Distribution management system
First Claim
1. A distribution management apparatus that manages distribution of items to be routed through a plurality of distribution points in a predetermined order so as to be transported to destinations and determines, for each of delivery requests to have the items delivered to the destinations, from which one of the distribution points items in stock should be allocated, the distribution management apparatus comprising:
- a stock information storing unit that stores therein stock information indicating, for each of the distribution points, a quantity of items that are currently and prospectively located at the distribution point and are allocatable for delivery requests;
a receiving unit operable to receive a delivery request for having specified items delivered to a destination, the delivery request including delivery schedule information related to a delivery time limit;
a judging unit operable to judge whether or not the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery; and
a selecting unit operable to (i) in a case where the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery, check the stock information of a first distribution point which is a last distribution point en route to the destination, judge whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the first distribution point, and select, when having judged in the affirmative, the first distribution point as an allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request, and (ii) in a case where the delivery schedule information does not indicate an immediate delivery, check the stock information of a second distribution point which is other than the first distribution point and is en route to the destination, judge whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the second distribution point, and select, when having judged in the affirmative, the second distribution point as the allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A distribution management system includes an output terminal and a distribution management apparatus that manages distribution of items routed through distribution points in a predetermined order and transported to destinations, and determines, for each item delivery request, from which distribution point, items in stock should be allocated. The apparatus stores stock information indicating a quantity of currently and/or prospectively allocatable items, receives a delivery request, including a delivery time limit, to have specified items delivered, and judges whether an immediate delivery is indicated. The apparatus selects, (i) if judged in the affirmative, the last distribution point before the destination as an allocation point when it has allocatable articles in stock, and (ii) if judged in the negative, selects a distribution point other than the last distribution point as the allocation point when it has allocatable articles in stock, and transmits information indicating the allocation point to the output terminal.
18 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A distribution management apparatus that manages distribution of items to be routed through a plurality of distribution points in a predetermined order so as to be transported to destinations and determines, for each of delivery requests to have the items delivered to the destinations, from which one of the distribution points items in stock should be allocated, the distribution management apparatus comprising:
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a stock information storing unit that stores therein stock information indicating, for each of the distribution points, a quantity of items that are currently and prospectively located at the distribution point and are allocatable for delivery requests;
a receiving unit operable to receive a delivery request for having specified items delivered to a destination, the delivery request including delivery schedule information related to a delivery time limit;
a judging unit operable to judge whether or not the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery; and
a selecting unit operable to (i) in a case where the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery, check the stock information of a first distribution point which is a last distribution point en route to the destination, judge whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the first distribution point, and select, when having judged in the affirmative, the first distribution point as an allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request, and (ii) in a case where the delivery schedule information does not indicate an immediate delivery, check the stock information of a second distribution point which is other than the first distribution point and is en route to the destination, judge whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the second distribution point, and select, when having judged in the affirmative, the second distribution point as the allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A distribution management system including (i) a distribution management apparatus that manages distribution of items to be routed through a plurality of distribution points in a predetermined order so as to be transported to destinations and determines, for each of delivery requests to have the items delivered to the destinations, from which one of the distribution points items in stock should be allocated and (ii) an output terminal, wherein
the distribution management apparatus comprises: -
a stock information storing unit that stores therein stock information indicating, for each of the distribution points, a quantity of items that are currently and prospectively located at the distribution point and are allocatable for delivery requests;
a receiving unit operable to receive a delivery request for having specified items delivered to a destination, the delivery request including delivery schedule information related to a delivery time limit;
a judging unit operable to judge whether or not the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery;
a selecting unit operable to (i) in a case where the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery, check the stock information of a first distribution point which is a last distribution point en route to the destination, judge whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the first distribution point, and select, when having judged in the affirmative, the first distribution point as an allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request, and (ii) in a case where the delivery schedule information does not indicate an immediate delivery, check the stock information of a second distribution point which is other than the first distribution point and is en route to the destination, judge whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the second distribution point, and select, when having judged in the affirmative, the second distribution point as the allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request; and
a transmitting unit operable to transmit allocation point information indicating the allocation point to the output terminal, and the output terminal comprises;
an acquiring unit operable to acquire the allocation point information; and
a displaying unit operable to display the acquired allocation point information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A distribution management method for managing distribution of items to be routed through a plurality of distribution points in a predetermined order so as to be transported to destinations and determining, for each of delivery request to have the items delivered to the destinations, from which one of the distribution points items in stock should be allocated, the distribution management method comprising:
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a stock information storing step of storing, into a recording medium, stock information indicating, for each of the distribution points, a quantity of items that are currently and prospectively located at the distribution point and are allocatable for delivery requests;
a receiving step of receiving a delivery request for having specified items delivered to a destination, the delivery request including delivery schedule information related to a delivery time limit;
a judging step of judging whether or not the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery; and
a selecting step of (i) in a case where the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery, checking the stock information of a first distribution point which is a last distribution point en route to the destination, judging whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the first distribution point, and selecting, when having judged in the affirmative, the first distribution point as an allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request, and (ii) in a case where the delivery schedule information does not indicate an immediate delivery, checking the stock information of a second distribution point which is other than the first distribution point and is en route to the destination, judging whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the second distribution point, and selecting, when having judged in the affirmative, the second distribution point as the allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A control program to have a computer perform a distribution management processing for managing distribution of items to be routed through a plurality of distribution points in a predetermined order so as to be transported to destinations and determining, for each of delivery requests to have the items delivered to the destinations, from which one of the distribution points items in stock should be allocated, wherein
the computer is able to access a recording medium on which stock information is recorded, the stock information indicating, for each of the distribution points, a quantity of items that are currently and prospectively located at the distribution point and are allocatable for delivery requests, and the distribution management processing comprises: -
a stock information storing step of storing the stock information into the recording medium;
a receiving step of receiving a delivery request for having specified items delivered to a destination, the delivery request including delivery schedule information related to a delivery time limit;
a judging step of judging whether or not the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery; and
a selecting step of (i) in a case where the delivery schedule information indicates an immediate delivery, checking the stock information of a first distribution point which is a last distribution point en route to the destination, judging whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the first distribution point, and selecting, when having judged in the affirmative, the first distribution point as an allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request, and (ii) in a case where the delivery schedule information does not indicate an immediate delivery, checking the stock information of a second distribution point which is other than the first distribution point and is en route to the destination, judging whether or not the requested items are allocatable from the second distribution point, and selecting, when having judged in the affirmative, the second distribution point as the allocation point from which the items in stock are allocated to meet the delivery request.
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Specification