Parcel or service delivery with partially scheduled time windows

• US 7,233,907 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• 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: Young, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, NANCY LOAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/214,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705 7- 9, 705/32, 705/402, 700/112, 708/112, 235/376, 395/209
• US Class Current: 705/7.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

A delivery scheduling system that is configured for scheduling the delivery of an item or service from a sender to an intended recipient. After receiving a signal indicating that, for example, a particular package is to be delivered to an intended recipient, the system attempts to establish interactive contact with the recipient either by direct contact with the recipient, or by leaving the recipient a message to establish direct contact with the system at a convenient time. Upon establishing contact with the recipient, the system allows the intended recipient to schedule delivery of the package. More particularly, the recipient may schedule the package to be delivered: (1) within a particular time window; (2) before or after a particular time of day; or (3) on a particular day.

Claims

1. A method of scheduling a delivery as an addition to a planned delivery route of a delivery vehicle, said planned delivery route including a plurality of regularly-scheduled stops and a predetermined path extending between said regularly-scheduled stops on a projected time schedule, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving, from a sender, an item and a request for delivery of said item at a selected level of service to a recipient;

(B) scanning said item to retrieve delivery information;

(C) determining whether said delivery requires departure from said planned delivery route;

(D) determining, independent of parameters of said level of service, whether one or more cost-effective time windows exist in which a cost of delivery of said item to said recipient is equal to or below a predetermined cost threshold;

(E) in response at least in part to determining (i) said delivery requires departure from said planned route and (ii) one or more of said cost-effective time windows exist, using said delivery information to automatically initiate the transmission of a message to said recipient via a communications system indicating that said recipient may schedule delivery of said item to said recipient within one of said one or more cost-effective time windows;

(F) receiving a response from said recipient including a selection of one of said cost-effective time windows; and

(G) scheduling said delivery to be made by said delivery vehicle within the selected one of said cost-effective time windows during said planned delivery route.

2. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said step (E) further comprises the steps of:

using said delivery information to identify contact information for said recipient; and

using said contact information to contact said recipient.

3. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said steps (B), (C), and (D) are performed automatically.

4. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said step (G) is performed automatically.

5. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said step (B) of scanning said package comprises scanning a surface of said item.

6. The method of scheduling of claim 1, further comprising:

(H) repeating steps (A)-(G) to schedule one or more additional deliveries; and

(I) departing from said predetermined path only during said cost-effective time windows.

7. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said step (B) of scanning said item to retrieve delivery information further comprises retrieving said delivery information from a symbol on said item.

8. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said step (B) of scanning said item to retrieve delivery information further comprises retrieving said delivery information from a database based on data acquired from a symbol on said item.

9. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said sender and said recipient are different entities.

10. The method of scheduling of claim 1, wherein said Step (E) comprises sending said recipient an electronic message.

11. The method of scheduling of claim 10, wherein said electronic message includes a link to a web site.

12. The method of scheduling of claim 10, wherein said electronic message includes a phone number that is selected to allow said recipient to establish communication with a delivery service.

13. The method of scheduling of claim 12, wherein said phone number is selected to allow said recipient to establish communication with an automated phone system.

14. The method of scheduling of claim 13, wherein said automated phone system is configured to allow said recipient to access information regarding said item.

15. The method of scheduling of claim 13, wherein said automated phone system is configured to allow said recipient to provide the response of Step (F).

16. The method of scheduling of claim 13, wherein said automated phone system is configured for:

(1) communicating said one or more cost-effective time windows to said recipient; and

(2) allowing said recipient to provide said response.