US 11,907,896 B2
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for facilitating label less returns
Robert J. Gillen, Johns Creek, GA (US); Douglas S. Takeuchi, Bellevue, WA (US); Deborah H. Carpenter, Marietta, GA (US); and David Kaga, Marietta, GA (US)
Assigned to UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by United Parcel Service of America, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/135,558.
Application 17/135,558 is a continuation of application No. 14/490,205, filed on Sep. 18, 2014, granted, now 10,878,369.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/880,584, filed on Sep. 20, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0150472 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/0837 (2023.01); G06Q 10/083 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 10/0837 (2013.01) [G06Q 10/083 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for returning an item to a shipper that eliminates a need of a customer to apply a shipping label to an item, the method comprising:
receiving a request to return a package delivered to a user associated with a shipment identifier stored within a tracking number table indicating that the user is associated with a label-less return program;
receiving a scan of a shipping label associated with the package, from a user device;
responsive to receiving the scan of the shipping label, generating a smart code associated with the shipment identifier;
automatically causing an update to the tracking number table linking the smart code to the shipment identifier within the tracking number table;
causing delivery of the smart code to the user device;
receiving a scan of the smart code from a remote scanning device;
responsive to receiving the scan of the smart code, determining that the tracking number table is updated and that the smart code is linked to the shipment identifier; and
based on determining that the smart code is linked to the shipment identifier, initializing return of the package.