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 information regarding at least one package to be delivered to a customer, the method comprising:
 storing notification preferences for providing information to a customer regarding a package to be delivered 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.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication format is selected from the group consisting of a text message, an email message, and a voice message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving the notification preferences as input from the customer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notification preferences are stored in association with a profile of the customer. 
     
     
         5 . A computing system for providing information regarding at least one package to be delivered to a customer comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the computing system configured to:
 store notification preferences for providing information to a customer regarding a package to be delivered 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.   
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one communication format is selected from the group consisting of a text message, an email message, and a voice message. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 5 , wherein the computing system is further configured to receive the notification preferences as input from the customer. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 5 , wherein the notification preferences are stored in association with a profile of the customer.