Computer-based dispatching system and method
First Claim
1. A system for automatically dispatching a plurality of delivery vehicles on a plurality of delivery jobs, the system comprising:
- a plurality of tracking devices operative to transmit the location information over a wireless communication medium, wherein a location tracking devices is located in each delivery vehicle;
a receiver operative to receive location information from the plurality of location tracking devices; and
a computer operatively connected to the receiver, the computer comprising;
a processing unit;
a memory storage device operatively connected to the processing unit; and
a program module stored in the memory storage device operative for providing instructions to the processing unit, the processing unit responsive to the instructions of the program module, the program module operative for;
calculating an estimated delivery duration for each of the delivery jobs;
determining an initial dispatch schedule, wherein each of the delivery vehicles is assigned a delivery job based on the estimated delivery duration calculated for the delivery job, wherein the estimated delivery durations are coordinated such that the delivery vehicles are scheduled to arrive at a bottleneck point at intervals;
during the course of each assigned delivery job, regularly receiving location information transmitted by each of the location tracking devices and using the location information to calculate an updated estimated time of arrival at the bottleneck point; and
when a delivery vehicle completes an assigned delivery job, using the estimated delivery durations of the remaining delivery jobs and the updated estimated times of arrival at the bottleneck point of the delivery jobs in progress, assigning a remaining delivery job to the delivery vehicle such that the estimated delivery duration of the delivery job has the delivery vehicle scheduled to arrive at the bottleneck point at an interval with respect to the delivery jobs in progress.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed that provides for the scheduling of delivery jobs using estimated arrival times that are repeatedly updated while the delivery job progresses. A number of delivery vehicles are dispatched on a first set of delivery jobs such that the delivery vehicles are scheduled to arrive at a bottleneck point at intervals, to prevent delays at the bottleneck point. As each delivery vehicle progresses on an assigned delivery job, location information of the delivery vehicle is used to update an estimated time of arrival at the bottleneck point. When a delivery vehicle completes an assigned delivery job and is ready to be dispatched on a remaining delivery job, the estimated delivery durations of the remaining delivery jobs and the estimated times of arrival of the delivery vehicles currently on assigned delivery jobs are used to assign one of the remaining delivery jobs to the delivery vehicle.
38 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A system for automatically dispatching a plurality of delivery vehicles on a plurality of delivery jobs, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of tracking devices operative to transmit the location information over a wireless communication medium, wherein a location tracking devices is located in each delivery vehicle;
a receiver operative to receive location information from the plurality of location tracking devices; and
a computer operatively connected to the receiver, the computer comprising;
a processing unit;
a memory storage device operatively connected to the processing unit; and
a program module stored in the memory storage device operative for providing instructions to the processing unit, the processing unit responsive to the instructions of the program module, the program module operative for;
calculating an estimated delivery duration for each of the delivery jobs;
determining an initial dispatch schedule, wherein each of the delivery vehicles is assigned a delivery job based on the estimated delivery duration calculated for the delivery job, wherein the estimated delivery durations are coordinated such that the delivery vehicles are scheduled to arrive at a bottleneck point at intervals;
during the course of each assigned delivery job, regularly receiving location information transmitted by each of the location tracking devices and using the location information to calculate an updated estimated time of arrival at the bottleneck point; and
when a delivery vehicle completes an assigned delivery job, using the estimated delivery durations of the remaining delivery jobs and the updated estimated times of arrival at the bottleneck point of the delivery jobs in progress, assigning a remaining delivery job to the delivery vehicle such that the estimated delivery duration of the delivery job has the delivery vehicle scheduled to arrive at the bottleneck point at an interval with respect to the delivery jobs in progress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for automatically dispatching a plurality of vehicles on a plurality of delivery jobs, the method comprising:
-
calculating an estimated delivery duration for each of the delivery jobs;
determining an initial dispatch schedule, wherein each of the delivery vehicles is assigned a delivery job based on the estimated delivery duration calculated for the delivery job, wherein the estimated delivery durations are coordinated such that the delivery vehicles are scheduled to arrive at a bottleneck point at intervals;
during the course of each assigned delivery job, regularly receiving location information from a location tracking device located in each of the delivery vehicles and using the location information to calculate an updated estimated time of arrival at the bottleneck point; and
when a delivery vehicle completes an assigned delivery job, using the estimated delivery durations of the remaining delivery jobs and the updated estimated times of arrival at the bottleneck point of the delivery jobs in progress, assigning a remaining delivery job to the delivery vehicle such that the estimated delivery duration for the delivery job has the delivery vehicle scheduled to arrive at the bottleneck point at an interval with respect to the delivery jobs in progress. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification