Abstract:
A method and system for verifying proper delivery of goods. A seller receives an order to deliver goods to a specified location. The seller hires a shipper to deliver the goods. Upon delivery the physical location of the goods is identified by the shipper and recorded to verify that the goods have in fact been delivered to the specified location. In one embodiment, a universal time is obtained and recorded upon delivery. The identified physical location and the universal time are made available to the buyer and the seller.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a system for confirming delivery, and more particularly, to a system and method for recording a universal time, physical location, and recipient identifier at the point of delivery.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Transporting goods and other deliverables plays a vital role in commerce. Undesirable consequences inevitably arise when goods fail to reach their intended destination as promised. Payroll checks are not distributed, perishables are lost, birthday presents are not received, and business opportunities and commitments are missed. Shippers, such as the United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service, and Federal Express to name only three, provide tracking services so that the party shipping the deliverable and the intended recipient can follow the progress of the deliverable once in the hands of the shipper. Typically, these services are provided over the Internet supplying information such as the intended delivery address, an expected delivery date, and the present or last recorded location of the deliverable. Once delivered, one can obtain a delivery date and time, and in some cases an identifier, such as a signature, of the recipient.  
           [0003]    For reasons of convenience, a shipper will often times leave goods on the doorstep or at a receiving dock when an intended recipient is not available. While there exists a risk that someone other than the intended recipient will retrieve the deliverable, that risk is outweighed by the convenience afforded to the intended recipient. For example, a person may order goods to be delivered to a home address. That person is at work during the scheduled delivery time but authorizes the shipper to leave the package on the front porch. Having the package upon returning home is often times more convenient than re-scheduling a delivery time or traveling to the shipper&#39;s placer of business to retrieve the goods.  
           [0004]    Inevitably, when delivering goods problems do arise. The shipper may leave the goods at the wrong address. Someone other than the intended recipient may take the goods. Or, the goods may merely be misplaced. For example, instead of being left at the receiving dock at the rear of a business, the goods might be mistakenly left just outside the front door. Regardless of the cause, when the intended recipient arrives, the goods cannot be found where expected. Because the shipper leaves the goods without receiving confirmation such as the signature of the recipient, the shipper cannot immediately confirm that the deliverable was left at the correct address or location. Consequently, the shipper cannot determine whether the goods were properly delivered and then stolen or misplaced or whether the shipper mistakenly left the goods at the wrong address.  
           [0005]    What is needed is a system and method for identifying and recording the physical location of the goods as they are delivered. The system and method would allow the shipper to verify that the goods were properly delivered as well as when the goods were delivered.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is directed to a method and system for verifying proper delivery of goods. A seller receives an order to deliver goods to a specified location. The seller hires a shipper to deliver the goods. Upon delivery the physical location of the goods is identified by the shipper and recorded to verify that the goods have in fact been delivered to the specified location. In one embodiment, a universal time is obtained and recorded upon delivery. The identified physical location and the universal time are made available to both the buyer and the seller. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a transaction environment for the delivery of goods that includes a buyer, a seller, a shipper, a delivery device, and a ticket.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a block diagram further illustrating the logical elements of the ticket according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a block diagram further illustrating the logical components of the delivery device according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a delivery record according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the transaction for delivery of goods according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    COMPONENTS: FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a transaction environment  10  for the delivery and payment of goods. Although the various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein will be described with reference to environment  10 , the invention is not limited to use with environment  10 . The invention may be implemented in or used within any environment in which it is necessary or desirable to deliver and confirm delivery of goods. The following description and the drawings illustrate only a few exemplary embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments, forms, and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is expressed in the claims that follow this description.  
         [0013]    Referring to FIG. 1, environment  10  includes buyer  12 , seller  14 , shipper  16 , goods  18 , delivery device  20 , tracking service  21 , and communications link  22 . Buyer  12 , seller  14 , and shipper  16  represent respectively individuals or business entities ordering, selling, or shipping goods  18 . Goods  18  represent generally any deliverable such as a package, letter, or any other item transferable from one location to another. Although FIG. 1 illustrates buyer  12  receiving goods  18 , buyer  12  need not be the recipient. Buyer  12  may order goods for delivery to another business or individual. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, ticket  24 , associated with goods  18 , represents generally any source of information representing recipient data  26  and, in some cases, goods data  28 . Recipient data  26  typically includes information identifying the intended recipient such as the recipient&#39;s name and delivery location. Goods data  28  contains information identifying the goods  18  such as a description of the goods, a purchase price, serial numbers, manufacture dates, and the like.  
         [0014]    Delivery device  20  represents generally any combination of hardware and programming capable of reading information from ticket  24 . For example, if ticket  24  uses bar codes, then delivery device  20  includes an optical scanner and supporting programming to read bar codes. If ticket  24  instead uses an e-label such as a radio frequency readable identifier (RFID tag) or other electronic file stored in a storage medium affixed to goods  18  or in a storage medium delivered along with goods  18 , then delivery device  20  is a computing device capable of receiving and interpreting the electronic file. Many other possibilities exist. Ticket  24  need only contain information relating to the recipient ( 26 ) and delivery device  20  need only be capable of reading and processing the information from ticket  24 . Ticket  24  need not actually contain data  26  and/or  28 , but rather it need only provide information concerning how to access such data  26  and/or  28 . For example, if seller  14  stores data  26  and  28  as a record in a central database, then ticket  24  need only contain information identifying that record. One exemplary implementation would be a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Alternatively, ticket  24  may actually contain recipient and goods data  26  and  28 . This data may or may not be compressed and/or encrypted.  
         [0015]    Tracking service  21  represents generally any combination of software and/or hardware capable of publishing delivery information. It is envisioned that tracking service  21  will publish the delivery information over the Internet. Delivery information includes information concerning a particular delivery. This information can contain, among other items, the time and data of delivery, data representing the signature of the recipient, and data identifying the goods. Typically shipper  16  provides and maintains tracking service  21 .  
         [0016]    Communications link  22  interconnects buyer  12 , seller  14 , shipper  16 , and tracking service  21 . Communication link  22  represents generally any mode of communication including a cable, wireless, or remote connection via a telecommunication link, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, or any other connector or system that provides electronic or voice communication. Communication link  22  may represent a telephone voice or facsimile link, an intranet, the Internet, or a combination of any of the above.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 further illustrates the logical components of delivery device  20 . Delivery device  20  includes reader  30 , position locator  32 , and comparator  34 , time service  36 , recorder  38 , log  40 , and interface  42 . Reader  30  represents generally any combination of hardware and programming capable of acquiring and processing information from ticket  24 . Position locator  32  represents a combination of hardware and programming capable of communicating with a positioning service to acquire the physical location of goods  18  as ticket  24  is being read. The term positioning service includes any combination of hardware and/or programming capable of supplying locator  32  with the physical location of a point specified by locator  32 . It is envisioned that position locator  32  will incorporate a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and programming capable of communicating with a positioning service—in this case Global Positioning satellites—to acquire and record the physical location of goods  18  as reader  30  acquires information from ticket  24 . Comparator  34  represents generally any programming capable of identifying, from the information obtained from ticket  24  by reader  30 , an intended delivery location and to then compare that intended delivery location with the physical location of goods  18  as determined by position locator  32 . Comparator  34  then issues an alert indicating discrepancies between the physical location as determined by position locator  32  and the intended delivery location as obtained from ticket  24 . The alert may be in the form of an audible or visual signal informing shipper  16  that the physical location of goods  18  does not match the intended delivery location. The intended delivery location may be in the form of an address, physical coordinates, or any other form identifying a particular physical location.  
         [0018]    Time service represents any hardware and/or programming capable of identifying a universal time as reader  30  reads ticket  24 . A universal time is extremely accurate and can be obtained easily via radio signals which are broadcast worldwide continuously. Using universal time allows for precise time verification which can be translated into any local time easily. This reduces the likelihood of “translation” errors into the local time zone, in that the universal time will always be available in the delivery records. A delivery time reference having worldwide significance allows any interested person to easily ascertain the relative impact of the delivery time upon activities which are local to the delivery, or alternatively which are in distant parts of the world relative to the delivery location. The timing of the delivery, and more relevant to this invention, knowledge of the actual timing of the delivery can be very important information. The examples of first a financial transaction having hard deadlines, and secondly, a delivery of a needed medical item in time for an important medical procedure are only two circumstances that clearly point out the benefits and utility of having ready access to this important information. Recorder  38  represents generally any programming capable of obtaining information from position locator  32 , comparator  34 , and time service  36  and to record that information in log  40 . Log  40  represents a memory area capable of storing electronic data gathered and assembled by recorder  38 . Interface  42  represents generally hardware, programming or any combination of hardware and programming capable of transmitting and receiving electronic data allowing delivery device  20  to connect to communications link  22 . Interface  42  may incorporate a wireless modem or other similar mechanism allowing delivery device  20  to communicate directly in real time with seller  14  and/or buyer  12 . When reading ticket  24 , position locator  32  and time service  36  can cause device  20  to transmit the physical location of the goods and the identified universal time to seller  14  and/or buyer  12 . “Physical location,” as used herein, includes locations which are defined by street address including city and country information, as well as locations which are defined by geophysical coordinates such as latitude and longitude.  
         [0019]    It is envisioned that as goods  18  are delivered, delivery device  20  will read ticket  24  identifying recipient and goods data  26  and  28 . Delivery device  20  will generate a delivery record  44 , illustrated in FIG. 4, to be stored in log  40  or posted directly to tracking service  21  through interface  42  and communications link  22 . Delivery record  44  will contain delivery and goods information  46  and  48 . Delivery information  46  will include the physical location obtained by position locator  32 , the specified delivery location obtained from ticket  24 , any discrepancies found by comparator  34 , and perhaps electronic data representing the signature or other identifier of the recipient of goods  18 . Goods information  48  may include information identifying goods  18  such as a description, serial number, or other identifier for a package in which goods  18  are delivered. The record can be stored within log  40  and retrieved as necessary. Log  40  is useful when delivery device  20  cannot communicate with seller  14 , buyer  12 , or tracking service  21  in real time. In such a case shipper  16  can return to a central office or other location where delivery device  20  can connect to communication link  22  and transmit a delivery record to seller  14 , buyer  12 , and/or tracking service  21 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates components  30  through  42  as being contained on delivery device  20 . However, one or more of the components  32  through  40  may be located elsewhere. For example, position locator  32  may be positioned in a delivery vehicle and configured to communicate via radio frequency or other means with delivery device  20 . The same can be said for comparator  34  and time service  36 , recorder  38 , and log  40 . Moreover, while FIG. 1 illustrates tracking service  21  as separate from delivery device  20 , tracking service  21  may instead be incorporated in delivery device  20 .  
         [0021]    The block diagrams of FIGS.  1 - 4  show the architecture, functionality, and operation of one implementation of the present invention. If embodied in software or other programming, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function(s). If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s).  
         [0022]    OPERATION: An example of the transaction for the sale and delivery of goods  18  will now be described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 5.  
         [0023]    Seller receives an order from buyer for specified goods (step  50 ). The order may be received electronically, via telephone, facsimile, mail, or any other manner. Included in the order is recipient data  26 . Seller  14  then creates an order record containing recipient and goods data  26  and  28 . Prior to shipment, seller  14  generates a ticket  24  to be delivered with the goods (step  52 ). The ticket  24  may be affixed to goods  18  but need only be accessible to shipper  16  when goods  18  are delivered. Ticket  24  may either contain information identifying the order record, or the order record or portions thereof may be stored on ticket  24 . Seller  14  then delivers or hires a third party shipper  16  to deliver the goods to buyer  12  or another intended recipient (step  54 ). Upon delivery, shipper  16 , using delivery device  20 , reads ticket  24  (step  56 ). Delivery device  20  acquires the physical location of goods  18  (step  58 ) and then compares the acquired physical location with the intended delivery location obtained from ticket  24 —alerting shipper  16  of any discrepancies (step  60 ). Delivery device  20  then identifies a universal time (step  62 ) and generates a delivery record  44  (step  64 ). Shipper  16  may then post the delivery record  44  on tracking service  21  making it available to both seller  14  and buyer  12  (step  66 ).  
         [0024]    Where interface  42  incorporates a wireless modem or other mechanism enabling delivery device  20  to communicate remotely, posting the delivery record may be performed in real time shortly after the ticket  24  is read. Alternatively, interface  42  may incorporate a removable media drive allowing delivery records  44  to be stored on a floppy disk or other non-volatile storage medium. When shipper  16  returns to a central location, delivery records  44  can be transmitted to seller  14  and/or buyer  12 . Interface  42  may also enable delivery device  20  to physically connect to a computer network in order transmit delivery records  44 . Such a transmission could be made via e-mail or through a direct network connection, or even through traditional mail delivery.  
         [0025]    Although the flow chart of FIG. 5 shows a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession in FIG. 5 may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0026]    The present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing exemplary embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that other forms, details, and embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.