Claims
- 1. A method for outbound shipment of packages directly from home or office, comprising the steps of:
registering with a network agent; preparing at least one package for pick-up; affixing an identifier to each package; authorizing the network agent to directly pay a shipping agent at least one fee; and reimbursing the network agent for the at least one fee paid directly to the shipping agent by the network agent.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier provides identification for the network agent.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier provides identification of the shipping agent.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier provides identification for a receiver of each package.
- 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
registering a user of a transfer device; receiving the transfer device from the network agent; and inserting the at least one package in the transfer device for pick-up by the shipping agent.
- 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
signaling the shipping agent to pick-up the at least one package.
- 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of preparing a package for pick-up further comprises the steps of:
selecting the shipping agent to pick-up the at least one package; and selecting from a plurality of service options offered by the shipping agent.
- 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifier also provides identification of the user and identifies the at least one package as originating from the user and as being supported by the network agent.
- 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the shipping agent is signaled by a signaler selected from the group consisting of the user and the network agent.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal is transmitted by a means selected from the group consisting of telephone, internet, web-site, and facsimile transmission.
- 11. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one fee is incurred by the user.
- 12. A method for outbound shipment of packages directly from home or office, comprising the steps of:
registering a user; receiving authorization from the user to pay a shipping agent at least one fee incurred by the user; receiving a notification from the shipping agent of the at least one fee incurred by the user; paying the at least one fee directly to the shipping agent; and receiving reimbursement from the user for the payment of the at least one fee to the shipping agent.
- 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
providing the user with a transfer device.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user inserts the at least one package in the transfer device for pick-up by the shipping agent.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the user affixes an identifier to each package, wherein the identifier provides identification of at least one selected from the group consisting of the shipping agent, the user, and a network agent.
- 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
signaling the shipping agent to pick-up the at least one package.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the shipping agent is signaled by a signaler selected from the group consisting of the user and the network agent.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal is transmitted by a means selected from the group consisting of telephone, internet, web-site, and facsimile transmission.
- 19. A method for outbound shipment of packages directly from home or office, comprising the steps of:
receiving a signal for a pick-up of at least one package; picking up the at least one package; determining a treatment of the at least one package; calculating at least one fee associated with the pick-up of the at least one package; identifying whether the user is a member of a network operated by a network agent; notifying the network agent of the at least one fee incurred by the user; and receiving payment from the network agent for the at least one fee incurred by the user.
- 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of service options from which the user may select; and receiving a selection from a user from the plurality of service options provided.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user is a registered user of a transfer device and the transfer device is provided by the network agent.
- 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of picking up the at least one package further comprises the step of picking up the at least one package from a transfer device.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining a treatment of the at least one package further comprises the step of determining a shipment route for the at least one package.
- 24. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the treatment of the at least one package is achieved using a hand-held device.
- 25. The method of claim 21, wherein identifying whether the user is a member of the network operated by the network agent is achieved using at least one selected from group consisting of a hand-held scanner and an automated sorting system.
- 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of identifying whether the user is a member of a network operated by a network agent further comprises the step of determining the fee associated with each package.
- 27. The method of claim 20, wherein the shipping agent is signaled by a signaler selected from the group consisting of the user and the network agent.
- 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the signal is transmitted by a means selected from the group consisting of telephone, internet, web-site, and facsimile transmission.
- 29. A method for outbound shipment of packages directly from home or office, comprising the steps of:
registering with a network agent; registering as a user of a transfer device; preparing at least one package for pick-up; affixing an identifier to each package, wherein the identifier provides identification of the network agent; inserting the at least one package in the transfer device signaling a shipping agent to pick-up the at least one package from the transfer device; picking up the at least one package; determining a treatment of the at least one package; calculating at least one fee associated with the pick-up of the at least one package, wherein the at least one fee is incurred by the user; identifying whether the user is a member of a network operated by the network agent; notifying the network agent of the at least one fee incurred by the user; receiving authorization from the user to pay the at least one fee directly to the shipping agents; paying the at least one fee directly to the shipping agent; and receiving reimbursement from the user for the payment of the at least one fee to the shipping agent.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/718,357, entitled: “Method for Outbound Shipment of Packages Direct From Home or Office Using An Unattended Transfer Device,” filed Nov. 24, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial. No. 60/167,253, entitled: “System And Method For Outbound Shipment Of Packages (And Payment Of Shipping Fees) Direct From Home Using An Unattended Storage Device,” filed Nov. 24, 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60167253 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09718357 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
09985494 |
Nov 2001 |
US |