System and method for logistics network utilizing mobile device location information

• US 9,852,391 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MENA360 DWC-LLC
• Original Assignee: MENA360 DWC-LLC
• Inventors: Al Rifai, Idriss O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haq, Naeem U
• Application Number:
  US14/629,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20150242810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Technology is disclosed for enabling an efficient logistics network based on mobile device location data. The technology does not necessarily need the street house numbers as delivery or pickup addresses, which are not available in some areas of the world. The location data (e.g., GPS coordinates) of the customers'"'"' mobile devices are used to suggest the logistics delivery and pickup locations. Drivers of the logistics network are equipped with logistics driver devices connected to a logistics data server for retrieving the location data. Guided by the location data, the drivers reach the target locations for the delivery or pickup tasks.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a logistics data server, the method comprising:

receiving, at the logistics data server, a request from a first mobile device associated with a first user, the request including location data of the first mobile device and an identification of a second user;

predicting, by the logistics data server, a target location and a target time window based on historical information including location data of a second mobile device associated with the identification of the second user;

sending, by the logistics data server, a confirmation request to the second mobile device requesting the second mobile device to confirm the request from the first mobile device;

causing, by the logistics data server, a logistics driver device to update a routing schedule of the logistics driver device to include a navigation route from the location of the first mobile device to the target location in accordance with the target time window;

establishing, by the logistics data server, a communication channel between the logistics driver device and at least one of the first mobile device or the second mobile device in response to an inquiry received from the logistics driver device regarding the request from the first mobile device;

sending, by the logistics data server, a confirmation to the first and second mobile devices in response to the logistics data server receiving a message from the logistics driver device indicating that the logistics driver device has commenced the navigation route; and

sending, by the logistics data server, a confirmation to the first and second mobile devices in response to the logistics data server receiving a message from the logistics driver device indicating that the logistics driver device has completed the navigation route;

wherein street house numbers are not available for the location of the first or second user or the street house numbers are not used for the navigation route, and the location data of the first and second mobile devices include satellite navigation system coordinates and need not include street house numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data of the first and second mobile device further include assisted GPS information, cellphone network information, WiFi network information, or a textual information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in a user location database of the logistics data server, the location data of the first mobile device as a candidate location for expediting future requests from the first mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the logistics data server, whether to accept and conduct the request from the first mobile device based on the location data of the first and second mobile devices, and the target time window;

generating, by the logistics data server, a price quote based on the location data of the first and second mobile devices and the target time window;

sending, by the logistics data server, a price quote to the first or second mobile device depending on a determination on whether the first user or the second user is responsible for paying a logistics cost; and

receiving, by the logistics data server, a price quote acceptance message from the first or second mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the logistics data server, a rejection message to the first mobile device indicating that the request from the first mobile device has been rejected, in response to a message from the second mobile device rejecting the request from the first mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the logistics data server, a job request to the logistics driver device including an instruction for the logistics driver device to display a prompt to collect a cash from the second user upon completion of the navigation route.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second users are a seller and a buyer on an internet consumer-to-consumer auction website.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is a textual or audio communication channel between the first mobile device and the logistics driver device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is a textual or audio communication channel between the second mobile device and the logistics driver device.

10. A computer-implemented method performed by a logistics data server, the method comprising:

receiving, at the logistics data server, a message including a customer'"'"'s order and location data of a mobile device of the customer;

storing, in a user location database of the logistics data server, the location data of the mobile device as a location entry associated with an identification of the customer;

receiving, at the logistics data server from a logistics driver device, a location inquiry indicating that the logistics driver device needs location information to fulfill a task of the order;

predicting, by the logistics data server, a target location based on the location entry and historical location data of the mobile device stored in the user location database as a plurality of location entries associated with the identification of the customer;

causing, by the logistics data server, the logistics driver device to update a routing schedule of the logistics driver device to include a navigation route ending at the target location as the location information to fulfill the task;

establishing, by the logistics data server, a communication channel between the logistics driver device and the mobile device of the customer in response to an inquiry received from the logistics driver device regarding the task; and

receiving, at the logistics data server from the logistics driver device, a confirmation that the task has been completed;

wherein street house numbers are not available for the location of the customer or the street house numbers are not used for the task, and the location data of the mobile device include satellite navigation system coordinates and need not include street house numbers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the order is an online purchase order with an e-commerce server placed by the customer using the mobile device, and the method further comprises relaying the online purchase order to the e-commerce server.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the customer has placed the order through a mobile logistics application running on the mobile device, and the customer has confirmed to send out the location data through the mobile logistics application.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile logistics application identifies whether the location is categorized as residence location, work location, or school location, and the user location database stores the categorization associated with the location.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, at the logistics data server, a preferred time window from the mobile device of the customer.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the identification of the customer includes a cellphone number of the mobile device, a name of the customer, a customer ID number of the customer, a government-issued ID number of the customer, or an identification of location of the mobile device of the customer.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending all location entries stored in the user location database associated with the identification of the customer, including the location data of the mobile device of the customer, to the logistics driver device.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, at the logistics data server from the logistics driver device, the location information of the logistics driver device when the task is successfully completed; and

storing, in the user location database of the logistics data server, the received location information of the logistics driver device as a confirmed location entry associated with the identification of the customer.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending, from the logistics data server to the mobile device of the customer, a current location of the logistics driver device in response to a status inquiry.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

predicting, by the logistics data server, a time that the customer is likely to be located at the target location based on a historical order and location information associated with the customer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein to update a routing schedule of the logistics driver device to include the navigation route to the target location comprises:

inserting a task into the routing schedule of the logistics driver device based on the predicted time.

21. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

relaying to the logistics driver device the customer'"'"'s textual message that includes latest information required to complete the navigation route.

22. A computer-implemented method performed by a logistics data server, the method comprising:

receiving, at the logistics data server, a return message indicating that a customer has used a mobile device to initiate an order return process and location data of the mobile device;

storing, in a user location database of the logistics data server, the location data of the mobile device as a location entry associated with an identification of the customer;

receiving, at the logistics data server from a logistics driver device, a location inquiry indicating that the order return process has been approved and that the logistics driver device needs location information to fulfill a task of the order return process;

predicting, by the logistics data server, a target location based on the location entry and historical location data of the mobile device stored in the user location database as a plurality of location entries associated with the identification of the customer;

causing, by the logistics data server, the logistics driver device to update a routing schedule of the logistics driver device to include a navigation route commencing at the target location as the location information to fulfill the task;

establishing, by the logistics data server, a communication channel between the logistics driver device and the mobile device of the customer in response to an inquiry received from the logistics driver device regarding the task; and

receiving, at the logistics data server from the logistics driver device, a confirmation that task has been completed;

wherein street house numbers are not available for the location of the customer or the street house numbers are not used for the order return process, and the location data of the mobile device include satellite navigation system coordinates and need not include street house numbers.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the return message further indicates that the target location is the same as a location of an original purchase order associated with the order return process, and wherein the logistics data server relays the location of the original purchase order to the logistics driver device.