Systems and methods for automatic package tracking and prioritized reordering

• US 10,664,793 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2019
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coupang Corp.
• Original Assignee: Coupang Corp.
• Inventors: Rehn, Erik, Sung, Keunwoo, Kang, Hyun Bo, Chang, Ji Ho, Lee, Hyo Jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Kevin H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeroual, Omar
• Application Number:
  US16/356,100
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for automatic package tracking and prioritized reordering include receiving, through a network interface, information relating to an order, a first package identifier associated with a first package, and event data associated with a plurality of package identifiers that include the first package identifier, the order comprising a first group of items, where the first package is configured to hold the first group of items and is to be delivered to a first recipient within a first predetermined period of time through one or more existing routes; parsing the event data based on the first package identifier; determining whether the first package exists based on the information; and transmitting a signal to a computer system to deliver the first package or to reorder the first package based on the determinations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for automatic package tracking, the system comprising:

a memory storing instructions;

at least one processor;

a database connected to the at least one processor through a network interface; and

a computer system connected to the at least one processor through the network interface,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform steps for;

receiving, through the network interface, aggregated information comprising an order, a first package identifier associated with a first package, and event data associated with a plurality of package identifiers that include the first package identifier, wherein the order comprises a first group of items,

the event data being generated based on a plurality of packages associated with the plurality of package identifiers being transported through an automated transport system,

the first package being associated with the first group of items, and is to be delivered to a first recipient within a first predetermined period of time through one or more existing routes;

parsing the event data based on the first package identifier;

determining whether the first package exists based on the parsed event data, wherein;

if it is determined that the first package does not exist, flagging the first package identifier as meeting a first condition; and

if it is determined that the first package does exist, determining whether the first package was not delivered because of lack of resources, wherein;

if it is determined that the first package was not delivered because of lack of resources, flagging the first package identifier as meeting a second condition if the first predetermined period of time has passed by more than a first threshold;

transmitting a signal to the computer system to deliver the first package or to reorder the first package in response to the first package identifier being flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition;

receiving, through the network interface, a new package identifier in response to the first package identifier being flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition; and

,

controlling the automated transport system to receive a new package associated with the new package identifier and containing the first group of items previously associated with the first package identifier, the automated transport system configured to carry the new package from a first location to a second location in response to the first package identifier flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1,

wherein the order further comprises a second group of items corresponding to a second package and the plurality of package identifiers further comprises a second package identifier associated with the second package;

wherein the second package is to be delivered to the first recipient within a second predetermined period of time through the one or more existing routes; and

wherein the steps for parsing, determining, and transmitting are repeated for the second package and the second package identifier.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein parsing the event data comprises:

filtering the event data to isolate the event data associated with the first package identifier;

parsing the isolated event data to determine a temporal relationship among the events;

determining the chronological sequence of events; and

determining a status of the first package based on the chronological sequence of events.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the first package was attempted to be delivered to the first recipient.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein reordering the first package comprises:

cancelling a portion of the order corresponding to the first group of items;

creating a new order with the first group of items;

creating a new package identifier associated with a new package for holding the first group of items;

flagging the new package identifier as high-priority;

transmitting the new package identifier to the computer system; and

forwarding the first package to be restocked.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 5, wherein flagging the new package identifier comprises updating a parameter associated with the new package identifier.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 6, wherein the new package identifier causes the computer system to process the new package more quickly compared to other packages associated with corresponding package identifiers that are not flagged as high-priority.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein the new package identifier further causes a device to display a notification upon scanning the new package using the device, the notification comprising specific instructions about the new package.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 7, wherein the new package identifier causes the computer system to create a new route optimized for delivering the new package.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 6, wherein reordering the first package further comprises calculating a new period of time for delivering the new package to the first recipient.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the aggregated information relating to an order through the network interface based on the aggregated information relating to the order being updated.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein receiving the aggregated information relating to an order is repeated at a first predetermined interval.

13. The computer-implemented system of claim 12, wherein the steps for parsing, determining, and transmitting are repeated at a second predetermined interval longer than the first predetermined interval.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the lack of resources comprises at least one of lack of time, lack of workers, or lack of space.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 14, wherein the first threshold is variable based on the particular resource that was lacking.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein a status of the first package is determined by a request manually inputted by a user.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein if it is determined that the first package was not delivered because of other reasons, flagging the first package as meeting a third condition if the first predetermined period of time has passed by more than a second threshold.

18. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein a status of the first package comprises:

arrived at a warehouse, departed for delivery, delivery attempt unsuccessful, or delivery successful.

19. A computer-implemented system for automatic package tracking of multiple packages, the system comprising a first computer system, a mobile device, a database, and a second computer system, wherein

the mobile device comprises:

a memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to;

generate event data by scanning package identifiers corresponding to a plurality of packages, the generated event data comprising at least one of a location, a time, a device identifier, or a user identifier,

the event data being generated based on the plurality of packages being transported through an automated transport system; and

send the generated event data to the database via a network; and

the first computer system comprises;

a memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions for;

receiving, from the database through the network, aggregated information comprising a plurality of orders, a plurality of package identifiers, and the generated event data, each order comprising at least one group of items,

wherein each package is associated with a group of items and is to be delivered to a respective recipient within a respective predetermined period of time through one or more existing routes;

parsing the event data based on the plurality of package identifiers;

determining whether each package exists based on the parsed event data, wherein;

if it is determined that a particular package does not exist, flagging the corresponding package identifier as meeting a first condition; and

if it is determined that a particular package does exist, determining whether the particular package was not delivered because of lack of resources, wherein;

 

if it is determined that the particular package was not delivered because of lack of resources, flagging the corresponding package identifier as meeting a second condition if the corresponding predetermined period of time has passed by more than a threshold;

in response to the one or more package identifiers being flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition, transmitting a signal to the second computer system via the network to cause delivery of each package or to reorder the flagged packages;

receiving, through the network, one or more new package identifiers in response to the one or more package identifiers being flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition; and

controlling the automated transport system to receive one or more new packages associated with the new package identifiers and containing one or more groups of items previously associated with the package identifiers flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition, the automated transport system configured to carry the new packages from a first location to a second location in response to the package identifiers flagged as meeting the first condition or the second condition.