Enhanced trade compliance system: country of origin certifications

• US 7,970,731 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Potts, Tom, Peach, Laurie, Holmes, Frederic, Halterman, Matt, Strong, Charlene, Swirt, Mark, Thorn, Denise, Uy, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYINT, DENNIS Y
• Application Number:
  US11/214,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/602, 707/608
• US Class Current: 707/602
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products

Abstract

Methods and systems are described that allow supplier information to be captured and processed for imported or exported products that have multiple supply sources. Each of the products may be classified under a plurality of HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) codes, which may then be assigned to the product. The assigned HTS codes may be entered and stored in a database of a trade compliance system. A plurality of certifications may be requested and obtained from the suppliers of the product. The certifications, which may include a COO certification or a NAFTA certification, for example, may be entered and stored in the database. Each certification may identify and certify one of the multiple supply sources for the product. Each certification may be associated with one of the plurality of HTS codes.

Claims

1. A trade compliance system configured to process supplier information for imported products that have multiple supply sources such that at least one instance of each multiple-sourced imported product comes from a supplier that is different than the supplier(s) of the other instances of that multiple-sourced imported product, the trade compliance system comprising:

a database; and

a processing system coupled to the database;

wherein for each one of the multiple-sourced imported products, and in response to user input, the processing system is configured to;

classify the multiple-sourced imported product under a plurality of Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) codes, such that at least one instance of the multiple-sourced imported product is classified under an HTS code different than the other instances of the multiple-sourced imported product; and

assign the plurality of HTS codes to the multiple-sourced imported product;

enter and store the plurality of assigned HTS codes in the database;

request and obtain a plurality of certifications, one from each supplier of the multiple-sourced imported product, such that one instance of the multiple-sourced imported product has a certification from a supplier that is different than other instances of the multiple-sourced imported product, each of the certifications identifying and certifying customs information about the multiple-sourced imported product from the supplier of the instance of the multiple-sourced imported product associated with the certification; and

enter and store the plurality of certifications in the database, each in association with one of the suppliers.

2. The trade compliance system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of certifications comprise at least one of:

a COO (country of origin) certification; and

a NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement) certification.

3. The trade compliance system of claim 2, wherein the COO certification includes a statement that identifies a COO, and certifies that the multiple-sourced imported product, or one or more parts of the multiple-sourced imported product, have been supplied from that COO.

4. The trade compliance system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

enter a date of certification for each of the plurality of certifications, so as to generate certification history data that tracks a history of data entries in the database relating to the certifications.

5. The trade compliance system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

update one or more of the certifications, each time one of the multiple supply sources of the multiple-sourced imported product is altered.

6. The trade compliance system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to verify, for each HTS code under which the multiple-sourced imported product has been classified, that all associated certifications have been received.

7. The trade compliance system of claim 2, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine whether entry information about any one of the multiple-sourced imported products was added into the database after a request for COO certification for the multiple-sourced imported product was last entered; and

eliminate all requests for COO certification for any one of the multiple-sourced imported products about which entry information was added in the database of the TCS after a request for COO certification for the multiple-sourced imported product was last entered.

8. The trade compliance system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

request customers for notification of anticipated orders;

receive a communication from one or more customers that one or more of the multiple-sourced imported products will be ordered directly from an OEM and not from the suppliers; and

eliminate any request for COO certification, for the one or more multiple-sourced imported products.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readable instructions for a processor, wherein the instructions, when read and implemented by the processor, cause the processor to:

classify an imported product which has multiple supply sources such that at least one instance of the multiple-sourced imported product comes from a supplier that is different than the supplier(s) of the other instances of the multiple-sourced imported product under a plurality of HTS codes, such that at least one instance of the multiple-sourced imported product is classified under an HTS code different than the other instances of the multiple-sourced imported product;

assign the plurality of HTS codes to the multiple-sourced imported product;

enter and store the plurality of assigned HTS codes in a database of a trade compliance system;

request and obtain a plurality of certifications, one from each -supplier of the multiple-sourced imported product, such that one instance of the multiple-sourced imported product has a certification from a supplier that is different than other instances of the multiple-sourced imported product, each of the certifications identifying and certifying customs information about the multiple-sourced imported product from the supplier of the instance of the multiple-sourced imported product associated with the certification; and

enter and store the plurality of certifications in the database, each in association with one of the suppliers.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of certifications comprise at least one of:

a COO (country of origin) certification; and

a NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement) certification.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when read and implemented by the processor, further cause the processor to:

enter a date of certification for each of the plurality of certifications, thereby generating certification history data that track a history of data entries in the database relating to certifications regarding the multiple supply sources.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when read and implemented by the processor, further cause the processor to:

update one or more of the certifications, each time one of the multiple supply sources of the multiple-sourced imported product is altered.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when read and implemented by the processor, further cause the processor to:

determine that an HTS code assigned to the multiple-sourced imported product has been changed; and

remove the COO certification that had been associated with the HTS code before the HTS code was changed.