Systems and methods for use in electronic processing of foreign origin and export shipments and/or passengers and baggage at security check points

• US 7,738,995 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Campbell, Greg, Rigdon, Terry W., Hutchins, Angie, Collins, William Brent, Napier, Deborah B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US10/144,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,955 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5, 705/400, 705/401, 705/402, 705/404, 705/407, 705/410, 705/411, 705/60, 705/61, 705/62, 705/22, 705/23, 705/28, 705/29, 705/19, 705/405, 705/406, 705/64, 705/13, 378/57, 235/375, 235/384, 235/385, 198/370.01, 198/348, 209/535, 700/213, 700/225, 700/226, 700/228, 700/230, 382/100, 715/716, 707/3, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 700/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for processing foreign origin parcels through Customs and individuals through security checkpoints. The system includes a database stored on a computer readable medium having data records associated with each foreign origin parcel or individual. Associated with the database is a processor having a search engine for performing searches on the information in the data records based on criteria selected by a user. The system further includes an interface. The interface allows the user to select search criteria to be used by the processor to search the data records. The interface displays the results of the search to the user and allows the user to select parcels or individuals identified during the search for inspection. In addition, the processor and interface allows the user to electronically store notes taken during the inspection, such that the information related to the inspection can be electronically archived.

Claims

1. A system located at a central hub facility for routing parcels to a location within the central hub facility for inspection, the system comprising:

a customs processing computer system comprising;

at least one processor configured, prior to a plurality of parcels arriving at the central hub, to;

(a) receive search criteria defined by a user, the search criteria to be used to identify parcels that satisfy the search criteria;

(b) store the search criteria;

(c) access data records associated with the plurality of parcels from memory located at the central hub facility, each of the data records comprising status information related to each parcel, the status information indicating a hold status;

(d) use the search criteria to search the data records to identify a set of search results comprising each parcel of the plurality of parcels that satisfies the search criteria;

(e) display the set of search results to the user; and

(f) receive a selection of one or more particular parcels identified in the set of search results by the user for inspection; and

(g) alter the hold status in each data record associated with parcels not selected by the user to a release status; and

the at least one processor configured, in response to the plurality of parcels arriving at the central hub, to;

(a) access the data records associated with the plurality of parcels from the memory located at the central hub facility;

(b) route the one or more particular parcels that have the hold status to the inspection location; and

(c) route for delivery any of the plurality of parcels that have the release status.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is configured to create a list of the parcels selected by the user, said list comprising information associated with each selected parcel from the data record for the parcel to thereby provide a manifest of the parcels selected for inspection.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide the user with the status information for each parcel selected for inspection and to allow the user to alter the hold status of the parcel following inspection.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is configured to allow the user to enter inspection information concerning parcels inspected by the user and to store the inspection information in the memory located at the central hub facility to thereby provide a record of the inspection of a parcel.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one processor is configured to retrieve stored inspection information for generation of reports related to the inspection.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is configured to perform preliminary tests on information associated with data records for the plurality of parcels by:

receiving different search criteria defined by the user in a test mode;

searching the data records utilizing the search criteria to identify a set of search results that comprises each parcel of said plurality of parcels that satisfies the search criteria; and

displaying the set of search results to the user.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said at least one processor is configured to store resulting desired search criteria determined during the test mode in the memory for use in normal operation to search the data records.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of possible users each having an unique identification code, and said at least one processor is configured to receive individual search criteria defined by each user and to store the search criteria along with the user'"'"'s identification code.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one processor is configured to search the data records using the search criteria selected by each user to identify a set of search results that comprises each parcel of said plurality of parcels that satisfies the search criteria and to store each set of search results along with the user'"'"'s identification code.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one processor is configured to access the set of search results associated with a user'"'"'s identification code and to receive a selection of one or more particular parcels from the set of search results from the user for inspection.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said at least one processor is configured to create a manifest for each set of search results for each user containing a list of the parcels selected by the user and information associated with each selected parcel to thereby provide a manifest for each user of the parcels selected for inspection by the user.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one processor is configured to update the manifest associated with a user'"'"'s identification code during inspection to indicate which of the selected parcels on the manifest have been inspected by the user.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one processor is configured to use the manifest associated with each user to construct a report displaying each user and the number of parcels selected for inspection by each user.

14. A system for processing export parcels at a central hub comprising:

an acquisition data management computer system comprising at least one computer, the computer being configured for receiving and storing data records related to a plurality of export parcels prior to the plurality of export parcels arriving at the central hub facility; and

an export processing computer system comprising at least one processor for routing parcels to a location at the central hub facility for inspection, the at least one processor being configured, prior to the plurality of parcels arriving at the central hub facility, for;

(a) receiving search criteria defined by a user, the search criteria to be used to identify parcels that satisfy the search criteria;

(b) storing the search criteria;

(c) accessing the data records associated with the plurality of parcels from said acquisition data management system, each of the data records comprising status information associated with each parcel, the status information indicating a hold status;

(d) searching the data records using the search criteria to identify a set of search results comprising each parcel of the plurality of parcels that satisfies the search criteria;

(e) displaying the set of search results to the user; and

(f) receiving a selection of one or more particular parcels identified in the set of search results by the user for inspection; and

(g) altering the hold status in each data record associated with parcels not selected by the user to a release status in the acquisition data management computer system; and

the at least one processor being configured, in response to the plurality of parcels arriving at the central hub, for;

(a) accessing the data records associated with the plurality of parcels from the acquisition data management system;

(b) routing the one or more particular parcels that have the hold status to an inspection location; and

(c) routing for delivery any of the plurality of parcels that have the release status.

15. A method for routing a plurality of parcels received at a central hub facility to a location within the central hub facility for inspection, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) prior to the plurality of parcels arriving at the central hub facility;

(1) receiving search criteria in a customs processing computer system comprising at least one processor, the search criteria to be used to identify parcels that satisfy the search criteria;

(2) storing the search criteria;

(3) accessing, by the at least one processor, data records associated with the plurality of parcels transmitted over a network to the central hub facility and stored in memory, each of said data records comprising status information associated with each parcel, the status information indicating a hold status;

(4) searching the data records by the at least one processor using the search criteria to identify a set of search results comprising each parcel of the plurality of parcels that satisfies the search criteria;

(5) displaying to a user the set of search results; and

(6) receiving a selection of parcels that comprises one or more particular parcels identified in the set of search results by the user for inspection; and

(7) altering the hold status in each data record associated with parcels not selected by the user to a release status; and

(b) in response to the plurality of parcels arriving at the central hub facility;

(1) accessing, by the at least one processor, the data records associated with the plurality of parcels from the memory;

(2) routing, by the at least one processor, the one or more particular parcels that have the hold status to the inspection location; and

(3) releasing, by the at least one processor, for delivery any of said plurality of parcels that have the release status.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of creating a list of the parcels selected by the user and information associated with each selected parcel by the at least one processor from the data records associated with the plurality of parcels stored in the memory to thereby provide a manifest of the parcels selected for inspection.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of displaying the manifest to the user.

18. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of altering the hold status of the parcel on the manifest by the at least one processor following inspection.

19. A method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

entering inspection information concerning parcels inspected by the user; and

storing the information in the memory to thereby provide a record of the inspection of a parcel.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of retrieving stored inspection information concerning parcels inspected from the memory for generation of reports related to the inspection.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of receiving search criteria comprises the user performing preliminary tests on the data records for the plurality of parcels by receiving different search criteria defined by a user in a test mode, and wherein said step of searching the data records comprises using the different search criteria.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of storing resulting desired search criteria in the memory determined during the test mode for use.

23. A method according to claim 15, wherein there is a plurality of possible users each having an unique identification code, and wherein said step of receiving search criteria comprises receiving from each user individual search criteria and said step of storing the search criteria comprises storing the individual search criteria along with the user'"'"'s identification code.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said step of searching the data records comprises searching the data records using the individual search criteria defined by each user and said method further comprises the step of storing a set of search results in the memory that comprises each parcel of said plurality of parcels that satisfies the individual search criteria of each user along with the user'"'"'s identification code.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said step of receiving a selection of parcels comprises receiving a selection of one or more particular parcels selected by the user from the set of search results stored in memory identified by the user'"'"'s identification code for inspection.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of creating a manifest by the at least one processor for each set of search results containing a list of the parcels selected by the user and the information associated with each selected parcel to thereby provide a manifest for each user of the parcels selected for inspection by the user.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the inspection location comprises inspection locations associated with each user and said step of routing the one or more particular parcels to the inspection location comprises the at least one processor using the manifest to route parcels selected by the user to the user'"'"'s inspection location based on the user'"'"'s identification code.

28. A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of updating the manifest associated with the user'"'"'s identification code during inspection to indicate which of the selected parcels on the manifest have been inspected.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of displaying a report of each user and the number of parcels selected for inspection by each user.

30. A system for use in evaluating individuals prior to entrance into a secure environment, said system comprising:

a processing computer system comprising;

at least one processor configured, prior to a plurality of individuals arriving at an entrance to the secure environment located at a facility, to;

(a) receive search criteria defined by a user, the search criteria to be used to identify individuals that satisfy the search criteria; and

(b) store the search criteria;

(c) access data records associated with the plurality of individuals attempting to gain access to the secure environment from memory, each of said data records comprising status information, the status information indicating a hold status;

(d) search the data records using the search criteria to identify a set of search results comprising each individual of the plurality of individuals that satisfies the search criteria;

(e) display the set of search results to the user;

(f) receive a selection of one or more particular individuals identified in the set of search results by the user for further investigation; and

(g) alter the hold status in each data record associated with parcels not selected by the user to a release status; and

the at least one processor configured, in response to the plurality of individuals arriving at the entrance of the secure environment, to;

(a) access the data records associated with the plurality of individuals from the memory;

(b) instruct the one or more particular individuals that have the hold status to be routed an investigation location; and

(c) instruct any of said plurality of individuals that have the release status to be routed to the secure environment.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein said at least one processor is configured to create a list of the individuals selected by the user and information associated with each selected individual from the data record for the individual to thereby provide a manifest of the individuals selected for investigation.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein said at least one processor is configured to receive information entered by the user concerning individuals investigated by the user and to store the information in the memory to thereby provide a record of the investigation.

33. A system according to claim 30, wherein there is a plurality of possible users each having a unique identification code, and wherein said at least one processor is configured to receive individual search criteria defined by each user and to store the search criteria along with the user'"'"'s identification code.