System for Optimizing Collection and/or Delivery Trips

• US 20130080347A1
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Paul, Boris, Ulrich, Keith, Wild, Verena, Schulte-Hillen, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,860,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

The subject innovation relates to a system for optimizing collection trips and/or delivery trips of a courier service, comprising a computer system with a database for storing address data records and for providing the address data records for a navigation system which can at least be read in at least one of the courier vehicles belonging to the courier service, has a display screen for navigation information and comprises an input system in the courier vehicle, which input system is connected to the computer system and is intended for the input of at least one item of additional information relating to at least one address data record, wherein the computer system is suitable for inserting the additional information into the stored address data records. The subject innovation also relates to a method for using this system.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A system for optimizing collection journeys and/or delivery journeys of a courier service, comprising:

a computer system having a database for storing address data records and for providing the address data records for a navigation system that can at least be read in at least one of the courier vehicles of the courier service;

a display screen connected to the computer system for displaying navigation information comprising a street map, a satellite image or an image from bird'"'"'s eye view of the surroundings of a destination address;

an input system connected to the computer system for entering at least one additional information on at least one address data record, the computer system being configured to allow insertion of the additional information into the at least one address data record; and

the system being configured to use, after display of surroundings of a destination address, a cursor to be able to mark a selection area around the destination address on the display screen, to display all other destination addresses in the marked area, and to use a cursor to be able to mark a common approach point for the displayed destination addresses on the display screen, a geo-coordinate of the approach point being assigned to all destination addresses in the marked area.

17. The system recited in claim 16, the geo-coordinate of the approach point is inserted as additional information into the address data records of the corresponding destination addresses.

18. The system recited in claim 16, in which destination addresses that are not needed are unmarked or removed responsive to an input signal before marking a common approach point.

19. The system recited in claim 18, in which the computer system is a web-based computer system comprising one or more servers configured for access by a plurality of different users, the computer system comprising a rights administration which makes only certain address data records available to the user based on the rights of the user, the rights administration being configured for granting or denying the user to enter additional information for the certain address records.

20. The system recited in claim 16, the input system comprising an input mechanism with at least one editable field for input of the additional information.

21. The system recited in claim 20, the input mechanism being integrated into the display screen of the navigation system, the input mechanism being a semi-transparent overlay over the navigation information on the display screen.

22. The system recited in claim 20, the additional information further comprising at least one element from a group of synonyms and abbreviations of the recipients, times of availability, additional specifications and/or advice for subsequent courier journeys, changes of approach point, approach information, courier identification or date specifications related to an address.

23. The system recited in claim 16, the navigation system comprising a display element in the courier vehicle for display of address data records including the additional information.

24. The system recited in claim 23, the display element being integrated into the display screen of the navigation system, the display element being semitransparent and overlayed over the navigation information on the display screen.

25. A method for optimizing collection journeys and/or delivery journeys, comprising:

storing address data records in a database of a computer system;

making available the address data records with a navigation system having a display screen for navigation information comprising a street map, a satellite image or an image from bird'"'"'s eye view of the surroundings of a destination address that can be read in at least one of the courier vehicles of the courier service;

receiving at least one piece of additional information on at least one address data record using an input system that is connected to the computer system;

inserting the additional information into the stored address data records using the computer system;

displaying surroundings of the destination address;

marking a selection area around the destination address on the display screen using a cursor;

displaying all other destination addresses in the marked area;

marking a common approach point on the display screen for the displayed destination addresses using a cursor; and

assigning the geo-coordinate of the approach point to all destination addresses in the marked area.

26. The method recited in claim 25, receiving a signal to mark or remove destination addresses that are not needed before marking a common approach point.

27. The method recited in claim 25, comprising calling-up the system as a web-based system via an access portal on the internet.

28. The method recited in claim 27, wherein calling-up the system comprises entering identity information of the user.

29. The method recited in claim 28, wherein after entry of identity information of the user, the provision of address data records is limited to certain address data records as a function of the rights of the user, preferably the step of entering additional information is also limited to certain additional information as a function of the rights of the user.

30. The method recited in claim 26, wherein receiving the signal proceeds via editable fields for input of additional information that comprises times of availability, approach information, advice for subsequent courier journeys, courier identification or date specifications related to an address.

31. A system for optimizing collection journeys and/or delivery journeys, comprising:

means for storing address data records in a database of a computer system;

means for making available the address data records with a navigation system having a display screen for navigation information comprising a street map, a satellite image or an image from bird'"'"'s eye view of the surroundings of a destination address that can be read in at least one of the courier vehicles of the courier service;

means for receiving at least one piece of additional information on at least one address data record using an input system that is connected to the computer system;

means for inserting the additional information into the stored address data records using the computer system;

means for displaying surroundings of the destination address;

means for marking a selection area around the destination address on the display screen using a cursor;

means for displaying all other destination addresses in the marked area;

means for marking a common approach point on the display screen for the displayed destination addresses using a cursor; and

means for assigning the geo-coordinate of the approach point to all destination addresses in the marked area.