The present invention relates to parcel sorting and delivery and more particularly to a parcel sorting system and method for automating manifest generation, parcel placement in racks, and latter controlled access to the parcels. The invention has use in parcel delivery and in particular to steps taken during preparation of delivery vehicles for their delivery rounds.
Parcels are delivered by public and private concerns, including national post offices like the United States Postal Service and corporate delivery services like Federal Express and DHL. Parcels arrive at a central location and are distributed to delivery vehicles which will complete the last leg of the parcels journey to the delivery address. Delivery vehicle drivers usually wait for their parcels by a conveyor belt or the like. It is the driver responsibility to note the delivery addresses of the parcels, plan a delivery route according to the addresses, and load the delivery vehicle in an ordered manner such that parcels can be later retrieved. These tasks are time consuming, tedious, stressful and prone to human error. Where an error is made with a parcel, the driver must redirect his route and/or a delay occurs in parcel delivery. As with all businesses, the pressures on the driver are passed to the delivery service which is ever mindful of balancing quality, customer service and costs while providing additional services like alternate delivery addresses—yet another consideration for the driver. Accordingly, a need exists for tools to assist the driver and delivery service with the aforementioned burdens.
It is an advantage of the present invention to relieve the driver of the burdens of sorting and loading parcels as well as generating a manifest and planning a delivery route. It is a further advantage to free up the driver's preparation time so that more time is available for deliveries and customer service. It is a further advantage to provide the delivery service with a delivery preparation scheme having reduced error while mindful of alternative delivery services. These and other advantages are realized by a system and method for automatically sorting parcels as they are loaded onto delivery trucks, generating and updating parcel manifests, and optimizing delivery routes. In operation, an identifier or parcel information, such an identification (ID) code and/or delivery address, is read off of a parcel by scanning as the parcel is conveyed to a loading rack. The parcel is sequentially loaded into a sequential position within the rack. Once a rack is full, or no more parcels are present for delivery, the rack is loaded onto a delivery vehicle. Parcel identifiers or information is matched to a sorting code. The resulting match (or assignment) list is then stored in at least one database. The sorting code is a unique code identifying a unique delivery address. Consideration is also given to preexisting arrangements present for the parcel's delivery—such as an alternate address which is substituted into the parcel data. A search is performed of the match list for delivery addresses along a particular delivery route. A hit list is generated which is then sorted, e.g. by routing software, to an order consistent with a time optimized delivery route. A manifest is then generated with the sorted hit list and other information.
The advantages are further realized by a method of sorting parcels, comprising the steps of: decoding a parcel identifier; matching said identifier to a sort code, said sort code uniquely associated with a delivery address; loading said parcel into a rack space; repeating said steps of decoding, matching loading for a plurality of parcels; generating a first list comprising identifiers matched to sort codes; generating a second list comprising parcel sequence and rack space; merging said first and second list to form a third list; cross checking said third list with a fourth list for possible matches therebetween; and generating a fifth list comprising said possible matches.
The advantages are still further realized by a system for automating parcel sorting, comprising: a scanner for decoding a plurality of parcels identifiers in a first sequence; computer means comprising: a first interface for receiving decoded identifiers; matching means for matching decoded identifiers with sort codes; compiling means for generating a first list of said matching; a second interface for receiving a second list comprising said first sequence; merging means for merging said first list and said second list; a second interface for receiving a third list, said third list comprising a plurality of identifiers; and comparing means for comparing said third list and said second list and generating a fourth list of matches; and computer input means in communication with said second interface, said computer input means generating said third list.
These and other advantages will become clear from the following detailed description and appended claims. The invention will be described in accordance with the following figures wherein like numerals refer to like parts.
The present invention is directed to a parcel dispatch manager system and manager (PDM). The PDM may comprise a computer having a processor, memory, input and output means. Computer may incorporate a client-server arrangement. Software, operating on the computer causes the relevant method steps below to take place. The software is not limited to a particular language or algorithm but for execution of the method below. Accordingly, the software can be generated by one skilled in the art. Likewise, the hardware and computer configuration is a matter of design choice.
An attempt is then made to obtain the address from the scan of the parcel 132. A determination is made whether the address was successfully read by the scan 136. If the scan was successful (138) the method continues to step 140 wherein the ID code and address are stored in at least one database. If the address scan was not successfully read 142, the scan is repeated with the videocoding device 144. A determination is again made whether the scan successfully read the address 146. If the scan was successful (148 ) the method continues to step 140. Where the scan, via the videocoding device, was unsuccessful (150) the parcel address is manually read 152. A determination is made whether the address is manually readable 154. If the read was successful, the method continues to step 140. If the address is not readable 156, the parcel is set aside for further processing 158. Such processing may include sending the parcel back to the sender or customer, disposal, and the like. The method then returns 160 to step 102. Where the address is readable via manual inspection (162), the method continues to step 140. The ID code and parcel address may be stored in the same or different databases located locally or remotely as a matter of design choice.
A search is conducted of a storage medium containing service agreements and other understandings effected between customer and delivery service 164. The storage medium may be the at least one database. The search is part of a determination of whether the service agreement or understanding (if present) includes an alternate delivery address associated with the parcel or destination address 166. The alternate delivery address may also be effected by the recipient at the delivery address, as may occur from a vacation or relocation. Such alternate delivery addresses may include other delivery locations, holding the parcel at franchise, lock box, local post office or delivery service, etc. Where it is determined that an alternate delivery address is present 168, the alternate delivery address is substituted for the delivery address 170 at the stored location effected during step 140. Where no alternate delivery address is found 172, a matching of the parcel address to a sort code is made 174. Sort codes are unique codes that identify a unique destination. ID Codes are then matched to the sort codes 176 by methods known in the art. The sequence from which the parcels were scanned is also matched to the sort codes 178. The parcels are loaded, manually or automatically, onto a mobile rack, in the sequence of receipt and scan 180. The lists of matches (or assignments) are stored in the at least one database separately or complied into one formal list and stored in a single (or with backup) location 182.
A determination is made whether the mobile rack is full 184. If the rack is full 186, the rack is loaded onto the delivery truck and a new rack is introduced to receive parcels 188. And the method continues to step 190. If the rack is not full 192, the method continues to step 190, wherein, a determination is made whether there are other parcels to be delivered along the route of the delivery vehicle. If other parcels are present 194, the method returns to step 102 and the next parcel is scanned. If there are no more parcels to be scanned 196, the at least one database will now contain a list of all of the scanned parcels sorted by sort code. The at least one database is now queried for a list of all parcels matching select sort codes (or delivery addresses 0, the select sort codes being along a particular delivery route 198. A hit list is generated and sorted and produced in a manifest with the aid of routing software 200. The hit list may be ordered such that the driver's stops are minimized along a select route. The routing software is known in the art. The hit list will contain at least a rack location, delivery address and order of delivery (50,
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
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20040118907 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |