US 9,761,061 B1 · Shipping interface for a user interface

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide a shipping interface within a user interface are shown. A shipping interface of embodiments is provided within a open architecture or multiple application user interface, such as a browser user interface. A user may be enabled to use a same shipping account with respect to any number of applications or functions. Moreover, a user may be enabled to select a shipping provider of preference, even where the underlying application or function does not support the selected shipping provider or any shipping functions. Embodiments provide comparison of various shipping providers to a user for selection. Embodiments comprise a browser plug-in operable to provide a shipping interface, such a by inserting one or more shipping buttons within a page displayed by the browser, within a popup window, within a frame along the main browser window, within a browser menu bar, tool tray, etcetera.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

one or more browser plug-in stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the one or more browser plug-in providing a shipping application user interface with respect to a browser, the one or more browser plug-in being operable to interface with at least one shipping application and to provide postage indicia generation with respect to a plurality of applications executable with respect to said browser, at least a portion of said postage indicia generation facilitated through interaction between said one or more browser plug-in and said at least one shipping application, wherein said one or more browser plug-in is operable to recognize possible shipping events associated with operation of an application of said plurality of applications and display said shipping application user interface presenting postage indicia generation function selection to a user in response to recognizing a possible shipping event prior to said user having selected a shipping function within said application.

A method comprising:

executing a browser plug-in upon a browser operating on a host computer system;
analyzing, by the browser plug-in, operation of an application of a plurality of applications within the browser;
identifying, by the browser plug-in, a possible shipping event from the analyzing;
displaying, prior to a user having selected a shipping function within said application, at least one shipping button by the browser as a function of the identifying a possible shipping event to thereby provide a user an option to invoke alternative shipping functionality for the possible shipping event which is not otherwise available through said application;
and
providing alternative shipping functionality from at least one shipping application as a function of manipulation of the at least one shipping button, the shipping application being independent of the plurality of applications operable within the browser and the alternative shipping functionality being provided instead of shipping functionality of said application.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shipping interface for a user interface

Life of this patent

Shipping interface for a user interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims54