Method for Cooperative transport of parcels
First Claim
1. A system for cooperatively delivering a parcel, comprising:
- maintaining a plurality of transport agents;
receiving a shipment request from a customer;
determining a delivery route comprising one or more legs for the shipment request;
approving a delivery route as an active delivery route;
accepting the parcel at a first sorter;
directing the plurality of transport agents, wherein the transport agent carries the parcel between sorters in the active delivery route ultimately to a last sorter; and
delivering the parcel from the last sorter to a destination comprising at least one of a delivery agent or pickup by a recipient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system and methods disclosed allow cooperative transport of parcels by aggregating excess carrying capacity of participating individual transport agents planning on or actually engaging in travels. Parcels are accepted at a sorter where a transport agent, who is traveling generally in the direction the parcel needs to go, picks it up and carries it along to the next sorter. This process continues until the parcel arrives at the sorter closest to the final destination. This aggregation increases utilization efficiency of available modes of transport and results in many benefits including: saving energy by reducing overall fuel usage, decreasing overall vehicular pollution generation and congestion, and reducing wear and tear on transportation infrastructure.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for cooperatively delivering a parcel, comprising:
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maintaining a plurality of transport agents; receiving a shipment request from a customer; determining a delivery route comprising one or more legs for the shipment request; approving a delivery route as an active delivery route; accepting the parcel at a first sorter; directing the plurality of transport agents, wherein the transport agent carries the parcel between sorters in the active delivery route ultimately to a last sorter; and delivering the parcel from the last sorter to a destination comprising at least one of a delivery agent or pickup by a recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable storage media containing computer-executable instructions, implemented at least in part by a computing device, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
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maintaining a plurality of transport agents; receiving a shipment request for a parcel from a customer; determining a delivery route comprising one or more legs for the shipment request; approving a delivery route as an active delivery route; accepting the parcel at a first sorter; directing the assigned transport agent to carry the parcel between sorters in the active delivery route; and delivering the parcel from a last sorter to a destination comprising at least one of a delivery agent or pickup by a recipient. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for cooperatively transporting a parcel, comprising:
accepting the parcel at a first sorter; utilizing a transport agent in an ad-hoc arrangement to carry the parcel between sorters; and depositing the parcel at a last sorter proximate to the parcel'"'"'s destination.
Specification