BERGSTRÖM, Lars, Axel (Räfstylla 27, Borlänge, S-781 94, SE)
BRÄNNLUND, Ulf, Göran (Nybodagatan 12, Solna, S-171 42, SE)
BERGSTRÖM, Lars, Axel (Räfstylla 27, Borlänge, S-781 94, SE)
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS
1. A system enabling a sender to minimise the costs for message forwarding or consignment forwarding of a large number of consignments and under the utilisation of a plurality of operators available for said forwarding, where the system is based on: a. a utilisation of the contents of a first memory and within which first memory there are stored a number of items of information in the form of requisite address particulars, b. a utilisation of the contents of a second information storing memory, and in which second memory there are stored a number of items of information in the form of a number of consignment-related messages, c. a first circuit or function for coordinating selected address particulars, stored and accessible within said first memory, with selected and corresponding messages stored and accessible within said second memory, in order thereby to be able electronically to form said consignments, d. a second circuit or function in order, in an area-dependence of valid contractual conditions between sender and said operators, to make for the control of the utilisation of the operator or operators who currently offer the best economic return for a selected part or complete consignment volume, e. a third circuit or function which, in dependence upon valid contractual conditions, makes for the sorting of said electronic consignments to one or each respective operator under the observation of "d" above, f. a fourth circuit or function for transferring said operator-sorted electronic messages to equipment receiving messages and/or physically printing the consignments, g. where necessary causing said equipment or the like to physically sort said printed consignments within operator-related contractual conditions with said sender, h. a fifth circuit or function intended, in accordance with valid contractual conditions, to evaluate the current costs for the sole or each utilised operator, characterised in that, within said second circuit or function there is utilised a mathematical model, directly adapted in order, in dependence upon a plurality of input data structured as categories to minimise or tend to minimise the overall cost for the total number of consignments, that said input data, within a first category, is related to information referring to current household categories, current postcodes or other current area identification, as well as the number of consignments included in an identified shipment, that said input data, within a second category, relates to information referable to each respective one of in any event three accessible operator offers and contractual conditions reached between selected operators and the sender in order, as output data, to create an unambiguous selection of current operator and/or coordinated operators, with a distribution computed within the selected mathematical model of the consignments between available current operators.
2. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said mathematical model is adapted to be able not only to minimise the overall costs of a large number of consignments, but in addition be able to create a well balanced and optimated distribution of the number of consignments taking into account the structure (weight and volume) of the consignments between selected operators with mutually different contractual conditions.
3. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said circuit and said mathematical model are adapted to be able not only to create simple information as to the conditions for a minimisation of the consignment costs, but also to be able to submit proposals for additional measures.
4. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said circuit and said mathematical model or function are adapted to take into account contractual conditions for a least quantity of consignments, in order to be able to qualify for operators offering discounts.
5. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said circuit or function and said mathematical model are adapted simply and rapidly to be able to adapt a system, utilised by a sender, to the amendments of one or more operators in contractual conditions, solely by introducing simple amendments in the mathematical model.
6. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said circuit or function is adapted to be able to emit those indications which are required for the temporal distribution of all consignments.
7. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said circuit or function and said mathematical model are adapted to be able to take into account the size, weight and method of forwarding of individual consignments, so that all consignments fall within the limits applicable to the contractual conditions.
8. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that, as sender, one or more senders with one or more contractual partners are coordinated with one or more operators.
9. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that, as input data is selected a weight class valid for the consignment.
10. The system as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that each individual consignment is adapted so as to be allocated to one and only one operator.
11. The system as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that two or more separate senders make for coordination of their consignments via said mathematical model in order thereby to be able to achieve and exceed a lower limit for a selected contractual condition.
12. The system as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that said amendment, within the mathematical model is put into effect by a parameter setting. |
TITLE OF INVENTION: A System for Reducing Costs related to Consignment
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to a system, using computation, for minimising the costs for message forwarding, which hereinafter will be identified as a "consignment", and relates more specifically to a system for minimising the costs, in any event for one sender, for coordinated forwarding of a large number of consignments and utilising a plurality of operators, available for said consignment, and active within separate geographic areas and/or within more or less overlapping geographic areas.
More specifically, such a system is to contain an information storage memory and in which memory a number of electronic items of information may be stored such as at least the requisite address particulars and messages relating thereto.
In the following description, for purposes of exemplification and simplification, a first memory has been rehearsed with the function of storing address information and a second memory has been rehearsed with the function of storing current messages, but it will be obvious, to a person skilled in the art, that these two memories could very well be combined to form a single memory unit.
The system, disclosed according to the present invention, is based on and takes as its point of departure or concept a per se previously known system whose specific properties are unambiguously defined in a combination of features entered into the preamble to appended Claim 1.
BACKGROUND ART
Methods, arrangements and constructions relating to the above-disclosed technical field and possessing a function and a nature, which satisfy the set requirements are previously known in the art in a plurality of different embodiments.
In recent years, the distribution of messages, such as the forwarding of mail, cards, letters, catalogues and the like, has been deregulated in a most countries and a previously well established monopoly has thereby been broken and the way has been opened for an increasing number of actors or operators, to be able to enter into the consignment distribution market for various types of a labour- intensive distribution.
As regards senders dispatching extremely large volumes of consignments, these will be able to be offered the opportunity for different types of quantity discounts and these have shown a tendency to differ from one another from one operator to another, and from one geographic area to another geographic area, but also within areas where two or more operators are active, such as within a part of or the whole of the area.
In such instance, it is not uncommon that a first operator may be able to handle the distribution of consignments within an extremely wide area, such as an entire country, while one or more other operators may possibly be in a position to care for the distribution of consignments within more restricted areas, such as exclusively within one and the same city.
The pricing for this type of consignment distribution will hereby, for obvious reasons, be different and experience has shown that it becomes more economical within areas where there are several active and mutually independent operators, and becomes more expensive within areas where some type of monopoly may exist.
In certain cases, prising may also be structured so that it will be somewhat more expensive to apply a given consignment distribution or forwarding within one ore more residential areas than within selected high rise estates.
It is per se known in the art, and only natural, that dispatching or forwarding companies which send large quantities of mail or messages, such as consignments to all households within an area, insurance companies, banks, petroleum companies, but also catalogue distributors to specifically selected households, attempt to reduce and/or minimise the shipping or postage costs, principally by selectively causing the utilisation of different operators for different geographic areas.
One previously known system, for a consignment coordination and distribution, is shown and described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to Figure 1.
This prior art system is intended to distribute or share one and the same consignment volume between two different operators, a first operator active exclusively within a restricted area, such as a city ("Citymail" in Sweden), and a second operator active within a considerably larger geographic area, such as an entire country ("The Royal Swedish Mail" in Sweden).
Thus, it is previously known in the art to make for the distribution of all consignments within the consignment volume to these two operators, where the distribution principle is based on a sorting of the consignments by using a postcode identification, where all consignments to the one available operator exclusively encompass postcodes within the area of activities of this operator, while all other consignments are sorted to the second available operator.
It is known in the art that sporadic attempts have been implemented, but that these have encountered technical difficulties as regards being able to increase the number of operators above and beyond the two disclosed above, and be able to take into account three different contractual conditions and be able to optimise the distribution between the operators, where such optimation is based on being able to minimise the overall consignment cost.
One previously known system, which makes for the distribution of consignments between two separate operators and which is based on a postcode identification, is shown in an overview form and described at the Internet website "www.kcdata.se".
It is also previously known in the art to make for the execution of a further sorting of the consignments thus sorted in terms of operator, for a more direct adaptation to different postal areas or districts.
Taking into consideration the properties associated with the present invention, it should be mentioned that the state of the art also encompasses a large number of more or less complicated mathematical models with their allocated algorithms in order thereby, by computation and determination, to minimise, maximise or otherwise illustrate a plurality of variable input data to more simple and reviewable output data.
In addition, methods, models and/or functions are also previously known in the art whose purpose is to aim for being able to optimise (minimise efforts and costs) the physical distribution of consignments to different recipients within a defined geographic area, principally as regards cost, but also the time it takes for the current distribution, and other criteria principally however relating to the wishes of the sender.
It is also previously known in the art, in computer contexts, to create a coding, such as a so-called "hard coding".
The expression hard coding is taken to signify a highly specifically designed software adapted for a simple mathematical model, for unambiguous application and related to a specific case.
Naturally, such a simple mathematical model requires a number, normally a few, input data in order to be able to calculate and establish maximum, minimum or other significative point or area.
However, it is also known in the art that such designed software may readily create program errors, which are difficult to discover, so-called bugs.
Moreover, it has proved that thus designed software may create maintenance problems, in that the fundamental software will be affected every time a supplementary condition is to be introduced.
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM
Taking into account the circumstance that the technical considerations which a person skilled in the art must make in order to be able to offer a solution to one or more set technical problems is, on the one hand, initially a necessary insight into the measures and/or the sequence of measures to be implemented and, on the other hand, a necessary selection of the means required, in view hereof the subsequent technical problems are likely to be relevant in the evolution of the subject matter of the present invention.
Taking into account the state of the art as described above, it should probably therefore be seen as a technical problem to be able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to be able to minimise the overall costs for a sender with a large number of consignments, by creating a well balanced and optimated or optimized distribution of the number of consignments in view of the destination area of the consignments, the number of consignments and the structure of the consignments (weight and volume) between one or more contracted operators, with similar or different geographic coverage, such as districts (postal areas), but with mutually different contractual conditions.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to make for the utilisation of a plurality of ideally categorised input data to a mathematical model.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to make a structured distinguishing between a first category and a second category of such input data.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, within a system as claimed in the preamble of appended Claim 1 , to cause a selected circuit or function, such as one which is there designated a second circuit or function, to utilise said mathematical model, directly adapted in order, depending upon a plurality of input data structured as categories to minimise, or tend to minimise, the overall cost of the total number of consignments, that said input data, within a first category, is to be related to information referring to the relevant household categories, relevant postcodes or other relevant area identification and number of consignments included in an identified dispatch, that said input data within a second category is related to information referring to each respective one of in any event three available operator offers and contractual conditions reached between a selected operator or alternatively selected operators and the sender in order, as output data, to make for the creation of an unambiguous choice of relevant operator and/or operators with a distribution computed within the mathematical model of the total number of consignments between available current operators.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in a simple manner, to be able to cause said mathematical model to take account of underlying subconditions within the contractual conditions and thereby to make for the creation of special measures, such as refraining from sending all mail within a restricted area with the operator which is cheapest since it may prove that this action is perhaps not the strategy which is the most economical and most optimum since the sender might possibly lose a quantity discount from another operator active within the same or adjacent areas.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to make for the considerable simplification of the complexity associated with a plurality (many) of active operators with their operator offers and a plurality of different contractual structures and contractual conditions and where an otherwise inconvenient more accurate analysis could establish that a cost saving might occur, for example if a single letter could complete a total shipment or a single letter could be removed from a total shipment.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order considerably to be able to simplify a system which can process the consequences associated with making for the utilisation of a plurality of operators each with their different contractual conditions, against optimation preconditions since it has proved that account must then be taken of a very large number of variables (possibly more than 10,000 and in certain cases approaching 50,000).
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in a simple manner, to be able to resolve the optimation problem to and comprising a minimised cost profile by setting up and permitting the utilisation of a selected mathematical model, directly adapted in order to create the preconditions for an evaluation and a guiding of the consignments to identified operators.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to take into account a large number of variables relating to forwarding and allocated to the consignments, for a structured coordination with operator-related and contractual variables.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations
which will be required in order to make for the description of the preconditions for and the conditions allocated to the mathematical model within a system which, during an optimation phase, is in a position to take into account a large number of variables and determine which variables are to be primarily employed in order to be able intelligently to describe the optimation process (number of postcodes, number of operators, number of consignments) for minimizing the consignment costs.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said circuit or function, with its mathematical model, to be adapted to be able simply and rapidly to adapt a system utilised by a sender so as to distribute the consignments between identified operators to one or more operators' amendments in contractual conditions simply by being able, in a simple and reliable manner, to insert the relevant amendments.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said circuit or function to be adapted so as to be able to take into account the size of individual consignments, their weight and method of shipment, so that all consignments lie within contractual limits and/or preconditions so that an operator, on a noted deviation from unambiguously disclosed limits and conditions, will not be able to find grounds for wholly rejecting a discount otherwise offered via the contractual preconditions and/or applying an agreed penalty charge to the sender.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, as sender, to be able to coordinate one or more contractual partners with one or more operators.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations
which will be required in order, as input data, preferably to select a weight class applicable for the consignment.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause each individual consignment to be adapted so as to be allocated to one and only one operator.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to offer two or more separate senders the opportunity of coordinating their different consignments in order thereby to be able in coordinated fashion to achieve and exceed a lower limit for valid contractual conditions.
There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said amendment in the mathematical model in response to amended contractual conditions to be made by a simple parameter setting.
SOLUTION
In such instance, the present invention takes as its point of departure or concept the prior art disclosed by way of introduction and which may be deemed to be schematically illustrated in appended Figure 1 , where a system is described in order, for one sender, to permit the minimisation of costs for the forwarding of messages or the consignment forwarding of large number of consignments and utilising a plurality of operators available for said forwarding.
The system, according to the present invention, is thus based on the concept, for a sender, of minimizing the costs for a consignment forwarding of a large number of consignments and utilising a plurality of available operators for said forwarding, where the system is based on:
a. a utilisation of the contents of a first memory and within which first memory there are stored a number of items of information in the form of requisite address particulars; b. a utilisation of the contents of a second information storage memory and in which second memory there are stored a number of items of information in the form of a number of messages related to consignment; c. a first circuit or function for coordinating selected address particulars, stored and accessible within said first memory, with selected and corresponding messages stored and accessible within said second memory, in order thereby to be able electronically to form a consignment; d. a second circuit or function in order, in an area relating to valid contractual conditions, to make for the guiding of the utilisation of the operator or operators who currently offer the best economic return for a selected part of or entire consignment volume; e. a third circuit of function which, in dependence upon valid contractual conditions, makes for the sorting of said electronic consignments to one or each respective operator, taking into account item "d" above; f. a fourth circuit or function to enable transfer of said operator-sorted electronic messages to equipment for receiving messages and/or physically printing the con- signments; g. where necessary to cause said equipment or the like to physically sort said printed consignments within operator-related contractual conditions with said sender; and h. a fifth circuit or function intended, in accordance with applicable contractual conditions, to cause the evaluation of the current costs for the sole or each utilised operator.
To this end, the present invention specifically discloses that, within said second circuit or function, the use shall be made of a mathematical model, directly adapted in order, in dependence upon a plurality of input data structured as categories, to minimise or tend to minimise the overall cost for the total number of consignments, that said input data, within a first category, is to be related to information referable to the current household categories, current postcodes or other current area identification, and the number of consignments included in an
identified shipment, that said input data, within a second category, is to be related to information referable to each respective on of in any event three available operator offers and a contractual undertaking or contractual conditions reached between selected operators and the sender in order, as output data, to be enabled to create an unambiguous choice of current operator and/or coordinated operators with a distribution computed within the selected mathematical model of the consignments between available current operator offers.
As proposed embodiments, relating to the present invention, it is disclosed that said second circuit, with the mathematical model, may be adapted so as not only to be able to minimise the overall costs for a large number of consignments, but moreover be able to create a well balanced and optimised distribution of the number of total consignments, taking into account the structure of the consignments between contracted operators with mutually different contractual conditions or contractual terms.
Said second circuit may be also adapted not only to be able to create simple information concerning the conditions for a minimisation of the consignment costs but also be able to submit proposals for further action in order, by said further action, to be able to utilise one or more fully satisfied conditions.
Said second circuit or function may further be adapted in order to permit taking into account the contractual conditions for a least quantity of consignments, in order to be able to qualify for operator offers of discounts.
Said second circuit or function is adapted to be able simply and rapidly to adapt a system utilised by a sender to the changes of one or more operators in contractual conditions, simply by permitting insertion of simple amendments in the mathematical model.
Said second circuit or function may also be adapted to be able to emit those indications which are required in order to refrain from sending all consignments simultaneously, with the discount corresponding to the number of consignments where, for other reasons, e.g. support requirements, it may be necessary to send
a discounted smaller number of consignments at different points in time or days, all taking into consideration a minimised consignment cost or an accepted low cost.
Said second circuit or function is adapted to be able to take into account the size, weight and forwarding method of individual consignments, so that all consignments lie within narrow contractual limits, so that an operator, in the event of a noted deviation from unambiguously disclosed limits will not be in a position to find grounds for wholly rejecting a discount otherwise offered via contractual conditions and/or applying a penalty charge to the sender.
The present invention discloses that, as sender, one or more senders with one or more contractual partners may be coordinated with one or more operators.
As input data, a weight class valid for the consignment should also be selected.
Via the mathematical model, each individual consignment should be able to be adapted so as to be allocated to one and only one operator.
Two or more separate senders may be offered the opportunity of coordinating their consignments in order thereby to be able to achieve and exceed a lower limit for valid contractual conditions.
Said simple amendment to the mathematical model may advantageously be put into effect by a parameter setting.
ADVANTAGES
Those advantages which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention and the specific significative characterising features disclosed thereby are that there have hereby been created the preconditions in order, within a system, for one or more senders, for minimising the costs for a consignment forwarding of a large number of consignments and under the utilisation of a plurality of operators available for said forwarding.
The present invention specifically discloses that said cost may be minimised in accordance with a specifically selected mathematical model, under the utilisation of a first variable, representative of the number of consignments, with subconditions such as the weight and configuration or volume of each respective consignment and the address or area association of each respective consignment as well as requirements placed in the form of additional subconditions on the point in time of reception of the consignment by the addressee, and a second variable representative of contractual consignment costs in accordance with valid contractual conditions.
That which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention is disclosed in the characterising clause of the appended Claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
A previously known system for minimising, to some degree, consignment costs by the utilisation of only two separate operators and one currently proposed embodiment of a further developed system displaying the significative characterising features associated with the present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow for purposes of exemplification, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, where:
Figure 1 shows a block-structured system of per se known structure and construction where a sole sender has drawn up an agreement on consignment costs based on the number of consignments, with two different operators, active within two separate but nevertheless overlapping distribution areas;
Figure 2 shows a block-structured system in accordance with the specific preconditions of the present invention, and which has been developed with the introduction of a "mathematical model", in relation to and reflected by the system according to Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 illustrates in block diagram form a mathematical model applicable for the present invention, which has been simplified by utilising only a few input data and only three separate operators, with mutually different contractual conditions; while
Figure 4 illustrates in block diagram form a mathematical model valid for the present invention, which can utilise a very large number of input data, with a considerably greater number of separate operators, with mutually separate contractual conditions.
The preconditions valid for the embodiment according to Figure 3 are disclosed in greater detail in Appendix A, while the preconditions valid for the embodiment according to Figure 4 are disclosed in greater detail in Appendix B and in Appendix C, respectively, these appendices being entered into and found at the end of this description.
DESCRIPTION OF ONE PRIOR ART SYSTEM FOR ATTEMPTING TO MINIMISE THE CONSIGNMENT COSTS BY UTILISING TWO OPERATORS, AND BY A SORTING BASED ON POSTCODE AREAS The prior art system according to Figure 1 , thus relates to a system "S" in order, for a sender 1 , to allow minimisation of the costs of a consignment forwarding of a large number of consignments 20, 20a, utilising two operators available for said post forwarding, here designated as 3 and 4.
The system "S" is based on the utilisation of the contents in a first information storing memory 5, and within which first memory 5 there are stored a number of items of information in the form of requisite address particulars 5a and the utilisation of the contents in a second information storing memory 6 and within which second memory 6 there are stored a number of items of information 6a in the form of a number of identical or different consignment-related messages 6b.
A first circuit or function 7 is disposed to make for the coordination of selected address particulars 5a, stored and available within said first memory 5, with selected and corresponding messages 6b stored and accessible within said second
memory 6 in order thereby electronically to be able to form said consignments, and the electronic messages or consignments have been allocated reference numerals 10, 10a in order, on the one hand, to illustrate the diversity of alike messages 6b or different addressees 5a or alternatively different messages 6b to one and the same or separate addressees 5a.
An additional circuit or function 8 is adapted, in dependence upon contractual conditions based on valid postcode basis, to control the utilisation of the operator or operators 3 and/or 4 who currently offer the best economic return for a selected part of or the entire consignment volume.
A second circuit or function 9 which, in dependence upon valid contractual conditions, sorts said electronic consignments 10, 10a to one or both of the operators 3 and 4, respectively, taking into account current postcodes, i.e. the operator 3 is allocated consignments with postcodes within a selected postcode series, while other consignments with other postcodes are allocated to operator 4.
Thus, the sorting function within this second circuit 9 is extremely rudimentary.
A third circuit or function 11 , 11' is adapted to be able to make for the transfer of said operator-sorted electronic messages 10, 10a to equipment 12, 12' message receiving and/or physically printing the consignments.
Where necessary, said equipment 12, 12' may physically sort 13, 13' said printed consignments 20, 20a within operator-related contractual conditions 3a, 4a with said sole sender 1.
A fourth circuit or function 14 is intended, in accordance with valid contractual preconditions and contractual conditions, to make for the evaluation of the current costs for the sole or for each utilised operator, designated 14-3 and 14-4, respectively, in Figure 1.
While Figure 1 , but also Figure 2, have indicated a physical separation of the consignments 10, 20 and 10a, 20a, respectively, it falls within the scope of
possibilities to package together these consignments within both of the systems "S" and (S).
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT It should by way of introduction be emphasised that, in the subsequent description of one currently proposed embodiment displaying the significative characterising features associated with the present invention and clarified by means of the figures 2, 3 and 4 in the accompanying Drawings, as well as in appended "Appendices A, B and C", we have selected terms and a specific terminology with the intention principally in such instance of clarifying the inventive concept.
However, in this context it should be observed that expressions selected here should not be seen as restrictive exclusively to the terms utilised here and selected but that it should be understood that every such selected term is to be interpreted so that, in addition, it encompasses all technical equivalents which function in the same or substantially the same manner in order in such instance to be able to attain the same or substantially the same intention and/or technical effect.
With reference to accompanying Figure 2, but also Figures 3 and 4 and associated "Appendices A, B and C", there are thus illustrated schematically and in detail not only the present invention but in addition the significative properties associated with the present invention have been given concrete form as a result of the currently proposed embodiment described in greater detail hereinbelow.
Thus, Figure 2 illustrates the supplementations which are required of the prior art technology in order to satisfy the fundamental preconditions of the present invention.
The reference numerals in Figure 2 correspond in principle to those, which were employed in Figure 1.
However, in this respect it should be observed that the second circuit or function 9, according to Figure 1 , consists of a unit evaluating postcode indications for the
addressee (which may hardly be deemed to require any computer program), while the present invention has for its object to introduce a "mathematical model", which has been reference numeral 19' and which is described in greater detail in different phases in Figures 3 to 4 and more specifically developed in appended "Appendices A, B and C", where "Appendix C" is intended to clarify those relationships which are to apply for the proposed mathematical model 19'.
The present invention thus discloses that within said second circuit or function 19, according to the invention, there is to be utilised a specifically selected mathematical model 19', directly adapted in order, in dependence upon a plurality of input data structured as categories, to make for the minimisation or to tend to minimise the overall cost for the total number of consignments within one and the same defined shipment 220, 220a.
The possibility is apparent from Figure 2 of increasing the number of first operators 3, here coordinated as operators (3) and the number of second operators 4, here coordinated as operators (4).
Current costs are here distributed to three different operators 14-a; 14-b and 14-c.
The electronic messages 10, 10a and 10b can be spread to three circuits 11 , 11" and 11'.
Figure 3 illustrates that the mathematical model 19' is to distribute the electronic consignments 10, 10a and 10b to three circuits or units 11 , 11 ' and 11" as output data 19c, but it will be obvious to the skilled reader that such a limited physical distribution is hardly mandatory.
Naturally, the consignments 10, 10a and 10b may be coordinated and structured in accordance with valid contractual conditions, where the contractual condition (3a) is related to operator 3 and the contractual condition (4a) is related to operator 4, and so on.
It is also naturally within the scope of the present invention to utilise additional contractual conditions for each one of the additional operators (3), which are here coordinated with the operator 3.
Additional contractual conditions could also be put to use for additional operators (4) which are here shown as coordinated with operator 4.
Each one of the additional operators (3) and (4) have their allocated contractual conditions also entered to the first sender 1 and/or to the second sender 11 or to the circuit 19.
The subsequent circuits 10" for the unit 11" are, for purposes of simplification, not shown in Figure 2.
Said input data 19a, within a first category 19a1 , may according to Figure 3 be related to information which is referable to current household categories, current postcodes or other current area identification and to the number of consignments, included in an identified shipment 220, 220a.
Said input data 19b within a second category 19b2 is, according to Figure 3, to be related each to its operator "a", "b" and "c" with allocated operator offers.
In Figure 3, it has been illustrated, as in "Appendix A", that three separate operators "a", "b" and "c" are to be able to send consignments to four different postal areas or consignment areas (1 to 4) and where a first subarea (1 and 2) has been categorised as "A" area, while a second subarea (3 and 4) has been categorised as "B" area and where the mathematical model 19' will be able to generate relevant output data 19c.
Otherwise, we refer to the description, presented in "Appendix A", relating to Figure 3.
In Figure 4, it has here been illustrated, as in "Appendix B and C", that a considerably larger number of operators than those under "a", "b" and "c"
disclosed in Figure 3 are to be able to send consignments to a considerably larger number of postal areas or consignment areas than the areas (1 to 4) disclosed in Figure 3, and where an indicated multiplicity of first areas may have been categorised as "A" areas, while an indicated multiplicity of other areas may have been categorised as "B" areas.
As regards the embodiment, according to Figure 4, we would refer to "Appendix B" and "Appendix C".
Also in Figure 4, we have made a distinction between input data 19a, in a first category 19a1 , input data 19b, in a second category 19b2, as well as output data 19c in order to be able to receive the result from the mathematical model 19'.
Said circuit 19 is adapted not only to be able to minimise the overall costs for a large number of consignments, but in addition be able to create a well balanced and optimised distribution between the number of consignments and the structure (weight and volume) of the consignments between contracted operators, with mutually different contractual conditions or contractual terms.
Said circuit 19 is further to be adapted not only to be able to create simple information on a display unit 19d or by other means, as to the conditions for a minimisation of the consignment costs, but also be able to submit proposals for additional measures in order, with said additional measures, to be able to utilise one or more fully satisfied conditions, such as sending one or more letters to themselves in order thereby to be able to surpass a given quantity and/or weight limit, for example 20,000 consignments and thereby int. al. be able to enjoy a quantity discount in accordance with contractual conditions.
Said circuit 19 or function 19' is adapted to be able to take into account contractual conditions and contractual terms for a least quantity of consignments, in order to be able to qualify for operators offering discount.
Said circuit 19 or function 19' is adapted so as to simply and rapidly be able to adapt a system (S) utilised by a sender to one or more operator amendments in
the contractual conditions, simply by making for the introduction of amendments in a system-utilised mathematical model 19' or an algorithm.
Said circuit 19 or function 19' is adapted to be able to emit those indications which are required in order to refrain from sending all consignments simultaneously, with the discount corresponding to the number of consignments, but rather to make for sending a discounted smaller number of consignments at different points in time or days, all during the establishment of a minimised consignment cost or an accepted low cost.
Said circuit 19 or function 19' is adapted to be able to take into account the size, weight and method of forwarding of individual consignments, so that all consignments lie within narrow limits according to contractual conditions, so that an operator, on a noted deviation from unambiguously disclosed limits, will not be in a position to find grounds to wholly reject a discount offered via contractual preconditions or contractual terms and/or apply a penalty charge on the sender 1 or 11.
As sender, one or more contractual partners 1 , 11 can be coordinated via the mathematical model 19' with one or more operators.
The invention is naturally not restricted to the above embodiment disclosed by way of example, but may undergo modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as illustrated in the appended Claims.
In particular, it should be observed that every illustrated unit and/or circuit may be combined with every other illustrated unit and/or circuit within the framework in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.
Appendix A
Page 1
We describe here one example where the optimum distribution of consignments to operators is not obvious. Assume that there are three operators whom we designate "a", "b" and "c", respectively. We wish to send physical mail to four different postal areas. An actual optimation problem may encompass thousands of postal areas.
Areas (1 and 2) are categorised as "A" areas, while areas (3 and 4) are categorised as "B" areas. We wish to send two consignments.
Consignment 1 weighs 20 gram per letter and consignment 2 weighs 30 grams per letter. The number of letters to each respective postal area is apparent from (Figure 1).
The three different operators have relatively simple price structures, as apparent from table 1. The three have equal different pricing structures, where b) is the simplest, namely a straight linear cost of 1.1 SEK/letter.
Operators "a" and "c" have a lower limit for the number of letters, which must be sent in order to utilise these operators. This lower limit is 1000 letters. If, employing operator "a", more than 1500 letters are sent, additional discounts are available. Service "b" price discriminates between category "A" and "B".
Both "a" and "c" also require payment, in addition to piece cost, for the weight of the consignment. All services cover all price ranges, apart from service c), which does not deliver mail in area 1. All prices are apparent from the table.
The optimum distribution of the letters will then be as follows:
Operator "c" receives 450 letters from
Appendix A
Page 2
Please note that, applying this distribution, operator "c" reaches above its lower limit (1000 letters) and operator "a" (just) reaches up to its limit (1500 letters) where the discount will be large. This gives a total cost of 2,577.5 SEK. Which is to be compared with the cost of 2,660 SEK if operator "a" takes all mail, and 2,805 SEK if operator "b" takes all mail.
If operator "c" were to cover all postal areas, it would be the optimum solution to give operator "c" from consignment 1 : 250 letters to postal area 2, and from consignment 2: 200 letters to postal area 1 and 600 to postal area 2. The rest goes to operator "a".
This gives an overall cost of 2,567.5 SEK. If, in this case, operator "c" takes all mail, the total cost is 2,702.5 SEK.
As is apparent from this example, it is not always easy to (manually) determine how to distribute mail to different operators if the intention is to minimise postage and shipping costs, even if in this case it would be possible to compute through all possible cases.
It will become even more complicated if the object is to divide up the consignments on different consignment dates (shipments) or if, for example, it is necessary to reach a certain level within a postal area in order to obtain the cheaper price (direct selection), or if the operators require that a certain proportion of the total number of letters in the consignment must go to the areas.
These and also other requirements are catered for by the above-described optimation model.
Appendix B
Page 1
We describe below a model for postal charge optimation (postal charge minimisation). This model is applicable to the postal charge structure in many countries, including Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Let / designate a number of postal areas. In their simplest form, the postal areas may consist of postcode areas but may also consist of aggregates of postcode numbers.
Each postal area, / e / belongs to a category which we designate by z (i).
Let Z designate the number of possible categories.
On the Swedish postal market, the categories may consist of standard mail and trash mail, i.e. mail, which has not been correctly addressed.
On the United Kingdom market, the categories may consist of the so-called zone distribution: A, B, C, D, E, F, corresponding to the type of conurbation where the addressees are located.
Let M designate a number of consignments. Each letter in such a consignment, m e M has a given specified weight w m .
Let b mι designate the number of letters of consignment m, which are to be sent to postal area /. The postal charge optimation model which is presented below solves the problem of distributing these consignments, on the one hand, to different delivery days and, on the other hand, to different postal operators in such a manner that a cost-minimum allocation will be obtained at the same time as the requirements set by the postal operators and the customers are satisfied.
Appendix B
Page 2
Let B designate a number of shipments. These may, for example, consist of different distribution days.
We cause and to designate the minimum and maximum, respectively, number
Such services may, for example on the Swedish market, consist of Posten Riks (nationwide post), Posten Storstad (post major city), Citymail, and KirunaMail or, on the United Kingdom market consist of the Royal Mail products Mailsort 120 or Mailsort 700.
For each such operator, s ∈ S is defined as a disjunctive quantity of subquantities, J s , of the number of postal areas /, i.e. if / э i ∈ J e J s and / 3 k ∈ K ∈ J s and K≠ J, then k ≠ i.
The union of these quantities constitutes those postal areas, which the postal service covers.
This division can also depend upon what delivery day (b) is at question, but, in order not to unnecessarily complicate the presentation, this has been omitted. For the Swedish postal market, these subquantities are trivial in that they consist only of a subquantity, which consists of those postal areas covered by each respective operator.
On the United Kingdom market, the distribution may correspond to the sorting level, which is associated with the individual service.
For each operator s e S, we also define disjunctive closed intervals K (s), i.e. [l k , u k ] ∈ K
(S).
These intervals correspond to the price steps, which the many postal operators use.
We caus designate the unit cost to send a letter in category z and weight m by so
If the total number of letters to J does not surpass this limit, the letters must be sent as residual selection and, as a result, typically incur a higher cost.
Similarly, we cause designate the unit cost for so-called residual selection.
In addition, we cause designate the cost per kilo for direct selection and
We also cause f ks designate fixed cost for sending letters employing service s, if price segment k is employed.
Appendix B
Page 3
With this fixed cost, fixed printing and transport costs etc. can be modelled.
Further, we cause designate the lowest piece cost for segment k ∈ K (s).
For each shipment b ∈ S, we define the quantity S (b) a S as that number of operators which can deliver letters for shipment b (delivery day).
We cause designate the maximum difference in weight for letters in one shipment
For each JinJ s
, we define
We now describe how the above described decision problem, determining how many letters in each postal area, which are to be sent by each respective operator and on which days can be modelled as a linear mathematical programming problem using binary variables. To achieve this, we shall define a number of variables and then discuss those conditions, which they must satisfy.
The variable designates the number of letters of weight m to postal area / which is
The binary variable z bjs , where J e J $ is set to "1" if letters are sent from any postal area in the subquantity J and set to "0" otherwise.
The binary variable y bks is set to "1" if price segment k is employed for service s, and is set to "0" otherwise.
The binary variable y' bs is set to "1" if service s is employed, and is set to "0" otherwise.
The binary variable v bms is set to "1" if service s is employed for shipment b and consignment m.
The variable x bmks designates the number of letters of weight m, which is sent in segment k using service s in shipment b.
The variable u bks designates the variable cost of sending letters in price segment k using service s. On page 25, a postage optimation model is described with these variables and those relationships, which must apply between the different variables. This linear whole number programming problem can be solved using standard software.
Appendix C