US Patent:
20050038758, Feb 17, 2005
Inventors:
Mark Hilbush - Baltimore MD, US
Anthony Creasy - Suwanee GA, US
Kurt Stadele - Alpharetta GA, US
Jim Deveney - New Freedom PA, US
Jane Sneeringer - Baltimore MD, US
Charles Orf - Stewartstown PA, US
David Michel - Baltimore MD, US
Christopher Schenken - Alpharetta GA, US
Phillip Lawson - Hewitt NJ, US
John Yanikov - York PA, US
Lawrence Wight - Parkton MD, US
Diane Minahan - Annapolis MD, US
Steve Yeung - Timonium MD, US
Thomas Dorris - Frederick MD, US
Mark Trowbridge - Cumming GA, US
Robert Gephart - York PA, US
Diane Lynn Rashbaum - Gainesville GA, US
International Classification:
G06F017/60
US Classification:
705402000, 705001000, 705014000
Abstract:
A system and methods for shipping a package () from a package sender () to an intended recipient (), utilizing Internet communications () to place shipping orders, request on demand package pickup, maintain and utilize prestored profile information, view shipping history, track orders, etc. A package sender () with an Internet-accessible computer () accesses an Internet site and associated shipping system () operated by a shipping service provider (). The package sender () enters information required for shipping the package (), including shipping options and methods for payment. The options and payment for the shipment transaction are validated. If the transaction is validated, printer indicia are communicated to the customer's computer (), which is enabled to locally print a prepaid label () containing special machine-readable () as well as human-readable indicia (). The shipping service provider () acquires the package by drop-off, standard pickup or on call pickup, scans the machine readable indicia, verifies other indicia of authenticity, and processes the package () in accordance with information encoded on the label.