Peer to Peer Delivery System

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement an N-tier application package delivery service. Drivers can register for the system and then be presented with automatic alerts when pick up points (for delivery tasks) are nearby or along their current route so that drivers can make extra money by picking packages that are available on or near their current route and then deliver them. Driving patterns of each driver are detected, stored, and analyzed so that their destinations can automatically be predicted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to verify a delivery, comprising:
 causing one or more electronic processing units to perform:   providing instructions to a driver to deliver a package to a receiver;   locating the driver and the receiver;   confirming that the driver and the receiver are in proximity to each other;   transmitting a first code to a selected person out of a set comprising driver and receiver and instructing the selected person to convey the first code to a remaining person in the set;   receiving a transmission from the remaining person comprising a second code;   comparing the first code to the second code;   upon a match of the first code to the second code, then electronically recording in a server that the delivery is verified.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first code is transmitted to the selected person in the form of a barcode. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising enabling the remaining person to scan the first code into a portable device, and the transmission from the remaining person is received from the portable device. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected person is the driver and the remaining person is the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected person is the receiver and the remaining person is the driver. 
     
     
         6 . A method to verify a delivery, comprising:
 causing one or more electronic processing units to perform:   providing instructions to a driver to deliver a package to a receiver;   locating the driver and the receiver;   confirming that the driver and the receiver are in proximity to each other;   causing a portable computing device of the driver and a portable computing device of the receiver to implementing a handshake via wireless signal;   receiving a transmission from one of the portable computing devices confirming the handshake; and   electronically recording in a server that the delivery is verified.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the handshake comprises:
 causing a wireless transmission of a code by a first portable computing device in a set comprising the portable computing device of the driver and the portable computing device of the receiver to a remaining portable computing device in the set;   causing the remaining portable computing device to transmit the code to a server;   receiving, by the server, the code transmitted from the remaining portable computing device;   and confirming that the code received by the server is authentic.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first portable computing device is the portable computing device of the driver and the second portable computing device is the portable computing device of the receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first portable computing device is the portable computing device of the receiver and the second portable computing device is the portable computing device of the driver. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising, after the confirming the handshake, initiating electronic payment to the driver for the delivery. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus to verify a delivery, comprising:
 one or more electronic processing units connected to a computer readable storage medium which stores computer readable instructions which are programmed to cause the one or more electronic processing units to:   provide instructions to a driver to deliver a package to a receiver;   electronically locate the driver and the receiver;   confirm that the driver and the receiver are in proximity to each other;   transmit a first code to a selected person out of a set comprising driver and receiver and instructing the selected person to convey the first code to a remaining person in the set;   receive a transmission from the remaining person comprising a second code;   compare the first code to the second code;   upon a match of the first code to the second code, then electronically record in a server that the delivery is verified.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further programmed such that the first code is transmitted to the selected person in the form of a barcode. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further programmed to enable the remaining person to scan the first code into a portable device, and the transmission from the remaining person is received from the portable device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further programmed such that the selected person is the driver and the remaining person is the receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further programmed such that the selected person is the receiver and the remaining person is the driver. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus to verify a delivery, comprising:
 one or more electronic processing units connected to a computer readable storage medium which stores computer readable instructions which are programmed to cause the one or more electronic processing units to:   provide instructions to a driver to deliver a package to a receiver;   electronically locate the driver and the receiver;   confirm that the driver and the receiver are in proximity to each other;   cause a portable computing device of the driver and a portable computing device of the receiver to implementing a handshake via wireless signal;   receive a transmission from one of the portable computing devices confirming the handshake; and   electronically record in a server that the delivery is verified.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further programmed such that the handshake performs operations to:
 cause a wireless transmission of a code by a first portable computing device in a set comprising the portable computing device of the driver and the portable computing device of the receiver to a remaining portable computing device in the set;   cause the remaining portable computing device to transmit the code to a server;   receive, by the server, the code transmitted from the remaining portable computing device;   and confirm that the code received by the server is authentic.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further programmed such that the first portable computing device is the portable computing device of the driver and the second portable computing device is the portable computing device of the receiver. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further programmed such that the first portable computing device is the portable computing device of the receiver and the second portable computing device is the portable computing device of the driver. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further programmed to cause, after the confirming the handshake, initiate electronic payment to the driver for the delivery.