Intelligent dynamic routing and delivery systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamic routing of delivery resources for delivery of items from a pickup location on or near a first planned route to a delivery location on or near a second planned route. Methods can include identifying a first route and a second route based on the pickup and delivery locations, selecting one of a predetermined plurality of transfer nodes based on the locations of the first and second routes, and sending instructions to resources traveling along the first and second routes to meet and transfer the items at the selected transfer node.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for determining a route for delivery resources, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to receive item delivery requests, each item delivery request comprising a pickup location, a delivery location, and item information corresponding to an item to be delivered; and   a dynamic router processor in communication with a memory storing a plurality of predetermined resource routes traveled by a plurality of resources, the dynamic router processor configured to:   identify a plurality of potential nodes each located within a predetermined threshold distance of at least two of the plurality of predetermined resource routes; and   for individual item delivery requests:
 determine, from the plurality of predetermined resource routes, a first resource route, associated with a first resource, that passes within a first threshold distance relative to the pickup location; 
 determine, from the plurality of predetermined resource routes, a second resource route, associated with a second resource, that passes within the first threshold distance relative to the delivery location; 
 determine, from among the plurality of potential nodes, a transfer node disposed within a second threshold distance relative to at least a portion of the first resource route and at least a portion of the second resource route; and 
 determine a modified first resource route that passes within a third threshold distance relative to the transfer node and a modified second resource route that passes within the third threshold distance relative to the transfer node, 
   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit the modified first resource route and a first item transfer instruction to a first device associated with the first resource and cause the first device to direct the first resource via the modified first resource route to a location at or within the third threshold distance relative to the transfer node; and 
 transmit the modified second resource route, a second item transfer instruction and an item delivery instruction to a second device associated with the second resource and cause the second device to direct the second resource via the second modified resource route to the location at or with the third threshold distance relative to the transfer node, for effectuating a transfer of the item from the first resource to the second resource based on the first and second item transfer instruction for delivery of the item to the delivery location according to the item delivery instruction. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic router processor is further configured to receive real time or near-real time location information corresponding to individual resources located along the predetermined resource routes. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the dynamic router processor selects the transfer node based at least in part on the location information. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the item delivery instruction comprises at least one of an identifier of the delivery location or directions to the delivery location. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic router processor is further configured to add, modify, and remove an individual transfer node from the plurality of potential nodes, based at least in part on aggregated resource location data associated with the plurality of predetermined resource routes. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 cause the first device to display the first item transfer instruction and the modified first resource route and provide, to the first resource, a visual and/or audio alert when the first item transfer instruction is displayed; and   cause the second device to display the second item transfer instruction, the item delivery instruction and the modified second resource route and provide, to the second resource, a visual and/or audio alert when the item transfer instruction is displayed.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first item transfer instruction comprises identification information associated with the second resource, and wherein the second item transfer instruction comprises identification information associated with the first resource. 
     
     
         28 . A method for determining a route for delivery resources, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a processor, item delivery requests, each item delivery request comprising a pickup location, a delivery location, and item information corresponding to an item to be delivered;   identifying, at a dynamic router processor, a plurality of potential nodes each located with a predetermined threshold distance from at least two of a plurality of predetermined resource routes traveled by a plurality of resources;   for each item delivery request, at the dynamic router processor:   determining, from the plurality of predetermined resource routes, a first resource route associated with a first resource, that passes within a first threshold distance relative to the pickup location and a second resource route, associated with a second resource, that passes with the first threshold distance relative to the delivery location;   determining, from among a plurality of stored transfer nodes, a transfer node disposed within a second threshold distance relative to at least a portion of the first resource route and at least a portion of the second resource route;   determining a modified first resource route that passes with a third threshold distance relative to the transfer node and a modified second resource route that passes within the third threshold distance relative to the transfer node;   transmitting the modified first resource route and a first item transfer instruction to a first device associated with the first resource and causing the first device to direct the first resource via the modified first resource route to a location at or within the third threshold distance relative to the transfer node; and   transmitting the modified second resource route and a second item transfer instruction to a second device associated with the second resource and causing the second device to direct the second resource via the modified second resource route to the location at or with the third threshold distance relative to the transfer node, for effectuating a transfer of the item from the first resource to the second resource based on the first and second item transfer instructions for delivery of the item to the delivery location according to the item delivery instruction.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising, at the dynamic router processor, receiving real time or near real time location information corresponding to individual resources located along the predetermined resource routes. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein determining the transfer node is based at least in part on the location information. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the item delivery instruction comprises at least one of an identifier of the delivery location or directions to the delivery location. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising, at the dynamic router processor, adding, modifying, and/or removing an individual transfer node from the plurality of stored transfer nodes, based at least in part on aggregated resource location data associated with the plurality of predetermined resource routes. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising, by the processor,
 causing the first device to display the first item transfer instruction and the modified first resource route and provide, to the first resource, a visual and/or audio alert when the first item transfer instruction is displayed; and   causing the second device to display the second item transfer instruction, the item delivery instruction and the modified second resource route and provide, to the second resource, a visual and/or audio alert when the item transfer instruction is displayed.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first item transfer instruction comprises identification information associated with the second resource, and wherein the second item transfer instruction comprises identification information associated with the first resource. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising, by the dynamic router processor, removing an individual transfer node from the plurality of stored transfer nodes based at least in part on one or more adverse reports received from resources traveling to or from the individual transfer nodes. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more adverse reports correspond to safety conditions of the individual transfer node. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more adverse reports correspond to efficiency of utilization of the individual transfer node for transfer of the item from the first resource to the second resource. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the one or more adverse reports include traffic conditions at or near the individual transfer nodes, and/or parking access and time at or near the individual transfer nodes. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and the second resource comprises an individual human. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving a subsequent request for delivery of a second item from a second pickup location to a second delivery location within a requested time period;   determining that the delivery of the second item cannot be performed within the requested time period, based at least in part on the second pickup location, the second delivery location, and real time or near-real time location information corresponding to one or more resources; and   sending, to a user interface associated with the subsequent request, a notification that the delivery of the second item cannot be performed within the requested time period.