Email Order Aggregation System for Scattered Shipping Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in efficiently viewing and managing product order and shipping information received via email, particularly when dealing with multiple online transactions, as this information is scattered across numerous email messages, making it cumbersome to track orders, shipping status, and return policies.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that aggregates product order and shipping information by retrieving email message headers and bodies, parsing relevant data, and storing it for display, allowing users to access shipping status, delivery information, and return policies directly, while also obtaining product images from online merchants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If product order and shipping information is communicated via separate email messages from multiple online merchants, then users can receive transaction confirmations and shipping updates, but users face difficulties in efficiently viewing and managing scattered information across numerous email messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scattered order confirmation and shipping confirmation information from multiple email messages into a single consolidated display. The system retrieves email messages from the user's mailbox, extracts order and shipping information, and presents them together in one unified interface, eliminating the need for users to search through multiple separate emails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (the computing device with email application) that acts as a mediator between the user's email mailbox and the display interface. This intermediary automatically retrieves, parses, and consolidates information from multiple email sources, presenting it in an organized manner without requiring direct user interaction with each email message.
2Loss of information
If users manually review multiple email messages to track orders and shipping status, then complete information can be obtained, but significant time is consumed in searching through numerous messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically retrieving and consolidating order and shipping information from email messages before the user needs to view it. The system proactively processes email messages, extracts relevant data, and prepares the consolidated display in advance, so when the user accesses the information, it is already organized and ready for immediate viewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically retrieve, parse, and consolidate information from email messages without requiring manual user intervention. The email application autonomously accesses the user's mailbox, identifies relevant messages, extracts order and shipping details, and presents them in a unified display, freeing the user from time-consuming manual searches.
3Loss of information
If detailed product order and shipping information is displayed in individual email messages, then complete transaction details are preserved, but the complexity of managing and reviewing multiple transactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines detailed product order information and shipping information from multiple separate email messages into a single consolidated display structure. The system merges data from order confirmations and shipping confirmations, organizing them together with clear labels and formatting, thereby reducing the perceived complexity while preserving all essential details.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the consolidated display into distinct sections for different types of information (order details, shipping details, tracking information). This segmentation organizes the detailed information into manageable segments with clear visual separation, making it easier for users to navigate and understand without being overwhelmed by the volume of details.
Data Source
AI summary
Product order and shipping information received via email messages is automatically aggregated for ready user review. Once the user is authenticated, authorization to access their email mailbox is obtained and the email message headers of their entails are analyzed to identify those messages of interest. The bodies of the email messages of interest are parsed to extract the product order and shipping information which is stored and presented for display to the user typically grouped by individual product thus greatly simplifying user review of orders. The aggregated product order and shipping information can be augmented with additional information such as shipping status, delivery status, a product image, and/or a last date that the product can be returned.