Package delivery notification system and method

Abstract

A package delivery notification system reports impending package deliveries and precisely notifies recipients of when to expect the deliveries. The package delivery notification system utilizes memory, a communications device, and a system manager. Package data identifying a package that is to be delivered to a recipient is stored in the memory. The package data indicates that the recipient is to receive the package and indicates the expected time that the package is to be delivered. When the package is assigned to a vehicle that will deliver the package to a premises of the recipient, the system manager transmits, via the communications device, a notification message to the recipient. The notification message preferably indicates the approximate time that the package is expected to arrive.

1 . A system for reporting impending vehicle deliveries, comprising: 
 memory storing package data identifying a plurality of packages that are to be respectively delivered to a plurality of recipients;    a first communications device configured to establish communication with remote communications devices; and    a system manager configured to detect when one of said packages has been assigned to a vehicle for delivery to one of said recipients, said system manager further configured to transmit a notification message for a respective one of said recipients via said first communications device at a time after a detection that said one of said packages for said one of said recipients has been assigned to said vehicle is determined.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a scanner configured to scan a label of said package and to identify said one package based on said label, wherein said system manager detects that said package has been assigned to said vehicle based on whether said scanner has identified said one package.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said notification message is an e-mail message.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said package data indicates whether said one package has been assigned to said vehicle and said system detects when said one package has been assigned to said vehicle by analyzing said package data.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said notification message identifies a sender of said one package.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said package data indicates that said packages are to be delivered by said vehicle and indicates an order that said vehicle is expected to deliver said packages, and wherein said system manager is further configured to determine, based on said order, that said one package is expected to be delivered during a particular time period, said notification message indicating that said one package is expected to be delivered during said particular time period.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system manager is further configured to determine when said vehicle is within a predefined proximity of a premises of said one recipient based on signals transmitted from said vehicle, said system manager further configured to transmit a second notification message when said vehicle is within said predefined proximity.  
     
     
         8 . A method for reporting impending vehicle deliveries, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a package for delivery to a premises of a recipient;    assigning said package to a vehicle;    detecting when said package is assigned to said vehicle;    producing a notification message based upon said detecting step; said notification message indicating a time period in which said package is expected to be delivered at said premises;    transmitting said notification message to a recipient communication device; and    transporting said package to said premises via said vehicle.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of scanning a label of said package, wherein said detecting step further includes the step of detecting said scanning step.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 storing data indicating whether said package is assigned to a vehicle;    analyzing said data; and    performing said detecting step based on said analyzing step.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said notification message is an e-mail message.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining when said vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of said premises; and    transmitting a second notification message in response to said determining step.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of indicating, via said notification message, a sender of said package.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of indicating, via said notification message, a weight of said package.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a web page;    receiving contact information via said web page; and    utilizing said contact information to perform said transmitting step.    
     
     
         16 . A system for reporting impending vehicle deliveries, comprising: 
 means for receiving a package for delivery to a premises of a recipient;    means for assigning said package to a vehicle;    means for detecting when said package is assigned to said vehicle;    means for producing a notification message at a time after said package is detected, said notification message indicating a time period in which said package is expected to be delivered at said premises;    means for transmitting said notification message to a recipient communications device; and    means for transporting said package to said premises via said vehicle.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for scanning a label of said package and identifying said package based on said label, wherein said means for detecting detects that said package has been assigned to said vehicle based on whether said means for scanning has identified said package.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: means for storing data indicating whether said package is assigned to a vehicle; and 
 means for analyzing said data, wherein a detection of said package being assigned to said vehicle is based on an analysis of said data.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said notification message is an e-mail message.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for determining when said vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of said premises; and    means for transmitting a second notification message at a time after said vehicle is determined to be within said predefined proximity.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for indicating, via said notification message, a sender of said package.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for indicating, via said notification message, a weight of said package.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for maintaining a web page;    means for receiving contact information via said web page; and    means for utilizing said contact information to perform said transmitting step.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second notification messages are transmitted to a recipient remote communications device of said one recipient.