Systems and methods for providing item delivery notification

Abstract

A method and system for providing item delivery notification consistent with the invention includes sending a first notification to a recipient at a recipient notification address, the first notification indicating that an item has been placed in a delivery system directed to the recipient at a first address. Next, the method involves sending a second notification to a sender at a sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered. Then the method involves sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered. And finally, the method involves sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for providing item delivery notification, comprising: 
 sending a first notification to a recipient at a recipient notification address, the first notification indicating that an item has been placed in a delivery system directed to the recipient at a first address;    sending a second notification to a sender at a sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered;    sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered; and    sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving the first address the sender notification address, and the recipient notification address from the sender.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following comprise an e-mail address: the sender notification address and the recipient notification address.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth notifications are sent using at least one of the following media: regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, and an interactive voice response system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising processing the item comprising at least one of the following: a mailpiece and a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth notification further indicates where the item can be obtained.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising generating a label for the item, wherein the label indicates the first address and associates the first address, the sender, and the recipient.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a notice at the first address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the notice indicating that the item has not been delivered.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the notice further indicates where the item can be obtained.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising presenting the item to the recipient if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising sending a fifth notification to the sender at the sender notification address, the fifth notification indicating that the item has been obtained.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving the item in the delivery system from the sender.  
     
     
         13 . A system for providing item delivery notification, comprising: 
 a component for sending a first notification to a recipient at a recipient notification address, the first notification indicating that an item has been placed in a delivery system directed to the recipient at a first address;    a component for sending a second notification to a sender at a sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered;    a component for sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered; and    a component for sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a component for receiving, from the sender, the first address, the sender notification address, and the recipient notification address.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least on of the following comprise an e-mail address: the sender notification address and the recipient notification address.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth notifications are sent using at least one of the following media: regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, and an interactive voice response system.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a component for processing the item comprising at least one of the following: a mailpiece and a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fourth notification further indicates where the item can be obtained.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a component for generating a label for the item, wherein the label indicates the first address and associates the first address, the sender, and the recipient.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a component for providing a notice at the first address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the notice indicating that the item has not been delivered.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the notice further indicates where the item can be obtained.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a component for presenting the item to the recipient if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising a component for sending a fifth notification to the sender at the sender notification address, the fifth notification indicating that the item has been obtained.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a component for receiving the item in the delivery system from the sender.  
     
     
         25 . A method for providing item delivery notification, comprising: 
 receiving, from a sender, a first address, a sender notification address and a recipient notification address, the sender notification address and the recipient notification address comprising e-mail addresses;    receiving an item, from the sender, in a delivery system directed to a recipient at the first address;    processing the item comprising at least one of the following: a mailpiece and a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package;    generating a label for the item, wherein the label indicates the first address and associates the first address, the sender, and the recipient. sending a first notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address, the first notification indicating that the item has been placed in the delivery system;    sending a second notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the second notification indicating that the item has been delivered;    sending a third notification to the sender at the sender notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the third notification indicating that the item has not been delivered;    sending a fourth notification to the recipient at the recipient notification address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the fourth notification indicating that the item has not been delivered and where the item can be obtained;    providing a notice at the first address if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address, the notice indicating that the item has not been delivered and where the item can be obtained;    presenting the item to the recipient if the item is not successfully delivered to the recipient at the first address; and    sending a fifth notification to the sender at the sender notification address that the item has been obtained.