Centralized system and method for automated carrier status updates via SMS in a multi-carrier environment
First Claim
1. A method for managing carrier status via the Short Message Service (SMS) by a centralized system in a multi-carrier environment, comprising:
- a) associating, by a dispatcher of a carrier, a driver with a first load to be transported, using an SMS-enabled cellphone number of the driver;
b) storing the association of driver and load in a database of the system using a centralized server comprising a processor and non-volatile storage media, along with a unique identifier of the carrier;
c) transmitting, by the server to the driver, a first instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone, wherein the first instruction contains information about the first load'"'"'s location, along with instructions for replying upon arrival;
d) receiving, by the server from the driver, a first response consistent with the instructions for replying upon arrival;
e) updating, by the server, a status associated with the driver'"'"'s first response in the database;
f) transmitting, by the server to the driver, a second instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone, wherein the second instruction contains instructions for replying upon departure;
g) receiving, by the server from the driver, a second response consistent with the instructions for replying upon departure;
h) updating, by the server, a status associated with the driver'"'"'s second response;
i) repeating (a)-(h) for a second load to be transported for the driver;
j) repeating (a)-(i) for a second driver of a second carrier; and
k) providing, by the centralized system, status reports related to both the driver and associated load, and the second driver and associated load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing carrier status via the Short Message Service (SMS) by a centralized system in a multi-carrier environment includes: associating a driver with a first load to be transported, using an SMS-enabled cellphone number of the driver; storing the association of driver and load in a database of the system, along with a unique identifier of the carrier; transmitting, by the server to the driver, an instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone with instructions for replying upon arrival; receiving, by the server from the driver, a response consistent with the instructions for replying upon arrival; updating, by the server, a status associated with the driver'"'"'s response in the database; repeating the steps for a second driver of a second carrier; and providing, by the centralized system, status reports related to both the driver and associated load, and the second driver and associated load.
8 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for managing carrier status via the Short Message Service (SMS) by a centralized system in a multi-carrier environment, comprising:
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a) associating, by a dispatcher of a carrier, a driver with a first load to be transported, using an SMS-enabled cellphone number of the driver; b) storing the association of driver and load in a database of the system using a centralized server comprising a processor and non-volatile storage media, along with a unique identifier of the carrier; c) transmitting, by the server to the driver, a first instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone, wherein the first instruction contains information about the first load'"'"'s location, along with instructions for replying upon arrival; d) receiving, by the server from the driver, a first response consistent with the instructions for replying upon arrival; e) updating, by the server, a status associated with the driver'"'"'s first response in the database; f) transmitting, by the server to the driver, a second instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone, wherein the second instruction contains instructions for replying upon departure; g) receiving, by the server from the driver, a second response consistent with the instructions for replying upon departure; h) updating, by the server, a status associated with the driver'"'"'s second response; i) repeating (a)-(h) for a second load to be transported for the driver; j) repeating (a)-(i) for a second driver of a second carrier; and k) providing, by the centralized system, status reports related to both the driver and associated load, and the second driver and associated load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A centralized system for managing carrier status via the Short Message Service (SMS) in a multi-carrier environment, comprising:
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a centralized server comprising; a processor for executing routines; a non-volatile database for storing data of the centralized system; a) a routine that associates, via a carrier dispatcher, a driver with a first load to be transported, using an SMS-enabled cellphone number of the driver; b) a routine that stores the association of driver and load in the database, along with a unique identifier of the carrier; c) a transmitter that transmits, to the driver, a first instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone, wherein the first instruction contains information about the first load'"'"'s location, along with instructions for replying upon arrival; d) a receiver that receives, from the driver, a first response consistent with the instructions for replying upon arrival; e) an updating routine that updates a status associated with the driver'"'"'s first response in the database; wherein; f) the transmitter transmits, to the driver, a second instruction as a text message to the driver'"'"'s cell phone, wherein the second instruction contains instructions for replying upon departure; g) the receiver receives, from the driver, a second response consistent with the instructions for replying upon departure; h) the server updates a status associated with the driver'"'"'s second response; i) the server repeats (a)-(h) for a second load to be transported for the driver; j) the server repeats (a)-(i) for a second driver of a second carrier; and k) the server provides status reports related to both the driver and associated load, and the second driver and associated load.
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Specification