SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF COMMODITY SHIPMENT DATA
First Claim
1. A method for managing data relating to a shipment of harvested timber, said method comprising the steps of(a) providing a mobile loader having:
- a.1 a loader computer having a loader database;
a.2 first shipment data input means, for recording timber shipment data in the loader database;
a.3 shipment data output means, for recording data from the loader database on a portable electronically-readable data storage medium; and
a.4 a GPS receiver adapted to sample GPS data including geographic coordinates, said GPS receiver being in electronic communication with the loader computer for transmitting sampled GPS data to the loader database;
(b) providing a scale computer associated with a truck weigh scale, said scale computer having a scale database;
(c) providing, in association with the scale computer, second shipment data input means, for reading data from a portable, electronically-readable data storage medium and recording such data in the scale database;
(d) using the mobile loader, loading a quantity of harvested timber onto a truck at a geographic location proximal to the site at which the timber was harvested;
(e) by means of the GPS receiver, sampling GPS data corresponding to the mobile loader'"'"'s geographic coordinates during step (d), and electronically transferring said sampled GPS data to the loader database;
(f) using the first shipment data input means, recording selected timber shipment data relating to the timber loaded onto the truck in step (d) in the loader database, and associating said timber shipment data with the GPS data transferred to the loader database in step (e);
(g) generating a timber shipment data record by recording said timber shipment data and associated GPS data from the loader database on a portable, electronically-readable data storage medium, using the shipment data output means;
(h) placing said portable data storage medium, containing the timber shipment data record, on or in the truck carrying the loaded timber shipment, and driving the truck to the truck weigh scale; and
(i) upon arrival of the truck at the weigh scale, using the second shipment data input means to read the timber shipment data record from the portable data storage medium, so as to download the corresponding GPS data and timber shipment data into the scale database.
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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.
18 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for managing data relating to a shipment of harvested timber, said method comprising the steps of
(a) providing a mobile loader having: -
a.1 a loader computer having a loader database; a.2 first shipment data input means, for recording timber shipment data in the loader database; a.3 shipment data output means, for recording data from the loader database on a portable electronically-readable data storage medium; and a.4 a GPS receiver adapted to sample GPS data including geographic coordinates, said GPS receiver being in electronic communication with the loader computer for transmitting sampled GPS data to the loader database; (b) providing a scale computer associated with a truck weigh scale, said scale computer having a scale database; (c) providing, in association with the scale computer, second shipment data input means, for reading data from a portable, electronically-readable data storage medium and recording such data in the scale database; (d) using the mobile loader, loading a quantity of harvested timber onto a truck at a geographic location proximal to the site at which the timber was harvested; (e) by means of the GPS receiver, sampling GPS data corresponding to the mobile loader'"'"'s geographic coordinates during step (d), and electronically transferring said sampled GPS data to the loader database; (f) using the first shipment data input means, recording selected timber shipment data relating to the timber loaded onto the truck in step (d) in the loader database, and associating said timber shipment data with the GPS data transferred to the loader database in step (e); (g) generating a timber shipment data record by recording said timber shipment data and associated GPS data from the loader database on a portable, electronically-readable data storage medium, using the shipment data output means; (h) placing said portable data storage medium, containing the timber shipment data record, on or in the truck carrying the loaded timber shipment, and driving the truck to the truck weigh scale; and (i) upon arrival of the truck at the weigh scale, using the second shipment data input means to read the timber shipment data record from the portable data storage medium, so as to download the corresponding GPS data and timber shipment data into the scale database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification