Claims
- 1. A method for determining return delivery charges for a shipment of items, comprising:
selecting a portion of the shipment as a sample; determining a total weight of the items in the sample; determining a of the return delivery cost of all items in the sample; determining a cost factor based on the total weight and the total return delivery cost of the sample; determining a total shipment weight of the shipment; and applying the cost factor to the total shipment weight to obtain the return delivery charges for the shipment.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein cost factor is calculated based on shipments over a predetermined time period.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cost factor is updated on a periodic basis.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the portion of the shipment comprises selecting the portion at random.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample includes a predetermined minimum of items.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein sample includes all items in the shipment.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipment includes a plurality of types of items, the types including packages, priority mail, and standard parcel post mail.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the cost factor comprises dividing the total sample delivery charges by the total sample weight.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the cost factor comprises multiplying the cost factor by the total shipment weight to obtain the return delivery charges.
- 10. An apparatus for determining return delivery charges for a shipment of items, comprising:
means for selecting a portion of the shipment as a sample; means for determining a total weight of the items in the sample; means for determining a of the return delivery cost of all items in the sample; means for determining a cost factor based on the total weight and the total return delivery cost of the sample; means for determining a total shipment weight of the shipment; and means for applying the cost factor to the total shipment weight to obtain the return delivery charges for the shipment.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein cost factor is calculated based on shipments over a predetermined time period.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cost factor is updated on a periodic basis.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein selecting the portion of the shipment comprises selecting the portion at random.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sample includes a predetermined minimum of items.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein sample includes all items in the shipment.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shipment includes a plurality of types of items, the types including packages, priority mail, and standard parcel post mail.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for determining the cost factor comprises means for dividing the total sample delivery charges by the total sample weight.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for applying the cost factor comprises means for multiplying the cost factor by the total shipment weight to obtain the return delivery charges.
- 19. A computer readable medium including instructions for performing a method, when executed by a processor, for determining return delivery charges for a shipment of items, the method comprising:
selecting a portion of the shipment as a sample; determining a total weight of the items in the sample; determining a of the return delivery cost of all items in the sample; determining a cost factor based on the total weight and the total return delivery cost of the sample; determining a total shipment weight of the shipment; and applying the cost factor to the total shipment weight to obtain the return delivery charges for the shipment.
- 20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein cost factor is calculated based on shipments over a predetermined time period.
- 21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the cost factor is updated on a periodic basis.
- 22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein selecting the portion of the shipment comprises selecting the portion at random.
- 23. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the sample includes a predetermined minimum of items.
- 24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein sample includes all items in the shipment.
- 25. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the shipment includes a plurality of types of items, the types including packages, priority mail, and standard parcel post mail.
- 26. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein determining the cost factor comprises dividing the total sample delivery charges by the total sample weight.
- 27. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein applying the cost factor comprises multiplying the cost factor by the total shipment weight to obtain the return delivery charges.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
60255607 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
|
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/255,607 by Thomas M. Amonette et al., filed Dec. 15, 2000, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/17486 |
5/30/2001 |
WO |
|