# US 10,769,575 B2 · Distribution systems and related methods

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- Number: US 10,769,575 B2
- Document ID: US10769575B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/715,478
- Filed: 2017-09-26
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-26
- Assignees: Mastercard International Incorporated
- Applicants: Mastercard International Incorporated
- Inventors: Rick Unnerstall; Bernard Wong; Corey M. Hively
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769575B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/0833: Tracking
- G06Q 20/10: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
- G06Q 20/12: specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
- G06Q 20/3224: {Transactions dependent on location of M-devices}
- G06Q 40/00: Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
- H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information
- H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
- H04L 67/306: User profiles
- H04W 88/02: Terminal devices
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for distributing parcels to recipients based on location data associated with the recipients. One exemplary method includes generating and storing a shipping file for the recipient, where the shipping file includes an identifier for a portable communication device associated with the recipient and a defined geographic region for the recipient, and retrieving location data for a location of the portable communication device based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device. The method also includes determining whether the location of the portable communication device is within the defined geographic region. The method then further includes directing an entity associated with the parcel to ship the parcel to the recipient when the location is determined to be within the defined geographic region, and directing the entity to hold shipment of the parcel when the location is determined to be outside the defined geographic region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for distributing a parcel to a recipient based on location data associated with the recipient, the method comprising:
generating and storing, by at least one computing device, a shipping file for the recipient, the shipping file including an identifier for a portable communication device associated with the recipient and a defined geographic region for the recipient;
in connection with an expected shipment of the parcel to the recipient, retrieving, by the at least one computing device, location data for a location of the portable communication device, from the portable communication device, based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device;
determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the location of the portable communication device is within the defined geographic region;
directing an entity associated with the parcel to ship the parcel to the recipient when the location is determined to be within the defined geographic region; and
directing the entity to hold shipment of the parcel when the location is determined to be outside the defined geographic region, whereby the entity holds shipment of the parcel until a time when the recipient is located within the defined geographic region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a network-based transaction for a product included in the parcel consistent with the shipping file, the network-based transaction indicative of the expected shipment of the parcel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the network-based transaction includes a recurring payment account transaction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein directing the entity to ship the parcel includes appending a distribute indicator to an authorization message associated with the network-based transaction and causing the authorization message to be routed to the entity, whereby the distribute indicator directs the entity to ship the parcel to the recipient; and
wherein directing the entity to hold shipment of the parcel includes appending a hold indicator to an authorization message associated with the network-based transaction and causing the authorization message to be routed to the entity, whereby the hold indicator directs the entity to hold shipment of the parcel to the recipient.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the shipping file further includes an account number for a payment account associated with the recipient; and
wherein detecting the network-based transaction for the product consistent with the shipping file includes detecting the network-based transaction based, at least, on the account number for the payment account.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising soliciting, by the at least one computing device, a selection of a delivery protection option from the recipient, prior to generating and storing the shipping file.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising soliciting, by the at least one computing device, the defined geographic region from the recipient, prior to generating and storing the shipping file.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising soliciting, by the at least one computing device, a permission from the recipient to track the location of the portable communication device, prior to generating and storing the shipping file.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, after determining the location is outside the defined geographic region, retrieving, by the at least one computing device, after a defined interval, a further location of the portable communication device from the portable communication device based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device; and
directing the entity to ship the parcel when the further location is determined to be within the defined geographic region.

### Claim 10

A distribution system for directing a parcel containing a product to a recipient based on location data for the recipient relative to one or more geographic regions, the distribution system comprising:
a memory including at least one shipping file for the recipient, the at least one shipping file including an identifier for a portable communication device associated with the recipient and a defined geographic region for the recipient; and
at least one processor in communication with the memory, the at least one processor configured to;
detect a network-based transaction for the product consistent with the at least one shipping file and based on an account number for a payment account used to fund the transaction;
retrieve location data of the portable communication device identified in the at least one shipping file, from the portable communication device, based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device;
determine, based on the retrieved location data, whether a location of the portable communication device is within the defined geographic region;
direct an entity associated with the product to ship the product to the recipient when the location is determined to be within the defined geographic region; and
direct the entity to hold shipment of the product when the location is determined to be outside the defined geographic region, whereby the entity holds shipment of the product until a time when the recipient is located within the defined geographic region.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The distribution system of claim 10, wherein the at least one shipping file for the recipient further includes the account number for the payment account.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The distribution system of claim 11, further comprising executable instructions, which when executed by the portable communication device, cause the portable communication device to solicit, from the recipient, at least the defined geographic region for the recipient and the account number for the payment account.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The distribution system of claim 12, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the portable communication device, further cause the portable communication device to:
transmit the identifier to the at least one processor; and
in response to a request by the at least one processor for the location data of the portable communication device, transmit the location data to the at least one processor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The distribution system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
after determining the location of the portable communication device is outside the defined geographic region, retrieve, after a defined interval, a further location of the portable communication device from the portable communication device based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device; and
direct the entity to ship the product when the further location is determined to be within the defined geographic region.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The distribution system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
solicit a selection of a delivery protection option from the recipient and then solicit the defined geographic region from the recipient; and
compile the at least one shipping file for the recipient to include the defined geographic region and store the at least one shipping file in the memory.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The distribution system of claim 10, further comprising a payment network in communication with the at least one processor;
wherein the payment network is configured, in connection with directing the entity to ship the parcel, to append a distribute indicator to an authorization message associated with the network-based transaction and route the authorization message to the entity, whereby the distribute indicator directs the entity to ship the parcel to the recipient; and
wherein the payment network is configured, in connection with directing the entity to hold shipment of the parcel, to append a hold indicator to an authorization message associated with the network-based transaction and route the authorization message to the entity, whereby the hold indicator directs the entity to hold shipment of the parcel to the recipient.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer readable storage media including executable instructions for use in directing a parcel to a recipient, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
generate and store a shipping file for the recipient, the shipping file including an identifier for a portable communication device associated with the recipient and a defined geographic region for the recipient;
detecting a network-based transaction for a product included in the parcel based on the shipping file and based on an account number for a payment account used to fund the transaction, the network-based transaction indicative of an expected shipment of the parcel;
in response to detecting the network-based transaction, retrieve location data for a location of the portable communication device, from the portable communication device, based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device;
determine, based on the retrieved location data, whether the location of the portable communication device is within the defined geographic region;
direct an entity associated with the parcel to ship the parcel to the recipient when the location is determined to be within the defined geographic region; and
direct the entity to hold shipment of the parcel when the location is determined to be outside the defined geographic region, whereby the entity holds shipment of the parcel until a time when the recipient is located within the defined geographic region.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
append a distribute indicator to an authorization message associated with the network-based transaction and cause the authorization message to be routed to the entity, thereby directing the entity to ship the parcel to the recipient upon receipt of the authorization message; and
append a hold indicator to an authorization message associated with the network-based transaction and cause the authorization message to be routed to the entity, thereby directing the entity to hold shipment of the parcel to the recipient upon receipt of the authorization message.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
after determining the location is outside the defined geographic region, retrieve, after a defined interval, a further location of the portable communication device from the portable communication device based on the identifier associated with the portable communication device; and
direct the entity to ship the parcel when the further location is determined to be within the defined geographic region.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor, prior to generating and storing the shipping file, to:
solicit a selection of a delivery protection option from the recipient;
solicit the defined geographic region from the recipient; and
solicit a permission from the recipient to track the location of the portable communication device.