Residential delivery system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of delivery comprising:
- (a) establishing at least one delivery subsector adjacent to a distribution facility;
(b) planning at least one flexible delivery route in the at least one delivery subsector; and
(c) completing deliveries along the at least one flexible delivery route whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and system for residential delivery. The invention also provides for a delivery-slot based delivery system.
41 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of delivery comprising:
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(a) establishing at least one delivery subsector adjacent to a distribution facility;
(b) planning at least one flexible delivery route in the at least one delivery subsector; and
(c) completing deliveries along the at least one flexible delivery route whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of delivery comprising:
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(a) establishing at least two delivery sectors adjacent to a distribution facility, each delivery sector having at least two delivery subsectors, the at least two delivery subsectors having at least two flexible delivery routes;
(b) planning a first route of the at least two flexible delivery routes and then successively planning each additional route of the at least two flexible delivery routes wherein each additional route is planned based on each previously planned route; and
(c) completing deliveries along each of the at least two flexible delivery routes in a first of the at least two delivery subsectors concurrently whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of delivery comprising:
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(a) distributing products from a distribution hub to a plurality of distribution facilities;
(b) establishing at least two delivery sectors adjacent to each of the plurality of distribution facilities, wherein each delivery sector has at least two delivery subsectors, wherein each of the at least two delivery subsectors has at least two flexible delivery routes;
(c) planning a first route of the at least two flexible delivery routes and then successively planning each additional route of the at least two flexible delivery routes wherein each additional route is planned based on each previously planned route; and
(d) in each of the at least two delivery sectors, completing deliveries along each of the at least two flexible delivery routes in one of the at least two delivery subsectors concurrently whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.
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17. A method of ordering and delivering items comprising:
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(a) allowing a customer to choose a selected recurring delivery slot from a selection of recurring delivery slots;
(b) allowing the customer to order at least one desired item; and
(c) delivering from a distribution facility the at least one desired item to the customer during the selected recurring delivery slot. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of ordering and delivering items comprising:
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(a) creating at least two delivery subsectors adjacent to a distribution facility;
(b) providing at least two delivery slots for each of the at least two subsectors;
(c) allowing each of a plurality of customers in each of the at least two delivery subsectors to select a preferred delivery slot from the at least two delivery slots;
(d) allowing the plurality of customers to place a plurality of orders for desired items;
(e) planning at least two flexible delivery routes in each of the at least two delivery subsectors based on the plurality of orders;
(f) concurrently delivering, during the selected delivery slot of each of the plurality of customers, the desired items to the plurality of customers along the at least two flexible delivery routes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A delivery system comprising:
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(a) a distribution hub;
(b) a plurality of distribution facilities configured to receive items from the distribution hub;
(c) at least two subsectors adjacent to each of the plurality of distribution facilities; and
(d) at least two flexible delivery routes within each of the at least two subsectors, wherein the at least two flexible delivery routes are configured to allow initially unassigned deliveries only at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.
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26. A network-based system for receiving an order for an item from a customer and delivering the order to the customer, the system comprising:
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(a) a server adapted to receive the order and a delivery location from the customer over the network;
(b) a distribution facility configured to allow delivery of the item to the delivery location;
(b) a server engine programmed to assign the order to one of at least two delivery routes based on the delivery location, the at least two delivery routes configured to allow initially unassigned deliveries only in close proximity with the distribution facility, wherein the server engine is configured to allow manual adjustment of the delivery route;
(f) a delivery vehicle for each of the at least two delivery routes, the delivery vehicle configured to transport the item to the customer.
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Specification