Utilizing empty shipping container space as a selling opportunity
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorRobert J. Spremulli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention may provide the ability to leverage product dimensions and weight to offer promotional items that will fit in the box that is already required to ship customer-selected items.
Claims13
1-6. (canceled)
A system for utilizing empty shipping container space, the system comprising, a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions configured for:
- receiving a customer selection of one or more items to be shipped;
- determining dimensions of the one or more items to be shipped;
- identifying, in dependence on the determined dimensions, a shipping container to be utilized to ship the one or more items;
- determining remaining space that will be available within the shipping container along with the one or more items packed in the shipping container;
- determining one or more additional items which will fit within the available remaining space;
- and
- displaying at least one of the one or more additional items to the customer for purchase.
A computer program product for utilizing empty shipping container space, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
- computer readable program code configured for receiving a customer selection of one or more items to be shipped;
- computer readable program code configured for determining dimensions of the one or more items to be shipped;
- computer readable program code configured for identifying, in dependence on the determined dimensions, a shipping container to be utilized to ship the one or more items;
- computer readable program code configured for determining remaining space that will be available within the shipping container along with the one or more items packed in the shipping container;
- computer readable program code configured for determining one or more additional items which will fit within the available remaining space;
- and
- computer readable program code configured for displaying at least one of the one or more additional items to the customer for purchase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.