PROGRAMMATICALLY EXECUTING TIME COMPRESSED DELIVERY

• US 20160071056A1
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active 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: Gillen, Robert J., Ellison, David, Gubler, Brad
• Application Number:
  US14/664,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20160071056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for determining whether available and executing time compressed/sensitive delivery. In one exemplary embodiment, a method may comprise receiving an electronic notification comprising pick-up locations, delivery locations and a time window, determining whether the items can be picked up at the pick-up locations and delivered to one of the delivery locations within the time window based on available delivery vehicles, available delivery drivers, planned routes, physical vehicle capacity, planned sort capabilities, available meet points, and available pick-up times, and in an instance in which it is determined that the items can be picked up at one of the pick-up locations and delivered to one of the delivery locations within the time window, providing an affirmative response.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an electronic notification, the electronic notification indicative of a prospective shipment of one or more items, the electronic notification comprising (1) one or more pick-up locations, each indicative of a location that the one or more items are available for pick-up;

(2) one or more delivery locations, each indicative of a location at which the one or more items may be delivered; and

(3) a time window;

determining whether the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more of delivery locations within the time window based on one or more of;

available delivery vehicles, available delivery drivers, planned routes, physical vehicle capacity, planned sort capabilities, available meet points, and available pick-up times; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window, providing an affirmative response to the electronic notification, the affirmative response indicating that the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of whether the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window comprises:

calculating and determining if at least one vehicle and at least one route can be utilized to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a need exists for multiple delivery vehicles and delivery routes to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

in an instance in which a single delivery driver and single delivery route is needed, optimizing the single delivery route to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

in an instance in which two or more delivery vehicles are needed to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window, calculating, for each of the two or more necessary vehicles, an associated delivery route, an associated pick-up time, and an associated pick-up location,

the pick-up location for a first vehicle being one of the one or more pick-up locations, the pick-up location for each subsequent driver being a drop-off location for a preceding vehicle, the drop-off location for a last vehicle being one of the one or more delivery locations.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

coordinating optimization of the associated delivery route of each of the two or more delivery vehicles to determine the associated pick-up time and pick-up location of each of the two or more delivery vehicles, the optimization of the determination being based on (1) existing item delivery constraints of the carrier system and each of the two or more delivery vehicles; and

(2) route border limits of each delivery route.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a consignor to tender the one or more items at one or more specific time windows within a 24-hour period to facilitate the delivery of the one or more items within time window.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an affirmative response providing a consignor multiple options to tender the one or more items at one or more specific time windows within a time period to facilitate delivery of the one or more items within the time window.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating new routes for delivery vehicles using one or more of same day logistics zones, real-time telematics data and synchronized delivery system (SDS) information.

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

receive an electronic notification, the electronic notification indicative of a prospective shipment of one or more items, the electronic notification comprising (1) one or more pick-up locations, each indicative of a location that the one or more items are available for pick-up;

(2) one or more delivery locations, each indicative of a location at which the one or more items may be delivered; and

(3) a time window;

determine whether the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more of delivery locations within the time window based on one or more of;

available delivery vehicles, available delivery drivers, planned routes, physical vehicle capacity, planned sort capabilities, available meet points, and available pick-up times; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window, provide an affirmative response to the electronic notification, the affirmative response indicating that the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and program code for the determination of whether the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window is further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

calculate and determine if at least one vehicle and at least one route can be utilized to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

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

determine whether a need exists for multiple delivery vehicles and delivery routes to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory and program code is further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

in an instance in which a single delivery driver and single delivery route is needed, optimize the single delivery route to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory and program code is further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

in an instance in which two or more delivery vehicles are needed to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window, calculate, for each of the two or more necessary vehicles, an associated delivery route, an associated pick-up time, and an associated pick-up location,

the pick-up location for a first vehicle being one of the one or more pick-up locations, the pick-up location for each subsequent driver being a drop-off location for a preceding vehicle, the drop-off location for a last vehicle being one of the one or more delivery locations.

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

coordinate optimization of the associated delivery route of each of the two or more delivery vehicles to determine the associated pick-up time and pick-up location of each of the two or more delivery vehicles, the optimization of the determination being based on (1) existing item delivery constraints of the carrier system and each of the two or more delivery vehicles; and

(2) route border limits of each delivery route.

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

allow a consignor to tender the one or more items at one or more specific time windows within a 24-hour period to facilitate the delivery of the one or more items within time window.

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

provide an affirmative response providing a consignor multiple options to tender the one or more items at one or more specific time windows within a time period to facilitate delivery of the one or more items within the time window.

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

calculate new routes for delivery vehicles using one or more of same day logistics zones, real-time telematics data and synchronized delivery system (SDS) information.

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

an executable portion configured to receive an electronic notification, the electronic notification indicative of a prospective shipment of one or more items, the electronic notification comprising (1) one or more pick-up locations, each indicative of a location that the one or more items are available for pick-up;

(2) one or more delivery locations, each indicative of a location at which the one or more items may be delivered; and

(3) a time window;

an executable portion configured to determine whether the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more of delivery locations within the time window based on one or more of;

available delivery vehicles, available delivery drivers, planned routes, physical vehicle capacity, planned sort capabilities, available meet points, and available pick-up times; and

an executable portion configured to, in an instance in which it is determined that the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window, provide an affirmative response to the electronic notification, the affirmative response indicating that the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

20. The computer program product claim 19 further comprising:

wherein the executable portion configured to determine whether the one or more items can be picked up at one of the one or more pick-up locations and delivered to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window comprises;

an executable portion configured to calculate and determine if at least one vehicle and at least one route can be utilized to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

21. The computer program product claim 19 further comprising

an executable portion configured to determine whether a need exists for multiple delivery vehicles and delivery routes to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

22. The computer program product claim 20 further comprising

an executable portion configured to, in an instance in which a single delivery driver and single delivery route is needed, optimize the single delivery route to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window.

23. The computer program product claim 20 further comprising

an executable portion configured to, in an instance in which two or more delivery vehicles are needed to pick up one or more items at one of the one or more pick-up locations and deliver the one or more items to one of the one or more delivery locations within the time window, calculate, for each of the two or more necessary vehicles, an associated delivery route, an associated pick-up time, and an associated pick-up location,

the pick-up location for a first vehicle being one of the one or more pick-up locations, the pick-up location for each subsequent driver being a drop-off location for a preceding vehicle, the drop-off location for a last vehicle being one of the one or more delivery locations.

24. The computer program product claim 23 further comprising

an executable portion configured to coordinate optimization of the associated delivery route of each of the two or more delivery vehicles to determine the associated pick-up time and pick-up location of each of the two or more delivery vehicles, the optimization of the determination being based on (1) existing item delivery constraints of the carrier system and each of the two or more delivery vehicles;

and (2) route border limits of each delivery route.

25. The computer program product claim 19 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to allow a consignor to tender the one or more items at one or more specific time windows within a 24-hour period to facilitate the delivery of the one or more items within time window.

26. The computer program product claim 19 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to provide an affirmative response providing a consignor multiple options to tender the one or more items at one or more specific time windows within a time period to facilitate delivery of the one or more items within the time window.

27. The computer program product claim 19 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to calculate new routes for delivery vehicles using one or more of same day logistics zones, real-time telematics data and synchronized delivery system (SDS) information.