Method for online display and negotiation of cargo rates
First Claim
1. A method operative at a server for enabling a first entity to negotiate with a second entity online to secure a cargo shipping commitment, comprising the steps of:
- having the first entity post a bid to an online auction block maintained at the server;
in response to a request from the second entity to the server identifying a given cargo shipping lane, identifying a set of bids for that shipping lane; and
in response to the second entity accepting a given one of the set of bids posted by the first entity, sending a message to the first and second entities confirming a cargo shipping commitment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Freight forwarders and carriers post published rate and discount information for land, sea and air bearing cargo vessels to allow customers the opportunity to evaluate competitive prices, preferably in one consolidated location (e.g., a web site). A customer navigates to the site to obtain published or discounted rate information offered by a freight forwarder or carrier. The customer may accept a posted rate, in which case the site operator notifies the freight forwarder or carrier. Alternatively, customers, freight forwarders and carriers may negotiate rates for particular lanes of interest using an online interactive auction block.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method operative at a server for enabling a first entity to negotiate with a second entity online to secure a cargo shipping commitment, comprising the steps of:
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having the first entity post a bid to an online auction block maintained at the server; in response to a request from the second entity to the server identifying a given cargo shipping lane, identifying a set of bids for that shipping lane; and in response to the second entity accepting a given one of the set of bids posted by the first entity, sending a message to the first and second entities confirming a cargo shipping commitment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A server connectable to a computer network, comprising:
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a database of shipping information; a display routine for displaying a table of cargo rates indexed by user-selected shipping lane; and an auction routine for enabling users of client machines to negotiate to buy and sell cargo shipping commitments. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification