Systems and methods for application programming interfaces for shipping services

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing shipping services information over a network by providing instructions to a first server from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server over the network. The first server receives a request by a client for the shipping services information at the second server. The second server provides the requested shipping services information to the client through the first server.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing shipping services information over a network, comprising: 
 providing instructions to a first server from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server over the network;    receiving a request from a client for the shipping services information at the second server through the first server; and    providing the requested shipping services information from the second server to the client through the first server.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shipping services information is provided in a format to produce a label.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the label includes forwarding information thereon.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the forwarding information includes at least one of addressing information, barcode information, return authorization number and an indication of pre-paid postage.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shipping service information includes shipping rates information.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shipping service information includes at least one of tracking information and confirmation information.  
     
     
         7 . The method of claim I wherein the shipping service information includes at least one of service standards and commitment standards information for a shipment option.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shipping service information includes standard address formats information.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the instructions may operate on any of a plurality of types of operating systems which reside on the first server.  
     
     
         10 . A method for providing shipping services information over a network, comprising: 
 providing instructions to a first server over the network from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server;    receiving a request from the first server over the network to the second server for the shipping services information;    retrieving the requested shipping services information; and    sending the retrieved shipping services information from the second server to the first server over the network.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the request is generated by the first server based on one or more of the instructions provided by the second server.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of retrieving comprises retrieving the requested shipping services information from one or more databases.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the shipping services information is provided in a format to produce a courtesy reply label.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the shipping services information is provided in a format to produce a merchandise return label.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the shipping services information is provided in a format to produce a delivery confirmation barcode label.  
     
     
         16 . A system for providing shipping services information over a network, comprising: 
 means for providing instructions to a first server from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server over a network;    means for receiving a request from a client for the shipping services information at the second server through the first server; and    means for providing the requested shipping services information from the second server to the client through the first server.    
     
     
         17 . A system for providing shipping services information over a network, comprising: 
 means for providing instructions to a first server over a network from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server;    means for receiving a request from the first server over the network to the second server for the shipping services information;    means for retrieving the requested shipping services information; and    means for sending the retrieved shipping services information from the second server to the first server over the network.    
     
     
         18 . A system for providing shipping services information over a network, comprising: 
 a module for providing instructions to a first server from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server over a network;    a module for receiving a request from a client for the shipping services information at the second server through the first server; and    a module for providing the requested shipping services information from the second server to the client through the first server.    
     
     
         19 . A system for providing shipping services information over a network, comprising: 
 a module for providing instructions to a first server over a network from a second server which permits the first server to access the shipping services information residing on the second server;    a module for receiving a request from the first server over the network to the second server for the shipping services information;    a module for retrieving the requested shipping services information; and    a module for sending the retrieved shipping services information from the second server to the first server over the network.