Logistics Zone Generation for Delivery Route Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shipping carrier dispatch plans are not optimized for efficient package delivery, as they often involve multiple deliveries across different streets in various geographic areas, leading to inefficient routing and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating logistics zones based on street segment attributes, which allows for the creation of geo-fenced areas for efficient delivery or pickup routes, determining travel paths, and assigning priorities to optimize the dispatch process by grouping deliveries and pickups within these zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dispatch plans are developed based on delivery stops on individual streets, then the system can handle multiple deliveries in a particular area, but the routing becomes inefficient when deliveries are on different streets in different geographic areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the delivery area into multiple geographic zones based on street segments and their spatial relationships. Each zone is defined by specific streets and their geometric properties, allowing the system to independently optimize delivery routes within each zone rather than treating all deliveries uniformly across the entire service area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple delivery stops that are geographically proximate into a single zone, even if they are on different streets. This allows the system to combine deliveries that would traditionally be separated into different routing plans, creating more efficient consolidated routes that reduce total travel time while maintaining the ability to handle complex multi-area delivery scenarios.
2Area of stationary object
If dispatch plans designate deliveries on specified streets in different cities, then the system can cover broad geographic areas, but the routing efficiency decreases when deliveries are far apart
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by defining zones based on specific street segment characteristics and spatial relationships rather than using uniform geographic boundaries. Each zone is customized to its local geographic context, allowing the system to optimize routes within each zone while maintaining the ability to cover broad areas through multiple zones. This local customization improves delivery efficiency by creating more appropriate routing strategies for each specific geographic context.
3Loss of time
If the system aggregates delivery data to create logistics zones, then travel miles and time are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining zones based on street segment attributes and spatial relationships before actual delivery operations begin. The system analyzes geographic data and creates zone structures in advance, so that when deliveries need to be routed, the system can simply assign deliveries to pre-existing zones rather than creating routes from scratch. This preliminary zone creation reduces real-time routing complexity while still achieving the benefits of optimized, aggregated delivery routes.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for generating logistics zones. The apparatus may include at least one memory and at least one processor configured to generate logistics zones responsive to receipt of a selection of a geographic area. The logistics zones are generated based on street segment attribute data. The logistics zones include a geo-fenced right zone on a right side of corresponding street segments and a geo-fenced left zone on a left side of the street segments. The processor is also configured to determine addresses in the logistics zones based on analyzing the street segment attribute data. The processor is further configured to generate a route for delivery or pickup of packages within the logistics zones based on a trace order of the logistics zones specifying a sequential order to travel within the logistics zones responsive to determining a shortest travel path. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.