Shipper and Carrier Interaction Optimization Platform
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can include an internet based web page, application for a handheld device, a dedicated device with a graphical user interface, or any combination thereof for one or more shipper to enter shipment requirements and/or bids for use of a carrier'"'"'s equipment. One or more carriers can enter equipment specifications, such as equipment type, availability, and minimum payment amount accepted, as well as bids for employment to ship goods via the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform. The platform can automate matching shippers and carriers for each shipment, provide information regarding shipment status, and help carriers to maximize the amount of time their vehicles carry cargo. Systems may include a shipper interface, a carrier interface, one or more handheld devices running the interaction optimization platform, and positioning software and/or hardware to indicate the location of the one or more handheld devices used by shipment carriers.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A system for optimizing selection of a carrier for a shipment having a shipment location, the system comprising:
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an interaction optimization platform comprising; a shipper interface configured to display, on a shipper display device, one or more shipper data fields for receiving shipper information regarding shipment requirements corresponding to the shipment; a carrier interface configured to display, on a carrier display device, one or more carrier data fields for receiving carrier information regarding equipment capabilities and/or availability corresponding to a carrier; and a progress interface configured to display, on the shipper display device or the carrier display device, shipment information comprising the shipment location; and a server configured to, by execution of the interaction optimization platform; receive shipper information from the shipper display device and the carrier information from the carrier display device; match, by at least comparing the received shipper information in the one or more shipper data fields with the received carrier information from the one or more carrier data fields, the carrier with the shipment; receive carrier location information comprising a location of one or more mobile devices that correspond to available carriers; transmit instructions to generate, at the progress interface, graphical representations of shipment information, the graphical representations comprising an indication of the shipment location; and transmit an instruction to the shipper display device to generate an alert at the shipper display device when the shipment location is within a predefined distance from a shipment destination. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:
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creating a shipper profile with an interaction optimization platform by entering shipper information into at least one shipper profile data field displayed at a shipper display device; uploading a set of rules associated with the shipper to a server, the uploading initiated with the interaction optimization platform; uploading a document associated with a shipment belonging to the shipper to a server, the uploading initiated with the interaction optimization platform; and selecting a carrier from one or more carriers presented by the interaction optimization platform as a potential suitable carrier, wherein each potential suitable carrier electronically confirms, via a carrier interface of the interaction optimization platform, to conform to the set of rules and the document associated with the shipment, where each potential suitable carrier has been previously confirmed by the interaction optimization platform to meet a set of shipment requirements defined by the shipper with the at least one shipper profile data field.
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31. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:
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creating a carrier profile with an interaction optimization platform by entering carrier information into at least one carrier profile data field displayed at a carrier display device associated with a driver; receiving, at a carrier interface on the carrier display device, a set of rules and a document associated with a shipment; and associating, via the carrier interface, the shipment with the carrier display device associated with the driver, wherein the carrier display device is configured to accept and/or generate carrier location information for the carrier display device and relay the carrier location information to a server according to the interaction optimization platform.
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32. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:
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receiving, at a server, a shipper profile generated at a shipper interface; receiving, at the server, a carrier profile generated at a carrier interface; receiving, at the server, a set of rules from a shipper generated at the shipper interface; receiving, by the carrier interface from the shipper, user-generated input data indicating acceptance of conditions described in a document associated with a shipment, the document received from the shipper and generated with the shipper interface; displaying, at the shipper interface, at least one potential suitable carriers, each of the at least one potential suitable carriers meeting a set of shipment requirements defined by the shipper; receiving, at the server from the shipper, electronic data comprising a selection of the at least one potential suitable carriers to deliver the shipment, the selection made via the shipper interface; displaying, at a carrier display device, shipment information to a selected potential suitable carrier for acceptance, the shipment information comprising the set of rules, the document, and the set of shipment requirements; associating, at the server, the shipment with a mobile computing device associated with a selected driver, the mobile computing device configured to present information to and accept input from the selected driver via the carrier interface, wherein the selected driver is associated with the selected potential suitable carrier; receiving, at the server, shipment location information from the mobile computing device; and displaying, a progress interface at a shipper display device, at least one of;
a location of the shipment on a map, an estimated time until shipment pick-up, an estimated time until shipment delivery, an estimated time until a check-point is reached, and a shipment exception. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification