System and method for controlling the transport of articles

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the transport of articles comprises in one embodiment one or more communication devices for receiving and transmitting data, at least one primary server in communication with the primary server for allocating couriers for the collection and delivery of articles, a program for controlling the server, and at least one remote interface for placing orders for the collection and delivery of the articles, wherein the program, upon the execution of an order, compares stored historical travel times from one geographic location to another with actual travel times from one geographic location to another to thereby provide updated estimates for the collection time and delivery time of articles provided in subsequent orders.

1 . A method of controlling the transport of articles, said method comprising the steps of:
 collecting one or more orders for delivery of one or more articles, the orders comprising an origin and a destination of the articles to be delivered;   selecting a suitable courier based upon a plurality of variables, the selection accomplished by at least one server having a program for selecting couriers based on a plurality of variables such that said program, upon the execution of an initial order and then a subsequent order, dynamically and automatically organizes routes and dynamically and automatically reroutes allocated couriers for the collection and delivery of said one or more articles; and   performing the delivery of said one or more articles.   
     
     
         2 . A controlling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of collecting comprises receiving an order from a remote location over a network. 
     
     
         3 . The controlling method according to  claim 2 , wherein the order is transmitted from a remote interface to the server. 
     
     
         4 . The controlling method according to  claim 2 , wherein the order is transmitted from a telephone over the public switched telephone network to a central processing facility for placement into the server. 
     
     
         5 . The controlling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting a suitable courier comprises identifying the geographical locations of one or more communication devices in possession of one or more couriers;
 wherein the communication devices are in communication with the server.   
     
     
         6 . The controlling method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of selecting a suitable courier further comprises communicating the geographical locations of the communication devices to the server. 
     
     
         7 . The controlling method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of performing the delivery of the articles comprises exchanging one or more messages between the communication devices and the server, the messages being related to an order placed by a customer. 
     
     
         8 . The controlling method according to  claim 7 , wherein a first of the one or more messages comprises an offer of the order for acceptance by a courier. 
     
     
         9 . The controlling method according to  claim 8 , wherein the first message is communicated from the server to the communication device in possession of the selected courier. 
     
     
         10 . The controlling method according to  claim 7 , wherein a second of the one or more messages comprises an acceptance or a rejection by the selected courier of the offer of the order. 
     
     
         11 . The controlling method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second message is communicated from the communication device in possession of the selected courier to the server. 
     
     
         12 . The controlling method according to  claim 7 , wherein a third of the one or more messages comprises order information necessary for the collection and delivery of the article. 
     
     
         13 . The controlling method according to  claim 12 , wherein the third message is communicated from the server to the communication device in possession of the selected courier. 
     
     
         14 . The controlling method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 collecting the article to be delivered; and   exchanging one or more messages between the communication devices and the server, the messages being related to the collection of an article.   
     
     
         15 . The controlling method according to  claim 14 , wherein a first of the one or more messages comprises the time and date of collection of the article to be delivered. 
     
     
         16 . The controlling method according to  claim 15 , wherein the first message is communicated from the communication device in possession of the selected courier to the server. 
     
     
         17 . The controlling method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 delivering the article; and   exchanging one or more messages between the communication devices and the server, the messages being related to the delivery of an article.   
     
     
         18 . The controlling method according to  claim 17 , wherein a first of the one or more messages comprises the time and date of delivery of the article. 
     
     
         19 . The controlling method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first message is communicated from the communication device in possession of the selected courier to the server. 
     
     
         20 . The controlling method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of repositioning couriers to account for an increase in the number of orders in a particular geographic location.