System, method and associated software for managing the transportation of goods

• US 20060074791A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John A. Jelaco
• Original Assignee: John A. Jelaco
• Inventors: Jelaco, John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/953,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A macro-collaboration solution is provided through which trading partners in the transportation and logistics industry can efficiently exchange contractual, order and financial information facilitating the movement of shipments over the road, or through intermodal means. A combination of web portals and wireless devices are leveraged by this marketplace to offer trading partners a means for real-time acquisition of information critical to supply chain, decision support, shipment visibility, asset tracking, and exception management.

Claims

1. A method of using a computer network including a server, database and user terminal to arrange for the shipment of goods for the benefit of a party, said method comprising:

associating in the database, the party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods;

associating in the database, a plurality of core service providers with the party, the association including data indicative of a commitment of a quantity of shipment orders the party expects to dispatch to the core provider for a particular lane;

presenting at the user terminal, a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party;

receiving at the server, a shipment order from the user terminal including data indicative of a selected lane;

searching the database for core service providers with which the party has an unfilled commitment quantity for the selected lane; and

outputting to the user terminal, data indicative of the located core service providers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, associating in the database, transport capability requirements with the lanes associated with the party.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the transport capability requirements includes mode of transportation, equipment type and equipment requirement.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the shipment order screen further includes a menu of ancillary order information comprising at least one of shipment information, appointment information, cargo information, equipment requirement information and service requirement information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the commitment of a quantity comprises a number of shipment orders within a time period.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the commitment of a quantity comprises a percentage of shipment orders within a time period.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein data indicative of the located core service providers comprises data indicative of unfilled commitment quantity.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein associating a plurality of core service providers with the party comprises storing data in the database indicative of a contract between the core service providers and the party for the lane.

10. A system for arranging for the shipment of goods for the benefit of a party, said system comprising:

a database including a first database component associating the party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods and a second database component associating a plurality of core service providers with the party, the association including data indicative of a commitment of a quantity of shipment orders the party expects to dispatch to the core provider for a particular lane;

a user terminal programmed to present a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party and to output data indicative of a shipment order; and

a server programmed to;

receive the shipment order from the user terminal including data indicative of a selected lane;

search the database for core service providers with which the party has an unfilled commitment quantity for the selected lane; and

output to the user terminal, data indicative of the located core service providers.

9. The method of claim 10 wherein the contract information comprises service provider rates and the method further comprises outputting to the user terminal the rates associated with the located core service providers.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

associating a party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods;

associating a plurality of core service providers with the party, the association including data indicative of a commitment of a quantity of shipment orders the party expects to dispatch to the core provider for a particular lane;

presenting a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party;

in response to a lane selection, searching the database for core service providers with which the party has an unfilled commitment quantity for the selected lane; and

outputting data indicative of the located core service providers.

12. A method of using a computer network including a server, database and user terminal to arrange for the shipment of goods for the benefit of a party, said method comprising:

associating in the database, the party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods, each lane having further associated transport capability requirements;

associating in the database, a plurality of core service providers with the party;

associating in the database, a plurality of spot market service providers with data indicative of spot market parameters including lanes serviced and at least one of rate, transport type, equipment type, transport time and capacity;

presenting at the user terminal, a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party;

receiving at the server, a shipment order from the user terminal including data indicative of a selected lane;

searching the database for core service providers associated with the party based on the selected lane;

if no core service provider is located, searching for spot market service providers based on the selected lane and its associated transport capability requirements; and

outputting to the user terminal, data indicative of the located service providers.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the transport capabilities includes mode of transportation, equipment type and equipment-requirement capabilities available from the service provider on the lane.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the transport requirements include mode of transport, equipment type and equipment requirement.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the association between the party and the core service providers includes data indicative of a commitment of a quantity of shipment orders the party expects to dispatch to the core provider for a lane and searching further comprises searching the database for core service providers with which the party has an unfilled commitment quantity.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising storing in the database, data indicative of a quantity of shipment orders the party expects to dispatch to spot market service providers.

17. A system for arranging for the shipment of goods for the benefit of a party, said system comprising:

a database including a first database component associating the party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods, each lane having further associated transport capability requirements, a second database component associating a plurality of core service providers with the party and a third database component associating a plurality of spot market service providers with data indicative of spot market parameters including lanes serviced and at least one of rate, transport type, equipment type, transport time and capacity;

a user terminal programmed to present a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party and to output data indicative of a shipment order; and

a server programmed to;

receive a shipment order from the user terminal including data indicative of a selected lane;

search the database for core service providers associated with the party based on the selected lane;

if no core service provider is located, search for spot market service providers based on the selected lane and its associated transport capability requirements; and

output to the user terminal, data indicative of the located service providers.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

associating a plurality of core service providers with the party;

associating a plurality of spot market service providers with data indicative of spot market parameters including lanes serviced and at least one of rate, transport type, equipment type, transport time and capacity;

presenting a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party;

in response to a lane selection, searching the database for core service providers associated with the party based on the selected lane;

if no core service provider is located, searching for spot market service providers based on the selected lane and its associated transport capability requirements; and

outputting data indicative of the located service providers.

19. A method of using a computer network including a server, database and user terminal to arrange for the shipment of goods for the benefit of a party, said method comprising:

associating in the database, the party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods, each lane having further associated transport capability requirements and service areas;

associating in the database, a plurality of spot market service providers with data indicative of spot market parameters including lanes serviced and at least one of rate, transport type, equipment type, transport time and capacity;

presenting at the user terminal, a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party;

receiving at the server, a shipment order from the user terminal including data indicative of a selected lane;

searching the database for spot market service providers based on the selected lane and its associated transport capability requirements and service areas; and

outputting to the user terminal, data indicative of the located service providers.

20. A system for arranging for the shipment of goods for the benefit of a party, said system comprising:

a database including a first database component associating the party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods, each lane having further associated transport capability requirements and service areas and a second database component associating a plurality of spot market service providers with data indicative of spot market parameters including lanes serviced and at least one of rate, transport type, equipment type, transport time and capacity;

a user terminal programmed to present a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party; and

a server programmed to;

receive a shipment order from the user terminal including data indicative of a selected lane;

search the database for spot market service providers based on the selected lane and its associated transport capability requirements and service areas; and

output to the user terminal, data indicative of the located service providers.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

associating a party with a plurality of lanes along which the party may desire to transport goods, each lane having further associated transport capability requirements and service areas;

associating a plurality of spot market service providers with data indicative of spot market parameters including lanes serviced and at least one of rate, transport type, equipment type, transport time and capacity;

presenting a shipment order screen including a menu of the lanes associated with the party;

in response to a lane selection, searching the database for spot market service providers based on the selected lane and its associated transport capability requirements and service areas; and

outputting to the user terminal, data indicative of the located service providers.

22. A method of monitoring the transport of goods for the benefit of a party between an origin and a destination over a computer network including a server, database and user terminal accessible by the party, said method comprising:

storing data in the database indicative of the expected average transit times from the origin to the destination along a transit route having a plurality of segments, including expected average times to travel the entire route and expected average times to travel the segments;

periodically receiving data indicative of the location of the goods and the time at the location;

based on the location and time data, determining the segment of the transit route traveled and the time taken to travel that segment;

comparing the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment; and

outputting a notification to the user terminal if the determined time exceeds the expected time by a threshold value.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein periodically receiving location and time data from the goods comprises:

associating a location tracking device with the goods; and

transmitting the location and time data using the tracking device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the tracking device is a GPS device.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the expected average times stored in the database have an associated time of departure from the origin and the method further comprises:

receiving data indicative of the time of departure of the goods from the origin and

comparing the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment and the time of departure.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein storing data comprises:

collecting transit time data for a transit route over a period of time;

calculating the average time using the collected data; and

storing the average time in the data base as the expected average time.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the period of time comprises a seasonal component and the data stored in the database includes expected average times for each seasonal component.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the seasonal component comprises a calendar month.

29. A system for monitoring the transport of goods for the benefit of a party between an origin and a destination, said system comprising:

a user terminal accessible by the party;

a database including data indicative of the expected average transit times from the origin to the destination along a transit route having a plurality of segments, including expected average times to travel the entire route and expected average times to travel the segments; and

a server programmed to;

periodically receive data indicative of the location of the goods and the time at the location;

based on the location and time data, determine the segment of the transit route traveled and the time taken to travel that segment;

compare the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment; and

output a notification to the user terminal if the determined time exceeds the expected time by a threshold value.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method in conjunction with a database including data indicative of the expected average transit times from the origin to the destination along a transit route having a plurality of segments, including expected average times to travel the entire route and expected average times to travel the segments, said method comprising:

based on data indicative of the location of the goods and the time at the location, determining the segment of the transit route traveled and the time taken to travel that segment;

comparing the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment; and

outputting a notification if the determined time exceeds the expected time by a threshold value.

31. A method of monitoring the transport of goods for the benefit of a party between an origin and a destination over a computer network including a server, database and user terminal accessible to be party, said method comprising:

storing data in the database indicative of the expected average transit times from the origin to the destination along a plurality of transit routes each having a plurality of segments, including expected average times to travel the entire route and expected average times to travel the segments;

periodically receiving data indicative of the location of the goods and the time at the location;

based on the location and time data, determining the transit route being traveled, the segment of the transit route being traveled and the time taken to travel that segment;

comparing the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment; and

outputting a notification to the user terminal if the determined time exceeds the expected time by a threshold value.

32. A system for monitoring the transport of goods for the benefit of a party between an origin and a destination, said system comprising:

a user terminal accessible by the party;

a database including data indicative of the expected average transit times from the origin to the destination along a plurality of transit routes each having a plurality of segments, including expected average times to travel the entire route and expected average times to travel the segments; and

a server programmed to;

periodically receive data indicative of the location of the goods and the time at the location;

based on the location and time data, determine the transit route being traveled, the segment of the transit route being traveled and the time taken to travel that segment;

compare the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment; and

output a notification to the user terminal if the determined time exceeds the expected time by a threshold value.

33. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method in conjunction with a database including data indicative of the expected average transit times from the origin to the destination along a plurality of transit routes each having a plurality of segments, including expected average times to travel the entire route and expected average times to travel the segments, said method comprising:

in response to data indicative of the location of the goods and the time at the location, determining the transit route being traveled, the segment of the transit route being traveled and the time taken to travel that segment;

comparing the determined time with the expected time associated with the determined transit route segment; and

outputting a notification if the determined time exceeds the expected time by a threshold value.

34. A method of collecting and presenting data related to the transport of goods by a service provider between an origin and a destination using a computer network including a server, database and user terminal, said method comprising:

receiving at the network, data indicative of the time the service provider arrived at the origin;

receiving at the network, data indicative of the time the service provider arrived at the destination;

comparing the origin arrival time with an origin appointment time;

comparing the destination arrival time with a destination appointment time; and

assigning a rating to the service provider based on the comparison.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein assigning a rating comprises:

assigning a running total point value to a service provider;

determining a point value using the comparisons; and

adjusting the running total point value by the determined point value.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising associating a rating indicator with the running total point value.

37. A system for collecting and presenting data related to the transport of goods by a service provider between an origin and a destination, said system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting data indicative of the time the service provider arrived at the origin and the time the service provider arrived at the destination;

a server in communication with the transmitter to receive the transmitted data and programmed to;

compare the origin arrival time with an origin appointment time;

compare the destination arrival time with a destination appointment time; and

assign a rating to the service provider based on the comparison.

38. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

receiving data indicative of the time the service provider arrived at the origin;

receiving data indicative of the time the service provider arrived at the destination;

comparing the origin arrival time with an origin appointment time;

comparing the destination arrival time with a destination appointment time; and

assigning a rating to the service provider based on the comparison.

39. A method of monitoring and managing the shipment of goods on a piece of equipment from an origin to a destination using a computer network including a server and a wireless communications device associated with the equipment, said method comprising:

transmitting notification data of an assigned dispatch from the server to the wireless device;

upon receipt of the notification data, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including a notification menu including a dispatch summary and a means to access full dispatch details;

at the wireless device, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the notification menu including an acceptance or rejection of the dispatch and transmitting the data to the server;

at the server, reading the acceptance/rejection data and, if the data is indicative of an acceptance, allowing downloading of the full dispatch details to the wireless device, if the data is indicative of a rejection, preventing downloading of the full dispatch details to the wireless device;

upon acceptance of the dispatch, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including an origin arrival checkpoint menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing arrival at the origin and sending origin arrival data to the server including a dispatch identifier, GPS data and a timestamp

upon sending origin arrival information to the server, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including a bill of lading menu including a plurality of line items, assembling data indicative of a response to each of the line items and sending the data to the server

upon sending the bill of lading data to the server, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including an origin departure checkpoint menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing departure from the origin and sending origin departure data to the server including a dispatch identifier, GPS data and a timestamp

upon sending origin departure data to the server, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including a destination arrival checkpoint menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing arrival at the destination and sending destination arrival data to the server including a dispatch identifier, GPS data and a timestamp

upon sending the destination arrival data to the server, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including a delivery receipt menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing delivery of the shipment at the destination and sending the delivery receipt data to the server including dispatch identifier and recipient name.

upon sending the delivery receipt data to the server, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including a destination departure menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing departure from the destination and sending destination departure data to the server including a dispatch identifier, GPS data and a timestamp.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising, upon acceptance of the dispatch, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including a shipment condition menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing any one of overage, shortage or damage of the shipment and sending the data to the server including condition type and disposition.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the data further includes an image of the condition.

42. The method of claim 39 further comprising, upon acceptance of the dispatch, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including an accessorial menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing an accessorial event and sending the data to the server including accessorial type.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the data further includes an image representative of a mechanical breakdown associated with the equipment.

44. The method of claim 39 further comprising, upon acceptance of the dispatch, presenting at the wireless device a user interface including an equipment issues menu, assembling data indicative of user interaction with the menu representing an equipment issue and sending the data to the server including equipment type.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the data further includes an image of physical damage associated with the equipment.

46. The method of claim 39 wherein the delivery receipt data further includes an image of delivery related documents including any one of a signed delivery receipt, a bill of lading and an order.