Automated Package Reshipment Scheduling via Delivery Wave Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current order processing systems are inefficient in tracking individual packages from order placement to fulfillment, leading to issues like lost or delayed packages, human errors, and unnecessary expenses due to the inability to accurately monitor and manage package delivery and reshipment processes.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system for automated reshipment scheduling that receives aggregated information, parses event data to determine undelivered packages, and schedules new delivery times based on cutoff times and current delivery waves, creating new orders and transmitting instructions for mobile delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual tracking and monitoring of packages is used, then system complexity is reduced, but tracking precision and delivery reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated computerized tracking system that uses electronic data processing, algorithms, and communication networks to monitor package status, location, and delivery timing, thereby achieving precise tracking without proportional increases in operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service through automated package monitoring where the computerized system automatically tracks packages, detects delivery status, identifies undelivered packages, and triggers reshipment actions without requiring continuous manual intervention, thus improving tracking precision while maintaining manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If automated package tracking system is implemented, then delivery reliability improves, but operating expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery reliabilityVSAvoidoperating expenses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial automation by focusing tracking and reshipment actions only on packages that are actually undelivered or delayed, rather than continuously monitoring and acting on all packages, thus improving delivery reliability for problem packages while minimizing unnecessary operating expenses on successfully delivered packages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where tracking data is continuously analyzed to provide information about package status, enabling the system to automatically adjust reshipment decisions based on actual delivery outcomes, thereby improving reliability while optimizing resource allocation to reduce operating expenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If proactive reshipment scheduling is implemented, then productivity improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder fulfillment productivityVSAvoidreshipment system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively scheduling reshipments before customers notice delivery failures, using automated detection of undelivered packages and pre-computation of optimal reshipment timing and routing, thus improving order fulfillment productivity while containing system complexity through algorithmic automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The computerized system serves multiple functions including tracking, monitoring, detecting undelivered packages, scheduling reshipments, and communicating with customers, all within a single integrated platform, thereby improving overall productivity without proportionally increasing system complexity through functional consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of information

If continuous package monitoring is performed, then information accuracy improves, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackage status information accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs periodic monitoring and status checks at strategically determined intervals rather than continuous monitoring, using algorithms to assess package status at key checkpoints in the delivery process, thereby maintaining accurate package status information while minimizing time loss through efficient periodic assessment rather than constant monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11810045B2Systems and methods for automatic package reordering using delivery wave systems

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 COUPANG CORP

AI summary

Methods and systems for automatic package tracking and prioritized reordering include receiving, through a network interface, information relating to an order, a first package identifier associated with a first package, and event data associated with a plurality of package identifiers that include the first package identifier, the order comprising a first group of items, where the first package is configured to hold the first group of items and is to be delivered to a first recipient within a first predetermined period of time through one or more existing routes; parsing the event data based on the first package identifier; determining whether the first package exists based on the information; and transmitting a signal to a computer system to deliver the first package or to reorder the first package based on the determinations.