Patent ID: 8340978

Claim:
A method for delivering parcels across domains using a first carrier associated with a first domain, and a second carrier associated with a second domain, the method comprising: transporting, using the first carrier, a first parcel from a sender in the first domain addressed to a recipient in the second domain; transporting using the second carrier, a second parcel from a sender in the second domain addressed to a recipient in the first domain; handing-off the first parcel from the first carrier to the second carrier; handing-off the second parcel from the second carrier to the first carrier; using a computer, recording a first time keyed to receipt of the first parcel by the second carrier; using said computer, recording a second time keyed to receipt of the second parcel by the first carrier; delivering the first parcel to a recipient in the second domain using the second carrier; delivering the second parcel to said recipient in the first domain using the first carrier; using said computer, recording a third time keyed to delivery of the first parcel to the recipient in the second domain; using said computer, recording a fourth time keyed to delivery of the second parcel to the recipient in the first domain; using said computer, calculating an elapsed time delivery time for, the first parcel by subtracting the third time from the first time; using said computer, calculating an elapsed time delivery for the second parcel by subtracting the fourth time from the second time; using said computer, consolidating the elapsed delivery time for the first parcel with elapsed delivery time data for other parcels delivered by the second carrier; using said computer, consolidating the elapsed delivery time for the second parcel with elapsed delivery time data for other parcels delivered by the first carrier; using said computer, determining relative performance of the first and second carriers based on the consolidated data of each; and using said computer, recording a credit in favor of the carrier determined to have had greater relative performance.