Internet package shipping systems and methods

US7844481B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC. · US

Inventors

• Mark Hilbush · Roseland, US
• Anthony Creasy · Suwanee, US
• Kurt L. Stadele · Alpharetta, US
• Jim Deveney · New Freedom, US
• Jane Sneeringer · Baltimore, US
• Charles G. Orf · Shrewsbury, US
• David Michel · Baltimore, US
• Christopher T. Schenken · Alpharetta, US
• Phillip G. Lawson · Hewitt, US
• John Yanikov · York, US
• Lawrence Wight · Parkton, US
• Diane Minahan · Annapolis, US
• Steve Yeung · Timonium, US
• Thomas Dorris · Frederick, US
• Mark Trowbridge · Stow, US
• Robert Gephart · Jersey Shore, US
• Diane Lynn T. Rashbaum · Gainesville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 26, 2004
• Grant date: Nov 30, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 30, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/087
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system and methods for shipping a package (12) from a package sender (16) to an intended recipient (18), utilizing Internet communications (30) to place shipping orders, request on demand package pickup, maintain and utilize prestored profile information, view shipping history, track orders, etc. A package sender (16) with an Internet-accessible computer (20) accesses an Internet site and associated shipping system (10) operated by a shipping service provider (14). The package sender (16) enters information required for shipping the package (12), including shipping options and methods for payment. The options and payment for the shipment transaction are validated. If the transaction is validated, printer indicia are communicated to the customer's computer (20), which is enabled to locally print a prepaid label (25) containing special machine-readable (876) as well as human-readable indicia (904). The shipping service provider (14) acquires the package by drop-off, standard pickup or on call pickup, scans the machine readable indicia, verifies other indicia of authenticity, and processes the package (12) in accordance with information encoded on the label.