METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR AUTOMATING ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

• US 20140114718A1
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Randall, Philip M., Moore, Jeff A.
• Application Number:
  US14/057,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20140114718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for facilitating automated arrival and departure events at a facility. The apparatus may include at least one memory and at least one processor configured to receive an indication identifying one or more loads of a vehicle in response to the vehicle arriving at a facility. The processor is further configured to automatically assign the loads of the vehicle to one or more respective storage locations of the facility in response to receipt of the indication. The processor is further configured to enable provision of another indication to a communication device associated with the vehicle indicating the respective storage locations to place the corresponding loads. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication identifying one or more loads of a vehicle in response to the vehicle arriving at a facility;

automatically assigning, via a processor, the loads of the vehicle to one or more respective storage locations of the facility in response to receipt of the indication; and

enabling provision of another indication to a communication device associated with the vehicle indicating the respective storage locations to place the corresponding loads.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling provision of the another indication enables a driver of the vehicle to deliver the loads to the respective storage locations for storage of the loads.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically assigning comprises assigning the loads to the storage locations without communicating with personnel of the facility pertaining to assignment of the storage locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the storage locations comprise one or more bays of the facility; and

the loads comprise one or more items of one or more trailers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message indicating whether the vehicle has at least one assigned load designated for departure from the facility in response to determining that the vehicle is preparing to depart the facility.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message indicates whether one or more items of equipment of the vehicle are functioning properly and whether tests of the vehicle passed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

automatically authorizing the vehicle to depart with the assigned load from the facility in response to analyzing the message and determining that the vehicle has the assigned load, that the equipment is functioning properly and that the tests of the vehicle passed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a previously generated schedule of a driver of the vehicle such that a travel path assigned to the driver for delivery of at least one load is changed; and

enabling provision of the changed schedule to the communication device associated with the vehicle to inform the driver of changed schedule.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning at least one pre-dispatch load to a driver of the vehicle, the assigned pre-dispatch load indicates at least one load that the driver is assigned to transport along a designated travel path; and

enabling provision of the assigned pre-dispatch load to the communication device associated with the vehicle to inform the driver of the assigned pre-dispatch load.

10. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive an indication identifying one or more loads of a vehicle in response to the vehicle arriving at a facility;

automatically assign the loads of the vehicle to one or more respective storage locations of the facility in response to receipt of the indication; and

enable provision of another indication to a communication device associated with the vehicle indicating the respective storage locations to place the corresponding loads.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein enable provision of the another indication enables a driver of the vehicle to deliver the loads to the respective storage locations for storage of the loads.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

automatically assign by assigning the loads to the storage locations without communicating with personnel of the facility pertaining to assignment of the storage locations.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the storage locations comprise one or more bays of the facility; and

the loads comprises one or more items of one or more trailers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a message indicating whether the vehicle has at least one assigned load designated for departure from the facility in response to determining that the vehicle is preparing to depart the facility.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the message indicates whether one or more items of equipment of the vehicle are functioning properly and whether tests of the vehicle passed.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

automatically authorize the vehicle to depart with the assigned load from the facility in response to analyzing the message and determining that the vehicle has the assigned load, that the equipment is functioning properly and that the tests of the vehicle passed.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

change a previously generated schedule of a driver of the vehicle such that a travel path assigned to the driver for delivery of at least one load is changed; and

enable provision of the changed schedule to the communication device associated with the vehicle to inform the driver of changed schedule.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

assign at least one pre-dispatch load to a driver of the vehicle, the assigned pre-dispatch load indicates at least one load that the driver is assigned to transport along a designated travel path; and

enable provision of the assigned pre-dispatch load to the communication device associated with the vehicle to inform the driver of the assigned pre-dispatch load.

19. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising:

program code instructions configured to facilitate receipt of an indication identifying one or more loads of a vehicle in response to the vehicle arriving at a facility;

program code instructions configured to automatically assign the loads of the vehicle to one or more respective storage locations of the facility in response to receipt of the indication; and

program code instructions configured to enable provision of another indication to a communication device associated with the vehicle indicating the respective storage locations to place the corresponding loads.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein enable provision of the another indication enables a driver of the vehicle to deliver the loads to the respective storage locations for storage of the loads.