Parcel or service delivery with partially scheduled time windows
First Claim
1. A method of scheduling a delivery as an addition to a planned delivery route of a delivery vehicle, said planned delivery route including a plurality of regularly-scheduled stops and a predetermined path extending between said regularly-scheduled stops on a projected time schedule, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving, from a sender, an item and a request for delivery of said item at a selected level of service to a recipient;
(B) scanning said item to retrieve delivery information;
(C) determining whether said delivery requires departure from said planned delivery route;
(D) determining, independent of parameters of said level of service, whether one or more cost-effective time windows exist in which a cost of delivery of said item to said recipient is equal to or below a predetermined cost threshold;
(E) in response at least in part to determining (i) said delivery requires departure from said planned route and (ii) one or more of said cost-effective time windows exist, using said delivery information to automatically initiate the transmission of a message to said recipient via a communications system indicating that said recipient may schedule delivery of said item to said recipient within one of said one or more cost-effective time windows;
(F) receiving a response from said recipient including a selection of one of said cost-effective time windows; and
(G) scheduling said delivery to be made by said delivery vehicle within the selected one of said cost-effective time windows during said planned delivery route.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery scheduling system that is configured for scheduling the delivery of an item or service from a sender to an intended recipient. After receiving a signal indicating that, for example, a particular package is to be delivered to an intended recipient, the system attempts to establish interactive contact with the recipient either by direct contact with the recipient, or by leaving the recipient a message to establish direct contact with the system at a convenient time. Upon establishing contact with the recipient, the system allows the intended recipient to schedule delivery of the package. More particularly, the recipient may schedule the package to be delivered: (1) within a particular time window; (2) before or after a particular time of day; or (3) on a particular day.
170 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of scheduling a delivery as an addition to a planned delivery route of a delivery vehicle, said planned delivery route including a plurality of regularly-scheduled stops and a predetermined path extending between said regularly-scheduled stops on a projected time schedule, said method comprising the steps of:
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(A) receiving, from a sender, an item and a request for delivery of said item at a selected level of service to a recipient; (B) scanning said item to retrieve delivery information; (C) determining whether said delivery requires departure from said planned delivery route; (D) determining, independent of parameters of said level of service, whether one or more cost-effective time windows exist in which a cost of delivery of said item to said recipient is equal to or below a predetermined cost threshold; (E) in response at least in part to determining (i) said delivery requires departure from said planned route and (ii) one or more of said cost-effective time windows exist, using said delivery information to automatically initiate the transmission of a message to said recipient via a communications system indicating that said recipient may schedule delivery of said item to said recipient within one of said one or more cost-effective time windows; (F) receiving a response from said recipient including a selection of one of said cost-effective time windows; and (G) scheduling said delivery to be made by said delivery vehicle within the selected one of said cost-effective time windows during said planned delivery route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification