Trainable database for use in a method and system for returning a non-scale-based parcel weight
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a trainable weights database in a data processing system having a shipping application, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a product database responsive to a weight determination routine in said shipping application;
(b) comparing a first data entry at said shipping application with a set of data entries resident in said product database to determine a weight for a parcel to be shipped, and;
(i) if said comparison determines a weight then returning said weight to said shipping application; and
(ii) if said comparison does not return a weight then determining a weight input option from among a set of weight input options; and
(c) inputting said determined weight to said trainable weights database in respect of a set of parameters resident in said first data entry so that said determined weight can be used for subsequent transactions.
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Abstract
The invention is a method and system for determining a weight for use in a shipping application and for the establishment of a trainable weights database and a weight database training object. The method begins with establishing a database linked to the shipping application. The weight of a parcel to be shipped is determined by comparing a data entry at the shipping application with a set of data entries resident in the database. The comparison is performed by entering a description of the parcel to the system, and parsing the description to determine whether or not the data includes a known symbology or barcode. If it does, then the method matches the description with a locator function to locate the required weight; otherwise, the description is further parsed into match fields. If the comparison determines a weight, then the weight is returned to the shipping application for entry in an appropriate field; however, if the comparison does not return a weight, then a weight is determined by selecting an option from among a set of weight input options which includes an auto search mode. The determined weight is then input to the database in respect of a set of parameters resident in the data entry so that the determined weight can be used for subsequent transactions. Another aspect of the present invention, is a method of establishing and utilizing a weight database training object which is invoked to determine a weight to enter into the weight field of the shipping application.
64 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a trainable weights database in a data processing system having a shipping application, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing a product database responsive to a weight determination routine in said shipping application;
(b) comparing a first data entry at said shipping application with a set of data entries resident in said product database to determine a weight for a parcel to be shipped, and;
(i) if said comparison determines a weight then returning said weight to said shipping application; and
(ii) if said comparison does not return a weight then determining a weight input option from among a set of weight input options; and
(c) inputting said determined weight to said trainable weights database in respect of a set of parameters resident in said first data entry so that said determined weight can be used for subsequent transactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
(a) if said auto search mode returns a weight, than inserting said weight into said data base for future use, and (b) if said auto search mode does not return a weight, then performing a next action in respect of said instructions.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein said auto search mode comprises one or more search engines.
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4. The method of claim 2, wherein said auto search mode is configured to search a network as based upon parameters established in a search routine set-up mode.
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5. The method of claim 1 wherein said trainable weights database is linked to a rating server for determining a rate for shipping said parcel wherein said rate is determined by:
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(a) applying said weight to a carrier rate database;
(b) selecting one or more parameters that define a mode of shipment for said parcel;
(c) determining said rate in respect of said weight and said mode of shipment.
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6. The method of claim 5, wherein said one or more parameters comprise a class of service.
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7. The method of claim 5, wherein said one or more parameters comprise a delivery date.
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8. The method of claim 5, wherein said one or more parameters comprise a destination zone.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparison step further comprises the steps of:
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(a) entering a description of said parcel to be shipped wherein said description comprises a first set of data that describes a set of contents of said parcel;
(b) parsing said description to determine whether or not a subset of said set of data comprises a known symbology description; and
(i) if said subset comprises said known symbology description, then matching said known symbology description with a locator function in said trainable weights database to locate a second set of data descriptive of said weight of said parcel to be shipped; and
(ii) if said subset does not comprise said known symbology description then further parsing said description into match fields.
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10. The method of claim 9, wherein said match fields further comprise fields describing a set of dimensions for said set of contents of said parcel.
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11. The method of claim 9, wherein said match fields further comprise fields describing a set of components of said set of contents of said parcel.
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12. The method of claim 9, wherein said match fields further comprise fields describing a level of quality of said set of contents of said parcel.
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13. A system for determining a weight for a parcel to be shipped, said system including a trainable weights database residing in a data processing system, said data processing system having a shipping application, said system comprising:
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(a) data entry means for entering a set of data relative to said parcel into said data processing system;
(b) a set of one or more databases for saving and/or recording data relative to products and components thereof;
(c) parsing means for parsing said set of data into data fields;
(d) weight search functionality for performing a search for a weight relative to said parcel; and
,(i) if a weight is located, then returning said weight to said shipping application for entry into a rate determining routine wherein said weight determining routine is for determining a rate to be charged for shipment of said parcel; and
(ii) if said weight is not located, then requesting said weight be returned via alternative weight determining means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of creating a weight database training object, in an object oriented development environment of a data processing system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) establishing an object creation function within said data processing system;
(b) registering a class within said data object creation function and naming said class; and
, wherein said instantiation establishes a programming interface to said weight database training object;
(c) establishing the properties of said weight database training object by;
(i) placing a set of object methods within said weight database training object by utilizing said programming interface;
(ii) placing internal weight search functionality within the weight database training object by utilizing said programming interface;
(iii) placing external weight search functionality within said weight database training object by utilizing said programming interface;
(iv) placing a set of weight data tables within said weight database training object by utilizing said programming interface; and
(d) creating a human interface, for allowing data to be displayed to a system operator under direction from said object methods, and placing said human interface within said weight database training object by utilizing said programming interface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
(a) a plurality of weight field data;
(b) rules for use of weight field data;
(c) error messages; and
(d) suggestions for alternate paths of movement within said data processing system.
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24. The method of claim 22, wherein said set of object methods comprises action instructions;
- said action instructions further comprising display instructions for instructing said data processing system to display data on said display means.
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25. The method of claim 22, wherein said set of object methods comprises action instructions;
- said action instructions further comprising storage instructions for instructing said data processing system to store data.
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26. The method of claim 22, wherein said set of object methods comprises action instructions;
- said action instructions further comprising printing instructions for instructing said data processing means to print data on said output means.
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27. The method of claim 22, wherein said internal weight search functionality further comprises:
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(a) a weight search engine which comprises a set of rules for applying weighting to database field tables so as to determine a weight contained within the weights database;
(b) a first set of coding tables for storing UPC or similar barcode data; and
(c) a second set of coding tables for storing manufacturer and product coding.
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28. The method of claim 27, wherein said internal weight search functionality further includes lookup instructions for looking up said UPC or said similar code within said set of coding tables.
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29. The method of claim 22, wherein said external weight search functionality comprises:
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(a) a set of weight search instructions;
(b) a set of rules for the conduct of said search; and
(c) a set of instructions for parsing a returned weight field into sub-fields.
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30. The method of claim 22, wherein said address manipulation functionality further comprises:
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(a) address reconstruction functionality for the creation of a visual template for the restructuring of an address field within a data field; and
(b) one or more sets of instructions for parsing said address field into sub-fields.
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31. A method of utilizing a weight database training object, in an object oriented development environment of a data processing system having a parcel shipping application, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a shipping document within said parcel shipping application;
(b) determining that the entry of a weight field is required within said shipping document;
(c) entering, through input means, said weight field into said shipping document; and
(d) invoking said weight database training object, whereby said weight database training object performs weight determination to determine a weight to enter into a weight field of said shipping document and transmitting said weight to rate determination functionality for use in calculating a rate to be charged for shipping said parcel by a carrier. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
(a) a programming interface;
(b) a human interface;
(c) weight data determining functionality;
(d) a set of weight data determining instructions;
(e) a set of product data tables; and
(f) a set of methods comprising action instructions.
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36. The method of claim 35, wherein said action instructions further comprise display instructions for instructing said data processing system to display data on said display means.
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37. The method of claim 35, wherein said action instructions further comprise storage instructions for instructing said data processing system to store data.
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38. The method of claim 35, wherein said action instructions further comprise printing instructions for instructing said data processing means to print data on said output means.
Specification