Transportation management processes and systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to transportation management processes and systems. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a method in a computer system for determining one or more routes for transporting items, including receiving multiple orders to transport items from an origination stop to a destination stop, generating one or more consolidations, and generating one or more shipments wherein each shipment includes a selected consolidation that meets at least one shipment parameter or an order. The method further includes generating one or more routes with an ordered sequence of stops wherein each route is associated with one or more shipments. The method still further includes selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters.

1 . A method in a computing system for determining one or more routes for transporting items, the method comprising:
 receiving multiple orders to transport items from an origination stop to a destination stop, each order having an associated time attribute and an associated physical attribute;   generating one or more consolidations, each consolidation including an origination stop, a destination stop, a time attribute, a physical attribute, a vehicle attribute, each consolidation being associated with two or more orders having common origination stops, common destination stops, and compatible time attributes, wherein the origination stop of each consolidation corresponds to the common origination stops of the two or more associated orders, the destination stop of each consolidation corresponds to the common destination stops of the two or more associated orders, the physical attribute of each consolidation corresponds to the physical attributes of the two or more associated orders, and the time attribute of each consolidation is compatible with the time attributes of the two or more associated orders;   generating one or more shipments wherein each shipment includes a selected consolidation that meets at least one shipment parameter or includes a single order;   generating one or more routes with an ordered sequence of stops, each route being associated with one or more shipments; and   selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying at least one of the one or more selected routes to include an additional shipment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying at least one of the one or more selected routes to include (a) an additional shipment; and   determining if the modified route meets one or more selected route criteria.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a selected consolidation meeting at least one shipment parameter includes a selected consolidation having a corresponding cost that is less than the sum of the costs corresponding to the two or more orders associated with the selected consolidation and wherein generating one or more shipments includes:
 generating a cost corresponding to each order;   generating a cost corresponding to each consolidation;   selecting each consolidation; and   determining whether the selected consolidation has a corresponding cost that is less than the sum of the costs corresponding to the two or more orders associated with the selected consolidation.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating one or more routes includes selecting one or more shipments having compatible time attributes and either compatible vehicle attributes or no vehicle attribute and forming a route having a sequence of stops associated with the origination stops and the destination stops of the selected one or more shipments, the formed route being associated with a selected vehicle attribute. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters includes:
 generating a cost associated with each of the one or more routes; and   selecting one or more routes based on the cost associated with each route.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters includes:
 generating a versatility associated with each of the one or more routes; and   selecting one or more routes based on the versatility associated with each route.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computing environment to perform a method comprising:
 receiving multiple orders to transport items from an origination stop to a destination stop, each order having an associated time attribute and an associated physical attribute;   generating one or more consolidations, each consolidation including an origination stop, a destination stop, a time attribute, a physical attribute, a vehicle attribute, each consolidation being associated with two or more orders having common origination stops, common destination stops, and compatible time attributes, wherein the origination stop of each consolidation corresponds to the common origination stops of the two or more associated orders, the destination stop of each consolidation corresponds to the common destination stops of the two or more associated orders, the physical attribute of each consolidation corresponds to the physical attributes of the two or more associated orders, and the time attribute of each consolidation is compatible with the time attributes of the two or more associated orders;   generating one or more shipments wherein each shipment includes a selected consolidation that meets at least one shipment parameter or includes a single order;   generating one or more routes with an ordered sequence of stops, each route being associated with one or more shipments; and   selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises modifying at least one of the one or more selected routes to include an additional shipment. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 modifying at least one of the one or more selected routes to include (a) an additional shipment; and   determining if the modified route meets one or more selected route criteria.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein a selected consolidation meeting at least one shipment parameter includes a selected consolidation having a corresponding cost that is less than the sum of the costs corresponding to the two or more orders associated with the selected consolidation and wherein generating one or more shipments includes:
 generating a cost corresponding to each order;   generating a cost corresponding to each consolidation;   selecting each consolidation; and   determining whether the selected consolidation has a corresponding cost that is less than the sum of the costs corresponding to the two or more orders associated with the selected consolidation.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein generating one or more routes includes selecting one or more shipments having compatible time attributes and either compatible vehicle attributes or no vehicle attribute and forming a route having a sequence of stops associated with the origination stops and the destination stops of the selected one or more shipments, the formed route being associated with a selected vehicle attribute. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters includes:
 generating a cost associated with each of the one or more routes; and   selecting one or more routes based on the cost associated with each route.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8  wherein selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters includes:
 generating a versatility associated with each of the one or more routes; and   selecting one or more routes based on the versatility associated with each route.   
     
     
         15 . A computing system for determining one or more routes for transporting items, comprising:
 an order receiving subsystem for receiving multiple orders to transport items from an origination stop to a destination stop, each order having an associated time attribute and an associated physical attribute;   a consolidation generating subsystem for generating one or more consolidations, each consolidation including an origination stop, a destination stop, a time attribute, a physical attribute, a vehicle attribute, each consolidation being associated with two or more orders having common origination stops, common destination stops, and compatible time attributes, wherein the origination stop of each consolidation corresponds to the common origination stops of the two or more associated orders, the destination stop of each consolidation corresponds to the common destination stops of the two or more associated orders, the physical attribute of each consolidation corresponds to the physical attributes of the two or more associated orders, and the time attribute of each consolidation is compatible with the time attributes of the two or more associated orders;   a shipment generating subsystem for generating one or more shipments wherein each shipment includes a selected consolidation that meets at least one shipment parameter or includes a single order;   a route generating subsystem for generating one or more routes with an ordered sequence of stops, each route being associated with one or more shipments; and   a route selection subsystem for selecting one or more routes based on one or more route parameters.   
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 15 , further comprising a route modifying subsystem for modifying at least one of the one or more selected routes to include an additional shipment. 
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 15 , further comprising a route modifying subsystem for:
 modifying at least one of the one or more selected routes to include (a) an additional shipment; and   determining if the modified route meets one or more selected route criteria.   
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein generating one or more routes includes selecting one or more shipments having compatible time attributes and either compatible vehicle attributes or no vehicle attribute and forming a route having a sequence of stops associated with the origination stops and the destination stops of the selected one or more shipments, the formed route being associated with a selected vehicle attribute.