System and method for distribution of single-product-type unlabeled packages

• US 8,650,132 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• 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: McClurg, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/705,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 705330-341, 700/216, 700/227
• US Class Current: 705/336
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers

Abstract

Systems and methods for the distribution of single-product-type unlabeled packages are provided. For each distribution, the system coordinates the processes required for: (1) transporting unlabeled packages containing the product from a manufacturing location to a carrier hub; (2) printing and applying respective shipping labels to the unlabeled packages; and (3) sending the labeled packages to their various retail locations. By delegating the tasks of receiving, labeling, and shipping the packages containing the product to a single carrier, the systems and methods allow the carrier to receive the packages for continued processing without the presence of any identifying labels.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for carrying out the distribution of single-product-type unlabeled packages using a carrier system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a distribution list from a shipper system by a carrier computer system for a plurality of unlabeled packages, wherein;

(i) each unlabeled package contains no indicia thereon signifying destination information;

(ii) said distribution list comprises destination information for each unlabeled package; and

(iii) each unlabeled package contains one or more units of a single type of product;

(b) generating a pickup and delivery schedule comprising time and destination information associated with the pickup of said plurality of unlabeled packages from a manufacturing facility and the delivery of said unlabeled packages to a plurality of respective destinations, wherein said pickup and delivery schedule is based at least in part on said distribution list;

(c) dispatching a pickup vehicle to said manufacturing facility to retrieve said unlabeled packages based at least in part on said pickup and delivery schedule;

(d) delivering the plurality of unlabeled packages from said manufacturing facility via the pickup vehicle to a distribution point in accordance with said pickup and delivery schedule;

(e) generating a plurality of shipping labels, wherein said shipping labels comprise destination information based at least in part on said pickup and delivery schedule;

(f) affixing said plurality of shipping labels to said plurality of unlabeled packages at said distribution point, wherein application of any one of said plurality of shipping labels to any one of said unlabeled packages will thereby yield one or more shipments, and wherein any one of said plurality of shipping labels may be applied to any one of said plurality of unlabeled packages; and

(g) transporting said shipments from said distribution point to said respective destinations in accordance with said pickup and delivery schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of a plurality of shipping labels comprises the steps of:

transmitting a label request to a label printing device, wherein said label request is based at least in part on said pickup and delivery schedule, and

printing said shipping labels using said label printing device in accordance with said label request.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

in response to generating a plurality of shipping labels, delivering said shipping labels from said label printing device to said distribution point, wherein said label printing device is located at a site remote from said distribution point.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a sequence in which said shipping labels are printed is pre-determined.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said distribution information comprises a list of destination addresses and a quantity of packages corresponding to each of said destination addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

prior to generating said pickup and delivery schedule, receiving one or more specified delivery dates corresponding to one or more destinations for said shipments, and wherein said pickup and delivery schedule is based at least in part on said specified delivery dates.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the generating of said pickup and delivery schedule comprises the steps of:

submitting a request for a specified quantity of a single type of product to said manufacturing facility;

receiving a response to said request from said manufacturing facility indicating a first possible date for pickup;

querying a carrier time-in-transit database to determine a last possible date for pickup that would permit delivery of said shipments by said specified delivery dates, wherein said carrier time-in-transit database specifies the number of days said carrier requires to deliver a shipment from said distribution point to said destination; and

determining a permissible range of pickup dates for the dispatching of said pickup vehicle to said manufacturing facility, wherein said permissible range of pickup dates is based at least in part on said first possible date for pickup and said last possible date for pickup, and the dispatching of said pickup vehicle is performed between said permissible ranges of pickup dates.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said request includes a need-by date and said need-by date is based at least in part on said specified delivery dates.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said unlabeled packages in said delivery vehicle at said distribution point until completion of said step of affixing of said shipping labels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein Steps (f) and (g) are performed by said carrier system.

11. A carrier system for carrying out the distribution of single-product-type unlabeled packages to a plurality of respective destinations, said system comprising:

(a) an order-processing computer comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage areas, said one or more processors configured to;

receive an order from a shipper device, wherein said order comprises;

a product identifier associated with a type of product, wherein at least one unit of said type of product is contained in each of a plurality of unlabeled packages, each of said plurality of unlabeled packages containing no indicia thereon signifying destination information; and

a distribution list comprising destination information corresponding to said unlabeled packages;

generate a label request for the creation of a plurality of shipping labels based at least in part on said order; and

generate a pickup and delivery schedule comprising time and location data associated with the pickup of said unlabeled packages from a manufacturing facility and the delivery of said unlabeled packages to a plurality of respective destinations;

(b) a carrier hub computer in communication with the order-processing computer comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage areas, said one or more processors configured to dispatch a pickup vehicle based at least in part on said pickup and delivery schedule to pick up and deliver said unlabeled packages to a distribution point;

(c) a labeling device configured to print said plurality of shipping labels based at least in part on said label request for application to the unlabeled packages at said distribution point, wherein application of any one of said plurality of shipping labels to any one of said unlabeled packages will thereby yield a shipment.

12. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said label request specifies a sequence for printing said shipping labels.

13. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said destination information comprises a list of destination addresses and a quantity value corresponding to each of said destination addresses.

14. The carrier system of claim 13, wherein said destination information further comprises one or more specified delivery dates corresponding to one or more destinations for said shipments, wherein said pickup and delivery schedule is based at least in part on said specified delivery dates.

15. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said order-processing computer is further configured to:

receive information regarding production schedule at said manufacturing facility;

process said information regarding production schedule at said manufacturing facility to determine availability of unlabeled packages for pickup;

query a carrier time-in-transit database to determine time-in-transit information for each of said plurality of shipments, wherein said time-in-transit information comprises the number of days required by said carrier to deliver said shipment from said distribution point to said respective destination for each of one or more carrier service levels;

process said availability of unlabeled packages for pickup, said time-in-transit information, and said specified delivery dates to determine a permissible range of pickup dates for picking up unlabeled packages at said manufacturing facility; and

select pickup date of pickup and delivery schedule from said permissible ranges of pickup dates.

16. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said distribution point is a carrier hub facility.

17. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said pickup vehicle is further capable of storing said unlabeled packages at said distribution point until each of said plurality of unlabeled packages is affixed with a shipping label.

18. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said labeling component is configured for a labeling machine to apply said shipping labels to said unlabeled packages.

19. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said labeling component is configured for human handlers to apply said shipping labels to said unlabeled packages.

20. The carrier system of claim 11, wherein said labeling component is configured to print said plurality of shipping labels at a site remote from said distribution point and is further configured to deliver said shipping destination labels from said site to said distribution point.