METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING PAPERLESS CUSTOMS DOCUMENTATION
First Claim
1. A method of providing paperless customs documentation associated with an international parcel shipment, said method comprising:
- storing shipping data provided by a shipping entity and associated with the parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data;
verifying that the destination country accepts electronic customs documentation; and
creating an electronic invoice from the shipping data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and computer program product for providing paperless customs documentation associated with an international parcel shipment. In various embodiments, the method comprises storing shipping data associated with a parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data, verifying that the destination country accepts electronic customs documentation, and creating an electronic invoice from the shipping data. In various embodiments, the electronic invoice may be easily accessed, such as being transmitted over a network or stored in an RFID transponder associated with the parcel shipment. As a result, the present invention reduces the costs and shipping times associated with preparing, processing, and receiving international shipments by determining whether a country accepts paperless customs documentation and, if so, providing a variety of functions that streamline the international shipping process.
116 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of providing paperless customs documentation associated with an international parcel shipment, said method comprising:
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storing shipping data provided by a shipping entity and associated with the parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data; verifying that the destination country accepts electronic customs documentation; and creating an electronic invoice from the shipping data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing paperless customs documentation associated with an international parcel shipment, said method comprising:
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storing shipping data associated with the parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data; creating a reference number associated with the parcel shipment; verifying that the destination country accepts electronic customs documentation; creating an electronic invoice from the shipping data; creating an electronic record that includes an image of the electronic invoice, the electronic record having an associated filename that incorporates at least a portion of the reference number; generating a printed label associated with the parcel shipment, wherein the printed label includes a readable indicator indicating that an electronic invoice is associated with the international parcel shipment; transferring the electronic record over a network to a third party, wherein the third party validates the electronic invoice; and transferring the electronic record over a network to a distribution center.
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16. A computer program product for providing paperless customs documentation associated with an international parcel shipment, wherein the computer program product comprises at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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a first executable portion for storing shipping data provided by a shipping entity and associated with the parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data; a second executable portion for verifying that the destination country accepts electronic customs documentation; and a third executable portion for creating an electronic invoice from the shipping data; and - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer program product for providing paperless customs documentation associated with an international parcel shipment, wherein the computer program product comprises at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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a first executable portion for storing shipping data provided by a shipping entity and associated with the parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data; a second executable portion for storing shipping data provided by a shipping entity and associated with the parcel shipment, the shipping data designating a destination country and including invoice data; a third executable portion for creating a reference number associated with the parcel shipment; a fourth executable portion for verifying that the destination country accepts electronic customs documentation; a fifth executable portion for creating an electronic invoice from the shipping data; a sixth executable portion for creating an electronic record that includes an image of the electronic invoice, the electronic record having an associated filename that incorporates at least a portion of the reference number; a seventh executable portion generating a printed label associated with the parcel shipment, wherein the printed label includes a readable indicator indicating that an electronic invoice is associated with the international parcel shipment; an eighth executable portion for transferring the electronic record over a network to a third party, wherein the third party validates the electronic invoice; and a ninth executable portion for transferring the electronic record over a network to a distribution center.
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Specification