DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention generally relates to the field of logistic infrastructure management. Particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service. More particularly, the invention provides a method and system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for a service or product request by a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] In recent times, information technology has completely transformed every dimension of human life. While, time is considered to be the true currency of today’s hectic and urbanized world, routine human tasks have been optimized, transformed into automatic with the advent of information technology. The information technology based network enabled communication systems and devices have enabled users in outsourcing everyday chores and routine human tasks such as travelling, grocery shopping, among others, to optimize time consumed therein. The advent of successful on-demand and/ or e-commerce service providers such as Uber, Swiggy and Big Basket substantiates the trend.

[003] Prior art literature illustrates a number of approaches for providing on-demand and/ or e-commerce services or products at the doorstep of customers. However, in order to provide such services/products at the doorstep of customers on demand and be affordable, such service or product providers need to have a highly sophisticated logistics management system that could optimize entire logistics on real-time, thereby making it efficient and cost-effective.

[004] The solutions provided by generally available prior arts fail to consider various factors pertaining to efficient on demand logistic infrastructure service, thereby leaving a significant room of drastic improvement, especially in present day’s dynamic environments and needs. Prior art also fails to consider various criteria such as, allocation of a delivery based on user location, predetermined delivery schedule of the delivery person, temporal and geo-spatial and predictive capacity planning of the delivery person based on the demand, and in tasks thereof, in the on demand logistic infrastructure service.

[005] Thus, in the light of the above mentioned background art, it is evident that there is a need for highly sophisticated logistic management system and logistic infrastructure service, which could independently function with no or minimal human intervention. There is also a need for logistic infrastructure service that could automatically assign the tasks such as service or product request by a user to delivery mechanism while ensuring minimum travel and maximum service, accept requests dynamically and assign the best fit delivery mechanism, optimize and adjust the entire logistic service in real-time based on several factors such as delays, new orders etc., predict the required capacity and make the system highly efficient and cost-effective for the user. A method and system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service is desired.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[006] In accordance with the present invention, the primary objective is to provide a method and system for on demand logistic infrastructure service.

[007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and system for on demand logistic infrastructure service for a service or product request by a user.

[008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a highly sophisticated logistic management system and logistic infrastructure service, which could independently function with no or minimal human intervention.

[009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and system for rendering independent, self-driven logistic infrastructure services to the user, while emphasizing on both planned and dynamic/real-time schedule optimization and predictive capacity planning for carrying out the service.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method and system for logistic infrastructure service that could automatically assign the tasks such as service or product request by a user to delivery mechanism while ensuring minimum travel and maximum service, accept requests dynamically and assign the best fit delivery mechanism, optimize and adjust the entire logistic service on real-time based on several factors such as delays, new orders etc., predict the required capacity and make the system highly efficient and cost-effective for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Before the present methods, systems, and hardware enablement are described, it is to be understood that this invention in not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments of the present invention which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0012] The present invention provides a method and system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention a method is provided for on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, the method comprising processor implemented steps of capturing and validating at least one service or product request by the user using a user module (202) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled user’s mobile communication device; receiving the captured and validated at least one service or product request by the user along with a plurality of user details using a booking module (302); scheduling optimally and assignment of the at least one service or product request to a responder based on temporal and geo spatial filtering using a processing module (304); connecting, tracking and monitoring the responder in real time using a tracking module (306); and enabling the responder to deliver the at least one service or product request assigned thereto to the user, updating the status of at least one service or product request, capturing the current location of the responder and interacting with the system (200) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled responder’s mobile communication device using a responder module (214).

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention a system is provided for on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user; the system (200) comprises of a user module (202), adapted for capturing and validating the at least one service or product request by the user via a mobile application residing in a network enabled user’s mobile communication device; a booking module (302), adapted for receiving the captured and validated at least one service or product request by the user along with the user details pertaining to the at least one service or product request, schedule, location, and capacity of the at least one service or product request to be placed; a processing module (304) , adapted for optimal scheduling and assignment of the at least one service or product request to a responder based on temporal and geo spatial filtering; a tracking module (306), adapted for connecting, tracking and monitoring with a responder in real time; a responder module (214), adapted for enabling the responder to deliver the at least one service or product request assigned thereto to the user, updating the status of at least one service or product request, capturing the current location of the responder and interacting with the system (200) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled responder’s mobile communication device; and a database (308), adapted for storing information pertaining to a plurality of users and a plurality of responders located within a specific geographical location, pre-determined zones and allocated pre-determined number of responders to each zone, captured and validated service or product request by the user, the plurality of user details, optimally scheduled and assigned service or product request to the responder, responder information in real time, status of the service or product request.

[0015] The above said method and system enables provision of on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, and can also be used for many other applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments including aspects and features of the invention, are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. The drawing is not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, in the drawings exemplary constructions of the invention are shown; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and system disclosed. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1: illustrates a flow chart of the method for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2: illustrates a block diagram of the system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail.

[0020] Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment”, “another embodiment” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0021] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non- exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0025] The present invention provides a method and system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user.

[0026] The present invention provides a highly sophisticated logistic management system and logistic infrastructure service, which could independently function with no or minimal human intervention. The present invention provide a method and system for rendering an independent, self-driven logistic infrastructure services to the user, while emphasizing on both planned and dynamic/real-time schedule optimization and predictive capacity planning for carrying out the service. The present invention provides a method and system for logistic infrastructure service that could automatically assign the tasks such as service or product request by a user to delivery mechanism while ensuring minimum travel and maximum service, accept requests dynamically and assign the best fit delivery mechanism, optimize and adjust the entire logistic service on real-time based on several factors such as delays, new orders etc., predict the required capacity and make the system highly efficient and cost-effective for the user.

[0027] The present invention provides a method and system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service request by the user, wherein the service request may be selected from a group comprising but not limited to laundry service, grocery, travel and the like.

[0028] Figure 1 is a flow chart of the method for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The process starts at the step 102, at least one service or product request by the user is captured and validated using a user module via a mobile application residing in a network enabled user’s mobile communication device. At the step 104, the captured and validated at least one service or product request by the user is received along with a plurality of user details using a booking module. At the step 106, the at least one service or product request is scheduled optimally and assigned to a responder based on temporal and geo spatial filtering using a processing module. At the step 108, the responder is connected, tracked and monitored in real time using a tracking module. The process ends at the step 110, the responder is enabled to deliver the at least one service or product request assigned thereto to the user, the status of at least one service or product request is updated, the current location of the responder is captured and interaction takes place with the system via a mobile application residing in a network enabled responder’s mobile communication device using a responder module.

[0030] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the system for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the system (200) for on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one the service or product request by a user is provided. The system (200) comprises of a user module (202); a booking module (302); a processing module (304); a tracking module (306); a responder module (214); and a database (308). The processing module (304) further comprises of a computational module (CM) (310) and an in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312).

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the user module (202) may be adapted for capturing and validating the at least one service or product request by the user via a mobile application residing in a network enabled user’s mobile communication device. The at least one service or product request by the user may comprise of a selected date and time slot each for pickup, delivery and combination thereof. The selected slots may be dynamically calculated and managed by the system (200).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the user module (202) may be enabled to provide the user with options to choose from the service or product request namely ‘Book Now’, ‘Schedule Later for Today’ and ‘Schedule Later in the next few days’, such as during the next week. The ‘Book Now’ option may be the most dynamic of the entire service or product request on offer. The said ‘Book Now’ option may allow the user a choice to place the service or product request in the next specified period, (for example - 1 hour), which may depend on the business need. As soon as the user places the service or product request, the system (200) may provide an option to book the service or product request right away and may provide the user with an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) for the responder to reach the location for the pick up or delivery, or a combination thereof. The responder may be selected dynamically by the system (200) not just based on the shortest distance but by considering several factors that may lead to optimal scheduling, which in turn may lead to less travel time and more service time. The ‘Schedule Later for Today’ may be another option provided to the user when the user may want to choose an hourly slot for the pickup, delivery service on the same day but two hours later. Based on the schedule of the responders during the time choice of the user, the system may automatically choose and allocate the best fit responder. The user may also opt for ‘Schedule Later’ option which may allow the user to choose a particular day other than the present day from the next seven days for the pickup service.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one service or product request by the user may be captured and validated based on a plurality of factors selected from a group comprising but not limited to user type, zone type, order type, service or product type and a combination thereof. A plurality of users and a plurality of responders may be located within a geographical location, divided into pre-determined zones and a pre-determined number of responders may be allocated to each zone. The plurality of users and a plurality of responders may be connected with each other and different modules of the system (200) via a communication network.

[0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the booking module (302) may be adapted for receiving the captured and validated at least one service or product request by the user along with the user details pertaining to the at least one service or product request, schedule, location, and capacity of the at least one service or product request to be placed. The plurality of user details are selected from a group comprising of but not limited to at least one service or product request, schedule, location, and capacity of the at least one service or product request to be placed.

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the processing module (304) may be adapted for optimal scheduling and assignment of the at least one service or product request to a responder based on temporal and geo spatial filtering. The optimal scheduling and assignment of the at least one service or product request to the responder may be done based on a plurality of factors selected from a group comprising but not limited to nearest responder location of the user, pre-determined schedule and capacity of the responder, demand in terms of the service or product request for specific days and time slots, historical data of service or product request, optimized routing for the quickest and most efficient way of delivering the at least one service or product request. The processing module (304) further comprises of the computational module (CM) (310); and the in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312).

[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, the optimal scheduling and assignment of the at least one service or product request to the responder may be done based on a plurality of factors, such as nearest responder location of the user. The nearest responder may be identifying along with the responder which may be the best fit to take up the service or product request given the pre-determined schedule, while ensuring that the travel time is minimized and service time is maximized; thereby optimizing the entire logistics on real time, making it efficient and cost effective. The system (200) may provide details of the responder to the user on real time basis, which may allow the user to track the service or product request right from tracking the responder approaching the user’s location to execute the service, such as delivery, pick-up, or a combination thereof. The capacity of the responder may be accurately predicted and planned accordingly, which refers to the capacity of the responder. The responders may also be known as field staff to service the users. These responders may also be referred to as delivery staff, working in shifts. The responders may get hired on an hourly basis to take care of the peak loading hours. Based on the demand in terms of the service or product request for specific days and time slots which the database (308) of the system (200) stores in the form of historical data on the service or product request, the system (200) may predict the number of the service or product requests that may be expected on a particular day and the time slot. Based on this information, the system (200) may plan for additional capacity for few days and time slots where spikes in the service or product request bookings may be expected.

[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, the computational module (CM) (310) may be adapted for determining and selecting the responder best fit to take up the at least one service or product request from the user, based on responder’s predetermined schedule, temporal and geo spatial filtering. The computational module (CM) (310) may manage the in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312) internally, which in turn helps the computational module (CM) (310) to respond to the service or product request with extremely low response time.

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, the in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312) may be adapted for predicting the required capacity and sending the at least one service or product request to the identified responder, wherein the identified responder delivers the at least one service or product request from the user at a pre scheduled time. The in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312) may be adapted to store the scheduling and information pertaining to the at least one service or product request in a hierarchical manner. It starts with the zones, each zone may have time slots, each time slot may have a list of responders available for the slot and each responder may have a list of service and/or product requests in the order that the responder has to service.

[0040] In another embodiment of the present invention, the computational module (CM) (310) may calculate the capacity on an hourly basis by picking up the data from a roster. The roster may also be very dynamic in the sense that the responder may be added or deleted at any point in time as per the availability and the same may get reflected on the in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312) in real time. The in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312) may then consider the real time capacity for an hourly slot and provides the Availability/ETA for that slot. The in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312) may dynamically allocate the service or product request a periodic basis to the identified responder. The system (200) may identify this relationship between the responder and the user and does the allocation accordingly. The system (200) may align the responder based on the type the service or product requested by the user.

[0041] In another embodiment of the present invention, to optimize the logistic, the system (200) may propose promotional offers dynamically, which may help the user to get discounts by aligning the service or product request schedules to the advantage of the system (200) thereby optimizing the logistics. These offers may be generated dynamically depending on the current service or product requests.

[0042] In another embodiment of the present invention, the system (200) may get dynamically updated based on the status of the service or product request and the position of the responder in such a manner that the available capacity for that responder gets dynamically updated. This may overcome the factor that the actual coverage of the service or product request by the responder on the ground can be at variance with the planned schedule.

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, the tracking module (306) may be adapted for connecting, tracking and monitoring with a responder in real time. The tracking module (306) may further adapted for determining the best position to place the responder depending on demand, alert the system (200) if there are any deviations or delays to the planned schedule and suggest corrective measures in case of unexpected delays in delivering the at least one service or product request.

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the responder module (214) may be adapted for enabling the responder to deliver the at least one service or product request assigned thereto to the user, updating the status of the service or product request, capturing the current location of the responder and interacting with the system (200) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled responder’s mobile communication device. The status of at least one service or product request may be updated, the current location of the responder may be captured and interaction with the system (200) may be achieved using the responder module (214).

[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, the database (308) may be adapted for storing information pertaining to a plurality of users and a plurality of responders located within a specific geographical location, pre-determined zones and allocated pre-determined number of responders to each zone, captured and validated service or product request by the user, the plurality of user details, optimally scheduled and assigned service or product request to the responder, responder information in real time, status of the service or product request.

[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, the best position to place the responders may be determined depending on demand, alert the system (200) if there are any deviations or delays to the planned schedule and suggest corrective measures in case of unexpected delays in delivering the at least one service or product request.
,CLAIMS:I/ WE CLAIM

1. A method for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user, the method comprising processor implemented steps of:

a. capturing and validating at least one service or product request by the user using a user module (202) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled user’s mobile communication device;
b. receiving the captured and validated at least one service or product request by the user along with a plurality of user details using a booking module (302);
c. scheduling optimally and assignment of the at least one service or product request to a responder based on temporal and geo spatial filtering using a processing module (304);
d. connecting, tracking and monitoring the responder in real time using a tracking module (306); and
e. enabling the responder to deliver the at least one service or product request assigned thereto to the user, updating the status of at least one service or product request, capturing the current location of the responder and interacting with the system (200) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled responder’s mobile communication device using a responder module (214).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one service or product request by the user comprises of a selected date and time slot each for pickup, delivery and combination thereof , wherein the selected slots are dynamically calculated and managed by the system (200).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capturing and validating at least one service or product request by the user is based on a plurality of factors selected from a group comprising user type, zone type, order type, service or product type and a combination thereof.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of user details are selected from a group comprising of at least one service or product request, schedule, location, and capacity of the at least one service or product request to be placed.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optimal scheduling and assignment of the at least one service or product request to the responder is done based on a plurality of factors selected from a group comprising nearest responder location of the user, pre-determined schedule and capacity of the responder, demand in terms of the service or product request for specific days and time slots, historical data of service or product request, optimized routing for the quickest and most efficient way of delivering the at least one service or product request.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises of determining and selecting the responder best fit identify the responder to take up the service or product request from the user, based on responder’s predetermined schedule, temporal and geo spatial filtering using a computational module (CM) (310).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises of predicting required capacity and sending the at least one service or product request to the identified responder, wherein the identified responder delivers the at least one service or product request from the user at a pre scheduled time using an in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises of determining best position to place the responders depending on demand, alert the system (200) if there are any deviations or delays to the planned schedule and suggest corrective measures in case of unexpected delays in delivering the at least one service or product request.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises updating the status of at least one service or product request, capturing the current location of the responder and interacting with the system (200) using the responder module (214).

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user and the responder are located within a geographical location, divided into pre-determined zones and allocates a pre-determined number of responders to each zone.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises of storing information pertaining to a plurality of users and a plurality of responders located within a specific geographical location, pre-determined zones and allocated pre-determined number of responders to each zone, the captured and validated service or product request by the user, the plurality of user details, optimally scheduled and assigned service or product request to the responder, responder information in real time, status of the service or product request using a database (308).

12. A system (200) for providing on demand logistic infrastructure service for at least one service or product request by a user; the system (200) comprises of:

a. a user module (202), adapted for capturing and validating the at least one service or product request by the user via a mobile application residing in a network enabled user’s mobile communication device;
b. a booking module (302), adapted for receiving the captured and validated at least one service or product request by the user along with the user details pertaining to the at least one service or product request, schedule, location, and capacity of the at least one service or product request to be placed;
c. a processing module (304) , adapted for optimal scheduling and assignment of the at least one service or product request to a responder based on temporal and geo spatial filtering;
d. a tracking module (306), adapted for connecting, tracking and monitoring with a responder in real time;
e. a responder module (214), adapted for enabling the responder to deliver the at least one service or product request assigned thereto to the user, updating the status of at least one service or product request, capturing the current location of the responder and interacting with the system (200) via a mobile application residing in a network enabled responder’s mobile communication device; and
f. a database (308), adapted for storing information pertaining to a plurality of users and a plurality of responders located within a specific geographical location, pre-determined zones and allocated pre-determined number of responders to each zone, captured and validated service or product request by the user, the plurality of user details, optimally scheduled and assigned service or product request to the responder, responder information in real time, status of the service or product request.

13. The system (200) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processing module (304) further comprises of:

a. a computational module (CM) (310), adapted for determining and selecting the responder best fit to take up the at least one service or product request from the user, based on responder’s predetermined schedule, temporal and geo spatial filtering; and
b. an in-memory logistic module (IMLM) (312), adapted for predicting the required capacity and sending the service or product request to the identified responder, wherein the identified responder delivers the service or product request from the user at a pre scheduled time.

14. The system (200) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the a tracking module (306) is further adapted for determining best position to place the responder depending on demand, alert the system (200) if there are any deviations or delays to the planned schedule and suggest corrective measures in case of unexpected delays in delivering the at least one service or product request.