Scheduling delivery of products via the Internet

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for scheduling delivery of an order via a wide area network. A computer system associates a customer point value with each customer according to a customer point system. The customer point values is determined with reference to customer order data. The computer system then divides the customers into customer groups, each of which has a range of customer point values. The system determines an actual capacity allocation distribution among the customer groups based on the customer order data. The system adjusts the range of customer point values for customer groups to cause the actual capacity allocation distribution to converge to a target capacity allocation distribution.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 810,891, filed Mar. 16, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, and which claims priority to: (i) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 247,828 for “SCHEDULING DELIVERY OF PRODUCTS VIA THE INTERNET” filed on Nov. 9, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes; and (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 568,613 for “SCHEDULING DELIVERY OF PRODUCTS VIA THE INTERNET” filed on May 10, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of electronic commerce. In particular, the invention relates to a technique for selling and delivering consumer products to customers using a data network. Still more specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus by which scheduling of deliveries for products ordered through the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided by which the delivery of products ordered over the Internet may be scheduled in an effective and precise manner. The techniques described herein allow an e-commerce retailer to communicate precise available delivery windows to a customer over the Internet which reflect an accurate picture of the product and delivery resources which are actually available at the time the customer schedules the delivery. That is, when a customer indicates that scheduling of a delivery is desired, the system of the present invention computes and displays the available delivery windows to the customer which, according to a specific embodiment, are half-hour windows. The techniques of the present invention are then able to schedule the delivery window selected by the customer without compromising any previous commitments made to other customers. This is accomplished by generating the delivery window grid and scheduling the selected window with reference to available resource capacity which is reflective of the previous commitments.

[0008] Thus, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for associating a customer point value with each customer according to a customer point system. One embodiment of a computer system according to the present invention divides the customers into customer groups, each of which corresponds to a range of customer point values. Each customer is assigned to one of the customer groups according to the associated customer point value. The system determines an actual capacity allocation distribution among the customer groups with reference to the customer order data. Then, the system or the administrator of the system adjusts the range of customer point values associated with customer groups to cause the actual capacity allocation distribution to converge to a target capacity allocation distribution.

Problems solved by technology

An important challenge faced by most businesses engaging in commerce over the Internet relates to the manner in which their products actually get to consumers.

However, the downside is the potential negative effects such a model has on customer satisfaction.

That is, once an order is picked up from the retailer by the delivery service, the retailer loses control of the remainder of the transaction and runs the risk that any mistakes by the delivery service will reflect negatively on the retailer.

For example, the retailer lacks the ability to deliver products during precise delivery windows.

Rather they must rely on the delivery service which may make the customer wait around for inconveniently long periods of time.

In addition, if the customer's order is damaged or incorrect, there is no immediate recourse for the customer because the delivery service is not controlled by the retailer.

The customer must typically go through a rather cumbersome process to return the order using the same or some other third party delivery service.

This can intensify any feelings of frustration the customer might have with regard to the error.

Obviously this is undesirable from the retailer's perspective.

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