AU751980B2

AU751980B2 - Electronic consignment of goods

Info

Publication number: AU751980B2
Application number: AU45245/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shane Coates
Original assignee: FREIGHT TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Current assignee: FREIGHT TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-15
Filing date: 2000-05-15
Publication date: 2002-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-15
Also published as: AU4524500A; WO2001088768A1

Description

WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 1 ELECTRONIC CONSIGNMENT OF GOODS Field of the Invention This invention relates to the electronic consignment of goods. It relates particularly but not exclusively to a method of delivering items from a supplier to a receiver using an electronic consignment note and electronic verification by both the supplier and the receiver.

Background to the Invention Postal services, courier services, transportation services and other freight, letter and parcel delivery services are responsible for the delivery of a vast number of letters, parcels and other items of freight each year. Standard postal service typically provides no verification of contents and no tracking of progress during delivery from one person to another. Courier delivery services often offer some form of tra'cking and verification. Freight distribution typically provides signed written consignment notes for tracking and verification purposes.

There is a high degree of manual input to all of the consignment systems which are currently available. In a typical consignment process, the sender fills in a multi-part consignment document, and arranges by telephone or fax for a delivery company to come and pick up the parcel. An agent of the delivery company comes to collect the parcel and all copies of the consignment document except one which is retained by the sender. In some cases, the parcel is delivered directly. In other cases, the agent takes the parcel and consignment document back to the delivery company's depot, where parcels are sorted according to delivery location. At this stage, most delivery companies enter details of the requested delivery into a computer tracking system. There is a risk of the parcel going astray due to keying mistakes.

From the delivery company's depot, the parcel may be delivered to the recipient directly if the recipient is local, or via one or more intermediate locations if the recipient is located some distance away. Copies of the consignment document may be required to be kept by intermediate operators along the way. Those operators may make an entry into the computer tracking system showing that the parcel has been received at or dispatched from an WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 2 intermediate location. Once again there is a risk that keying errors may result in incorrect data.

Finilly, the parcel is delivered to the recipient by a delivery agent. In general, all that is required of the recipient is a signature. The delivery agent does not usually have a specimen of the recipient's signature, so cannot check that the person who actually ends up with the goods is the correct person.

There is a risk of the goods going astray at this stage due to an error on the part of the delivery agent or fraud on the part of someone impersonating the intended recipient.

Most delivery companies receive significant numbers of calls from customers who have not yet received parcels which they have been expecting.

Some delivery companies have attempted to address this by providing Internet websites at which customers can enter a consignment number and be given information concemrning progress of a delivery. Delivery agents often carry customised communications devices which enable them to transmit a message back to the computer as soon as a parcel is picked up or delivered. However, there remain significant problems with lack of security and authentication for consignment notes.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a method of delivering one or more items from a supplier to a receiver using a delivery service, including the following steps: an electronic consignment note, including details of the supplier, the receiver, and the item or items to be delivered, is created and stored in an electronic consignment note database; the supplier gives the item or items to the delivery service, and at the same time enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the supplier; the supplier's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note; the delivery service delivers the item or items to the receiver; WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 3 at the time of delivery of the item or items to the receiver, the receiver enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the receiver; the receiver's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note.

The term "delivery service" may refer to a single delivery company or to two or more related or unrelated delivery companies which co-operate to effect delivery of the item or items.

The electronic consignment note may be in any suitable. format. One suitable format is XML, which makes it easy to exchange information between different applications.

The electronic consignment note may be created by any suitable party. It is envisaged that in a common case, the electronic consignment note will be created by the supplier either using software on a computer associated with the supplier or through an Internet web page provided for the purpose of creating electronic consignment notes. In another case, the electronic consignment note may be created by the delivery service on the instructions of the supplier. This case might occur where the supplier does not have a communications-enabled computer.

In another case, the electronic consignment note may be created by the receiver. This could occur when the receiver is responsible for arranging delivery, or as part of a process of electronically ordering the item or items from the supplier. In the latter case, the receiver becomes responsible for ensuring correct addressing.

The electronic consignment note database may be maintained by any suitable person. It may be maintained by the supplier or the receiver, but it is more likely that it will be maintained by the delivery service or a third party such as a bank or an independent consignment technology service provider. The database need not be a single entity. It may be comprised of records located on a number of different computers, which may be located in a number of different locations.

In a preferred arrangement of the method, a first delivery agent working for the delivery service receives the item or items from the supplier and a WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 4 second delivery agent working for the delivery service delivers the goods to the receiver, and: at the time when the supplier gives the item or items to the delivery service, the first delivery agent enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the first delivery agent; the first delivery agent's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note; at the time of delivery of the item or items to the receiver, the second delivery agent enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the second delivery agent; the second delivery agent's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note.

The electronic communications devices used by the respective parties may be any suitable communications device. One suitable electronic communications device is a computer connected to the Internet. In a preferred arrangement of the method, the electronic communications device used by both the supplier and the first delivery agent is a mobile wireless communications device carried by the first delivery agent, and the electronic communications device used by both the receiver and the second delivery agent is a mobile wireless communications device carded by the second delivery agent. It is further preferred that the mobile wireless communications device be a mobile telephone with Wireless Application Protocol, although other communications devices such as Personal Digital Assistants, palmtop computers and other communications-enabled portable computers are also suitable. The use of WAP-enabled mobile phones is especially convenient because it enables accurate tracking using small, easily portable and inexpensive standard equipment. The delivery agents may also carry smart cards. A suitable smart card may be in the form of an extra CIM card stored in the portable electronic device.

The identifiers used by the supplier, the receiver and the respective delivery agents may be any suitable identifiers. A person might use his or her driver's licence as the identifier. It is especially preferred that the identifiers be WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 secret codes such as Personal Identification Numbers allocated by prior arrangement. This increases the degree of security applicable to the authentication of consignment notes.

In an alternative arrangement, the identifiers may be codes stored on cards or other code-bearing devices allocated to the respective parties by prior arrangement, and the identifiers may be transmitted to the electronic communications device by means of a scanner or other apparatus for automatically reading codes from cards or other code-bearing devices. Each person could, for example, be allocated a smart card, and the electronic communications device could include a smart card reader, enabling verification of person's identity without the necessity of entering numbers or letters. It will be appreciated that, whether identity is proved using a secret code, a smart card or other means, the present invention provides considerably more security than the prevalent system in which no verification is conducted other than obtaining an unverified signature.

The use of identifiers in the method of the present invention allows the delivery service to refuse delivery to anyone other than the intended recipient (or someone who has access to the intended recipient's identifier).

Delivery of a parcel may occur directly or via intermediate locations In cases where delivery occurs via one or more intermediate locations, the delivery service may transmit status information to the electronic consignment note database when the item or items reach an intermediate location. The status information is then associated in the electronic consignment note database with the electronic consignment note.

Suppliers and receivers may access the electronic consignment note database in order to find the progress of a particular delivery. However, in a preferred form of the invention, the suppliers and receivers do not have to make this enquiry themselves. The electronic consignment note database automatically transmits a status update to the supplier and the receiver whenever it receives information associated with the electronic consignment note. The supplier and receiver may therefore keep on their own computers an up to date copy of the electronic consignment note showing the latest delivery status information. In cases where the method of the invention is operated by a party independent from the delivery service, the consignment note and status WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 6 updates are preferably also transmitted to the delivery service. The information is preferably transmitted in XML format so that it can be loaded via a gateway into existing proprietary systems operated by the parties.

In cases where the item or items are delivered from the supplier's location to the receiver's location in multiple steps, and a delivery agent working for the delivery service is responsible for each step, it is preferred that during each step the responsible delivery agent carries with him or her an electronic copy of the whole or part of the electronic consignment note, or an electronic communications device which links to a copy of the electronic consignment note. In normal cases, an agent will have a number of items addressed to different recipients consigned to his or her care concurrently. It is preferred that the agent have a portable electronic communications device which has listed on it details of all of the items currently in his or her care.

The number of items may be verified each step along the way. In a preferred arrangement, the supplier and first delivery agent verify the number of items and optionally other information about the item or items at the time when the supplier gives the item or items to the delivery service, whereupon the supplier's and first delivery agent's verifications are transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and stored with the electronic consignment note.

The receiver and the second delivery agent verify the number of items and optionally other information about the item or items at the time when the item or items are delivered, and the receiver's and second delivery agent's verifications are transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and stored with the electronic consignment note.

In cases where the delivery occurs in a number of steps, and a delivery agent is responsible for each step, it is preferred that each responsible delivery agent verifies the number of items and optionally other information about the item or items when first becoming responsible for the item or items, and the responsible delivery agents' verifications are transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and stored with the electronic consignment note.

Detailed Description The invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the attached drawings which show example forms of the invention. It is to be WO 01/88768 PCT/AUOO/00463 7 understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a computer entry screen for use in creating an electronic consignment document in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 shows another computer entry screen for use in creating an electronic consignment document in accordance with the invention.

Figures 4 to 11 show successive screen entries on a WAP enabled telephone when it is being used in relation to a delivery or pick:up in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 is a schematic illustration of server interactions in an XML gateway for use in an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 provides gateway interaction diagrams for the various gateway interactions in the embodiment of Figure 12.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the method of the present invention involves delivering one or more items from supplier 1 to a receiver 3 using a delivery service 4. An electronic consignment note, including details of supplier 1, receiver 2, and the item or items to be delivered, is created and stored in electronic consignment note database 5. Supplier 1 gives the item or items to the delivery service 4. The items may be delivered by supplier 1 to delivery service 4, or delivery service 4 may send an agent to the supplier's premises to pick up the items. At the pick-up time, supplier 1 enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the supplier 1, such as a PIN number. The supplier's identifier is transmitted to electronic consignment note database 5 and associated with the electronic consignment note The delivery service 4 then delivers the item or items to receiver 3. At the time of delivery of the item or items to receiver 3, receiver 3 enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the receiver. The receiver's identifier is transmitted to electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note.

All of the parties are preferably connected to the Internet 2, and they can check progress of the delivery by connecting to database WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 8 Figures 2 and 3 show screens for an application which enables creation of electronic consignment notes. For the sake of this explanation, it is assumed that the user is the supplier. Firstly, the user logs in by entering a user ID and password. These are allocated when a person first registers as a participant in the method of the invention. One or both of the user ID and password may constitute the user's "identifier" as referred to previously.

The user is then given an opportunity to enter an account number for the receiver. If the user has previously sent goods to the receiver, the user may have an account number for the receiver. In this case, the computer automatically fills in relevant fields on the consignment note.

Next the user fills in the consignment note, which is illustrated in Figure 3. The user is then presented with a statement of terms and conditions of cartage and, on accepting these, has an opportunity to preview and print a copy of the consignment note.

Figures 4 to 11 show successive screen entries on a WAP enabled telephone when it is being used in relation to a delivery or pick up. For the purposes of this explanation it is assumed that the operator is an agent of the delivery service who both delivers parcels and picks them up. Firstly, the operator selects the appropriate application, which in this case is called "Freightech". The operator then sees the screen illustrated in Figure 4, giving a choice of "delivery" or "pick up".

On selecting the appropriate entry, depending upon whether this particular transaction is a delivery or a pick-up, the operator enters his or her secret code, which in this case is a PIN number, using the screen illustrated in Figure 5, and then selects "submit". Next, the operator selects the appropriate consignment note number from a list which appears on the operator's screen, as illustrated in Figure 6. If this is a pickup, the consignment note number will have been created when the supplier created the consignment note, and the particular number will have been allocated to the operator's list of consignments when the operator was assigned the job of performing this particular pick-up. If this is a delivery, the consignment note number will have been allocated to the operator's list of consignments when the operator was assigned the job of performing this particular delivery.

WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 9 Next, the operator sees the screen illustrated in Figure 7 and presses OK to retrieve the consignment details, which are illustrated in Figure 8. If the quantities are incorrect, the operator changes the quantities as illustrated in Figure 9; otherwise, the operator hands the phone to the supplier or receiver (depending on whether this is a pick-up or a delivery) and selects the "Receiver PIN" or "Sender PIN" entry option as shown in Figure 10. The sender or receiver then enters their PIN and presses OK and then Submit, to send the identifier to the database. If the supplier/receiver does not have a PIN, he or she can use a driver licence number.

In order to facilitate the invention, it is desirable that various gateways be provided for exchange of data and in particular consignment notes between the database and delivery services and suppliers, without the necessity of going through a web interface.

A suitable interface would allow the following functions to be performed: Message Description Econ New or updated ECON from Sender to FreighTech or from Freightech to Transport EconEvent Record of an event (eg. Pickup, delivery or modification) from Transport to FreighTech and Freightech to Sender EconRcpt Confirmation of receipt of ECON message. For a new ECON this receipt will include the assigned ECON code EconEventRcpt Confirmation of receipt of a EconEvent message.

The gateway can potentially be compatible with the Microsoft BizTalk Server once Microsoft releases it.

Communication between the database and its XML gateway partners preferably occurs via the Intemet. To ensure secure, intact delivery of messages certificates are used to identify each party in the transaction. Messages are also digitally signed to ensure that they have not been tampered with and have not suffered corruption while travelling across the internet. A purpose-designed certificate may be used or certificates may be obtained from a digital certificate provider such as VeriSign or Thawte.

All transactions received and sent between the database and its XML partners are preferably audited and (at least) summary details of each WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 transaction maintained online. These records can be reviewed in case there are discrepancies between the database and its partners.

The database preferably allows for growth using a server farm approach.

This allows for a low entry point with a single server providing gateway services.

As required to meet availability or performance needs, additional servers can be added to the farm to expand its capabilities.

The gateway servers are reliant on local connectivity to the database and on internet connectivity to its trading partners so should be installed at the same site as the web servers where redundant links to the Internet are provided.

Reliability of the data contained within the XML message is provided by message signing, a process where a checksum of the message is calculated and attached to the message before it is sent. The receiving gateway regenerates and compares the checksum. If the checksum fails, the message is not processed any further and a reply is sent to the original sender to request a re-send of the complete message.

Each message has a matching receipt message, which is sent by the receiver to the original sender. If this receipt is not received by the sender within a defined time frame the message is assumed lost and re-sent.

Batching software may be provided to create batches of multiple consignment notes. The batching software operates in conjunction with the Gateway. At some scheduled point in time or on the occurrence of a certain event the batching software creates multiple electronic consignment notes and sends them through the gateway to the central database.

XML documents are exchanged between the gateways at some time after the request is placed and success or failure (of the current message) is not reported. It is the responsibility of the calling system to manage the overall state of transactions.

By way of example, Figure 12 illustrates a number of independent XML gateway transactions generated by a new ECON request from a sender. In the illustration, the word "Econ" is used as shorthand for "electronic consignment note".

The 'Internal System' server sends the ECON message and record the matching acknowledgement. If the acknowledgement is not received within a WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 11 specified time period the 'Internal System' may need to send the message again. All systems ensure that no duplicates are created.

In the case of message conversation failure the re-send of the message re-starts the overall conversation. In the example of Figure 12, if the acknowledgement is not received and the Internal System re-sends the ECON message, the database server does not create a second ECON. It must match the request with a previous request, identify the transaction status and take appropriate action such as send the ECON Receipt message again.

For XML documents that can be sent between partners, the following messages are defined: ECON A complete ECON ECON Receipt Receipt of ECON being created or updated. This will contain the assigned ECON number.

ECON Event A modification to an ECON such as pickup or delivery ECON Event Receipt Confirmation of receipt of ECON Event message Documents are always sent within an envelope which contains delivery and manifest details.

Figure 13 provides gateway interaction diagrams for the various gateway interactions.

It is to be understood that various alterations, additions and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of delivering one or more items from a supplier to a receiver using a delivery service, including the following steps: an electronic consignment note, including details of the supplier, the receiver, and the item or items to be delivered, is created and stored in an electronic consignment note database; the supplier gives the item or items to the delivery service, and at the same time enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the supplier; the supplier's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note; the delivery service delivers the item or items to the receiver; at the time of delivery of the item or items to the receiver, the receiver enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the receiver; the receiver's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic consignment note is created by the supplier or by the delivery service on the instructions of the supplier.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electronic consignment note is created by the receiver as part of a process of electronically ordering the item or items from the supplier.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein a first delivery agent working for the delivery service receives the item or items from the supplier and a second delivery agent working for the delivery service delivers the goods to the receiver, wherein further at the time when the supplier gives the item or items to the delivery service, the first delivery agent enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the first delivery agent; WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 13 the first delivery agent's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note; at the time of delivery of the item or items to the receiver, the second delivery agent enters into an electronic communications device an identifier associated with the second delivery agent; the second delivery agent's identifier is transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and associated with the electronic consignment note.

A method according to claim 4 wherein the electronic communications device used by both the supplier and the first delivery agent is a mobile wireless communications device carried by the first delivery agent.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the electronic communications device used by both the receiver and the second delivery agent is a mobile wireless communications device carried by the second delivery agent.

7. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the mobile wireless communications device is a mobile telephone with Wireless Application Protocol.

8. A method according to claim 1 or claim 4 wherein the identifiers are secret codes allocated by prior arrangement.

9. A method according to claim 1 or claim 4 wherein the identifiers are codes stored on cards or other code-bearing devices allocated to the respective parties by prior arrangement, and the identifiers are transmitted to the electronic communications device by means of a scanner or other apparatus for automatically reading codes from cards or other code-bearing devices.

A method according to claim 1 wherein delivery occurs via one or more intermediate locations, the delivery service transmits status information to the electronic consignment note database when the item or items reach an WO 01/88768 PCT/AU00/00463 14 intermediate location, and the status information is associated in the electronic consignment note database with the electronic consignment note.

11. A method according to claim 1 or claim 10 wherein the electronic consignment note database automatically transmits a status update to the supplier and the receiver whenever it receives information associated with the electronic consignment note.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the item or items are delivered from the supplier's location to the receiver's location in multiple steps, a delivery agent working for the delivery service is responsible for each step, and during each step the responsible delivery agent carries with him or her an electronic copy of the whole or part of the electronic consignment note, or an electronic communications device which links to a copy of the electronic consignment note.

13. A method according to claim 4 wherein the supplier and first delivery agent verify the number of items and optionally other information about the item or items at the time when the supplier gives the item or items to the delivery service, the supplier's and first delivery agent's verifications are transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and stored with the electronic consignment note, the receiver and the second delivery agent verify the number of items and optionally other information about the item or items at the time when the item or items are delivered, and the receiver's and second delivery agent's verifications are transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and stored with the electronic consignment note.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein each responsible delivery agent verifies the number of items and optionally other information about the item or items when first becoming responsible for the item or items, and the responsible delivery agents' verifications are transmitted to the electronic consignment note database and stored with the electronic consignment note.