more carrier's system 100, one or more movement station 105, one or more client computing device 110 and one or more network 115.Such as, each assembly of system can on identical or different wireless or cable network (comprising such as, wired or wireless personal area network (PAN), LAN (Local Area Network) (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) (MAN), wide area network (WAN) etc.) telecommunication each other.In addition, although some communication system entity is depicted as separately by Fig. 1, independently entity, various embodiment is not limited to this concrete framework.

1. carrier's system of example

Fig. 2 provides the example schematic diagram of carrier's system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.Usually, term " system " can refer to such as one or more computing machine, computing equipment, mobile phone, desktop computer, notebook or notebook computer, distributed system, server, blade server (blade), gateway, switch, treatment facility or be suitable for the combination of the treatment facility performing function described herein.But, carrier's system 100 can also comprise various other system, such as matching addresses system (AMS), internet member system (IMS), customer profiling system (CPS), parcel centre information system (PCIS), customization delivery of cargo and delivery system (CPAD), webpage content management system (WCMS), circular mail system (NES), swindle prevention system (FPS) and various other system and its corresponding assembly.

As understood from Fig. 1, in one embodiment, carrier's system 100 comprises one or more processor 205, and it is by other element communication in system interface or bus 261 and carrier's system 100.Processor 205 can be implemented in a multitude of different ways.Such as, processor 205 may be embodied as treatment element, treatment circuit, coprocessor, controller or comprises other treatment facilities various of integrated circuit (such as such as special IC (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA), hardware accelerator etc.).

In one exemplary embodiment, processor 205 can be configured to run the instruction storing and can be accessed by processor 205 in memory or otherwise.Thus, no matter by hardware or software approach or by its combination configuration, when corresponding configuration, processor 205 can show as the entity that can perform and operate according to an embodiment of the invention.Also can be included in carrier's system 100 for the display device/input equipment 264 received and show data.This display device/input equipment 264 can be the keyboard or pointing device that are such as combined with monitor.Carrier's system 100 may further include transient state or non-transient memory 263, and it can comprise random access memory (RAM) 267 and ROM (read-only memory) (ROM) 265.The ROM 265 of carrier's system can be used to store the basic input/output (BIOS) 226 comprising base program, and it helps information transmission to the different elements in carrier's system 100.

In addition, in one embodiment, carrier's system 100 can comprise at least one memory device 268, such as hard disk drive, CD driver and/or CD drive, for information is stored in various computer-readable media.Memory device 268 and the computer-readable media be associated thereof can provide non-volatile memories.Above-mentioned computer-readable media can be replaced by the computer-readable media of any other type (such as embedded or removable multimedia storage card (MMC), secure digital (SD) storage card, memory stick, electric current Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory EPROM (EEPROM), flash memory, hard disk etc.).In addition, each in these memory devices 268 can be connected to system bus 261 by suitable interface.

And a lot of executable instruction, application, program module etc. by various memory device 268 and/or can be stored in RAM 267.Such executable instruction, application, program module etc. can comprise operating system 280, Registering modules 270, alert module 260, delivery option module 250 and identification module 245.As hereinafter described more specifically, these executable instructions, application, program module etc. can control in some of the operation of carrier's system 100 under the help of processor 205 and operating system 280, although their function does not need by modularization.Except program module, carrier's system 100 can store one or more database (such as database 240) or communicate with it.

In one embodiment, being also positioned in carrier's system 100 is network interface 274, and it is for being connected with various computational entity (such as with one or more movement station 105) interface.Such as, carrier's system 100 can receive data and/or message from movement station 105 and by data and/or transmission of messages to movement station 105.This communication can by identical or different wired or wireless network (or wired and combination that is wireless network).Such as, this communication can perform by using wired data transfer agreement, such as Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), digital subscriber line (DSL), Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), frame relay, data over cable service interface specifications (docs is) (DOCSIS) and/or any other wired data.Similarly, carrier's system 100 can be configured to use any agreement in various agreement by wireless external communication, such as 802.11, GPRS (GPRS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), CDMA 2000 (CDMA2000), CDMA20001X (1xRTT), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) (WCDMA), TD SDMA (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), universal terrestrial access network (E-UTRAN), data-optimized (EVDO), high-speed packet access (HSPA), high-speed slender body theory (HSDPA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), 802.16 (WiMAX), ultra broadband (UWB), infrared ray (IR) agreement, Bluetooth protocols, radio universal serial bus (USB) agreement and/or any other wireless protocols.

Will be appreciated that, one or more in the assembly of carrier's system 100 can be located away from other carrier's system 100 assemblies.And one or more in assembly can be combined, and the extra assembly of n-back test described herein can be included in carrier's system 100.

2. the movement station of example

Fig. 3 provides the illustrative schematic presentation of the movement station 105 that can be combined with embodiments of the invention.Movement station 105 can be operated by each side, comprises carrier personnel (such as, sending driver, sorter etc.).As shown in Figure 3, movement station 105 can comprise antenna 312, transmitter 304 (such as, radio), receiver 306 (such as, radio) and treatment facility 308 is (such as, processor, controller etc.), this treatment facility 308 provides signal respectively to transmitter 304 and from receiver 306 Received signal strength.

Be provided to transmitter 304 respectively and can comprise according to can the signaling information of air-interface standard of employing wireless system from the signal that receiver 306 receives.In this regard, movement station 105 can utilize one or more air-interface standard, communication protocol, modulation type and access type to operate.More specifically, movement station 105 can according to any one operation in multiple wireless communication standard and agreement, such as above those standards for carrier's system 100 description and agreement.In a particular embodiment, movement station 105 according to multiple wireless communication standard and agreement (such as GSM, UMTS, 1xRTT and EVDO) operation (such as, using Gobi radio), and can use multiple wireless carrier.For this reason, movement station 105 can comprise integrated mobile reception diversity and integrated power management.This configuration can provide global connectivity for user.

By these communication standards and agreement, movement station 105 can use the concept of such as unstructured supplementary service data (USSD), Short Message Service (SMS), multimedia information service (MMS), dual-tone multifrequency signaling (DTMF) and/or subscriber identification card dialer (SIM dialer) and other entity communications various.Movement station 105 can also be downloaded such as to the amendment of its firmware, software (such as, comprising executable instruction, application, program module) and operating system, expansion and renewal.

According to an embodiment, movement station 105 can comprise location determining device and/or function.Such as, movement station 105 can comprise be suitable for obtaining such as latitude, longitude, highly, region symbol, course line and/or speed data GPS (GPS) module.In one embodiment, GPS module obtains data (being sometimes referred to as almanac data) by the relative position of the number of satellite in the identification visual field and those satellites.

Movement station 105 can also comprise user interface (it can comprise the display 316 being coupled to treatment facility 308) and/or user's input interface (being coupled to treatment facility 308).User's input interface can comprise any one that allow movement station 105 and receive in multiple equipment of data, such as keyboard 318, touch control display, voice or motion interface or other input equipments.In the embodiment comprising keyboard 318, keyboard 318 can comprise common numeral (0-9) and associated key (#, *) and/or other keys for operating movement station 105, and can comprise a complete set of letter key and maybe can be activated and the key group providing a complete set of letter key.Except providing input, user's input interface can be used to such as activate or stop using specific function, such as screen protection and/or park mode.

Movement station 105 can also comprise volatile memory 322 and/or nonvolatile memory 324, and it can be embed and/or be removable.Such as, nonvolatile memory can be embed or removable MMC, secure digital SD storage card, memory stick, EEPROM, flash memory, hard disk etc.Storer can store in many information and data or bulk information and data used by movement station 105 any one, to realize the function of movement station 105.Storer can also store content, such as, for applying and/or the computer program code of other computer programs.

3. the client computing device of example

Client computing device 110 can include functionally with one or more assembly like those component class in carrier's system 100.Such as, in one embodiment, each in client computing device can comprise: (1) processor, and it is by system interface or bus and other element communication; (2) display device/input equipment; (3) transient state and non-transient memory; And (4) communication interface.These frameworks are only example object and arrange, and are not limited to various embodiment.Term " computing equipment " is by roughly for representing any computing machine, computing equipment, desktop computer, notebook or notebook computer, distributed system, carrier's system, gateway, switch or being suitable for performing other treatment facilities of function described herein.

III. the Dynamic System of example

With reference to Fig. 4-14,15A, 15B, 16-18,19A, 19B, 20-25,26A and 26B.Fig. 4 illustrates the operation of client's control and management and the process flow diagram of method that can be performed for shipping.Fig. 5-14,15A, 15B, 16-18,19A, 19B, 20-25,26A and 26B show the example input and output of the client's control and management being used for shipping.

1. register

In one embodiment, as shown in square frame in Fig. 4 400, this process can start in the registration/registration of client's delivery program with one or more client.Client can be the representative and/or individual etc. of individuality, family, company, tissue, entity, in-house department, tissue.In order to register, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can access webpage or the door of delivery side (such as, United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS)).Such as, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, carrier's system 100 can be transmitted as client and be provided in the webpage that client's delivery program logs in customer account or registration/registration option.

In one embodiment, as the part of registration/registration process, profile information and/or geography information can be provided by carrier's system 100 (such as, by Registering modules 270) request client (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110).Such as, client can provide the name of client, such as name, surname, Business Name, entity title and/or organization name.Client can also provide any another name be associated with client.Such as, if client is the individuality of Joseph Brown by name, client can provide Joe Brown or JoeyBrown as another name.Client can also provide the one or more addresses be associated with client (such as, street address, city, state, postcode and/or country).Such as, the address of Joseph Brown can be 105 street (Main Street), Atlanta, Georgia 30309, the U.S..As indicated, client can have the multiple addresses be associated with account.Such as, Joseph Brown can have the home address and business address that are associated with his account.Similarly, tissue can have the multiple positions (such as, address) be associated with its account.When providing multiple address, which address applications client can indicate do mainly location.As will be recognized, client can provide other profile information and/or geography information, to adapt to various needs and situation.

In one embodiment, when carrier's system 100 is from the profile information of client reception necessity and/or geography information, carrier's system 100 can perform one or more verification operation.Such as, carrier's system 100 can determine to specify the main address (and/or other addresses) in country or postcode whether qualified for client's delivery program.Carrier's system 100 can also determine that whether main address (and/or other addresses) is effective, such as, is cleared up or standardized system by one or more address by making main address.Carrier's system 100 can also perform multiple antifraud measure, such as, determine whether in the address of client or client is put on the blacklist by client's delivery program.As will be recognized, other approach multiple and technology can be used to adapt to various needs and situation.

In one embodiment, carrier's system 100 can produce the customer profiling of client by registration/location registration process.Therefore, carrier's system 100 can produce and store various customer profiling (such as, by database 240).Except at least above-mentioned information, customer profiling can comprise one or more corresponding username and password.In addition, carrier's system 100 can also create and store the voip identifiers be associated with customer profiling.In one embodiment, voip identifiers can be used to unique identification customer profiling.In another embodiment, voip identifiers can be used to the given address that unique identification is associated with customer profiling.In such an embodiment, if customer profiling is associated with four addresses, carrier's system 100 can create and store four voip identifiers be associated with customer profiling.Voip identifiers can also be stored as and be associated with the ship data for article, so that the correct address of client's (such as, customer profiling) correct with (a) for these article (and its ship data) and/or (b) client is associated.

In one embodiment, customer profiling can be corresponding with one or more client's delivery program.Such as, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can order specific client's delivery program.In one embodiment, there are some client's delivery program available, such as free client's delivery program and charge client's delivery program (premiumcustomer delivery system).Often kind of client's delivery program has different advantages, such as Fig. 7 and with shown in following table 1.

Table 1

As above in table 1 and Fig. 7 for the purpose of illustration shown in, free client's delivery program and charge client delivery program have different advantages.Such as, free client's delivery program can allow some feature of client access, such as, send warning, roughly Delivery time, amendment delivery option, electronic authorization article release and/or be sent to from carrying point (will call) by route to article.Similarly, charge client delivery program (such as, need expense) some feature that can allow client access except the feature provided by free delivery (FD) program, such as, article are sent to other retail location by route, rearrange and send, ask the instruction of being sent article delivery to another address and/or be provided for.As will be recognized, these are characterized as illustration purpose and provide, and are not limited to embodiments of the invention.And other approach multiple and technology can be used, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

In one embodiment, such as, when customer profiling is created by carrier's system 100, client (such as, the client of operation client computing device 110 or customer representative) the various preferences be associated with client's delivery program can be supplied to carrier's system 100 by webpage (square frame 405 of Fig. 4), such as.Such as, as shown in figs, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can provide various preference, such as communication preference, delivery preference, delivery option and/or delivery instructions.

2. client and article coupling

In one embodiment, created by carrier's system 100 once customer profiling, treat that the one or more article being delivered to client by delivery side need to be identified.By identifying to be delivered to the article of client, carrier's system 100 can provide the access of the various features to the client's delivery program for article for client.As will be recognized, article can be the chests etc. on a mailbag or one group of mailbag, a parcel or one group of parcel, the scrap metal combined, vehicle part, chest, crate, bucket, binding arrival plate.In one embodiment, each article can comprise article/shipping identifier, such as bar code, Maxi code, electronic representation and/or text.Article/shipping identifier (such as, 123456789) can be used by delivery side, identifies and follow the tracks of this article during to move the transportation network by the side of delivery at article.This article/shipping identifier such as can pass through use and article/shipping identifier (with artificial and/or machine-readable form) printed paster (such as, label) thereon or RFID label tag stored therein for article/shipping identifier is attached on article.

In one embodiment, article/shipping identifier can be stored as and be associated with the ship data being used for article by carrier's system 100.Ship data can comprise the information about article, such as delivery service levels.Such as, delivery service levels can be air transport next day delivery (Next Day Air), air transport daystart next day sends to (Next Day Air Early AM), night next day send to (Next Day Saver), the next day send to (2nd Day Air), the next day daystart send to (2nd Day Air Early AM), within 3rd, select (3Day Select), terrestrial delivery (Ground) and/or SurePost.Ship data can comprise the information about items of freight side's (such as, consignor), the address of such as the party, the telephone number of the party, the return address of the party, the name etc. of the party.Ship data can also comprise the information of the client's (such as, consignee) arrived about article delivery, such as, and the address (such as, delivery location) of client, the telephone number of client, the name etc. of client.

In one embodiment, ship data can comprise information about article itself and any trace information.Trace information can reflect the movement of article in the transportation network of delivery side, and it comprises expection and sends day and time.In order to reflect the movement of article, when article being transported the transportation network by the side of delivery, article/shipping identifier of being associated with article can being scanned at each some place or otherwise its electronics is distinguished.Such as, article/shipping identifier can by bar code or Maxi code devices, RFID inquisitor, by camera controller or by using the delivery side employee of handheld device (such as, movement station 105) to carry out autoscan.In one embodiment, each article/shipping identifier is scanned or is distinguished, and article/shipping identifier and other suitable information (such as, the position of scanning or recognition and time) can be transferred to carrier's system 100 by suitable equipment.Carrier's system 100 can receive and use this information afterwards, also correspondingly upgrades ship data with the tracking items when goods transportation passes through the transportation network of delivery side.Although term client represents consignee from start to finish, term client also can represent consignor.

In one embodiment, carrier's system 100 can use ship data, to identify the one or more customer profilings (such as, by identification module 245) be associated with article.As described, each customer profiling can comprise the one or more addresses be associated with client.Thus, when carrier's system 100 receives article ship data (or part of ship data) (square frame 410 of Fig. 4), carrier's system 100 can determine that whether article are corresponding with any client registering in client's delivery program/register.Especially, carrier's system 100 can use the transmit address of the object recipient (such as, consignee or client) in the ship data of article, to utilize the roughly similar any customer profiling of transmit address identification (square frame 415 of Fig. 4).Such as, if the transmit address of the ship data instruction object recipient of article is 105 street (Main St.), Atlanta, Georgia 30309, the customer profiling of Joseph Brown can be identified as corresponding with these article by carrier's system 100, even if the address in the overview of JosephBrown is 105 street (Main Street), and Atlanta, Georgia 30309, the U.S..In other words, thisly to determine making, carrier's system 100 can adapt to the change of given address.As will be recognized, carrier's system 100 can be configured to compensate each species diversity.

In one embodiment, as ancillary method, carrier's system 100 can use the delivery name of the object recipient (such as, consignee or client) in ship data, to confirm that the customer profiling through identifying is correct.For this reason, carrier's system 100 can by the delivery name of the object recipient in ship data compared with the main title in the customer profiling through identifying and/or any another name.If title is roughly similar, carrier's system 100 can confirm that the customer profiling through identifying is correct.By example, if the delivery name of ship data instruction object recipient be Joe Brown and Joseph Brown using the another name of Joe as name, carrier's system 100 can confirm that the customer profiling of Joseph Brown is corresponding with these article.As will be recognized, other approach multiple and technology can be used, with the customer profiling that at least one article identified with treat to be sent by delivery side are corresponding.

In one embodiment, after identifying suitable customer profiling, ship data can be associated with customer profiling by carrier's system 100 (square frame 420 of Fig. 4).This can comprise and suitable voip identifiers (or other identifiers corresponding with customer profiling) being attached in ship data.Such as, the ship data of corresponding with the customer profiling of Joseph Brown all shippings can with the voip identifiers (or other identifiers) created for Joseph Brown.In various embodiments, this approach is used to allow article (and their ship data) to be linked to suitable customer profiling.Thus, when Joseph Brown accesses his account, he can check his all shippings (such as, having those shippings of the ship data of the voip identifiers (or other identifiers) with him).Similarly, any action being article selection by client can be passed to the ship data of article.

3. item tracking

In one embodiment, by being attached in ship data by suitable voip identifiers, corresponding client can check the trace information of any shipping be associated with customer profiling.Such as, as illustrated in figs. 10-12, all shippings that carrier's system 100 can be used to use voip identifiers identification to be associated with client's (such as customer profiling) (such as, obtain and there is the ship data of suitable voip identifiers) and they are supplied to client and are used for checking with the form of customer support, such as, by instrument panel/webpage/application.Such as, Figure 10 shows the instrument panel/webpage/application of the list with all immigration shippings of client.Figure 11 show have calendar (its can have a day view, panorama, many panoramas and/or the moon view) instrument panel/webpage/application, it has the list of all immigration shippings of client.In fig. 11, calendar is classified by transmit address, instruction client have be associated with customer profiling more than a transmit address.Figure 12 display has another instrument panel/webpage/application of the list of all immigration shippings of client.

In various embodiments, these concepts can provide all lasting visualitys and preference of wrapping up of entering a country for client.Such as, for each article, whether instrument panel/webpage/application can be used to display article/shipping identifier, sends instruction, finally activity scanning day, unconfirmedly send window, confirm to send window, delivery time, ask to autograph for sending, delivery service grade and/or other information various.As will be recognized, even so, other approach multiple and technology can be used to provide trace information to client.

4. message

In one embodiment, the instrument panel/webpage/application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 can be used to customize and/or provide the communication preference (showing in Figure 13) about the article to be delivered to client.Such as, communication preference can for client to provide for article (such as, before carrier attempts to send first time) and/or article before carrier attempts to send article be delivered after the ability of request message.

In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 14, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can identify for the one or more communication formats with client communication.Communication format can comprise text message (such as, other message multiple of Short Message Service (SMS) and/or multimedia information service (MMS), email message, speech message and/or various communication format).Except identifying one or more communication format, client's (such as, the operation client of client computing device 110 or customer representative) can identify corresponding electronics destination-address, to use the information about article to be delivered being supplied in client.Such as, for text message, client can provide one or more Mobile Directory Number.For email message, client can provide one or more addresses of items of mail.For speech message, client can provide one or more mobile phone or fixed telephone number.In addition, in one embodiment, verification operation can perform for each input destination-address, to guarantee their accuracy.

In one embodiment, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can indicate them to want message (such as, the content) type received.Such as, client can indicate, he only want article ship data instruction request from client autograph for article delivery time, can be modified in the delivery option of article time, when the instruction for article delivery can be provided or when the delivery service grade of article can be changed receipt message.In another example, client can indicate, and he wants to receive to be delivered to the message of all article of client, and expection date of delivery and Delivery time.As will be recognized, client can indicate, and they want the message received in other situations various about article.

In one embodiment, client's (such as, the client of operation client computing device 110 or customer representative) can identify/limiting time section, provides the message about the information of article to be delivered should be transferred to client in this time period.Such as, this time period can comprise: after (a) shipping and article the previous days of being delivered; And send morning of day after (b) shipping.In this case, message can, as the prompting to client, remind article to be just delivered.Similarly, this time period can be after the sending of delivery confirmation.Carrier's system 100 can store the communication preference for providing the information be associated with customer profiling.And communication preference can globally be applied to customer profiling, be applied to the customer address of selection, be applied to article group and/or based on article application piece by piece.

In one embodiment, carrier's system 100 can to arranging within the time period of customer recognition, generating and/or message transfer in addition time restriction.Such as, carrier's system 100 can only between morning 6:00 to afternoon 11:00 (based on time zone) by text message transmission to client.Similarly, carrier's system 100 can (based on time zone) be made a phone call and transmit automatic speech message between morning 8:00 to afternoon 9:00.For email message, carrier's system 100 can generate and transmit them and not free restriction.

In one embodiment, carrier's system 100 can generate (such as according to the time restriction of the communication preference of client and carrier automatically, by message module 260) one or more message, this message provides the information (in Fig. 4 square frame 425) about the article to be delivered to client.Similarly, carrier's system 100 can according to the time restriction of the communication preference of client and carrier automatically by one or more transmission of messages to electronics destination-address.Such as, carrier's system 100 can will be delivered to the last born one-tenth (comprising selection) of the home address of Joseph at article and transmit email message to the addresses of items of mail of Joseph Brown and text message to the mobile phone of Joseph.Message can indicate the date of delivery of expection and/or Delivery time (such as shown in Figure 15 A and 15B) and other information multiple.As will be recognized, other information multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.These operations and method can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

5. Delivery time

In one embodiment, instrument panel/webpage/application (or other mechanisms) can be used to check expection Delivery time (estimation is sent window and/or confirmedly sent window).In one embodiment, the time window of estimation can based on the estimation Delivery time of the history Delivery time instruction article in region.This information can be included in the message to client before first time sends trial.As shown in Figure 13, instrument panel/webpage/application can also be used by client's client of client computing device 110 (such as operate), is delivered sending in window to ask article.That is, client may want article to be delivered in special time window.This service can provide (as shown in FIG. 16 and 17) as the part of client's delivery program or based on charge by carrier.Following table 2 provides illustrative estimation to send window and has confirmed to send window, and client can therefrom select, to send article.

Table 2

Can at U.S. Patent number 6 about the extraneous information of estimating to send window and having confirmed to send window, 701,299, U.S. Patent number 7,233,907 and U.S. Patent number 7,925, find in 524, what all these were applied for is all included in herein by reference.As will be recognized, other operations multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.These operations and process can be customized, to adapt to various needs and situation.

6. the electronic authorization of article release

In one embodiment, consignor, consignee and/or carrier can obtain at delivery sites place for the signature of some article request addressee.The request of autographing can for high value and/or excessive risk article, such as mobile phone, computing machine, anaesthetic and/or other article multiple.Similarly, the request of autographing can be specified for the article sent in non-driver release areas by carrier.Non-driver release areas can be (such as, not being delivered to someone) and/or because various other reasons article are in stolen region after article are left on delivery location.The following describe two independent solutions not needing for sending this parcel to autograph.

A. the electronic authorization of article release

In one embodiment, non-driver release conditions may be had with the request of autographing at delivery sites place by the article of shipping.Non-driver release conditions can be instructed in ship data.Such as, the ship data of article can indicate, from requested the sending for article of autographing of addressee's (such as, representative of client or client).In one embodiment, this information can show (showing in Figure 13) by instrument panel/webpage/should be used for.Such as, the ship data instruction of the article represented in Figure 13, requested sending for article of autographing.Except autographing, in such examples, also need to pay $ 25.00 for sending.

In one embodiment, client's (such as, operating the client of client computing device 110 or customer representative) can electronic authorization article delivery and do not need to autograph.For this reason, such as, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can be carried out the release of electronic authorization article by the instrument panel/webpage/application communicated with carrier's system 100 and is not needed to autograph.Operatively, in one embodiment, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can select the hyperlink (such as, showing in Figure 13) pronouncing " authorizing shipping release ".After carrier's system 100 receives the request of authorizing shipping release (such as, in response to this), suitable information can be supplied to client by instrument panel/webpage/apply by carrier's system 100.Such as, as shown in Figure 18, carrier's system 100 can provide instrument panel/webpage/application (such as, shown by client computing device 110), it is provided for sending article and does not need the disclaimer (such as, sending article by Qianmen of being stayed at home by article) of autographing.Instrument panel/webpage/application can require client's check box, inputs his name and/or perform other to confirm step.Client computing device 110 can will input authorized transmissions to carrier's system 100 afterwards.Carrier's system 100 can receive input afterwards and authorize, and does not need autograph (square frame 430 of Fig. 4) to send article.After reception is authorized (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can upgrade ship data, does not need autographing at delivery sites place to reflect article can be delivered now.

In certain embodiments, electronic authorization can have and the identical effect of autographing at delivery sites place.This electronic signature globally can be applied to customer profiling (such as, allowing all article for particular address be delivered and do not need to autograph), be applied to the customer address of selection, be applied to article group and/or based on article application piece by piece.This mandate can be provided before first time sending trial by carrier, simplified carrier further and operated and increase customer satisfaction degree.

Except providing the electronic authorization of releasing, carrier's system 100 can provide the payment of article, thus the transaction in person that the article that make to cash on delivery do not need to carry out sending.As will be recognized, other operations multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.These operations and process can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

B. the autoelectrinic mandate of article release

In one embodiment, instrument panel/webpage/the application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 can be used to sending of automatic authorization article, and do not need to autograph, even if the instruction of corresponding ship data autograph requested for sending time.Such as, client (such as, the client of operation client computing device 110 or customer representative) may have access to the instrument panel/webpage/application communicated with carrier's system 100, to provide mandate, thus allow all (or selection) article be delivered and do not need to autograph, even if corresponding ship data instruction autograph requested for sending time.

Operatively, in one embodiment, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can select the hyperlink (such as, showing in Figure 13) pronouncing " authorizing all shippings to discharge ".After carrier's system 100 receives the request of authorizing all (or selection) article release (such as, in response to this), the information that carrier's system 100 can provide suitable by instrument panel/webpage/be applied as client.Such as, as shown in Figure 18, carrier's system 100 can provide instrument panel/webpage/application (such as, shown by client computing device 110), it is provided for sending article and does not need the disclaimer (such as, sending article by the Qian Menchu that stayed at home by article) of autographing.Instrument panel/webpage/application can require client's check box, inputs his name and/or perform other to confirm step, to confirm suitably to agree to.Client computing device 110 can will input authorized transmissions to carrier's system 100 afterwards.Carrier's system 100 can receive input afterwards and authorize, and does not need autograph (in Fig. 4 square frame 430) to send article.After reception is authorized (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can upgrade customer profiling, to reflect that having the autograph article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of instruction can be delivered and do not need to autograph.This feature can be arranged to also do not buy, shipping or the article (such as, for future transaction) sent.

Thus, when the article to be delivered to client to mate to customer profiling and have indicate autograph requested for send corresponding ship data time, carrier's system 100 can revise corresponding ship data automatically, do not need autograph (such as, based on customer profiling) to reflect article to be delivered.In certain embodiments, this may need the new article/shipping identifier of application and/or label.Such as, instruction article can be delivered and not need the ship data of the renewal of autographing to transfer to suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) by carrier's system 100.In one embodiment, suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) can receive the ship data of renewal.Afterwards, when sorting articles or load delivery vehicle carrier personnel such as scan articles/shipping identifier (such as, use movement station 105) time, movement station 105 can for carrier personnel provide article to be delivered and do not need the instruction of autographing.This can comprise the new label (and/or article/shipping identifier) of instruction and need to be attached on article.Article can be transported by carrier and send afterwards together with new label, and are delivered and do not need to autograph.

In another embodiment, this feature also may need article to meet some standard, is delivered and does not need to autograph automatically to allow article.Such as, client can indicate article (such as, Amazon, Lands ' End, William Robinson etc. of the consignor identified that only has to hang oneself) can be delivered and not need to autograph.In the example present, client Joseph Brown can upgrade his customer profiling, thus makes all article to him to be delivered from Lands ' End be delivered and not need to autograph.Thus, as mentioned above, in the example present, can be delivered to all article of Joseph Brown from Lands ' End to be delivered and do not need autograph (if they are requested at first).As will be recognized, other approach multiple and technology can be used, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

In various embodiments, carrier can comprise this service and charges as the part of client's delivery program and/or based on transaction-based requirements.And other operations multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.Such as, this feature can use jointly with client and article matching characteristic, item tracking feature, the characteristic information, Delivery time feature, delivery instructions feature, delivery option feature etc.Thus, these operations and method can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

7. delivery instructions

In one embodiment, for deliverer's (with other carrier personnel) of carrier's work can carry and operate movement station 105, to help sending of article.Such as, corresponding to article to be delivered ship data (or ship data at least partially) can be transferred to suitable movement station 105 regularly, periodically, continuously and/or as required.Thus, such as, carrier personnel can shipping identifier (such as, using movement station 105) on scan articles/article, to check the information about article delivery.Movement station 105 can also be used to as deliverer provides delivery instructions.Instruction can comprise information, and such as article should be left on which position at delivery location place and/or send the fetcher code of article needs.Deliverer can also use movement station 105 to record information about article delivery, and where and when such as article are delivered to sends.

As will be recognized, in one embodiment, instrument panel/webpage/the application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 (such as, by delivery option module 250) can be used to provide the instruction (such as, before carrier attempts to send) about the article to be delivered to client.Such as, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can access instrument panel/webpage/application, to check the article to be delivered to client.Instrument panel/webpage/application can also provide option for client, and this option is provided for the instruction of sending one or more article.

In one embodiment, in order to provide this instruction, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can select the button (such as, shown in Figure 13) pronouncing " providing delivery instructions ".After carrier's system 100 reception provides the request of instruction (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can provide suitable instrument panel/webpage/application and information to client.Such as, as as shown in Figure 19 A, 19B and 20, carrier's system 100 can provide instrument panel/webpage/application (such as to client, shown by client computing device 110), it provides input (such as, pass through input form) ability for using code to enter one or more instruction in the region of contiguous transmit address, such as buildings code, gate code and/or large gate code.Carrier's system 100 can also provide instrument panel/webpage/application (such as to client, shown by client computing device 110), it provides the ability of one or more instruction of the transmit address place recognizing site of input (such as, passing through drop-down menu) article should be left.Following table 3 provides declarative instruction and corresponding code.

Table 3

Leave instruction	Option
		Stay Qianmen	Enter the security code at Qianmen
Stay back door	Enter the security code at back door
		Stay side door	Enter the security code of side door
Stay garage	Enter the security code in garage
		Stay corridor	Enter the security code in corridor
Stay balcony	Enter the security code of tower
		Stay garden	Enter the security code of garden
Stay receiving area	Enter the security code of receiving area
		Stay management office	Enter the security code of office
Leave a people for	The security code of contact door people
		Leave neighbours for	To the security code of neighbours

In one embodiment, as indicated in the square frame 435 of Fig. 4, carrier's system 100 can receive one or more delivery instructions (such as, before first time sends trial).After reception one or more delivery instructions (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can upgrade ship data, to reflect that article should according to one or more delivery instructions.The ship data (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) upgraded can transfer to suitable movement station 105 regularly, periodically, continuously and/or as required by carrier's system 100.Suitable movement station 105 can receive the ship data (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) of renewal.Afterwards, deliverer can shipping identifier on scan articles/article (such as, use movement station 105), to check the information about article delivery, and the ship data upgraded (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) can be shown, and comprises one or more delivery instructions.Deliverer can send article according to one or more delivery instructions afterwards.Such as, as shown in Figure 21.Instruction can be back door article being stayed delivery location place, and provides the large gate code entering back door and need further.Other delivery instructions multiple also can be provided.

As will be recognized, one or more delivery instructions globally can be applied to customer profiling (such as, supposing that all article are according to delivery instructions), is applied to the customer address of selection, is applied to article group and/or based on the application of article piece by piece.As indicated, this instruction can be provided before carrier sends trial first time.And other operations multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.These operations and process can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.Such as, carrier can comprise this service as a part for client's delivery program and/or requirement charge.

8. delivery option

In one embodiment, as described, corresponding with article to be delivered ship data (or ship data at least partially) can transfer to suitable movement station 105 regularly, periodically, continuously and/or as required by carrier's system 100.Thus, such as, carrier personnel can shipping identifier (such as, using movement station 105) on scan articles/article, to check, to access, to provide and/or to obtain the information about article or article delivery.In one embodiment, ship data can be updated, and to revise delivery option, such as, revises delivery location, date of delivery, Delivery time and/or delivery service grade.

A. non-vacation delivery option

In one embodiment, instrument panel/webpage/the application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 (such as, by delivery option module 250) can be used to revise the delivery option (such as, before carrier attempts to send) about the article to be delivered to client.Such as, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can access the instrument panel/webpage/application communicated with carrier's system 100, to check the article to be delivered to client.Instrument panel/webpage/application can provide the option of the delivery option revising one or more article for client.

In one embodiment, in order to revise delivery option, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can select the button (such as, shown in Figure 13) pronouncing " amendment is sent ".After carrier's system 100 receives the request of amendment delivery option (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can provide instrument panel/webpage/application and information to client.Such as, as shown in Figure 22, carrier's system 100 can provide instrument panel/webpage/application (such as, being shown by client computing device 110) to client, and it provides the ability of amendment delivery option.Delivery option can allow client to ask to make article to be kept at carrier's facility place to be convenient to pick up goods (such as, ask for a little or ask on the same day a little).Delivery option can allow client to ask sending of article to be rearranged in another sky and/or time (such as, certain sky following and time).Delivery option can allow client after article are by shipping, revise the delivery service grade (such as, delivery service grade sent to or change SurePost into from terrestrial delivery from terrestrial delivery changes air transport into the next day) of article.In one embodiment, this can allow article being delivered (such as, date and time) early than initial instruction.Delivery option can allow client to ask delivery location to be revised as carrier's facility (or other positions), such as UPS shop.Delivery option can allow client to ask article to return to consignor.As will be recognized, embodiments of the invention can also allow client to revise other delivery option multiple.

In one embodiment, as indicated in the square frame 435 of Fig. 4, carrier's system 100 can receive the delivery option of amendment as the input from client.After the delivery option of amendment (such as, in response to this), the amendment (such as, comprising this amendment of checking) that carrier's system 100 can accept request.Carrier's system 100 can upgrade ship data afterwards, to reflect that article should be delivered according to the delivery option of amendment.In one embodiment, the amendment in delivery option can require the new article/shipping identifier of application and/or label.Such as, as described, the ship data (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) of corresponding with article to be delivered renewal can transfer to suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) regularly, periodically, continuously and/or as required by carrier's system 100.

In one embodiment, suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) can receive the ship data (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) of the renewal corresponding with article to be delivered.Thus, sorting articles or load delivery vehicle carrier personnel can shipping identifier on scan articles/article (such as, use movement station 105), to check the information about article delivery, and the ship data upgraded (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) can be shown.The ship data upgraded can indicate new label (and/or article/shipping identifier) to need to be attached to (such as, new label can indicate new transmit address) on article.Article can be delivered according to the delivery option of amendment afterwards.

In various embodiments, carrier can comprise this service as the part of client's delivery program and/or requirement charge.As indicated, in one embodiment, delivery option can be modified before carrier sends trial first time.And other operations multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.These operations and process can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

B. vacation delivery option

In one embodiment, when client is just in vacation (or otherwise away from delivery location, such as leave cities and towns to go on business), instrument panel/webpage/the application (or other mechanisms) of (such as, by delivery option module 250) of communicating with carrier's system 100 is used to revise the delivery option about the article to be delivered to client.Such as, when client is in vacation, client's (such as, the client of operation client computing device 110 or customer representative) addressable instrument panel/webpage/application communicated with carrier's system 100, to input delivery option.

In one embodiment, in order to input delivery option, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can select the button (such as, shown in Figure 23) pronouncing " adding vacation ".After carrier's system 100 receives the request adding vacation (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can provide suitable instrument panel/webpage/application and information to client.Such as, as Figure 24,25, as shown in 26A and 26B, carrier's system 100 can provide instrument panel/webpage/application (such as to client, shown by client computing device 110), it provides the ability of input date vacation and/or delivery option (such as, delivery location, date of delivery and/or Delivery time).During holiday time section, delivery option can allow client to ask article to be retained in carrier's facility place to be used for asking for, or rearranges and send in another sky.Similarly, during holiday time section, delivery option can allow client to ask all article to be delivered to carrier's facility, such as UPS shop.

In one embodiment, as indicated in the square frame 435 of Fig. 4, carrier's system 100 can receive input date vacation and/or delivery option.After reception input date vacation and/or delivery option (such as, in response to this), delivery option vacation can be applied to all article that will be delivered to client (and/or in the address of client in its customer profiling) during holiday time section by carrier's system 100.Such as, as shown in Figure 26 A, all article being delivered to client can be rearranged on July 12nd, 2011 send between July 5 to 11 days July in 2011 in 2011.Similarly, as shown in Figure 26 B, all article being delivered to client can be delivered to carrier's facility (such as UPS shop) for by client delays picking between July 5 to 11 days July in 2011 in 2011.In one embodiment, vacation, option may require new label (and/or article/shipping identifier) to be applied to the article will sent during holiday time section.

C. the amendment of delivery service grade

In one embodiment, the instrument panel/webpage/application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 can be used to the delivery service grade of the article revised to be delivered to client before carrier attempts to send respectively.Such as, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can access the instrument panel/webpage/application communicated with carrier's system 100, to check the article to be delivered to client.Instrument panel/webpage/application can provide the option of the delivery service grade revising one or more article (such as, delivery service grade sent to or be revised as SurePost from terrestrial delivery from terrestrial delivery is revised as air transport the next day) for client.

In one embodiment, in order to revise the delivery service grade of article, client (such as, the operation client of client computing device 110 or customer representative) can select to pronounce the button of " the amendment grade of service ", icon or figure (similar with Figure 13, although do not show in fig. 13).After carrier's system 100 receives the request of amendment delivery service grade (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can provide suitable information by instrument panel/webpage/apply to client.Such as, carrier's system 100 can with instrument panel/webpage/application communication (such as, being shown by client computing device 110), it provides the ability of amendment delivery service grade.Such as, this can allowing client that delivery service grade is revised as terrestrial delivery from SurePost, sending to be revised as air transport the next day from terrestrial delivery, be revised as air transport next day delivery from sending to the next day of air transport, be revised as terrestrial delivery etc. from sending to the next day of air transport.Thus, delivery service grade can (article by shipping but) first time attempt to send article before be revised as the second delivery service grade from the first delivery service grade of initial shipping.In one embodiment, this can allow article early than or be later than being delivered (such as, date and time) of initial instruction.

In one embodiment, as indicated in the square frame 435 of Fig. 4, carrier's system 100 can receive the request of amendment delivery service grade as the input from client.After this request of reception (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can accept asked amendment (such as, comprising this amendment of checking).Carrier's system 100 can after upgrade ship data, to reflect that article should be delivered according to second (such as, amendment) delivery service grade, its can automatically revise send day and/or with the expense of sending article and being associated.In one embodiment, the amendment of delivery service grade may need the new article/shipping identifier of application and/or label.Such as, as described, the ship data (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) of corresponding with article to be delivered renewal can be sent to suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) regularly, termly, continuously and/or as required by carrier's system 100.

In one embodiment, suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) can receive the ship data (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) of the renewal corresponding with article to be delivered.Thus, sorting articles or load delivery vehicle carrier personnel can shipping identifier on scan articles/article (such as, use movement station 105), to check the information about article delivery, and the ship data upgraded (or the ship data upgraded at least partially) can be shown.The freight information upgraded can indicate new label (and/or article/shipping identifier) to need to be attached to (such as, new label can indicate new delivery service grade) on article.Article can after by carrier according to second (such as, amendment) delivery service grade transport together with new label and send.

In various embodiments, carrier can comprise this service as the part of client's delivery program and/or based on transaction-based requirements expense.As indicated, in one embodiment, delivery option can be modified before carrier sends trial first time.And other operations multiple and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.Such as, amendment delivery service levels characteristic can use jointly with other features described herein, electronic authorization feature, delivery instructions feature and/or delivery option feature that such as client and article matching characteristic, item tracking feature, the characteristic information, Delivery time feature, article discharge.Thus, these operations and method can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

D. the automatic amendment of delivery service grade

In one embodiment, the instrument panel/webpage/application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 can be used, with before attempting respectively to send carrier automatically amendment to be delivered to the delivery service grade of the article of client.Such as, client's (such as, the operation client of client computing device 110 or customer representative) can access instrument panel/webpage/application communicate with carrier's system 100, with the delivery service level option of article checking not yet purchase, shipping or send.In one embodiment, instrument panel/webpage/application can for client provide by the particular delivery grade of service automatically revise the delivery service grade of all (or selection) article option (such as, air transport next day delivery, air transport daystart next day are sent to, air transport is sent to night next day, air transport the next day send to, air transport the next day daystart send to, within 3rd, select, terrestrial delivery and/or SurePost).

In one embodiment, in order to automatically be revised the delivery service grade of all (or selection) article to be delivered by the particular delivery grade of service, client's (such as, operating client or the customer representative of client computing device 110) can select button, icon or the figure of pronouncing " amendment of automation services grade ".After carrier's system 100 receives the request of automatically amendment delivery service grade (such as, in response to this), suitable information can be supplied to client by instrument panel/webpage/apply by carrier's system 100.Such as, carrier's system 100 can with instrument panel/webpage/application communication (such as, shown by client computing device 110), it provides the ability all (or selection) article be delivered being arranged by the particular delivery grade of service to automatic delivery service grade amendment.Such as, client can input, and all (or selection) article sent by the first delivery service grade (such as, SurePost) should be modified as the second delivery service grade (such as, terrestrial delivery) automatically.Thus, this feature can allow client to treat that the delivery service grade of all article sent by the first delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade (such as, be revised as terrestrial delivery from SurePost, be revised as air transport from terrestrial delivery the next day sending to, being revised as air transport next day delivery from sending to the next day of air transport, being revised as terrestrial delivery etc. from sending to the next day of air transport).Thus, delivery service grade can be revised as the second delivery service grade from (using when initial shipping) first delivery service grade automatically, this can automatically revise date of delivery and/or with the expense of sending article and being associated.As indicated, after this even can occur in article shipping but article first time send trial before.

In one embodiment, as indicated in the square frame 435 of Fig. 4, carrier's system 100 can receive the request of amendment delivery service grade automatically as the input from client.After this request of reception (such as, in response to this), carrier's system 100 can accept asked amendment (such as, comprising this amendment of checking).Carrier's system 100 can upgrade customer profiling, to reflect that the article treating to send according to the first delivery service grade (and/or from particular shipment people) should be revised as the second delivery service grade automatically by carrier's In transit afterwards.

Thus, to mate with customer profiling when the article to be delivered to client and will by the first delivery service grade (such as, when SurePost) sending, as in customer profiling reflect, the first delivery service grade can be revised as the second delivery service grade by carrier's system 100 automatically.As described, this may need the new article/shipping identifier of application and/or label.Such as, carrier's system 100 can be transmitted to suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) regularly, termly, continuously and/or as required: the first delivery service grade of article (such as, SurePost) the second delivery service grade (such as, terrestrial delivery) should be modified to.In one embodiment, suitable movement station 105 (and/or other computational entities) can receive instruction.Afterwards, such as, when sorting articles or load delivery vehicle carrier personnel scan articles/shipping identifier (such as, use movement station 105) time, movement station 105 can provide instruction for carrier personnel, indicates the first delivery service grade should be modified to the second delivery service grade.This can comprise the new label (and/or article/shipping identifier) of instruction and need to be attached to (such as, new label can indicate new delivery service grade) on article.Article can after by carrier according to second (such as, amendment) delivery service grade transport together with new label and send.

In another embodiment, in order to automatically revise delivery service grade, this feature also may need article to meet other standards.Such as, client can indicate, article (such as, Amazon, Lands ' End, William Robinson etc. of the consignor identified that only has to hang oneself) their delivery service grade can be revised automatically.In the example present, client JosephBrown can upgrade his customer profiling, thus makes the article to him all to be delivered from Lands ' End will send to delivery service grade (if sending to the next day of not yet there is air transport) next day of being automatically revised as air transport.Similarly, client Joseph Brown can upgrade his overview, thus make to hang oneself the consignor that identifies (such as, Amazon, Lands ' End, WilliamRobinson etc.) and treat by the first delivery service grade (such as, their delivery service grade is revised as the second delivery service grade (such as, terrestrial delivery) by all article automatically that SurePost) send.In the example present, allly JosephBrown will be delivered to by SurePost and article from Lands ' End can be revised as the terrestrial delivery grade of service from SurePost delivery service grade automatically.As will be recognized, other approach multiple and technology can be used, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

In various embodiments, carrier can comprise this service as the part of client's delivery program and/or based on transaction-based requirements expense.As indicated, in one embodiment, delivery option can be modified before carrier sends trial first time.And other operations various and process can use together with embodiments of the present invention.Such as, amendment delivery service levels characteristic can use jointly with other features, such as, the electronic authorization feature, delivery instructions feature, delivery option feature etc. of client and article matching characteristic, item tracking feature, the characteristic information, Delivery time feature, article release.Thus, these operations and process can be customized, to be suitable for various needs and situation.

9. disablement feature

In one embodiment, the instrument panel/webpage/application (or other mechanisms) communicated with carrier's system 100 can be used, and uses together with customer profiling with disable feature.Disabled feature can comprise the electronic authorization feature, delivery instructions feature, delivery option feature etc. of client and article matching characteristic, item tracking feature, the characteristic information, Delivery time feature, article release.In order to forbid these features, client's (such as, the client of operation client computing device 110 or customer representative) can access the instrument panel/webpage/application communicated with carrier's system 100, expects to forbid the feature in customer profiling to select him or she.Such as, if multiple user operates under single customer profiling, this can be used.Thus, suitable one what feature can enough select can use together with customer profiling.

IV. conclusion

Have benefited from the those skilled in the art in the invention of the instruction existed in foregoing description and associated drawings, will many amendments and other embodiment of the inventive embodiment of setting forth be understood here.Therefore should be understood to, these inventions are not limited to disclosed specific embodiment, and amendment and other embodiment are intended to comprise within the scope of the appended claims.Although adopt particular term herein, it only uses and is not used in the object of restriction in general and descriptive meaning.

Claims (9)

1., for receiving a method for the mandate of sending at least one article, described method comprises:

Receive the request for having instruction and not needed to described client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization to autograph electronically, wherein said request is associated with customer profiling;

Upgrade described customer profiling, to reflect the request for there is instruction not needed to described client by article delivery by described carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of described client, automatic authorization to autograph;

Receive electronically and treat to be delivered to the corresponding ship data of the article of client by described carrier, wherein said ship data instruction is requested for article delivery from autographing of described client; And

The ship data that automatic renewal is corresponding to article, will be delivered to described client so that be at least partly based on described customer profiling instruction article and do not need to autograph, wherein said article are delivered subsequently and do not need to autograph.

2. method according to claim 1, also comprises: generate the electronics destination-address that also message transfer is extremely associated with described client, described message indicates described article not need autographing from described client by being delivered.

3. method according to claim 1, also comprises:

Automatic generating messages, described message comprise about the article to be delivered to described client ship data at least partially, wherein said message indicates the expectation of described article to send day; And

Before the first time of described article sends trial, by described message automatic transmission to the electronics destination-address be associated with described client.

4. comprise a device at least one processor and at least one storer, described storer comprises computer program code, and at least one storer described and described computer program code are configured to utilize described processor to make described device at least:

Receive the request for having instruction and not needed to described client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization to autograph, wherein said request is associated with customer profiling;

Upgrade described customer profiling, to reflect the request for there is instruction not needed to described client by article delivery by described carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of described client, automatic authorization to autograph;

Receive and treat to be delivered to the corresponding ship data of the article of client by described carrier, wherein said ship data indicates requested for article delivery from autographing of described client; And

Upgrade the ship data corresponding to article, will be delivered to described client so that be at least partly based on described customer profiling instruction article and do not need to autograph, wherein said article are delivered subsequently and do not need to autograph.

5. device according to claim 4, wherein said storer and computer program code be also configured to utilize described processor that described device is generated and message transfer to the electronics destination-address be associated with described client, described message indicates described article not need autographing from described client by being delivered.

6. device according to claim 4, wherein said storer and computer program code are also configured to utilize described processor to make described device:

Automatic generating messages, described message comprise about the article to be delivered to described client ship data at least partially, wherein said message indicates the expectation of described article to send day; And

Before the first time of described article sends trial, by described message automatic transmission to the electronics destination-address be associated with described client.

7. one kind for receiving the computer program of the mandate of sending at least one article, described computer program comprises at least one computer-readable recording medium with the computer readable program code part be stored in wherein, and described computer readable program code part comprises:

Being configured to receive not to be needed the performed part of the request of autographing for having instruction to described client by article delivery by carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of client, automatic authorization, wherein said request is associated with customer profiling;

Be configured to the performed part upgrading described customer profiling, to reflect the request for there is instruction not needed to described client by article delivery by described carrier from the article of the requested corresponding ship data for sending of autographing of described client, automatic authorization to autograph;

Be configured to receive and the performed part treating to be delivered to by described carrier the corresponding ship data of the article of client, wherein said ship data indicates requested for article delivery from autographing of described client; And

Be configured to upgrade the ship data corresponding to article and indicate article not need the performed part of autographing by being delivered to described client so that be at least partly based on described customer profiling, wherein said article are delivered subsequently and do not need to autograph.

8. computer program according to claim 7, also comprise: being configured to generate also, message transfer is to the performed part of the electronics destination-address be associated with described client, and described message indicates described article not need autographing from described client by being delivered.

9. computer program according to claim 7, also comprises:

Be configured to the performed part of automatic generating messages, described message comprise about the article to be delivered to described client ship data at least partially, wherein said message indicates the expectation of described article to send day; And

Be configured to before the first time of described article sends trial, by the performed part of the electronics destination-address that described message automatic transmission is extremely associated with described client.