Delivery tracking system

Abstract

A novel tracking system is disclosed. In one embodiment, users obtain access to tracking information by entering a destination address in a query. In another embodiment, package shippers are given a “shipper password” and a “recipient password.” In this embodiment, the shipper may query the system with the shipper password to track all packages it has sent, and the recipient may query the system with the recipient password (and, optionally, one or more portions of the recipient's address information) to track all packages that the shipper has sent to that address. Different amounts of detail may be shown to shippers and recipients. In another embodiment, a service bureau may accept packages from shippers, collect information about the packages, process queries by shippers and recipients, and track packages that it handles using a separate “service bureau password.”

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 501,505, filed Feb. 9, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to shipment tracking, and more particularly, but not exclusively, a query system for tracking the status of deliveries. [0003] Present methods of tracking shipments and confirming delivery thereof suffer from ease of use problems and a lack of tools for easy administration and measurement of delivery performance. An available procedure for inquiring as to the status of a particular package requires entry of a package identifier, which in some cases may be as many as twenty alphanumeric characters. Shippers and recipients typically have identical access to tracking information. [0004] Such an access system makes it difficult for organizations' mailroom personnel to manage and monitor the delivery status of their shipments, tens or hundreds of which may be en route at any given time. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] One form of the present invention is a unique tracking system. In some embodiments, the system overcomes the inconvenience of tracking numbers by allowing electronic searches of tracking data by the name or address of the recipient. Other embodiments limit the search results available to a user based on the password used, which limiting might restrict results to those packages sent by a particular shipper, those packages addressed to a particular recipient, or those packages handled by a particular service provider.

Problems solved by technology

Present methods of tracking shipments and confirming delivery thereof suffer from ease of use problems and a lack of tools for easy administration and measurement of delivery performance.

Such an access system makes it difficult for organizations' mailroom personnel to manage and monitor the delivery status of their shipments, tens or hundreds of which may be en route at any given time.

Furthermore, such an access system makes it difficult for the intended recipients to monitor progress of their shipments.

For shippers and receivers engaged in an ongoing relationship, communicating a unique package identifier or performing queries for each package sent can impose a significant burden.

Other embodiments limit the search results available to a user based on the password used, which limiting might restrict results to those packages sent by a particular shipper, those packages addressed to a particular recipient, or those packages handled by a particular service provider.

Images