System and method for shipping material
First Claim
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1. A method for shipping material, comprising:
- submitting a shipment request, said request containing shipment information;
generating domestic and international control characteristics;
accessing a delegation database to determine ownership of said control characteristics;
automatically forwarding said control characteristics to control points;
automatically notifying processing parties of approvals;
automatically providing processing parties with documentation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipping material and auditing said method.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for interactive inquiry and editing throughout the life cycle of the shipping request by the requester and various approving managers. Once the request is approved, shipping labels are automatically printed, and any necessary domestic or export documentation is electronically prepared by the application software. The application is adapted to provide each processing or approving party with the created shipping documentation upon request. All information received and relied upon by this process is saved in a database for tracking the shipping material, and for auditing the shipping process.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for shipping material, comprising:
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submitting a shipment request, said request containing shipment information;
generating domestic and international control characteristics;
accessing a delegation database to determine ownership of said control characteristics;
automatically forwarding said control characteristics to control points;
automatically notifying processing parties of approvals;
automatically providing processing parties with documentation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipping material and auditing said method. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for electronically acquiring request and authorization information and documentation for the shipping of material, comprising:
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providing an electronic database adapted to receive a shipping instruction from a requester;
verifying said requester;
providing fields in said electronic database for approvals of said shipping instruction;
notifying said requester'"'"'s approving manager or approving manager designee of said request for an initial approval;
providing for a document link within said electronic database to view said request;
prompting said approving manager or said approving manager designee to assign a status for said request;
notifying next required approving manager or next required approving manager designee after said initial approval;
prompting said requester to prepare documents for moving goods and materials to a designated shipping location;
notifying said requester continuously via electronic mail of the status of said request;
notifying said requester of approved request after all approvals have been granted;
generating shipping documentation at said requester'"'"'s initiation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipment material and auditing said method. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for shipping material, said method steps comprising:
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submitting a shipment request, said request containing shipment information;
generating domestic and international control characteristics;
accessing a delegation database to determine ownership of said control characteristics;
automatically forwarding said control characteristics to control points;
automatically notifying processing parties of approvals;
automatically providing processing parties with documentation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipping material and auditing said method.
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30. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for shipping material, said method steps comprising:
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providing an electronic database adapted to receive a shipping instruction from a requester;
verifying said requester;
providing fields in said electronic database for approvals of said shipping instruction;
notifying said requester'"'"'s approving manager or approving manager designee of said request for an initial approval;
providing for a document link within said electronic database to view said request;
prompting said approving manager or said approving manager designee to assign a status for said request;
notifying next required approving manager or next required approving manager designee after said initial approval;
prompting said requester to prepare documents for moving goods and materials to a designated shipping location;
notifying said requester continuously via electronic mail of the status of said request;
notifying said requester of approved request after all approvals have been granted;
generating shipping documentation at said requester'"'"'s initiation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipment material and auditing said method.
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31. A system for coordinating and approving shipping information for the shipment of goods and materials, said system comprising:
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a server having central computer processing capabilities, adapted to perform the following functions;
generating domestic and international control characteristics;
accessing a delegation database to determine ownership of said control characteristics;
automatically forwarding said control characteristics to control points;
automatically notifying processing parties of approvals;
automatically providing processing parties with documentation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipment and auditing said method; and
a plurality of interactive input/output sites attached to said server for inputting and reviewing shipment requests.
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32. A system for coordinating and approving shipping requests for the shipment of goods and materials, said system comprising:
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a server having central computer processing capabilities, adapted to perform the following functions;
providing an electronic database adapted to receive a shipping instruction from a requester;
verifying said requester;
providing fields in said electronic database for approvals of said shipping instruction;
notifying said requester'"'"'s approving manager or approving manager designee of said request for an initial approval;
providing for a document link within said electronic database to view said request;
prompting said approving manager or said approving manager designee to assign a status for said request;
notifying next required approving manager or next required approving manager designee after said initial approval;
prompting said requester to prepare documents for moving goods and materials to a designated shipping location;
notifying said requester continuously via electronic mail of the status of said request;
notifying said requester of approved request after all approvals have been granted;
generating shipping documentation at said requester'"'"'s initiation; and
storing in a database information for tracking said shipment and auditing said method; and
a plurality of interactive input/output sites attached to said server for inputting and reviewing said shipment instruction.
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Specification