A) TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to mobile based applications and particularly relates to real-time courier tracking applications through a mobile device.

The embodiments herein more particularly relates to a method and system for notifying a user on dispatch of a courier.

B) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Traditionally, item handling organizations relied on manual tracking of one or more items to be delivered to a particular customer by a courier. Such manual tracking of items has caused several problems in serving the customers, including, for example, lack of information concerning whether a certain courier has picked up certain items for a particular customer, whether delivered to the correct customer. Also in such cases, the sender is ignorant if the courier has reached the recipient or not.

[0003] The advent of wide area electronic networks like the Internet has made it possible for sender/receiver to query the status of the courier by entering the tracking number of the courier. The user needs to enter the tracking number and check the status of the courier.

[0004] In the present methods, for tracking a particular courier, the user need to know the tracking number associated with the courier. Further the user has to go to a respective service provider's website/application, provide the tracking number and track the status of the courier. However, for entering the tracking number and checking the status of the couriers the user need to login each time to the website which in turn is a time consuming and tedious task.

[0005] In the light of the foregoing discussions, there exists a need to provide a courier tracking method and system for intimating the users on dispatch of a courier. There also exists a need for a courier tracking method and system for periodically updating the courier status to the sender/receiver. Further there exists a need to provide a courier tracking method and system which does not necessitate the need for the user to provide any tracking number to track the status of the courier.

[0006] The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

C) OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary object of the embodiments herein is to provide a method and system to provide notification to a user on dispatch of a courier The user herein refers to at least one of a sender and recipient of the courier.

[0008] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a method and system to send automatic updates of the courier status to the user after dispatch of the courier.

[0009] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a method and system which is adapted to function in conjunction with a user device to send timely updates.

[0010] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a method and system to send status information of the courier to the users without the need for a manual entry of any kind of tracking number.

[0011] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a provide a method and system to provide status information of a courier to a user such as estimated date and time of delivery, current location, intermediate locations of transit and the like.

[0012] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a method and system to provide status information of a courier to a user by accessing a service provider website through the user device.

[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the embodiment herein will become readily apparent from the following summary and the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

D) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The various embodiments herein provide a system and method for sending a courier dispatch notification to a user. The courier herein refers to at least one of a parcel, shipped item, letters, mails or any item dispatched from one location to another. The method for notifying a user on a courier dispatch comprising steps of registering a plurality of users with an application server for a courier alert notification, downloading and installing an application client in an user device, registering a plurality of vendors with the application server, downloading and installing an application agent on a plurality of vendor devices, providing the unique id of the recipient of the courier and the sender details in the vendor device, obtaining the recipient details from the application agent by the application server, verifying the unique ID of the registered user in the application server and notifying the dispatch of the courier to the sender as well as the recipient. The application server automatically takes the unique ID as a credential for accessing information associated with the registered user for notifying the user. Here the registered user refers to both the sender of the courier and the addressed recipient of the courier.

[0015] According to an embodiment herein, the unique ID is at leas one of a mobile number, a UID, a social security number of the registered user, email and any automated identification details.

[0016] According to an embodiment herein, the method for notifying the users on a courier dispatch further comprising monitoring the status of one or more couriers at intermediate locations, updating the status of the courier in the application server, sending the status of the courier by the application server to the user and displaying the status of the courier on the application interface of the user device and the vendor device. Here the notification intimates the sender and the recipient the estimated date and time of delivery of the courier, current location of the courier and intermediate locations of transit.

[0017] According to an embodiment herein, the status of the courier is tracked by verifying credentials including unique ID of the sender/recipient, tracking number, date and location.

[0018] According to an embodiment herein, the method for notifying the users on a courier dispatch further comprising updating the courier delivery status in the application server and intimating the delivery of the courier to the sender.

[0019] According to another embodiment herein, the method enables the users to obtain a courier status information by providing a unique ID associated with the user through a mobile based web browser of the user device. The method comprising steps of registering a plurality of users with an application server for a courier alert notification, accessing the service provider website by the registered user through the mobile based web browser of the user device, providing the unique ID associated with the courier by the user through the mobile based web browser, verifying the unique ID of the registered user in the application server and providing the status information of the courier on the mobile based web browser.

[0020] Embodiments herein further disclose a system for sending a courier dispatch notification to a user. The system comprises an application server installed with a courier tracking application, a plurality of users connected with the application server and a plurality of vendors connected to the application server. The application server includes a registration module for providing an unique ID to the user on registration, an interface module for obtaining information on a plurality of couriers from the plurality of vendor devices, a tracking database for storing the obtained information, a tracking module for notifying the registered users on dispatch of a courier addressed to the user. The application takes the unique ID associated with a registered user for verifying the authenticity of the user for sending the courier dispatch notification to the user.

[0021] According to an embodiment herein, the tracking module is adapted to monitor the status of the courier from a sender to the recipient. Further the tracking module monitors one or more routes through which the courier is channelled and sends the status of the courier at each intermediate location to the user device.

[0022] According to an embodiment herein, the user device includes at least one application client installed in the device. The application client herein is at least one of a mobile application, mobile based web browser application, mobile based web page or any widgets of the like.

[0023] According to an embodiment herein, the user device is at least one of a cell phone, a PDA, a smart phone, a tablet and a wireless device.

[0024] According to an embodiment herein, wherein the vendor device includes an application agent downloaded from the application server and installed therein, an application interface for the application agent to connect to the application server and a database for storing information on the courier. The application agent intimates the application server on dispatch of a courier.

[0025] According to an embodiment herein, the vendor device is at least one of a computing device, a communication device and a device with data storage and data execution capability.

[0026] According to an embodiment herein, the application server further comprising a interface module to interact with at least one of the user device and the vendor device, a authentication module for authenticating the registered users, an auto-updation module for automatically updating the status of the courier in the tracker database and a push/pull module for communicating the status of the courier to the registered user to provide an enhanced visibility of the courier.

[0027] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

E) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0029] FIG. lis a block diagram illustrating a system for notifying dispatch of a courier to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 2illustrates architecture of a system for notifying dispatch of a courier to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing courier dispatch notification to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a plurality of users for a courier notification service, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a plurality of vendors for a courier notification service, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Although the specific features of the embodiments herein are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the embodiments herein.

F) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0035] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0036] The various embodiments herein provide a system and method for sending a courier dispatch notification to a user. The method for notifying a user on a courier dispatch comprising steps of registering a plurality of users with an application server for a courier alert notification, downloading and installing an application client in an user device, registering a plurality of vendors with the application server, downloading and installing an application agent on a plurality of vendor devices, providing the unique id of sender and recipient of the courier in the vendor device, obtaining the recipient details from the application agent by the application server, verifying the unique ID of the registered user in the application server and notifying the dispatch of the courier to the sender as well as the recipient. The application server automatically takes the unique ID as a credential for accessing information associated with the registered user for notifying the user. Here the registered user refers to both the sender of the courier and the addressed recipient of the courier.

[0037] The unique ID is at least one of a mobile number, a UID and a social security number, email or any automated identification number associated with the registered user.

[0038] The method for notifying the users on a courier dispatch further comprising monitoring the status of one or more couriers at intermediate locations, updating the status of the couriers in the application server, sending the status of the courier by the application server to the user and displaying the status of the courier on the application interface of the user device and the vendor device. The notification intimates the sender and the recipient the estimated date and time of delivery of the courier, current location of the courier and intermediate locations of transit. The status of the courier is tracked by verification credentials including unique ID of the sender/recipient, tracking number, date and location.

[0039] The method for notifying the users on a courier dispatch further comprising updating the delivery status in the application server and intimating the delivery of the courier to the sender and recipient.

[0040] The method further enables the users to obtain a courier status information by manual entry of the unique ID associated with the user through a mobile based web browser application. The method comprising steps of accessing the service provider website by the registered users, entering the unique ID associated with the user through the mobile based web browser application of the user device, verifying the unique ID of the registered user in the application server and providing the status information of the courier. The application server automatically takes the unique ID as a credential for accessing information associated with the registered user for notifying the user. Here the registered user refers to both the sender of the courier and the addressed recipient of the courier.

[0041] Embodiments herein further disclose a system for sending a courier dispatch notification to a user. The system comprises an application server installed with a courier tracking application, a plurality of users connected with the application server and a plurality of vendors connected to the application server. The application server includes a registration module for providing a unique ID to the user on registration, an interface module for obtaining information on a plurality of courier from the plurality of vendor devices, a tracking database for storing the obtained information, a tracking module for notifying the registered users on dispatch of a courier addressed to the user. The application takes the unique ID associated with a registered user for verifying the authenticity of the user for sending the courier dispatch notification to the user.

[0042] The tracking module is adapted to monitor the status of the courier from a sender to the recipient. Further the tracking module monitors one or more routes through which the courier is channelled and sends the status of the courier at each intermediate location to the user device.

[0043] The user device is at least one of a cell phone, a PDA, a smart phone and a tablet having application client installed in the device. The vendor device includes an application agent downloaded from the application server and installed therein, an application interface for the application agent to connect to the application server and a database for storing information on the courier.

[0044] The vendor device is at least one of a computing device, a communication device and a device with data storage and data execution capability.

[0045] The application server further comprising a interface module to interact with at least one of the user device and the vendor device, a authentication module for authenticating the registered users, an auto-updation module for automatically updating the status of the couriered in the tracker database and a push/pull module for communicating the status of the courier to the registered user to provide an enhanced visibility of the courier status.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for notifying dispatch of a courier to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The courier notification system 100 comprises an application server 101, plurality of users say user 1, user 2, user n registered for the courier notification service and a plurality of vendors, vendor 1, vendor 2, vendor n connected with the application server 101. The plurality of users and the plurality of vendors register with the application server 101 for a courier notification service by providing one or more authentication credentials. On registration, the application server 101 issues a unique ID for the users and vendors for authentication during further communication. The unique ID may be the mobile number, UID, social security number, email of the plurality of users and vendors. When a registered user approaches a vendor to send a courier to another user, the vendor enters all the details of the sender and the recipient in the vendor device which is verified by the application server 101 through an application interface. The application server 101 gets the courier details and verifies the unique ID of the sender/recipient of the courier. If the sender/recipient of the courier is authenticated, the application server 101 sends a message to at least one of a sender/recipient device notifying the dispatch of the courier along with the courier details. The application server 101 also monitors the status of the courier at intermediate locations and updates the status of the courier to the sender and the recipient.

[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates architecture of a system for notifying dispatch of a courier to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system for system for notifying dispatch of a courier to a user comprises an application server 101, one or more users registered with the application server 101 and a plurality of vendor device 202 connected to the application server 101. The user on registration with the application can server can download and install an application client 203 in any of the user device 201. The user device 201 includes one of but not limited to a cell phone, a PDA, a smart phone and a tablet. Similarly the one or more vendors on registration for the courier tracking application with the application server 101, downloads and installs an application agent 204 on the vendor device 202. The vendor device further includes an application interface 205 for the application agent 204 to connect to the application server 101 and a database 206 for storing information on the couriered courier. The vendor device is any of but not limited to a computing device, a communication device, a device with data storage and data execution capability etc.

[0048] The application agent 204 intimates the application server 101 on arrival of a new courier. The application server 101 includes an authentication module 207 for authenticating the registered sender/recipient of the courier, an interface module 208 for obtaining information on a plurality of couriers from the one or more of vendor devices 202, a tracking module 209for monitoring the status of one or more courier, a tracking database 210 for storing the obtained courier information, a push/pull module 211for communicating the status of the courier to the registered sender/recipient to provide an enhanced visibility of the courier an auto-updation module 212for automatically updating the status of the courier in the tracker database 211. The tracking module 209monitors one or more routes through which the couriers are channelled and updates the status of the courier at each intermediate location. The status of the courier is tracked by verification credentials including sender and recipient name, tracking number, date of reception and location stored in the tracking database 210. The application server 101 tracks the barcode associated with the courier to obtain the courier status. The application server 101 automatically takes the unique ID as a credential for accessing information belonging to the unique ID for identifying the sender/recipient for sending the notification. The unique ID is any one of a mobile number, a UID, a social security number associated with the sender/recipient.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing courier dispatch notification to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 301, a plurality of users and vendors register with an application server for a courier notification service. During registration, the plurality of users and vendors provide one or more credentials for further authentication. After registration, an application client is downloaded and installed in the user device and an application agent is downloaded and installed in the vendor devices at step 302. The application server on registering for the courier tracking service issues a unique ID to the users and the vendors for reference during future transactions. The unique ID of the one or more registered users say sender and recipient is provided to the vendor device at step 303. The application server obtains the courier details and unique ID through the application agent and verifies the same at step 304. At step 305, the application server sends a notification indicating the dispatch of a courier along with the courier details to the sender and recipient on a successful verification of the unique ID. The application agent further monitors the status of the courier at intermediate locations at 306 and updates the status of the courier to the sender and the recipient at 307.

[0050] FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering the plurality of users for the courier notification service, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of authentication details associated with each user is provided to the application server at step 401. At step 402, the user is verified and is registered with the application server for the courier tracking service. At step 403, the application server assigns a unique ID to each of the plurality of users. In certain cases, the application server considers the social security number/mobile number/UID, email or any automated identification number associated with the user as the unique ID. On successful registration, the user downloads an application client in each of the user device at step 404.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a plurality of vendors for a courier notification service, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The plurality of vendors provides authentication credentials to the application server for authentication for the courier tracking service at step 501. At step 502, the pluralities of vendors are registered with the application server l01 and an application agent is downloaded and installed on each of the plurality of vendor device at step 503. The application agent on the vendor device intimates the courier details to the application server on arrival of a courier at step 504.

[0052] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

G) ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0053] The embodiments of the present invention provide method and system for automatically notifying a sender and recipient of a courier immediately on dispatch of the courier.

[0054] The embodiments herein also provides the status information of the courier such as estimated date and time of delivery, current location, intermediate locations of transit to a user.

[0055] The embodiments herein allow the users and the vendors to know the status of the courier without any manual intervention.

[0056] The embodiments send the notifications and alerts to the user/vendor devices which enables them to track the courier at their own convenience and without additional time and effort.

[0057] The embodiments herein also enable the users to obtain the courier status conventionally through the website by providing the user ID through a mobile based web browser application of the user device.

[0058] Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A method for sending a courier dispatch notification to an user, the method comprising steps of:

registering a plurality of users with an application server for a courier alert notification;

downloading and installing an application client in an user device;

registering a plurality of vendors with the application server;

downloading and installing an application agent on a plurality of vendor devices;

providing an unique ID of a recipient of the courier and a sender of the courier in the vendor device;

obtaining the recipient details from the application agent by the application server;

verifying the unique ID of the registered user in the application server;
and notifying the dispatch of the courier to the registered users;

wherein the application server automatically takes the unique ID as a credential for accessing information associated with the registered user for notifying the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique ID is at least one of a mobile number, an UID, a social security number, email and automated identification number of the registered user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein further comprising:

monitoring the status of one or more courier at intermediate locations,
updating the status of the courier in the application server;

sending the status of the courier by the application server to the user; and
displaying the status of the courier on an application interface of the user
device and vendor device;

wherein the status of the courier is tracked by verification credentials
including unique ID of the registered user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a service provider website by a plurality of registered users
through a mobile based web browser application of the user device;

entering a unique ID associated with the user through the mobile based
web browser application;

verifying the unique ID of the registered user in the application server;
and

providing the courier status information to the user through the mobile
based web browser application.

5. A system for sending a courier dispatch notification to an user, the
system comprising:

an application server installed with a courier tracking application; a plurality of users connected with the application server;

at least one application client installed in a user device;

a plurality of vendors connected to the application server;
wherein the application server includes:

a registration module for providing registration assistance for the
plurality of users and vendors;

an interface module for obtaining information on a plurality of couriers
from the plurality of vendor devices;

a tracking database for storing the obtained information; and

a tracking module for notifying the registered users on dispatch of a
courier addressed to the user;

wherein the application takes an unique ID associated with a registered user for verifying the authenticity of the user for sending the courier dispatch notification.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the tracking module is further adapted to monitor the status of the courier from one registered user to another registered user, where the tracking module monitors one or more routes through which the courier is channelled and send the status of the courier at each intermediate location to the user.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the user device is at least one of:

a cell phone; a PDA; a smart phone; a tablet, and

a handheld wireless device

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the vendor device includes:

an application agent downloaded from the application server and installed therein;
an application interface for the application agent to connect to the application server; and
a database for storing courier information;

wherein the application agent intimates the application server on
dispatch of a courier.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the vendor device is at least one of:
a computing device;

a communication device; and

a device with data storage and data execution capability.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the application server further
comprising:

a interface module to interact with at least one of the user device and the
vendor device;

a authentication module for authenticating the registered users;

an auto-updation module for automatically updating the status of the courier in the tracker database; and

a push/pull module for communicating the status of the courier to the registered user to provide an enhanced visibility of the courier.