GB2364800A

GB2364800A - Delivery vehicle route planning and GPS navigation

Info

Publication number: GB2364800A
Application number: GB0017233A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael William Berry Curran
Original assignee: Fujitsu Services Ltd
Current assignee: Fujitsu Services Ltd
Priority date: 2000-07-14
Filing date: 2000-07-14
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: GB0017233D0

Abstract

An electronic retailing method enables customers to order goods over the Internet, for delivery to specified delivery addresses. After the customers have placed their orders, a computer is operated to plan a route for a delivery vehicle, using the map references of the delivery locations. The route is then downloaded from the computer into a portable Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The portable GPS receiver is deployed in the delivery vehicle to help direct the driver of the delivery vehicle to the delivery addresses. Optionally, the GPS receiver may also be used to transmit the current location of the delivery vehicle back to a base station, enabling the locations of a number of delivery vehicles to be tracked at the base station.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> ELECTRONIC RETAILING SYSTEM AND METHOD Background to the Invention Several retailers currently offer a service to customers, in which customers can select and order goods such as groceries over the Internet, and these goods are then delivered to a specified address, such as the customer's home address. In many cases it is desirable that the goods should be delivered within an agreed time slot, so that the customer can arrange to be present to receive the goods. However, the driver of the delivery vehicle frequently has difficulty locating the delivery addresses, resulting in late deliveries. The object of the present invention is to provide a way of solving or alleviating this problem. In particular, the invention seeks to: # Improve delivery consistency, ensuring that the delivery arrives within the predicted time window, thereby increasing customer satisfaction. # Improve delivery efficiency, allowing the delivery vehicles to make more trips per day. This provides cost savings and creates expansion capability. # Reduce stress on drivers, thereby leading to better customer image and lower staff turnover. Summary of the Invention According to the invention, an electronic retailing method comprises: # enabling a number of customers to order goods electronically (e.g. over the Internet), for delivery to specified delivery addresses: # operating a computer to plan a route for a delivery vehicle

# downloading the route from the computer into a portable Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and # deploying the portable GPS receiver in the delivery vehicle to assist the driver of the delivery vehicle in locating the delivery addresses. Optionally, the GPS receiver may also be used to transmit the current location of the delivery vehicle back to a base station, thereby enabling the locations of a number of delivery vehicles to be tracked at the base station. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic retailing system. Figure 2 is a flow chart showing operation of the system. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing tracking of delivery vehicles. Description of an Embodiment of the Invention One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a retailer's computer system 10, which is arranged to receive orders from a number of customers 11 by way of the Internet 12. The customers access the Internet by any convenient means, such personal computers (PCs) running conventional web browser software. The orders are stored in a database 13.

The system also includes a customer database 14. This stores details of all customers who have enrolled for the service. These details include the customer's name and delivery address,

including postal code. When enrolling, the customer is also requested to supply the map reference (eg, National Grid Reference or Logitude/Latitude) of the delivery address, if they know it. If the map reference is not supplied by the customer, the system runs a conversion program which automatically converts the delivery address postal code into the corresponding map reference. The system also includes a number of portable GPS receivers 15, which can be linked to the computer 10 by way of a COM port to allow data to be downloaded. The receivers 15 have a map facility that allows road maps of the delivery area to be downloaded into them. The receivers are dashboard-mountable, so that they can be used in delivery vehicles. The receivers may, for example, be similar to the Garmin GPS3 plus, or Garmin eMap receivers. Figure 2 shows the operation of the system. At step 20, the system receives an order from a customer. The customer selects the required goods, and specifies a desired delivery time slot. At step 21, the system generates an order list, listing the selected goods. This list may be printed out on paper, or may be downloaded to a handheld device, for use by the retailer's staff in assembling the customer's order. Steps 20-21 may be repeated for a number of different customers, so as to collect a number of orders. At step 22, the system runs a routing program which schedules the deliveries and generates routes for one or more delivery vehicles. This program uses the map reference and requested delivery time slot of each order. The routing program generates the necessary delivery documentation for use by the delivery vehicle drivers. These are printed out at step 23.

The routing program also generates a "routes" file and a "waypoints" file. At step 24 these are downloaded to the GPS receivers 15. This requires an interfacing software routine to communicate with the GPS receiver. The interfacing routine may be specifically designed or use one of the standard routines available. The GPS receivers are passed to the delivery vehicle drivers, along with the delivery documentation. The drivers can then collect the required goods for delivery. During the delivery, the GPS receivers display maps showing the drivers where they are, and how to get to the next delivery location. Figure 3 shows a GPS receiver 15 mounted in a delivery vehicle 30. The receiver is connected to a modem 31 which interfaces the GPS receiver to a radio system or mobile phone 32. Using this interface, the receiver is arranged to transmit its current location back to a base station 33 at regular intervals (e.g. every few minutes). The base station 33 includes a personal computer (PC) running WinAPRS or GPSS software products, which enables it to receive messages from all the retailer's delivery vehicles, and to display the locations of the vehicles on the PC screen. This enables the retailer to track the location of all the vehicles. It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the system described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electronic retailing method comprising: # enabling a number of customers to order goods electronically, for delivery to specified delivery addresses; # operating a computer to plan a route for a delivery vehicle; # downloading the route from the computer into a portable Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and # deploying the portable GPS receiver in the delivery vehicle to assist the driver of the delivery vehicle in locating the delivery addresses.
2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the GPS receiver is used to transmit the current location of the delivery vehicle back to a base station, thereby enabling the locations of a number of delivery vehicles to be tracked at the base station.
3. A method according to either preceding claim including storing a map reference for each delivery address, and using the stored reference in planning the route.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, including the step of deriving the map references of delivery addresses from the postal codes of the delivery addresses or via an interactive map to determine the delivery address
5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the GPS receiver displays a map and route showing the driver of the delivery vehicle how to get to the next delivery location.
6. A method or system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.