Patent Publication Number: US-2004049404-A1

Title: System for delivering goods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] Not Applicable. This is a continuation of PCT patent application No. PCT/GB02/00001 filed Jan. 3, 2002. Priority is claimed to United Kingdom patent application Serial No. 0100147.8 filed Jan. 4, 2001, and to United Kingdom patent application Serial No. 0105201.8 filed Mar. 2, 2001. 
    
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] Not Applicable.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0003] This invention relates to a system for the delivery of goods, particularly where it is desirable that the intended recipient be present to receive the goods.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] Where goods are to be delivered to a private address of an intended recipient, for example using a courier service, the goods are typically delivered from the vendor to the intended recipient by a goods carrier which transports the goods to the appropriate address. Often the goods are too bulky to be posted through a mail box. Commonly the intended recipient is not present at the address at the time when the goods are delivered, in which case, the goods either have to be returned to a depot for delivery another time which is costly for the delivery company, or left somewhere convenient outside the premises, where they may be vulnerable to theft and/or the weather.  
       [0005] While it would be possible to determine a suitable delivery time by either the vendor or the delivery company employing staff to telephone the intended recipient, this process would be time consuming, and hence expensive. Also, where all occupants at a private address work, or otherwise are absent, the use of a telephone to establish a suitable delivery time, can be problematic.  
       [0006] It is known to provide a safe accessible from the exterior of the premises, and in which the goods may be deposited. An access code for which is communicated to the delivery company. However, to provide such a safe is expensive, and communication of the access code to the person delivering the goods gives rise to an extra administrative step in the delivery process and can be unreliable. Furthermore, if perishable goods, such as frozen food, are left outside the premises or in a safe until the intended recipient returns, the quality of the goods may deteriorate while outside or in the safe. For example, frozen food may defrost or goods may e damaged by rain.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a system is provided for delivering goods from a vendor to an intended recipient. The system includes a goods carrier to carry the goods from the vendor to the intended recipient, a call center, and telecommunications means. The call center may automatically send a request signal to the intended recipient via the telecommunications means when an order for the goods is received by the vendor, and receives a return signal via the telecommunications means from the intended recipient which indicates the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods. The call center is adapted to send an advice signal to the vendor and/or the carrier on receipt of the return signal from the intended recipient, whereby the carrier is instructed to deliver the goods at a time and place determined from the return signal.  
       [0008] Thus, the goods may be delivered reliably by the carrier to the intended recipient when the intended recipient is available to receive them. The need for the carrier to return with the goods to a depot and to attempt to deliver them at an alternative time, is avoided, resulting in a more reliable and efficient delivery of the goods.  
       [0009] In one system the call center is adapted on receipt of the return signal from the intended recipient, to send an advice signal to the vendor. The vendor has means to identify the goods to be delivered to the intended recipient and to indicate the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods. An identifying means is attached to the goods to be delivered. Thus when the carrier collects the goods from the vendor for delivery to the intended recipient, the carrier may have means to read the identifying means, electronically, or manually, or automatically optically, or by any other means, to determine an appropriate time and/or day for delivery of the goods to the intended recipient.  
       [0010] If necessary the goods may be held at a depot until a time close to the appropriate time and/or day for delivery, or the goods may be delivered straight away. The return signal from the intended recipient may indicate a particular day and/or time interval during the day when the goods may be delivered, and thus the possibility of the intended recipient being unavailable and/or absent when the goods are delivered may be avoided.  
       [0011] If desired, the call center may be adapted on receipt of the return signal from the intended recipient, to send an advice signal to the carrier. From the advice signal, the carrier determines the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods. Thus the carrier may use this information to determine when the goods may be collected most conveniently from the vendor, for example, when the carrier has a vehicle in the vicinity of the vendor.  
       [0012] The vendor may send an initiating signal to the call center in response to an order for goods being received, whereby the call center automatically generates the advice signal to the intended recipient. The initiating signal may be sent when the vendor has the goods ready for delivery, or when the vendor can predict that the goods will be ready for the carrier to collect. Where, for example, the vendor is a distributor, the initiating signal may be sent to the call center as soon as the vendor has possession of the goods as soon as an order is received, or when the goods are delivered to the vendor. Where the vendor is a manufacturer, the initiating signal may be sent to the call center when the goods have been manufactured or while the goods are still being manufactured. In each case the initiating signal may indicate when the goods are to be ready to be delivered to the intended recipient so that the call center does not send the advice signal to the intended recipient or accept instructions via the return signal which could lead to the intended recipient indicating that he is available to receive the goods before the vendor has the goods ready or the carrier can deliver the goods.  
       [0013] Preferably, the advice signal is a simple signal which indicates that a return signal via the telecommunications means from the intended recipient is required to indicate the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods. Most simply, the system includes an advice signal receiving means located at the intended recipient&#39;s address. The advice signal receiving means receives the advice signal and generates an audible and/or visual signal to indicate that a return signal is required.  
       [0014] The signal receiving means may be of the kind which automatically identifies when a telecommunications advice signal is sent to the intended recipient&#39;s address, for example, by identifying the calling telephone number of the call center. The signal receiving means may operate independently of a telephone at the intended recipient&#39;s address. Preferably, the telecommunication means includes telephone apparatus, and the return signal which indicates the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods is generated by the intended recipient using the telephone apparatus. A conventional touch tone telephone, for example, may generate tones to indicate to the call center the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods, and/or other information.  
       [0015] The call center may automatically respond to a return signal to automatically determine the intended recipient&#39;s identity and to correlate the intended recipient with the goods. However, where the call center is unable to determine the intended recipient&#39;s identity from the return signal, for example because the return signal is generated on a different telephone connection to that along which the advice signal was sent, the call center may be adapted to seek this information from the caller sending the return signal.  
       [0016] In addition to indicating availability for receiving the goods, the caller generating the return signal may give an indication of a delivery address for the goods alternate to the intended recipient&#39;s own address. The call center may be adapted to discern from the return signal the alternate delivery address and to advise the vendor and/or carrier of the alternate address to which the goods are to be delivered. This may be achieved by generating appropriate tones where the system includes a touch tone telephone.  
       [0017] It will be appreciated that the advice and/or return signal may be a text signal sent via a mobile telecommunications network to a mobile telephone, or other short messaging system device. The advice and/or return signal may be received/generated via a computer or the like as desired. Preferably, the initiating signal from the vendor to the call center is a data signal, for example sent as a data packet via the telecommunication means from the vendor to the carrier.  
       [0018] A second aspect of the invention involves a method of delivering goods from a vendor to an intended recipient using a system including a goods carrier to carry the goods from the vendor to the intended recipient, a call center, and telecommunications means. The method including automatically sending a request signal from the call center to the intended recipient via the telecommunications means when an order for the goods is received by the vendor, receiving at the call center a return signal via the telecommunications means from the intended recipient, which return signal indicates the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods, and on receipt of the return signal from the intended recipient, sending an advice signal from the call center to the vendor and/or the carrier, whereby the carrier is instructed to deliver the goods at a time and place determined from the return signal.  
       [0019] According to a third aspect of the invention a call center is provided for use in the system of the first aspect of the invention or the method of the second aspect of the invention. The call center is adapted to automatically send a request signal to an intended recipient via a telecommunications means in response to an order for goods received by a vendor, and to receive a return signal via the telecommunications means from the intended recipient which indicates the intended recipient&#39;s availability for delivery of the goods. On receipt of the return signal from the intended recipient, the call center sends an advice signal to the vendor and/or the carrier, whereby the carrier is instructed to deliver the goods at a time and place determined from the return signal.  
       [0020] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a request signal receiving means is provided for use in the system of the first aspect of the invention or the method of the second aspect of the invention. The request signal receiving means is located at the address of the intended recipient of the goods to be delivered. The receiving means includes a caller identification means which is responsive to an advice signal from the call center to generate an audible and/or visual signal to indicate receipt of the advice signal.  
       [0021] Various objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022]FIG. 1 is an diagrammatic view of a system for delivering goods, in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0023] Referring to the drawing, a system for delivering goods  11  from a vendor  10  to an intended recipient&#39;s address  12  includes a call center  14 , a goods carrier  15 , and a telecommunications means  16 . When the vendor  10  receives an order for goods  11 , for example, by telephone communication indicated at  17  in the drawing, or by fax, e-mail or mail, the vendor  10  processes the order.  
     [0024] Either when the goods  11  are made (where the vendor is a manufacturer) or received or otherwise available, or prior to them being available but when their availability can be predicted, the vendor  10  sends an initiating signal  18  to the call center  14  via the telecommunications means  16 . Preferably the initiating signal  18  is generated automatically by the vendor  10 , and is a data signal sent as a packet of data, for example with a regular transfer of data, daily, hourly or otherwise. The initiating signal  18  includes information concerning the goods  11  order, and may for example contain information as to when the goods  11  will be available for collection from the vendor  10  for delivery to the intended recipient, as well as details of the intended recipient.  
     [0025] The call center  14  is fully automated and in response to receiving the initiating signal  18 , either immediately or at a time appropriate to the availability of the goods  11  at the vendor  10 , the call center  14  generates a request signal  20  which is communicated to the intended recipient&#39;s address  12  via the telecommunication means  16 . The request signal  20  may be a telephonic signal as hereinafter described with reference to the drawing, but may be a text signal sent to a mobile telephone network, or a data signal sent to a computer at the recipient&#39;s address  12 , or to an intended recipient via the Internet.  
     [0026] Most simply, where the request signal  20  is a telephonic signal, the request signal  20  is recognized by a request signal receiving means  21  which in response may generate an audible and/or visual signal. In the example shown in the drawing, the request signal receiving means  21  is of the kind which is either in series with the telephone  24  between the telephone  24  and a telephone socket  23  as shown in full lines in the figure, as of the kind which is in parallel with the telephone  24  as indicated in dashed lines in the figure. Further alternatively the request signal receiving means  21  may be of the kind which simply clips into the telephone wire at the socket  23 . When a request signal is sent from the call center  14  to the telephone number at the recipient&#39;s address  12 , the receiving means  21  identifies the source of the call as being the call center  14 , preferably by means of a Caller ID signal, and the warning signal is activated.  
     [0027] Preferably the request signal receiving means  21  and the request signal are such that transmission of a request signal over the telecommunication means does not cause the telephone  24  to ring or any answer machine which may then be connected to the socket  23  to be activated. The request signal receiving means  21  may be of an alternative kind, and may even be built into the telephone  24  itself. In another example, the request signal receiving means  21  may include a keypad whereby information may be conveyed back to the call center  14  via the telecommunication means  16 , using the keypad, in a return signal to indicate the intended recipient&#39;s availability to receive the goods  11 . Also, the request signal receiving means  21  may alternatively be connected to the telephone socket  23  in parallel with the telephone  24 .  
     [0028] Telecommunication devices which are responsive to certain selected calls are known and so further detailed description is not considered necessary. It is not necessary for a telephone  24  to ring, for the advice signal to be identified. Where the request signal is a telephone call, if a call to the telephone  24  does not originate from the call center  14 , the request signal identifying means  21  will not recognize the source of the call and the call will pass to the telephone  24 , or an answer phone, if provided, in the usual way.  
     [0029] Because of the operating cost savings which can be made utilizing the present invention, in that the number of fruitless attempts at delivering the goods  11  to addresses where there is no one to receive them, can be reduced or even eliminated, it is envisaged that a request signal receiving means  21  may be provided free of charge to a householder, to encourage the use of the system with the result that even greater cost savings can be made.  
     [0030] The warning signal remains activated until the intended recipient for the goods  11  cancels the warning. Thus the request signal  20  may be received while the intended recipient is out, and acted upon once the intended recipient returns to the address  12 .  
     [0031] The intended recipient or his nominee may then make a conventional return telephone call to the call center  14 , or may use a mobile phone short messaging service to send a text message to the call center  14 . Preferably the call center  14  is adapted automatically to identify the caller by identifying the telephone number from which the intended recipient makes the return call. However, if the intended recipient makes a call to the call center  14  from another telephone line, for example, from a mobile telephone, the call center  14  may not be able to identify the caller. In that circumstance, the call center  14  may be adapted to make an enquiry of the caller, for example using pre-recorded or digitally created messages, in order to determine the caller&#39;s identity. The caller may have a code which is keyed into the telephone for identification purposes.  
     [0032] Information concerning the caller&#39;s identity when required by the call center  14 , and information concerning the availability of the intended recipient to accept delivery of the goods  11  he has ordered, may be communicated to the call center  14  using the telephone  24 , e.g. using touch tone buttons of the telephone  24 , in response to pre-recorded, or digitally created messages from the call center  14 . The system may be set up to enable an intended recipient to indicate a day, and/or part of a day, e.g. “between 12 and 1 pm” in which the intended recipient of the goods  11  will be available at the address  12  to take delivery of the goods  11 .  
     [0033] The system may additionally be set up to enable the intended recipient to advise the call center  14  of an alternative address to which the goods  11  may be delivered, so, for example, the intended recipient may arrange delivery to a next door neighbor, or a work address. All this information is returned to the call center  14  in a return signal  25  which is communicated to the call center  14  via the telecommunications means  16 .  
     [0034] Where the request signal  20  is sent by text messaging or data to a computer, the return signal  25  may similarly be a text message or data signal sent to the call center  14  via the telecommunications means  16 . Upon receipt of the return signal  25 , the call center  14  may automatically send an advice signal  28  to one or both of the vendor  10  and/or the carrier  15 . The vendor  10  may thus attach to the goods  11  an identifying means such as a label or tag, in addition to an address label for example, the identifying means indicating when the goods  11  may be delivered to the intended recipient  12 , or his nominee. For example the identifying means may include a bar code, a machine readable magnetic strip or chip or the like.  
     [0035] The carrier  15  may collect the goods  11  and read the identifying means electronically, and/or optically (manually or automatically) and/or visually, and thus be made aware of when the goods  11  may reliably be delivered with someone present at the intended recipient&#39;s address  12 , or an alternative address, to receive the goods  11 . A driver of the carrier&#39;s vehicle  30  may also be provided with a check list or delivery schedule, where for example the driver has several consignments of goods  11  to deliver to different addresses at specified times.  
     [0036] The carrier  15  may collect the goods  11  in a vehicle  30 , e.g. dispatched from a depot  31 , and the goods  11  may be delivered directly to the intended recipient or stored at the or another depot  31  until due for delivery. Preferably, however, the vendor  10  does not dispatch the goods  11  until the intended recipient is ready to receive the goods  11  thus avoiding the need to store the goods  11  at the or other depot  31 , at least for any significant length of time.  
     [0037] The goods  11  may be transported by the carrier  15  from the vendor  10  to a regional hub, from where they may be transported to a local depot and then on to the intended recipient. Thus, a different delivery vehicle  30  may be used for each leg of the journey, and the logistics of delivering a large number of goods to various locations throughout the country may be simplified.  
     [0038] The carrier  15  may dispatch the vehicle  30  to the vendor  10  on a regular basis e.g. daily or weekly, or when instructed to do so by the vendor  10 , or, preferably, in response to receiving the advice signal  28 . In each case the carrier  15  may be made aware of when the goods  11  may be delivered to the intended recipient, and thus collection of the goods  11  from the vendor  10  may be prearranged so as most efficiently to use the resources of the carrier  15 . If desired, the advice signal  28 , or a signal from the depot  31  may be communicated to a collection/delivery vehicle  30  of the carrier  15  using a mobile telephone, or radio link as desired, and/or to a depot. The vehicle  30  may communicate its position to the depot  31  having determined its position via the Global Positioning Network so that the carrier vehicle&#39;s collection/delivery route can be optimized.  
     [0039] Where the initiating signal  18  from the vendor  10  to the call center  14  indicates that the goods  11  will not be ready for collection until a future date, this information may too be communicated to the carrier  15  from the call center  14 , or from the vendor  10  if desired, to ensure that the carrier  15  does not seek to collect goods  11  from the vendor  10  before the goods  11  are ready for collection.  
     [0040] The system described above may be used to enable a recipient of goods  11  to return the goods to the vendor  10 , where for example the goods  111  are unsatisfactory, as follows. The recipient may initiate a call to the call center  14  to indicate that he has goods for collection, and the initiating call may indicate when the goods  11  can be collected, again using the touch tones of the telephone  24 , or by text messaging/data transfer as desired. The call center  14  is preferably adapted automatically to process such a call and to send an appropriate advice signal to the carrier  15  to collect the goods  11  and to deliver them back to the vendor  10 . The carrier  15  then knows when the recipient will be at the address  12 , or at a nominated address, so that the goods  11  may be reliably collected for return.  
     [0041] It will be appreciated that the system of the invention may include a plurality of vendors  10 , and the particular vendor  10  sending an initiating signal  18  to the call center  14  may be identified in the initiating signal  18 . Thus a single call center  14  may be used to service a plurality of vendors  10  and a plurality of recipients for each vendor&#39;s goods  11 .  
     [0042] If desired, the initiating signal  18  from the or any vendor  10 , may include information concerning the identify of the vendor  10  and the nature of the goods  10 , and this information may be communicated to the intended recipient, where the request signal receiving means  21  is sufficiently sophisticated, via the request signal  20 , and/or by pre-recorded or digitally prepared message from the call center  14  when the intended recipient makes a return call  25  to the call center  14 . The call center  14  and/or vendor  10  may also communicate information concerning the size and/or nature etc. of the goods  11  to be delivered, to the carrier  15 , so that the carrier  15  can send an appropriate vehicle  30  and/or appropriate equipment to collect and deliver the goods  11 , for example, where the goods  11  are large and/or bulky.  
     [0043] The call center  14  may be adapted to receive conventional voice return calls, for example in the event of a query or information being required which cannot readily be automatically communicated. Such voice calls may be made to an alternative telephone number of the call center  14 , or the facility may be selected using touch tone buttons for example, on the telephone  24 .  
     [0044] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof. It will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made to the above described preferred embodiment of a system for delivering goods without departing from the scope of the following claims.