Convenient Shipment System

Abstract

A method of delivery system incorporating a user terminal, driver/shipper terminal and webserver where the driver/shipper is required to make an account distinguishing on the basis of Zip/Postal code for online delivery system. In the further embodiment of the invention the system coordinates Clients and Volunteers with the objective that Client's shipment is carried by the Volunteer whose personal travel plan happens to coincide with the O-, T-, or D-points of the Shipment. In this revolutionary shipping channel, a Client starts a shipping order on C-portal or C-app and selects from a variety of shipping options of varying cost and time. The CCS, through its analysis of historical trends of Shipment movement speeds and paths between given O-, D-nodes, assists the Client in making the best choice. To make the system smart artificial intelligence technology and techniques can also be used. The system further allows detour, no cut-off time, Receiver's options, speedup or slowdown delivery options, tracking, retracting, rerouting, interception and reward point's setup as well.

Claims

I: A method of a delivery system comprising: a screen interface to display on the user's output screen, providing said application for running on mobile devices, laptops, or desktop screen, a user terminal; means for collecting information especially Zip/postal code from said end user by a display of one or more screens of selectable information at the beginning of execution of the application; whereby said application WILL collect demographic information and/or directly from said end user. The method of claim I, used so that the collected demographic information is to be used specifically for targeting specific set of users. The method of claim I, used so that delivery system for shippers and drivers can be made efficient, leveraging existing traffic on road air or sea. A method of alerting, guiding and re-assigning a T-Node in case a Volunteer detours (i.e., a Shipment in Mobile Phase drifts away from original intended path), whereby the Volunteer WILL drop-off the Shipment at nearby T-Node with minimum X-miles accrued. The method of claim 1, where QR code and scanning technology WILL be utilized for packages.

II: A system and procedure to revolutionize the purpose of traffic and travelling: where the Clients and Volunteers and coordinated; where the Client' shipment is carried by the Volunteer; where the Volunteer personal travel plan is matched with the O-, T-, or D-points of the Shipment; where a match between Volunteers' travel plan and available Shipment creates a searchable pickup opportunity and/or triggers alert(s) for Volunteer; where a Client starts a shipping order on C-portal or C-app and selects from a variety of shipping options of varying cost and delivery-time; where the system assists the Client in making the best choice;

III: A system for efficient delivery system: where a smart system with or without use of artificial intelligence technology and techniques is utilized to provide service in a Service Zone; where a Service Zone is sprinkled with T-nodes (comprising of one or more hubs) for Shipment drop-off by the Client or a Volunteer and pickup by the Receiver or Volunteer; where a Shipment can be picked up from O-Node. A CCS system aiming for a quick and cost-effective solution with minimum possible X-miles where: the registration process indicates his/her preferences for engagement and usual/frequent travel plans; a Volunteer registers him/herself using V-app; a registered Volunteer starts a journey and with V-App, indicates the final destination of the current journey and allows access to it his/her current location; the CCS matches Volunteers' preferences and travel path with the available Shipments along the way and notifies the Volunteers; the Volunteer can pick up one or more Shipments from O-, or T-Nodes and drop them off at any T-, or D-Nodes. A system for delivery system where an efficient pick and drop process is exhibited and where: a Client who chooses to drop off a Shipment at T-Node, can use a handheld smart device to interact with T-Node; the receiving Hub can communicate through wireless, NFC, WiFi, LiFi, Bluetooth, RF single or any other suitable commination protocol to identify the user (Volunteer or Client), indicate/assign and open an relevant/available Bin as the case may be; a QR code or a bar code, generated during shipping process, can be scanned at the Hub and Hub WILL open the available/suitable Bin; the scanning can be achieved through IR scanner or camera or any other scanning technology known to those skilled in the art; the shipment order is placed, the CCS instantly acknowledges its presence and matches appropriate Volunteer(s) to move it, notifies them of this pickup opportunity; the Volunteer approaches the Hub to pick up (or drop-off) a Shipment, he/she uses V-App and above-mentioned methods to identify and open a relevant Bin; the Hub may need to authenticate Volunteer's identity though images matching, driver license scanning or any other suitable biometric authentication parameter; more than one identity authentication methods are also contemplated in the invention in case of sensitive and expensive Shipments which require extra security.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0049] Anywhere in the world, traffic flow (road, air, sea) is akin to Brownian motion of the fluidsabundant, persistent, sustained, and most importantly random enough to reach every nook and corner. Given the societal shipping needs, the traffic phenomenon can be capitalized on by smart engagement. Every transportation utility can be safely considered as bearing lower payload than its capacity. This observation or assessment becomes even more exciting and meaningful when considering the fact that most shipments would not add any appreciable payload. The present invention relates to these phenomena and seeks to revolutionize the purpose of traffic and travelling.

[0050] The present invention is a method and a system to coordinate Clients and Volunteers with the objective that Client's shipment is carried by the Volunteer whose personal travel plan happens to coincide with the O-, T-, or D-Nodes of the Shipment. In this revolutionary shipping channel, a Client starts a shipping order on C-portal or C-app and selects from a variety of shipping options of varying costs and delivery speeds. The CCS, through its analysis of historical trends of Shipments movement speeds and paths between given O-, D-nodes, assists the Client in making the best choice. To make the system smarter, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning technology and techniques are also contemplated in this invention. The service zone is sprinkled with T-nodes (comprising of one or more hubs) so that a Client leaves a shipment at any nearby or suitable T-node if Client chooses so. Else, a Shipment is picked up from the O-node. Once the CCS acknowledges a shipping order, it identifies Volunteers who potentially can carry (between any 2 nodes) and/or deliver the Shipment all the way at D-node. Identification of a suitable Volunteer is based on Volunteer's travel path, availability, and preferences. The CCS aims for a quick and cost-effective solution with minimum possible X-miles. For that reason, T-nodes' distribution gravitates to be near a busy and/or main, travel paths in the service zone. A Volunteer registers him/herself using V-app and in the registration, process indicates his/her preferences for engagement, as well as usual/frequent travel plans. Subsequently, when a registered Volunteer starts a personal journey and also feels like Volunteering, he/she opens the V-App, indicates the final destination of the current journey and allows access to his/her current location (which updates in the CCS as Volunteer's position changes). The CCS matches Volunteer's preferences and travel path with the available Shipments, along that travel path, and notifies the Volunteer. The Volunteer can then pick up one or more Shipments from O-, or T-Nodes and drop them off at any T-, or D-Nodes. This way a Shipment either reaches its final destination (D-Node) or gets closer to it by reaching a new T-Node.

[0051] The Pick-up and Drop-off Process as per preferred embodiment includes a Client, who chooses to drop off a Shipment at a T-Node, he/she approaches a T-Node of his/her choice (or the one suggested by the CCS) and uses a handheld smart device to interact with the Hub through wireless, NFC, Wi-Fi, LiFi, Bluetooth, RF signal or any other suitable commination protocol, known to those skilled in the art, to identify and open an available Bin. Alternatively, a QR code or a bar code, generated during shipping process, is scanned at the Hub and Hub opens the available/suitable Bin. Scanning can be through IR scanner or camera or any other known scanning technology. Once the Shipment is placed in the Bin, the CCS instantly acknowledges its presence and starts finding an appropriate Volunteer to move it further. When a Volunteer approaches the Hub to pick up (or drop-off) a Shipment, he/she uses V-App and above-mentioned methods to identify and open a relevant Bin. Additionally, the Hub may need to authenticate Volunteer's identity though images matching, driver license scanning or any other suitable biometric authentication parameter. More than one identity authentication methods are also contemplated in the invention in case of sensitive and expensive Shipments which require extra security and as per Security Level ordered by the Client.

[0052] A Volunteer as per further embodiment may detour from original intended path, in which case CCS promptly alerts and guides the Volunteer to drop-off the shipment if it is drifting away from its destination. Volunteer then drops off the Shipment at nearby T-Node with minimum X-miles accrued.

[0053] Receiver's Options:

[0054] A Receiver can passively wait for the delivery at D-Node or he/she can intercept it at any T-Node of choice. For a Receiver to be able to intercept the Shipment, the Client provides the Receiver a system-defined and authorized identity authentication which is a unique QR code, a bare code, a sound bite, an image, a text, or other real-time commination either directly between the Receiver's hand-held device and Client's device or through mediation of Hub or CCS. Authentication can be a combination of two or more of above methods as warranted by the Security Level of the service.

[0055] No Cut-Off Time:

[0056] As traffic flows nonstop, a Client can ship a Shipment at any time without any limitation of the time of the day, day of the week, and it is amenable to be picked up and moved along soon after shipping. Therefore, this invention offers a true 24/7/365 shipping service.

[0057] Speedup or Slowdown the Delivery:

[0058] Should a need or preference of the Client change after shipping, a delivery can hastened or slowed, in instances where the urgency emerges or when Receiver is not available to take the delivery. In other words, the Client can change the Delivery Speed, Security Level and Service Level after the shipment. Alternatively, the Receiver can also request a change in Delivery Speed, Security Level and Service Level if so, permitted by the Client.

[0059] Tracking:

[0060] At any point in time, the Client can track the location of the shipment through C-Poratl or C-App. If the Receiver is given such access by the Client, he/she can also determine the location of the shipment. During transient state, for the security and privacy of the Volunteer, the precise location of the Shipment will be off by a few to 100s of meters. This offset value will be dynamic and will be determined by the CCS in light of location, traffic density, Volunteer preference e and other parameters.

[0061] Retracting, Rerouting, and Interception:

[0062] Unlike existing courier services, at any time a Shipment can be re-routed to new destination, back to O-Node or any T-Node, or even a new D-Node of Client's choice. A Client can also intercept a Shipment at any point in time and can pick up from a T-Node. Similarly, the Receiver can re-route or intercept a Shipment at any point in time and can pick up from a T-Node, id so authorized by the Client either at the time of shipping or during transit.

[0063] Hub:

[0064] A hub is be a compartmentalized smart cabinet which interacts with the Client, or the Volunteer and in some cases with the Receiver, in a variety of ways and acts as a custodian of the shipment at T-node during stagnant phase of the Shipment.

[0065] Reward Points:

[0066] For each mile traveled, a Volunteer will accrue reward points which can be cashed out for their monitory value or these points can be used at select services for discounts. Calculations of Rewards Points are based on several factors including, without limitation, distance travelled, day and time of travel, delivery urgency factor, track record of the Volunteer and security clearance level of the volunteer. As per preference of the Volunteer, these Reward Point can be converted into local or any other currency and paid to the Volunteer or these can be deemed at any participating Reward Point partner(s).

[0067] While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

[0068] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art can appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0069] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.