Centralized system and method for optimally routing and tracking articles

• US 6,795,823 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neoris Logistics, Inc. (Cemex, S.A.B. De C.V.)
• Original Assignee: Neoris Logistics, Inc. (Cemex, S.A.B. De C.V.)
• Inventors: Aklepi, Alex, Miagkov, Andrey V., Cherenkov, Pavel V., Kouroptev, Eugene S., Lebedev, Vladimir, Marmol, Johnny R., Ahmed, Naveed, Nagli, Raphael
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Debbie M.
• Application Number:
  US09/652,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/1, 709/238, 709/239, 709/242
• US Class Current: 709/238
• 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: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A computer-implemented centralized article routing and tracking system and method for optimally routing an article through a network of processing stations. The system and method generate an optimal route based on variable factors such as weather, traffic, and available equipment and can re-calculate said route at every stop based on updated information. The system and method permits tracking of an article regardless of whether the article has been consolidated with other articles or not.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented centralized system for optimally routing and tracking articles comprising:

a global computer server accessible through an electronic communications network, said global server comprising;

a global database containing a record of routing and tracking information for each article handled by the system;

an optimizer for calculating, and periodically recalculating, an optimal route for each article handled by said system and for updating said global database with changes to said routing and tracking information;

a database of route optimization factors accessible by said optimizer for use in said calculation and recalculation of said optimal route;

a tracker enabling users of said system to review said tracking and routing information and to modify said route optimization factor database,

a plurality of processing stations arrayed throughout a delivery area for said system,

at each such processing station, a local computer server capable of periodically receiving from said global computer server identification, handling and routing instructions for each article to be processed at said processing station and periodically transmitting to said global computer server information regarding all handling activities performed on articles processed at said processing station,

at each such processing station, one or more scanning devices capable of receiving from said local computer server article identification information, handling instructions and routing information, and also being capable of collecting identification and handling activity information for each article received at each said processing station and transmitting said identification and handling activity information to said local computer server, and

transportation means capable of transporting articles between and among said processing stations, article origination points and article destination points.

2. A computer-implemented method for delivering an article using a centrally optimized tracking and routing system, the method comprising the steps of:

at a first processing station, using a first scanner to collect article identification data and final destination data from said article,

transmitting from said first scanner to a local computer at said first processing station, said article identification data and final destination data along with scanning time and date data,

transmitting from said first processing station to a global computer server said article identification, time, date and final destination data, along with identification data for said first processing station,

at said global computer server, incorporating said data transmitted from said first processing station into an article record at a global article information database,

calculating an optimal route for transporting said article from said first processing station to said final destination and updating said article record with identification information for the first stop along said optimal route,

transmitting from said global computer server to said local computer server said updated article record,

transmitting said updated article record to said first scanner or a second scanner at said first processing station,

scanning said article with said first or second scanner and displaying said first stop identification information for said package,

transporting said package from said first processing station to said first stop,

if said first stop is hot also said final destination, repeating the above steps at said next stop until said package is delivered at said final destination.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of affixing to said article a computer readable indicia including said article identification data and said final destination data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said updated package record information includes consolidation information, the method further comprising a step of processing the article responsive to the consolidating information.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said updated package record information includes a pick up location and pick up time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein calculating an optimal route comprises calculating an optimal route based on a plurality of routing factors, the method further comprising updating the plurality of routing factors.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of determining, whenever said article is scanned, whether said article has been misrouted and calculating a new route if said article has been misrouted.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of scanning said article with a third scanner when said article is delivered to said final destination.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of changing said final destination of said article and recalculating said optimal route based on said changed final destination.

10. A method of directing the movement of a plurality of items through a network of interconnected processing stations, the method comprising:

associating an identifier with each of the plurality of items, wherein the identifier is provided on each item in a computer readable form;

reading the identifier on each item arriving at a processing station with a scanner associated with the processing station, said identifier being stored in the scanner;

periodically synchronizing information stored in a scanner with information stored at the processing station associated with the scanner;

periodically synchronizing information stored in each of the processing stations with a central server;

determining, at the central server, a desired path of movement for each item through the network of interconnected processing stations, the desired paths of movement being provided to each processing station and each scanner when it periodically synchronizes with the central server and its associated processing station, respectively;

storing at the central server data about each item including its location and its desired path of movement;

providing information about a next processing station on a desired path for an item whenever the identifier on the item is scanned; and

directing the item to the next processing station responsive to the provided information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reading, determining, providing, and directing are repeated for an item until the item arrives at a desired final destination.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining a desired path of movement comprises determining an optimized path of movement responsive to a plurality of optimization factors.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising periodically updating the optimization factors.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the optimization factors include at least one of the following:

an indication of the time to move an item from one processing station to another;

an indication of the time to process an item at each processing station; and

an indication of environmental conditions affecting movement of an item from one processing station to another.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

reading the identifier on an item with a scanner upon delivery of the item to a desired final destination; and

indicating at the central server that the item has reached the desired final destination.

16. A computerized system for optimally routing and tracking articles comprising:

a global computer server accessible through an electronic communications network, said global server comprising;

a global database containing a record of routing and tracking information for articles handled by the system;

an optimizer for calculating, and periodically recalculating, an optimal route for the articles handled by said system and for updating said global database with changes to said routing and tracking information;

a database of route optimization factors accessible by said optimizer for use in said calculation and recalculation of said optimal route; and

an interface enabling users of said system to review said routing and tracking information and to modify said route optimization factor database,

a plurality of processing stations, each including;

a local computer server programmed to intermittently receive from said global computer server handling and routing information for articles to be processed at said processing station and to intermittently transmit to said global computer server information regarding the handling and routing of articles processed at said processing station, and

a scanning device in communication with said local server, said scanning device programmed to receive from said local computer server handling and routing information for each article to be processed at said processing station, to display said received handling and routing information for an article when the article is scanned, to collect handling and routing information for scanned articles, and to transmit said collected handling and routing information to said local computer server.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein routing and tracking information includes:

an article tracking number;

a customer number;

an identification of a next processing station; and

a destination identifier.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the routing and tracking information further includes a consolidation identifier.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein routing and tracking information includes a plurality of optional consolidation identifiers.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the database of route optimization factors includes information about at least one of the following factors:

distances between processing stations;

average speed between processing stations;

available transportation equipment;

average processing time at each processing station;

traffic conditions; and

weather.

21. A computer system for optimally routing items of interest through a plurality of processing stations and tracking the progress of said item of interest, the system comprising:

a global computer server, said global computer including;

a global database for storing information regarding the identification, routing, and tracking for each item of interest;

an optimizer for calculating, and periodically recalculating, an optimal route for each item of interest, and for updating routing information in said global database;

a database for storing route optimization factors for use by said optimizer in said calculation and recalculation of said optimal routes;

an interface for outputting identification, routing, and tracking information to users of said computer system and for receiving modifications of said route optimization factors;

wherein said global computer server intermittently transmits handling and routing instructions about items of interest to a local server at each of the plurality of processing stations, the local server storing the handling and routing instructions for subsequent transmission to a scanning device associated with a processing station, and

wherein said global computer intermittently receives from said local server at each of the plurality of processing stations and stores in said global database information regarding the identification, routing, and tracking data of items of interest processed at said processing station, said local server receiving said information regarding the identification, routine and tracking of items processed at said processing station from said scanning, device.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the identification, routing, and tracking information for each item of interest includes:

an article tracking number;

a customer number;

an identification of a next processing station; and

a destination identifier.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the identification, routing, and tracking information further includes a consolidation identifier.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the identification, routing, and tracking information for each item of interest includes a plurality of optional consolidation identifier.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the database of route optimization factors includes information about at least one of the following factors:

distances between processing stations;

average speed between processing stations;

available transportation equipment;

average processing time at each processing station;

traffic conditions; and

weather.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein each of the local computer servers periodically communicates with the global server over an electronic communications network.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said scanners are in wireless communication with said local server at said processing station.

28. A system of claim 21 wherein said optimizer determines whether to consolidate or deconsolidate items of interest.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein routing and tracking information includes:

an article tracking number;

a customer number;

an identification of a next processing station;

a destination identifier; and

optionally includes;

a consolidation identifier.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the database of route optimization factors includes information about at least one of the following factors:

distances between processing stations;

average speed between processing stations;

available transportation equipment;

average processing time at each processing station;

traffic conditions; and

weather.