SHIPMENT FLOW VALIDATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A system for modeling distribution flow for a set of packages, the system comprising memory and at least one computer processor, the at least one computer processor configured for:
- retrieving a current distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of a set of packages within a carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a current distribution hub to a first geographical area, the current distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the current distribution hub to which the set of packages are to be transported from an origin and (2) a current number of days expected for transporting the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area via the current distribution hub;
generating an alternative distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of the set of packages within the carrier'"'"'s shipping network from an alternative distribution hub to the first geographical area, the alternative distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the alternative distribution hub to which the set of packages may be transported from the origin and (2) an alternative number of days expected for transporting the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area via the alternative distribution hub, wherein the alternative distribution hub is located remotely from the current distribution hub;
comparing the current distribution flow model and the alternative distribution flow model to determine which model indicates a lesser number of days expected to transport the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area; and
identifying at least one of the models as an optimal distribution flow model associated with the first geographical area based on which model indicates the lesser number of days expected to transport the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to various embodiments, a flow validation system models distribution flows of a consignor'"'"'s packages from each of one or more hubs within a carrier'"'"'s shipping network. The flow validation system allows the carrier and/or the consignor to identify at least one optimal hub within the carrier'"'"'s shipping network to which packages destined for a particular geographical area (e.g., three-digit ZIP code) should be shipped from their origin and from which the packages should be distributed through the carrier'"'"'s general shipping network to their respective destinations. According to various embodiments, the optimal hub (or hubs) for packages destined for a particular geographical area may be identified based on the number of days expected to transport the packages from the origin to the particular geographical area via the optimal hub (least “time-in-transit”) and/or the distance (or range of distances) between the optimal hub and the particular geographical area.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for modeling distribution flow for a set of packages, the system comprising memory and at least one computer processor, the at least one computer processor configured for:
-
retrieving a current distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of a set of packages within a carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a current distribution hub to a first geographical area, the current distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the current distribution hub to which the set of packages are to be transported from an origin and (2) a current number of days expected for transporting the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area via the current distribution hub;generating an alternative distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of the set of packages within the carrier'"'"'s shipping network from an alternative distribution hub to the first geographical area, the alternative distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the alternative distribution hub to which the set of packages may be transported from the origin and (2) an alternative number of days expected for transporting the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area via the alternative distribution hub, wherein the alternative distribution hub is located remotely from the current distribution hub;comparing the current distribution flow model and the alternative distribution flow model to determine which model indicates a lesser number of days expected to transport the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area; and identifying at least one of the models as an optimal distribution flow model associated with the first geographical area based on which model indicates the lesser number of days expected to transport the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A system for modeling distribution flow for a set of packages, the system comprising memory and at least one computer processor, the at least one computer processor configured for:
-
generating a first distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of a set of packages within a carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a first distribution hub to a first geographical area, the first distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the first distribution hub to which the set of packages may be transported from an origin and (2) a first number of days expected for transporting the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area via the first distribution hub;generating a second distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of the set of packages within the carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a second distribution hub to the first geographical area, the second distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the second distribution hub to which the set of packages may be transported from the origin and (2) a second number of days expected for transporting the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area via the second distribution hub, wherein the second distribution hub is located remotely from the first distribution hub;comparing the first distribution flow model and the second distribution flow model to determine which model indicates a least number of days expected to transport the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area; and identifying at least one of the models as an optimal distribution flow model associated with the first geographical area based on which model indicates the least number of days expected to transport the set of packages from the origin to the first geographical area.
-
-
18. A system for modeling distribution flow for a set of packages, the system comprising memory and at least one computer processor, the at least one computer processor configured for:
-
retrieving a current distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of a set of packages within a carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a current distribution hub to a first geographical area, the current distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the current distribution hub to which the set of packages are to be transported from an origin and (2) a current zone associated with the current distribution hub and the first geographical area pair, the current zone indicating a current distance between the current distribution hub and the first geographical area;generating an alternative distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of the set of packages within the carrier'"'"'s shipping network from an alternative distribution hub to the first geographical area, the alternative distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the alternative distribution hub to which the set of packages may be transported from the origin and (2) an alternative zone associated with the alternative distribution hub and the first geographical area pair, the alternative zone indicating an alternative distance between the alternative distribution hub and the first geographical area, wherein the alternative distribution hub is located remotely from the current distribution hub;comparing the current distribution flow model and the alternative distribution flow model to determine which model indicates a zone indicating a lesser distance between the respective hub and the first geographical area; and identifying at least one of the models as an optimal distribution flow model associated with the first geographical area based on which model indicates the zone indicating the lesser distance between the respective hub and the first geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A system for modeling distribution flow for a set of packages, the system comprising memory and at least one computer processor, the at least one computer processor configured for:
-
generating a first distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of a set of packages within a carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a first distribution hub to a first geographical area, the first distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the first distribution hub to which the set of packages may be transported from an origin and (2) a first zone associated with the first distribution hub and the first geographical area pair, the first zone indicating a first distance between the first distribution hub and the first geographical area;generating a second distribution flow model for simulating the transportation flow of the set of packages within the carrier'"'"'s shipping network from a second distribution hub to the first geographical area, the second distribution flow model indicating at least;
(1) the second distribution hub to which the packages may be transported from the origin and (2) a second zone associated with the second distribution hub and the first geographical area pair, the second zone indicating a second distance between the second distribution hub and the first geographical area, wherein the second distribution hub is located remotely from the first distribution hub;comparing the first distribution flow model and the second distribution flow model to determine which model indicates a zone indicating a lesser distance between the respective hub and the first geographical area; and identifying at least one of the models as an optimal distribution flow model associated with the first geographical area based on which model indicates the zone indicating the lesser distance between the respective hub and the first geographical area. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
Specification