Integrated import/export system
First Claim
1. An integrated import/export system comprising:
- a database containing data related to a plurality of shipping transactions,each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions relating to a transfer of goods, between at least two jurisdictions,with the data organized into records associated with each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions,where each record includes a primary key, where said primary key uniquely identifies said shipping transaction associated with said record,where each record also includes data required to process a plurality of steps of said shipping transaction associated with said recordincluding data required to process a step of exporting of a product from a first jurisdiction and data required to process a step of importing of said product to a second jurisdiction;
a database server hosting said database; and
an application server in communication with said database server for providing a user interface to any of a plurality of clients, each client associated with a member of a supply chain for a particular shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, said interface allowing said at least one client to modify a portion of a record associated with said particular shipping transaction if said member associated with said client has security authorization to modify said portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated import/export system includes a database of records relating to a plurality of shipments of goods, a database server and an application server. The application server communicates with the database server to provide members of a supply chain for a shipment of goods an opportunity to modify records relating to the shipment. As the shipment moves through the supply chain, the records relating to the shipment may be repeatedly updated and accessed by interested parties such as customs brokers and government officials. A central repository for such data minimizes errors from repetitive data entry and provides a more complete source of information relating to the shipment than is typically associated with a shipment at any time in transit.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An integrated import/export system comprising:
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a database containing data related to a plurality of shipping transactions, each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions relating to a transfer of goods, between at least two jurisdictions, with the data organized into records associated with each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, where each record includes a primary key, where said primary key uniquely identifies said shipping transaction associated with said record, where each record also includes data required to process a plurality of steps of said shipping transaction associated with said record including data required to process a step of exporting of a product from a first jurisdiction and data required to process a step of importing of said product to a second jurisdiction; a database server hosting said database; and an application server in communication with said database server for providing a user interface to any of a plurality of clients, each client associated with a member of a supply chain for a particular shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, said interface allowing said at least one client to modify a portion of a record associated with said particular shipping transaction if said member associated with said client has security authorization to modify said portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating an integrated import/export system comprising:
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maintaining a database containing data related to a plurality of shipping transactions, each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions relating to a transfer of goods between at least two jurisdictions; with the data organized into records associated with each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, where each record includes a primary key, where said primary key uniquely identifies said shipping transaction associated with said record, where each record also includes data required to process a plurality of steps of said shipping transaction associated with said record including data required to process a step of exporting of a product from a first jurisdiction and data required to process a step of importing of said product to a second jurisdiction; providing an interface for accessing particular ones of said records in said database to a member of a supply chain for said particular ones of said plurality of shipping transactions; receiving, from said member, an instruction to modify one of said particular ones of said records relating to said particular one of said plurality of shipping transactions; determining whether said instruction to modify relates to a portion of said one of said records for which said member has modification authority; and modifying said one of said records according to said instruction if said member has said modification authority. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when performed by a processor in an import/export system, cause the processor to:
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maintain a database containing data related to a plurality of shipping transactions, each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions relating to a transfer of goods between at least two jurisdictions; with the data organized into records associated with each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, where each record includes a primary key, where said primary key uniquely identifies said shipping transaction associated with said record, where each record also includes data required to process a plurality of steps of said shipping transaction associated with said record including data required to process a step of exporting of a product from a first jurisdiction and data required to process a step of importing of said product to a second jurisdiction; provide an interface for accessing particular ones of said records in said database to a member of a supply chain for said particular ones of said plurality of shipping transactions; receive, from said member, an instruction to modify a particular one of said records relating to said particular one of said plurality of shipping transactions; determine whether said instruction to modify relates to a portion of said one of said records for which said member has modification authority; and modify said one of said records according to said instruction if said member has said modification authority.
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12. A record editing system in communication with an integrated import/export system, said record editing system operable to:
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display an interface to a member of a supply chain for a particular shipping transaction, said interface allowing interaction with a database containing data related to a plurality of shipping transactions, each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions relating to a transfer of goods between at least two jurisdictions; with the data organized into records associated with each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, where each record includes a primary key, where said primary key uniquely identifies said shipping transaction associated with said record, where each record also includes data required to process a plurality of steps of said shipping transaction associated with said record including data required to process a step of exporting of a product from a first jurisdiction and data required to process a step of importing of said product to a second jurisdiction, said database maintained at said integrated import/export system; receive, from said member, instructions to modify a record relating to said particular shipping transaction; determine whether said instructions to modify relate to a portion of said one of said records for which said member has modification authority; and modify said one of said records according to said instructions if said member has said modification authority.
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13. A record editing system in communication with an integrated import/export system, said record editing system comprising:
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an output means for displaying an interface to a member of a supply chain for a particular shipping transaction, said interface allowing interaction with a database containing data related to a plurality of shipping transactions, each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions relating to a transfer of goods between at least two jurisdictions; with the data organized into records associated with each shipping transaction of said plurality of shipping transactions, where each record includes a primary key, where said primary key uniquely identifies said shipping transaction associated with said record, where each record also includes data required to process a plurality of steps of said shipping transaction associated with said record including data required to process a step of exporting of a product from a first jurisdiction and data required to process a step of importing of said product to a second jurisdiction, said database maintained at said integrated import/export system; an input means for receiving, from said member, instructions to modify a record relating to said shipping transaction; and a processing means adapted to; determine whether said instructions to modify relate to a portion of said one of said records for which said member has modification authority; and modify said one of said records according to said instructions if said member has said modification authority.
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Specification