Computer system for routing package deliveries

• US 8,918,340 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• 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: Kadaba, Nagesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Vetter, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/771,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 705330-341
• US Class Current: 705/333
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• 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 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A shipping system for shipping packages involving the coordinated use of at least a first carrier and a second carrier. The shipping system includes physical delivery facilities for the physical delivery of packages, the physical delivery facilities including at least one transfer location at which the second carrier may take over delivery responsibilities for a package. The shipping system also includes an information system having a shipper computer system configured to record and determine whether the delivery address of a package is an efficient destination for the first carrier. If not an efficient destination, such as a delivery address having a rural zip code, the shipper computer system is configured to label the package for delivery to one of the transfer locations, allowing the first carrier to transfer the selected package to the second carrier for completion of the less efficient portion of the delivery.

Claims

1. A shipping information system for facilitating delivery of a package by a plurality of carriers, said shipping information system comprising:

a shipper information system configured to;

receive an indication that delivery of the package will comprise transportation provided by the plurality of carriers, said indication being determined based at least in part upon the package being classified as having a weight below a defined threshold;

record package information, including a consignee address associated with the package;

identify an intermediate location, wherein a first carrier of the plurality of carriers will transfer the package to a second carrier of the plurality of carriers for further transport of the package by the second carrier, the intermediate location being identified based at least in part on the consignee address; and

generate, prior to initiating transportation of the package by the plurality of carriers, a combined shipping label, the combined shipping label comprising at least a portion of the package information, a first carrier tracking symbol, and a second carrier tracking symbol differing from said first carrier tracking symbol, the first and second carrier tracking symbols each configured to provide tracking information for at least a portion of the delivery, and wherein data associated with the first and the second carrier tracking symbols are further associated to generate consolidated tracking information, said consolidated tracking information being independently accessible via either of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols throughout the period when the package is being transported by the first carrier and when the package is being transported by the second carrier.

2. The shipping information system of claim 1, further comprising a first carrier information system comprising:

a package information system connected in communication with the shipper information system and configured to obtain the package information and first carrier tracking symbol therefrom;

a tracking system connected in communication with a first carrier scanning device positioned at least at the intermediate location, said tracking system configured to determine when the scanning device has scanned the first carrier tracking symbol of the package at the intermediate location; and

a verification system connected in communication with the package information system and the tracking system, said verification system configured to obtain package information and tracking information from the respective systems and to use the first carrier tracking symbol to combine the package information and tracking information into a billing manifest for submission to the second carrier.

3. The shipping information system of claim 2,

wherein the package information system is also configured to obtain the second carrier tracking symbol from the shipper information system;

and

wherein said tracking system is connected in communication with, and configured to receive delivery confirmation information from a second carrier scanning device positioned at the consignee location, said delivery confirmation information corresponding to scanning of the second carrier tracking symbol of the package at the consignee location by the second carrier scanning device.

4. The shipping information system of claim 3, wherein said verification system is further configured to correlate the delivery confirmation information with the package information and tracking information using the second carrier tracking symbol and combine the delivery confirmation information with the package information and tracking information in the billing manifest.

5. The shipping information system of claim 3, further comprising a second carrier computer system connected in communication with, and configured to obtain the billing manifest from the verification system, said second carrier computer system being configured to display the billing manifest for audit by the second carrier.

6. The shipping information system of claim 3, further comprising a quality control system connected in communication with the verification system and the tracking system, said quality control system configured to compare the delivery confirmation information with the billing manifest to ensure that the package listed on the billing manifest has been delivered.

7. The shipping information system of claim 3, further comprising a quality control system connected in communication with the package information system and the shipper information system, said quality control system configured to periodically compile package information associated with the package and received by the package information system, said quality control system further configured to send the compiled package information to the shipper information system for comparison to package information recorded by the shipper information system.

8. The shipping information system of claim 3, further comprising a quality control system configured to record package sizes and weights as part of the package information and further configured to record subsequent measurements of package sizes and weights and compare the subsequently measured sizes and weights to the sizes and weights of the package information.

9. The shipping information system of claim 1, wherein the consignee address includes a zip code and wherein the shipper information system is configured to compare the zip code to a list of zip codes within the stored delivery area of the first carrier.

10. The shipping information system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate location is a local post office and the second carrier is governmental postal service.

11. The shipping information system of claim 1, wherein the shipper information system is further configured to associate the first and the second carrier tracking symbols with each other prior to initiating transportation of the package by the plurality of carriers.

12. The shipping information system of claim 1, wherein the shipping information system is further configured to determine whether the package for which delivery is facilitated qualifies for a combined shipment by the plurality of carriers, the determination comprising a confirmation that the package is designated for a low priority shipment service.

13. The shipping information system of claim 12, wherein the determination further comprises a confirmation that the package is designated for a delivery destination in a rural area.

14. A computer-implemented method for facilitating delivery of a package by a plurality of carriers, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computing device comprising at least one processor, an indication that delivery of the package will comprise transportation provided by the plurality of carriers, said indication being determined based at least in part upon the package being classified as having a weight below a defined threshold;

recording, by the one or more processors, package information, including a consignee address associated with the package;

identifying, by the one or more processors an intermediate location at which to transfer the package from a first carrier of the plurality of carriers to a second carrier of the plurality of carriers for further transport of the package by the second carrier, the intermediate location being identified based at least in part on the consignee address; and

generating, prior to initiating transportation of the package by the plurality of carriers, by the one or more processors, a combined shipping label, the combined shipping label comprising at least a portion of the package information, a first carrier tracking symbol, and a second carrier tracking symbol differing from said first carrier tracking symbol, the first and second carrier tracking symbols each configured to provide tracking information for at least a portion of the delivery, and wherein data associated with the first and the second carrier tracking symbols are further associated to generate consolidated tracking information, said consolidated tracking information being independently accessible via either of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols throughout the period when the first and when the second carriers are transporting the package.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication that a first carrier scanning device has scanned the first carrier tracking symbol of the package at the intermediate location;

recording, by the one or more processors, the indication as tracking information; and

generating, by the one or more processors, a billing manifest for submission to the second carrier, the billing manifest being generated at least in part by using the first carrier tracking symbol to combine the package information and the tracking information.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, delivery confirmation information from a second carrier scanning device, the delivery confirmation information comprising an indication that the second carrier tracking symbol of the package has been scanned at the consignee location; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the billing manifest to combine the delivery confirmation information with the package information and the tracking information.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, a first indication that a first scanning device has scanned the first carrier tracking symbol of the package at the intermediate location;

recording, by the one or more processors, the first indication as tracking information;

generating, by the one or more processors, a billing manifest for submission to the second carrier, the billing manifest being generated at least in part by using the first carrier tracking symbol to combine the package information and the tracking information;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a second indication that a second scanning device has scanned the second carrier tracking symbol of the package at a shipper location due to the package being returned; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the billing manifest to combine the second indication with the package information and the tracking information.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising associating, by the one or more processors, the first and the second carrier tracking symbols with each other prior to initiating transportation of the package by the plurality of carriers.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising the step of determining whether the package for which delivery is facilitated qualifies for a combined shipment by the plurality of carriers, the determination comprising a confirmation that the package is designated for a low priority shipment service.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the determination further comprises a confirmation that the package is designated for a delivery destination in a rural area.

21. A shipping information system for facilitating shipping of one or more packages by a first and a second carrier, said shipping information system comprising:

a package information system configured to communicate with a shipper and to receive package information, a first carrier tracking symbol, and a second carrier tracking symbol differing from said first carrier tracking symbol from a combined shipping label generated prior to initiating shipping of the packages by the first and second carriers, said package information comprising an indication that delivery of the package will comprise transportation provided by the plurality of carriers, said indication being determined based at least in part upon the package being classified as having a weight below a defined threshold;

a tracking system connected in communication with a first carrier scanning device positioned at least at an intermediate location, said tracking system configured to determine whether the scanning device has scanned the first and the second carrier tracking symbols of the package at the intermediate location, said scanning of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols indicating release of the package to the second carrier, said scanning further configured to generate data associated with the first and the second carrier tracking symbols, said data being further associated to generate consolidated tracking information, said consolidated tracking information being independently accessible via either of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols throughout the transport of the package; and

a verification system connected in communication with the package information system and the tracking system, said verification system configured to obtain package information and tracking information from the respective systems and to use the first carrier tracking symbol to combine the package information and tracking information into a billing manifest for submission to the second carrier.

22. The shipping information system of claim 21,

wherein the package information system is also configured to obtain a second carrier tracking symbol from the shipper;

and

wherein said tracking system is connected in communication with, and configured to receive delivery confirmation information from, a second carrier scanning device positioned at the consignee location, said delivery confirmation information corresponding to scanning of the second carrier tracking symbol of the package at the consignee location by the second carrier scanning device.

23. The shipping information system of claim 22, wherein said verification system is further configured to correlate the delivery confirmation information with the package information and tracking information using the second carrier tracking symbol and combine the delivery confirmation information with the package information and tracking information in the billing manifest.

24. The shipping information system of claim 22, further comprising a second carrier computer system connected in communication with, and configured to obtain the billing manifest from, the verification system, said second carrier computer system being configured to display the billing manifest for audit by the second carrier.

25. The shipping information system of claim 22, further comprising a quality control system connected in communication with the verification system and the tracking system, said quality control system configured to compare the delivery confirmation information with the billing manifest to ensure that the package listed on the billing manifest has been delivered.

26. The shipping information system of claim 22, further comprising a quality control system connected in communication with the package information system and the shipper information system, said quality control system configured to periodically compile package information associated with the package and received by the package information system, and further configured to send the compiled package information to the shipper information system for comparison to package information recorded by the shipper information system.

27. The shipping information system of claim 22, further comprising a quality control system configured to record package sizes and weights as part of the package information and further configured to record subsequent measurements of package sizes and weights and compare the subsequently measured sizes and weights to the sizes and weights of the package information.

28. A carrier information system for facilitating shipping of one or more packages by first and second carriers, said carrier information system comprising:

a package information system configured to communicate with a shipper and to receive package information, a first carrier tracking symbol, and a second carrier tracking symbol differing from said first carrier tracking symbol from a combined shipping label generated prior to initiating shipping of the packages by the first and second carriers, said package information comprising an indication that delivery of the package will comprise transportation provided by the plurality of carriers, said indication being determined based at least in part upon the package being classified as having a weight below a defined threshold;

a tracking system connected in communication with at least a first scanning device positioned at an intermediate location and a second scanning device positioned at a shipper location, said tracking system configured to determine when the first scanning device has scanned the first carrier tracking symbol of the package at the intermediate location prior to release to the second carrier, said tracking system also configured to determine whether the second scanning device has scanned at least one of the first carrier tracking symbol and the second carrier tracking symbol of the package at the shipper location as the package is being returned, said scanning of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols configured to generate data associated with the first and the second carrier tracking symbols, said data being further associated to generate consolidated tracking information, said consolidated tracking information being independently accessible via either of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols throughout the transport of the package; and

a verification system connected in communication with the package information system and the tracking system, said verification system configured to obtain package information and said consolidated tracking information from the respective systems and to use the first carrier tracking symbol to combine the package information and tracking information into an initial billing manifest, said verification system also configured to later modify the billing manifest upon receipt of tracking information indicating scanning of the package at the shipper location by the second scanning device due to return of the package to the shipper location.

29. The carrier information system of claim 28, wherein the verification system is configured to modify the billing manifest by adding a returned package charge.

30. The carrier information system of claim 28, wherein the package information system is further configured to determine whether the package for which delivery is facilitated qualifies for a combined shipment by the first and second carriers, the determination comprising a confirmation that the package is designated for a low priority shipment service.

31. The carrier information system of claim 30, wherein the determination further comprises a confirmation that the package is designated for a delivery destination in a rural area.

32. A shipping information system for facilitating delivery of a package by a plurality of carriers, said shipping information system comprising:

a shipper information system configured to;

receive an indication that delivery of the package will comprise transportation provided by the plurality of carriers, said indication being determined based at least in part upon the package being classified as having a weight below a defined threshold;

record package information, including a consignee address associated with the package;

identify an intermediate location, wherein a first carrier of the plurality of carriers will transfer the package to a second carrier of the plurality of carriers for further transport of the package by the second carrier, the intermediate location being identified based at least in part on the consignee address; and

generate, prior to initiating transportation of the package by the plurality of carriers, a combined shipping label, the combined shipping label comprising at least a portion of the package information, a first carrier tracking symbol, and a second carrier tracking symbol differing from said first carrier tracking symbol, the first and second carrier tracking symbols each configured to provide tracking information for at least a portion of the delivery, and wherein data associated with the first and the second carrier tracking symbols are further associated to generate consolidated tracking information, said consolidated tracking information being independently accessible via either of the first and the second carrier tracking symbols throughout the period when the first and when the second carriers are transporting the package; and

a first carrier information system comprising;

a package information system connected in communication with the shipper information system and configured to obtain the package information, the first carrier tracking symbol and the second carrier tracking symbol from the shipper information system;

a tracking system connected in communication with a first scanning device positioned at the intermediate location and a second scanning device positioned at a shipper location, said tracking system configured to determine when the first scanning device has scanned the first carrier tracking symbol of the package at the intermediate location and also configured to determine when the second scanning device has scanned at least one of the tracking symbols of the package at the shipper location as the package is being returned; and

a verification system connected in communication with the package information system and the tracking system, said verification system configured to obtain package information and tracking information from the respective systems and to use the first carrier tracking symbol to combine the package information and tracking information into a billing manifest, said verification system also configured to later modify the billing manifest upon receipt of tracking information indicating scanning of the package at the shipper location by the second scanning device due to return of the package to the shipper location.

33. The shipping information system of claim 32, wherein the verification system is configured to modify the billing manifest by adding a returned package charge.