Patent ID: 7657466

Claim:
A system comprising: a portable computing device associated with a delivery person delivering a package; a package level detail database configured to store a package level detail record for each of at least one package shipped by a carrier, said package level detail record configured to include at least a package identification number and a consignee name; a consignee profile database configured to store a consignee profile record for each of at least one consignee, said consignee profile record being independent of any package to be delivered to the respective consignee, and said consignee profile record configured to include at least consignee contact information and a specific location at a consignee delivery address where a package is to be placed by a delivery person, wherein said consignee contact information includes at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of a consignee name, email address, and telephone number; and a processor in communication with the package level detail database, the consignee profile database, and the portable computing device, said processor configured to: receive by electronic communication across a network an indication of a package identification number representative of a package being delivered by a carrier, upon receipt of the package identification number, retrieve from the package level detail database a consignee name associated with the package identification number, upon retrieval of the consignee name and prior to delivery of the package, transmit a notification message to the consignee by electronic communication over a network in accordance with consignee contact information included in a consignee profile record associated with the consignee name in the consignee profile database, said notification message including: a notification to the consignee of an impending delivery of the package, and an invitation for the consignee to provide to the carrier a specific location at a consignee delivery address where the package is to be placed by a delivery person, prior to delivery of the package, receive an indication from the consignee by electronic communication over a network of the specific location, wherein said indication has been sent by the consignee in response to the notification message, prior to delivery of the package, store the specific location in the consignee profile record, prior to delivery of the package, retrieve from the consignee profile database the specific location associated with the consignee name, and prior to delivery of the package, communicate to the portable computing device by electronic communication across a network a delivery preference message including at least the specific location.