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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
First Claim
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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.

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