Shipment Planning

• US 20140214716A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Satori Software, Incorporated (BCC Software, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Inventors: Mauch, Kimberly Michelle
• Application Number:
  US13/755,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/333
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data

Abstract

Systems and techniques are provided for generating a drop plan for a mailing containing a plurality of mailpieces. Tracking data may be received for mailings sent by a plurality of mailers, and estimated delivery times determined based upon the tracking data. A mailer may specify a delivery goal for a mailing and, based upon the estimated delivery times and the delivery goal, a drop plan for the mailing may be generated, which specifies at least one drop location for at least a portion of the mailing. The mailer also may modify the drop plan, suchas by specifying additional constraints, modified attributes of the drop plan, additional or updated goals for the mailing, or the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving tracking data for mailings sent by a plurality of mailers;

determining estimated delivery times based upon the tracking data;

receiving a request from a first mailer, the request specifying a mailing and a delivery goal for the mailing;

based upon the estimated delivery times and the delivery goal, generating a drop plan for the mailing, the drop plan specifying at least one drop location for at least a portion of the mailing; and

providing the drop plan to the first mailer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to providing the drop plan to the first mailer, receiving an updated request from the first mailer;

modifying the drop plan based upon the request to generate an updated drop plan; and

providing the updated drop plan to the first mailer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implementing the drop plan by receiving the at least a portion of the mailing to the at least one drop location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implementing the drop plan by providing the at least a portion of the mailing to the at least one drop location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery goal specifies a target delivery date, and wherein the drop plan specifies the at least one drop location to cause the at least a portion of the mailing to be delivered within a threshold number of days of the target delivery date.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the threshold is three days.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the drop plan further specifies a date upon which the at least a portion of the mailing should be delivered to the at least one drop location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the drop plan specifies a drop location for each portion of the mailing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the delivery goal specifies a target delivery date, and wherein the drop plan specifies a plurality of drop locations to cause each portion of the mailing to be delivered within a threshold number of days of the target delivery date.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold is three days.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the drop plan further specifies a date upon which each portion of the mailing should be delivered to each of the plurality of drop locations.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery goal specifies a desired postal discount.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery goal specifies a target delivery time, and wherein the drop plan specifies the at least one drop location to cause the at least a portion of the mailing to be delivered within not more than the target delivery time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking data comprises tracking data not available to the first mailer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mailer is not in the plurality of mailers.

16. A system comprising:

an input configured to receive tracking data for mailings sent by a plurality of mailers;

a processor configured to;

determine estimated delivery times based upon the tracking data;

receive a request from a first mailer, the request specifying a mailing and a delivery goal for the mailing;

based upon the estimated delivery times and the delivery goal, generate a drop plan for the mailing, the drop plan specifying at least one drop location for at least a portion of the mailing; and

an output configured to provide the drop plan to the first mailer.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

said input is further configured to receive an updated request from the first mailer subsequent to providing the drop plan to the first mailer;

said processor is further configured to modify the drop plan based upon the request to generate an updated drop plan; and

said output is further configured to provide the updated drop plan to the first mailer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the delivery goal specifies a target delivery date, and wherein the drop plan specifies the at least one drop location to cause the at least a portion of the mailing to be delivered within a threshold number of days of the target delivery date.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the drop plan further specifies a date upon which the at least a portion of the mailing should be delivered to the at least one drop location.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the tracking data comprises tracking data not available to the first mailer.