Two-pass harmonized tariff schedule classification

• US 20050033592A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Potts, Tom, Peach, Laurie, Holmes, Frederic, Halterman, Matt, Uy, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/331
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A Two-Pass Harmonized Tariff Schedule Classification system and method is disclosed using an integrated Trade Compliance System (TCS). A classification analyst may preliminarily classify each product by comparing information about each product with information concerning HTS codes. The analyst may store these classifications in a repository in the TCS database. Subsequently, the information in the repository input by the analyst may be reviewed during a second pass by other personnel. The other personnel can review the information in the database for accuracy, taking into account other bases for classification.

Claims

1. A two-pass method for Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications using a software user interface to an electronic database system for storing and classifying HTS codes for importing products, comprising:

analyzing, by a first person, information published by U.S. Customs pertinent to classifications of HTS codes and assigning, based on an analysis of the information, respective HTS codes to the products;

storing each assignment into a classification repository of the electronic database system using the software user interface at a first terminal;

accessing, by a second person different from the first person, the classification repository of the electronic database system using the software user interface at a second terminal, the accessing by the second person being subsequent to the storing of the assignments;

reviewing, by the second person, the assignments for accuracy; and

entering, by the second person into the classification repository using the software user interface at the second terminal, one or more changes to the assignments stored by the first person.

2. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the reviewing by the second person comprises reviewing data pertinent to Customs classifications that is different from the information pertinent to classifications of HTS codes analyzed by the first person.

3. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing by the first person further comprises consulting, using the software user interface, a reference repository within the electronic database system, the reference repository comprising Customs rulings pertinent to the HTS classifications.

4. The two-pass method of claim 1 wherein the second person is in a supervisory position over the first person.

5. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 further comprising entering, by the first person, a basis for classification for at least some of the assigned classifications.

6. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the information published by Customs pertinent to the HTS classifications resides on one or more repositories in the electronic database system.

7. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the reviewing by the second person further comprises consulting Customs tariff rulings.

8. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the reviewing by the second person further comprises consulting a plurality of bases for classification.

9. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing by the first person further comprises:

selecting an applicable classification group for at least some of the products; and

identifying the applicable HTS codes for the at least some of the products using a decision tree database.

10. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing by the first person further comprises:

identifying an internal code for the products to be imported;

using an internal-to-classification group map to identify the applicable classification group for the products; and

identifying the HTS codes applicable to the products based on information contained in a decision tree database.

11. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the reviewing by the second person further comprises consulting, using the software user interface, an additional data repository comprising Customs entry data.

12. The two-pass classification method of claim 11, wherein the Customs entry data comprises electronically-stored Customs entry packets.

13. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the reviewing by the second person further comprises consulting, using the software user interface, an additional data repository comprising post-entry data.

14. The two-pass classification method of claim 13 wherein the post-entry data comprises data obtained from a receiving entity of the products after importation.

15. The two-pass classification method of claim 14 wherein the data obtained from the receiving entity further comprises the identities and amounts of the imported products.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing of each assignment is performed by the electronic database system.

17. The two-pass classification method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing by the first person further comprises:

consulting a classification database within the electronic database system containing a plurality of product classifications organized in a decision tree with at least a first level and a second level, each product classification being in the first level or in one or more intermediate levels between the first and second level, a plurality of HTS codes being in the second level, and each product classification being linked to a product classification at the one or more intermediate levels or directly to an HTS code at the second level; and

for each product;

starting at the first level of the decision tree by selecting the product classification that best describes the product;

continuing down the tree through any linked intermediate levels by continuing to select the product classifications that best describe the product until arriving at the second level of the tree to a linked HTS code or, where the first level of a product classification is linked directly to the second level, continuing directly to the second level; and

assigning the HTS code at the second level of the tree to the product.

18. A method for classification of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes using a software user interface to an electronic database system, the method comprising:

assigning HTS codes to products to be imported by a first person using the software user interface, the assignments being stored in the electronic database system;

reviewing the assignments by a second person different from the first person; and

entering one or more changes to the assignments into the electronic database system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the assigning further comprises selecting, for each product, an applicable classification group and, based on the classification group, using a decision tree database in the electronic database system to identify a corresponding HTS code.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising entering by the first person a basis for classification for each product.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the second person is in a supervisory position over the first person.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the reviewing further comprises consulting, by the second person, information in the electronic database system comprising Customs entry information.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the Customs entry information comprises Customs entry packets.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the reviewing further comprises consulting, by the second person, information in the electronic database system comprising post-entry data.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the post-entry data comprises data obtained from the receiver of the products after importation.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the data obtained from the receiver of the products comprises the identities and quantities of the received products.

27. Computer-readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program to perform a two-pass method of HTS classification using a software user interface to an electronic database system for storing and classifying HTS codes for importing products, comprising the steps of

enabling a first person to analyze information published by U.S. Customs pertinent to classifications of HTS codes using the software user interface at a first computer terminal and to assign, based on an analysis of the information, HTS codes to the products;

enabling the first person to store each assignment into a classification repository of the electronic database system using the software user interface at the first terminal;

enabling a second person different from the first person to subsequently access the classification repository of the electronic database system using the software user interface at a second computer terminal;

enabling the second person to review the assignments for accuracy; and

enabling the second person to enter, using the software user interface at the second terminal, one or more changes to the assignments stored by the first person.

28. The computer-readable media of claim 27 further comprising instructions for enabling the use of a decision tree database to enable users to identify and assign the HTS codes based on selected classification groups.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 27 further comprising instructions for enabling the use of an internal-to-classification map for enabling users to identify and assign the HTS codes based on internal classifications.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 29, wherein the internal-to-classification map comprises function codes.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 27 wherein the database further comprises data identifying products to be imported.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 31 wherein the database further comprises Customs tariff rulings.

33. A computer system for two-pass Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification comprising:

a database configured to store data comprising HTS classifications;

a first user station configured to enable a first user to assign HTS codes to products to be imported and for storing those assignments in the database.

a second user station different from the first user station configured to enable a second user different from the first user to review the assignments made by the first user and to enter one or more changes to the assignments.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the second user station is further configured to allow the second user to access data pertinent to Customs classifications that is different from information pertinent to classifications of HTS codes accessed by the first user.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein the first user station is further configured to enable the first user to consult Customs rulings pertinent to the HTS classifications.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the second user station is configured for a user that is in a supervisory position over the user.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein the first user station is configured to enable the first user to assign a basis for classification for at least some of the assigned classifications and to store that basis in the database.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein the second user station is further configured to permit the second user to review Customs tariff rulings.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein the first user station is further configured to enable the first user to select an applicable classification group for at least some of the products and to identify the applicable HTS codes for the at least some of the products using a decision tree database.