Method for providing a shortcut to shipping information

Abstract

A method and system are provided for a user to determine the status of a shipment being transported by a carrier. The user performs a transaction at a web site, and chooses a type of shipment. A file in markup language includes at least one link to shipment tracking information, and this file is provided to the user and saved locally at a user device. The user activates the file to check the shipping status, which is then displayed. In this way, the user is able to access aggregated shipping information from a plurality of carriers. Also, the user is able to obtain pinpoint shipping status, if the user needs more details than merely finding out a checkpoint through which a shipment has passed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 722,231, entitled METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SHORTCUT TO SHIPPING INFORMATION, filed Nov. 25, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to package delivery, and in particular to status inquiries regarding delivery of shipments. BACKGROUND [0003] People who use online merchants or delivery companies with online access usually have at least two possible methods to track and confirm delivery of packages or other items. According to the first method, users must remember a unique—and usually difficult to remember—tracking identifier. Such a tracking code is normally a string of letters and / or numbers that have no easily remembered meaning. According to a second alternative method, the user must go through a time-consuming authentication process in order to access the tracking identifier, or ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] An illustrative embodiment of the application has at least two advantages. First, it eliminates the need of users remembering long and arcane tracking identifiers. Second, it eliminates the need of users taking time to provide authentication information in order to log into secure web sites for the purpose of checking a shipping status.

[0007] An illustrative embodiment of the application is well-suited to a situation in which a user is tracking more than one shipment, either using a single carrier or a plurality of carriers. In the latter case, at least some shipping data is aggregated so that a user is able to quickly and easily access shipping status from two or more carriers.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, when a user clicks on a desktop icon or other hyperlink, the user is not only provided delivery status, but is also provided with the opportunity to have delivery status updated. For example, a carrier will already typically update delivery status when the package arrives at a discrete set of points A, B, C, D, and E. The illustrative embodiment of the application allows the user to find out where the item is between, for example, points A and B or between points B and C. This is accomplished, for example, by having GPS units on vehicles. Advantageously, the user is provided one free access to the system, and then has to pay for further clicks in order to get this deluxe pinpoint tracking information within a certain time of clicking the icon or hyperlink. In contrast, there is normally no need to charge extra for arrival status at the discrete checkpoints A, B, C, D, and E.

Problems solved by technology

According to the first method, users must remember a unique—and usually difficult to remember—tracking identifier.

Plainly, either of these two methods has drawbacks.

If the shipment was initiated in conjunction with a purchase, then the user can authenticate to the merchant web site where the user made the purchase, but less time spent authenticating normally means less security for the customer.

Thus, the existing art has not yet achieved a satisfactory alternative to memorization of long tracking identifiers.

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