Surface air management systems and methods

• US 20040133438A1
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Zeisset, Kevin A., Caldwell, Janice, Aldstadt, Harry W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for assigning mail items to carriers, comprising at least one server containing a mail assignment engine. The mail assignment engine is operative to receive delivery data from the mail processors, determine routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules, assign the mail items to carriers based on the determined routes, and transmit mail item assignment information to the mail processors. The mail assignment engine may determine the routes using a database including files for active, planned, and closed routes. The mail assignment engine may also use business rules, which may comprise cost consideration, delivery options, and route delay information.

Claims

1. A method of assigning mail items to delivery carriers, comprising receiving delivery data from mail processors;

determining routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules;

assigning the mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes; and

transmitting mail item assignment information to the mail processors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining routes includes processing active, planned, and closed routes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining routes using the business rules includes using cost consideration information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein using cost consideration information further includes using information regarding contractual obligations to the delivery carriers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein using cost consideration information further includes determining a lowest cost for service window.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein using cost considerations includes using delivery option information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein using delivery option information further includes evaluating data regarding at least one of aircraft, trains, motor vehicles, and ships as a means of transporting the mail items.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein using business rules further includes using route delay information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving weather information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving route closing information from the delivery carriers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating an assignment manifest.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the assignment manifest includes generating one of a hardcopy and an electronic copy of the assignment manifest.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the assignment manifest to at least one delivery carrier.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking deliveries of the mail items using performance management tools.

15. A system for assigning mail items to delivery carriers, comprising:

means for receiving delivery data from mail processors;

means for determining routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules;

means for assigning the mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes; and

means for transmitting mail item assignment information to the mail processors.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for determining routes includes means for processing active, planned, and closed routes.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for determining routes using the business rules includes means for using cost consideration information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for using cost consideration information further includes means for using information regarding contractual obligations to the delivery carriers.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for using cost consideration information further includes means for determining a lowest cost for service window.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for using cost consideration information includes means for using delivery option information.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for using delivery option information further includes means for evaluating data regarding at least one of aircraft, trains, motor vehicles, and ships for transporting the mail items.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for determining routes using the business rules further includes means for using route delay information.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for using route delay information further includes means for receiving weather information.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for using route delay information further includes means for receiving route closing information from the delivery carriers.

25. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for creating an assignment manifest.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for creating the assignment manifest includes means for generating one of a hardcopy and an electronic copy of the assignment manifest.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising means for transmitting the assignment manifest to at least one delivery carrier.

28. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for tracking deliveries of the mail items.

29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing stages, comprising:

receiving delivery data from mail processors;

determining routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules;

assigning the mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes; and

transmitting mail item assignment information to the mail processors.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein determining routes includes processing active, planned, and closed routes.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein determining routes using the business rules includes using cost consideration information.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein using cost consideration information further includes using carrier contract information.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein using cost consideration information further includes determining a lowest cost for service window.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein using cost consideration information includes using delivery option information.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein using delivery option information further includes evaluating data regarding at least one of aircraft, trains, motor vehicles, and ships as a means of transporting the mail items.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein using the business rules further includes using route delay information.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving weather information.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving route closing information from the delivery carriers.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, further comprising computer-executable instructions for creating an assignment manifest.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein creating the assignment manifest includes generating one of a hardcopy and an electronic copy of the assignment manifest.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising computer-executable instructions for transmitting the assignment manifest to at least one delivery carrier.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, further comprising computer-executable instructions for tracking deliveries of the mail items.

43. A system for assigning mail items to delivery carriers, comprising:

at least one server containing a mail assignment engine, the mail assignment engine operative to;

receive delivery data from mail processors;

determine routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules;

assign the mail items to carriers based on the determined routes; and

transmit mail item assignment information to the mail processors.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein a transaction concentrator is used to manage communications for the at least one server.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the mail assignment engine determines the routes using a database including files for active, planned, and closed routes.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the mail assignment engine determines the routes using business rules including cost consideration information.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the cost consideration information further includes carrier contract information.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the cost considerations further includes a lowest cost for service window.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the cost considerations further include delivery option information.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the delivery option information further includes information for evaluating data regarding at least one of aircraft, trains, motor vehicles, and ships.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the business rules further include route delay information.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the route delay information further includes weather information.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the route delay information further includes route closing information received from the delivery carriers.

54. The system of claim 43, wherein the mail assignment engine is further operative to create an assignment manifest.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the assignment manifest is one of a hardcopy and an electronic file for delivery to at least one of the delivery carriers.

56. The system of claim 55, further comprising performance management tools for tracking deliveries of the mail items.

57. A computer for tagging mail items, comprising:

a software component including computer-executable instructions for;

receiving delivery data;

transmitting delivery data to a mail item assignment system;

receiving an assignment data file from the mail item assignment system; and

printing labels containing mail item routing information.