Viewing, modifying, and/or creating routes

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for creating, modifying, and viewing geographic areas and their corresponding routes and items of work. For example, an interface can be provided with a map display area and a route display area. The map display area and the route display area can be synchronized to create new routes, modify existing routes, and/or view information about various routes and/or items of work.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving input identifying a geographic area in which to create a new route to deliver or pickup one or more items of one or more shipments;   causing display, via an interface comprising a map display area and a route display area, of at least a portion of the geographic area as a digital map via the map display area of the interface, wherein the digital map comprises a plurality of service points represented on the digital map with each of the plurality of service points corresponding to a location to which the one or more items are requested to be delivered to or picked up from in a carrier's transportation and logistics network, and wherein the route display area is configured to display a representation of the plurality of service points;   receiving input indicating a selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points within the map display area or the route display area; and   in response to the receiving of the input indicating the selection of the at least one service point in the map display area or the route display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the map display area or the route display area such that the map display area and the route display area are synchronized, wherein the automatically causing selection occurs for whichever of the map display area or the route display area that was not selected at the receiving of the input indicating the selection of the at least one service point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points occurs within the map display area, and wherein in response to the receiving of the input within the map display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the route display area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input indicating the selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points occurs within the route display area, and wherein in response to the receiving of the input within the route display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the map display area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital map includes the plurality of service points that are assigned to the new route, and wherein the digital map includes other service points that are assigned to another route, and wherein each of the plurality of service points have a common identifier that distinguishes it from any of the other service points of the another route. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving input identifying another geographic area in which to create a second route, wherein a second set of service points are assigned to the second route; and   in response to the receiving of the input, automatically set a zoom level on the digital map that causes all of the second set of service points to fit and be displayed on the digital map along with the plurality of service points.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing display, within the route display area and not the map display area, of a plurality of tabs or sections, wherein the tabs or sections include a unit of work tab or section and an element of work tab or section, in response to a selection of the unit of work tab or section, one or more tasks to be performed as part of servicing customers is displayed, and wherein in response to a selection of the element of work tab or section, other tasks that are not part of servicing customers is displayed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing generation of, within the route display area, a grid that comprises rows, each row of the rows indicates a service point of the plurality of service points for the new route. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving input identifying a geographic area in which to create a new route includes a user drawing a polygon around the plurality of service points in the map display area. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instruction that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving input identifying a geographic area in which to create a new route to deliver or pickup one or more items of one or more shipments;   causing display, via an interface comprising a map display area and a route display area, of at least a portion of the geographic area as a digital map via the map display area of the interface, wherein the digital map comprises a plurality of service points represented on the digital map with each of the plurality of service points corresponding to a location to which the one or more items are requested to be delivered to or picked up from in a carrier's transportation and logistics network, and wherein the route display area is configured to display a representation of the plurality of service points;   receiving input indicating a selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points within the map display area or the route display area; and   in response to the receiving of the input indicating the selection of the at least one service point in the map display area or the route display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the map display area or the route display area such that the map display area and the route display area are synchronized, wherein the automatically causing selection occurs for whichever of the map display area or the route display area that was not selected at the receiving of the input indicating the selection of the at least one service point.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the input indicating the selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points occurs within the map display area, and wherein in response to the receiving of the input within the map display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the route display area. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the input indicating the selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points occurs within the route display area, and wherein in response to the receiving of the input within the route display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the map display area. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the digital map includes the plurality of service points that are assigned to the new route, and wherein the digital map includes other service points that are assigned to another route, and wherein each of the plurality of service points have a common identifier that distinguishes it from any of the other service points of the another route. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprising:
 receiving input identifying another geographic area in which to create a second route, wherein a second set of service points are assigned to the second route; and   in response to the receiving of the input, automatically set a zoom level on the digital map that causes all of the second set of service points to fit and be displayed on the digital map along with the plurality of service points.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprising causing display, within the route display area and not the map display area, of a plurality of tabs or sections, wherein the tabs or sections include a unit of work tab or section and an element of work tab or section, in response to a selection of the unit of work tab or section, one or more tasks to be performed as part of servicing customers is displayed, and wherein in response to a selection of the element of work tab or section, other tasks that are not part of servicing customers is displayed. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprising causing generation of, within the route display area, a grid that comprises rows, each row of the rows indicates a service point of the plurality of service points for the new route. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving input identifying a geographic area in which to create a new route includes a user drawing a polygon around the plurality of service points in the map display area. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code stored therein, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:
 receive input identifying a geographic area in which to create a new route to deliver or pickup one or more items of one or more shipments;   cause display, via an interface comprising a map display area and a route display area, of at least a portion of the geographic area as a digital map via the map display area of the interface, wherein the digital map comprises a plurality of service points represented on the digital map with each of the plurality of service points corresponding to a location to which the one or more items are requested to be delivered to or picked up from in a carrier's transportation and logistics network, and wherein the route display area is configured to display a representation of the plurality of service points;   receive input indicating a selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points within the map display area or the route display area; and   in response to the receiving of the input indicating the selection of the at least one service point in the map display area or the route display area, automatically cause selection of the at least one service point within the map display area or the route display area such that the map display area and the route display area are synchronized, wherein the automatically causing selection occurs for whichever of the map display area or the route display area that was not selected at the receiving of the input indicating the selection of the at least one service point.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the input indicating the selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points occurs within the map display area, and wherein in response to the receiving of the input within the map display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the route display area. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the input indicating the selection of at least one service point of the plurality of service points occurs within the route display area, and wherein in response to the receiving of the input within the route display area, automatically causing selection of the at least one service point within the map display area. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the digital map includes the plurality of service points that are assigned to the new route, and wherein the digital map includes other service points that are assigned to another route, and wherein each of the plurality of service points have a common identifier that distinguishes it from any of the other service points of the another route.