Systems and methods for scheduling reoccurring deliveries and pickups
View Patent ↗An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.
1. A computer-readable storage medium for scheduling delivery vehicle visits by a delivery service to a customer, said computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:
(1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible for said delivery service to make a delivery vehicle visit to said customer on a particular day;
(2) allowing a user to request that said delivery service make a first delivery vehicle visit to said customer within said time window on said particular day;
(3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of delivery vehicle visits that includes said first delivery vehicle visit and one or more additional requested delivery vehicle visits, each delivery vehicle visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window;
(4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits;
(5) scheduling said first delivery vehicle visit;
(6) using a carrier's first set of scheduling information to determine whether it is possible for said delivery service to make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;
(7) in response to determining that, based on said carrier's first set of scheduling information, it is possible for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, tentatively scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;
(8) at a designated time prior to the date for which said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to occur, using a carrier's second set of scheduling information to determine whether the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits exceeds a predetermined threshold;
(9) in response to determining that the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits exceeds a predetermined threshold,
presenting said user with one or more alternative time windows for which the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits does not exceed said predetermined threshold and
allowing said user to firmly schedule one of said one or more alternative time windows; and
(10) in response to determining that, based on said carrier's second set of scheduling information, the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits does not exceed said predetermined threshold, firmly scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.
2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing said steps (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) in real time.
3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits within a single display window.
4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits by defining a periodic relationship between each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits and said first delivery vehicle visit.
5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein, according to said periodic relationship, the individual delivery vehicle visits within said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits are to be made on a weekly basis.
6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein each of said delivery vehicle visits is a pickup.
7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein:
said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;
said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and
said first delivery includes a first set of items.
8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during at least one of said additional requested deliveries.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during each of said additional requested deliveries.
10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said first set of items includes all of the items delivered during said first delivery.
11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein:
said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;
said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and
said first delivery includes a first set of items.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said first and second sets of scheduling information include information regarding one or more previously scheduled series of delivery vehicle visits.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein said second set of information further includes information regarding:
(1) previously scheduled one-time delivery vehicle visits; and
(2) the days on which said delivery service will not make delivery vehicle visits.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said step of presenting said user with one or more alternative time windows for which the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits does not exceed said predetermined threshold comprises automatically sending an e-mail message to said user.
15. The computer-readable stoarge medium of claim 1 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for performing a step of allowing said user to electronically select one of said one or more alternative time windows.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to select one of said one or more alternative time windows by e-mail.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing said user to use a web site to select one of said one or more alternative time windows.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein:
said step of using a carrier's first set of scheduling information to determine whether it is possible for said delivery service can to make each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is a first scheduling step;
said step of using said carrier's second set of scheduling information to determine whether the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said tentatively scheduled additional delivery vehicle visits exceeds a predetermined threshold is a second scheduling step; and
said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for executing said first scheduling step at least a day before executing said second scheduling step.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for:
executing said first scheduling step on the same day that said user specifies that the user wishes to schedule said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits; and
executing said second scheduling step as part of a periodic scheduling job.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein said computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions for executing a periodic scheduling job that is configured for executing the steps of:
determining whether any of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are tentatively scheduled to be made within a particular date range; and
at a designated time prior to the date for which said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled, in response to determining that at least one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to be made within said particular date range, executing said second scheduling step.
21. A system for scheduling delivery vehicle visits by a delivery service to a customer, said system comprising:
a central processing unit; and
a memory coupled to said central processing unit;
said central processing unit being configured for:
(1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible for said delivery service to make a delivery vehicle visit to said customer on a particular day;
(2) allowing a user to request that said delivery service make a first delivery vehicle visit to said customer within said time window on said particular day;
(3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of delivery vehicle visits that includes said first delivery vehicle visit and one or more additional requested delivery vehicle visits, each delivery vehicle visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window;
(4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits;
(5) using a carrier's first set of scheduling information to determine whether it is possible for said delivery service to make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;
(6) scheduling said first delivery vehicle visit;
(7) in response to determining that, based on said carrier's first set of scheduling information, it is possible for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, tentatively scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits;
(8) at a designated time prior to the date for which said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled, using a carrier's second set of scheduling information to determine whether it is economically desirable for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; and
(9) in response to determining that, based on said carrier's second set of scheduling information, it is not economically desirable for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits,
presenting said user with one or more alternative time windows, wherein it is both possible and economically desirable for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits during said one or more alternative time windows, and
allowing said user to firmly schedule one of said one or more alternative time windows.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said central processing unit is configured for performing said Steps (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in real time.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein said central processing unit is configured for allowing said user to define said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits by defining a periodic relationship between each of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits and said first delivery vehicle visit.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein each of said delivery vehicle visits is a pickup.
25. The system of claim 21 , wherein:
said first delivery vehicle visit is a first delivery;
said additional requested delivery vehicle visits are additional requested deliveries; and
said first delivery includes a first set of items.
26. The system of claim 25 , wherein:
said first set of items includes substantially all of the items delivered during said first delivery; and
said central processing unit is configured for automatically specifying that said first set of items should also be delivered during at least one of said additional requested deliveries.