Patent ID: 7860738

Claim:
A computer-readable storage medium for scheduling delivery vehicle visits by a delivery service to a customer, said computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: (1) identifying a time window in which it would be possible for said delivery service to make a delivery vehicle visit to said customer on a particular day; (2) allowing a user to request that said delivery service make a first delivery vehicle visit to said customer within said time window on said particular day; (3) allowing said user to specify that the user wishes to schedule a periodic series of delivery vehicle visits that includes said first delivery vehicle visit and one or more additional requested delivery vehicle visits, each delivery vehicle visit within said periodic series to be made on a different day, but within said particular time window; (4) allowing said user to specify a schedule for said periodic series of delivery vehicle visits; (5) scheduling said first delivery vehicle visit; (6) using a carrier's first set of scheduling information to determine whether it is possible for said delivery service to make a particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; (7) in response to determining that, based on said carrier's first set of scheduling information, it is possible for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits, tentatively scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits; (8) at a designated time prior to the date for which said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits is tentatively scheduled to occur, using a carrier's second set of scheduling information to determine whether the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits exceeds a predetermined threshold; (9) in response to determining that the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits exceeds a predetermined threshold, presenting said user with one or more alternative time windows for which the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits does not exceed said predetermined threshold and allowing said user to firmly schedule one of said one or more alternative time windows; and (10) in response to determining that, based on said carrier's second set of scheduling information, the cost for said delivery service to make said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits does not exceed said predetermined threshold, firmly scheduling said particular one of said additional requested delivery vehicle visits.