Systems and methods for scheduling reoccurring deliveries and pickups

• US 20060069601A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roadnet Technologies (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Simon, Stephen Patrick, Cucchiara, Vincent, Delaney, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium for scheduling delivery vehicle visits by a delivery service to a customer, said computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

(1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible for said delivery service to make a delivery vehicle visit to said customer on a particular day;

(2) allowing a user to request that said delivery service make a first delivery vehicle visit to said customer within said time window on said particular day;

(3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of delivery vehicle visits that includes said first delivery vehicle visit and one or more additional delivery vehicle visits, each delivery vehicle visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window;

(4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits;

(5) scheduling said first delivery vehicle visit;

(6) using a first set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; and

(7) in response to determining that, based on said first set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, tentatively scheduling each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing said steps (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) in real time.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits within a single display window.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits by defining a periodic relationship between each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits and said first delivery vehicle visit.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein, according to said periodic relationship, the individual delivery vehicle visits within said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits are to be made on a weekly basis.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein each of said delivery vehicle visits is a pickup.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;

said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and

said first delivery includes a first set of items.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during at least one of said additional requested deliveries.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during each of said additional requested deliveries.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said first set of items includes all of the items delivered during said first delivery.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

using a second set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; and

in response to determining that, based on said second set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits, firmly scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;

said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and

said first delivery includes a first set of items.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said first and second sets of scheduling information include information regarding one or more previously scheduled series of delivery vehicle visits.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said second set of information further includes information regarding:

(1) previously scheduled one-time delivery vehicle visits; and

(2) the days on which said delivery service will not make delivery vehicle visits.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

in response to determining that, based on said second set of scheduling information, said delivery service can not make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits, automatically informing a user that said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits must be rescheduled.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said step of automatically informing said user comprises automatically sending an e-mail message to said user.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing a step of allowing said user to electronically re-schedule said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to reschedule said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits by e-mail.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to use a web site to reschedule said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

said step of using a first set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is a first scheduling step;

said step of using said second set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits is a second scheduling step; and

said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for executing said first scheduling step at least a day before executing said second scheduling step.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for:

executing said first scheduling step on the same day that said user specifies that the user wishes to schedule said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits; and

executing said second scheduling step as part of a periodic scheduling job.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for executing a periodic scheduling job that is configured for executing the steps of:

determining whether any of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to be made within a particular date range;

in response to determining that at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to be made within said particular date range, using said second set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make said at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; and

in response to determining, based on said second set of scheduling information, that said delivery service can make said at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, firmly scheduling said at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

23. A method of scheduling delivery vehicle visits by a delivery service to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible for said delivery service to make a delivery vehicle visit to said customer on a particular day;

(2) allowing a user to request that said delivery service make a first delivery vehicle visit to said customer within said time window on said particular day;

(3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of delivery vehicle visits that includes said first delivery vehicle visit and one or more additional delivery vehicle visits, each delivery vehicle visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window;

(4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said series of delivery vehicle visits;

(5) using a first set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;

(6) scheduling said first delivery vehicle visit; and

(7) in response to determining that, based on said first set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, tentatively scheduling each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said steps (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) are performed in a real time computing environment.

25. The method of claim 23, further including the step of allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits by defining a periodic relationship between each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits and said first delivery vehicle visit.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein each of said delivery vehicle visits is a pickup.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein:

said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;

said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and

said first delivery includes a first set of items.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said first set of items includes substantially all of the items delivered during said first delivery; and

said method further comprises the step of automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during at least one of said additional requested deliveries.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

using a second set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; and

in response to determining that, based on said second set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits, firmly scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;

said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and

said first delivery includes a first set of items.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein:

said first set of scheduling information includes information regarding one or more previously scheduled series of deliveries; and

said second set of scheduling information includes information regarding;

one or more previously scheduled series of deliveries;

one or more previously scheduled one-time delivery vehicle visits;

and

one or more days on which said delivery service will not make delivery vehicle visits.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

in response to determining that, based on said second set of scheduling information, said delivery service can not make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits, automatically informing a user that said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits must be rescheduled.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said method further comprises the step of allowing said user to electronically re-schedule said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said method further comprises the step of executing a periodic scheduling job that is configured for executing the steps of:

determining whether any of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to be made within a particular date range;

in response to determining that at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to be made within said particular date range, using said second set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make said at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;

in response to determining, based on said second set of scheduling information, that said delivery service can make said at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, firmly scheduling said at least one of said additional requested deliveries; and

in response to determining, based on said second set of scheduling information, that said delivery service can not make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, automatically informing said user that said delivery service can not make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

35. A system for scheduling delivery vehicle visits by a delivery service to a customer, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory coupled to said central processing unit; and

a display screen coupled to said central processing unit,

said central processing unit being configured for;

(1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible for said delivery service to make a delivery vehicle visit to said customer on a particular day;

(2) allowing a user to request that said delivery service make a first delivery vehicle visit to said customer within said time window on said particular day;

(3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of delivery vehicle visits that includes said first delivery vehicle visit and one or more additional delivery vehicle visits, each delivery vehicle visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window;

(4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said series of delivery vehicle visits;

(5) using a first set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;

(6) scheduling said first delivery vehicle visit; and

(7) in response to determining that, based on said first set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, tentatively scheduling each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said central processing unit is configured for performing said Steps (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in real time.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein said central processing unit is configured for allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits by defining a periodic relationship between each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits and said first delivery vehicle visit.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein each of said delivery vehicle visits is a pickup.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein:

said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;

said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and

said first delivery includes a first set of items.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein:

said first set of items includes substantially all of the items delivered during said first delivery; and

said central processing unit is configured for automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during at least one of said additional requested deliveries.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein said central processing unit is configured for performing the steps of:

using a second set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; and

in response to determining that, based on said second set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits, firmly scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said central processing unit is configured for performing the step of:

in response to determining that, based on said second set of scheduling information, said delivery service can not make said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits, automatically informing a user that said particular one of said additional delivery vehicle visits must be rescheduled.

43. A computer-readable medium for scheduling customer visits to a customer, said computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

(1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible to make a customer visit to said customer on a particular day;

(2) allowing a user to request that said customer visit be made to said customer within said time window on said particular day;

(3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of customer visits that includes said first customer visit and one or more additional customer visits, each customer visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window;

(4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said series of customer visits;

(5) scheduling said first customer visit;

(6) using a first set of scheduling information to determine whether said delivery service can make each of said additional requested customer visits; and

(7) in response to determining that, based on said first set of scheduling information, said delivery service can make each of said additional requested customer visits, tentatively scheduling each of said additional requested customer visits.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing said steps (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) in real time.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to define said periodic series of customer visits within a single display window.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein said computer-readable medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to define said periodic series of customer visits by defining a periodic relationship between each of said additional requested customer visits and said first customer visit.