Patent ID: 7885821
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A package pickup indicator system comprising: a customer-operated monitoring system; and a visual indicator detected by a route driver for a shipping carrier in a shipping carrier vehicle; wherein the monitoring system is in communication with at least one shipping carrier customer package tracking system and is in communication with the visual indicator, wherein the monitoring system queries the shipping carrier customer package tracking system using a package-tracking number corresponding to a previously-identified package to ascertain the status of the previously-identified package, wherein the monitoring system activates the visual indicator when the status of the previously-identified package indicates that the previously-identified package is ready for pickup, wherein the monitoring system automatically deactivates the visual indicator when the status of the previously-identified package indicates that the previously-identified package is in possession of the shipping carrier; wherein the visual indicator is positioned on a regular route of the shipping carrier and the place of business is not on the regular route of the shipping carrier; wherein the visual indicator signals the route driver to avoid entering the place of business to determine whether the previously-identified package needs to be shipped; and wherein a status of the visual indicator is published to at least one employee at the place of business, wherein the status of the visual indicator indicates whether visual indicator is deactivated.