Method And Device For Dispatching A Plurality Of Physical Objects

• US 20080021747A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Moeller, Thomas, Schmitz, Olaf, Strauss, Monika, Perschke, Herbert, Pipenbacher, Werner
• Application Number:
  US11/578,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021747A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation

Abstract

A method of dispatching a plurality of physical objects is provided. The method includes associating a delivery address with physical objects; determining a sequence of delivery for the physical objects; and determining a transport area for the physical objects, the transport area includes at least one transport location. The physical objects are collected and jointly transported according to the determined transport area. Prior to delivery, the delivery addresses are entered into a data storage unit in a transportation vehicle in accordance with the delivery sequence. A navigation system aboard the transportation vehicle determines a route-optimized itinerary for delivering the physical objects.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a plurality of physical objects, whereby the objects are delivered and/or picked up, the method comprising the steps of:

associating at least one delivery address is with each object in the plurality of physical objects,

determining a sequence for the transportation of the plurality of physical objects,

determining of at least one transport area for the sequence of transportation of the plurality of physical objects, whereby the determined transport area comprises at least one transport location,

collecting the plurality of physical objects for joint transportation according to the determined transport area,

entering the delivery addresses are entered into a data storage unit of a transportation vehicle in accordance with the determined sequence,

transmitting the delivery addresses to a navigation system of the transportation vehicle,

determining to which transport location the plurality of physical objects are to be subsequently transported, and

determining route-optimized itinerary to the transport location for a subsequent transportation event.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein additional route points are used to determine the route-optimized itinerary to the transport location for the subsequent transportation event.

3. The method according to claim 1,

further comprising incorporating transport results of completed transportation events into the determination of the transport area.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein one or more transportation vehicle are assigned to the collected plurality of physical objects.

5. The method according to claim 1,

further comprising assigning the delivery addresses on the basis of destination codes located on the plurality of physical objects, whereby the destination codes are read in and decoded in a logistics center.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the delivery addresses are entered into the data storage unit of the transportation vehicle with a chip card.

7. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the delivery addresses are entered into the data storage unit of the transportation by vehicle with a Bluetooth interface.

8. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the delivery addresses are entered into the data storage unit of the transportation vehicle with a microdrive card.

9. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the delivery addresses are entered into the data storage unit of the transportation vehicle with a mobile computer.

10. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the delivery addresses are entered into the data storage unit of the transportation vehicle with an INCA terminal.