Shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform

• US 9,928,475 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laneaxis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Laneaxis, Inc.
• Inventors: Burnett, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Eric T
• Application Number:
  US15/078,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20160203440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0835 Relationships between shipper or supplier and carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can include an internet based web page, application for a handheld device, a dedicated device with a graphical user interface, or any combination thereof for one or more shipper to enter shipment requirements and/or bids for use of a carrier'"'"'s equipment. One or more carriers can enter equipment specifications, such as equipment type, availability, and minimum payment amount accepted, as well as bids for employment to ship goods via the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform. The platform can automate matching shippers and carriers for each shipment, provide information regarding shipment status, and help carriers to maximize the amount of time their vehicles carry cargo. Systems may include a shipper interface, a carrier interface, one or more handheld devices running the interaction optimization platform, and positioning software and/or hardware to indicate the location of the one or more handheld devices used by shipment carriers.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction comprising:

creating, at a server, a plurality of carrier profiles based on carrier information provided into a plurality of carrier profile data fields displayed at respective ones of a plurality of carrier display devices, each of the plurality of carrier profiles comprising at least one identification number for a respective at least one driver mobile device and each of the plurality of carrier display devices in communication with the server over a network;

creating, at the server, a shipment request based on shipment information relating to a shipment to be fulfilled and comprising a set of rules and a document associated with the shipment, the shipment information provided at a shipper display device in communication with the server over the network;

automatically assigning, by the server, the shipment to a particular carrier associated with a particular driver mobile device, the automatic assignment based on the particular carrier conforming to the set of rules and the document;

associating, by the server the shipment with the particular driver mobile device associated with a driver, wherein the particular driver mobile device is configured to accept and/or generate driver mobile device location information for the particular driver mobile device and relay the driver mobile device location information to the server;

generating, by the server a plurality of graphical interfaces on a mobile application when the mobile application is running on one or more of the particular driver mobile device, the carrier display device of the particular carrier, and the shipper display device, the plurality of graphical interfaces comprising;

a shipment information screen comprising information about the shipment;

a declined load screen configured to receive user-input relating to the driver declining the association;

an accepted load screen configured to receive user input specifying that the shipment has been picked up by the driver; and

a progress screen comprising a graphical indication of the mobile device location information;

causing, by the server, a deviation alert to be generated and transmitted to one or more of the carrier display device of the particular carrier, the particular driver mobile device, and the shipper display device, the deviation alert based on deviation by the particular mobile device from an electronically defined geofence surrounding a point of origin, an electronically defined geofence surrounding points along a predetermined route, and an electronically defined geofence surrounding a destination;

automatically generating, by the server, a delivery verification screen on the mobile application, the delivery verification screen configured to receive user input specifying that the shipment has arrived at the destination;

transmitting, from the server to the mobile application, an arrival time corresponding to the particular driver mobile device breaching the electronically defined geofence surrounding the destination, the transmitting based at least on a tracking signal being transmitted by the particular driver mobile device from within the geofence;

automatically switching, by the server, the displayed progress screen to the delivery verification screen when the tracking signal from the particular driver mobile device is transmitted from within the geofence, the delivery verification screen comprising;

a selection interface configured to transmit a confirmation or a lack of confirmation that the shipment has been delivered;

a photo button which, in response to user input, activates a camera of the particular driver mobile device to take a digital image;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input; and

a submit button which, in response to user input, transmits the confirmation or lack of confirmation, the digital image, and the textual user input from the comments section, to the server.

2. The method of claim 1, the shipment information screen comprising:

a first graphical indication of a shipment pickup time;

a second graphical indication of a shipment delivery time;

a third graphical indication of a shipment distance and a shipment duration;

a fourth graphical indication of a shipment origin;

a fifth graphical indication of a shipment destination;

a details button which, in response to user input, displays a shipping manifest at the driver mobile device; and

a plurality of buttons which, in response to user input, initiates the associating or declines the associating and displays a declined load comment screen.

3. The method of claim 1, the declined load screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to display pre-defined reasons for declining a shipment and accept user input selecting at least one of the pre-defined reasons;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input that can be stored and transmitted with the selected pre-defined reason; and

a submission button which, in response to user input, transmits the selected predefined reason and the textual user input to the server.

4. The method of claim 1, the accepted load screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to transmit a confirmation or a lack of confirmation that the shipment being picked up matches a manifest;

a details button which, in response to user input, displays a graphical representation of a portion of the shipment information on the driver mobile device;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input; and

an accept button which, in response to user input, transmits the confirmation or lack of confirmation, and the textual user input from the comments section, to the server.

5. The method of claim 1, the progress screen comprising:

a map displaying the position of the carrier location;

a graphical representation of a status of the shipment, where the status is indicated as in transit after the shipment has been accepted through the accepted load screen and before the shipment has been verified as delivered at the delivery verification screen;

a graphical indication of a remaining distance and a remaining time until the shipment will be delivered; and

a problem reporting button, which in response to user input, initiates generation of a problem reporting screen.

6. The method of claim 5, the problem reporting screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to display pre-defined problems and accept user input selecting at least one of the pre-defined problems;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input that can be stored and transmitted with the selected pre-defined problem; and

a submission button which, in response to user input, transmits the selected pre-defined problem, and the textual user input to the server.

7. A computer program product comprising a non-transient, machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

creating, at a server, a plurality of carrier profiles based on carrier information provided into a plurality of carrier profile data fields displayed at respective ones of a plurality of carrier display devices, each of the plurality of carrier profiles comprising at least one identification number for a respective at least one driver mobile device and each of the plurality of carrier display devices in communication with the server over a network;

creating, at the server, a shipment request based on shipment information relating to a shipment to be fulfilled and comprising a set of rules and a document associated with the shipment, the shipment information provided at a shipper display device in communication with the server over the network;

automatically assigning, by the server, the shipment to a particular carrier associated with a particular driver mobile device, the automatic assignment based on the particular carrier conforming to the set of rules and the document;

associating, by the server the shipment with the particular driver mobile device associated with a driver, wherein the particular driver mobile device is configured to accept and/or generate driver mobile device location information for the particular driver mobile device and relay the driver mobile device location information to the server;

generating, by the server a plurality of graphical interfaces on a mobile application when the mobile application is running on one or more of the particular driver mobile device, the carrier display device of the particular carrier, and the shipper display device, the plurality of graphical interfaces comprising;

a shipment information screen comprising information about the shipment;

a declined load screen configured to receive user-input relating to the driver declining the association;

an accepted load screen configured to receive user input specifying that the shipment has been picked up by the driver; and

a progress screen comprising a graphical indication of the mobile device location information;

causing, by the server, a deviation alert to be generated and transmitted to one or more of the carrier display device of the particular carrier, the particular driver mobile device, and the shipper display device, the deviation alert based on deviation by the particular mobile device from an electronically defined geofence surrounding a point of origin, an electronically defined geofence surrounding points along a predetermined route, and an electronically defined geofence surrounding a destination;

automatically generating, by the server, a delivery verification screen on the mobile application, the delivery verification screen configured to receive user input specifying that the shipment has arrived at the destination;

transmitting, from the server to the mobile application, an arrival time corresponding to the particular driver mobile device breaching the electronically defined geofence surrounding the destination, the transmitting based at least on a tracking signal being transmitted by the particular driver mobile device from within the geofence;

automatically switching, by the server, the displayed progress screen to the delivery verification screen when the tracking signal from the particular driver mobile device is transmitted from within the geofence, the delivery verification screen comprising;

a selection interface configured to transmit a confirmation or a lack of confirmation that the shipment has been delivered;

a photo button which, in response to user input, activates a camera of the particular driver mobile device to take a digital image;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input; and

a submit button which, in response to user input, transmits the confirmation or lack of confirmation, the digital image, and the textual user input from the comments section, to the server.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, the shipment information screen comprising:

a first graphical indication of a shipment pickup time;

a second graphical indication of a shipment delivery time;

a third graphical indication of a shipment distance and a shipment duration;

a fourth graphical indication of a shipment origin;

a fifth graphical indication of a shipment destination;

a details button which, in response to user input, displays a shipping manifest at the driver mobile device; and

a plurality of buttons which, in response to user input, initiates the associating or declines the associating and displays a declined load comment screen.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, the declined load screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to display pre-defined reasons for declining a shipment and accept user input selecting at least one of the pre-defined reasons;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input that can be stored and transmitted with the selected pre-defined reason; and

a submission button which, in response to user input, transmits the selected predefined reason and the textual user input to the server.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, the accepted load screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to transmit a confirmation or a lack of confirmation that the shipment being picked up matches a manifest;

a details button which, in response to user input, displays a graphical representation of a portion of the shipment information on the driver mobile device;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input; and

an accept button which, in response to user input, transmits the confirmation or lack of confirmation, and the textual user input from the comments section, to the server.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, the progress screen comprising:

a map displaying the position of the carrier location;

a graphical representation of a status of the shipment, where the status is indicated as in transit after the shipment has been accepted through the accepted load screen and before the shipment has been verified as delivered at the delivery verification screen;

a graphical indication of a remaining distance and a remaining time until the shipment will be delivered; and

a problem reporting button, which in response to user input, initiates generation of a problem reporting screen.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, the problem reporting screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to display pre-defined problems and accept user input selecting at least one of the pre-defined problems;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input that can be stored and transmitted with the selected pre-defined problem; and

a submission button which, in response to user input, transmits the selected pre-defined problem, and the textual user input to the server.

13. A system comprising:

at least one programmable processor; and

a non-transient machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising;

creating, at a server, a plurality of carrier profiles based on carrier information provided into a plurality of carrier profile data fields displayed at respective ones of a plurality of carrier display devices, each of the plurality of carrier profiles comprising at least one identification number for a respective at least one driver mobile device and each of the plurality of carrier display devices in communication with the server over a network;

creating, at the server, a shipment request based on shipment information relating to a shipment to be fulfilled and comprising a set of rules and a document associated with the shipment, the shipment information provided at a shipper display device in communication with the server over the network;

automatically assigning, by the server, the shipment to a particular carrier associated with a particular driver mobile device, the automatic assignment based on the particular carrier conforming to the set of rules and the document;

associating, by the server the shipment with the particular driver mobile device associated with a driver, wherein the particular driver mobile device is configured to accept and/or generate driver mobile device location information for the particular driver mobile device and relay the driver mobile device location information to the server;

generating, by the server a plurality of graphical interfaces on a mobile application when the mobile application is running on one or more of the particular driver mobile device, the carrier display device of the particular carrier, and the shipper display device, the plurality of graphical interfaces comprising;

a shipment information screen comprising information about the shipment;

a declined load screen configured to receive user-input relating to the driver declining the association;

an accepted load screen configured to receive user input specifying that the shipment has been picked up by the driver; and

a progress screen comprising a graphical indication of the mobile device location information;

causing, by the server, a deviation alert to be generated and transmitted to one or more of the carrier display device of the particular carrier, the particular driver mobile device, and the shipper display device, the deviation alert based on deviation by the particular mobile device from an electronically defined geofence surrounding a point of origin, an electronically defined geofence surrounding points along a predetermined route, and an electronically defined geofence surrounding a destination,

automatically generating, by the server, a delivery verification screen on the mobile application, the delivery verification screen configured to receive user input specifying that the shipment has arrived at the destination;

transmitting, from the server to the mobile application, an arrival time corresponding to the particular driver mobile device breaching the electronically defined geofence surrounding the destination, the transmitting based at least on a tracking signal being transmitted by the particular driver mobile device from within the geofence;

automatically switching, by the server, the displayed progress screen to the delivery verification screen when the tracking signal from the particular driver mobile device is transmitted from within the geofence, the delivery verification screen comprising;

a selection interface configured to transmit a confirmation or a lack of confirmation that the shipment has been delivered;

a photo button which, in response to user input, activates a camera of the particular driver mobile device to take a digital image;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input; and

a submit button which, in response to user input, transmits the confirmation or lack of confirmation, the digital image, and the textual user input from the comments section, to the server.

14. The system of claim 13, the shipment information screen comprising:

a first graphical indication of a shipment pickup time;

a second graphical indication of a shipment delivery time;

a third graphical indication of a shipment distance and a shipment duration;

a fourth graphical indication of a shipment origin;

a fifth graphical indication of a shipment destination;

a details button which, in response to user input, displays a shipping manifest at the driver mobile device; and

a plurality of buttons which, in response to user input, initiates the associating or declines the associating and displays a declined load comment screen.

15. The system of claim 13, the declined load screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to display pre-defined reasons for declining a shipment and accept user input selecting at least one of the pre-defined reasons;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input that can be stored and transmitted with the selected pre-defined reason; and

a submission button which, in response to user input, transmits the selected predefined reason and the textual user input to the server.

16. The system of claim 13, the accepted load screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to transmit a confirmation or a lack of confirmation that the shipment being picked up matches a manifest;

a details button which, in response to user input, displays a graphical representation of a portion of the shipment information on the driver mobile device;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input; and

an accept button which, in response to user input, transmits the confirmation or lack of confirmation, and the textual user input from the comments section, to the server.

17. The system of claim 13, the progress screen comprising:

a map displaying the position of the carrier location;

a graphical representation of a status of the shipment, where the status is indicated as in transit after the shipment has been accepted through the accepted load screen and before the shipment has been verified as delivered at the delivery verification screen;

a graphical indication of a remaining distance and a remaining time until the shipment will be delivered; and

a problem reporting button, which in response to user input, initiates generation of a problem reporting screen.

18. The system of claim 17, the problem reporting screen comprising:

a selection interface configured to display pre-defined problems and accept user input selecting at least one of the pre-defined problems;

a comments section configured to receive textual user input that can be stored and transmitted with the selected pre-defined problem; and

a submission button which, in response to user input, transmits the selected pre-defined problem, and the textual user input to the server.