System and method for management of commodity shipment data
First Claim
1. A loader data management system for gathering and managing data relating to a commodity shipment loaded onto a transport vehicle by a loader, said system comprising:
- (a) a loader computer mounted on the loader, said loader computer having a loader database;
(b) shipment data input means, for entering commodity shipment data in the loader database;
(c) shipment data output means, for recording data from the loader database onto a portable data storage medium; and
(d) a power source.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A commodity shipment data management system includes a loader computer for storage of shipment data in a loader database. The system prompts the user to enter values for shipment data parameters, and prevents entry of invalid values. Data may also be entered remotely by wireless transmission. A GPS receiver collects loader location data and sends it to the loader computer. An output device records shipment data on a portable data storage medium which accompanies the shipment and is read into a destination weighscale computer. The system minimizes manual entry and transfer of data, reducing the risk of human error in data entry, and enhancing the reliability of the data. The GPS data facilitates verification of the geographical source and chain of custody of the shipped commodity, and, combined with data gathered by loader function sensors, facilitates detection of errors and fraudulent activity in connection with commodity shipments.
20 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A loader data management system for gathering and managing data relating to a commodity shipment loaded onto a transport vehicle by a loader, said system comprising:
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(a) a loader computer mounted on the loader, said loader computer having a loader database;
(b) shipment data input means, for entering commodity shipment data in the loader database;
(c) shipment data output means, for recording data from the loader database onto a portable data storage medium; and
(d) a power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A scale data management system for recording data relating to a commodity shipment delivered to a weigh scale on a transport vehicle, said system comprising:
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(a) a scale computer associated with the weigh scale, said scale computer having a scale database; and
(b) shipment data input means, for receiving data relating to the commodity shipment and for recording said data in the scale database. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A data management system for gathering and managing data relating to a commodity shipment loaded onto a transport vehicle by a loader and delivered to a weigh scale, said system comprising:
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(a) a loader computer mounted on the loader, said loader computer having a loader database;
(b) shipment data input means, for entering commodity shipment data in the loader database;
(c) shipment data output means, for recording data from the loader database onto a portable data storage medium;
(d) a power source;
(e) GPS receiving apparatus mounted on the loader and in electronic communication with the loader computer, for receiving GPS data corresponding to the geographical coordinates of the loader at the beginning and end of selected time intervals, and for recording said GPS data in the loader database;
(f) a scale computer associated with a weigh scale, said scale computer having a scale database; and
(g) shipment data input means, for receiving data relating to the commodity shipment and for recording said data in the scale database.
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33. A method of analyzing data relating to the operation of a commodity loader, said data including GPS data corresponding to the geographical coordinates of the loader at the beginning and end of selected time intervals over a selected sampling period, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) calculating the distance between the loader'"'"'s location at the beginning and end of each time interval in the sampling period; and
(b) calculating the average travel speed of the loader during each time interval. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification