Systems and methods for providing personalized delivery services

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing personalized delivery services by a carrier providing a package delivery service. For example, a consignee may indicate a delivery preference to be applied to delivery of a package, such as indicating a specific location where the package is to be left upon delivery, if the consignee is not present to accept the package. In one embodiment, the consignee may be notified by the carrier of the scheduled delivery of the package, and may be linked to the carrier's web site to indicate a delivery preference. Alternatively, the delivery preference may be indicated by the consignee proactively accessing the web site. After conveying a delivery preference, the carrier's systems communicate the delivery preference at the appropriate time to a portable computing device which informs the delivery personnel of the consignee's delivery preference. Other embodiments allow the consignor to indicate delivery preferences.

1 . A method for providing at least one instruction for delivering at least one item to a customer by a carrier, the method comprising:
 storing, via a carrier system, shipping information corresponding to a package to be delivered to a customer by a carrier;   receiving, via the carrier system, at least one instruction for delivering the package, wherein the at least one instruction (1) is provided by the customer after shipment of the package and (2) is received by the carrier system prior to a first delivery attempt of the package;   updating, via the carrier system, the shipping information to reflect the at least one instruction;   transmitting, via the carrier system to a portable computing device, at least a portion of the updated shipping information corresponding to the package, the updated shipping information comprising the at least one instruction; and   receiving, via the portable computing device, at least a portion of the updated shipping information corresponding to the package, wherein (1) the portable computing device is operated by a delivery person of the carrier, and (2) the package is subsequently delivered by the delivery person in accordance with the at least one instruction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising causing display, via the portable computing device, of the at least a portion of the updated shipping information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 storing notification preferences for providing information to the customer, wherein the notification preferences identify at least one communication format and at least one corresponding electronic destination address to be used in providing the information to the customer; 
 automatically generating a message providing the information regarding the package to be delivered to the customer; and 
 automatically transmitting the message to the at least one corresponding electronic destination address prior to the first delivery attempt of the package to the customer. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one communication format is selected from the group consisting of a text message, an email message, and a voice message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one instruction identifies a location at the delivery address at which the package should be left. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one instruction identifies a code to input for entering an area proximate the delivery address. 
     
     
         7 . A system for providing at least one instruction for delivering at least one package to a customer, the system comprising (1) a carrier system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage areas and (2) a portable computing device comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage areas:
 wherein the carrier system is configured:
 store shipping information corresponding to a package to be delivered to a customer by a carrier, 
 receive at least one instruction for delivering the package, wherein the at least one instruction (1) is provided by the customer after shipment of the package and (2) is received by the carrier system prior to a first delivery attempt of the package, 
 update the shipping information to reflect the at least one instruction, and 
 transmit at least a portion of the updated shipping information corresponding to the package, the updated shipping information comprising the at least one instruction, and 
   wherein the portable computing device is configured to receive at least a portion of the updated shipping information corresponding to the package, and wherein (1) the portable computing device is operated by a delivery person of the carrier, and (2) the package is subsequently delivered by the delivery person in accordance with the at least one instruction.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the portable computing device is further configured to cause display of the at least a portion of the updated shipping information. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the carrier system is further configured to:
 store notification preferences for providing information to the customer, wherein the notification preferences identify at least one communication format and at least one corresponding electronic destination address to be used in providing the information to the customer; 
 automatically generate a message providing the information regarding the package to be delivered to the customer; and 
 automatically transmit the message to the at least one corresponding electronic destination address prior to the first delivery attempt of the package to the customer. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one communication format is selected from the group consisting of a text message, an email message, and a voice message. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one instruction identifies a location at the delivery address at which the package should be left. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one instruction identifies a code to input for entering an area proximate the delivery address.