Delivery operations information system with route and unit maintenance feature and methods of use

• US 20060167734A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• 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: Scott, Gale R., Fisher, Charles V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,443,010 B2
• 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 database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, including characteristics of said routes;

providing a display screen selectively showing said routes for delivery and said characteristics;

using said display screen to modify said characteristics of a delivery route; and

saving said modification to the database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristics comprise a step-by-step travel pattern of the delivery route.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristics comprise a start or end time of the delivery route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristics comprise an office time of the delivery route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said characteristics comprise a classification type of the delivery route.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises dividing an existing delivery route into a series of logical segments.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the modification comprises reassigning the segments of the route to carriers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises altering a carrier assignment for that delivery route.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a carrier is assigned to more than one existing delivery route.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification is permanent.

11. A system for managing delivery of articles comprising:

a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, including characteristics of said routes;

a display screen for selectively showing said routes for delivery and said characteristics;

a component for modifying said characteristics of a delivery route; and

a component for saving said modification to the database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said characteristics comprise a step-by-step travel pattern of the delivery route.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said characteristics comprise a start or end time of the delivery route.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said characteristics comprise an office time of the delivery route.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said characteristics comprise a classification type of the delivery route.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises dividing an existing delivery route into a series of logical segments.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the modification comprises reassigning the segments of the route to carriers.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises altering a carrier assignment for that delivery route.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a carrier is assigned to more than one existing delivery route.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said modification is permanent.