Delivery operations information system and methods of use

• US 20060184406A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• 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 8,260,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• 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 routes for delivery of articles,

developing a second database that identifies the volume of articles to be delivered along each route,

developing a third database that identifies the total estimated work time for completing any identified routes;

developing a fourth database that identifies carriers assigned and assignable to all or portions of said routes, and the availability of said carriers, and

providing display screens selectively showing said data from said first, second, third, and fourth databases to permit assignment of said carrier to said routes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is performed daily.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of determining which carrier has requested to work overtime.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning is performed such that each carrier works for approximately eight hours.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of assigning is performed such that each carrier requesting overtime works for more than eight hours.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the total estimated work time includes total office time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the total estimated work time includes route time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth database further identifies workload capacity for each carrier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein workload capacity comprises a total number of available work hours for that carrier.

10. A system for managing delivery of articles comprising:

a first database that identifies routes for delivery of articles,

a second database that identifies the volume of articles to be delivered along each route,

a third database that identifies the total estimated work time for completing any identified routes;

a fourth database that identifies carriers assigned and assignable to all or portions of said routes, and the availability of said carriers, and

a display screen for selectively showing said data from said first, second, third, and fourth databases to permit assignment of said carrier to said routes.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said system is utilized daily.

12. The system of claim 10, further including a component for determining which carrier has requested to work overtime.

13. The system of claim 10, further being configured to assign such that each carrier works for approximately eight hours.

14. The system of claim 12, further being configured to assign such that each carrier requesting overtime works for more than eight hours.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the total estimated work time includes total office time.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the total estimated work time includes route time.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the fourth database further identifies workload capacity for each carrier.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein workload capacity comprises a total number of available work hours for that carrier.

19. The system of claim 10, further including more than one display screen for selectively showing said data from said first, second, third, and fourth databases to permit assignment of said carrier to said routes.

20. The system of claim 19, further being configured to show more than one display screen at a time.