COMPUTER PROGRAM, METHOD, AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING SHIPMENT INFORMATION

• US 20140304103A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freightview LLC
• Original Assignee: Freightquote.com
• Inventors: Barton, Tim A., Roberts, Jason Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 11,100,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes

Abstract

A computer program, method, and system for managing shipping transactions provide a graphical user interface that contemporaneously displays a list of shipment requests and one or more interface elements. The shipment requests each display information about a shipment request including a plurality of carriers and associated bid statuses. The interface elements include a create shipment requests interface element that receives a user input. Upon receiving the user input the graphical user interface displays a create shipment request screen that allows a shipper to create multiple shipment requests and send them to at least one carrier. The carrier receives a communication regarding the shipment request and the communication includes a prompt to respond. In response to the prompt a second graphical user interface is displayed to the carrier that allows further communication with the shipper regarding the shipment request.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for creating and managing shipping transactions, wherein the transactions include at least one shipper and at least one carrier, wherein the program instructs a processing element to perform the following steps:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that is accessible by a shipper;

displaying, via the GUI, at least the following;

a list of shipment requests created by said shipper, wherein the list of shipment requests enable said shipper to view multiple shipping transactions, and

one or more interface elements operable to receive a user input, wherein the interface elements include a create shipment requests interface element,

wherein each shipment request in the list of shipment requests includes at least one interaction element and a shipment summary, wherein the interaction element allows the shipper to take an action related to the shipment request,

wherein the shipment summary includes a plurality of carriers and a plurality of bid statuses corresponding to the plurality of carriers,

displaying, via the GUI and in response to said user input, a create shipment requests screen, wherein the create shipment requests screen includes a second plurality of interface elements, the second plurality of interface elements allow the shipper to generate a first new shipment request to at least one carrier,

wherein the create new shipment screen includes one of said second plurality of interface elements for creating additional new shipment requests to said carrier in addition to said first new shipment request;

communicating to said carrier a notification for each new shipment request, wherein the notification indicates that said shipper desires a response to each new shipment request, and the notification provides a prompt to said carrier;

providing, in response to said prompt, a second GUI that is accessible by said carrier; and

displaying, via the second GUI, at least the following;

a second list of shipment requests, wherein the second list of shipment requests are those sent to the carrier, including the newly created shipment request from said shipper.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein each bid status is a monetary value, the monetary value representing the amount of money the carrier is willing to accept for performing the shipping transaction described in the shipment request.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein each bid status is a communication element, the communication element informing the shipper that the carrier has not yet submitted a bid for the shipment request.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the notification is an email.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the notification is a telephone call.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of carriers is three carriers and the plurality of bid statuses is three bid statuses.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of carriers is five carriers and the plurality of bid statuses is five bid statuses.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said interaction element is a view details button, and the view details button accepts a second user input, further comprising the following steps:

displaying, in response to said second user input, a detailed description of the shipment request,

wherein the detailed description includes a map, the map displaying information related to the shipment request; and

simultaneously displaying a communication summary for each of the carriers the shipper has selected to receive the shipment request, wherein the communication summary includes the last communication received from the carrier.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising the following steps:

contemporaneously displaying an add carriers button, wherein the add carriers button accepts a third user input;

displaying, in response to said third user input, an add carriers dialog, wherein the add carriers dialog accepts input from the shipper and allows the shipper to notify a new carrier of the shipment request;

communicating to said new carrier a notification for the shipment request, wherein the notification indicates that the shipper desires a response to said shipment request, and the notification provides a second prompt to said new carrier;

providing, in response to said second prompt, a second GUI that is accessible by said new carrier; and

displaying, via the second GUI, at least the following;

a second list of shipment requests, wherein the second list of shipment requests are those sent to said new carrier, including the shipment request from the shipper.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for creating and managing shipping transactions, wherein the transactions include at least one shipper and at least one carrier, wherein the program instructs a processing element to perform the following steps:

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that is accessible by a carrier;

displaying, via the GUI, at least the following;

a list of cargo vehicle requests created by said carrier, wherein the list of cargo vehicles requests enable said carrier to view multiple shipping transactions, and

one or more interface elements operable to receive a user input, wherein the interface elements include a create cargo vehicle requests interface element,

wherein each cargo vehicle request in the list of cargo vehicle requests includes at least one interaction element and a cargo vehicle summary, wherein the interaction element allows the carrier to take an action related to the cargo vehicle request,

wherein the cargo vehicle summary includes a plurality of shippers and a plurality of bid statuses corresponding to the plurality of shippers,

displaying, via the GUI and in response to said user input, a create cargo vehicle requests screen, wherein the create cargo vehicle requests screen includes a second plurality of interface elements, the second plurality of interface elements allow the carrier to generate a first new cargo vehicle request to at least one shipper,

wherein the create new cargo vehicle screen includes one of said second plurality of interface elements for creating additional new cargo vehicle requests to said shipper in addition to said first new cargo vehicle request;

communicating to said shipper a notification for each new cargo vehicle request, wherein the notification indicates that said carrier desires a response to each new cargo vehicle request, and the notification provides a prompt to said shipper;

providing, in response to said prompt, a second GUI that is accessible by said shipper; and

displaying, via the second GUI, at least the following;

a second list of cargo vehicle requests, wherein the second list of cargo vehicle requests are those sent to the shipper, including the newly created cargo vehicle request from said carrier.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein each bid status is a monetary value, the monetary value representing the amount of money the shipper is willing to pay for the use of the cargo vehicle described in the cargo vehicle request.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein each bid status is a communication element, the communication element informing the carrier that the chipper has not yet submitted a bid for the cargo vehicle request.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the notification is an email.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the notification is a telephone call.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10,

wherein the plurality of shippers is three shippers and the plurality of bid statuses is three bid statuses.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10,

wherein the plurality of shippers is five shippers and the plurality of bid statuses is five bid statuses.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said interaction element is a view details button, and the view details button accepts a second user input, further comprising the following steps:

displaying, in response to said second user input, a detailed description of the cargo vehicle request,

wherein the detailed description includes a map, the map displaying information related to the cargo vehicle request; and

simultaneously displaying a communication summary for each of the shippers the carrier has selected to receive the cargo vehicle request, wherein the communication summary includes the last communication received from the shipper.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising the following steps:

contemporaneously displaying an add shippers button, wherein the add shippers button accepts a third user input;

displaying, in response to said third user input, an add shippers dialog, wherein the add shippers dialog accepts input from the carrier and allows the carrier to notify a new shipper of the cargo vehicle request;

communicating to said new shipper a notification for the cargo vehicle request, wherein the notification indicates that the carrier desires a response to said cargo vehicle request, and the notification provides a second prompt to said new shipper;

providing, in response to said second prompt, a second GUI that is accessible by said new shipper; and

displaying, via the second GUI, at least the following;

a second list of cargo vehicle requests, wherein the second list of cargo vehicle requests are those sent to said new shipper, including the shipment request from the carrier.