Off network return operations for pickup locations

US9934483B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Rucheek Hasmukh Sangani · Kirkland, US
• Piyush Gupta · Bound Brook Junction, US
• Neha Goswami · Seattle, US
• Nicholas John Morren · Seattle, US
• Ameya Rahane · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 2013
• Grant date: Apr 3, 2018
• Expiry date: May 15, 2034

Classification

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

Abstract

A pickup location may be enabled to continue to operate when communication over a network is not available. When communication is not available, a pickup location may not be able to send a confirmation that a user has dropped off an item for a return or to send a request to have the item retrieved by a carrier. The pickup location may be enabled to assign a stored access code that was previously sent to a carrier and which will allow the item to be retrieved by the carrier who has arrived at the pickup location for reasons other than a request to retrieve the item. A retrieval confirmation from the carrier may be utilized to allow a refund or replacement process to be initiated, and to update capacity information for the pickup location, if the carrier meets a certain confidence threshold requirement based on past performance.