Methods and systems for postcode-to-postcode delivery interval and routing calculation

• US 8,041,649 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Mougey, Vincent J., Goulbourne, Adrian B., Manea, Ossam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joseph; Tonya
• Application Number:
  US10/953,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,574 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/4, 705/330, 705/331, 705/337
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for calculating a delivery date. The disclosed systems and methods may include receiving, at a delivery processor, origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives an item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office. The delivery processor determines whether the scan time is before a cut-off acceptance time for scanning items at the origin delivery office and sets a start date and time based on the scan time determination. The delivery processor also determines a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office, and determines a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office. Thereafter, the delivery processor calculates the estimated delivery date based on the start date and time, the first estimated date and time, and the second estimated date and time, and provides the estimated delivery date to a source data processor.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for calculating an estimated international delivery date, comprising:

receiving, at a delivery processor, destination data comprising a destination address and a destination country of an item to be sent and origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives the item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

based on the origin data, determining whether a cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange or an Outward Office Exchange;

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the destination data;

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Outward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the origin data;

determining whether the scan time is before the ascertained cut-off acceptance time;

setting a start date and time for calculating the estimated international delivery date based on the scan time determination;

determining a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, using the start date and time;

determining a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office of the destination country;

determining a third estimated date and time representing delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office of the destination country to the address from the destination data;

calculating, by a processing unit, the estimated international delivery date based on the first estimated date and time, the second estimated date and time, and the third estimated date and time; and

providing the calculated estimated international delivery date to a source data processor

wherein determining the second estimated date and time comprises;

determining a flight having a flight departure time for the destination country after the first estimated date and time;

determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time for the flight;

making a third determination as to whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights that permits same-day processing of the item at the inbound delivery office;

making a fourth determination as to whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

setting the second estimated date and time according to the third determination and the fourth determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of the origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the destination data further comprises one or more of a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein ascertaining comprises:

identifying a specific inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the specific inbound delivery office.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a start date and time comprises:

adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day; and

adding a day to the new start date until the new start date is a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first estimated date and time comprises:

calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, starting from the start date and time;

making a first determination as to whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

making a second determination as to whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

setting the first estimated date and time according to the first determination and the second determination.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the third estimated date and time comprises:

determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office to the destination address;

adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

setting the third estimated date to the anticipated date upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day in the destination country.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.

11. An apparatus for calculating an estimated international delivery date, comprising:

means for receiving, at a delivery processor, destination data comprising a destination address and a destination country of an item to be sent and origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives the item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

means for determining, based on the origin data, whether a cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange or an Outward Office Exchange;

means for ascertaining, based on the determination of whether the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on the Inward Office Exchange or the Outward Office Exchange, the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office, wherein

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the destination data; and

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Outward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the origin data;

means for determining whether the scan time is before the ascertained cut-off acceptance time;

means for setting a start date and time for calculating the estimated international delivery date based on the scan time determination;

means for determining a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, using the start date and time;

means for determining a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office of the destination country;

means for determining a third estimated date and time representing delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office of the destination country to the address from the destination data;

means for calculating the estimated international delivery date based on the first estimated date and time, the second estimated date and time, and the third estimated date and time; and

means for providing the calculated estimated international delivery date to a source data processor,

wherein the means for determining the second estimated date and time comprises;

means for determining a flight having a flight departure time for the destination country after the first estimated date and time;

means for determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time for the flight;

means for making a third determination as to whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights that permits same-day processing of the item at the inbound delivery office;

means for making a fourth determination as to whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

means for setting the second estimated date and time according to the third determination and the fourth determination.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of the origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the destination data further comprises one or more of a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for ascertaining comprises:

means for identifying a specific inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination country; and

means for choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the specific inbound delivery office.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for setting a start date and time comprises:

means for adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day; and

means for adding a day to the new start date until the new start date is a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for determining the first estimated date and time comprises:

means for calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, starting from the start date and time;

means for making a first determination as to whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

means for making a second determination as to whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

means for setting the first estimated date and time according to the first determination and the second determination.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for determining the third estimated date and time comprises:

means for determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

means for determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office to the destination address;

means for adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

means for setting the third estimated date to the anticipated date upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day in the destination country.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.

21. A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of calculating an estimated international delivery date, the method comprising:

receiving, at a delivery processor, destination data comprising a destination address and a destination country of an item to be sent and origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives the item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

based on the origin data, determining whether a cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange or an Outward Office Exchange;

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the destination data;

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Outward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the origin data;

determining whether the scan time is before the ascertained cut-off acceptance time;

setting a start date and time for calculating the estimated international delivery date based on the scan time determination;

determining a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, using the start date and time;

determining a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office of the destination country;

determining a third estimated date and time representing delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office of the destination country to the address from the destination data;

calculating, using a processing unit, the estimated international delivery date based on the first estimated date and time, the second estimated date and time, and the third estimated date and time; and

providing the calculated estimated international delivery date to a source data processor

wherein determining the second estimated date and time comprises;

determining a flight having a flight departure time for the destination country after the first estimated date and time;

determining a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time for the flight;

making a third determination as to whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights that permits same-day processing of the item at the inbound delivery office;

making a fourth determination as to whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

setting the second estimated date and time according to the third determination and the fourth determination.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of the origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein

the destination data further comprises one or more of a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein ascertaining comprises:

identifying a specific inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination country; and

choosing the cut-off acceptance time based on the specific inbound delivery office.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein setting a start date and time comprises:

adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising:

determining whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day; and

adding a day to the new start date until the new start date is and a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein determining the first estimated date and time comprises:

calculating an expected arrival date and time for the item at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, starting from the start date and time;

making a first determination as to whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

making a second determination as to whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

setting the first estimated date and time according to the first determination and the second determination.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein determining the third estimated date and time comprises:

determining an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

determining a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office to the destination address;

adding the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

setting the third estimated date to the anticipated date upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day in the destination country.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.

31. An apparatus for calculating an estimated international delivery date, comprising:

a memory and a processor configured to;

receive destination data comprising a destination address and a destination country of an item to be sent and origin data corresponding to an origin delivery office that receives the item to be sent, the origin data comprising origin location information, a scan date reflecting a date the item is scanned at the origin delivery office, and a scan time reflecting a time the item is scanned at the origin delivery office;

based on the origin data, determine whether a cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange or an Outward Office Exchange;

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Inward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based at least on the destination data;

if the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office is predicated on an Outward Office Exchange, ascertaining the cut-off acceptance time of the origin delivery office based on at least the origin data;

determine whether the scan time is before the ascertained cut-off acceptance time;

set a start date and time for calculating the estimated international delivery date based on the scan time determination;

determine a first estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, using the start date and time;

determine a second estimated date and time that the item will be scanned at an inbound delivery office of the destination country;

determine a third estimated date and time representing delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office of the destination country to the address from the destination data;

calculate the estimated international delivery date based on the first estimated date and time, the second estimated date and time, and the third estimated date and time; and

provide the calculated estimated international delivery date to a source data processor; and

a processor that runs the program;

determine a flight having a flight departure time for the destination country after the first estimated date and time;

determines a scheduled flight arrival day and a scheduled flight arrival time for the flight;

make a third determination as to whether the scheduled flight arrival time is before a latest arrival time for flights that permits same-day processing of the item at the inbound delivery office;

make a fourth determination as to whether the latest arrival time for flights is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the inbound delivery office; and

set the second estimated date and time according to the third determination and the fourth determination.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the origin location information comprises one or more of the origin country, an origin city, an origin state/province, and an origin postcode.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the cut-off acceptance time is for a day corresponding to the scan date.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein, the destination data further comprises one or more of a destination city, a destination state/province, and a destination postcode.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the program further:

identifies a specific inbound delivery office corresponding to the destination country; and

chooses the cut-off acceptance time based on the specific inbound delivery office.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the program setting a start date and time comprises:

adding a day to the start date to create a new start date based on a determination that the scan time is after the cut-off acceptance time.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the program further determines whether the new start date is a holiday or non-working day, and

adds a day to the new start date until the new start date is a working day, based on a determination that the new start date is a holiday or non-working day.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the program further:

calculates an expected arrival date and time for the item at an outbound delivery office of the origin country, starting from the start date and time;

makes a first determination as to whether the expected arrival date and time is before a cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office;

makes a second determination as to whether the cut-off acceptance time for arrivals at the outbound delivery office is before a cut-off acceptance time for scans at the outbound delivery office; and

sets the first estimated date and time according to the first determination and the second determination.

39. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the program further:

determines an estimated departure day on which the item departs from the inbound delivery office based on the second estimated date and time;

determines a number of days required for delivery of the item from the inbound delivery office to the destination address;

adds the number of days to the estimated departure day to produce an anticipated date of delivery for the item; and

sets the third estimated date to the anticipated date upon confirming that the anticipated date of delivery is a non-holiday and a working day in the destination country.

40. The apparatus of claim 31, the program further receiving level of service data, wherein the estimated delivery date is further based on the level of service data.