Systems and Methods for Facilitating Delivery of a Parcel to a Suitably Sized Locker

• US 20150106292A1
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• 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: Robinson, Kalin, Carder, David
• Application Number:
  US14/514,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20150106292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/339
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data

Abstract

A system, according to various embodiments, is adapted for identifying a suitable locker for a particular parcel based, at least in part on the size of the parcel. In particular embodiments, the system is optimized for identifying the smallest available locker that would accommodate the parcel, and facilitating delivery of the parcel to that locker. The size of the parcel may be obtained, for example, from a carrier, a shipper, a consignee, or a third party (such as a customs agent).

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of redirecting one or more parcels to a suitable locker bank location, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, an indication that delivery of a parcel is not possible to a consignee at a primary delivery location;

determining, by a processor, a first suitable locker bank based at least in part on the primary delivery location, the first suitable locker bank having one or more lockers of a first locker type;

receiving, by a processor, first locker size information associated with the first locker type;

receiving, by a processor, parcel size information associated with the parcel;

determining, by a processor, based at least in part on the first locker size information and the parcel size information, whether the parcel would fit in the one or more lockers of the first locker type; and

at least partially in response to determining that the parcel would fit in the one or more lockers of the first locker type, facilitating delivery of the parcel to the first suitable locker bank.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the parcel size information comprises a length of the parcel, a width of the parcel, and a depth of the parcel.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the parcel size information comprises a dimensional weight of the parcel.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the parcel size information comprises special handling information for the parcel that may be used to derive a size of the parcel.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the parcel size information comprises receiving the parcel size information from a common carrier at least partially responsible for handling of the parcel.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the parcel size information comprises receiving the parcel size information from a shipper of the parcel.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by a processor, locker availability information associated with the first suitable locker bank;

determining, by a processor, based at least in part on the locker availability information, whether at least one of one or more lockers of the first locker type has capacity to accept delivery to the parcel,

at least partially in response to determining that the at least one of the one or more lockers of the first locker type has the capacity to accept delivery of the parcel, facilitating, by a processor, delivery of the parcel to the at least one of the one or more lockers of the first locker type.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

at least partially in response to determining that the at least one of the one or more lockers of the first locker type has the capacity to accept delivery of the parcel, substantially automatically reserving the at least one of the one or more lockers of the first locker type for the parcel.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein:

determining whether the at least one of one or more lockers of the first locker type has capacity to accept delivery to the parcel comprises;

determining, by a processor, a predicted delivery time of the parcel to the first suitable locker bank; and

determining, by a processor, based at least in part on the predicted delivery time, whether the at least one of the one or more lockers of the first locker type will include at least one available locker at the predicted delivery time.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

receiving, from a delivery driver, an indication that delivery of a parcel is not possible at a primary delivery location;

identifying a first suitable locker bank, the first suitable locker bank comprising;

one or more lockers of a first locker type;

one or more lockers of a second locker type; and

one or more lockers of a third locker type;

receiving first locker size information associated with the first locker type, second locker size information associated with the second locker type, and third locker size information associated with the third locker type;

receiving parcel size information associated with the parcel;

determining, based at least in part on the first locker size information, the second locker size information, the third locker size information, and the parcel size information, whether the one or more lockers of the first locker type, the one or more lockers of the second locker type, or the one or more lockers of the third locker type are sufficiently sized to accommodate the parcel; and

at least partially in response to determining that the one or more lockers of the first locker type, the one or more lockers of the second locker type, or the one or more lockers of the third locker type are sufficiently sized to accommodate the parcel, facilitating delivery of the parcel to the first suitable locker bank.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further storing computer-executable instructions for:

determining whether the one or more lockers of the first locker type include a particular locker that is available to accept delivery of the parcel; and

at least partially in response to determining that the one or more lockers of the first locker type are sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel and that the particular locker is available to accept delivery of the parcel, facilitating delivery of the parcel to the particular locker.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further storing computer-executable instructions for:

at least partially in response to determining that the one or more lockers of the first locker type are sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel and that the particular locker is available to accept delivery of the parcel, substantially automatically reserving the particular locker for the parcel.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein:

the first locker type is larger than the second locker type;

the second locker type is larger than the third locker type; and

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

determining based at least in part on the first locker size information, the second locker size information, and the third locker size information whether the one or more lockers of the first locker type, the one or more lockers of the second locker type, and the one or more lockers of the third locker type are sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel;

at least partially in response to determining that the first locker type, the second locker type, and the third locker type are sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel, facilitating delivery of the parcel to a particular one of the one or more lockers of the third locker type;

at least partially in response to determining that the first locker type and the second locker type are sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel, and the third locker type is not sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel, facilitating delivery of the parcel to a particular one of the one or more lockers of the second locker type; and

at least partially in response to determining that the first locker type is sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel, and the second locker type and the third locker type are not sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel, facilitating delivery of the parcel to a particular one of the one or more lockers of the first locker type.

14. A computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor, wherein the computer system is configured for;

receiving, from a delivery driver, an indication that delivery of a parcel is not possible at a primary delivery location;

at least partially in response to receiving the indication;

determining a first suitable locker bank based at least in part on the primary delivery location, the first suitable locker bank comprising one or more lockers;

determining whether at least one of the one or more lockers is sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel; and

determining whether the at least one of the one or more lockers has capacity to accept delivery of the parcel; and

at least partially in response to determining that the at least one of the one or more lockers is sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel and has capacity to accept delivery of the parcel, facilitating delivery of the parcel to the at least one of the one or more lockers.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

at least partially in response to determining that the at least one locker is not sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel, performing an action selected from a group consisting of;

i. facilitating one or more additional delivery attempts to the primary delivery location; and

ii. determining a second suitable locker bank based at least in part on the primary delivery location.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein:

the computer system is further configured for;

retrieving locker size information for the one or more lockers; and

retrieving parcel size information for the parcel; and

the step of determining whether the at least one of the one or more lockers is sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel comprises determining whether the at least a particular one of the one or more lockers is sufficiently large to accommodate the parcel based at least in part on the locker size information and the parcel size information.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein:

the computer system is further configured for;

receiving one or more measurements of the parcel that have been obtained by using one or more light curtains to determine the one or more measurements of the parcel; and

associating the one or more measurements with the parcel; and

retrieving the parcel size information for the parcel comprises retrieving the one or more measurements associated with the parcel.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein:

the computer system is further configured for;

receiving the one or more measurements of the parcel from a source selected from the group consisting of;

i. a shipper of the parcel;

ii. a carrier of the parcel; and

iii. a consignee of the parcel;

associating the one or more received measurements with the parcel; and

retrieving the parcel size information for the parcel comprises retrieving the one or more measurements associated with the parcel.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein:

the computer system is further configured for;

receiving shipper and destination information associated with the parcel;

determining, based at least in part on the shipper and destination information, a typical size of all parcels shipped with substantially similar shipper information and destination information; and

at least partially in response to determining the typical size, determining an estimated size of the parcel based at least in part on the typical size and associating the typical parcel size with the parcel size information.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the step of associating the typical parcel size with the parcel size information comprises using the typical parcel size as the parcel size information.

21. The computer system of claim 16, wherein:

the computer system is further configured for;

receiving shipping lane information associated with the parcel;

determining, based at least in part on the shipping lane information, a typical size of all parcels shipped within the shipping lane; and

at least partially in response to determining the typical size, determining an estimated size of the parcel based at least in part on the typical size and associating the typical parcel size with the parcel size information.

22. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the computer system is further configured for:

reserving the particular one or more lockers for the parcel.

23. The computer system of claim 16, wherein determining whether the at least one of the one or more lockers has capacity to accept delivery of the parcel comprises determining whether the at least one of the one or more lockers is substantially currently storing one or more parcels.

24. The computer system of claim 16, wherein determining whether the at least one of the one or more lockers has capacity to accept delivery of the parcel comprises:

determining a predicted delivery time for the parcel to the first suitable locker bank; and

determining whether the at least one of the one or more lockers will be storing one or more parcels at the predicted delivery time.