Special handling processing in a package transportation system

• US 6,539,360 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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: Kadaba, Nagesh
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US09/245,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/22
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a method and system for processing packages designated for special handling and notifying an appropriate party as to whether special handling has been applied to these designated packages. The system prepares carrier personnel in advance for the arrival of such packages. Detailed package information for a current day'"'"'s shipments is sent electronically from a consignor to the carrier, which sorts the information and makes it available to carrier personnel at package handling centers where special handling will be verified or applied. Notification of the status of the packages is transmitted to the consignor by e-mail, pager, or posting on a secure web site. Resolution of exceptions is expedited by the accessibility of information as provided by the system. Carrier management can readily monitor the operation of the system both in real time and historically.

Claims

1. A computer system for monitoring packages designated for special handling and being shipped to a plurality of consolidation points, comprising:

a first computer with a processor configured to carry out instructions comprising the following steps;

compiling a list of designated packages requiring special handling; and

sending said list electronically to a central computer;

an intranet linking said central computer, an accessible intranet site and a plurality of personal computers;

said central computer including a processor configured to carry out instructions comprising the following steps;

storing said list of designated packages requiring special handling;

sorting said list by consolidation point; and

posting sorted information from said list to said intranet site;

a plurality of scanning devices positioned at said consolidation points linked to said intranet site;

said personal computers being located at each consolidation point with processors configured to carry out instructions comprising the following steps;

accessing said intranet site;

downloading information identifying said designated packages for said consolidation points; and

prior to sortation of packages at said consolidation points, identifying said designated packages responsive to one of said scanning devices detecting arrival of a designated package; and

a second computer configured to receive input data indicating for each designated package whether special handling has been applied and to then process said input data.

2. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second computer is configured to carry out instructions comprising the following step:

processing said input data to determine how often there is a failure to apply special handling.

3. The computer system as recited in claim 2, wherein an alert signal is generated by said second computer when there is a recurring failure to apply special handling.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 2, wherein said first computer transmits said list to said central computer prior to shipping said packages within a transportation system.

5. The computer system as recited in claim 2, wherein said central computer is said second computer.

6. The computer system as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a communication system for notifying consignees as to status of special handling of designated packages.

7. The communication system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

an alphanumeric pager.

8. The communication system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a cellular telephone.

9. A method of handling multiple packages, comprising:

receiving from a consignor multiple packages including a plurality of packages designated for special handling;

receiving from said consignor package information describing said packages, said package information including whether a package is designated for special handling, the nature of special handling requested and a package destination location;

creating from the information received from the consignor one or more pre-alert files containing for each of said designated packages a time of shipment, the destination location at which the package should receive special handling, and the identity of the consignor;

storing said pre-alert files;

providing access to said pre-alert files to said destination locations;

receiving from the consignor said multiple packages;

at a plurality of consolidation points, accessing one of the pre-alert files containing package information for packages whose destination is associated with the consolidation point;

shipping said packages within a transportation system to said plurality of consolidation points at which said packages are selectively brought together;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, extracting from said one pre-alert file an identification of packages designated for special handling at the consolidation point;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, identifying said designated packages as they arrive at said consolidation points;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, prior to sortation of arriving packages, extracting said designated packages from a stream of packages arriving at the consolidation point;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, applying special handling to said extracted designated packages; and

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, notifying one or more of a consignor and consignee of the application of special handling of said designated packages.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, at each of said plurality of consolidation points, noting a failure of one or more of said designated packages to arrive by a predetermined time;

and notifying one or more of a consignor and a consignee of the failure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said pre-alert files include a time of shipment, the consolidation point at which special handling is to be applied, the identity of the consignee, and the identity of the consignor.

12. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

monitoring how often there is a failure to apply special handling.

13. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

generating an alert when there is a recurring failure to apply special handling.

14. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, wherein said step of notifying a consignee comprises posting a notice on an accessible on-line site prior to delivery to the consignee.

15. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, wherein said step of notifying a consignee comprises sending a notice to the consignee prior to delivery to the consignee.

16. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, wherein said special handling includes holding each said designated package at a selected consolidation point for pick-up by said consignee.

17. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of monitoring how often there is a failure to apply special handling.

18. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, wherein said package information is received from said consignor prior to shipping said packages within said transportation system.

19. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 18, wherein said package information is consolidated from multiple messages received from said consignor.

20. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, wherein said package information is sorted by consolidation point at a central location within said transportation system.

21. The method of handling multiple packages as recited in claim 9, wherein said package information is accessible to personnel stationed at said consolidation points prior to delivery to the consignee.

22. A method of providing repair parts to service representatives, comprising:

receiving electronically from a consignor information relating to multiple packages being shipped by the consignor;

said information designating a plurality of said packages to be held for pickup by one or more service representatives at one or more selected destination locations;

creating from the information received from the consignor one or more pre-alert files containing for each of said designated packages a time of shipment, the selected location at which the package should be held, the identity of the service representative who will pick up the package, and the identity of the consignor;

storing said pre-alert files;

providing access to said pre-alert files to said destination locations;

receiving from the consignor said multiple packages;

shipping each of said packages within a transportation system via one or more sorting hubs to the selected destination location at which the package should be held;

monitoring incoming packages at said destination locations based on said pre-alert files;

identifying and, prior to sortation of said incoming packages, holding said designated packages at said selected destination location at which the package should be held;

updating said pre-alert files to reflect transportation and holding of said designated packages;

providing access to said pre-alert files to the consignor and the service representatives identified in the pre-alert files who will pick up the packages, and

releasing each designated package to the service representative identified in the pre-alert files.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising sending tracking information for each designated package to a tracking file when said designated packages pass through selected points in said transportation system.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing access to said tracking file to the consignor and the person who will pick up the package.

25. A hold-for-pickup method of handling multiple packages, comprising:

receiving from a consignor via e-mail information relating to multiple packages being shipped by the consignor from a plurality of originating locations, said information designating a plurality of said packages to be held for pickup at a plurality of selected locations;

receiving from the consignor said multiple packages;

shipping said packages within a transportation system to a plurality of regions and within the regions to a plurality of consolidation points at which said packages are selectively brought together;

each of said selected locations being one of said consolidation points;

monitoring incoming packages at said destination locations based on said pre-alert files;

identifying and, prior to sortation of said incoming packages, holding said designated packages at said selected destination location at which the package should be held;

updating said pre-alert files to reflect transportation and holding of said designated packages;

providing access to said pre-alert files to the consignor and the service representatives identified in the pre-alert files who will pick up the packages, and

releasing each designated package to the service representative identified in the pre-alert files.

26. A system for providing repair parts to service representatives, comprising:

a central computer configured to receive electronically from a consignor information relating to multiple packages containing repair parts being shipped by the consignor,

said information designating a plurality of said packages to be held for pickup by one or more service representatives at one or more selected destination locations;

a tracking file; and

an intranet linking said tracking file, said central computer, an accessible intranet site and a plurality of shipper terminals located at said selected destination locations;

said central computer being configured to create from the information received from the consignor and to store at said intranet site a plurality of pre-alert files containing for each of said designated packages a time of shipment, the selected destination location at which the package should be held, the identity of the service representative who will pick up the package, and the identity of the consignor;

a transportation system including;

said destination locations;

one or more sorting hubs; and

a plurality of package scanning devices positioned at said sorting hubs and destination locations and linked to said tracking file;

said packages being shipped via said transportation system to the selected destination location at which the package should be held;

one or more of said central computer and said shipper terminals being configured to update said pre-alert files responsive to tracking data received from said tracking file;

said shipper terminals being configured to access said pre-alert files;

said shipper terminals being configured to identify said designated packages responsive to one of said scanning devices detecting arrival of a designated package at its selected destination location and prior to sortation of arriving packages; and

said shipper terminals being configured to update said pre-alert files with status information on arrival of a designated package at its selected destination location and on pickup of a designated package.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a consignor terminal linked to said intranet and configured to access said pre-alert files.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising a consignee terminal linked to said intranet and configured to access said pre-alert files.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising a consignee terminal linked to said intranet and configured to access said pre-alert files.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said terminals are personal computers.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein said tracking file resides on the Internet;

and wherein said central computer and said shipper terminals comprise an Internet interface.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising a consignor computer linked to said central computer via a wide area network.

33. The system of claim 26, further comprising a consignor computer linked to said central computer via an e-mail link.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein said central computer is configured to send one or more status messages to the consignor containing said status information prior to a scheduled pick up time.

35. A method of handling multiple packages, comprising:

receiving from a consignor multiple packages including a plurality of packages designated for special handling;

receiving from said consignor package information describing said packages, said package information including whether a package is designated for special handling, the nature of special handling requested and the package destination;

storing said package information in pre-alert files sorted based on the package destination;

at a plurality of consolidation points, accessing one of the pre-alert files containing package information for packages whose destination is associated with the consolidation point;

shipping said packages within a transportation system to said plurality of consolidation points at which said packages are selectively brought together;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, extracting from said one pre-alert file an identification of packages designated for special handling at the consolidation point;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, identifying said designated packages as they arrive at said consolidation points;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, extracting said designated packages from a stream of packages arriving at the consolidation point prior to sortation of said arriving packages;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, applying special handling to said designated packages;

at each of said plurality of consolidation points, notifying one or more of a consignor and a consignee of the application of special handling of said designated packages;

monitoring how often there is a failure to apply special handling; and

generating an alert when there is a recurring failure to apply special handling.

36. A computer system for monitoring packages designated for special handling and being shipped to a plurality of consolidation points, comprising:

a first computer with a processor configured to carry out instructions comprising the following steps;

compiling a list of designated packages requiring special handling; and

sending said list electronically to a central computer;

an intranet linking said central computer, an accessible intranet site and a plurality of personal computers;

said central computer including a processor configured to carry out instructions comprising the following steps;

storing said list of designated packages requiring special handling;

sorting said list by consolidation point; and

posting sorted information from said list to said intranet site;

said personal computers being located at each consolidation point with processors configured to carry out instructions comprising the following steps;

accessing said intranet site; and

downloading information identifying said designated packages for said consolidation points; and

a second computer configured to receive input data indicating for each designated package whether special handling has been applied and to then process said input data to determine how often there is a failure to apply special handling, and generate an alert signal when there is a recurring failure to apply special handling.