Method for shippers to manage fuel cost
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for managing fuel costs, comprising:
- receiving, compiling, manipulating, and storing transaction information by a Network Administrator loaded on a computer, the transaction information being associated with;
(a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods along a pre-defined route from an origin to a destination; and
(b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment along the pre-defined route using(i) a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel,(ii) the fuel purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and(iii) the fuel purchased from pre-selected fueling locations selected by the shipper;
wherein the maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established by the shipper, the base price per eligible unit of fuel is fixed before the shipment is made, and the fueling locations are established by the Network Administrator, provided that if the carrier can acquire fuel at a price more beneficial to the carrier than the pre-set base price, at a fueling location that is a non-preselected fueling location, the carrier may purchase the fuel at the non-pre-selected location; and
transmitting to the computer on which the Network Administrator is loaded carrier fuel purchase information associated with fuel purchases made by the carrier at the pre-selected and non-pre-selected fueling locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method for managing fuel costs, along with a corresponding apparatus, and a corresponding medium are described. The method includes receiving transaction information at a Network Administrator, the transaction information being associated with: (a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods from an origin to a destination; and (b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment using a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel, where the fuel is purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and where the fuel is purchased from pre-selected fueling locations. The maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established between the shipper and the carrier, while the fueling locations are established by the Network Administrator. The actual price paid for the fuel is set by the market. Carrier fuel purchase information associated with fuel purchases made by the carrier at the pre-selected fueling locations is then transmitted to the Network Administrator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for managing fuel costs, comprising:
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receiving, compiling, manipulating, and storing transaction information by a Network Administrator loaded on a computer, the transaction information being associated with;
(a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods along a pre-defined route from an origin to a destination; and
(b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment along the pre-defined route using(i) a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel, (ii) the fuel purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and (iii) the fuel purchased from pre-selected fueling locations selected by the shipper; wherein the maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established by the shipper, the base price per eligible unit of fuel is fixed before the shipment is made, and the fueling locations are established by the Network Administrator, provided that if the carrier can acquire fuel at a price more beneficial to the carrier than the pre-set base price, at a fueling location that is a non-preselected fueling location, the carrier may purchase the fuel at the non-pre-selected location; and transmitting to the computer on which the Network Administrator is loaded carrier fuel purchase information associated with fuel purchases made by the carrier at the pre-selected and non-pre-selected fueling locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 7. The method of claim , wherein the transaction information comprises one or more identifiers selected from the group consisting of a maximum-number- of-eligible-units-of-fuel identifier, a base-price-per-eligible-unit identifier, and a fueling locations identifier.
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16. A computer-implemented method for managing fuel costs, comprising:
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receiving, compiling, manipulating, and storing transaction information by a Network Administrator loaded on a computer, the transaction information being associated with;
(a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods along a pre-defined route from an origin to a destination; and
(b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment along the pre-defined route using(i) a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel, (ii) the fuel purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and (iii) the fuel purchased from pre-selected fueling locations selected by the shipper; wherein the maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established by the shipper, the base price per eligible unit of fuel is fixed before the shipment is made, and the fueling locations are established by the Network Administrator, provided that if the carrier can acquire fuel at a price more beneficial to the carrier than the pre-set base price, at a fueling location that is a non-preselected fuel location, the carrier may purchase the fuel at the non-pre-selected location; and transmitting to the computer on which the Network Administrator is loaded carrier fuel purchase information associated with fuel purchases made by the carrier at the pre-selected and non-pre-selected fueling locations, wherein the carrier fuel purchase information comprises the number of units of fuel purchased by the carrier and a price per unit paid by the carrier for all units of fuel purchased. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to; receive transaction information, the transaction information being associated with;
(a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods along a pre-defined route from an origin to a destination; and
(b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment along the pre-defined route using(i) a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel, (ii) the fuel purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and (iii) the fuel purchased from pre-selected fueling locations selected by the shipper; wherein the maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established by the shipper, the base price per eligible unit of fuel is fixed before the shipment is made, and the fueling locations are established by a Network Administrator, provided that if the carrier can acquire fuel at a price more beneficial to the carrier than the pre-set base price, at a fueling location that is a non-preselected fuel location, the carrier may purchase the fuel at the non-pre-selected location; and transmit to a Network Administrator carrier fuel purchase information associated with fuel purchases made by the carrier at the pre-selected and non-pre-selected fueling locations.
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20. A computer-executable program tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for managing fuel costs, the method comprising:
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receiving transaction information at a Network Administrator, the transaction information being associated with;
(a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods along a pre-defined route from an origin to a destination; and
(b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment along the pre-defined route using(i) a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel, (ii) the fuel purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and (iii) the fuel purchased from pre-selected fueling locations selected by the shipper; wherein the maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established by the shipper, the base price per eligible unit of fuel is fixed before the shipment is made, and the fueling locations are established by the Network Administrator, provided that if the carrier can acquire fuel at a price more beneficial to the carrier than the pre-set base price, at a fueling location that is a non-reselected fuel location, the carrier may purchase the fuel at the non-pre-selected location; and transmitting to the Network Administrator carrier fuel purchase information associated with fuel purchases made by the carrier at the pre-selected and non-preselected fueling locations.
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Specification