Patents Assigned to United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11625971
    Abstract: A secure, computerized locker bank that is adapted to facilitate the payment for, and physical exchange of an item between entities who have brokered the sale of the item via a marketplace, such as an on-line marketplace (e.g., an on-line auction site, an on-line classified advertisement site, or an online retail marketplace), or a traditional marketplace (e.g., traditional paper classified advertisements). In particular embodiments, each locker in the computerized locker bank comprises one or more imaging devices for allowing a potential purchaser to view an item (e.g., stored within a locker) before purchasing the item and retrieving it from the locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Dotterweich, Jeffrey Cooper
  • Patent number: 11620611
    Abstract: A system and method for locating nearby attended delivery/pickup locations with a particular item in stock is described. The system receives a request from an individual to purchase a particular item from an on-line retailer. The system receives information associated with attended delivery/pickup locations, including location and inventory information. The system then determines which (if any) attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., the attended delivery/pickup locations are not the on-line retailer) are near the individual and have the particular item in stock and notifies the individual. In various embodiments, the system enables the user to purchase or reserve the particular item at the particular attended delivery/pickup location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Lievens, Vincent Dethier, Peter Henderickx, Luc Pirenne, Denis Payre
  • Patent number: 11607711
    Abstract: A multi-tiered automated parcel sortation system is utilized to sort parcels according to a common destination. A first tier includes an automated sorter configured to transport parcels from a source location to a release destination. A second tier includes accumulation containers each associated with a shipping destination, and the release destination within the first tier is a positioned directly above the accumulation container associated with the shipping destination of the parcel. Once transported to the release destination, a parcel is released into the accumulation container, and once the accumulation container is filled, the accumulation of parcels within the container is released into a third tier, which may include conveyors or autonomous guided vehicles with transport containers. In the third tier, the parcels are transported away for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Julian Leland Bell, Gregory Casanova Brown, II, Stephens Woodrough, Dameion Teres Drake
  • Patent number: 11605049
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention involve systems, methods, and computer program products that provide enhanced messages. In embodiment, a method for sending messages is provided that includes receiving shipping data that includes a destination address for delivery of an item, a message address for sending a notification message, customized data and a trigger event. In response to an occurrence of the triggering event, a notification message is sent to the message address and providing access to the customized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Dotterweich, Juan Perez, Jean Mense
  • Patent number: 11593867
    Abstract: A computer system configured to integrate a plurality of websites is provided. The computer system includes a memory, a display, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and the display. In one example, the system comprises a monitoring component executed by the at least one processor and configured to analyze web content generated by a website provider and detect one or more identified elements within the web content. The system may also comprise a converting component executed by the at least one processor and configured to, responsive to detection of the one or more identified elements by the monitoring component, convert at least one portion of the web content into converted content, wherein the at least one processor is configured to display, in the display, the converted content and at least one other portion of the web content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Sager
  • Patent number: 11593753
    Abstract: Rule data sets are received. These rule sets are associated with constraints controlling how records that are associated with the goods are consolidated. These goods are to be received for importing. An estimate score indicative of the risk for inspection for a first set of goods that are to be imported is generated. Based at least in part on the rule data sets and the generated estimate, a plurality of records are consolidated to a single instance for the first set of goods. Based on the consolidating, a user interface is caused to be generated that renders information associated with the consolidating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Grisz, Casey McCord, Emily Richards, Carol Crawford, Jose Landeros, Ayan Das, Christopher Martin Rubio
  • Patent number: 11587020
    Abstract: A synchronized delivery system for delivering parcels directly to an alternate delivery location such as a locker bank in lieu of making any delivery attempt at a primary delivery location such as a home or office. The system may deliver parcels directly to the alternate delivery location when a related parcel is currently stored at the alternate delivery location awaiting pickup. A related parcel may include a parcel addressed to the same consignee, to a related consignee (e.g., such as a neighbor, roommate, or spouse), or to another authorized to pick up parcels on behalf of the consignee. When delivering parcels to alternate deliver locations, the system may facilitate a grouping of related parcels in a single locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kalin Robinson, Robert J. Gillen
  • Patent number: 11587135
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting regulatory requirements for the distribution of controlled and non-controlled items such as, for example, non-controlled prescriptions (Rx), medical devices, and controlled substances in countries such as the United States and Canada, are provided. The systems and methods incorporate a license verification module that is configured to perform license validation for a particular order placed for a controlled and/or non-controlled item. In certain embodiments, the license verification module compares order data to historically sorted data and if one or more discrepancies exist, validation is unsuccessful. The license verification module may further query a third party database for updated license information upon validation failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mike Flanagan, Benny Delgado, Cheryl Wilson, Rohit Oberai, Preeti Singh, Richa Aggarwal, Amy Carney, Anilkumar Menon, Hammad Z. Muhammad, Satish B. Menon
  • Patent number: 11580684
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for an augmented reality display using an actual image of the item. Additionally, the present disclosure provides for a proportionally dimensioned representation of the item in the augmented reality display. In some aspects, a beacon/tag/sensor-based approach may be used. In some aspects, a marker-based approach may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Dotterweich, Christopher T. Schenken, Jeffrey Cooper
  • Patent number: 11580489
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for processing return transactions over a network. An embodiment of the invention discloses an online return application that generates an electronic return shipping label that can be delivered to a browser of a customer that wishes to make a return. Also, disclosed is the creation and transmission of label delivery links, which provide for dynamic generation and delivery of shipping labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Geoff S. Chalmers, Thomas V. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11574376
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a packaging instruction are disclosed. Sensor data of an item to be packaged is captured. The item is identified based on one or more detectable features. The item is determined to be associated with a plurality of item-specific characteristics that require different packaging materials. A plurality of user interface elements comprising the plurality of the item-specific characteristics is presented. A selection of one of the plurality of item-specific characteristics is received. An alternative packaging instruction associated with the received selection of the one of the plurality of item-specific characteristics is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Minda McAllister, Sue Burton, Adolfo Ceballos, Matthew Major, Eileen Webb
  • Patent number: 11556888
    Abstract: A user request associated with a first user and a shipment of one or more items is received. A prompt that the first user provide one or more biometric identifiers is provided. The prompt selectively excludes a request for billing information from the first user. At least partially in response to the providing of the prompt, at least a first biometric identifier of the first user is obtained. At least partially in response to the obtaining of the first biometric identifier of the first user, the billing information is automatically processed. Based at least in part on the automatically processing of the billing information, the user request associated with the shipment of the one or more items is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Juan Perez
  • Patent number: 11556885
    Abstract: An item drop box sensor system for detecting items deposited within a drop box may be configured to detect movement of an item deposit tray and to detect items deposited within the drop box. The drop box sensor system may comprise one or more tray movement sensors for detecting movement of the deposit tray, one or more item detection sensors configured to detect items passing into the drop box via the deposit tray, and an onboard controller for selectively activating the various sensors to conserve power and for transmitting data indicative of the status of the drop box to a central server configured for scheduling item pickups for various geographically spaced drop boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Asheesh Goja
  • Patent number: 11537972
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for arranging for shipping a package without the customer needing to generate or apply a shipping label, or any other information, to the package. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a carrier server and a carrier device. The carrier server may receive and store a smart code and shipping information associated with the package, which it may link together. The carrier device may capture the smart code from the package and send a request, including the smart code, to the carrier server for related shipping information. The carrier server may receive the request from the carrier device, retrieve the shipping information based on the smart code, and send the shipping information to the carrier device. The carrier device may receive the shipping information and generate a shipping label for the package based on the shipping information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gillen, Mark S. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11526973
    Abstract: A first parcel digital image associated with a first interaction point is received. The first parcel digital image may be associated with a first parcel being transported to or from the first interaction point. At least a second parcel digital image associated with at least a second interaction point is further be received. The second parcel digital image may be associated with the first parcel being transported to or from the second interaction point. A first parcel damage analysis is automatically generated based at least in part on analyzing the first parcel digital image and the at least second parcel image. The damage analysis can include determining whether the first parcel is damaged above or below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Asheesh Goja
  • Patent number: 11526830
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, a connection between an electronic door hanger and a customer computing entity can be established at a customer's location. With a connection established, information about an attempted (e.g., successful/unsuccessful) pick-up or delivery can be automatically provided to the customer computing entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gillen, Kenneth Bradley Gubler
  • Patent number: 11514541
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products are provided. In an example embodiment, a method is provided comprising receiving input identifying load information corresponding to a load to be inserted into a transportation plan. The transportation plan comprises a plurality of transportation schedules, each schedule comprising a plurality of transportation movements. The method further comprises identifying an available movement network comprising portions of transportation schedules having open capacity, each portion of a transportation schedule having open capacity being a potential leg of a path from the origin location to the destination location; determining potential solutions for transporting the load from the origin location to the destination location by combining one or more legs to determine a path of open capacity movements from the origin location to at least part way to the destination location; and providing one or more potential solutions for display via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Mohr, Anthony Michael Celmer, Kristina M. McGowan, Keith Alan Ware, James Murphy, Chi-yin Cheng, Lee Anthony Mitchell, Jessica Myers
  • Patent number: 11501242
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for determining/identifying confidence ratings/indicators for delivery of items. In one embodiment, this comprises determining a number of location events that occurred within a zone of confidence for delivery an item to a serviceable address; and responsive to determining the number of location events that occurred within the zone of confidence for delivery the item to the serviceable address, determining, via one or more processors, a confidence rating for delivery of the item to the serviceable address based at least in part on the number of location events that occurred within the zone of confidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jay Christian Staples
  • Patent number: 11492202
    Abstract: An identifier associated with one or more assets is obtained in response to a reader component reading a tag associated with one or more assets as the one or more assets traverse a conveyor apparatus. At least partially in response to the obtaining of the identifier, a storage unit of a plurality of storage units is caused to automatically rotate to a loading location to receive the one or more assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Julio Gil, Thomas Ramsager
  • Patent number: 11488436
    Abstract: Computerized locker banks and related computing systems, according to various embodiments, are adapted to track consignee-specific and non-consignee-specific data regarding the pickup of parcels from particular locker banks (or other alternate delivery locations) and to use that information to forecast inventories for the particular locker banks over time. For example, the system may use this information, and/or other suitable information, to generate a set of projected inventories for a particular locker bank for each sequential two-hour block of time on a particular day. This information may be used to determine which locker bank to route a particular parcel to. This may be especially useful in the context of “not-in-one” deliveries in which a delivery driver unsuccessfully attempts to deliver a parcel to a consignee's primary delivery address and the parcel is re-routed to a locker bank or other alternative delivery location for later pickup by the consignee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kalin Robinson