Scheduling delivery of products via the internet

US7139721B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Louis H. Borders · Palo Alto, US
• Sunil Bhargava · Hillsborough, US
• Joyo Wijaya · Menlo Park, US
• Sandeep Nijhawan · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 16, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2006
• Expiry date: May 20, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for scheduling delivery of an order via a wide area network. A computer system associates a customer point value with each customer according to a customer point system. The customer point values is determined with reference to customer order data. The computer system then divides the customers into customer groups, each of which has a range of customer point values. The system determines an actual capacity allocation distribution among the customer groups based on the customer order data. The system adjusts the range of customer point values for customer groups to cause the actual capacity allocation distribution to converge to a target capacity allocation distribution.