Systems and methods for dynamically updating a dispatch plan

A method for processing service-related update data directed to a dispatch plan in a portable computing device, the method comprising executing a microprocessor located in the portable computing device to perform 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;
• determining whether the service-related update data modifies a service commitment associated with a record of the dispatch plan;
• determining whether the service commitment is likely to be met based on a comparison of a current value with an expected value, wherein the expected value is determined at least by calculating a ratio of completed service stops relative to a total number of service stops;
• identifying 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 contents of the first record in the dispatch plan using the service-related update data;
• storing the modified dispatch plan in the memory;
• and
• notifying a user of a modification of the dispatch plan;
• wherein the current value comprises a current time and the expected value comprises an expected time, or the current value comprises a current location and the expected value comprises an expected location.

A method of triggering a process of updating a dispatch plan, the method comprising executing a microprocessor located in a portable computing device to perform the steps of:

• receiving wirelessly transmitted dispatch update data at the portable computing device, the dispatch update data comprising 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 based on at least a ratio of completed service stops relative to a total number of service stops;
• triggering the process of updating the dispatch plan resulting in reordering the records in the first set of records to produce an updated dispatch plan;
• storing the updated dispatch plan in the memory in the portable computing device;
• and
• notifying a user of the portable computing device of the production of the updated dispatch plan.

A system 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 dispatch plan update message in the memory, the dispatch plan update message modifying a first record in the dispatch plan, the dispatch plan update message indicating either a first address or a first package identification data;
• a processor configured to:
• identify the first record in the dispatch plan;
• use the dispatch plan update message to produce a modified first record;
• store the modified first record in the dispatch plan;
• generate a first set of display signals based on the modified first record;
• periodically obtain a current time data and determine a current dispatch plan schedule status based on the current time data and an expected time, wherein the expected time is determined at least by calculating a ratio of completed service stops relative to a total number of service stops;
• and
• provide a second set of display signals indicating the current dispatch plan schedule status to a display;
• and
• the display capable of receiving the first set of display signals and the second set of display signals, and presenting, to a driver of the service delivery vehicle, the dispatch plan update message, including one of the first address or the first package identification data.