Abstract: An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.

Abstract: An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.

Abstract: An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling deliveries, in real time, to be made within one or more delivery time windows. For each requested delivery, the system dynamically determines whether to offer each time delivery window to the customer requesting the delivery based on whether: (1) it would be possible to complete, within the time window, both the requested delivery and all deliveries that were already scheduled to be made within the time window; and (2) it makes business sense to make the delivery within the particular time window. In determining whether it would make business sense to make the delivery within a particular time window, the system considers the cost of making the delivery, various attributes of the customer requesting the delivery, and the percentage of the delivery capacity associated with the delivery wave that has been reserved for previously scheduled deliveries.

Abstract: An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling deliveries, in real time, to be made within one or more delivery time windows. For each requested delivery, the system dynamically determines whether to offer each time delivery window to the customer requesting the delivery based on whether: (1) it would be possible to complete, within the time window, both the requested delivery and all deliveries that were already scheduled to be made within the time window; and (2) it makes business sense to make the delivery within the particular time window. In determining whether it would make business sense to make the delivery within a particular time window, the system considers the cost of making the delivery, various attributes of the customer requesting the delivery, and the percentage of the delivery capacity associated with the delivery wave that has been reserved for previously scheduled deliveries.