Patent ID: 7765131

Claim:
A system for communicating a message pertaining to a delivery of a package conveyed by a carrier, said system comprising: at least one carrier database, said database storing at least one package level detail record and at least one package-independent record, wherein: said at least one package level detail record comprises shipping-related information corresponding to said package; and said package-independent record comprises at least one personalized delivery preference associated with a first address, wherein said at least one personalized delivery preference is received by said system from a user and indicates a particular action to be taken by a carrier delivery person when delivering a package to said first address; a portable computing device for receiving said message, said portable computing device used by a carrier delivery person responsible for said delivery of said package, wherein said portable computing device has a display capable of displaying said message in a text form to said carrier delivery person; and one or more computer processors in communication with said carrier database and said portable computing device, wherein said one or more computer processors are configured to: determine a second address comprising either a consignor address or a consignee address of said package from said package level detail record, retrieve said personalized delivery preference associated with said first address, wherein said second address corresponds to said first address, and communicate said message to said portable computing device, wherein: the communication of said message occurs on the same day as the delivery of the package by said carrier delivery person; and said message comprises said personalized delivery preference associated with said first address.