135 results about "Delivery timing" patented technology

The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and / or at the specified delivery time.

A method and system for auctioning or sales of deliverable prepared food via the Internet permit customers to purchase or bid on prepared food items. A food preparation and delivery portion of the system includes a delivery vehicle, which may have a mobile kitchen for the preparation of food items en-route. The location of the delivery vehicle is determined from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the vehicle or via another location-finding mechanism. Food items with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) is displayed on a web page that provides an interface for purchase or bidding. Bidding may be made for the actual food item purchase or for a scheduled delivery time. Items may be re-auctioned, causing the delivery of a food item to be transferred to another bidder. Audio and / or visual communication with an ordering point and / or delivery vehicle may be provided in the user interface.

The invention includes a method of lubricants supply chain management including: storing in a web-accessible database a catalog of lubricants and prices-per-unit for same which prices-per-unit optionally decrease based on certain pre-determined cumulative volume purchases; upon receiving at a web server a request from a web-browser client, querying the database and serving the results of the query to the requesting web-browser client for display; serving an order form to the web-browser client which is configured to contain fields for order quantity and type for lubricants, delivery type preferences and delivery address entered in the web-browser client, and determining and displaying on the web-browser client a delivery price quote; receiving an order from the web-browser client for a specific type and quantity of lubricants and having a specific delivery type selected; electronically transmitting over a network the order to an order fulfillment agent; where the order fulfillment agent electronically transmits over a network the order to at least one lubricant blender; electronically transmitting over a network the order and the delivery information to a freight-handling agent; where the freight-handling agent inputs the information into a delivery optimization system which outputs a delivery schedule which includes the order, and electronically transmits over a network the order and the delivery information to at least one trucking company; and maintaining the status and all actions and communications for the order in a second web-accessible database.

This invention relates to a method of scheduling delivery of goods from a Logistics Company Depot (LCD) (2) to a customer having a customer communications device (3) having an associated customer account and being capable of receiving and transmitting a text message in a system comprising a scheduling computer (4) having a scheduling memory and a communications network. The geographic location of the customer communications device (3) is determined at a predetermined initial time and depending on the distance between the customer communication device and the pre-agreed delivery drop off location, a further text message either canceling or confirming the delivery is sent. Dark house calls are avoided by predicting whether a customer is likely to be present at the agreed delivery time at the location.

Restaurants register for an online food ordering system and method to have their menus presented on the online system. Registration is accomplished by payment of a fixed registration fee. A merchant account is created for each restaurant. The merchant account is associated with a unique account key that includes a local delivery indicator and direct payment receivable account information facilitating direct payment to the restaurant's account. A first server is appointed for receiving orders from customers. The first server includes a data storage device having menu items and information from each of the restaurants and each of the unique account keys associated with each restaurant. In communication with the first server are second and third servers for processing payments and transmitting orders to the restaurant for processing and fulfillment. An order confirmation means is further provided for notifying the customer upon submission of the order to the restaurant along with estimated pick-up or delivery times.

A system and method for creating and submitting for a user an electronic shopping list. The system presents to the user a meal list and a shopping list of ingredients contained in the meal list. The meals are preferably selected based on the food preferences of the user. The user accepts the meal list and the shopping list, causing an order request with the ingredients to be automatically created and submitted to a retailer. The user may alternatively decide to manually exclude certain ingredients in the list that the user has already purchased prior to accepting the shopping list. The exclusion may also be automatic based on past purchase information contained in the user's home inventory database. The retailer fulfills the order and delivers the ingredients to the user based on a pre-determined delivery time.

The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and / or at the specified delivery time.

The present invention involves a system and method that facilitate extracting data from messages for spam filtering. The extracted data can be in the form of features, which can be employed in connection with machine learning systems to build improved filters. Data associated with the subject line, timestamps, and the message body can be extracted and employed to generate one or more features. In particular, subject lines and message bodies can be examined for consecutive, repeating characters, blobs, the association or distance between such characters, blobs and non-blob portions of the message. The values or counts obtained can be broken down into one or more ranges corresponding to a degree of spaminess. Presence and type of attachments to messages, percentage of non-white-space and non-numeric characters of a message, and determining message delivery times can be used to identify spam. A time-based delta can be computed to facilitate determining the delivery time.

A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site.

To address the need for an apparatus and method for transcoding among multiple wireless protocols, the present invention provides a framework for more generalized transcoding. A voice processing resource (e.g., 105) of a transcoder (101) receives the dynamic transcoding attributes (e.g., 201–207) for a frame and then transcodes that frame according to the requirements of the transcoding attributes. These dynamic attributes may contain information such as the wireless protocol involved, the frame type, the source type, the sequence number, the delivery timing requirements, and the delivery mode of subsequent frames.

A system for integrating a packaging supply chain from a point that a digital contract proof is available through delivery of finished packaging materials to an end user, wherein said system comprises a computer system accessible for interactive communications with users, said computer system comprising a first memory area for storing functionality and data for end user members of the supply chain; a second memory area for storing functionality and data for converter members of the supply chain; and a third memory area for storing functionality and data for other members of the supply chain.

A method for managing spare parts and tools for a manufacturing enterprise is disclosed. Historical demand values are statistically analyzed to determine optimal stocking levels for spare parts based upon required availability percentages, parts lead times, and the statistical distribution parts demand levels. Parts stocking decisions can also be based upon planned and preventative maintenance timeframes with such parts ordered on an as-needed basis in accordance with lead times. Spare parts inventory management can utilize an enterprise-wide computer system to integrate parts demand planning with systems used for engineering and other changes to manufacturing processes and facility maintenance systems. The computer system can perform varying degrees of the parts reordering and planning process and automate certain steps while providing for decision of other issues by parts management personnel.

A system and method is provided that enables a carrier of a mailpiece, such as a national postal service, to track a mailpiece as it passes from the control of a first carrier to the control of another, second carrier. The tracking of the mailpiece continues until the mailpiece is delivered, by the second carrier, to its ultimate recipient. In this manner the first carrier, who had control of the mailpiece when first posted, can monitor the handling of the mailpiece and can calculate delivery times when the mailpiece was in the control of the second carrier. The method and system of the present invention will find particular application to a national postal service seeking to track delivery performance of internationally addressed express mail that is first domestically posted and then ultimately delivered in a foreign country by the postal service of the foreign country.

This disclosure relates to order fulfillment by various fulfillment sources in a fulfillment network. A fulfillment source is selected in the fulfillment network to fulfill an order before a contingency deadline. If the order is not fulfilled by the deadline, other fulfillment sources are used. Lead times for fulfillment of orders for products are adjusted for respective fulfillment sources based on their past fulfillment history.

A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site.

A system and method for providing a shipper with a carrier service based on mix and match of transit days and times for better matching of shipper's needs with carriers' services. The shipper inputs origin and destination, wherein distance is calculated between origin and destination zip codes and a zone is assigned corresponding to transit days. The shipper is then presented with options and cost to ship based on transit days. Shipper makes the decision and the computer presents the shipper with options and cost for delivery time based on the distance from carrier's facility. Shipper then makes a decision based on delivery time, and the package is routed through the appropriate network. Shipper can also make both decisions about day and time for delivery (including delivery by desired appointment window of one, two or such defined time period in minutes or hours) in one step.

The present invention concerns a device that incorporates a scanner, a display system, a key pad and an output device for managing a shopping list of consumer goods to be purchased in the near future by the user. The device includes a microprocessor having a memory that stores a list of consumer goods and information about those consumer goods. The device can receive additional product information from the user and / or the manufacturer of the device, a store, supplemental input devices or other sources. The device maintains a list of the consumer goods and will provide a display or print out of that list along with the store, price, category and aisle where the goods can be found and at what price. This enables the user to determine which store in their area offers the best price on each item, sorting the shopping list into one or more lists which are store specific and saving the consumer hundreds to thousands of dollars per year and significant comparison shopping time as a result. In exchange for providing data to the user on the products, the store obtains pending purchase data provided by cumulative users of the device. This will allow the store to project demand, receive early warning on items which would be out of stock based on this ‘imminent demand’ as compared to the store's current inventory and delivery schedule. Thus, the store can correct the inventory deficiency prior to the cumulative users coming to the store with their shopping lists. This benefits the buyer in that their desired items are less likely to be out of stock and benefits the retailer since they will not miss a sale due to out of stock items.

A method for managing spare parts and tools for a manufacturing enterprise is disclosed. Historical demand values are statistically analyzed to determine optimal stocking levels for spare parts based upon required availability percentages, parts lead times, and the statistical distribution parts demand levels. Parts stocking decisions can also be based upon planned and preventative maintenance timeframes with such parts ordered on an as-needed basis in accordance with lead times. Spare parts inventory management can utilize an enterprise-wide computer system to integrate parts demand planning with systems used for engineering and other changes to manufacturing processes and facility maintenance systems. The computer system can perform varying degrees of the parts reordering and planning process and automate certain steps while providing for decision of other issues by parts management personnel.

The invention relates to an energy consumption prediction parameter optimization method of a building energy supply device. The method comprises the following steps that: parameter data of an energy supply device in a building and parameter data which may have an effect on energy consumption of the device are collected; state changes and state change time of the device are collected; the energy consumption by the state changes is calculated; the above data are used to generated a data set, so as to establish a device prediction model; the model can predict the energy consumption and time used by the state changes of the device in different situations, so that a user is provided with an optimal dispatching plan and working order of the device; and minimum energy consumption, and shortest delivery time or completion time are achieved. Compared with the prior art, the method of the invention is capable of recording the energy consumption of the device, related influence factors, and state change information of the device, is capable of choosing the proper parameters influencing the device energy consumption according to different building characteristics, and is also capable of eliminating the influence of using improper parameters on the energy consumption prediction of the building energy supply device.

A safety stock amount calculation method includes step S8 for calculating a probability Pb that a delivery time for a certain commodity required by a customer is shorter than its lead time L, step S9 for calculating an average value LL of a difference between the lead time L and the customer's required delivery time when the lead time L exceeds the customer's required delivery time, step S10 for correcting an inventory adjustment period N by using the average value LL, and step S11 for calculating a safety stock amount SS by the equations SS=PB×k×(√{square root over ( )}N×F)×σ, wherein σ is a standard deviation of demand for the commodity, N is a corrected inventory adjustment period, Pb is a probability, F is a shipment frequency, and k is a safety coefficient.

Allocating limited manufacturing resources to achieve a feasible production plan that is consistent with customer demand is a difficult and common problem faced in many manufacturing industries. For large-scale multi-stage manufacturing systems, existing methods are typically based either on allocating limited resources sequentially, according to a priority ranked list of production starts, or linear programming based models. The output of such planning models is a production plan which specifies the quantity of each part to produce at each plant, using resources available to the enterprise. Typically there are lot-sizing rule defining the permissible production start quantities. The invention disclosed herein is a method for applying these rules to the lot-sizing of production starts within a linear program. It employs advanced heuristics that consider both established operational objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) and lot-size rules to efficiently compute a feasible production plan for the division.

The invention comprises a method for achieving consideration of preemptive priorities within a supply chain optimization model. More specifically, the invention provides a method of allocating resources to a hierarchy of demand priorities in a linear programming production planning system. In particular, the invention aggregates the demand priorities into different priority groups and allocates the resources to the highest priority group of demand priorities using a first linear programming model. Next, the invention allocates remaining resources to the next highest priority group of demand priorities using a second linear programming model. The second linear programming model uses results from the first linear programming model. The invention continues this process by iteratively repeating the process of allocating remaining resources to the remaining groups of demand priorities, in order of priority. The system and method were employed to integrate the consideration of preemptive prioritization of customer demands with an advanced planning system for optimizing established planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity) to compute a feasible production plan for the division.

Data corresponding to a new less-than-truckload shipment request can be received from a first computing device. The data can include a pickup location, a delivery location, a pickup time, and a delivery time. One or more trucks that are assigned to a current less-than-truckload shipment and are capable of executing the new less-than-truckload shipment while also completing the respective current less-than-truckload shipment can be identified from accessing a database. A message corresponding to an invitation for executing the new less-than-truckload shipment can be transmitted to one or more operator computing devices of the identified one or more trucks capable.

A system and method in which a buyer registers for a buyer's shipping account and uses the shipping account to pay shipping costs associated with purchases made over the Internet. When a buyer purchases merchandise over the Internet from either a retailer's website or from an individual through an online auction, the buyer is capable of controlling the shipping process by logging on to their buyer's shipping account. Among other things, the buyer can use their shipping account to select the desired type of shipping service (overnight air or ground) and populate a shipping label with shipping information such as delivery address, return address, and preferred delivery time windows. Once the shipping label has been populated and verified, the shipping label is electronically transferred to the seller for use in shipping the package. The system and methods of the present invention allow the buyer greater control over the shipping process. In many cases, the present invention will also help buyers / receivers control costs by eliminating the shipper's shipping and handling fee.

A system and related methods for configuring and monitoring a spraying application system for installation and use at a site that is remotely located from the spraying system manufacturing site. The system provides a configuration module that allows a customer or purchaser to configure a system electronically based on the customer's spraying needs. The selected configuration may further be linked to a pricing and inventory database module to allow the customer to order the system components, and obtain price and delivery schedules. In one embodiment, the configuration module is available to the customer via a secure web site over the Internet provided by a server accessed from a computer such as a personal computer at the customer's site. The system also provides a remote access module that provides spraying system operation and parametric information to be monitored at the manufacturing site to determine how the spraying system is operating and whether repair or maintenance should be initiated. Safety related parameters may also be monitored as a backup to the primary monitoring performed at the customer's site. The system also provides an extranet or other suitable site available, for example, via the Internet or other communication link, is used to provide an accessible database for historical data and configuration / installation information.

A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site.

An apparatus can include an external interface, a video aggregator, and a system controller. The external interface can receive multimedia content directed to a plurality of customer premises equipment. The video aggregator can multiplex the multimedia content directed to the plurality of customer premises equipment. The system controller can electronically deliver the multiplexed multimedia content, within a scheduled lead-time, in response to a subscriber request to electronically deliver the multimedia content to a particular customer premises equipment from the plurality of customer premises equipment. A subscriber content price of the multiplexed multimedia content can be based on the scheduled lead-time of electronic delivery.

A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site.