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 receiving authorization to deliver at least one package, the method comprising:
 electronically receiving shipping information corresponding to a package to be delivered to a customer by a carrier, wherein the shipping information indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the package; and   electronically receiving authorization from the customer to deliver the package without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (1) after shipment of the package has begun and (2) prior to a first delivery attempt of the package.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising generating and transmitting a message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer, the message indicating that the package will be delivered without an in-person signature from the customer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising causing display of at least a portion of the shipping information corresponding to the package to be delivered to the customer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least a portion of the shipping information is displayed via a web interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 automatically generating a message comprising at least a portion of the shipping information regarding the package to be delivered to the customer, wherein the message indicates an expected delivery date of the package; and 
 automatically transmitting the message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer prior to the first delivery attempt of the package. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the message further indicates (1) an expected delivery time of the package and (2) that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the package. 
     
     
         7 . A computing system for receiving authorization to deliver at least one package comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the computing system configured to:
 receive shipping information corresponding to a package to be delivered to a customer by a carrier, wherein the shipping information indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the package; and   receive authorization from the customer to deliver the package without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (1) after shipment of the package has begun and (2) prior to a first delivery attempt of the package.   
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 7 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to generate and transmit a message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer, the message indicating that the package will be delivered without an in-person signature from the customer. 
     
     
         9 . The computing system of  claim 8 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause display of at least a portion of the shipping information corresponding to the package to be delivered to the customer. 
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least a portion of the shipping information is displayed via a web interface. 
     
     
         11 . The computing system of  claim 7 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 automatically generate a message comprising at least a portion of the shipping information regarding the package to be delivered to the customer, wherein the message indicates an expected delivery date of the package; and   automatically transmit the message to an electronic destination address associated with the customer prior to the first delivery attempt of the package.   
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the message further indicates (1) an expected delivery time of the package and (2) that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the package.