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.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying a customer profile corresponding to at least one item to be delivered by a carrier, the method comprising:
 storing, via one or more processors, a plurality of customer profiles corresponding respectively to a plurality of customers, wherein each customer profile comprises at least one delivery address;   receiving, via the one or more processors, shipping information corresponding to an item to be delivered by a carrier, wherein the shipping information comprises a delivery address for the item;   identifying, via the one or more processors, a delivery address of a first customer profile from the plurality of customer profiles that is the same as the delivery address for the item; and   after identifying the delivery address of the first customer profile from the plurality of customer profiles that is the same as the delivery address for the item, associating, via the one or more processors, the shipping information corresponding to the item with the first customer profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (1) associating the shipping information corresponding to the item with the first customer profile comprises storing a customer identifier in association with the shipping information and (2) the customer identifier corresponds to the first customer profile. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping information is received from a scan of the item. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (1) the shipping information further indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item, and (2) the method further comprises receiving authorization from the customer to deliver the item without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (a) after shipment of the item has begun and (b) prior to a first delivery attempt of the item. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (1) each customer profile further comprises at least one customer name, (2) the shipping information further comprises a customer name for the item, and (3) the method further comprises determining whether at least one customer name in the customer profile is the same as the customer name for the item. 
     
     
         6 . A computing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the computing system to at least:
 store a plurality of customer profiles corresponding respectively to a plurality of customers, wherein each customer profile comprises at least one delivery address;   receive shipping information corresponding to an item to be delivered by a carrier, wherein the shipping information comprises a delivery address for the item;   identify a delivery address of a first customer profile from the plurality of customer profiles that is the same as the delivery address for the item; and   after identifying the delivery address of the first customer profile from the plurality of customer profiles that is the same as the delivery address for the item, associate the shipping information corresponding to the item with the first customer profile.   
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein (1) associating the shipping information corresponding to the item with the first customer profile comprises storing a customer identifier in association with the shipping information and (2) the customer identifier corresponds to the first customer profile. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the shipping information is received from a scan of the item. 
     
     
         9 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein (1) the shipping information further indicates that an in-person signature from the customer is requested for delivery of the item, and (2) the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the computing system to receive authorization from the customer to deliver the item without an in-person signature from the customer, wherein the authorization is received (a) after shipment of the item has begun and (b) prior to a first delivery attempt of the item. 
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein (1) each customer profile further comprises at least one customer name, (2) the shipping information further comprises a customer name for the item, and (3) the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the computing system to determine whether at least one customer name in the customer profile is the same as the customer name for the item.