Methods and systems for postcode-to-postcode delivery interval and routing calculation

• US 20050256731A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• 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: Mougey, Vincent J., Goulbourne, Adrian B., Manea, Ossam
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/337
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for calculating a delivery date. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving, at a delivery processor, origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office. The delivery processor determines whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office and sets a start date and time based on the scan time determination. The delivery processor also determines a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office, and determines a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office. Thereafter, the delivery processor calculates the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time, and provides the estimated delivery date to a source data processor.

Claims

1. A method for calculating an estimated delivery date, comprising:

receiving, at a delivery processor, origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

determining whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office;

setting a start date and time based on the scan time determination;

determining a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office;

determining a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office;

calculating the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time; and

providing the estimated delivery date to a source data processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of an origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving destination data corresponding to a destination delivery office to which the item is to be sent, the destination data comprising one or more of a destination country, a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

selecting the cut-off acceptance time based on the ascertaining.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

identifying an inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified inbound delivery office.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

determining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office does not have cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country;

identifying an outbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified outbound delivery office.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a start date and time comprises:

adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day; and

adding a day to the new start date until the new start date is a non-holiday and a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first estimated date and time comprises:

calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at the first intermediate delivery office;

determining whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

determining whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

setting the first estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a second estimated date and time comprises:

determining whether a flight departure time is after a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office;

determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time;

determining whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights;

determining whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

setting the second estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the estimated delivery date comprises:

determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office;

adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

setting the anticipated date of delivery as the estimated date of delivery upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.

14. An apparatus for calculating an estimated delivery date, comprising:

means for receiving, at a delivery processor, origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

means for determining whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office;

means for setting a start date and time based on the scan time determination;

means for determining a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office;

means for determining a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office;

means for calculating the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time; and

means for providing the estimated delivery date to a source data processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of an origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode).

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving destination data corresponding to a destination delivery office to which the item is to be sent, the destination data comprising one or more of a destination country, a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for ascertaining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

means for selecting the cut-off acceptance time based on the ascertaining.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

means for identifying an inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

means for choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified inbound delivery office.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

means for determining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office does not have cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country;

means for identifying an outbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

means for choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified outbound delivery office.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for setting a start date and time comprises:

means for adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day; and

means for adding a day to the new start date until the new start date is a non-holiday and a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining a first estimated date and time comprises:

means for calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at the first intermediate delivery office;

means for determining whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

means for determining whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

means for setting the first estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining a second estimated date and time comprises:

means for determining whether a flight departure time is after a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office;

means for determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time;

means for determining whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights;

means for determining whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

means for setting the second estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for calculating the estimated delivery date comprises:

means for determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

means for determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office;

means for adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

means for setting the anticipated date of delivery as the estimated date of delivery upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.

27. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for calculating an estimated delivery date, the method comprising:

receiving, at a delivery processor, origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

determining whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office;

setting a start date and time based on the scan time determination;

determining a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office;

determining a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office;

calculating the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time; and

providing the estimated delivery date to a source data processor.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of an origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode).

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving destination data corresponding to a destination delivery office to which the item is to be sent, the destination data comprising one or more of a destination country, a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

ascertaining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

selecting the cut-off acceptance time based on the ascertaining.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

identifying an inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified inbound delivery office.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

determining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office does not have cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country;

identifying an outbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified outbound delivery office.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein setting a start date and time comprises:

adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising:

determining whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day; and

adding a day to the new start date until the new start date is a non-holiday and a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein determining a first estimated date and time comprises:

calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at the first intermediate delivery office;

determining whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

determining whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

setting the first estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein determining a second estimated date and time comprises:

determining whether a flight departure time is after a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office;

determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time;

determining whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights;

determining whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

setting the second estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein calculating the estimated delivery date comprises:

determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office;

adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

setting the anticipated date of delivery as the estimated date of delivery upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.

40. An apparatus for calculating an estimated delivery date, comprising:

a memory having a program that;

receives origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

determines whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office;

sets a start date and time based on the scan time determination;

determines a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office;

determines a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office;

calculates the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time; and

provides the estimated delivery date to a source data processor; and

a processor that runs the program.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of an origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode).

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the program further receives destination data corresponding to a destination delivery office to which the item is to be sent, the destination data comprising one or more of a destination country, a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the program further ascertains whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country, and selects the cut-off acceptance time based on the ascertaining.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the program selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

identifying an inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified inbound delivery office.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the program selecting the cut-off acceptance time comprises:

determining whether the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office does not have cut-off acceptance times based on an inbound delivery office of a destination region or country;

identifying an outbound delivery office corresponding to the destination region or country based on a determination that the origin delivery office has cut-off acceptance times based on an outbound delivery office of a destination region or country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the identified outbound delivery office.

47. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the program setting a start date and time comprises:

adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the program further determines whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day, and adds a day to the new start date until the new start date is a non-holiday and a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

49. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the program determining a first estimated date and time comprises:

calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at the first intermediate delivery office;

determining whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

determining whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

setting the first estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

50. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the program determining a second estimated date and time comprises:

determining whether a flight departure time is after a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office;

determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time;

determining whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights;

determining whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

setting the second estimated date and time based on the deciding and the ascertaining.

51. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the program calculating the estimated delivery date comprises:

determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office;

adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

setting the anticipated date of delivery as the estimated date of delivery upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day.

52. The apparatus of claim 40, the program further receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.