Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COURIER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the
present
invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided
herein is prior art, or
material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any
publication or
document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of courier
services and parcel
handling and more specifically relates to parcel pickup and delivery
scheduling.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] Many people ship parcels either for personal or business reasons.
Some of these
people travel to their local shipping facility while others have people pick
up their parcel to
be shipped later that day. Timely delivery is often a factor as well as
pricing; if a parcel is late
or too expensive to ship it may not get to the destination. One such
alternative to having a
parcel pickup service is a parcel courier, a person which may be used as a
parcel courier to
take a parcel to a destination of their choosing for a predetermined price.
[0003] Parcel couriers are often preferred in large cities, due to the
travel time and cost of
using a personal vehicle to locate a post office or parcel shipping center.
However,
determining and locating a courier in highly populated areas is a difficult
task. Commonly a
person would have to call a dispatch center to see if a courier is in the area
and available for
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hire. Once a courier becomes available you must then discuss a cost for
service to pick up a
parcel, this is a very time consuming processes. A suitable solution is
desired.
[00041 Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned
problems such as
those found in U.S. Pub. Nos. 2016/0019496 to Marc Gorlin; 2004/0219933 to
Jonathan
David Faith; 2009/0012802 to John F. Wynne; 2015/0039362 to Mashhur Zarif
Hague;
2004/0030572 to Helen Campbell et al.; 2013/0080347 to Boris Paul et al.;
2008/0210749 to
Ole-Petter Skaaksrud et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,473,326 to Charles M. Griffith
et al.; and
7,248,160 to Anthony Mangan et al. This art is representative of parcel
handling. However,
none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in
combination, is seen to
describe the invention as claimed.
[0005] Preferably, a courier management system should provide parcel pickup
and
delivery scheduling using a courier management web application run through a
smart
electronic device for the delivery of merchandise and, yet would operate
reliably and be
manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable courier
management
system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known parcel
handling art,
the present invention provides a novel courier management system. The general
purpose of
the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail
is to provide
parcel pickup and delivery scheduling using a courier management web
application run
through a smart electronic device for the delivery of merchandise.
[0007] A courier management system is disclosed herein, in a preferred
embodiment,
comprising: a courier management web application comprising a hiring system
comprising, a
driver proximity locator, a weight calculator, a delivery time calculator, a
final destination
estimator, and a tracking system comprising a carrier GPS device. Courier
management
system comprises the courier management web application, and the courier
management web
application comprises in functional combination the hiring system, the weight
calculator, the
delivery time calculator, the final destination estimator, and the tracking
system. The hiring
system comprises the driver proximity locator which is directed through the
courier
management web application on a smart electronic device, and denotes proposed
routes to a
driver. The courier management web application is capable of displaying photos
on the smart
electronic device, and the courier management web application stores
information on the
drivers by scanning a license of the driver with the smart electronic device
camera.
[0008] The courier management web application requests replacement of the
driver in
event of a vehicle breakdown. The courier management web application stores
pick-up and
delivery addresses for merchandise as well as the weight calculator, the
delivery time
calculator, and the final destination estimator, which then provides package
delivery service
information through the courier management web application on the smart
electronic device.
=
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The courier management web application is capable of sorting requests by
distance, and
distance is calculated in minutes. The courier management web application is
capable of
sorting the requests by location, price, size, and timing. The courier
management web
application submits information of a person placing the request along with
billing details of
the person, and processes payments through the courier management web
application for
payment of the requests upon delivery. The courier management web application
creates
unique codes to verify the delivery has been completed. The hiring system and
the driver
proximity locator discover a driver and allows a driver to transport at least
one package
between desired locations. The courier management web application suggests
routes for the
driver to travel while delivering the merchandise. The courier management web
application
furnishes tangible output of package delivery to an end-user in an efficient
and cost-effective
manner.
[0009] The
courier management system kit is also disclosed herein, including: a mobile
application software; and a set of user instructions.
[00010] A method of using a courier management system is also disclosed herein
comprising the steps of: downloading courier management web application;
logging into
courier management web application; acquiring a driver through courier
management web
application; scheduling a pick-up through courier management web application;
paying for
service through courier management web application; tracking progress of
delivery through
courier management web application; and confirming delivery of merchandise
through
courier management web application. The method may further comprise the steps
of:
printing a receipt of completed transaction; and providing feedback on driver
after completed
transaction.
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[00011] The
present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a courier
management system. For
purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects,
advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It
is to be
understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in
accordance with any
one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be
embodied or carried
out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of
advantages as taught
herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or
suggested herein.
The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly
pointed out and
distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and
other features,
aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood
with
reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00012] The figures which accompany the written portion of this
specification illustrate
embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, courier management
system,
constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
[00013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a courier management
system during
an 'in-use' condition showing a requested driver in process of delivering a
package through
the courier management web application on an electronic device, where the
driver's cell
phone is tracked through GPS according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[00014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the courier management
system
comprising a list of options for the courier management web application as
shown using by
using a smart electronic device according to an embodiment of the present
invention of FIG.
1.
[00015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the courier management
system showing
a user receiving an acknowledgement for a scheduled pick-up according to an
embodiment of
the present invention of FIGS. 1-2.
[00016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the courier management
system showing
a driver delivering a requested package with a smart electronic device
indicating package
delivery completion according to an embodiment of the present invention of
FIGS. 1-3.
[00017] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the courier
management
system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.
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[00018] The
various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like
elements.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1000191 As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to
parcel
handling and more particularly to a courier management system as used to
improve efficiency
in parcel pickup and delivery scheduling.
[00020] Generally speaking, the present invention is an application for
courier sharing
services. Products are delivered from one location to another by hiring a
driver nearby
through the application. Existing smart electronic device technology pinpoints
driver
locations, and connects a driver with a business close to the driver for pick-
up and delivery of
products. Once a driver is hired, they are able to log onto the app and begin
pick-up and
delivery service. Customers who are in need of this service log on and are
connected with
drivers who are logged on, and close by who can pick up their items and
deliver them to their
destination. Based on their delivery needs (such as weight, delivery time and
location), prices
are calculated accordingly, charged within the app (via credit card), payments
are then
received and shared between company and driver. The application will
essentially he a
courier sharing service that lowers costs for companies and consumers.
[00021] Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown
in FIGS. 1-4,
courier management system 100 comprising courier management web application
110
comprising hiring system 112 comprising driver proximity locator 114, weight
calculator
116, delivery time calculator 118, final destination estimator 120, and
tracking system 122
comprising carrier GPS device 124.
[00022] Courier management web application 110 comprises in functional
combination
hiring system 112, weight calculator 116, delivery time calculator 118, final
destination
estimator 120, and tracking system 122. Hiring system 112 comprises driver
proximity
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locator 114 which is directed through courier management web application 110
on smart
electronic device 126, wherein weight calculator 116, delivery time calculator
118, and final
destination estimator 120 provide package delivery service information through
courier
management web application 110 on smart electronic device 126. Hiring system
112 and
driver proximity locator 114 discover driver 128 to transport at least one
package 130
between desired locations, and wherein courier management web application 110
furnishes
tangible output of package delivery to an end-user in an efficient and cost-
effective manner.
[00023] Courier management web application 110 submits information from a
person
placing a request along with billing details of the person. Courier management
web
application 110 denotes proposed routes to driver 128. Courier management web
application
110 requests replacement of driver 128 in event of a vehicle breakdown.
Courier management
web application 110 stores pick-up and delivery address for merchandise.
Courier
management web application 110 sorts requests by distance, and distance is
calculated in
minutes. Courier management web application 110 also sorts requests by
location, price, size,
and timing. Courier management web application 110 is capable of displaying
photos on
smart electronic device 126. Courier management web application 110 stores
information on
driver(s)128 by scanning a license of driver 128 with smart electronic device
126 camera.
Courier management web application 110 processes payments through courier
management
web application 110 for payment of requests upon delivery. Courier management
web
application 110 creates unique codes to verify delivery has been completed.
Courier
management web application 110 suggests routes for driver 128 to travel while
delivering
merchandise.
[00024] Courier management system 100 may be sold as kit 440 comprising the
following
parts: at least one mobile application software; and at least one set of user
instructions. The
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kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in
relation to the structure of
the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in
a preferred
manner). Courier management system 100 may be manufactured and provided for
sale in a
wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon
reading this
specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances,
considering
such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences,
cost, structural
requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit
contents or
arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components,
customized parts,
different delivery means and combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc.,
may be
sufficient.
[00025] Referring now to FIG. 5 showing flowchart 550 illustrating method of
use 500 for
courier management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present
invention of
FIGS. 1-4. As shown, method of use 500 may comprise the steps of: step one
501,
downloading courier management web application 110; step two 502, logging in
to courier
management web application 110; step three 503, acquiring a driver 128 through
courier
management web application 110; step four 504, scheduling a pick-up through
courier
management web application 110; step five 505, paying for service through
courier
management web application 110; step six 506, tracking progress of delivery
through courier
management web application 110; step seven 507, confirming delivery of
merchandise
through courier management web application 110; step eight 508, printing a
receipt of
completed transaction; and step nine 509, providing feedback on driver 128
after completed
transaction.
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[00026] It should be noted that step 508 and 509 are optional steps and may
not be
implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated
using dotted
lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of
use 500.
[00027] It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use
can be carried out
in many different orders according to user preference. The use of "step of"
should not be
interpreted as "step for", in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke
the provisions of
35 U.S.C. 112, "[F 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be
appreciated that, under
appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user
preferences,
marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials,
technological
advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example,
different orders
within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps,
including or excluding
certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
[00028] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and
numerous
modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to
achieve
substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced
within the spirit and
scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to
enable the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
scientist, engineers
and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms
or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical
disclosure of the application.
