Delivery operations information system with route adjustment feature and methods of use

• US 8,140,592 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• 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: Scott, Gale R., Fisher, Charles V.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, BAI DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/207,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• 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 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for managing information related to a delivery service provider and systems of using such a system. The system and systems provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delivery operation information system tracks quantities of articles, schedules their distribution, and schedules and tracks the work force that distributes the articles.

Claims

1. A method, implemented using a computing system, for managing delivery of articles comprising:

accessing a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, the routes comprising locations for article delivery and locations of non-delivery activity;

providing information used for displaying a screen selectively showing said routes for delivery;

receiving a modification to at least one location for article delivery associated with one of the routes, said modification comprising;

a modification type, and

a duration for the modification;

receiving a modification to at least one location of non-delivery activity associated with the one of the routes, said modification comprising a modification to a scheduled arrival time assigned to the at least one of the location; and

saving the modification to the at least one location for article delivery and the modification to the at least one location of non-delivery activity to the database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a modification to the one of the routes, wherein the modification comprises adding locations for article delivery on said route.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a modification to the one of the routes, wherein the modification comprises deleting locations for article delivery on said route.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a modification to the one of the routes, wherein the modification comprises adjusting a step-by-step travel pattern of the delivery route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification to the at least one location of non-delivery activity further comprises modifying a sector segment associated with the at least one location of non-delivery activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification to the at least one location for article delivery and the modification to the at least one location of non-delivery activity is permanent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification to the at least one location for article delivery is based on a route inspection report.

8. The method of claim 1, further including adding a new delivery route.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein non-delivery activity comprises at least one of collecting articles, parking a delivery vehicle, and using a relay box.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the locations for article delivery are distinct from the locations of non-delivery activity.

11. A system for managing delivery of articles comprising:

a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, the routes comprising locations for article delivery and locations of non-delivery activity;

a display screen for selectively showing said routes for delivery;

a component for making a modification to at least one location for article delivery associated with one of the routes, said modification comprising;

a modification type, and

a duration for the modification;

a component for making a modification to a scheduled arrival time assigned to at least one of the locations of non-delivery activity associated with the one of the routes; and

a component for saving the modification of the at least one location for article delivery and the modification to the at least one location of non-delivery activity to the database.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a component for making a modification to the one of the routes, wherein the modification comprises adding locations for article delivery on said route.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a component for making a modification to the one of the routes, wherein the modification comprises deleting locations for article delivery on said route.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a component for making a modification to the one of the routes, wherein the modification comprises adjusting a step-by-step travel pattern of the delivery route.

15. The system of claim 11, further including a component for modifying a sector segment associated with the at least one location of non-delivery activity.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification of the at least one location for article delivery and the modification to the at least one location of non-delivery activity is permanent.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification to the at least one location for article delivery is based on a route inspection report.

18. The system of claim 11, further including a component for adding a new delivery route.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein non-delivery activity comprises at least one of collecting articles, parking a delivery vehicle, and using a relay box.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the locations for article delivery are distinct from the locations of non-delivery activity.