Shipment management system and method

• US 20040068426A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liu, ZeXiong
• Application Number:
  US10/335,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A shipment management system and method for shippers to conduct activities related to shipments is provided. The shipment management system comprises a shipper'"'"'s management information system (10), and it comprises a vessel management module (100) for managing vessel ordering tasks, and for generating a bill of loading according to an ordering list; a loading spot management module (110) for managing loading spot tasks and informing shipping agent information system to provide containers and checking container bills; a document management module (120) for generating a provisional B/L and sending to shipping agent; a transportation management module (130) for searching for transportation information and managing transference case; and a payment management module (140) for managing invoices and payment related to the shipment.

Claims

1. A system for shipment management, the system comprising:

a vessel management module, for managing vessel ordering tasks related to shipment, and for generating a bill of loading according to an ordering list;

a loading spot management module, for managing loading spot tasks, sending container information to a shipping agent, and checking container bills sent by a shipping agent;

a document management module, for generating provisional bills of lading and sending provisional bills of lading to a shipping agent;

a transportation management module, for searching for transportation information related to shipment and for managing transference; and

a payment management module, for managing invoices and payment related to shipment.

2. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the transportation management module comprises a transportation information searching sub-module, for searching a shipping agent information system for transportation information, for searching a container depot information system for information on inbound and outbound movement of goods, and for searching a distribution center information system for stock information.

3. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the transportation management module comprises a transference sub-module, for managing transference.

4. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the shipping agent has a shipping agent information system, and the shipping agent information system is connected with a container depot information system to search for information on inbound and outbound movement of goods.

5. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the shipping agent shipping agent has a shipping agent information system, and the shipping agent information system is connected with a distribution center information system to search for stock information.

6. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the vessel management module generates ordering lists according to shipment schedules.

7. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the loading spot management module generates a container list.

8. The shipment management system as described in claim 1, wherein the document management module generates invoices according to bill of lading.

9. A shipment management method, comprising the following steps:

(a) receiving a shipment schedule, and generating an ordering list accordingly;

(b) generating a bill of loading according to the ordering list, and sending the bill of loading to a shipping agent;

(c) receiving feedback information from the shipping agent;

(d) generating a provisional bill of lading according to stored shipment documents, and sending the provisional bill of lading to the shipping agent; and

(e) receiving a bill of lading sent by the shipping agent, generating an invoice, and sending the bill of lading and the invoice to a buyer.

10. The shipment management method as described in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

sending a container notice to a carrier, and checking a container bill sent by the carrier.

11. The shipment management method as described in claim 9, further comprising confirming the step of:

informing the shipping agent of any transference needed.

12. The shipment management method as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

evaluating feasibility of the transference.

13. The shipment management method as described in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

balancing payment related to shipment.

14. The shipment management method as described in claim 13, wherein

the step of balancing payment is performed based on the invoice.

15. A method of managing shipment for a shipper, comprising steps of:

providing data communication among the shipper, a by-ground carrier and a by-sea shipping agent;

receiving a shipment schedule and generating an ordering list accordingly;

generating a bill of loading according to the ordering list and sending said bill of loading to the shipping agent;

generating a provisional bill of lading accordingly and send said provisional bill of lading to the shipping agent, if the shipping agent sends a positive feedback, with regard to the bill of loading, to the shipper; and

informing the carrier of sending vehicles to a loading spot for loading goods;

wherein

the shipping agent evaluates feasibility of transference and provides the shipper with information regarding corresponding transference fees, if necessary.