# US 2014/0207701 A1 · Computer system for routing package deliveries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207701 A1 - Document ID: US20140207701A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/198,676 - Filed: 2014-03-06 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2003-04-22 - Assignees: United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Applicants: United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Inventors: NAGESH KADABA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207701A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/0835: Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers - B07C 3/00: Sorting according to destination {(collating the pages of a book B42C1/00)} - G06Q 10/06316: {Sequencing of tasks or work} - G06Q 10/0637: Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals - G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management - G06Q 10/083: Shipping - G06Q 10/0833: Tracking - G06Q 10/08355: {Routing methods} - G06Q 10/0838: {Historical data} - G06Q 30/04: Billing or invoicing - 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 - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) ## Abstract A shipping system for shipping packages involving the coordinated use of at least a first carrier and a second carrier. The shipping system includes physical delivery facilities for the physical delivery of packages, the physical delivery facilities including at least one transfer location at which the second carrier may take over delivery responsibilities for a package. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating a multi-carrier shipping label, the method comprising: identifying, via one or more processors, a first carrier-specific tracking number associated with a first carrier, wherein the first carrier-specific tracking number is to be used by the first carrier in transporting a parcel through the first carrier's delivery network; identifying, via the one or more processors, a second carrier-specific tracking number associated with a second carrier, wherein the second carrier-specific tracking number is to be used by the second carrier in transporting the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network; storing, via the one or more processors, the first carrier-specific tracking number in association with the second carrier-specific tracking number; and in response to determining that the parcel is designated for a delivery destination in a specific area, generating, via the one or more processors, a multi-carrier shipping label that is to be affixed to the exterior of the parcel and that comprises (a) readable indicia of the first carrier-specific tracking number associated with the first carrier and (b) readable indicia of the second carrier-specific tracking number associated with the second carrier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: identifying a first level of service to be used by the first carrier in transporting the parcel through the first carrier's delivery network; and identifying a second level of service to be used by the second carrier in transporting the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network, wherein the multi-carrier shipping label further comprises (a) indicia of the first level of service and (b) indicia of the second level of service. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising electronically transmitting an image of the multi-carrier shipping label to a shipper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first carrier-specific tracking number and the second carrier-specific tracking number on the multi-carrier shipping label are machine readable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a transfer location to transfer the parcel from the first carrier to the second carrier to complete delivery of the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the multi-carrier shipping label further comprises indicia of the transfer location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the indicia of the first carrier-specific tracking number associated with the first carrier and indicia of the second carrier-specific tracking number associated with the second carrier are selected from the group consisting of a barcode and a Maxicode. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least: identify a first carrier-specific tracking number associated with a first carrier, wherein the first carrier-specific tracking number is to be used by the first carrier in transporting a parcel through the first carrier's delivery network; identify a second carrier-specific tracking number associated with a second carrier, wherein the second carrier-specific tracking number is to be used by the second carrier in transporting the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network; store the first carrier-specific tracking number in association with the second carrier-specific tracking number; and in response to determining that the parcel is designated for a delivery destination in a specific area, generate a multi-carrier shipping label that is to be affixed to the exterior of the parcel and that comprises (a) readable indicia of the first carrier-specific tracking number associated with the first carrier and (b) readable indicia of the second carrier-specific tracking number associated with the second carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to: identify a first level of service to be used by the first carrier in transporting the parcel through the first carrier's delivery network; and identify a second level of service to be used by the second carrier in transporting the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network, wherein the multi-carrier shipping label further comprises (a) indicia of the first level of service and (b) indicia of the second level of service. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to transmit an image of the multi-carrier shipping label to a shipper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first carrier-specific tracking number and the second carrier-specific tracking number on the multi-carrier shipping label are machine readable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to identify a transfer location to transfer the parcel from the first carrier to the second carrier to complete delivery of the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the multi-carrier shipping label further comprises indicia of the transfer location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the indicia of the first carrier-specific tracking number associated with the first carrier and indicia of the second carrier-specific tracking number associated with the second carrier are selected from the group consisting of a barcode and a Maxicode. ### Claim 15 A computer program product for generating a multi-carrier shipping label, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: an executable portion configured to identify a first carrier-specific tracking number associated with a first carrier, wherein the first carrier-specific tracking number is to be used by the first carrier in transporting a parcel through the first carrier's delivery network; an executable portion configured to identify a second carrier-specific tracking number associated with a second carrier, wherein the second carrier-specific tracking number is to be used by the second carrier in transporting the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network; an executable portion configured to store the first carrier-specific tracking number in association with the second carrier-specific tracking number; and an executable portion configured to in response to determining that the parcel is designated for a delivery destination in a specific area, generate a multi-carrier shipping label that is to be affixed to the exterior of the parcel and that comprises (a) readable indicia of the first carrier-specific tracking number associated with the first carrier and (b) readable indicia of the second carrier-specific tracking number associated with the second carrier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising: an executable portion configured to identify a first level of service to be used by the first carrier in transporting the parcel through the first carrier's delivery network; and an executable portion configured to identify a second level of service to be used by the second carrier in transporting the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network, wherein the multi-carrier shipping label further comprises (a) indicia of the first level of service and (b) indicia of the second level of service. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising an executable portion configured to transmit an image of the multi-carrier shipping label to a shipper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the first carrier-specific tracking number and the second carrier-specific tracking number on the multi-carrier shipping label are machine readable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising an executable portion configured to identify a transfer location to transfer the parcel from the first carrier to the second carrier to complete delivery of the parcel through the second carrier's delivery network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the multi-carrier shipping label further comprises indicia of the transfer location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the indicia of the first carrier-specific tracking number associated with the first carrier and indicia of the second carrier-specific tracking number associated with the second carrier are selected from the group consisting of a barcode and a Maxicode.