Surface air management systems and methods

• US 8,412,641 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• 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: Zeisset, Kevin A., Aldstadt, Harry W., Caldwell, Janice
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/632,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,532 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for assigning mail items to carriers, comprising at least one server containing a mail assignment engine. The mail assignment engine is operative to receive delivery data from the mail processors, determine routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules, assign the mail items to carriers based on the determined routes, and transmit mail item assignment information to the mail processors. The mail assignment engine may determine the routes using a database including files for active, planned, and closed routes. The mail assignment engine may also use business rules, which may comprise cost consideration, delivery options, and route delay information.

Claims

1. A method, implemented using a distributed computer system, of managing delivery carriers, comprising:

receiving a first set of delivery data from a first mail processor at a first computer of the distributed computer system;

receiving a second set of delivery data from a second mail processor at a second computer of the distributed computer system;

determining, using the distributed computer system, routes for delivery for the first mail processor based on a first set of business rules applied to the first set of delivery data;

determining, using the distributed computer system, routes for delivery for the second mail processor based on a second set of business rules applied to the second set of delivery data;

assigning, using the distributed computer system, mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes;

transmitting, using the distributed computer system, mail item assignment information to the first mail processor and the second mail processor;

monitoring the determined routes, wherein monitoring includes;

receiving update information from the delivery carriers while the mail items are being delivered on the determined routes, wherein the update information relates to at least one of the routes for delivery and a capacity of the delivery carriers; and

dynamically reassigning the mail items to different delivery carriers based on the update information received from the delivery carriers during monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining routes includes processing active, planned, and closed routes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of business rules comprise cost consideration information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein cost consideration information includes overriding a lower cost option due to a carrier contract obligation.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein cost consideration information includes determining a lowest cost for service window.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein cost considerations information includes delivery option information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein delivery option information includes evaluating data regarding a combination of at least one aircraft, at least one train, at least one motor vehicle, or at least one ship, as a means of transporting the mail items.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the first set of business rules further comprise using route delay information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving weather information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving route closing information from the delivery carriers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating an assignment manifest.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the assignment manifest includes generating one of a hardcopy and an electronic copy of the assignment manifest.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the assignment manifest to at least one delivery carrier.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking deliveries of the mail items using performance management tools.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring the performance of the delivery carriers; and

adjusting at least one business rule based on the measured performance information.

16. A distributed computer system for managing delivery carriers, comprising:

means for receiving a first set of delivery data from a first mail processor at a first computer of the distributed computer system;

means for receiving a second set of delivery data from a second mail processor at a second computer of the distributed computer system;

means for determining routes for delivery, using the first computer, based on a first set of business rules applied to the first set of delivery data;

means for determining routes for delivery, using the second computer, based on a second set of business rules applied to the second set of delivery data;

means for assigning mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes;

means for transmitting mail item assignment information to the first mail processor and the second mail processor;

means for monitoring the determined routes, wherein monitoring includes;

receiving update information from the delivery carriers while the mail items are being delivered on the determined routes, wherein the update information relates to at least one of the routes for delivery and a capacity of the delivery carriers; and

means for dynamically reassigning the mail items to different delivery carriers based on the update information received from the delivery carriers during monitoring.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for determining routes includes means for processing active, planned, and closed routes.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first set of business rules comprise cost consideration information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein cost consideration information includes overriding a lower cost option due to a carrier contract obligation.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the cost consideration information further includes determining a lowest cost for service window.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the cost consideration information includes delivery option information.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the delivery option information includes evaluating data regarding a combination of at least one aircraft, at least one train, at least one motor vehicle, or at least one ship, for transporting the mail items.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the first set of business rules further comprise route delay information.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the route delay information further includes overriding a route choice after receiving weather information.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the route delay information further includes overriding a route choice after receiving route closing information from the delivery carriers.

26. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for creating an assignment manifest.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the means for creating the assignment manifest includes means for generating one of a hardcopy and an electronic copy of the assignment manifest.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for transmitting the assignment manifest to at least one delivery carrier.

29. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for tracking deliveries of the mail items.

30. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for measuring the performance of the delivery carriers; and

means for adjusting at least one business rule based on the measured performance information.

31. A solid computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing stages, comprising:

receiving a first set of delivery data from a first mail processor;

receiving a second set of delivery data from a second mail processor;

determining routes for delivery for the first mail processor based on a first set of business rules applied to the first set of delivery data;

determining routes for delivery for the second mail processor based on a second set of business rules applied to the second set of delivery data;

assigning mail items to delivery carriers based on the determined routes;

transmitting mail item assignment information to the first mail processor and the second mail processor;

monitoring the determined routes, wherein monitoring includes;

receiving update information from the delivery carriers while the mail items are being delivered on the determined routes, wherein the update information relates to at least one of the routes for delivery and a capacity of the delivery carriers; and

dynamically reassigning the mail items to different delivery carriers based on the update information received from the delivery carriers during monitoring.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein determining routes includes processing active, planned, and closed routes.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the first set of business rules comprise using cost consideration information.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein using cost consideration information includes overriding a lower cost option due to a carrier contract obligation.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein using cost consideration information includes determining a lowest cost for service window.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein using cost consideration information includes using delivery option information.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein using delivery option information includes evaluating data regarding a combination of at least one aircraft, at least one train, at least one motor vehicle, or at least one ship, as a means of transporting the mail items.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the first set of business rules further comprise using route delay information.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving weather information.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein using route delay information further includes receiving route closing information from the delivery carriers.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising computer-executable instructions for creating an assignment manifest.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein creating the assignment manifest includes generating one of a hardcopy and an electronic copy of the assignment manifest.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, further comprising computer-executable instructions for transmitting the assignment manifest to at least one delivery carrier.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising computer-executable instructions for tracking deliveries of the mail items.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising:

measuring the performance of the delivery carriers; and

instructions for performing a stage comprising adjusting at least one business rule based on the measured performance information.

46. A distributed system for managing delivery carriers, comprising:

at least one server containing a mail assignment engine, the mail assignment engine operative to;

receive a first set of delivery data from a first mail processor;

receive a second set of delivery data from a second mail processor;

determine routes for delivery for the first mail processor based on a first set of business rules applied to the first set of delivery data;

determine routes for delivery for the second mail processor based on a second set of business rules applied to the second set of delivery data;

assign mail items to carriers based on the determined routes;

transmit mail item assignment information to the first mail processor and the second mail processor;

monitor the determined routes, wherein monitoring includes;

receiving update information from the delivery carriers while the mail items are being delivered on the predetermined routes, wherein the update information relates to at least one of the routes for delivery and a capacity of the delivery carriers; and

dynamically reassign the mail items to different delivery carriers based on the update information received from the delivery carriers during monitoring.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein a transaction concentrator is used to manage communications for the at least one server.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the mail assignment engine determines the routes using a database including files for active, planned, and closed routes.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the first set of business rules comprise cost consideration information.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the cost consideration information includes overriding a lower cost option due to a carrier contract obligation.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the cost consideration information includes a lowest cost for service window.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the cost consideration information includes delivery option information.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the delivery option information includes information for evaluating data regarding a combination of at least one aircraft, at least one train, at least one motor vehicle, or at least one ship.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of business rules further comprise route delay information.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the route delay information further includes weather information.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the route delay information further includes route closing information received from the delivery carriers.

57. The system of claim 46, wherein the mail assignment engine is further operative to create an assignment manifest.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the assignment manifest is one of a hardcopy and an electronic file for delivery to at least one of the delivery carriers.

59. The system of claim 46, further comprising performance management tools for tracking deliveries of the mail items.

60. The system of claim 46, wherein the mail assignment engine is operative to:

receive performance measurements of carriers; and

adjust at least one business rule based on the performance measurements.

61. A system for tagging mail items, comprising:

a first computer for executing a first software component, the first software component including computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a first set of delivery data;

transmitting the first set of delivery data to a mail item assignment system;

receiving mail item assignment information from the mail item assignment system after the mail item assignment system assigns a first set of mail items to a delivery carrier and an associated delivery route, wherein the assignment is based on a first set of business rules applied to the first set of delivery data;

receiving information indicating reassignment of the first set of mail items after the mail item assignment system dynamically reassigns the first set of mail items to a different delivery carrier based on monitoring the delivery route after the first set of mail items are assigned to the delivery route, wherein monitoring includes receiving update information from the previously assigned delivery carrier while the first set of mail items are being delivered on the assigned delivery route, the update information including information concerning at least one of a previously assigned delivery route and a capacity of the previously assigned delivery carrier; and

printing labels containing mail item routing information; and

a second computer for executing a second software component, the second software component including computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a second set of delivery data;

transmitting the second set of delivery data to the mail item assignment system;

receiving mail item assignment information from the mail item assignment system after the mail item assignment system assigns a second set of mail items to a delivery carrier and an associated delivery route, wherein the assignment is based on a second set of business rules applied to the second set of delivery data;

receiving information indicating reassignment of the second set of mail items after the mail item assignment system dynamically reassigns the second set of mail items to a different delivery carrier based on monitoring the delivery route after the second set of mail items are assigned to the delivery route, wherein monitoring includes receiving update information from the previously assigned delivery carrier while the second set of mail items are being delivered on the assigned delivery route, the update information including information concerning at least one of a previously assigned delivery route and a capacity of the previously assigned delivery carrier; and

printing labels containing mail item routing information.