Method and apparatus for mobile pickup stations

• US 20020072945A1
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ping Yang
• Original Assignee: Ping Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Ping
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A method and system for scheduling delivery and delivery of products to buyers. A Mobile Pickup Station (MPS) server is placed within a computer network and receives product shipping instructions from buyers or third party sellers. The MPS server determines optimal pickup points using buyer commuting information and buyer delivery requests. A MPS, carrying a buyer'"'"'s products, is dispatched to an optimal pickup point chosen by the buyer. A MPS may be used to both deliver and receive products. In an alternative embodiment, a MPS server finds stores with buyer desired products along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling and delivery of a product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

receiving route information from a buyer;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route information; and

dispatching a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station containing a product ordered by the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a pickup point further comprises:

receiving a channel width from the buyer;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of pickup points from the plurality of pickup points based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of pickup points a pickup point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pickup points is determined using an approximate buyer route concentration based on route usage.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of routes from a plurality of buyers; and

determining the plurality of pickup points based on the plurality of routes.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a specification of a plurality of preferred products;

receiving an occurrence rate for each of the plurality of preferred products; and

ordering the product for the buyer using the occurrence rates.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reminding the buyer via email that a product delivery is scheduled at the pickup point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising reminding the buyer telephonically that a product delivery is scheduled at the pickup point.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the mobile pickup station includes a plurality of lockers for containing products, each of the plurality of lockers having a unique access code; and

giving the buyer an access code for a locker containing the buyer'"'"'s product, the locker selected from the plurality of lockers.

9. A method of determining for a buyer a store where a product may be purchased, comprising:

receiving product information from a buyer;

receiving route information from the buyer, the route information including a route and channel width; and

selecting a set of stores from a plurality of stores based on the product information and the route information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the set of stores comprises:

providing a store database, the store database containing location and product information for each of the plurality of stores;

using the route and channel width to calculate a channel area; and

searching the store database for a set of stores carrying the product wherein each store in the set of stores is located within the channel area.

11. A method for scheduling and delivery of a product to a buyer by a seller using a third party seller affiliate, comprising:

receiving an order for a product from a buyer;

receiving route information from a buyer;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route information;

selecting a third party seller affiliate from a plurality of third party sellers based on the location of the pickup point; and

dispatching by the third party seller affiliate a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station containing the products ordered by the buyer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein selecting a fixed pickup station further comprises:

receiving a channel width from the buyer;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of fixed pickup stations from the plurality of fixed pickup stations based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a specification of a plurality of preferred products;

receiving an occurrence rate for each of the plurality of preferred products; and

ordering the product for the buyer using the occurrence rates.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising reminding the buyer via email that a product delivery is scheduled at the fixed pickup station.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising reminding the buyer telephonically that a product delivery is scheduled at the fixed pickup station.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the fixed pickup station includes a plurality of lockers for containing products, each of the plurality of lockers having a unique access code; and

giving the buyer an access code for a locker containing the buyer'"'"'s product, the locker selected from the plurality of lockers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein selecting a pickup point further comprises:

receiving a channel width from the user;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of pickup points from the plurality of pickup points based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of pickup points a pickup point.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of pickup points is determined using an approximate user route concentration based on route usage.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of routes from a plurality of users; and

determining the plurality of pickup points based on the plurality of routes.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising reminding the user via email that a package pickup is scheduled at the pickup point.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising reminding the user telephonically that a package pickup is scheduled at the pickup point.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the mobile pickup station includes a plurality of lockers for containing products, each of the plurality of lockers having a unique access code; and

giving the user an access code for a locker containing the user'"'"'s product, the locker selected from the plurality of lockers.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein selecting a fixed pickup station further comprises:

receiving a channel width from the user;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of fixed pickup stations from the plurality of fixed pickup stations based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising reminding the user via email that a package pickup is scheduled at the fixed pickup station.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising reminding the user telephonically that a package pickup is scheduled at the fixed pickup station.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein:

the fixed pickup station includes a plurality of lockers for containing packages, each of the plurality of lockers having a unique access code; and

giving the user an access code for a locker to contain the user'"'"'s package, the locker selected from the plurality of lockers.

12. A method for scheduling and delivery of a product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

receiving route information from a buyer;

selecting from a plurality of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station based on the route information; and

delivering a product ordered by the buyer to the fixed pickup station.

18. A method for scheduling pickup of a package from a user along the user'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

receiving route information from a user;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route information; and

dispatching a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station for picking up the package from the user.

25. A method for scheduling pickup of a package from a user along the user'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

receiving route information from a user; and

selecting from a plurality of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station based on the route information.

30. A method for scheduling and delivery of a product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

receiving route information from a buyer;

receiving a channel width from the buyer;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of pickup points from a plurality of pickup points based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of pickup points a pickup point; and

dispatching a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station containing a product ordered by the buyer.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of pickup points is determined using an approximate buyer route concentration based on route usage.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of routes from a plurality of buyers; and

determining the plurality of pickup points based on the plurality of routes.

33. A data processing system adapted to schedule and deliver a product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving route information from a buyer;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route information; and

dispatching a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station containing a product ordered by the buyer.

34. The data processing system of claim 33, wherein the program instructions for selecting a pickup point further include:

receiving a channel width from the buyer;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of pickup points from the plurality of pickup points based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of pickup points a pickup point.

35. The data processing system of claim 33, the program instructions further including determining the plurality of pickup points using an approximate buyer route concentration based on route usage.

36. The data processing system of claim 33, the program instructions further including:

receiving a plurality of routes from a plurality of buyers; and

determining the plurality of pickup points based on the plurality of routes.

37. The data processing system of claim 33, the program instructions further including:

receiving a specification of a plurality of preferred products;

receiving an occurrence rate for each of the plurality of preferred products; and

ordering the product for the buyer using the occurrence rates.

38. The data processing system of claim 33, the program instructions further including reminding the buyer via email that a product delivery is scheduled at the pickup point.

39. The data processing system of claim 33, the program instructions further including reminding the buyer telephonically that a product delivery is scheduled at the pickup point.

40. A data processing system adapted to determine for a buyer a store where a product may be purchased along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving product information from a buyer;

receiving route information from the buyer, the route information including a route and channel width; and

selecting a set of stores from a plurality of stores based on the product information and the route information.

41. The data processing system of claim 40, wherein the program instructions for selecting the set of stores include:

accessing a store database containing location and product information for each of the plurality of stores using the route and channel width to calculate a channel area; and

searching the store database for a set of stores carrying the product wherein each store in the set of stores is located within the channel area,.

42. A data processing system adapted to schedule and deliver a product to a buyer by a seller using a third party seller affiliate, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving an order for a product from a buyer;

receiving route information from a buyer;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route information;

selecting a third party seller affiliate from a plurality of third party sellers based on the location of the pickup point; and

dispatching by the third party seller affiliate a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station containing the products ordered by the buyer.

43. A data processing system adapted to schedule and deliver a product to a buyer along the buyer'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving route information from a buyer;

selecting from a plurality of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station based on the route information; and

delivering a product ordered by the buyer to the fixed pickup station.

44. The data processing system of claim 43, wherein the program instructions for selecting a fixed pickup station further include:

receiving a channel width from the buyer;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of fixed pickup stations from the plurality of fixed pickup stations based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station.

45. The data processing system of claim 43, the program instructions further including:

receiving a specification of a plurality of preferred products;

receiving an occurrence rate for each of the plurality of preferred products; and

ordering the product for the buyer using the occurrence rates.

46. The data processing system of claim 43, the program instructions further including reminding the buyer via email that a product delivery is scheduled at the fixed pickup station.

47. The data processing system of claim 43, the program instructions further including reminding the buyer telephonically that a product delivery is scheduled at the fixed pickup station.

49. The data processing system of claim 48, the program instructions further including:

receiving a channel width from the user;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of pickup points from the plurality of pickup points based on the channel area;

selecting from the set of pickup points a pickup point.

50. The data processing system of claim 48, the program instructions further including determining the plurality of pickup points using an approximate user route concentration based on route usage.

51. The data processing system of claim 48, the program instructions further including:

receiving a plurality of routes from a plurality of users; and

determining the plurality of pickup points based on the plurality of routes.

52. The data processing system of claim 48, the program instructions further including reminding the user via email that a package pickup is scheduled at the pickup point.

53. The data processing system of claim 48, the program instructions further including reminding the user telephonically that a package pickup is scheduled at the pickup point.

48. A data processing system adapted to scheduling pickup of a package from a user along the user'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving route information from a user;

selecting from a plurality of pickup points a pickup point based on the route information; and

dispatching a mobile pickup station to the pickup point, the mobile pickup station for picking up the package from the user.

54. A data processing system adapted to schedule pickup of a package from a user along the user'"'"'s commuting route, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

receiving route information from a user;

receiving a channel width from the user;

calculating a channel area using the channel width and the route information;

determining a set of fixed pickup stations from the plurality of fixed pickup stations based on the channel area; and

selecting from the set of fixed pickup stations a fixed pickup station.