Method and system for supplying automatic status updates using electronic mail
A system is disclosed for automatically updating the status of customers' orders and shipments via electronic mail without using a human attendant to create and send the electronic mail messages. Preferably implemented in software, the updating system allows a large set of customers to be periodically updated over a computer or communications network via electronic mail. The system includes a database for maintaining order and shipping status and other relevant information.
1. An update processing and transmission system, comprising:
status query means for automatically obtaining status information relating to a commerce-related event from a common carrier information system via a network, the common carrier information system generating the status information;
storage means for storing the status information relating to the commerce-related event;
status information retrieval means for automatically retrieving said status information from the common carrier information system via the network and updating the status information in the storage means;
message generation means for automatically generating a status message reflective of said status information stored in the storage means; and
message forwarding means for automatically forwarding said status message to a point where it may be accessed by an interested party.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said status information relates to shipment of an item.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said status information retrieved by said status information retrieval means is contained on a second computer physically remote from a first computer on which said status information is stored and accessible via the network.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said status information is stored on a status information database within a first computer.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a status information database for separately storing status information.
6. An update processing and transmission method, including:
automatically obtaining status information relating to a commerce-related event in response to a status query to a common carrier information system, wherein the status information is received from the common carrier information system over a network;
storing the status information in a status database relating to the commerce-related event, the common carrier information system generating the status information;
retrieving said status information from the status database;
automatically generating a status message reflective of said status information; and
automatically forwarding said status message to a point where it may be accessed by an interested party.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said status information relates to shipment of an item.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said status information retrieved is contained on a first computer physically remote from a second computer which stores the status information.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said status information is stored on the status information database within a first computer.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising separately storing said status information.
11. A computer-readable medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the method of claim 6 .