System and method for optimization of and analysis of insulated systems

The present invention is directed to a method for generating a list of package shipment routes in a shipment solution system comprising the steps of entering product information, place of origin, destination and shipment temperature parameters for a package into the system. A list is generated containing a listing of all possible shipment routes available for the package between the place of origin and the destination. For each of the shipment routes, an ambient thermal temperature model is generated corresponding to the external temperatures the package is exposed to during each of the possible shipment routes. The thermal characteristics of the package are calculated along the available shipping routes, based on each of the ambient thermal temperature models, so as to determine feasible shipment routes and corresponding packaging information. For each of the feasible shipment routes, the cost for shipment along the feasible shipment routes is calculated based on packaging and delivery cost and a route is selected for delivery from among the feasible shipment routes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for a logistics platform for use in optimizing the transport of goods. More specifically, the present invention relates to providing a logistics platform for use in optimizing the delivery of perishable goods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The shipment of perishable goods, particularly by air and sea, involves a complicated process of packaging and transportation. A balance must be struck between keeping costs manageable while at the same time maintaining the security and quality of the product being shipped. This process includes many difficult decisions such as determining the optimal amount of insulated packaging, refrigerant required and other perishable goods transportation requirements.

Common causes of loss of perishable goods during shipments include, but are not limited to, packing errors, mishandling, regulatory and customs holdups, unseasonably high and low temperatures, flight delays, recipients that are unable to receive delivery, and other unforeseeable difficulties. Services that provide near-perfect service in order to overcome these difficulties are often very expensive. This follows because such services handle their packaging needs based on a worst case scenario and employs containers insulation and refrigerants for the worst foreseeable delivery arrangements.

In response to the considerable demands placed on global companies to streamline their supply chains, many of the larger corporations have begun employing technology-based solutions, such as shipment tracking and tracing features and recipient e-mail notification. However, most of the platforms currently available are directed to the delivery of common goods and are not readily convertible for use with the transport of perishable goods. As such, a need exists in the field of delivery of perishable goods to provide a service that provides, a complete end to end logistics platform, which optimizes all of the various steps required in a shipment process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As such, the present invention provides a complete logistics platform which combines optimization technology, packing technology, and group aggregation in order to extract the maximum value in a perishable goods supply chain. The optimization technology enables efficiency gains by employing algorithms, which simultaneously evaluate multiple variables. A shipper enters the temperature parameters within which a product temperature must remain during the shipment, origin and destination address of the shipment and the system analyzes all of the possible shipping carrier and shipment options and evaluates the refrigerant quantities needed to maintain the product at the specific temperature provided. The systems then gives the shipper the ability to rank and select the possible routes based on cost, delivery date or any other criterion that the shipper wishes to view.

The system also provides the shipper with a choice of feasible packaging arrangements for the desired delivery.

Furthermore, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the system is configured to monitor the temperature of the product being shipped so as to ensure that its temperature had substantially stayed within its specified range. And, if not, the system is configured to determine at which point during the shipment process the product temperature fell out of or exceeded the specified range. The temperature monitoring is provided by the use of radio frequency tags placed in the packaging.

The system is configured to interface with all of the various parties involved in the supply chain of the goods including but not limited to the shipper client and their customer service office, the goods receiver, the packaging service, the IT service providers, and other 3rd parties such as freight shippers, and the shipper's distribution centers. This cross party logistics platform greatly optimizes the supply chain for perishable goods not only by organizing the supply chain, but also by providing access to all parties involved in the supply chain so that valuable information can be easily shared with all of the necessary parties.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a logistics platform system10having the structure set forth inFIG. 1.

In one embodiment of the present invention, illustrated inFIG. 1, system10comprises a user interface module100, that allows the user to input the order.

An external order entry module102is provided, configured to store a log of the day's orders and then the orders are combined and entered together into system10. User interface100and external order-entry102are coupled to an optimization engine108. Optimization engine108receives orders from user interface module100and external order entry module102. Optimization engine108, coupled to the database114, retrieves information required for the order.

After retrieving the appropriate information, optimization engine108uses the order information to determine the product's origin (distribution center), temperature parameters (the maximum and minimum temperatures that define the temperature range that the product must be maintained within through out the entire shipment), mass (weight of the product), staging temperatures (starting temperature during the packaging process), thermal properties (rate at which the product itself retains or losses heat), and appropriate packaging types (packaging materials and their various heat transfer properties as well as refrigerant or warm packs and their associated ability to maintain constant product temperature within the package), and all possible ways to ship the package (including all of the available carriers, employed by a particular shipper, that deliver to the desired destination and the actual geographic route that the package will traverse using that particular carrier).

Database114is configured to store information, which can be accessed by system10, and used to generate the shipping solutions. (The user specifies information that is stored in database114. ) A weather database146stores both historical146aand forecasted (real-time)146bweather information. Weather database146may receive information from system10based on prior shipping results discussed in more detail below. A product database148stores the properties of products, such as products origin (distribution center), mass, temperature parameters (maximum and minimum), staging temperature for the product, products tolerances, required safety buffer if required (additional thermal range required to ensure that a product does not spoil, particularly in the case of extremely temperature sensitive products), and product thermal properties.

A packaging database150stores different types of insulated packages information150athat can be used, such as styrofoam or reusable containers information as well as the different types of refrigerants/warm pack information150bthat can be used. For each of the package information stored in packaging database150outside dimension, inside dimension, weight, cost, and thermal properties (Insulation or R-value inftz Fh/Btu, insulation, thickness) are included. Insulated package and refrigerant/warm pack information150aand150bare client specific, based on the various client uses. A carrier/mode database152stores information such as what carriers the client uses and the modes of shipment, such as overnight 2nd day or 3rd day ground, that those carriers offer, including the actual geographic routes which are traveled over in those modes.

Database114can be updated either through the user inputting data, shipping information provided over the internet, or data installation, such as CD ROM provided by the carriers at the location of the database. Updates can also be based on feed back information from the system itself, a process described in more detail below.

It should be noted that weather database146, product database148, package database150, and carrier/mode database152are all in database114and can share information and are accessible to system10. Database114and its component databases can exist as either a single database or as a conglomeration of several databases as illustrated. These examples of databases for storing information are intended only as examples of possible types of databases and information used and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any similar database used for operation within a similar system is within the contemplation of the present invention.

A carrier/mode routing engine112is coupled to optimization engine108and configured to determine all of the possible routes that the product might be shipped over. Depending on how the package will be shipped, carrier/mode routing engine112determines what states, city, or zip codes the package will be routed through so as to allow retrieval of the weather forecast for the intended route. The possible routes that can be used are provided by the carrier/mode routing engine112and delivered to an ambient thermal temperature modeling engine110.

For example, in operation carrier/mode routing engine112, using carrier/mode database152, determines a route for each carrier such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and each of their modes of delivery such as 2nd day air, ground, next day am, and next day pm. This model information includes the specific cities traveled through and transportation mode used such as plane, train or motor vehicle.

Ambient thermal temperature modeling engine110is configured to receive the carrier route information from carrier/mode route engine112and generate a temperature profile1100, as illustrated inFIG. 11, for each of the possible routes based on predetermined temperature metrics or historical temperature data stored in weather database146. Temperature profile1100may correlate to a particular shipment's seasonal and geographical route or it may be based on actual real-time forecasted data in correlation to a particular shipment's geographic routing.

For example, profile1100may relate to a shipment originating in Binghamton, N.Y. to Miami. Profile1100first portion represents the situation where the package is placed in truck during summer season for a four hour drive from Binghamton to Queens. During this time the air temperature in the truck may spike +20 C. The package is then loaded on a plane and is flown for 3½ hours to Miami where, air temperature surrounding the package drops −30 C. while on plane. The package is then loaded on to a truck, and is driven 40 minutes to its destination, where the temperature again spikes +25 C. Profile1100created mimics the temperature conditions that the package will encounter in each of the possible carrier/model scenarios profiled. The profile contains temperatures and the duration that the package will endure during its trip. At first, profile1100may be defined based on the worst case scenario weather data.

However, through feedback, the system optimizes the weather profile to what is more closely experienced by the package as weather database146is populated by saved temperature information from recent past shipments.

A packaging thermal modeling engine106, is coupled to optimization engine108. Engine106uses profile1100from the possible routes generated by ambient thermal temperature modeling engine110and calculates the temperature inside the package during the entire route. Packaging thermal modeling engine106subsequently generates a thermal model so as to evaluate how much refrigerant/warm packs are necessary to maintain the package within the specified parameters. Packaging thermal modeling engine106calculates how long the desired temperature can be maintained inside the package, taking into account the mass of the product, the mass of the refrigerant/heat packs, the thermal properties of the product, packaging or refrigerant/warn packs, the product temperature parameters, and the carrier/mode profiles generated by carrier/mode routing engine112.

Packaging thermal modeling engine106utilizes basic heat transfer principles such as those found in Fundamentals of Heat Transfer, by David P.

Dewitt and Frank P. Incropera, copyrighted 1981, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, using heat transfer principles, packaging thermal modeling engine106determines that for a particular profile1100the product that is packaged in a Styrofoam package requires 4 pounds of dry ice, or, the same product is packaged in a plastic package requires 10 pounds of dry ice in order to maintain its specified temperature parameter. This process is repeated for each packaging alternatives based on its ambient thermal profile.

A carrier/mode costing engine104coupled to optimization engine, calculates the cost to ship each package according to all the feasible shipping options wherein the specified temperature parameters of the package can be maintained within its specified range. In determining the shipment cost, engine104takes several variables into account, such as, the weight and volume of the package, the carrier and the mode of shipment, the insurance amount for shipment, the value of the package, whether it is COD (cash on delivery), whether it is hazardous material, and whether a signature is required for receipt.

Carrier/mode costing engine104then outputs the shipping cost for all feasible carrier modes of delivery. For example, the weight of package plus additional weight of refrigerant/warm pack calculated by packaging thermal modeling engine106is used to calculate the cost to ship via each of the determined carrier/modes from carrier/mode routing engine such as next day air, or ground. Additionally, any extras such as COD or insurance are added into the cost.

Optimization engine108consolidates all the feasible results and forwards them to selection module116. It is noted that either separate modules or a single optimization engine with all the components contained in it can perform functions as illustrated. The modules used by the optimization engine108are only an example of a type of optimization engine that can be used and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any similar optimization engine i8n software or hardware format used in a similar system is within the contemplation of the present invention.

In response to a user selecting a feasible shipping option, selection module116provides the relevant shipment details such as the container that is required for the selected shipment route and the amount and type of refrigerant or heat for the selected shipment route. An example of a display that allows shipment selection is illustrated inFIG. 10, wherein a shipment selection page1000with shipment selection box1010is shown.

In addition to storing selections made at selection module116, shipment solution database118can store solutions that allow the system to automatically make the selection. Shipment solution database118can be set so that it automatically picks a shipping solution based on a desired criteria set by the user such as the cheapest solution, cost efficient, fastest solution, worst case scenario, or by deadline for shipment. After selection of a shipment solution, the user is prompted with packaging instructions at a user(pick/pack) module120. During the packaging, a radio frequency temperature recorder122is inserted in the package. Recorder122periodically records the temperature inside the package at any given interval chosen by the user. Temperature recorder122is configured o receive and store the temperature parameters for the package that specifies the temperature range within which the product must remain. As such, radio frequency recorder122functions as an indicator should the package go outside the temperature parameters downloaded for the product contained in the package.

In one embodiment of the present invention a red light, located on temperature recorder122indicates that the temperature has gone outside the set parameter. For example, product has temperature parameter of 00 C. to 180 C. and during transit the temperature rises to 196 C., radio frequency temperature recorder122illuminates a red light indicator, such that upon delivery the recipient who opens the package will immediately know to of a possible problem.

Radio frequency recorder122, after the shipment is received, is used to validate the temperature throughout the delivery, in process described below.

After the package is packed it is sent to a shipment workstation126. Shipment workstation126is configured to receive the selected shipment solution and an order number is scanned into shipment workstation126.

A radio frequency interrogator132, is configured to receive the temperature parameters for radio frequency temperature recorder122. Radio frequency interrogator132is also configured to receive the uploaded information from radio frequency temperature recorder122, throughout the duration of the trip. Radio frequency interrogator132can be placed at various points along the shipping route or at the final destination or there can be a reusable container in which radio frequency temperature recorder122is returned to the sender where they can upload the information to radio frequency interrogator132. Radio frequency interrogator132can also be coupled to the internet to upload the information received from radio frequency temperature recorder122.

The package is placed on a scale130. Scale130is coupled to shipment workstation126and quality control check module124. The weight output by scale130is used by quality control check124to check to make sure that the product, refrigerant/warm packs, and the packaging add up to the correct weight that was previously calculated and stored. Label printer128, is coupled to shipment workstation126, prints the label for the completed order. The order number is input and stored in a tracking and tracing database134, coupled to shipment workstation126.

Tracking and tracing database134is configured to receive and store the order's tracking number and to receive and store the recorded internal temperature of the package during transit as recorded by radio frequency temperature recorder132.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the package delivered through system10can be evaluated and audited. A temperature validation engine136, advanced delivery notification engine138, tracking and tracing engine140, reporting engine142and an accounting and auditing engine144are utilized by system10to evaluate the delivery process. Temperature validation engine136, which may be located at the shipment recipient's location, validates that the shipped product stayed within the temperature parameters specified by shipper. Temperature validating engine136gives a report in any number of forms such as a print out, or on a computer screen. Temperature validation engine receives the temperature date from either temperature recorder122or from radio frequency interrogator132depending on which configuration bests suits the needs of the shipper or the recipient.

Reporting engine142is coupled to the database114of system10and evaluates the performance and reliability of the optimization engine108.

Furthermore, reporting engine142provides the actual temperature readings recorded by temperature recorder122to weather database146, so as to update the historical database146afor use in perfecting the creation of future temperature profiles1100.

In the event that temperature validating engine136reports that a product left the desired temperature range, accounting and auditing engine144determines where during the transit, the temperature left the specified parameter.

This information can then be used to enforce carrier guarantees through credits.

Advanced delivery notification engine138outputs some form of notification such as an e-mail, text message, or automated phone call to notify the recipient that the shipment has been sent. Tracking and tracing database140is configured to receive information on the location of the package during transit so that the shipper or receiver can then check where the package is. In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIGS. 2a–2dsystem10operates in the following manner.

First, at step200the user enters specifications into system10at order entry modules100or102such as customer destination, product, quantity, and delivery constraint information. Next at step202, optimization engine108queries the product database148to determine the products properties such as origin (distribution center), temperature parameters (maximum & minimum), mass, staging temperature, thermal properties, and appropriate packaging types (containers & refrigerant/warm packs) available in the packaging database150.

As illustrated inFIG. 3is a screen shot of an order entry phase. Menu300shows the user's step in the order entry phase. The display includes boxes for recipient first name302, last name304, company name306, address “1”308, address “2”310, city312, state314, postal code316, country318, phone,320, fax322, email324, and a button next step326.

FIG. 4is a screen shot of the delivery constraints in the order entry phase.

The display includes a menu300, a pull down selection for carrier402, ship date404, delivery date406, date specified408, time of day410advanced delivery notice via416, and a box to select reverse logistics412, and advanced delivery notification414. Reverse logistics refers to election to use reusable containers so as to save money on future shipments.

Based on the destination, origin, and delivery constraints obtained, the optimization engine108determines all of the ways to ship the package by querying the carrier/mode database153, at step204. In one embodiment of the present invention, packaging database150, product databases148, and carrier/mode database152are configured so that the user can input the properties of the packages, products, the location of the company, location of distribution centers and the carrier/modes.

FIG. 5illustrates a set up phase window wherein the company information is entered into database114. The display includes a menu500, a contact name box502, contact title box504, company name box506, address “1” box508, address “2” box510, city box512, state box514, postal code box516, country box518, phone number box520, fax number box522, and email box524, and a button526for activating the next step.

FIG. 6illustrates a DC's (distribution centers) entry screen for the setup phase. The display contains a contact name box602, contact title box604, company name box606, address “1” box608, address “2” box610, city box612, state box614, postal code box616, country box620, phone number box622, fax number box624, e-mail box626, and a distribution center pull down selection box628. Button630is provided for new DC, and another button632to move onto the next step.

FIG. 7illustrates a packaging entry screen for the setup phase. The screen has a pull down selection box702for the item type, a box704for the item #, inside dimension box706, outside dimension box708, weight box710, manufacturer by box712, manufacture# box714, a pull down selection box716for type, and pull down selection box718for view item. Two buttons are provided, a first button720for new item, and a second button722for the next step722.FIG. 8illustrates a product entry screen during the setup phase. The screen has a box802to enter the item#, item name box804, manufactured by box806, manufacture# box808, outside dimensions box810, weight box812, staging temperature box814and pull down selection box816for the temperature parameters, and view item box818. Two buttons are provided, the first button820is for a new item and a second button822for the next step.

FIG. 9illustrate a carrier/mode entry screen for the setup phase, located on the top of the screen is a menu500. A pull down selection box902is provided for entering the carriers that the shipper employs. There are also boxes for the account# box904, discounts box906, boxes908to select the service or mode that the carrier offers, and pull down selection box910for selecting the carrier to view. Two buttons are also provided, the first button912for new carrier and the second button914is next step.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 2, returning to the optimization process after the necessary information has been entered into system10and stored in database114, system10, queries product database148to determine the safety buffer required for each delivery option, at step206. As discussed above, the safety buffer refers to the thermal range in addition to the temperature parameters provided that will ensure safe delivery of the package, particularly in the case of extremely temperature sensitive products.

Next at step208, using carrier/mode database152, carrier/mode routing engine112determines the total time, including the safety buffer, that each delivery option requires. At step210, querying product database148and packaging database150, optimization engine108determines all of the possible packaging container options for the product. For each viable packaging container option, the outside dimension, inside dimension, weight, cost, and thermal properties (R-value, insulation thickness, etc.) are obtained.

Next at step212, system10creates a “packaging system” for each viable package option. Each packaging system includes the container (fixed), the product shipped (fixed), and the refrigerant/warm pack quantity (variable).

Querying the product database, at step214, system10determines the ambient temperature for each packaging system during its route. In step216, ambient thermal temperature modeling engine110generates an ambient thermal temperature profile1100, as illustrated inFIG. 11based on predetermined information (static), based on historical temperatures by querying weather database (historical)146a, or based on actual real-time forecasted weather data by querying the weather database (forecasted)146b.

In step218, packaging thermal modeling engine106calculates the amount of refrigerant/warm packs necessary for the packaging system to stay within the required temperature parameters as determined in product database148for the previously calculated required time period, for the shipping route.

At step220, knowing the refrigerant/warm pack quantity necessary to maintain the product within its temperature parameters for each packaging system, system10stores each result in memory as a feasible shipping solution.

In step222, by querying the packaging database150the optimization engine eliminates all possible shipping solutions that require more refrigerant/warm packs than the insulated container can contain by volume. In step224, carrier/mode costing engine104determines the shipping cost for each possible shipping solution that has not been eliminated.

At step226, system10queries packaging database150and determines the total cost of each feasible shipping solution by adding the total packaging cost for each possible shipping solution to the shipping cost determined above. In step228, optimization engine108then presents the user at selection module116with all the possible shipping solutions sorted by total cost, or total cost by specified delivery date or any other useful method of organization on which the shipper may base their shipping decision. (FIG. 10illustrates the screen1000for shipping solutions1010selection. As illustrated, selection options1010include the expected delivery date, carrier and cost, however, this is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, additional criteria that may be displayed on screen1000in solutions1010include but are not limited to, shipping weight, packaging type/material, insurance cost, refrigerant/heat amount and cost) An step230, the user (order-entry) selects a possible shipping solution.

That selected shipment solution is stored in shipment solution database118, at step232. As discussed above shipment solution database118may use a preselected solution or an actively chosen solution. Next at step234, a pick list is generated from the shipment solution database118when the user (pick/pack) selects to pack an order. This includes the selection of the appropriate container with its insulating packing material, including the amount of refrigerant warm pack needed.

At step236, user (pick/pack) module120completes the pick/pack function and places the package on scale130of shipment workstation126. At step238, the user (pick/pack)120enters or scans the order number into shipment workstation126. At step240, shipment solution database118sends shipment information to shipment workstation126.

At step242, quality control check module124verifies the weight of the complete package and determines if the weight matches the weight stored in shipment solution database18. In step244, shipment workstation126prints the appropriate label from label printer128for the completed order and stores the order's tracking number in tracking and tracing database134.

Next at step246, radio frequency interrogator132queries product database148to determine the products temperature parameters for that order.

Radio frequency interrogator132sends a signal to radio frequency temperature recorder122to begin recording the temperature inside the container, step248.

As discussed above, temperatures that are recorded beyond a tolerance range trigger an out of range alarm indicator.

In step250, the recipient of the package determines if the product has traveled safely within its temperature parameters. Radio frequency interrogator132downloads the internal temperature of the package in transit and saves them in tracking and tracing database134for validation and auditing purposes. At step252, by querying database114of system10reporting engine142evaluates and audits system's10performance and reliability and fine tunes system10for maximum efficiency.

The invention delivers numerous advantages to clients. The system removes guesswork when shipping perishables. It reduces product spoilage, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce inventory and distribution costs. It helps shippers comply with existing government and carrier regulations and offer clients means to enhance growth with an opportunity to expanding into new markets and subsequent sales opportunities. The invention enables a company to better utilize its internal resources-thus reducing the time and energy required to manage their transportation operations. The invention is a systematic approach for creating, implementing and managing a transportation master strategy.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.