Systems and methods for dynamically updating a dispatch plan

A method for servicing a sequence of service stops using a service vehicle, the sequence of service stops indicated by a logical sequence of records in a dispatch plan stored in the memory of a portable computing device comprising the steps of:

• receiving update data wirelessly transmitted to the portable computing device, the update data comprising a first record associated with a service;
• processing the update data using a microprocessor in the portable computing device to identify address data in the first record and an indication that the address data is to be added to the dispatch plan;
• retrieving at least a second record of the dispatch plan from the memory;
• wherein the second record comprises an address field associated with one of the sequence of service stops;
• determining the relative order of the first record with respect to the second record;
• adding the first record to the dispatch plan based on the relative order producing an updated dispatch plan;
• storing the updating dispatch plan in memory;
• notifying a driver of the service vehicle by the portable computing device of the production of the updated dispatch plan;
• and
• viewing by the driver on a display controlled by the portable computing device at least a portion of the updated dispatch plan, the portion of the updated dispatch plan including at least one address associated with one of the sequence of service stops that has not yet been serviced.

A method for processing a service-related update data directed to a dispatch plan in a portable computing device comprising the steps of:

• receiving the service-related update data at the portable computing device, the service-related update data wirelessly transmitted to the portable computing device;
• processing the service-related update data with a microprocessor in the portable computing device to identify address data within the service-related update data wherein the address data is also contained in the dispatch plan;
• identifying a first record in the dispatch plan from a memory in the portable computing device;
• the dispatch plan comprising a file of a sequence of records wherein each record includes an address portion;
• comparing the address data with the address portion associated with the first record in the dispatch plan;
• determining that the address data matches the address portion of the first record;
• modifying the contents of the first record using the service-related update data dispatch plan;
• storing the modified dispatch plan in memory;
• and
• notifying the user of a modification of the dispatch plan.

A method of triggering a process updating a dispatch plan comprising the steps of:

• receiving wirelessly transmitted dispatch update data at a portable computing device, the dispatch update data comprising a service-related data and a first address location;
• identifying a first record in the dispatch plan from a memory in the portable computing device wherein the dispatch plan comprises an ordered sequence of records and wherein each record in the ordered sequence of records comprises an address portion;
• determining the address portion of the first record matches the first address location;
• updating the first record using the service-related data;
• identifying a first set of records in the dispatch plan wherein each record in the first set of records comprises a service completion flag indicating a service stop has not yet been completed;
• examining the first set of records to determine whether completion of a service commitment associated with one of the records is impacted;
• triggering the process updating the dispatch plan resulting in reordering the records in the first set to produce an updated dispatch plan;
• storing the updated dispatch plan in the memory of the portable computing device;
• notifying a user of the portable computing device of the production of the updated dispatch plan.

A method of triggering the update of a dispatch plan comprising the steps of:

• receiving wirelessly transmitted dispatch update data at a portable computing device, the dispatch update data comprising traffic-related data comprising road identification data and traffic condition data associated with the road identification data;
• identifying a first set of logically ordered sequence of records in the dispatch plan wherein each record in the first set contains a flag indicating a service stop that has not yet been serviced and further wherein each record contain an address field;
• determining whether the road identification data impacts performance of a service stop associated with one of the records in the first set of logically ordered sequence of records;
• and
• presenting a second set of records of the dispatch plan to a user along with an indication of the traffic condition data.

A method of presenting traffic related data to a user of a portable computing device storing a dispatch plan comprising the steps of:

• presenting on a display of the portable computing device a first set of ordered records from the dispatch plan;
• receiving wirelessly transmitted dispatch update data at a portable computing device, the dispatch update data comprising traffic-related data comprising location identification data and traffic condition data associated with the location identification data;
• providing a notification to the user of receipt of the traffic related data;
• receiving input from the user requesting presentation of a graphical display;
• and
• presenting a graphical display comprising a map indicating a plurality of roads and a location associated with the location identification data and an indication associated with the traffic condition data.

A method of triggering a process updating a dispatch plan comprising the steps of:

• receiving wirelessly transmitted weather-related data at a portable computing device, the weather related data including at least one location data and weather forecasting data;
• determining that the one location data is within a serving area associated with the dispatch plan;
• defining an impact of the weather forecasting data with respect to completion of a subset of records of the dispatch plan;
• examining a first record in the subset of records to determine if the impact adversely affects a service commitment of the first record;
• notifying a user of the service commitment expected to be missed;
• invoking a dispatch update process creating an updated dispatch plan;
• and
• presenting the updated dispatch plan to the user.

A method of presenting weather related data to a user of a portable computing device storing a dispatch plan comprising the steps of:

• presenting on a display of the portable computing device a first set of ordered records from the dispatch plan;
• receiving wirelessly transmitted weather related data at a portable computing device, the weather related data comprising location identification data and weather condition data associated with the location identification data;
• receiving input from the user requesting presentation of a graphical display of a weather map;
• and
• presenting a graphical display of a weather map comprising a map associated with a serving area of the dispatch plan, the weather map containing indicia associated with the weather condition data.

A method of updating a navigation route presented to a driver navigating a vehicle comprising:

• storing a second stop representing a destination location and a time associated with the second stop, the time indicating a desired arrival time at the second stop;
• presenting navigation information representing a navigation route using a display of a computer to the driver, wherein the navigation route comprises indicia representing roads, an intermediate location representing a first stop, and the destination location;
• receiving input at the computer from a wireless interface indicating a condition impacting the travel time along of the navigation route;
• determining that an expected arrival time at the second stop exceeds the desired arrival time;
• determining the difference between the expected arrival time and the desired arrival time;
• and
• presenting the difference to the driver.

A method for a portable computing device to ascertain a schedule status associated with a dispatch plan comprising a logical ordered plurality of records stored in the memory in the portable computing device, comprising:

• obtaining the current time generated by a real-time clock within the portable computing device;
• identifying a first subset of the plurality of records wherein each record in the first subset has a flag indicating that a service stop associated with the record has not been performed;
• determining a current completion status of the dispatch plan based on the ratio of a first number of records in the first subset and a second number of records in the plurality of records;
• determining an expected time based on the current completion status;
• determining a difference between the expected time and current time exceeds a defined threshold;
• and
• presenting to a user on a display of the portable computing device an indication of a schedule status.

A method for a portable computing device to ascertain a schedule status associated with a dispatch plan comprising a logical ordered plurality of records stored in the memory in the portable computing device, comprising:

• obtaining location data representing the current location coordinates of the portable computing device generated by a GPS-based location determining device located within the portable computing device;
• retrieving a dispatch plan stored in a memory of the portable computing device, the dispatch plan comprising a plurality of records wherein each record comprises location coordinates corresponding to a service stop;
• using the location data to select a record from the plurality of records wherein the location coordinates of the selected record represents the closest service stop with respect to the current location;
• determining a current completion status of the dispatch plan using the selected record;
• using the current completion status to determining an expected time;
• determining if the difference between the expected time and a current time exceeds a defined threshold;
• and
• presenting to a user of the portable computing device an indication of the schedule status.

A method of initiating execution of a dispatch plan optimization process comprising the steps of:

• receiving an input message from a wireless interface on a portable computer, the input message comprising a first service stop data associated with performance of a service;
• identifying a first subset of records in a dispatch plan, the first subset of records each having a completion indicator representing performance of a service has not yet occurred;
• forming a first record based on the input message;
• adding the first record to the first subset based on an order determined in part by the service stop data;
• and
• providing a visual indication on the portable computer to a user, the visual update comprising an address data associated with a second record from the first subset wherein the address data represents a next-to-be performed service stop.

A method of initiating execution of a dispatch updating module comprising the steps of:

• receiving a user input at a portable computing device, the input indicating completion of a service stop;
• retrieving dispatch plan from a memory in the portable computing device, the dispatch plan comprising a plurality of records wherein each record comprises a service stop completion indicator;
• setting the indication of the service stop completion indicator of the record associated with the completion of the service stop;
• determining a relative completion status of the dispatch plan;
• and
• using the relative completion status and current time to determine a schedule status of the dispatch plan;
• and
• presenting an indication to the user on a display of the portable computer that the dispatch plan is behind schedule.

A method of initiating execution of a dispatch updating module comprising the steps of:

• receiving a wireless traffic update message from a wireless interface on a portable computing device, the traffic update message comprising a road identification data;
• retrieving a record from the dispatch plan data from a memory in the portable computer, the record comprising a service stop data, the service stop data comprising an address including a second road identification data, the record further comprising an indication that a service stop associated with the address has not yet been performed;
• determining the road identification data matches the second road identification data;
• and
• providing a text-based notification to a user of the portable computing device of the road identification data.

A method of initiating execution of a dispatch plan updating module comprising the steps of:

• receiving an update input from a user at a portable computing device, the update input indicating completion of a service at a service stop associated with the dispatch plan;
• retrieving the dispatch plan from a memory in the portable computing device;
• updating a record in the dispatch plan indicating the completion of the service stop;
• and
• sending a request to a dispatch updating module to update the dispatch plan.

A method of indicating a location to a user of a portable computer performing a service associated with the location comprising the steps of:

• providing an input to a portable computing device by a user, the input indicating the completion of a task at a first location;
• retrieving a dispatch plan comprising a plurality of records from a memory in the portable computing device;
• selecting a first record associated with the performance of the service associated with the location;
• determining the current time;
• identifying a subset of records from the plurality of records wherein each record in the subset of records has an indication that a service is yet to be performed;
• identifying a service commitment time associated with one of the records in the subset of records;
• determining that a difference between the service commitment time and the current time is less than a threshold;
• and
• presenting to the user using a display on the portable computing an indication that of the of the service commitment time associated with the record.

A method for dispatching a service vehicle for a service stop comprising:

• storing in a portable computer a dispatch plan comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising service stop data, each service stop data comprising an address, each record further associated with a completion flag indicating completion of a service has occurred at the corresponding service stop;
• receiving input at the portable computer from a user setting the completion flag indicating completion of the service associated with one of the corresponding service stop;
• determining a first subset of the plurality of records and a second subset of the plurality of records, wherein each completion flag in the first subset indicates the completion of the service at the corresponding service stop has not occurred;
• invoking a dispatch updating algorithm operating to reorder the logical sequence of records in the first subset of the plurality of records so optimize the traveling time among service stops;
• storing the first subset of the plurality of records and the second subset of the plurality of records to produce an updated dispatch plan;
• identifying a first record in the first subset of the plurality of records;
• and
• presenting on a display of the portable computer a next service stop location data associated with the first record.

A method for dispatching a service vehicle for a service stop comprising:

• storing in a portable computer a dispatch plan comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising service stop data, each service stop data comprising an address, each record further associated with a completion flag indicating completion of a service has occurred at the corresponding service stop;
• receiving input at the portable computer from a user resulting in setting the completion flag of a first record indicating completion of the service associated with one of the corresponding service stop;
• determining a current schedule status based on the current time;
• identifying a second record wherein the second record is logically ordered after the first record;
• and
• presenting on a display of the portable computer the current schedule status along with an address associated with the second record.

A portable device for processing dispatch plan data comprising:

• a memory storing a dispatch plan comprising a logical sequence of records, each record comprising an address portion, a service completion flag, and package identification data;
• a wireless interface capable of receiving a dispatch plan update message, the message comprising a first record and an indication that the first record is to be added to the dispatch plan;
• a processor capable of processing the message, determining the first record is to be added to the dispatch plan in a logical sequence based on a first address data in the address portion of the first record thereby producing an updated dispatch plan, the processor further capable of providing an signal of the production of the update dispatch plan;
• and
• a display capable presenting a visual indicator in response to receiving the signal from the processor, the display further capable of presenting text associated with the first record.

A portable device for processing dispatch plan data comprising:

• a memory storing a dispatch plan comprising a logical sequence of records, each record comprising an address portion, a service completion flag, and package identification data, the memory further storing a graphical information database comprising a roadmap of a serving area associated with the dispatch plan;
• a wireless interface capable of receiving a dispatch plan update message, the message comprising a first record including a first address and an indication that the first record is to be added to the dispatch plan;
• a processor capable of parsing the message, adding the first record to the dispatch plan, retrieving the graphical information database and plotting a location corresponding to the first address on the roadmap, the processor further adapted to generating display signals representing a roadmap and the location;
• and
• a bit-mapped LCD display capable of receiving the display signals and displaying a roadmap with an indication of the location associated with the first record to a user.

A portable device for processing dispatch plan data conveyed in a service delivery vehicle comprising:

• a memory storing a dispatch plan comprising a logical sequence of records, each record comprising an address portion, a service completion flag, and package identification data;
• a wireless interface capable of receiving a dispatch plan update message and storing the message in the memory, the update message modifying a first record in the dispatch plan, the update data further indicating either a first address or a package identification data;
• a processor capable of identifying the first record in the dispatch plan, using the update message to produce a modified first record, the processor further adapted to store the modified first record in the dispatch plan, the processor further adapted to generate display signals based on the modified first record;
• and
• a display capable of receiving the display signals and presenting to a driver of the service vehicle the update data including one of the first address or a package identification data to a user.

A portable device for processing dispatch plan data conveyed in a service delivery vehicle comprising:

• a memory storing a dispatch plan comprising a logical sequence of records, each record comprising an address portion, a service completion flag, and package identification data;
• a wireless interface capable of receiving data impacting a dispatch plan and storing the message in the memory, the message comprising data impacting travel conditions in a service area associated with the dispatch plan;
• a processor adapted to identifying a subset of records in the dispatch plan wherein each record in the subset has a completion flag indicating that a service stop has not been performed, the processor adapted to identify a delivery commitment associated with a first record in the subset of records, the processor further adapted to ascertain the impact of the message on the schedule status of the dispatch plan, the processor further adapter to provides display signals indicating the schedule status;
• and
• a display capable of receiving the display signals and presenting to a driver of the service vehicle a portion of message impacting the dispatch plan.

A portable device for processing dispatch plan data conveyed in a service delivery vehicle comprising:

• a memory storing a dispatch plan comprising a logical sequence of records, each record comprising an address portion, a service completion flag, and package identification data;
• a wireless interface capable of receiving data impacting a dispatch plan and storing the message in the memory, the message comprising location coordinates associated with an traffic-related event impacting travel conditions in a service area associated with the dispatch plan;
• a processor adapted to identifying a subset of records in the dispatch plan wherein each record in the subset has a completion flag indicating that a service stop has not been performed, the processor adapted to generate first display signals conveying a subset of the records, the processor further adapted to determine the location coordinates in the message is in the service area associated with the dispatch plan, the processor further adapted to generate second display signals;
• and
• a display capable of receiving the first display signals and presenting a subset of records in the dispatch plan to the user, the display capable of receiving the second display signals and presenting a graphical roadmap with indicia corresponding to the location coordinate.

A software control module for use in a portable electronic computing device used in connection with scheduling service stops on a service route, wherein the software control modules provides a signal to a dispatch plan update process, comprising the steps of:

• a dispatch module storing a plurality of records wherein each record is associated with a service stop along the service route;
• a position monitoring module determining a current position of the portable electronic device based on input data from one or more position determining devices;
• a comparison module for determining a relative completion status indication based on either the current time or position with respect to a first subset of records selected from the dispatch plan, wherein each record in the first subset of records has a completion indicator set indicating that the respective service stop has been completed;
• and
• a communication module providing the signal to the dispatch plan update process to re-sequence a second subset of the plurality of records wherein each record in the second subset of records has a completion indicator set indicating that the respective service stop has not been completed.

A computer readable media for use in a portable electronic device used to provide dispatch plan data to a user determining whether to invoke a dispatch plan update module, comprising modules of:

• a dispatch plan data storage portion for storing manifest data, wherein said dispatch plan data comprises a plurality of item identifiers, each item identifier associated with address data and a completion flag indicating whether a work task associated the item identifier has been completed;
• an input receiving portion for receiving a manifest update data comprising at least a first address data and a first item identifier;
• and
• a dispatch manager process portion determining, based on the manifest update data, that an updated dispatch plan is required, the processing portion providing the manifest data and the manifest update data to the dispatch plan update module, the dispatch manager providing an indicator to a user of an updated dispatch plan.

A software module for invoking a dispatch plan update process comprising the steps of:

• receiving a dispatch plan update data from a wireless interface on a portable computer wherein the dispatch plan data update comprises first address information associated with a first service stop;
• retrieving dispatch plan data from memory, the dispatch plan data comprising a plurality of records, whereby each record comprises address information;
• determining that the first address information is not indicated in any one of the plurality of records;
• updating the dispatch plan data to add a new record comprising the first address information to produce an updated dispatch plan data;
• and
• providing the updated dispatch plan data to the dispatch plan update process wherein the dispatch plan update process determines whether re-sequencing of the plurality of records is required.