LOGISTICS SYSTEM FOR OPTIMISING DELIVERY TIMES

Abstract

A logistics system optimizes delivery times of shipments to a plurality of recipients or pick-up and/or return times of shipments from a plurality of recipients. The system includes a main server and at least one service provider client. The main server has a calendar database in which calendar entries representing an availability and/or unavailability of the recipients at their recipient address for at least one period of time are stored. The service provider client communicates with the main server and triggers a query of the calendar entries in the calendar database for a predefined recipient of the plurality of recipients. The main server comprises a query controller for querying the calendar database. The query controller handles query requests from the service provider client for a predefined recipient. When a query request is made by the service provider client for a particular time or a particular period of time, the query controller informs the service provider client, in response, whether the predefined recipient is available or unavailable at the recipient address at the particular time or period of time, based on the calendar entries.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A logistics system for optimizing delivery times of shipments to a plurality of recipients or pick-up and/or return times of shipments from a plurality of recipients with different or identical recipient addresses, the system comprising: a main server; and at least one service provider client, wherein the main server comprises a calendar database in which calendar entries representing an availability and/or unavailability of the recipients at their recipient address for at least one period of time are stored for a plurality of recipients, wherein the service provider client is adapted such that the service provider client communicates with the main server and triggers a query of the calendar entries in the calendar database for a predefined recipient of the plurality of recipients.

14. The logistics system according to claim 13, wherein the main server comprises a query controller for querying the calendar database that handles query requests from the service provider client for a predefined recipient, wherein, when a query request is received from the service provider client for a particular time or time interval, the query controller notifies the service provider client as a response based on the calendar entries whether the predefined recipient is available or unavailable at the recipient address at the particular time or time interval.

15. The logistics system according to claim 14, wherein the main server comprises a substitute database in which recipient addresses of substitutes are stored for the plurality of recipients.

16. The logistics system according to claim 15, wherein, when a query request is made by the service provider client for a particular time or a particular period of time, the query controller, as a response based on the calendar entries, either notifies the service provider client that the predefined recipient is available at the recipient address at the particular time or time interval or notifies the recipient address of a substitute.

17. The logistics system according to claim 15, wherein calendar entries are stored in the calendar database for at least one substitute, which calendar entries represent an availability and/or unavailability of the at least one substitute at its recipient address for at least one time interval.

18. The logistics system according to claim 17, wherein, when a query request is made by the service provider client for a particular time or a particular period of time, the query controller, as a response based on the calendar entries, communicates either i) that the predefined recipient is available at the recipient address at the particular time or time interval, ii) that a substitute is available at the recipient address thereof or iii) that neither the predefined recipient nor any of the representatives is available at the particular time or time interval.

19. The logistics system according to claim 18, wherein the query controller, in case that more than one substitute is available at the particular time or time interval, notifies that substitute and his or her recipient address, with which the time interval following the particular time or time interval at which both the representative and the predefined recipient are available is closest to the particular time or time interval.

20. The logistics system according to claim 13, wherein the main server has a recipient interface that is designed such that either a plurality of recipients can make calendar entries or synchronization with electronic calendars of the recipients can take place.

21. The logistics system according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of service provider clients are provided, and wherein one service provider client is arranged on each delivery vehicle.

22. The logistics system according to claim 13, wherein the service provider client and the main server are designed to allow an intended delivery time or an intended delivery time interval to be entered into the calendar database, wherein, when the service provider client has been notified of the availability of the recipient in response to a query of a time interval or a time, the entry of the queried time interval or the queried time into the calendar database is per-formed automatically by the query controller.

23. The logistics system according to claim 22, wherein the main server has a recipient interface, via which a recipient can request scheduled delivery intervals or times from the calendar database with the substitutes entered for such recipient.

24. The logistics system according to claim 13, wherein the main server has an information database in which delivery information is stored for a plurality of recipients, wherein the service provider client is designed to query the delivery information for the predefined recipient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a logistics system.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of calendar entries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the logistics system in accordance with the disclosure. The system has a main server 1 that can be connected to a series of recipients 2, 3, 4. Furthermore, a series of parcel services 5, 6, 7, a series of delivery agents 8, 9, 10, and a series of shippers, such as online stores, 11, 12, 13 may connect to the main server 1. The parcel recipients 2, 3, 4 can make a purchase from the online stores 11, 12, 13 as shown by means of the arrow 14. The order can either be placed directly with the mail order vendors or processed through the main server 1. As soon as the online stores have received the corresponding order, they will package the goods and transmit a corresponding transport order 15 to the parcel service 5, 6, 7. The responsible parcel service can schedule the individual delivery routes by connecting to the main server 1 with the aid of a service provider client and carrying out a calendar database query there. The parcel recipients 2, 3, 4 have already entered their availabilities in the corresponding calendar that is stored in the calendar database of the main server 1. The described connection can also be passive, i.e. without an active connection by the service provider client. For example, the service provider client can send an e-mail to the main server, which reads or parses, as the case may be, the e-mail and then initiates a calendar data request.

[0061] Even if the parcel service is not willing to use a service provider client, the logistics system in accordance with the disclosure can be used. For example, in one embodiment, the mail order vendors may initiate a database query via a service provider client and use the corresponding response from the main server when commissioning the parcel service.

[0062] A corresponding calendar of a recipient is shown schematically in FIG. 2. One can see there that, for each day and time, there is an availability, represented by a house symbol, an unavailability, represented by a crossed-out house symbol, along with an availability at another address, such as a workplace address A or a friend B. If the recipient is not available either at his or her recipient address or at his or her alternative recipient address, specifically the address of his or her workplace or his or her friend, to which substitute the delivery can be made instead is noted in a substitute database. In doing so, there can also be a corresponding calendar for each substitute.

[0063] The parcel service can now request a particular delivery interval in which it plans to deliver the goods. As a response to the query of the time interval for the queried time interval, the query controller of the main server 1 outputs the information as to whether the recipient is at home, whether he or she is at his or her workplace, whether he or she is not available or whether a substitute with a substitute address is available.

[0064] With such information, the parcel service 5, 6, 7 can optimize the route scheduling. If the shipment is assigned to a different route, it may be necessary to query a different delivery interval again.

[0065] As soon as an availability has been communicated to the service provider client, the delivery date is fixed and entered into the calendar database by the main server 1, such that the recipient is informed or can inform himself or herself about the scheduled delivery. For example, the main server can send a message to the recipient, for example via a messenger, in order to inform him or her of the scheduled delivery.

[0066] The delivery order 16 is then transmitted by the parcel service 5, 6, 7 to a delivery agent 8, 9, 10, which loads all the shipments scheduled for the scheduled route into the delivery vehicle and departs on the scheduled route. Shortly before manually delivering the shipment, i.e., unloading the shipment from the delivery vehicle, the delivery agent 8, 9, 10 can use the service provider client, which can also be provided on the delivery vehicle, to query the calendar of the recipient or the intended substitute again in order to ensure that availability is still guaranteed. If the calendar entry has been updated in the meantime or the scheduled delivery has been delayed, the current availability information can be queried again, such that the time-consuming unloading and reloading of the shipment after an unnecessary delivery attempt can be dispensed with if necessary. The main server could automatically transmit a corresponding message to the logistics service provider client in cases where an update of the calendar data reveals that a recipient is no longer available at a scheduled delivery time.

[0067] When the delivery agent performs a query, it is usually not a time interval, but a time, that is queried. If the recipient is available according to the calendar entry, this is communicated to the delivery agent. In addition, the recipient can be informed that delivery is imminent. If necessary, additional delivery information, such as the telephone number of the recipient, a selected drop-off location (for example, the patio) or driving instructions to the front door of the recipient, can be transmitted to the delivery agent in order to expedite delivery. If, contrary to expectations, the recipient is not present according to the updated calendar entry, the shipment can be delivered to a substitute, if a substitute has been appointed in the immediate vicinity. Otherwise, the delivery process can be aborted and the recipient can be notified digitally that the delivery attempt was unfortunately not successful. As such, the delivery agent does not even have to drop the usual notification card in the mailbox of the recipient; rather, the delivery agent informs the recipient electronically via the main server that the delivery process was not successful.

[0068] The advantages of this aspect of the logistics system become particularly clear in the example of a parcel service that is to deliver a plurality of parcels, for example four parcels, in one and the same high-rise building. Here, the procedure could be as follows: First, the delivery agent drives to the corresponding high-rise building. He or she then uses a smartphone app to scan the four parcels to be delivered in such high-rise building.

[0069] Assume that the recipient of the first parcel is present according to the calendar database entry and is currently online. The scanning process results in a calendar database query and the recipient of the first parcel is informed, for example via a messenger, by the main server that the parcel delivery is imminent.

[0070] Assuming that the recipient of the second parcel is not present, and that his or her designated substitute is a neighbor and is present. In this case, the delivery agent receives a notification that the parcel must be left with the neighbor and the neighbor receives information, for example via a messenger, that a parcel delivery is imminent.

[0071] Assuming that the recipient of the third parcel is absent and that no substitute is designated or available. In this case, a notification, which can be sent by e-mail for example, can be generated automatically during scanning, in which the recipient is informed that the delivery attempt has failed and where and when the parcel can be picked up. Such notification can be sent automatically. Alternatively, the notification could be sent only after a certain time interval, such as after 30 minutes, such that the delivery agent has the opportunity to attempt delivery of the third parcel on site with the recipients he or she visits in any event in order to drop off one of the parcels. If such a delivery is not possible to a neighbor not designated as a substitute, the delivery agent can come a second time, wherein the message for this can likewise be generated and sent automatically. If this is not possible, the original message will then be sent.

[0072] Assuming that the recipient of the fourth parcel is present according to the calendar database entry but is currently offline. In this case, the service provider client could establish a voice connection via the main server, for example via the telephone line, to the recipient of the fourth parcel, in order to inform him or her that the parcel delivery is imminent.

[0073] On the basis of the additional information available about the individual recipients of the first, second and fourth parcels, the main server can send an optimized route within the high-rise building to the delivery agent. For example, the route could first direct the delivery agent to the ninth floor in order to deliver the second parcel there. Possibly existing additional information, such as “after exit left, apartment no. 906” can be provided as an addition. After that, the delivery agent could be directed to the fourth floor to deliver the fourth parcel. At the end, the delivery agent could then be used to deliver the first parcel to the third floor. If the delivery agent decides to take the third parcel, he or she could ask the recipients of the second, fourth and first parcels one after the other to accept the shipment.

[0074] In this case, the recipients are always contacted via the main server, such that it is not necessary to provide the relevant contact information, such as telephone number or e-mail address, to the delivery agent.

[0075] The recipient and his or her designated substitutes together form a group, which can also be used to pick up returns. If a shipment is to be returned, the recipient can connect to the main server and note the return shipment request. The main server then outputs, for example, the information for which substitute a delivery is scheduled, such that the recipient can deposit the return shipment there. If multiple substitutes are scheduled for delivery, the main server can name the substitute that is located closest to the recipient address.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0076] 1 Main server [0077] 2, 3, 4 Recipient [0078] 5, 6, 7 Parcel service [0079] 8, 9, 10 Delivery agent [0080] 11, 12, 13 Shippers, such as online stores [0081] 14 Purchase [0082] 15 Transport order [0083] 16 Delivery order [0084] 17 Delivery to the recipient