Delivery operations information system with planning and scheduling feature and methods of use

• US 20060184405A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Application

• 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.
• Application Number:
  US11/207,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184405A1
• 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 to locations along routes over a plurality of days comprising:

developing a first database that identifies routes for delivery of said articles;

developing a second database that identifies regularly scheduled carriers;

assigning carriers to said routes in response to said data from said first and second databases;

providing display screens selectively showing said carriers assigned to said routes and showing the number of hours projected for those carriers to complete those routes over said plurality of days;

developing a third database that identifies said assignments and projected hours;

developing a fourth database that identifies budgeted work hours for said carriers; and

providing display screens selectively showing data from said third and fourth databases in a form that permits comparison of the hours projected and hours budgeted for the delivery of said articles along said routes over said plurality of days.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of days comprises a week.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of days comprise more than a week.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of determining which carrier has requested to work overtime.

5. The method of claim 4, further providing a warning prior to assigning a carrier overtime if the carrier has reached a threshold amount of overtime.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the threshold amount comprises more than a predetermined frequency of days worked overtime for a select time interval.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the step of adjusting a carrier'"'"'s route.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of assigning another carrier to assist on a delivery route.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of recording which carrier has declined to work overtime.

10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of preparing a budget based on selective data from the first, second, third, and fourth databases.

11. A system for managing delivery of articles to locations along routes over a plurality of days comprising:

a first database that identifies routes for delivery of said articles;

a second database that identifies regularly scheduled carriers;

a component for assigning carriers to said routes in response to said data from said first and second databases;

a display screen for selectively showing said carriers assigned to said routes and showing the number of hours projected for those carriers to complete those routes over said plurality of days;

a third database that identifies said assignments and projected hours;

a fourth database that identifies budgeted work hours for said carriers; and

a display screen for selectively showing data from said third and fourth databases in a form that permits comparison of the hours projected and hours budgeted for the delivery of said articles along said routes over said plurality of days.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of days comprises a week.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of days comprise more than a week.

14. The system of claim 11, further including a component for determining which carrier has requested to work overtime.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system provides a warning prior to assigning a carrier overtime if the carrier has reached a threshold amount of overtime.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the threshold amount comprises more than a predetermined frequency of days worked overtime for a select time interval.

17. The system of claim 11, further including a component for adjusting a carrier'"'"'s route.

18. The system of claim 11, further including a component for assigning another carrier to assist on a delivery route.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to record which carrier has declined to work overtime.

20. The system of claim 11, further including a component for preparing a budget based on selective data from the first, second, third, and fourth databases.