Method and Apparatus for Supporting Delivery, Sale and Billing of Perishable and Time-Sensitive Goods Such as Newspapers, Periodicals and Direct Marketing and Promotional Materials

• US 20100042463A1
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Newspaper Delivery Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Mellott, John C., Brockman, Gary B., Modisette, John Philip
• Granted Patent: US 8,117,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for tracking, controlling, optimizing, and otherwise managing the delivery of perishable and time-sensitive goods such as newspapers, periodicals and promotional materials to consumers, both subscribers and non-subscribers, and to retail outlets. One exemplary arrangement includes a web server, a database server, and handheld computers. A database including at least route delivery information may be created and at least portions of the database may be communicated to respective handheld devices for display. Time-sensitive goods such as newspapers or periodicals may be delivered based at least in part on the information displayed on the handheld devices, which are also used to collect information during said delivery. The collected information is communicated to the database for billing, reporting and analysis. Features include intelligent advanced shuffle handling and tracking, web-based planning tools, sequencing of distribution outlets along a trip or route, delivery without employing paper lists, trip management/tracking, intermittent or continual connectivity and/or data reporting, time stamping/time-based tracking, and retail manager signature input as part of data collection. Support for ASP, service-oriented business models may be provided.

Claims

1. A method of delivering quantities of goods comprising:

maintaining a database providing at least route delivery information,

communicating at least portions of said database to plural respective handheld devices for display to respective delivery personnel;

delivering said goods based at least in part on said displayed database portions;

using said handheld devices to collect information during said goods delivery, and

communicating said collected information to said database,

wherein said collected information comprises information directing a shuffle delivery.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said database maintaining comprises using web-enabled appliances to input or review information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicating is performed intermittently in batch mode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicating is performed wirelessly.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicating is performed continually in real time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said collecting comprises automatically reading bar codes disposed on said goods.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said goods comprise perishable or time-sensitive goods.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said goods comprise newspapers or other periodicals.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said route delivery information specifies multiple products.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said information collecting comprises collecting retail store representative signatures.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said information collecting comprises collecting return depot signatures.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said information collecting includes tallying numbers of returned goods.

13. The method of claim 1 further including operating said handheld devices to modify said route delivery information, and communicating said modifications between said handheld devices.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said modification communicating step comprises transmitting data over an infrared link.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said information collecting comprises collecting at least one time stamp.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining is performed by plural geographically separated entities.

17. The method of claim 1 further including generating bills based at least in part on said data collected by said collected information.

18. A system for delivering time-sensitive goods such as newspapers or other publications comprising:

a database server that stores database information including at least route delivery information,

a communications server coupled to said database server, said communications server communicating selected subsets of said database information to respective handheld devices for display thereon;

said respective handheld devices each including a display that displays information for, in use, guiding the delivery of said time-sensitive goods, said handheld devices including a data communications arrangement that communicates said collected information to said database,

wherein said collected information comprises shuffle information.

19. The system of claim 18 further including web-enabled appliances coupled to input or review said database information.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said communications server communicates said selected subsets intermittently in batch mode.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said communications server communicates said selected subsets wirelessly.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said communications server communicates said selected subsets continually in real time.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein said handheld devices each further including a bar code scanner.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein said database server is coupled to an application web server providing html and WAP connectivity.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said application web server includes a business logic module.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein said route delivery information specifies delivery for multiple products.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein said handheld device displays provide signature collection.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein said handheld devices include real time clock/calendars.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein said handheld devices include processors that automatically count number of return goods.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein said handheld devices include user input arrangements for modifying route delivery information, and said handheld devices include peer-to-peer communications arrangements for communicating said modifications therebetween.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said peer-to-peer communications arrangements use wireless infrared links.

32. The system of claim 18 wherein said handheld devices include non-volatile memories that store time stamps.

33. The system of claim 18 wherein said database server provides access on a shared basis by plural geographically separated entities.

34. The system of claim 18 further including a billing computer that generates bills based at least in part on said data collected by handheld devices.

35. A method of providing delivery management services comprising:

operating web-enabled computing equipment providing a database and web enabled applications;

allowing plural users to access said web-enabled computing equipment to define at least plural delivery routes;

communicating said delivery routes to respective remote handheld devices;

using said handheld devices to collect delivery information; and

reporting said collected delivery information to said computing equipment for bill generation.

36. An automation system for automatically managing periodical publication delivery to disparately located delivery outlets, said system comprising:

a server arrangement that maintains delivery route instructions and permits remote users using web-enabled appliances to specify and update said delivery route instructions;

plural portable handheld appliances that are, in use, intermittently connectable to said server arrangement, said plural portable handheld appliances receiving, storing and displaying subsets of said delivery route instructions relating to particular delivery routes;

said plural intermittently-connected portable handheld appliances each including a printed indicia scanner that, in use, automatically reads and recognizes edition and date information printed on said periodical publications, said appliances tallying quantities and types of publications delivered and returned on a per-outlet basis based at least in part on information collected using said printed indicia scanners;

said plural intermittently-connected portable handheld appliances uploading collected information to said server arrangement, said server arrangement permitting said plural remote users to review delivery activity based, at least in part, on said collected, tallied quantities and types of publications delivered and returned.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said handheld appliances collect and report shuffle run data representing re-distribution of periodical publications between outlets.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein said handheld appliances include signature capture touch-sensitive screens that collect outlet representative signatures indicating approval of said delivery and return quantities and editions.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein said server arrangement is shared among disparately-located delivery businesses delivering differently-branded periodicals.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein said handheld appliances track simultaneous delivery of plural differently-branded newspapers to common delivery outlets.