Systems and methods for ranking potential attended delivery/pickup locations

• US 9,798,999 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• 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: Schenken, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Loftis, Johnna
• Application Number:
  US14/201,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 705 722
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• 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 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing
• 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 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A computer system for ranking potential attended delivery/pickup locations is disclosed. In various embodiments, a user or computer system identifies an area in which to establish at least one attended delivery/pickup location. In a particular embodiment, the system receives data associated with potential attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., attended delivery/pickup location candidates), including the specific characteristics of those candidates. The system then, based at least in part on the characteristics of each of the attended delivery/pickup location candidates, ranks the attended delivery/pickup location candidates and displays the rankings to a user for use in selecting the most suitable candidate for the area.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a logistics server in communication with a logistics network, the logistics server comprising at least one computer-storage media storing computer-useable instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising;

storing logistics network data associated with each of a plurality of established attended delivery/pickup locations in memory;

receiving an indication of an area in which to establish a new attended delivery/pickup location in the logistics network for receiving and storing one or more parcels, wherein the new attended delivery/pickup location has not been previously established as an attended delivery/pickup location in the logistics network;

receiving data associated with each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates within the area, wherein;

i) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates has indicated a desire to be established as the new attended delivery/pickup location;

ii) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is associated with a primary form of business other than receiving and storing the one or more parcels; and

iii) the data associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises a plurality of characteristics;

determining a value for each of the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

assigning a weight to each of the plurality of characteristics based on a level of importance of each of the plurality of characteristics;

ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based on a comparison of the respective values and the respective weights of the plurality of characteristics;

automatically determining the new attended delivery/pickup location from the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based at least in part on the rank of each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

adding the new attended delivery/pickup location to the logistics network by modifying the logistics network data in the memory to include the new attended delivery/pickup location as one of the plurality of established attended delivery/pickup locations;

automatically generating and sending a communication to the new attended/delivery pickup location that the new attended delivery/pickup location is established for delivery of one or more parcels by a common carrier;

automatically determining a capacity of the new attended delivery/pickup location prior to directing the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location;

determining that the capacity is adequate at the new attended delivery/pickup location;

reserving space to accommodate the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location;

generating a shipping label for the one or more parcels; and

directing delivery of the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location utilizing the shipping label.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one characteristic of the plurality of characteristics includes social network data.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one characteristic of the plurality of characteristics comprises customer reviews.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein a weight is assigned to the customer reviews indicating a higher level of importance relative to the remaining plurality of characteristics.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one characteristic of the plurality of characteristics comprises a number of returns associated with the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises enabling identification of a recipient of the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location based on scanning of an electronic ID card associated with the recipient at the new attended delivery/pickup location.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

(A) the plurality of characteristics associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises a customer reviews characteristic; and

(B) ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises determining an attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates, wherein the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is based at least in part on a determined value of the customer reviews characteristic for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the primary form of business associated with any of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is:

(A) a gas station;

(B) a convenience store;

(C) a flower shop;

(D) a magazine stand;

(E) a retail location associated with a common carrier;

(F) a kiosk at a mall;

or

(G) a retail department store.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is located within the area.

10. A computer-implemented method for establishing a new attended delivery/pickup location in a logistics network, the method comprising:

storing, by at least one processor, logistics data associated with each of a plurality of established attended delivery/pickup locations in the logistics network;

receiving, by the at least one processor, an indication of an area in which to establish a new attended delivery/pickup location;

receiving, by the at least one processor, data associated with each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates, wherein;

i) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates has indicated a desire to be established as the new attended delivery/pickup location and has not previously been established as an attended delivery/pickup location in the logistics network;

ii) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is associated with a primary form of business other than receiving and storing one or more parcels;

iii) the data associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises a plurality of characteristics;

receiving, by the at least one processor, a weight for each of the plurality of characteristics, wherein the weight is an indicator of importance of each of the plurality of characteristics for establishing the new attended delivery/pickup location;

determining, by the at least one processor based at least in part on the received data, a value for each of the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

ranking, by the at least one processor, each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based at least in part on;

i) the weight of each of the plurality of characteristics; and

ii) the determined value of each of the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

automatically selecting, by the at least one processor, the new attended delivery/pickup location from the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based at least in part on the ranking,

automatically adding the new attended delivery/pickup location to the logistics network by modifying the logistics data to include the new attended/delivery pickup location as one of the plurality of established attended delivery/pickup locations;

automatically generating and sending a communication to the new attended delivery/pickup location that the new attended delivery/pickup location is established for delivery of one or more parcels by a common carrier;

automatically determining a capacity of the new attended/delivery pickup location prior to directing one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location;

determining that the capacity at the new attended delivery/pickup location is adequate;

generating a shipping label for routing the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location, the shipping label including a machine-readable indicia; and

delivering the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location utilizing the common carrier and the shipping label.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises determining an attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates, and wherein the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value is based at least in part on:

(A) the weight of each of the plurality of characteristics; and

(B) the determined value of each of the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:

(A) the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises a primary characteristic and a secondary characteristic;

(B) the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises a first attended delivery/pickup location candidate and a second attended delivery/pickup location candidate;

(C) the weight of the primary characteristic is higher than the weight of the secondary characteristic;

(D) the value of the primary characteristic for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate is higher than the value of the primary characteristic for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate; and

(E) the value of the secondary characteristic for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate is higher than the value of the secondary characteristic for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein:

(A) the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate comprises;

i) multiplying the weight of the primary characteristic by the value of the primary characteristic for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate to get a primary characteristic weighted value for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate;

ii) multiplying the weight of the secondary characteristic by the value of the secondary characteristic for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate to obtain a secondary characteristic weighted value for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate; and

iii) summing the primary characteristic weighted value and the secondary characteristic weighted value for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate; and

(B) the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate comprises;

i) multiplying the weight of the primary characteristic by the value of the primary characteristic for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate to get a primary characteristic weighted value for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate;

ii) multiplying the weight of the secondary characteristic by the value of the secondary characteristic for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate to get a secondary characteristic weighted value for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate; and

iii) summing the primary characteristic weighted value and the secondary characteristic weighted value for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate is higher than the attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein ranking the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate and the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate comprises ranking the first attended delivery/pickup location candidate higher than the second attended delivery/pickup location candidate.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a number of returned goods characteristic of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of characteristics includes customer reviews of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

identifying an area in which to establish a new attended delivery/pickup location in a logistic network comprising a plurality of established attended delivery/pickup locations, wherein the new attended delivery/pickup location comprises a location for receiving and storing one or more parcels and has not been previously established as an attended delivery/pickup location in the logistics network;

receiving data associated with each of a plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates, wherein;

i) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates has indicated a desire to be established as the new attended delivery/pickup location;

ii) each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates is associated with a primary form of business other than receiving and storing one or more parcels;

iii) the data associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates comprises a plurality of characteristics; and

iv) the plurality of characteristics comprises at least one of;

a) a number of returns associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates, and

b) one or more customer reviews associated with each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

receiving a weight for each of the plurality of characteristics, wherein the weight is an indicator of the importance of a particular characteristic relative to the remaining plurality of characteristics for establishing the new attended delivery/pickup location;

determining, based at least in part on the received data, a value for each of the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

determining an attended delivery/pickup location candidate value for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based at least in part on;

i) the weight of each of the plurality of characteristics; and

ii) the determined value of each of the plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

ranking each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based at least in part on the determined candidate value for each of the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates;

automatically determining the new attended delivery/pickup location from the plurality of attended delivery/pickup location candidates based on the ranking;

automatically generating and sending a communication to the new attended delivery/pickup location that the new attended delivery/pickup location is established for delivery of one or more parcels by a common carrier;

automatically determining a capacity of the new attended delivery/pickup location prior to directing one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location;

determining that the capacity is adequate at the new attended delivery/pickup location;

reserving space to accommodate the one or more parcels at the new attended delivery/pickup location;

generating a shipping label for the one or more parcels that includes a bar code comprising a machine-readable indicia; and

delivering the one or more parcels to the new attended delivery/pickup location utilizing the shipping label.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein at least one characteristic of the plurality of characteristics includes social network data.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least one characteristic of the plurality of characteristics includes a proximity to one or more delivery routes in the logistics network.