Online screen navigation and linkage

• US 8,073,873 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• 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: Uy, Anthony, Potts, Tom, Holmes, Frederic, Peach, Laurie, Halterman, Matt, Swirt, Mark, Thorn, Denise
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Amresh
• Application Number:
  US10/854,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,750 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/5, 707/796, 705/29
• US Class Current: 707/796
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0831 Overseas transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for automatically managing information relating to a customs agency'"'"'s import regulations. The methods disclosed include procedures for maintaining import data according to the regulations as they become updated or changed. Also disclosed are procedures for interfacing with a plurality of software applications utilized for performing various steps of a method for managing import data according to the regulations.

Claims

1. A trade compliance computer system for managing compliance with customs regulations in connection with imported goods comprising:

a user interface that presents a single screen to a user that offers the user an opportunity to select one of the following menu entries;

a classification option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

an item master option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to determine a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code that has been assigned to a selected imported product; and

an HTS maintenance option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to update a tariff schedule;

an entry history option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

an entry history by product option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view entry history information about a selected imported product; and

an entry history by HTS code product option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view entry history information organized by HTS code;

an audit option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

an entry audit results option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of entry audit results, including audit results that indicate the absence of a detected exception; and

an entry audit exception results option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of audit results that each indicate a detected exception;

an amendments option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

a value adjustments option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of adjustments made by entry amendments; and

a value allocation entry that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of entry amendments sorted by vendor;

a processor-coupled to a memory comprising a data repository containing;

classification criteria that enables a user to determine what HTS code should be assigned to each product;

entry packets that were submitted to a customs agency;

entry amendments that were submitted to a customs agency; and

post-entry information about activity that takes place after entry of the imported goods that is relevant to duties; and

links between the classification criteria, entry packets, entry amendments, and post-entry information that collectively facilitate locating data of each type that is related to data of another type;

wherein the user interface is configured to obtain the information that is displayed on each of the screens from the data repository, to locate data of each type that is related to data of another type by utilizing the links, and to edit the information in the data repository in response to user requests.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic computer processing system programmed to determine on request which of a plurality of classifications codes defined by a customs agency is most applicable to an imported good using the classification criteria.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the classification criteria includes a first list of the plurality of classification codes defined by the customs agency, and a second list of the type of goods to which each one of the plurality of classification codes is applicable.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic computer processing system programmed to conduct a query and, in response to the query, retrieve invoices and shipping records associated with a particular shipment of imported goods.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the data repository is associated with the query and comprises invoices and shipping records associated with a plurality of shipments of imported goods.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic computer processing system programmed to audit a customs report concerning a shipment of imported goods, the report being generated by a customs broker and submitted to the customs agency on behalf of an importer, wherein the auditing is based upon information contained in invoices and shipping records associated with the shipment.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the data repository is associated with the audit and comprises a plurality of customs reports, each associated with one of a plurality of shipments, the customs reports being received by the importer from the customs broker.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electronic computer processing system programmed to:

detect an error in data associated with a shipment of imported goods;

receive an input from a user for correcting the error;

substitute the data error with the received input; and

generate an amendment record of the substitution.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the data comprise invoices and shipping records.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the data comprise a customs report concerning the shipment and being generated by a customs broker and submitted to the customs agency on behalf of an importer.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the data comprises a plurality of generated amendment records.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media embodying a program of instructions executable by a trade compliance computer system for managing compliance with customs regulations in connection with imported goods that has:

a user interface;

a data repository containing;

classification criteria that enables a user to determine what HTS code should be assigned to each product;

entry packets that were submitted to a customs agency;

entry amendments that were submitted to a customs agency; and

post-entry information about activity that takes place after entry of the imported goods that is relevant to duties; and

links between the classification criteria, entry packets, entry amendments, and post-entry information that collectively facilitate locating data of each type that is related to data of another type;

the program of instructions including instructions that when executed by the electronic computer processing system causes the user interface to present a single screen to a user that offers the user an opportunity to select one of the following menu entries;

a classification option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

an item master option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to determine a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code that has been assigned to a selected imported product; and

an HTS maintenance option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to update a tariff schedule;

an entry history option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

an entry history by product option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view entry history information about a selected imported product; and

an entry history by HTS code product option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view entry history information organized by HTS code;

an audit option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

an entry audit results option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of entry audit results, including audit results that indicate the absence of a detected exception; and

an entry audit exception results option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of audit results that each indicate a detected exception;

an amendments option that includes at least the following sub-menu options, one of which the user may select;

a value adjustments option that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of adjustments made by entry amendments; and

a value allocation entry that, when selected, presents a screen to the user that enables the user to view a summary of entry amendments sorted by vendor.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the program of instructions is configured to determine which one of a plurality of classifications codes defined by the customs agency is most applicable to an imported good.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13 wherein the classification criteria comprises a first list of the plurality of classification codes defined by the customs agency, and a second list of the type of goods to which each one of the plurality of classification codes is applicable.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 wherein the program of instructions is configured to conduct a query and, in response to the query, retrieve invoices and shipping records associated with a particular shipment of imported goods.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the data repository comprises invoices and shipping records associated with a plurality of shipments of imported goods.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 wherein the program of instructions is configured to audit a customs report concerning a shipment of imported goods, the report being generated by a customs broker and submitted to the customs agency on behalf of an importer, wherein the auditing is based upon information contained in invoices and shipping records associated with the shipment.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17 wherein the data repository is associated with the audit and comprises a plurality of customs reports, each associated with one of a plurality of shipments, the customs reports being received by the importer from the customs broker.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 12 wherein the program of instructions is configured to:

detect an error in data associated with a shipment of imported goods;

receive an input from a user for correcting the error;

substitute the data error with the received input; and

generate an amendment record of the substitution.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 wherein the data comprise invoices and shipping records.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 wherein the data comprise a customs report concerning the shipment and being generated by a customs broker and submitted to the customs agency on behalf of an importer.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 wherein the data comprises a plurality of generated amendment records.