Kenneth Allen Frederick

US Patent:

7349854, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

May 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/142749

Inventors:

Kenneth A. Frederick - Pleasanton CA, US

Assignee:

United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00

US Classification:

705 1

Abstract:

The present invention enables users to access shipping information pertaining to the shipment of parcels by merely selecting an action from a tool bar or menu associated with a text string in a document or spreadsheet either recognized by a Microsoft Office smart tag or highlighted by user. The actions from which to select include but are not limited to tracking, time in transit, shipping history, label generation, address validation, proof of delivery and rate and service selection. The present invention automatically cuts the necessary text from the document or spreadsheet in which the user is working, opens or accesses databases, files, applications, websites, etc. , as required to obtain the desired shipping information from a database accessible by the user, such as over a LAN or Internet connection. The present invention processes the data retrieved (including cutting, pasting, inserting or manipulating data and initiating actions such as dialing a phone number, generating a label or sending an e-mail) and preferably presents the results to the user in a message box or as an insert into the document or spreadsheet in which the user is working.

US Patent:

7752143, Jul 6, 2010

Filed:

Jun 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/771645

Inventors:

Kenneth A Frederick - Pleasanton CA, US

Assignee:

United Parcel Service of America, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06Q 99/00

US Classification:

705333

Abstract:

The present invention enables users to access shipping information pertaining to the shipment of parcels by utilizing an add-in module that is distributed from a remote server to the users. Specifically, the add-in module is invoked by merely selecting an action from a tool bar or menu associated with a text string in a document or spreadsheet either recognized by a MICROSOFT OFFICE smart tag or highlighted by the user. The actions from which to select include but are not limited to tracking, time in transit, or shipping history. The add-in module is adapted to recognize the text string located in the document or spreadsheet and to transmit the text string to a database server connected to the network and adapted for receiving the text string, querying a database to retrieve shipping information corresponding to the text string, and transmitting the shipping information to the user via the communications network.