System and method for constraint-based reduction of a solution space for vehicle routing

US8386397B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Richa Agarwal · Issaquah, US
• Lin Wan · Bellevue, US
• Jingqiao Zhang · Redmond, US
• Pradeep Desai · Bellevue, US
• Karthik Balasubramanian · San Diego, US
• Michael Bhaskaran · Sherborn, US
• Girish Lakshman · Sammamish, US
• Marc A. Onetto · Mercer Island, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2010
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/047
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Various embodiments of a system and method for constraint-based reduction of a solution space for vehicle routing are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify sets of redundant routes within a solution space. For each given set of redundant routes, the system may utilize one or more constraints associated with conveying shipments on routes of the given set in order to eliminate one or more routes of that set from consideration. For each of multiple routes of the given set that have not been eliminated from consideration, the system may determine a respective cost associated with utilizing that route. The system may also, in response to determining that the cost associated with a particular route that has not been eliminated from consideration is less than the cost associated with other routes that have not been eliminated from consideration, add the particular route to a reduced solution space.