Apparatus, Systems and Methods for Online, Multi-Parcel, Multi-Carrier, Multi-Service Enterprise Parcel Shipping Management

Abstract

The present invention provides a plurality of Enterprises with a single online user interface with which the Enterprise can provide Enterprise Shippers, shipping origination users and shipping intermediary users with an automated parcel management system for a plurality of supported Carriers for a plurality of services. The present invention provides for the hierarchical definition of users, including the hierarchical definition of organizational units within each Enterprise. The present invention further provides for a distinct definition of policies, privileges, and other types of specifications for each user level, each user, and each organizational unit. The present invention applies the user and organizational policies, privileges and other specifications as they apply to each particular user to drive the interactive interface with each particular user and to provide among other things, shipping options, shipping services, shipping rates, traveler and/or shipping label preparation, and shipment tracking.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for providing by a computer, an online enterprise shipping management computer system, said method comprising:
 authorizing by a computer, a first user in an enterprise to act as a shipping administrator for the enterprise, with authority to set shipping parameter specifications for a plurality of users for the enterprise;   receiving input from the first user comprising a set of shipping parameter specifications for each user of a plurality of users within the enterprise;   designating by a computer in a computer-accessible memory, a set of shipping parameter specifications for each user of a plurality of users within the enterprise according to said input by the first user; and   in response to an input by a particular user of the plurality of users, displaying by a computer, interactive graphic user interface shipping selection options to the particular user according to the set of shipping parameter specifications input by the first user for the particular user.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , said method further comprising:
 authorizing by a computer, said first user to define a hierarchical definition of organizational units within the enterprise;   authorizing by a computer, said first user to define a relationship between each user of the plurality of users and a corresponding organizational unit within the enterprise;   receiving by a computer, input from the first user defining a particular hierarchical definition of a plurality of organizational units within the enterprise; and   receiving by a computer, input from the first user defining a relationship between a particular user and a particular organization unit.   
     
     
         27 . A method for providing by a computer, an online enterprise shipping management computer system, said method comprising:
 authorizing by a computer, a first user in an enterprise to act as a shipping administrator for the enterprise, with authority to set shipping policy rules for the enterprise and to set shipping parameter specifications for a plurality of users for the enterprise;   receiving input from the first user comprising a set of shipping policy rules for the enterprise;   receiving input from the first user comprising a set of shipping parameter specifications for each user of a plurality of users within the enterprise;   designating by a computer in a memory accessible by a computer, a set of shipping parameter specifications for each user of a plurality of users within the enterprise according to said input by the first user; and   in response to a shipping inquiry input by a particular user of the plurality of users, displaying by a computer, interactive graphic user interface shipping selection options to the particular user according to the set of shipping parameter specifications input by the first user for the particular user and according to the set of shipping policy rules for the enterprise.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , said shipping policy rules comprising a restriction of delivery services provided by a particular carrier that may be used by shipping users within the enterprise for shipping parcels. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , said method further comprising:
 displaying by a computer, said interactive graphic user interface shipping selection options restricting delivery services available for selection by the particular user according to said restriction of delivery services.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , said shipping policy rules comprising a definition of shipment rating available for the enterprise for delivery services provided by a particular carrier that may be used by shipping users within the enterprise for shipping parcels. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , said method further comprising:
 displaying by a computer, said interactive graphic user interface shipping selection options identifying shipment rating for delivery services available for selection by the particular user according to said definition of shipment rating.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , said method further comprising:
 receiving by a computer a shipping input by the particular user for shipping a particular item;   generating by a computer a package identifier for the particular item;   storing by a computer in a computer-accessible memory, an association between the package identifier and information regarding said enterprise.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , said information regarding said enterprise comprising account information for said enterprise. 
     
     
         34 . A method for providing by a computer, an online enterprise shipping management computer system, said method comprising:
 authorizing by a computer, a first user in an enterprise to act as a shipping administrator for the enterprise, with authority to set shipping policy rules for the enterprise;   receiving by a computer, an input from the first user comprising a set of shipping policy rules for the enterprise, said shipping policy rules comprising a definition of shipment rating available for the enterprise for delivery services provided by a particular carrier that may be used by shipping users within the enterprise for shipping parcels; and   in response to a shipping inquiry input by a particular user of the enterprise, displaying by a computer, interactive graphic user interface shipping selection options to the particular user according to the set of shipping policy rules for the enterprise.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , said method further comprising:
 receiving by a computer a user-specific set of shipping preferences from a particular user of the enterprise.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , said method further comprising:
 in response to said shipping inquiry input by said particular user of the enterprise, displaying by a computer, interactive graphic user interface shipping selection options to the particular user according to the set of shipping policy rules for the enterprise and according to said user-specific set of shipping preferences.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , said method further comprising:
 receiving by a computer a shipping input by the particular user for shipping a particular item;   generating by a computer a package identifier for the particular item;   storing by a computer in a computer-accessible memory, an association between the package identifier and information regarding said enterprise and information regarding said particular item; and   providing by a computer the package identifier to a recipient user.