Delivery operations information system with performance reports feature and methods of use

• US 20060167733A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Application

• 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: Scott, Gale R., Fisher, Charles V.
• Application Number:
  US11/207,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for managing information related to a delivery service provider and systems of using such a system. The system and systems provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delivery operation information system tracks quantities of articles, schedules their distribution, and schedules and tracks the work force that distributes the articles.

Claims

1. A method for managing delivery of articles comprising:

developing a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period;

developing a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period;

providing display screens selectively showing said data from said first and second databases;

comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period; and

generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is an individual carrier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a group of carriers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a delivery unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is a delivery route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period comprises a set of consecutive work days.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period comprise a single day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the report comprises a graphical representation of performance.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of comparing a report generated for that predetermined period with a previously generated report for another time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of modifying a condition of delivery for the client based on the report.

11. A system for managing delivery of articles comprising:

a first database that identifies an actual amount of delivery resources used by a client for a predetermined period;

a second database that identifies a budgeted, scheduled or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period;

a display screen for selectively showing said data from said first and second databases;

a component for comparing the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period; and

a component for generating a report based on the comparison between the actual amount of delivery resources used versus the budgeted, schedule or projected amount of delivery resources to be used for said period.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is an individual carrier.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is a group of carriers.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is a delivery unit.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the client is a delivery route.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period comprises a set of consecutive work days.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period comprise a single day.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the report comprises a graphical representation of performance.

19. The system of claim 11, further including a component for comparing a report generated for that predetermined period with a previously generated report for another time period.

20. The system of claim 11, further including a component for modifying a condition of delivery for the client based on the report.