Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a predictive delivery planning system that includes a forecaster that predicts simulated orders (e.g., forecasted orders) for multiple different demand scenarios. Once the simulated orders are selected, a route planner can generate routes for delivering the simulated and actual customer orders for each scenario. The planning system then converts these routes in labor plans indicating the amount of time a delivery driver would need to deliver the orders. The planning system identifies a set of labor blocks from the labor plans and determines whether these blocks satisfy a utilization threshold. Put differently, the planning system uses a releasing policy that releases labor blocks whose expected utilization is higher than a predetermined threshold. The released labor blocks are then displayed to delivery drivers who can then select how many of the labor blocks they would like to work.

Abstract: A system and method for capacity management based on location and status of flexible (e.g., non-scheduled) service resources. Features are included to determine if the system can accept a request for a pick-up point (e.g., a restaurant, a quick order fulfillment center, grocery store, network location) based on the density, type and characteristics of the delivery resources in proximity (e.g., time and/or distance) to the pick-up point. The system also leverages historic delivery performance of the resources to assess whether to offer service or a service level for a given request.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for tunneling operating codes to and from a call server in a packet network. A signaling package for the Megaco/H.248 protocol is provided which encapsulates or “tunnels” control and signaling codes for an endpoint device so that the codes can be communicated between a call server and the device. Only the call server and the endpoint device need have the intelligence to interpret the operating codes. Where the device is a programmable phone, the call server can be provisioned to understand and control specialized functions of the phone without adding new, telephone specific signaling to the standard Megaco/H.248 protocol for each type of phone to be supported. The media gateway that serves the specific telephone in question simply passes on any operating codes received.