Delivery operations information system with route adjustment feature and methods of use

• US 20060184403A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Scott, Gale R., Fisher, Charles V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• 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 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for managing information related to a delivery service provider and systems of using such a system. The system and systems provided herein allow a delivery service provider to coordinate with efficiency the volume of mail or packages to be delivered with the carrier resources available to deliver them. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the delivery operation information system tracks quantities of articles, schedules their distribution, and schedules and tracks the work force that distributes the articles.

Claims

1. A method for managing delivery of articles comprising:

developing a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, wherein each route comprises locations for article delivery;

providing a display screen selectively showing said routes for delivery;

using said display screen to modify the locations for article delivery; and

saving the modification to the database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises adding locations for article delivery on said routes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises deleting locations for article delivery on said routes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises adjusting a step-by-step travel pattern of the delivery route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises adding a new delivery route into the database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification comprises deleting an existing delivery route from the database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the database further includes non-delivery points.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the step of modifying a non-delivery point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification is permanent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification is based on an inspection report.

11. A system for managing delivery of articles comprising:

a database that identifies routes for delivery of articles, wherein each route comprises locations for article delivery;

a display screen for selectively showing said routes for delivery;

a component for modifying the locations for article delivery; and

a component for saving the modification to the database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises adding locations for article delivery on said routes.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises deleting locations for article delivery on said routes.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises adjusting a step-by-step travel pattern of the delivery route.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises adding a new delivery route into the database.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification comprises deleting an existing delivery route from the database.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the database further includes non-delivery points.

18. The system of claim 17, further including a component for modifying a non-delivery point.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification is permanent.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the modification is based on an inspection report.