Residential Delivery System and Method

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for residential delivery. The invention also provides for a delivery-slot based delivery system.

1 . A method of delivery comprising:
 (a) establishing at least one delivery subsector adjacent to a distribution facility;   (b) planning at least one flexible delivery route in the at least one delivery subsector; and   (c) completing deliveries along the at least one flexible delivery route whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein planning the at least one flexible delivery route further comprises adjusting the at least one flexible delivery route based on number of the deliveries and an allotted time period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the allotted time period is four hours. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein completing deliveries along the at least one flexible delivery route further comprises completing deliveries along a flexible delivery route closest to the distribution facility in a direction toward the distribution facility. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein completing deliveries along the at least one flexible delivery route further comprises:
 (b) initiating deliveries along a flexible delivery route closest to the distribution facility whereby a predetermined number of delivery locations closest to the distribution facility are skipped; and   (b) continuing deliveries along the flexible delivery route closest to the distribution facility in a direction away from the distribution facility.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one flexible delivery route comprises at least two flexible delivery routes, wherein each successive flexible delivery route of the at least two flexible delivery routes is located farther from the distribution facility than any other flexible delivery route of the at least two flexible delivery routes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least two flexible delivery routes comprise three flexible delivery routes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one delivery subsector comprises at least two delivery subsectors, wherein the method further comprises completing all deliveries in one of the at least two delivery subsectors before making deliveries in any other of the at least two delivery subsectors. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein each of the at least one flexible delivery routes is generally adjacent to one of the at least one flexible delivery routes in each adjacent delivery subsector of the at least two delivery subsectors. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the deliveries in one of the at least one flexible delivery routes and the deliveries in the adjacent one of the at least one flexible delivery routes in the adjacent delivery subsector are made by one delivery vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A method of delivery comprising:
 (a) establishing at least two delivery sectors adjacent to a distribution facility, each delivery sector having at least two delivery subsectors, the at least two delivery subsectors having at least two flexible delivery routes;   (b) planning a first route of the at least two flexible delivery routes and then successively planning each additional route of the at least two flexible delivery routes wherein each additional route is planned based on each previously planned route; and   (c) completing deliveries along each of the at least two flexible delivery routes in a first of the at least two delivery subsectors concurrently whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first route is located furthermost from the distribution facility and each additional route is successively closer to the distribution facility, wherein a final additional route is located adjacent to the distribution facility. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein planning the first route and the additional routes is based in part on number of deliveries and allotted time period. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising completing deliveries at each additional subsector of the at least two delivery subsectors, wherein delivery is completed at one additional subsector prior to beginning delivery at another additional subsector. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein completing deliveries at each additional subsector further comprises completing deliveries with one delivery vehicle along adjacent flexible delivery routes in all of the at least two delivery subsectors. 
     
     
         16 . A method of delivery comprising:
 (a) distributing products from a distribution hub to a plurality of distribution facilities;   (b) establishing at least two delivery sectors adjacent to each of the plurality of distribution facilities, wherein each delivery sector has at least two delivery subsectors, wherein each of the at least two delivery subsectors has at least two flexible delivery routes;   (c) planning a first route of the at least two flexible delivery routes and then successively planning each additional route of the at least two flexible delivery routes wherein each additional route is planned based on each previously planned route; and   (d) in each of the at least two delivery sectors, completing deliveries along each of the at least two flexible delivery routes in one of the at least two delivery subsectors concurrently whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.   
     
     
         17 . A method of ordering and delivering items comprising:
 (a) allowing a customer to choose a selected recurring delivery slot from a selection of recurring delivery slots;   (b) allowing the customer to order at least one desired item;   and   (c) delivering from a distribution facility the at least one desired item to the customer during the selected recurring delivery slot.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising creating the selection of recurring delivery slots based on a flexible delivery system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the flexible delivery system comprises at least two delivery subsectors, wherein each of the at least two delivery subsectors has at least two flexible delivery routes, the at least two flexible delivery routes configured to isolate initially unassigned deliveries at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein allowing the customer to order at least one desired item further comprises allowing the customer to repeatedly order at least one desired item. 
     
     
         21 . A method of ordering and delivering items comprising:
 (a) creating at least two delivery subsectors adjacent to a distribution facility;   (b) providing at least two delivery slots for each of the at least two subsectors;   (c) allowing each of a plurality of customers in each of the at least two delivery subsectors to select a preferred delivery slot from the at least two delivery slots;   (d) allowing the plurality of customers to place a plurality of orders for desired items;   (e) planning at least two flexible delivery routes in each of the at least two delivery subsectors based on the plurality of orders;   (f) concurrently delivering, during the selected delivery slot of each of the plurality of customers, the desired items to the plurality of customers along the at least two flexible delivery routes.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein concurrently delivering the desired items further comprises concurrently delivering the desired items whereby any initially unassigned deliveries are at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein concurrently delivering the desired items to the plurality of customers along the at least two flexible delivery routes further comprises completing delivery in one of the at least two delivery subsectors before beginning delivery in another. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising allowing each of the plurality of customers to temporarily change the selected delivery slot. 
     
     
         25 . A delivery system comprising:
 (a) a distribution hub;   (b) a plurality of distribution facilities configured to receive items from the distribution hub;   (c) at least two subsectors adjacent to each of the plurality of distribution facilities; and   (d) at least two flexible delivery routes within each of the at least two subsectors, wherein the at least two flexible delivery routes are configured to allow initially unassigned deliveries only at delivery locations closest to the distribution facility.   
     
     
         26 . A network-based system for receiving an order for an item from a customer and delivering the order to the customer, the system comprising:
 (a) a server adapted to receive the order and a delivery location from the customer over the network;   (b) a distribution facility configured to allow delivery of the item to the delivery location;   (b) a server engine programmed to assign the order to one of at least two delivery routes based on the delivery location, the at least two delivery routes configured to allow initially unassigned deliveries only in close proximity with the distribution facility, wherein the server engine is configured to allow manual adjustment of the delivery route;   (f) a delivery vehicle for each of the at least two delivery routes, the delivery vehicle configured to transport the item to the customer.