SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING AN ITEM TO A DYNAMIC LOCATION

• US 20150154559A1
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: GUBLER, KENNETH BRADLEY, GILLEN, ROBERT J., BARBUSH, ANTHONY
• Granted Patent: US 11,087,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention involve systems, methods, and computer program products utilized in facilitating alternative delivery options for customers. In certain embodiments, a consignee may meet a driver and receive an item at a location different from the delivery address associated with the item. The receipt of the item may be prior to the driver attempting to deliver the item to the designated shipping location or after an unsuccessful delivery attempt. The carrier, the driver, the carrier system, the mobile station, and/or the sensors located on the item may communicate with the consignee to arrange a mutually acceptable time and location to accomplish the delivery. In certain embodiments, the consignee may be responsible for arriving at a dynamic delivery location to retrieve the item while the driver is at the location performing other tasks.

Claims

1. A method for delivering an item to a dynamic delivery location comprising the steps of:

receiving shipment data identifying a delivery address for the item;

placing the item on a mobile asset based at least in part on a dispatch plan, wherein the dispatch plan identifies a plurality of stop locations;

identifying a candidate dynamic delivery location by comparing the plurality of stop locations to a stop criteria wherein the candidate dynamic delivery location is different from the delivery address for the item;

providing location information relative to the item to the consignee while the mobile asset is en route providing a service according the dispatch plan and prior to the item arriving at the candidate dynamic delivery location;

verifying the consignee'"'"'s identity; and

providing the item to the consignee.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stop criteria comprises a threshold stop duration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stop criteria comprises a predetermined number of stops preceding the delivery address based at least in part on a sequence of delivery provided in the dispatch plan.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stop criteria comprises a predetermined number of stops after the delivery address based at least in part on a sequence of delivery provided in the dispatch plan.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stop criteria includes a stops visibility from public roadways, parking availability at the stop, or delivery frequency to the stop.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing location information comprises sending a notification to the consignee with the location information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification is sent to the consignee based at least in part on a triggering event and the triggering event comprises a service stop preceding the candidate dynamic delivery stop.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification is sent to the consignee based at least in part on a triggering event and the triggering event comprises the relative location of the item is within a predetermined distance from the candidate dynamic delivery location.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification comprises link to a remote computer and the remote computer provides map data indicating a location associated with the item and the location of the candidate dynamic delivery location.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification includes contact information for a driver associated with the mobile asset.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a notification to consignee identifying the candidate dynamic delivery location and an estimate time window from which the consignee can retrieve the item.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification includes a verification code and the step of verifying the consignee'"'"'s identity comprises capturing the verification code.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the code is captured from a consignee computing device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the consignee grants access to location information relating to a consignee computing device to facilitate the retrieval of the item by the consignee at the candidate dynamic delivery location.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information relative to the item comprises location information provided by the mobile asset, a mobile station or an item computing device.

16. 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 shipment data identifying a delivery address for the item;

assign the item to a mobile asset based at least in part on a dispatch plan, wherein the dispatch plan identifies a plurality of stop locations;

identify a candidate dynamic delivery location by comparing the plurality of stop locations to a stop criteria wherein the candidate dynamic delivery location is different from the delivery address for the item;

provide location information relative to the item to the consignee while the mobile asset is en route providing a service according the dispatch plan and prior to the item arriving at the candidate dynamic delivery location;

verify the consignee'"'"'s identity; and

provide the item to the consignee.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stop criteria comprises a threshold stop duration.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stop criteria comprises a predetermined number of stops preceding the delivery address based at least in part on a sequence of delivery provided in the dispatch plan.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stop criteria comprises a predetermined number of stops after the delivery address based at least in part on a sequence of delivery provided in the dispatch plan.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stop criteria includes a stops visibility from public roadways, parking availability at the stop, or delivery frequency to the stop.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the providing location information comprises sending a notification to the consignee with the location information.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the notification is sent to the consignee based at least in part on a triggering event and the triggering event comprises a service stop preceding the candidate dynamic delivery stop.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the notification is sent to the consignee based at least in part on a triggering event and the triggering event comprises the relative location of the item is within a predetermined distance from the candidate dynamic delivery location.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the notification comprises link to a remote computer and the remote computer provides map data indicating a location associated with the item and the location of the candidate dynamic delivery location.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the notification includes contact information for a driver associated with the mobile asset.

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

send a notification to a consignee identifying the candidate dynamic delivery location and an estimate time window from which the consignee can retrieve the item;

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the notification includes a verification code and verifying the consignee'"'"'s identity comprises capturing the verification code.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the code is captured from a consignee computing device.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the consignee grants access to location information relating to a consignee computing device to facilitate the retrieval of the item by the consignee at the candidate dynamic delivery location.