CN1764924A - Freight fulfillment and trading platform - Google Patents

Abstract

Network-based, computer-implemented techniques and arrangements for fulfilling multi-modal freight shipment involving at least two transportation modes between a first location and a second location are disclosed. In one implementation, there is included receiving a derivative purchase request for capacity between the first location and the second location, the derivative purchase request having contract requirements that specify at least a shipment volume and a performance time. There is further included ascertaining from a database of available derivative contracts a plurality of potentially suitable derivative contracts that satisfy the contract requirements. There is also included selecting a subset of the plurality of potentially suitable derivative contracts to satisfy the derivative purchase request, the subset including at least a first derivative contract for a first mode of the two transportation modes and a second derivative contract for a second mode of the two transportation modes.

Description

Shipping realization and transaction platform

The application number that the application requires the present inventor to submit on March 25th, 2003 is 60/457,164 application " Freight Future Trading Rules of Engagement ", the application number that the present inventor submitted on March 25th, 2003 is 60/457,167 application " Presenting Futures and Options in Freight ", the application number that applicant of the present invention submitted on March 25th, 2003 is 60/457,166 application " Freight FutureUser Interface ", the application number that applicant of the present invention submitted on March 25th, 2003 is 60/457,165 application " Standardization of Freight Capacity ", the application number that applicant of the present invention submitted on March 25th, 2003 is 60/457, the right of priority of 163 application " Freight Futures Liquidity Strategy ", these all are transferred to identical assignee Future Freight Corporation, and these applications all are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

Background technology

Freight industry relates to uses multiple means of transportation conveying articles (for example, bulkload, liquid, container etc.) between the destination.In these years, the sector has developed into great majority transportation now and has been usually directed to four main participants: 1) forwarding agent, the operation transportation equipment, 2) shipper, tending to is the manufacturer of the goods that betransported, 3) for the carrier, gathering is from the goods of shipper, so that the carrying capacity that provides by the forwarding agent between terminal point to be provided more, and 4) marketmaker (market maker), from the transaction of contract of carriage, acquire an advantage, but improved the flowability of the freight market of the secondary product that participates in as them.

The freight industry of multiple mode

Cargo transport between any two destinations can relate to multiple means of transportation and multiple possible selected route.For the ease of discussing, Figure 1A shows at Hong Kong (Hong Kong is abbreviated as HKG) and Reno, some supposition shipper that transportation relates between the Nevada (state of Nevada Reno is called for short Reno), for carrier and forwarding agent.In this example, shipper 102 and shipper 104 can utilize lorry with freight transportation to Hong Kong for carrier 106, be transported to receiving entity then at Reno.According to the character of the goods that will betransported, the movement requirement and the other factors of shipper regulation, attempt seeking the cargo transport method of the least cost that can finish the cargo transport order usually for carrier 106.

For example, can select through Alaska the delivery of goods to be arrived the warehouse of San Francisco Airport (SFO is abbreviated as on airport, San Francisco) by air transport (108) for carrier 106.From SFO, goods can be transported to Reno by air transport (110), maybe can pass through lorry (112a and 112b) and be sent to Reno through Sacramento (SAC is abbreviated as in the Sacramento).Can also select to be transported to Oakland harbour (OAK is abbreviated as at the Auckland harbour) for carrier 106 by sea-freight (114).From OAK, goods can be transported to Reno through Sacramento (SAC) by lorry (116 and 112b).Alternatively, can select to be transported to Los Angeles (LAX is abbreviated as in Los Angeles) for carrier 106 by air transport (118).From LAX, goods can be transported directly to Reno through Sacramento (SAC) or by air transport (122) quilt by lorry (120 and 112b).Can recognize that from Figure 1A freight shipments relates to multiple mode (for example, sea-freight, air transport or lorry) and route.

Long-term contract and spot market are bought

Usually, shipper, for concerning that the past is by two kinds of mechanism dominations between carrier and the forwarding agent: the spot market is bought and long-term contract.For the ease of discussing, Figure 1B shows for the relation between carrier 130 and the forwarding agent 132, and this relation is arranged by spot market purchase 136 and long-term contract 134.May wish to sign a long-term contract 134 for carrier 130, with locking price and assurance carrying capacity at a specified future date with forwarding agent 132.Similarly, forwarding agent 132 may wish to lock price, and guarantees to sell in advance carrying capacity, so that under-utilized risk minimization.For example, long-term contract can begin 6 months for buying from date that long-term contract is signed, on the ship from Hong Kong to OAK 30 tons, contract of affreightment per ton.

The purchase of representative for carrier's 130 recent required carrying capacities of shipping goods bought in the spot market.For example, spot purchase can be for leaving the purchase of 20 tons shipment volume on the ship from Hong Kong to OAK in two days.According to the custom of relevant specific industry department, only carry out time range between time of the time bought the spot market and shipping goods and can be several hrs and load allowing, perhaps can be a week or longer.Carrying out during the spot market buys, must pay at that time market usually with the price of bearing for carrier 130.

Carrying capacity and pricing risk

Decision about the specific cargo transport which kind of mode and which bar route is used for goods is very complicated, relates to such as the admissible hours underway of maximum, by the price of shipper payment and from the factor of the availability of forwarding agent's shipment volume (this decision itself is complicated and may relates to character such as institute's freight, weather, fuel cost, the utilization rate of labour power etc.).Similarly, about whether utilizing long-term contract, spot market to buy or their combination is complicated with the decision of finishing the cargo transport order, relate to numerous factors.These factors are always changing, and therefore will constantly propose to fix a price and for shipper, for carrier and forwarding agent's carrying capacity risk.

For shipper, what be concerned about most is the ability of shipping goods in time.Some shipper can not be born the carrying capacity deficiency, and the carrying capacity deficiency is to be characterized as not have sufficient carrying capacity with the situation of shipping goods in time.In order to make this risk minimization, shipper is ready and signs a long-term contract for carrier or forwarding agent, with the carrying capacity of the key cargo transport that guarantees to be used to determine in long term.

Another kind of risk is excessive purchase, and when shipper was bought carrying capacity required when freighting under long-term contract, this situation may take place.In order to reduce the risk of excessive purchase, shipper can be bought under long-term contract and be less than required carrying capacity, and can use the spot market to buy and make up the difference.

Long-term contract and spot market are bought the both and are related to pricing risk.For example, when transportation, the price of spot market may make for the buyer that the spot market is bought extremely expensive (for example, whether solving (address) carrying capacity deficiency by the spot market purchase for the carrier) far above the price of long-term contract.On the contrary, the price of spot market may be far below the price of long-term contract.In this case, we can say buyer's overpayment in for the more low-risk transaction of carrying capacity deficiency.

Certainly, be ready by buying shipment volume from the forwarding agent may cost the time for the carrier, and in the time can obtaining ceiling price, carrying capacity be sold to shipper, so that profit maximization minimum.If miscalculate and buy seldom carrying capacity, to emit the risk of failing to carry out with the existing long-term contract of shipper for the carrier so from the forwarding agent for the carrier.Like this, must buy carrying capacity on the spot market, the difference when remedying cargo transport for the carrier.In addition, in when transportation, the price of spot market may far above with the price of the long-term contract of shipper, reduce or eliminated any profit for the carrier.On the contrary, the price of spot market may far below with the price of the long-term contract of shipper.In this case, owing to can use the carrying capacity of when very low spot-market price, buying, fulfil the existing long-term contract with shipper, so therefrom benefit for the carrier.

Identical consideration is present in between carrier and the forwarding agent.If miscalculate and buy seldom carrying capacity, to emit the risk of failing to carry out with the existing long-term contract of shipper for the carrier so from the forwarding agent for the carrier.Like this, must buy carrying capacity on the spot market, the difference when remedying cargo transport for the carrier.In addition, in when transportation, spot-market price may far above with the long-term contract price of shipper, reduce or eliminated any profit for the carrier.On the contrary, spot-market price may far below with the price of the long-term contract of shipper.In this case, owing to can fulfil contract with carrying capacity of when low spot-market price very, buying, so therefrom benefit for the carrier.

The forwarding agent has the capital assets and the perishable product of means of transport (for example, aircraft, train, lorry, ship) form, and no matter whether carrying capacity is sold, and these means of transports must be left on time.Therefore, the forwarding agent was concerned about before departure time usually all available capacity is sold very much.When guaranteeing that for carrier's long-term contract carrying capacity will be sold, use long-term contract will reduce forwarding agent's potential profit.This be since about the rate of profit of each delivery unit of long-term contract usually (but not always) be lower than available rate of profit when selling on the spot market.

Can reduce forwarding agent's potential profit rate by the factor that not controlled by the forwarding agent.For example, the change of war, fuel price, the change of haulage track (for example, the quantity of the aircraft that its influence is flown between two destinations), labourer's strike etc. may influence the overall utilizability of carrying capacity, cause the fluctuation of spot market price.If, in when transportation, spot-market price far above with price for carrier's long-term contract, under long-term contract rather than according to the spot market, buy, the goods per ton that is transported all reduces the profit that the forwarding agent has obtained.On the contrary, spot-market price may far below with long-term contract price for the carrier.If the forwarding agent does not fill means of transport with the long-term contract goods, the forwarding agent need sell remaining carrying capacity on the spot market, in fact, transports the goods of some more low price that can obtain than the forwarding agent under long-term contract.

Fig. 1 C and Fig. 1 D show the notion of pricing risk and carrying capacity risk.Shown in Fig. 1 C, if infer improperly for the carrier, and when the execution T1 of Fig. 1 C, price is Mei Dun $2.00 on the spot market, for the carrier carrying capacity Duo Zhifu $1.00 per ton to adopting in fact.On the other hand, if when carrying out T1, price is Mei Dun $5.00 on the spot market, and in long-term contract rather than performed transportation under the order of spot market, the forwarding agent will lose the potential profit of Mei Dun $2.00.

About the carrying capacity risk, shown in the example of Fig. 1 D,, if possible, can be forced in the required carrying capacity of purchase residue on the spot market for the carrier if can not guarantee enough carrying capacities by long-term contract for the carrier.In some cases, have carrying capacity on the spot market, still, when when short notice (short notice) is gone up purchase, this carrying capacity may be very expensive.Under the other situation, may there be the carrying capacity that is in any price.

Inequality visit to information

Although the participant has risk, each participant has different risk class and risk type.This part is because the type of the available information of each participant is different with quality.

Consider that influence is to shipper relevant with freight shipments and the factor that determines for carrier's process.For carrier and shipper with they freight shipments deciding section ground based on their best supposition (for example, long-term contract is than spot contract, price, capacity etc.), wherein, these infer relevant with the total shipping capacity when transporting with the aggregate demand from all shipper.

If when transportation, very high from total shipping capacity of shipper, owing to shipper with for the competition of carrier to available shipping capacity, spot-market price also will be tended to very high.Aggregate demand from shipper can be dependent on such as the consumer the demand of goods, retailer's factors such as tank farm stock.About shipping capacity current and prediction, shipper tends to have maximum information, is for the carrier afterwards, is the forwarding agent then.Be illustrated in shipper at the line on the curve map of Fig. 1 E 180, for the distribution of the shipping capacity information between carrier and the forwarding agent.Because forwarding agent 174 has fixing, the easy Ad assets of departure means of transport form, the excessive risk of incorrect prediction shipping capacity so the forwarding agent has born.This situation is illustrated by the line 182 of Fig. 1 E.

Also must consider available capacity from the forwarding agent.Factor such as weather, war, labourer's strike, fuel cost, haulage track etc. has all determined available at any given point in time shipping capacity.Naturally, forwarding agent 174 profoundly understands themselves carrying capacity and along with the carrying capacity trend of time, and is therefore determining that current carrying capacity and prediction have the boundary that surpasses for carrier 172 and shipper 170 in the carrying capacity in the future.This situation is illustrated by the line 184 of Fig. 1 E.Because if there are not enough carrying capacities to come shipping goods (for example, the carrying capacity deficiency) when needing, shipper 170 has excessive risk, so shipper 170 has been born the risk of the highest relevant carrying capacity.This situation is illustrated by the line 186 of Fig. 1 E.

Some known methods

The trial that the process that having done sends as an envoy to makes the buyer and the seller mate in freight industry is simplified.In order to substitute shipper, directly to confer long-term contract each other and carry out sporadic purchase, created electronic transaction for carrier and forwarding agent.Use modern computing machine and such as the 81890.net of Internet, the seller can announce (post) available capacity, and the buyer can announce the order that is used to check.Also can utilize instrument, order and carrying capacity are complementary based on the clause of announcing, thus the buyer with sell and can find each other effectively.

The electronic transaction 202 of the prior art of trade between Fig. 2 illustrates and helps forwarding agent 204, for carrier 206 and shipper 208.By electronic transaction 202, forwarding agent 204 can announce following carrying capacity and limit price 210 (for example, 300 tons of carrying capacities from Hong Kong to Oakland, on June 10th, 2003 is available, per ton being not less than).Can utilize this announcement to satisfy their freight demand for carrier 206 or shipper 208.Can announce available capacity of early buying (and the price of wishing) 212 or the required carrying capacity (and maximum price) 214 of wishing purchase equally for carrier 206.Shipper 208 applying electronic transaction 202 is equally announced cargo transport orders and limit price 216 (for example, 300 tons of carrying capacities from Hong Kong to Oakland, on June 10th, 2004 can be utilized, and per tonly was not higher than).Utilize matching algorithm, electronic transaction 202 can make buyer's (for example, shipper or for the carrier) and the seller (for example, forwarding agent or for the carrier) be complementary subsequently.By shown in arrow 232,234 and 236 send coupling to each side.

Except being convenient to directly to buy between the buyer and the seller the carrying capacity (being called as forward contract transactions), electronic trading system also helps the futures business in the carrying capacity between the specific purpose ground.Well-known forward contract is the contract of signing between two sides in commodity industry, to be defined in the contractual terms and conditions that following particular point in time is fulfiled.What for example, the forward contract of shipping in bulk can be stipulated on July 1st, 2004 departure is transported to Oakland 100 tons of bulkload per ton from Hong Kong.In this case, capacity futures by with treat such as the identical mode of well-known futures such as coffee, pork, salt.And, just as their homologue in agricultural futures market, the individuality in capacity futures market forward contract can be used about and specific purpose ground between the freight shipments relationship trading speculate and profit in.The variant of futures business is the index transaction, in the index transaction, calculates the index (or the weighted mean value between high low price or average) of transaction value in real time.In fact, the trader can bet to the exponential quantity in future, the date that interests or be lost in are agreed in advance and proportional by the difference between trader's (conclude a contract or treaty (strike)) estimated value and the actual value.Index futures is used by cash settlement and routine in financial industry, to control risk.

Although the electronic transaction 202 of prior art exists not enough for buyer and seller is complementary of great use.The electronic trading system of the prior art that exists is a single form,, is limited to the sea transport of bulkload that is.For these two electronic transactions of inventor is known: Imarex (www.Imarex.com) and Baltic Exchange (www.balticexchange.com).The electronic transaction of such prior art is not to be well suited for handling can be by multiple means of transportation (promptly, sea-freight, lorry, train or air transport) service the destination between and/or can be in the transportation between the destination of transporting by different intermediate transportation points (for example, Alaska, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, the Sacramento in the above-mentioned example of Figure 1A).

In addition, the participant in this electronic transaction also will bear the inhomogeneous distribution of above-mentioned information.For example, the forwarding agent also will bear the deficiency about the authentic communication of shipping capacity, even and by existing electronic trading system, their disclosed orders can more easily mate, but shipper does not still have the authentic communication about carrying capacity.The deficiency of this authentic communication also influences congenial futures dealer (referring to the marketmaker here) and estimates the trading ability in the capacity futures reasoningly, some traders are avoided fully or participates in capacity futures market fully.Subsequently, influenced flowability.

Intrinsic poor efficiency is that electronic capacity gathering person (aggregator) has created chance in the freight market.Known to the inventor, attempted such as the present Enron Corporation of non-existent Houston, Texas, electronic capacity gathering person attempts by two destinations (for example buying, between Austin, Texas and San Jose, CA) between the Freight Transport carrying capacity of high number percent, cause deficiency.Buy carrying capacity by the forward contract from the forwarding agent, electronic capacity gathering person attempts carrying capacity is resell to earning a profit for carrier's (and possibility or even shipper) subsequently.

By applying senior market control, that is, by available Freight Transport carrying capacity, such electron exchange institute (clearinghouse) can make pricing risk itself minimize.In other words, under their control, by concentrating on the most Freight Transport carrying capacities between two destinations, electron exchange have is about the almost complete information of available shipping capacity between two terminal points, and can create false deficiency, and can present scare commodity be emitted to for carrier and shipper by control, make profit maximization.

In addition, this form has limited application and the information between the existing participant of can not proposing is unbalanced or the multi-form character of freight industry.Although, some may think electron exchange use provide disclosed pricing information to the participant, so that they know how many carrying capacities for any particular course, any specific date is, but, can think also that if the clearing house is controlled the shipping capacity between any two terminal points fully or almost completely the configuration of this clearing house has just increased the risk of abuse.

Summary of the invention

In an embodiment, the present invention relates to be used to realize based on network, the computer-executed method of the freight shipments of various ways, this freight shipments relates at least two kinds of means of transportation between first place and second place.Comprise the derivative purchase request of reception for the carrying capacity between first place and second place, this derivative purchase request has regulation shipment volume and the contract requirement (CR) of execution time at least.Also comprise a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable of from the database of available derivative contracts, determining to satisfy contract requirement (CR).Also comprise the subclass of selecting a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable, to satisfy derivative purchase request, this subclass comprises first derivative contract of first mode that is used for two kinds of means of transportation at least and is used for second derivative contract of second mode of two kinds of means of transportation.

In an embodiment, the present invention also comprises the data that reception discharges about the carrying capacity from shipper, each carrying capacity discharges all stipulates shipment volume and starting point and terminal point, and each carrying capacity discharges the execution details that regulation also includes one of departure time, hours underway and time of arrival.In addition, the present invention includes selected several carrying capacities are discharged and be bundled in (bundle) available derivative contracts, wherein, effectively at least one in the derivative contract comprises that a plurality of carrying capacities discharge.

In an embodiment, bundling the carrying capacity release that comprises relating to geographical immediate starting point and terminal point divides into groups.In an embodiment, bundling the carrying capacity release that additionally or alternatively comprises falling into schedule time window divides into groups.

In an embodiment, the present invention also comprises provides adjusting market mechanism (facility), be used to allow the subclass of the purchaser of the carrying capacity between first place and second place, with the conclude the business specific ingredient of subclass of a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable of other participants of freight industry according to a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable.

In an embodiment, the present invention comprises that also reception is about the shipment forecasts of potential futures cargo transport and self-assessment (self-assessed) quality grade relevant with shipment forecasts.In addition, comprise shipment forecasts and quality grade are gathered into total shipment forecasts and gross mass grade.In addition, comprise total shipment forecasts and gross mass grade are offered the trader that so that the trader can estimate the capacity with purchased derivative contract, the trader represents the marketmaker, for one of carrier and forwarding agent.

In an embodiment, a self-assessment quality grade in a plurality of self-assessment quality grades relates to the self-assessment of the shipper of one group of standard, and this group standard comprises demand, makes and prepare (readiness), manufacturing location, carrying capacity, product, route and lane stability.

In an embodiment, the present invention also comprises the quality grade of calculating about shipment forecasts, and this quality grade is at least based on the historical data about past shipment forecasts and actual shipment volume of past.Also comprise quality grade is gathered into the gross mass grade.Also comprise to the trader gross mass grade is provided.

In an embodiment, the present invention also comprises provides the derivative contract mechanism of exchange so that the marketmaker the expiration before, can electronic transaction first derivative contract and second derivative contract.

In an embodiment, the present invention also comprises the execution time according to first derivative contract, will offer the electronics reservation system about the data of first derivative contract and second derivative contract, to subscribe the carrying capacity of the cargo transport of using first mode and second mode respectively.

In an embodiment, the present invention also comprises based on the historical shipment volume between first place and second place, calculates forwarding index.Comprise also to the trader total shipment forecasts and gross mass grade are provided that the trader represents the marketmaker, for one of carrier and forwarding agent.

The present invention also comprises the technology that other computing machine is carried out, be used for realizing freighting order and help with describe in detail hereinafter relate to shipper, for the transaction of carrier, forwarding agent and marketmaker's capacity futures and/or option.In addition, the present invention also comprise be used for electronics realize the cargo transport order and help with describe in detail hereinafter relate to shipper, for computer hardware, computer network and the computer software of the transaction of carrier, forwarding agent and marketmaker's capacity futures and/or option.

Below with reference to accompanying drawing these and other characteristics of the present invention are described in detailed description of the present invention.

Description of drawings

With in conjunction with the accompanying drawings by way of example and the mode of not-go end system is described the present invention, wherein, same reference numerals is represented same parts, and wherein:

Figure 1A illustrates to relate to and uses multiple possible mode and plurality of optional route, at Hong Kong (HKG) and Reno, and the shipper of some hypothesis of transportation between the Nevada (Reno), for carrier and forwarding agent.

Figure 1B illustrates for the relation between carrier and the forwarding agent, and this relation is partly bought by the spot market and the long-term contract domination.

Fig. 1 C and Fig. 1 D are the examples of argumentation that helps the notion of pricing risk and carrying capacity risk.

Fig. 1 E is illustrated in the existing distribution of information and risk between the participant.

Fig. 2 illustrate help the forwarding agent, for the electronic transaction of the prior art of trade between carrier and the shipper.

Fig. 3 illustrates the high-level functional architecture of FutureFreight system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 A illustrate through after a while, for end-to-end route, from the classic predictive of single shipper.

Fig. 4 B is the curve map that the typical hybrid of long-term contract, futures, option and the spot market that can realize the freight demand predicted as the function of time buying is shown.

Fig. 4 C mixing how to use the risk management tool that provided by FFS to buy by long-term contract, forward contract, option contract and spot market is provided realizes demand from the carrying capacity of the given cargo transport order of shipper.

Fig. 5 A illustrates for any specific part, by the curve map of the relation between time of the takeoff of the forward contract of selling and the carrying capacity that discharged.

Fig. 5 B the options data line shown in having is shown with curve map like Fig. 5 category-A.

Fig. 6 illustrates the equation that is used to calculate the index that is used for two ad hoc fashions between the geo point in the definite term among the embodiment.

Fig. 7 conceptually illustrates the transaction that how to help and encourage capacity futures according to the FFS of the embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 A and Fig. 8 B illustrate according to an embodiment of the invention, and how the FutureFreight system realizes the supposition Hong Kong-Reno multi-mode cargo transport order that all participants participate in.

Fig. 9 illustrates in an embodiment marketmaker restriction for the process of forwarding agent's risk.

Figure 10 A and Figure 10 B illustrate the order implementation procedure that is used for forwarding agent and Dai carrier according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 illustrates the contract template that is assigned to FutureFreight according to the new contract that is used to allow the participant will be used to buy or sell of an embodiment.

Figure 12 A illustrates the control panel that transaction futures epoch carrier sees of working as according to an embodiment.

Figure 12 B illustrates according to failing when transaction futures luck of an embodiment and discusss the control panel of seeing.

Figure 12 C illustrates the control panel that the forwarding agent when the trade option according to an embodiment sees.

Figure 12 D illustrates the control panel that is used for the transaction ingredient between time futures contract expires and their execution according to an embodiment.

Figure 13 illustrates the instrument that is used to allow shipper regulation shipper confidence (SCL) according to an embodiment.

Figure 14 illustrates the multiple factor that comprises shipper confidence (SCL) according to an embodiment.

Figure 15 illustrates FFS according to an embodiment of the invention and how to calculate predicted quality and the quantity assessed value that is used for shipper.

Embodiment

Now come the present invention is described in detail with reference to several preferred embodiments as shown in drawings.In the following description, many details have been described to fully understand the present invention.Yet, to those skilled in the art, be conspicuous not having can to implement the present invention under the situation of some or all these specific detail.In other cases, well-known processing step and/or structure are not described in detail, so that unnecessarily fuzzy the present invention.

According to embodiments of the invention, a kind of permission shipper, forwarding agent are provided and have more effectively carried out the shipping relationship trading, and allowed the marketmaker to participate in network multi-mode, multi-route shipment transactions and the trade system (being known as FutureFreight system or FFS) of freight market more fully at this for the carrier.The product that utilization is created by FFS, marketmaker's participation makes the flowability of freight market be improved to unapproachable up to now degree.

In an embodiment, FFS considers the various ways characteristic of freight industry and can use one or more means of transportation (for example, air transport, sea-freight, Freight Transport and/or railway) easily to realize packages orders.And FFS considers that the route selection between two terminal points can use a plurality of intermediate transportation to put and realize.By considering above two problems, FFS can be to shipper, provide more selection to fulfil freight orders for carrier and forwarding agent.

For this point is described, referring to the example of Fig. 1.(that is) electronic trading system difference, as the ocean bulkload by Imarex or BalticExchange website, FFS considers the optional mode when carrying out route selection between terminal point with only handling single mode in the prior art.Plurality of optional mode (for example, the air transport between Hong Kong and San Francisco is than sea-freight) has increased the quantity that can serve the forwarding agent of specific freight orders, and it has increased carrying capacity and competition.And FFS considers that the route selection between Hong Kong and Reno can utilize any middle destination (for example, Alaska, SFO, LAX, SAC).The plurality of optional route combines with the plurality of optional mode further to have increased can fulfil the shipper of specific freight orders and forwarding agent's quantity.

FFS is very suitable for providing the flowability of capacity futures transaction.Can be used for fulfiling the quantity of the selection of order by increase, a large amount of forward contract of can creating and conclude the business, it has increased flowability.Because the flowability of improving, the market operation is more effective, cause for shipper, for carrier and forwarding agent's implicit costs reduce, more fair price and the risk of reduction.

In an embodiment, FFS provides the instrument that is used for the route relevant with order resolved into ingredient.Then, can be with the ingredient binding to increase transaction.The instrument that part is combined into end-to-end route also is provided, is used for when contract execution, implementing contract.If arbitrary ingredient of the end-to-end route of combination is not a shipper, desirable for carrier or forwarding agent, the ingredient of can concluding the business in the adjusting marketing mechanism that is provided by FFS so.

For this point is described, refer again to Fig. 1.In Fig. 1, there be the order of the Hong Kong of the limited quantity that is used for arbitrary specific date in the future to Reno in the atomic unit of purpose if the whole end-to-end route between Hong Kong and Reno is considered to be used to conclude the business.This is because Reno is remote relatively destination, and thinks and have only the cargo transport of the very little number percent that produces every day to be transported to Reno.

Yet, if order (buy or sell from any participant) can be broken down into part, and there is a large amount of similar portions in all be considered to be used to the to conclude the business atomic unit of purpose of each part in these parts to different intermediate points with between different intermediate points.For example, at Beijing, China also may pass through Hong Kong and SFO to Salt Lake City in the way of the transportation order between the Utah.The Hong Kong-SFO part of the order of this Beijing-Salt Lake City Hong Kong-SFO with the Hong Kong-Reno order of the aforementioned purpose that is used in the bigger forward contract to conclude the business between Hong Kong and SFO partly can be combined.

Thousands of order can make and similarly decompose with the combination of intermediate point in any way and make up, to create forward contract multiple binding, that can conclude the business.If be ready, can also utilize geographical groupings to increase the size of binding.For example, will from the ingredient of HongKong-SFO can with in East Asia/America West Coast binding, bundle to the ingredient of Oakland from Taiwan.Can also adopt time-based grouping.For example, if ingredient (for example HongKong-SFO) in predetermined or programmable time window (for example, three days, a week, two weeks, one month etc.), occurs, can bundle ingredient so as two terminal points as two terminal points.Additionally or alternatively, can also (for example utilize time-based grouping and geographical groupings or binding simultaneously, all constituents in March, 2004 from East Asia to America West Coast), to increase the value in each forward contract that can conclude the business.Additionally or alternatively, binding or grouping can be applied to freight orders end to end, and do not need at first order to be resolved into ingredient.

By grouping or binding, the capacity of each forward contract of can concluding the business increases, and increases its potential profit subsequently and to marketmaker's attractive force.By this way, FFS has increased marketmaker's participation, and in this process, the various forward contracts because the buyer in regulating market and the seller can guarantee better to buy apace, sell and conclude the business are so improved flowability.

In case futures contract expires and after finishing marketmaker's transactional stage can be untied (unbundle) with the binding part.As described, subsequently, unlocked part can be used to create complete end-to-end order, and this order is used to subscribe the different forwarding agents that are used to carry out.Provide and regulate market mechanism to allow for carrier's transaction or to exchange undesirable composition distance (leg).For example, if guarantee the composition distance of Taiwan-Oakland part as contract purchasing for the carrier, it is interested in to serve the identical East Asia/America West Coast freight demand of specific freight orders that but it forms distance to Hong Kong to SFO, can utilize transaction or the exchange of regulating after market is implemented in the futures expiration for the carrier.

In order to be convenient to the transaction of shipment transactions (it can be long-term or spot market) and capacity futures more, FFS also provides instrument to collect shipping capacity and shipping capacity data, with qualitatively with the assessment prediction relevant with the shipping capacity quantitatively with the shipping capacity, and between the participant, distribute these information with secret, safe mode.Also provide and be used to the instrument that allows the participant to analyze and control risk.So, FFS manages to reduce the unbalanced of quantity of information that a plurality of participants have.By the information of improving, the participant can be reduced in the pricing risk and the carrying capacity risk of the application futures, long-term contract and the spot market purchase that are used for handling freight shipments.

Feature of the present invention and advantage will be by being better understood with reference to following accompanying drawing and argumentation.Fig. 3 illustrates the high-level functional architecture of FFS according to an embodiment of the invention.Show FFS inlet 302, by this inlet shipper 304, forwarding agent 306, can conclude the business for carrier 308 and marketmaker 358.FFS inlet 302 is generally InternetPortal, and can realize by for example suitable network server.

Interface layer 310 helps the communication between inlet 302 and a plurality of rear module, and wherein, interface layer can use in an embodiment static state (HTML) interface and real-time (applet) interface to realize.These modules comprise, for example, forecast delivery module 322, Futures and Options module 324, regulate market module 326, route selection module 328, reporting modules 330, financial module 332 and risk management module 334.

Forecast delivery module 322 expression is used for respectively the module of collecting carrying capacity and shipping capacity data from forwarding agent and shipper.It can comprise about the historical data of carrying capacity and shipping capacity, spot market data and predicted data (itself comprising origin and destination identification, capacity, time limit, any constraint etc.).Prediction engine is according to the collective data that needs of other data consumers (such as for carrier, forwarding agent or shipper) then.

For example, may wish to obtain in the definite term, being used for the predicted data of particular shipper for the carrier.As another example, for the carrier may wish to obtain about in the definite term from the predicted data of one group of shipper of the goods of locality.As another example, the forwarding agent wishes to obtain in the definite term predicted data about particular form, specific geographical part, specific region etc.

If suitable, forecast delivery module 322 and evaluation of risk module 334 is in conjunction with to calculate the risk relevant with predicted data.In an embodiment, can require shipper that a plurality of parameters (for example, being 8 in one case) are provided, these parameter reactions risk probability relevant with the many aspects of predicted data.For example, risk probability parameters can comprise place, age of project, lane stability, carrying capacity etc.Subsequently, these risk probability parameters are pooled the single value that is called as shipper confidence, can be utilized subsequently to quantize and the relevant risk level of data from particular shipper was provided.In another embodiment, from the historical forecast data of particular shipper (promptly, the predicted data that past is provided by particular shipper) compares with historical actual ship data, to determine the difference range between historical forecast data and the actual ship data from particular shipper.When obtaining the example of some, these difference reflects with from the relevant risk of the predicted data of particular shipper.

Can calculate the risk relevant by Several Methods with prediction.For example, the supplier of prediction can provide confidence level, and this confidence level will represent that for prediction the oneself of the statistics possibility of actual cargo transport estimates.By providing decision tree can improve confidence level to the forecaster, this decision tree is listed the variable major reason of prediction, and the process branch that will estimate whole confidence level solve littler, with easier estimation confidence level.When calculated risk, the used method of people exist intrinsic limitation (referring to, what on January 24th to 30,2004, economic scholar delivered, the p5 of " ASurvey of Risk ", http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm? story id=2347791).Another kind method is that history prediction and historical facts are compared.This method has the advantage of eliminating human factor and the risk ability of calculating different time scope and different brackets set being provided.The same prediction of two weekly forecastings ratio in two weeks of being issued in three months may comprise risk in various degree.Similarly, two weekly forecastings for example may be more risky than the season prediction.Historical approach may be measured these differences more exactly and be provided for the no inclined to one side instrument of calculation risk.

As center signal centre, FFS is provided for collecting and scattering the ready-made platform of this predicted data easily, and it will help different participants to control risk, and helps the marketmaker to make more accurate transaction decision.In one embodiment, can see data for the carrier from their shipper consumer who only has written permission.In one embodiment, the forwarding agent only may see the summary data that runs through route.In one embodiment, the data that are not shared are according to forwarding agent's the total carrying capacity and the demand of non-consumer shipper.

Futures and Options module 324 is handled establishment, the proposition of Futures and Options contract by a plurality of participants and marketmaker 358 by transaction system interface 354 and is accepted.The function of being carried out by Futures and Options module 324 comprises the form that is provided for filling in order, accepts the order of announcement, is provided for the form of filling in capacity offers and accepting the capacity offers of announcement.Subsequently, pass course selects module 328 to handle the announcement (posting) of multiple order and carrying capacity, to determine the best route selection and the available capacity of order demand (for example, the characteristic of institute's freight, hours underway, cargo transport mode, price etc.) that may be given.

Route selection module 328 is gone back the end-to-end route selection (described in 810) of execution of order, will be applied to particular aircraft voyage (air transport), freight list (lorry), the timetable (train) in the futures or options contract or leave (sea-freight) with identification.After routing, use by shipper and/or for carrier's predetermined parameter order and be sent to adjusting market 326.In case the chosen route of order, their route just can be broken down into ingredient and be grouped, to create futures and the option product that to conclude the business more.

(for example be processed into the futures or options contract that to conclude the business more in case will transport the announcement of order and carrying capacity, to be attached to 500 tons the forward contract that is used between two intermediate transportation points from the cargo transport ingredient of a plurality of little freight orders), contract is transferred to transaction system interface 354, is used to use suitable options and futures transaction system to conclude the business by marketmaker 358.

In case the expiration of the contract, by regulating market module 326 it is removed grouping, and end-to-end order is reconfigured.By regulating market module 326, can regulate a plurality of parts by the transaction in regulating market.For example, owing to have more favourable financial arrangement between for carrier and Singapore Airlines, this adjusting marketing permission is concluded the business the 20-ton carrying capacity of UnitedAirlines for the carrier and is the 20-ton carrying capacity of Singapore Airlines.By this way, regulate market module 326 and allow partly to conclude the business according to having, as the final adjusting before contract execution than low capacity with than the contract or the contract of short-term limit for carrier's (and may be the forwarding agent).Because these capacity are very little usually, the marketmaker does not participate in regulating marketing usually.It is necessary for the final execution of the buyer's adjusting cargo transport that market module 326 also provides, and do not appear at the chance of the parameter in the futures or options contract.For example, the accurate model of container, the ability (than the goods of having put into container) of transporting bulkload, accurate position aboard ship, for the special processing of rapid wear or dangerous cargo.These important parameters may be from forwarding agent's additional cost (or discount), and it can be held consultation by regulating market.

Reporting modules 330 is carried out compiling and to shipper, forwarding agent, provide different reports for carrier and marketmaker.For the marketmaker, for example, reporting modules 330 can provide about how many contracts of having concluded the business, profit (or loss) what, the current data such as having plenty of what futures and/or option contract of gathering around.When clearing, reporting modules 330 is cooperated with financial module 332, to carry out clearing and clearing house function and other financial function (for example, checking transaction participant's credit standing or the FFS overhead cost that deduction is produced by transaction).

As shown in Figure 3, have contract and capacity management module 336, it is connected with Futures and Options module 324, adjusting market module 326 and route selection module 328.

Contract and capacity management module 336 can be by using for carrier and forwarding agent, with their carrying capacity of location on strategy.For example, the forwarding agent may wish to set up rule, automatically to discharge according to market situation or to regain carrying capacity.When price changed the price that the indication spot-market price considered before should being higher than, such rule was recoverable to unsold carrying capacity.In similar forms, when futures price is lower than the futures price of long-term contract,, can set up the rule of the decision of the predicted percentage that increases such as covering for the carrier along with contiguous expiration.

Group frame 350 is layers of integration software, and its task is information extraction from the Futures and Options transaction, and is provided for operating the signal of business activities.For example, provide enough data so that can subscribe shipping and produce airway bill of lading for the carrier.

Combination layer 352 allows external system combining with FFS in real time or near on the real-time basis in real time.For example, be connected on the FFS by real-time combination layer 352 with transaction system interface 354 with for the interface 360 of other transaction.For the interface that the interface 360 of other transaction is represented for external transaction, prepare to visit other financial transaction (for example, other commodity transaction) to allow FFS user.To discuss this aspect subsequently.

354 representatives of transaction system interface are for the interface of outside Futures and Options transaction system, and it allows marketmaker 358 to conclude the business about the options and futures that is produced by Futures and Options module 324.

356 representatives of reservation system interface are for the interface of external carrier reservation system, and it carries out the actual reservation of the carrying capacity on aircraft, ship, lorry and rolling stock.Subsequently, when contract execution, carry out the reservation of these reality by the forwarding agent.Reservation system interface 356 is connected (directly or by real-time combination layer 352) with group frame 350.

The operation that back-office module 320 is used for processing transactions department, system-support type also is shown.For example, the account login management and the setting of maintaining secrecy, secret strategy are implemented and help desk (help desk) can be represented the function of being carried out by back-office module 320.

Prediction is shown Fig. 4 A-4C and how other factors influences the carrying capacity of the contract of making for the carrier and determining of price.In Fig. 4 A, curve 402A and 404A illustrate from independent shipper through some predictions of a period of time of being used for specific end-to-end route (for example, in May, 2004 from Hong Kong to Reno).Generally speaking, by relevant transportation parameter prediction is classified (for example, bulk versus container versus liquid, time limit etc. in the admissible way).The actual prediction data (402B and 404B) that provided and the uncertainty associated with the data or the band (band) (402C-402D and 404C-404D) of risk are provided in these predictions.By using total forecast ratings of shipper, calculate this probabilistic band, and react the possibility that actual shipping capacity will fall into the band of given definite number percent.In an example, risk can be quantized by 80% the determinacy that actual capacity will fall into band.

Subsequently, these independent predictions are converged into total prediction 406.In curve map 406, comprise prediction 407A, and the uncertainty that marks by reference number 407B and 407C or the band of risk.In one embodiment, total prediction covers end-to-end route (for example, HongKong is to Reno).In another embodiment, will predict separately and resolve into part, and subsequently, always predict the part of special corresponding distance.With regard to the example of the above-mentioned transportation from Hong Kong to Reno, one in total prediction can cover in May, 2004 freight demand from all electronics manufacturers between Hong Kong and San Francisco (intermediate point).In another embodiment, can further classify according to means of transportation to total prediction (for example, in May, 2004 between Hong Kong and San Francisco from the transport by sea of all electronics manufacturers).

Find out from total prediction 406, can determine the curve map 408 of Fig. 4 B, to allow determining the correct mixing that long-term contract, futures, option and spot market are bought for the carrier, it is with the freight demand of most probable realization by the shipper prediction.In curve map 408, the shipping capacity that line 410a representative is provided by long-term contract; The shipping capacity that line 410b representative is provided by futures; The shipping capacity that line 410c representative is provided by option.Line 412a and line 412b represent the coboundary and the lower boundary of probabilistic band respectively, and the capacity of line 414 representative predictions.

Long-term contract trends towards minimum dirigibility.Thus, the satisfied shipping capacity of long-term contract that passes through of the region representation below online 410a almost completely is in the zone of line 412b.That is, the shipping capacity of buying according to long-term contract is almost in the outside of probabilistic band (band has lower boundary 412b).Do like this, all carrying capacities of being bought by long-term contract are provided probably.

Can adopt futures to satisfy the shipping needs that long-term contract does not provide.It should be noted that the capacity that is usually less than prediction according to the delivery capacity of contract purchasing,, also will provide the delivery capacity of buying according to forward contract even probably the actual capacity that betransported is lower than the capacity (line 414) of prediction.

Option contract trends towards more expensive than the forward contract that is used for specific shipping capacity.Thus, can adopt option to satisfy the ungratified shipping capacity of combination of long-term contract and futures.With reference to Fig. 4,410c describes options volume by line.It should be noted that the shipping capacity bought according to option contract coboundary 412a, utilize the shipping capacity of buying according to option contract probably a shade below the uncertainty band.

If when the freight orders of carrying out from shipper, need more carrying capacity, then can carry out the spot market and buy for the carrier.It should be noted that for the carrier and can adopt pricing data, with predict spot-market purchasing price at any given point in time from option and/or forward contract.For example, can adopt well-known Black-Scholes formula, fix a price with predict spot-market for the carrier.

The curve map 430 of Fig. 4 C mixing how to use the risk management tool that provided by FFS to buy by long-term contract, forward contract, option contract and spot market is provided realizes capacity demand from the given freight orders of shipper.

In one embodiment, for the carrier purchasing price and capacity determined to depend on multiple factor.These factors comprise shipper predicted data (its may by restrictions such as geography, time, means of transportation), any before futures and/or option contract is bought, existing long-term contract, price discovery (for example, using the Black-Scholes formula), be attributable to the set of risk etc. of the carrying capacity prediction of shipper.By these factors, the buyer of freight futures and the seller can be identified for their freight futures and option contract and price and the capacity set.For example, the seller can determine whether the more contracts of issue, and with what price issue-and should be the market price or check prince.The seller can determine whether it is in time carrying capacity slowly to be discharged and how long waited for and what price (iceberg order, iceberg orders) before discharging.The buyer can determine that they are ready to pay the ceiling price that is used for route, perhaps whether only issues market order.The buyer can determine excessive purchase and some contracts of reselling whether favourable, and what price and when.

The forwarding agent also need be from the accurate information of forecasting of shipper, with determine in time serve as the shipping capacity of transaction release.Because the price of any commodity is all relevant with relation between supply and demand, the glut of the carrying capacity of a time point in office trends towards bringing down prices.In order to obtain high price, the forwarding agent wants to discharge enough carrying capacities, to satisfy or almost to satisfy the demand of prediction.Fig. 5 A illustrates to be used for the curve map of arbitrary specific part by the relation between the carrying capacity of time and release of the quantitative measurement of the forward contract of selling.At time t=0 place, the described forward contract that is used for that specific part of a period of time is released and is used for transaction.In time t=t1 place, futures contract expires.At this moment, the marketmaker will settle accounts their forward contract in cash, and forward contract is disengaged binding by regulating market module 326, so that forward contract and specific aircraft number are complementary, and finally form end-to-end route, to serve debatable order.In addition, a plurality of ingredients can be by regulating market module 326 by concluding the business for carrier or forwarding agent, to regulate any preoption.In later time, actually implement contract and goods is loaded on the suitable conveying arrangement practically to be transported to the destination.

In curve map 502, line 504 illustrates the forecast demand of the forward contract of determining from the carrying capacity predicted data that is obtained by shipper.Since when near the expiration date the time, the quantity of the forward contract of selling trend towards the increase, so demand increases in time.Line 506 illustrates the demand curve of being formulated by shipper, is used for after determining other factors the time of arranging forward contract to discharge.

At arbitrary preset time of point along time shaft (x axle), the forwarding agent not only considers the data from shipper, and if any forward contract that may buy again of the forwarding agent who consider to exist forward contract too much to be sold, for the arbitrary existing long-term contract (this has reduced demand) of carrying capacity, distribute to the risk factors of shipper prediction.By use based on predict at interval in rule and reality between the statistical function of variation, distribute risk factors; Realize this distribution based on each place/consumer; And assemble according to consumer's level and by geographical the realization.

Another factor comprises the price discovery of using the Black-Scholes formula.In deriving from line 506, consider all of these factors taken together, carrying capacity that its domination is discharged and the price of setting by shipper.

Fig. 5 B illustrate have shown in options forecast data with curve map like Fig. 5 category-A.In Fig. 5 B, line 554 representatives are for the forecast demand of Futures and Options, and line 558 is represented a forecast demand to option.Line 556 illustrates the demand curve of being formulated by shipper, is used for after determining other factors the time of arranging forward contract to discharge.

According to embodiments of the invention, the index of creating particular form is used for different parts, concludes the business and improves the flowability of regulating in the market helping.Index is the weighting price mean value (for example, according to weight) that is used for all cargo transports of the ad hoc fashion (for example, aircraft, ship, train, lorry) between a period of time two geo point.Can be with index with the parameter that act on the price purpose, index can be adopted by the marketmaker and conclude the business, or even can be used as the instrument of transaction.Parameter can be used to reduce risk.For example, if having and contract shipper, fixed price Can Kaowei $1.5/kg, if index Gao Yu $1.5/kg can buy option to sell index for the carrier for the carrier.If index Gao Yu $1.5/kg will be the difference between the Zhi Shuohe $1.5 for carrier's profit.If more than the price Da Dao $1.5/kg, by selling the index contract of respective numbers, will compensate any loss that in the contract of shipper, is produced, thereby guarantee to carry out the free of losses transaction for the carrier.

In order to limit index, geo point can be (for example, South-EastAsia), zones such as country (for example, Japan), city, special airport, special shipping harbour, city, lorry station, the world usually.Fig. 6 illustrate in one embodiment, be used to calculate formula for the index of the ad hoc fashion between two geo point in the time limit.In Fig. 6, υ representative is through all cargo transports of given way between a pair of geo point of definite term T.

The described example that is used for the Index for Calculation of the Freight Transport between SF and the Reno can be:

Wherein, T is time limit (for example, a week), and C is the rake of wagons carrier transaction carrying capacity during T between San Francisco and the Reno.

FFS has strengthened the flowability in the transport market, and helps to conclude the business through many innovations.One of innovation of Lun Shuing in the past relates to resolves into part with end-to-end route, and will be combined into a bundle part from the part of the end-to-end route of difference.By similar distance is divided together, can increase capacity for each forward contract, it is very worth that it makes that the marketmaker concludes the business.In addition, grouping has different products transactions is reduced to (that is, for the contract of countless end-to-end routes combinations, some are merged in the long-range destination that has weekly contract seldom) the littler set contract of a bundle part (that is, for).But products transactions than the combination of stimulation of small set and the higher capacity in each product classification marketmaker's interest.

Fig. 7 conceptually illustrates FFS according to an embodiment of the invention and how to help and encourage transaction in the capacity futures.As shown in Figure 7, FFS 702 cooperates with all participants 704 of freight industry, to create the forward contract of can concluding the business by bundling.Subsequently, these capacity futures and carrying capacity option contract are used for transaction by marketmaker 706.It is illustrated by reference number 712 in Fig. 7.

Not only FFS creates the Futures and Options contract that is used to conclude the business, and FFS also provides information and instrument (708), determines and relevant price and the risk of creating of forward contract to allow the marketmaker.Risk assessment is distributed to the information that provides with reliability step, and this information allows marketmaker's confidence level of reason ground assessment data more.

The price index also is provided, and each price index is by also the ad hoc fashion through the definite term is peculiar between specific geo point.In addition, provide to the marketmaker also that (for example, fuel, laborer, weather, road construction, haulage track etc.) prediction is to assist the forward contract evaluation process about the different factors that can influence shipping capacity and price.The convenience of these assessment tools mainly is to help marketmaker's capacity futures contracts of concluding the business, and it has increased flowability.

In addition, FFS provides the visit easily 714 to the financial market (for example, the options and futures market in other commodity), controls risk to allow the marketmaker.For example, this visit allows the loss that the marketmaker avoids disadvantageous price to move.Suppose that the marketmaker has bought the forward contract that is defined between Hong Kong and the Alaska by the transportation that starts from September 5th, 2004 per ton of air transport.Supposing when the marketmaker need sell, because fuel cost reduces, is per ton for the spot-market price of this distance.Like this, the marketmaker is by buying the option in the fuel market, if fuel price descends, marketmaker's Huo Li $0.10 can be with self isolated risk.By the visit easily to the financial market is provided, so that the marketmaker will minimize with the capacity futures relevant pricing risk of concluding the business, FFS makes that the transaction in capacity futures is more attractive to the marketmaker, thereby encourages transaction and increase mobile.

The another kind of method that FFS encourages transaction is for by making forward contract can be used for all modes, and independent mode and slave mode information and analysis tool are provided, with allow the marketmaker relatively, analyze and assess all forward contracts.For example, consider freight transportation between SanFrancisco and New York.For this route, can come shipping goods by air transport, shipping, railway or sea-freight.If a kind of shipping of carrying out of pass-through mode is affected (for example, Panama Canal closes, and it has influenced the cargo transport by sea-freight), capacity demand will change over alternate manner, and their price will change thus.By having the forward contract that is used for all modes and being supported in their available information and instrument at hand, FFS correctly provides comprehensive trading environment, and this trading environment allows the marketmaker to utilize the change in transport market and/or makes the risk minimization of creating by changing.

Fig. 8 A and Fig. 8 B illustrate, and how the FutureFreight system realizes the hypothesis Hong Kong-Reno multimode freight orders that all participants participate in according to an embodiment of the invention.It should be noted that not every freight orders all needs marketmaker's the participation and/or the use in adjusting market.Yet the argumentation here helps to understand in proper order.The prediction that shipper prediction 802a, 802b, 802c representative utilize the shipper of Hong Kong shipping terminal to provide.Prediction can be used for length any time.Like this, prediction for example covered 12 months and even can be provided with the interval (for example, decomposed in every month or per season decomposes) of different brackets.Prediction is gathered into total prediction (piece 804).

Total predicted data allows to want for the carrier for carrier's decision the amount (806) of the futures bought.With reference to Fig. 4 B, line 410b illustrates the amount of futures of purchase.In this example, wish that for the carrier amount of futures of buying (piece 808) is suitable for transporting 100 tons, 60m ³Volume and during some definite terms one day service class from Hong Kong to Reno.In piece 810, FutureFreight calculates all possible route selection and mode, and uses the current market price that they are fixed a price.

Being used for all potential routes and mode in piece 810 adopts from the futures data of for example air transport and truck carriers release for the calculating of carrier's specific contract purchasing request with realization.In this example, air carrier (830) discharges being used for for the carrying capacity 832a of carrier's purchase and two pieces of 832b as futures.For example, capacity block 832a regulation have in November, 2004 in first week Friday from Hong Kong to Oakland 300 tons of air capacity that price is not less than on (on the airport of NorthernCalifornia).For example, there are 200 tons of air capacity that price is not less than on (on the airport of Northern California) from Hong Kong to SFO of the Friday in November, 2004 in first week in capacity block 832b regulation.By FutureFreight these pieces of carrying capacity 832a and 832b are gathered the air transport forward contract (piece 834) that is used for concluding the business.

Similarly, truck carriers 840 carrying capacity (piece 842) that also can discharge them is used for to selling for the carrier.To gather the forward contract (844) that is used for marketmaker's transaction by a plurality of capacity block that a plurality of truck carriers discharge.By the Futures and Options module in the FutureFreight system, manage these a plurality of forward contracts (piece 846), the reference number 324 of its Fig. 3 by in one embodiment illustrates.Although, only show an air transport forward contract and a lorry forward contract (as gathering piece 834 and 844) among Fig. 8 A, should be appreciated that FFS can manage the forward contract of the binding of any amount that is used for marketmaker's transaction.Can be according to for example, geography, place, route, mode, time limit, service class etc. are with the forward contract binding of binding.

In four possible combinations shown in piece 812a, 812b, 812c and the 812d.From the forward contract bundle of the transaction that can be used for FFS, extract these combinations.As shown in representational 812a, each of these combinations comprises that route/mode data (for example, carry out air transport from Hong Kong to Northern California, and from NorthernCalifornia to Reno, carry out Freight Transport subsequently) and pricing data is (for example, $3.00/Kg) and service level data (for example, a day).Subsequently, FutureFreight will adjust and buy and sell order based on buyer/seller neutral in for example service class and price boundaries and utmost fair dealing rule.The example of this trading rules comprises first first service, bid-charge algorithm and/or is used for other neutrality/utmost fair dealing rule of being developed of other type futures market.Because the buyer can accept this transaction (price and service class) with selling, select the route/mode combination (piece 816) of piece 812b.

Example hypothesis that it should be noted that Fig. 8 uses futures (partially or completely) to satisfy all composition distances.In some cases, some freight orders can relate to one or more ingredients, and not existing forward contract realizes these ingredients.In this case, FutureFreight can allow to use sporadic purchase configuration, long-term contract configuration and/or other non-futures (or non-option) configuration to realize these ingredients.

In piece 818, single forward contract is used for buying.In this case, owing to adopted two kinds of different routes and mode, two kinds of different forward contracts will be bought.First forward contract covered from Hong Kong to Southern California air transport part (piece 820a) and second forward contract covered from Southern California to Reno Freight Transport part (piece 820b).The selection of result for making up shown in the piece 812b.

As described, the multiple order that is used for selling carrying capacity is aggregated into the gathering of the more bale that is used for futures business (as what realized at the piece 834 that is used for air transport and the piece 844 that is used for Freight Transport), for the marketmaker, increased the attractive force of futures business, strengthen their participation, thereby and improved the flowability of futures business.Although the forward contract of set is concluded the business as single unit, but, if hope obtains (for example being used to conclude the business purpose about the information of the sub-capacity block of forward contract that can be used for the trader, the trader can determine that air transport forward contract from Hong Kong to Northern California comprises 30% cargo transport from Hong Kong to SFO by FutureFreight, 20% cargo transport from Hong Kong to San Jose, and 50% cargo transport from Hong Kong to Oakland), FutureFreight makes the trader can obtain this information.

Marketmaker (850) manages also to use the Futures and Options module (being also called the market module price adjustment) of FutureFreight to obtain trading profits by buying up to the time of expiration of the contract and selling these forward contracts.As described, FutureFreight also helps the transaction of index futures, allow the marketmaker based on the every day of forward contract, weekly or every monthly index (for example, Gao Di weighted mean value or mean value) conclude the business.

When futures during the expiration of the contract, the forward contract of buying can be decomposed, to conclude the business on (that is, secondary) market and betransported that the merchant is final to subscribe regulating.In Fig. 8 B, by FutureFreight the air transport forward contract of piece 820a (in Fig. 8 A for the carrier bought) is resolved into sub-capacity block (piece 860), sub-capacity block is provided by the subclass (for example, in piece 832a and 832b) of the actual capacity piece that is provided by air carrier.The described process relevant with piece 832a, 832b and 834 put upside down before making like this.At this moment, as shown in piece, the forwarding agent buys.

It should be noted that air transport forward contract 820a is the current market value of Ju You $3.00/Kg now owing to marketmaker and/or other participants' business activity.In one case, when the marketmaker adopts the Futures and Options module to settle accounts expiration contract (piece 880 and piece 882) in cash, determine this price.In addition, last moment of being undertaken by arbitrary trader and the transaction of last day also can influence price.Transfer price can be last trade or/and the mean value of trading time period in the end, or uses other method.

In this example, three sub-capacity block comprise: 862a, 862b and 862c.Capacity block 862a covers 33 tons of air transport cargo transports departure Friday, that from HongKong to the LAX price be in first week of November in 2004.Capacity block 862b covers 47 tons of air transport cargo transports departure Friday, that from Hong Kong to San Diego price be in first week of November in 2004.Capacity block 862c covers 20 tons of air transport cargo transports departure Thursday, that from Hong Kong to the LAX price be in first week of November in 2004.

At piece 864, the sub-capacity block that can check purchase for the carrier, and conclude the business on the market (866) or exchange unwanted sub-capacity block regulating.For example, because the departure that capacity block 862c relates to Thursday, and the departure of other capacity block 862a and 862b Friday shown in relating to is not so he wishes to keep the capacity block 862c of purchase for carrier decision.

In regulating market, FutureFreight can announce the price (for example ， $3.00/Kg) of the capacity block 862c identical with the market price of forward contract.Can also stipulate some other prices (for example ， $4.00/Kg) for the carrier, wish that someone may carry out sporadic purchase for capacity block 862c.Because supply and demand, price will be determined by market probably.

In addition, also need to buy another capacity block to replace capacity block 862c for the carrier.For example, 20T departure, from Hong Kong to SFO the Friday of buying first week in 2004 on the market can regulated for the carrier.At last, may all be that the capacity block 862a of $2.75/Kg and 862b and 20 tons of capacity block of replacement of leaving Friday from Hong Kong to SFO finish (illustrating as piece 868) with all for the carrier.Certainly,, can carry out self exchange simply for the carrier if had replacement capacity block from his another order for the carrier, and without recourse to regulating market.The adjusting of this mode is used on a large scale probably for the carrier, and this generation carrier trends towards making very the capacity block of big-difference to carry out internal regulation, and does not conclude the business in regulating market.Yet if necessary, FutureFreight is provided for the mechanism of the adjusting marketing of final capacity block of regulating.

In case be satisfied with the sub-air capacity blocks of purchase, data may be sent to outside reservation system (piece 870 and piece 872) for the carrier, thereby, air capacity correctly subscribed to be used to the multiple aircraft that loads and transport in execution date for the carrier.

Although it is not shown among Fig. 8 B, can similarly the Freight Transport forward contract of buying be resolved into sub-Freight Transport capacity block by FutureFreight, and sub-Freight Transport capacity block and other vanload piece for the carrier can be carried out internal regulation or regulate regulating on the market.In addition,, data can be sent to outside reservation system, wherein,, the Freight Transport carrying capacity subscribed to be used to the multiple lorry that loads and transport in execution date for the carrier in case be satisfied with the sub-vanload piece of purchase for the carrier.It is shown in the piece 874 and piece 876 of Fig. 8 B.

FutureFreight can also make the marketmaker participate in limiting forwarding agent and Dai carrier's risk in many ways.Fig. 9 illustrates a process in an embodiment, and by this process, the marketmaker has limited forwarding agent's risk.Utilize knowledge and other exterior market data (902) of the industry, the marketmaker may sell put option (904), and it grants the forwarding agent in fixed dates or sell the power of carrying capacity with fixed price in the fixed dates scope.These put options can be bought (906) by the forwarding agent.By buying put option, because can make the forwarding agent be sure of that the carrying capacity that covered by put option is always sold has a responsibility for fixed dates or the marketmaker that buys with fixed price in the fixed dates scope, so the forwarding agent can guarantee self to avoid undue loss basically.

As Fig. 3 and Fig. 9 324 as shown in, finish these transaction by the Futures and Options module.In addition, by buying other option (908) (for example, those cover fuel, currency etc.) on other public market, the marketmaker can cover the risk relevant with the put option of selling, to offset the risk relevant with the put option of selling.If the marketmaker notes covering his risk, the forwarding agent makes a profit from sell put option and there is not too many risk in himself.

Fig. 9 also illustrates a process in an embodiment, has limited risk for the forwarding agent by this process marketmaker.Utilize its understanding and other exterior market data (902) to the industry, the marketmaker may sell call option (910), and it grants the forwarding agent in fixed dates or buy the power of carrying capacity with fixed price in the fixed dates scope.These call options can be bought (912) by the forwarding agent.By buying call option, owing to can make the forwarding agent be sure of that the carrying capacity that is covered by call option always can be from marketmaker's purchase of having a responsibility for selling with the fixed price relevant with call option, so the forwarding agent can guarantee self to avoid undue loss basically.In addition, the marketmaker can cover the risk relevant with the call option of selling by other option (for example, those comprise fuel, currency etc.) of buying on other public market, to offset the risk relevant with the call option of selling.

Alternatively, on behalf of forwarding agent (for example, airline or railway or trucking line or shipping company), the marketmaker can carry out yield management.For example, the forwarding agent can know in advance that they can provide 2000 tons of volumes of goods transported from Hong Kong to Oakland in 1 year, but may not wish to handle the process that monitors market, and may not wish to participate in choose opportunities/marketing activity.If this forwarding agent emits whole available carrying capacity to market once, price may descend, and it has injured forwarding agent's earning rate.In these cases, the marketmaker can use such as Fig. 3 and Fig. 9 324 shown in the Futures and Options module, buy big capacity block (920) from the forwarding agent, and in futures or options market along with the time with the form of the smaller piece carrying capacity (922) of reselling, thereby stablized price and improved forwarding agent's earning rate.

Figure 10 A and Figure 19 B illustrate forwarding agent of being used for according to an embodiment of the invention and Dai carrier's order implementation.From the prediction (1002) of the shipper scattered by FutureFreight,, and determine the quantity (1004) of forward contract that will purchase for carrier's assessment risk class relevant with prediction.The contract template that use is provided by FutureFreight can be announced open purchase order ( piece 1008,1010 and 1012) subsequently for the carrier in the FutureFreight system.Similarly, the risk class that forwarding agent decision is relevant with prediction and with the quantity (1006) of the forward contract of sale.The contract template that use is provided by FutureFreight can be announced public offering order ( piece 1014,1010 and 1012) subsequently for the carrier on FutureFreight.

Subsequently, can will openly sell and the purchase contract binding, to strengthen transaction and to use designated parameter to mate (1016) as the coupling key by FutureFreight.Can adopt different matching algorithms, for example comprise, be used to have the service earlier first that to mate of similar parameter.The marketmaker is also by buying and selling (1018) forward contract up to the expiration of the contract participation process.The multi-form different forward contracts that need for the complete end-to-end transport point of covering have identical order.

Figure 11 illustrates the contract template according to an embodiment, is used to allow the participant to specify and is used for the new contract of buying or selling to FutureFreight.In Figure 11, necessary part (Required section) illustrates canonical parameter, in one embodiment, must specify these to be used for the parameter of contract.Optional part (Optional section) illustrates canonical parameter, can specify these to be used at the canonical parameter of regulating the transaction in (that is, secondary) market.

In necessity part, " Action " field can comprise purchase (Buy) or the selection of selling (Sell)." From " and " To " field indication starting point and terminal point." Month " and " Dayof Week " field is specified the time of carrying out." Type of Order " selects to comprise market (Market) or limits (Limit).The price limit on the order is removed in market.Qualification requires the founder to specify limit price, selling when being not less than this limit price for selling, or sells when not being higher than this limit price for purchase order.Then, at title be the hurdle middle finger fixed limit price lattice of " Price "." Service Level " field can comprise, for example Express, one day, three days etc.

Volume weight also is known as trade weight, refers to the employed weight of the industry, is used to calculate trucking costs.This volume weight may be different from actual weight.For example, one ton of Styrofoam may actual weight be one ton, but because Styrofoam has very low density and may occupy the many spaces of carrier, can think that it has ten tons volume weight." Dim Wt " expression volume weight by Figure 11." Price " field is represented price.

As shown in figure 11, order can also be made into to maintain secrecy or disclosed.If be made into to maintain secrecy, only allow the participant of one group of appointment to check order." Type of Trading " can comprise two selections, and one is used for futures (Futures) and one and is used for option (Options).

In optional part, show the exemplary fields that is used for regulating market transaction air shipment order.Certainly, these fields are as required applicable to sea-freight or Freight Transport or any alternate manner." Airlines " field is represented airline or interested airline." Position " field list is shown in the loading position of wanting on the aircraft." Cargo Type " field is represented related cargo type (for example, electronic equipment, fragile product etc.).

With reference now to Figure 10 A,, according to serving earlier first or contract being distributed to forwarding agent (1022) based on the other distribution principle of expiration of the contract.Cut-off date can be in one day before actual execution day (for example, two weeks).Can use the adjusting market mechanism (1026) of FutureFreight buys (1024) or sell (1028) sub-capacity block (after they are taken out) from the forward contract of buying for the carrier.Final adjustment (1030) expression can be subscribed the sub-capacity block of purchase at any time by forward contract mechanism (and randomly by regulating market) on real aircraft/lorry/railway/ship.

With reference now to Figure 10 B,, in case realize final adjustment, FutureFreight sends to for the carrier prompting with beginning booking process (1050).For carrier also futures contract number and cargo transport can be complementary (1052).Also can generate airway bill of lading (AWB) for the carrier, the electronic document (1054) that it is served as reasons and generates for the carrier, this electronic document comprises the cargo transport details, these cargo transport details comprise the futures contract number relevant with cargo transport.AWB and futures contract number are sent to FuturesFreight be used to upgrade transaction record (1056).

Subsequently, send the row forward contract (1060) that row futures/AWB mates and do not convert to AWB by Email or other electronic communication.The forward contract that one row do not mate is used to emphasize forwarding agent's potential problems, that is, and and the possibility of shipping capacity that do not fill or unclaimed.Subsequently, before actual execution date, forwarding agent's problem that solves (for example, by with contact solve any misunderstanding or manage on the market to sell) of can taking action by carrying capacity is placed on for the carrier.

Use AWB, for example can use electronic appointment to subscribe carrying capacity (1062) subsequently for the carrier.Subsequently, for the carrier inventory is sent to the forwarding agent, this inventory has described the AWB/ contract number of the cargo transport that realizes in detail, and frequency and weight (1064).Adopt these data to locate to create receivable open (1066) the forwarding agent.

, for carrier goods be placed in suitable container, and cargo transport is flowed to forwarding agent (1068) thereafter.In when cargo transport, forwarding agent's lade and with freight transportation (1070) to final purpose ground (1072).

In financial reconciliation process, the forwarding agent adopts AWB, and it is included in the cargo transport for the carrier (1074) to give for the carrier make out the bill (1076).Pay bill (1078) for the carrier.

But owing to trading order form several times before carrying out, having the third party needs payment/reception currency, but does not mention in final air freight list and/or manifest of cargo.Example comprises that the contract of participating in is performed the trader of the special contract repeatedly of being concluded the business before.In piece 1080,1082 and 1084, make out the bill to and/or pay these participants.In this stage, the expense that the service that FutureFreight also can impose to be provided owing to FutureFreight produces.

In one embodiment, FutureFreight receives the tranaction costs that are used for each match trading.Extraction expense the clearing amount between the buyer and the seller.In one embodiment, FutureFreight is increased to tranaction costs the ceiling price of being arranged by the seller.What the buyer saw is the price of the selling party that comprises tranaction costs.As the buyer during to seller parties, by clearing house (Clearing House) with money transfer.Subsequently, the clearing house obtains expense from the currency of buyer paid, and expense is delivered on the FutureFreight.Can also exist other based on the configuration of entrusting.

Figure 12 A illustrate according to an embodiment when transaction during futures by the control panel of seeing for the carrier.In piece 1202 (" Market " or " Market View "), show by disclosed (that is, not coupling or not filling) futures contract offers of submitting to for carrier, forwarding agent and/or marketmaker.In these disclosed futures contract offers each for example includes, the weight of the month of starting point and destination port, execution, service class, bid and asked and cargo transport.

In piece 1204 (" My Orders "), the unfilled futures contract offers that is used for this specific forwarders is shown.Each unfilled futures contract offers for example comprises, starting point and destination port, the month of execution, service class, Order Type, limit price and weight.

In piece 1206 (" My Commitments "), illustrate by the forward contract of FutureFreight for this specific forwarders coupling.The forward contract of each coupling for example includes, number percent, weight and the behavior (for example, buying/sell) of the amount of the price of the month of starting point and destination port, execution, service class, buy long contract and current price, profit, the shipper prediction represented by the forward contract of coupling.

In piece 1208 (" Forecast "), illustrate from the prediction of the shipper of this specific forwarders cooperation.Each prediction for example can comprise, the grade of capacity, actual weight, transaction weight and the forecast quality of the identity of starting point and destination port, the shipper predicted, the month of execution, cargo type, the transportation predicted.This forecast ratings can be judged based on FFS operator's individual, self-assessment based on the shipper of submitting prediction (" Conf " represents confidence level) to, and/or based on historical data, this historical data comprises that the past is in the cargo transport of prediction and the comparison (" Qual " represents qualitative evaluation) between the actual cargo transport.Discuss these grades relevant below with Figure 13.

Figure 12 B illustrates the control panel that can be seen by the forwarding agent during futures when transaction according to an embodiment.In one embodiment, do not provide the predicted data relevant with specific shippers to the forwarding agent.Thus, in " Forecast " of Figure 12 B example panel, prediction is relevant with total prediction with forecast ratings, with the special prediction irrelevant (as the situation for carrier's control panel of Figure 12 A) of specific shippers.

Figure 12 C illustrates the control panel that can be seen by the forwarding agent when the trade option according to an embodiment.Thus, the additional parameter relevant with option (for example, conclude a contract or treaty price (" Strike ") or premium (" Prem ")) also is shown.

In case may shifting to, futures contract expires, participant's trust regulate control panel (Adjustment Control Panel), to help adjusting.Generally speaking, FutureFreight can suppose that participant's (for example, for the carrier) can accept ingredient, unless specify desirable adjusting or transaction with respect to ingredient for the carrier.In Figure 12 C, " Commitment " part illustrates the ingredient that is used to subscribe.In these ingredients any can be shifted to the adjusting control panel part of Figure 12 C, regulate or transaction (for example, on the spot market) beginning.The market watch in adjusting (for example, from stock) market is shown under Figure 12 C " Market " part.By the adjusting control section of Figure 12 C, if the ingredient that obtains by futures mechanism does not satisfy participant's preferential selection fully, participant's (such as for the carrier) can buy/sell/conclude the business independent ingredient, to regulate arbitrary preferential selection.

It should be noted that if end-to-end order relates to and uses single or multiple mode () a plurality of ingredients for example, sea-freight, air transport, railway, lorry, the adjusting of arbitrary ingredient all may need the adjusting of another ingredient.FutureFreight can distribute weak or strong connection (use, for example, produce the relevant system of identifier with the inside of identification ingredient and produce mark) between any two ingredients of end-to-end order.If connect very weak, FutureFreight remind the adjusting of the one or more ingredients of participant whether can cause than according to a period of time (for example, the adjusting of air transport ingredient can make cargo transport miss the time of Freight Transport departure) or the position is (for example, what the adjusting of railway ingredient can need the transportation transfer arrangement that adds is configured to finish current Freight Transport ingredient) or based on (for example destroying arbitrary rated condition, this cargo transport requires special unloading or memory mechanism, and the adjusting of being advised causes the cargo transport to the harbour of specific unloading that does not have needs or memory mechanism) not the matching of one or more other ingredients.If connect very by force, FutureFreight can strengthen additive regulating, the destruction that does not match or remove specified conditions with solution.The standard of standard that can connection is very strong or very weak and the arbitrary specified conditions relevant with cargo transport or transport mechanism is pre-programmed in the FutureFreight database and/or is stipulated by the participant.

Generally speaking, use low-cost mechanism (for example, futures) to buy more carrying capacity because prediction accurately makes for the carrier, rather than force for the carrier and (for example use higher cost mechanism, the spot market is bought) limit (hedge) risk, shipper wants to provide prediction accurately.Here, the inventor has developed first-class and novel quality determination, is used to make shipper to specify the confidence level (SCL) of shipper, and the participant can assess the prediction of the freight demand of shipper with shipper confidence.

Figure 13 illustrates the instrument that is used to allow shipper appointment SCL according to an embodiment.The multiple factor that comprises SCL shown in Figure 14.These factors comprise, for example, require, make preparation, manufacturing location, carrying capacity, product, route and lane stability.In addition, give each these factor weight (for example, make and prepare to account for 25% of total value, wherein, lane stability only accounts for 5%).(for example, 1302a-1302g), shipper can be imported his confidence level in his prediction according to standard clearly by regulating the slide block relevant with each SCL factor.Suppose that shipper 100% believes each factor, maximum confidence is 100%.

Use the instrument of Figure 13, shipper can be indicated its subjective evaluation to each these factor with sliding scale.For example, can be by the consumer demand for the product that transport of shipper indication between low determinacy and high determinacy.According to the utilizability of the material that provides, the internal resource that is used to build product or part prepares and/or builds product or the required any plan of part, make prepare can do not prepare and ready fully between change.Manufacturing location can change between new place (greater risk) and the place of having set up (less risk).Carrying capacity can change between 100kg (less risk) to 10 tons (excessive risks).The degree of ripeness of product can change to surpassing between 6 months the product (more ripe) at new product (greater risk).Lane factor estimates to be used to the moon number of the special traffic route that transports.This grade can be at variation route (excessive risk) to changing between the route of having set up (low-risk).The stability of the route that the lane stability estimation is used to transport.Lane stability changes between can be from the excessive risk to the high stability.In case shipper has been specified the value that is used for these SCL factors by slide block, can estimate estimated SCL (shown in Figure 13 is 39%).

Except the SCL of hope, FutureFreight also the generation forecast performance figure (ForecastQuality Index is FQI) to help the participant to estimate prediction (and help to estimate from the forwarding agent carrying capacity prediction) from shipper.FQI provides the mass measurement of forecast quality and has been based on the statistical function that changes between predicted data and the actual ship data.By excavating about obtaining FQI from the prediction of the shipper historical record relevant with actual ship data.FQI can be carried out based on place/consumer's (for example), perhaps FQI can be assembled based on consumer's grade/geography (for example, all XYZ mechanisms of the Southeast Asia) in the XYZ of Singapore factory.

Figure 15 illustrates FFS according to an embodiment of the invention and how to calculate estimated value for shipper predicted quality and quantity.Process is with by for example, and the prediction that the ERP of shipper (Enterprise Resources Plan) software provides is (1502) to start with.Prediction is transformed into the capacity and/or the time limit (1504) of route, and shipper can be indicated the accurate prediction (for example, using described instrument and the technology relevant with Figure 13 and Figure 14 in the past) of own quality evaluation (shipper confidence level in 1506 (Shipper Confidence Level)).

In order to calculate the forecast quality index, FFS at first extracts predicted data (1506) in the past from past data predicted warehouse.In addition, also can from the data warehouse of historical shipment volume or from the ERP software of shipper, extract actual historical shipment volume (1508).Subsequently, historical forecast data and actual ship data will definitely be classified by geography or by other contingency table, to help comparison.In piece 1512, historical forecast data and actual ship data are compared (1512).Generate FQI (geography that is used for the example of Figure 15) (1514), this FQI is announced with prediction with the SCL by shipper by FutureFreight.Certainly, if wish that FFS can also use other standard, and historical forecast data and actual ship data are classified, and comes the evaluation prediction quality so that diverse ways to be provided to the participant.Subsequently, use suitable FFS user interface to announce prediction, FQI and/or SCL (1516) to the participant.

In one embodiment, All Activity merchant (that is, in the purchase of futures or options and the arbitrary participant who relates in selling) is provided with the total predicted data and the forecast ratings of nonrecognition particular shipper.In addition, also inciting somebody to action not, the freight industry index of specific identification particular participant offers the All Activity merchant by FutureFreight.This makes the trader accurately estimate the purchase of futures/sell, thereby has increased the confidence level of futures business, and has increased the participation in the futures market, and it has improved flowability.

On the other hand, because commercial competition, shipper, have for carrier and forwarding agent and to stop potential rival and/or transaction press to obtain the strong request of particular data.Here, the inventor recognizes that also some participants can be used as different role and cheat (for example, shipper is with the attitude for carrier or marketmaker), and hope obtains the competitive information about his rival.Thus, exist creating to provide information encouraging justice and to realize freight orders (comprising trader's transaction) effectively, and meanwhile, safeguards the challenge of participant's competition interests.

In one embodiment, each participant be proved to be and/or contract on have a responsibility for preventing that the participant from misapplying the information that obtains and damaging other participants from FutureFreight.Checking can comprise registration and cryptoguard.The restriction that also can cause only visiting one or specify a plurality of application windows (for example, Forecast, My Orders, My Commitment or Market View) based on the checking of participant's identity.Based on participant's identity, checking also can limit and be used to buy/sell/the functional checking of cancelling an order.

In one embodiment, but default data security options regulation Summary Screen and Market Veiw are visible for all users, and My Orders and MyCommitment are visible for the participant of those orders of beginning only.Yet, as described below, can revise these default data security options, that it may be considered to add for default data security options or optional.

The intensity (strength) of FutureFreight is one group of rich data secure option, and it allows the participant to design the data which specific group who can receive.Thus, except default data security options, existence can be by participant's predetermined data secure option.These participant's predetermined data secure options can replenish or replace default data security options.Thus, for example, even FutureFreight is according to default data security options, certain information is offered certain participant or one group of participant, any participant all can limit the information about himself, and this participant's predetermined data secure option will replace the system default data security options.

For example, in one embodiment, participant's (for example, shipper) can select certain information (for example, the cargo transport of shipper or predicted data) is limited to the recipient (for example, particular group is for the carrier) of particular group.As another example, shipper can further limit the visit to cargo transport and/or predicted data for the carrier.Replace allowing the data of specific forwarder access about all freight routes, shipper can limit for the carrier and visit about for example, has only one or more specific freight routes, one or more locality and/or the information in one or more time limits.

Can have the secret strong request of ship data that makes them for the shipper of manufacturer naturally, if this is that such data can be utilized by the rival and have a negative impact owing to disclose such data prematurely.Thus, in one embodiment, shipper is not visited any data (unless they are traders of registration, for example for the carrier).Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, shipper is only seen the grade of his prediction.Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, shipper is only to see the forwarding index with average price.Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, can also stop shipper to check total predicted data (for example, based on geography), can infer the information that about his rival to stop shipper, the rival can be for from/to the shipper that reaches the same place.Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, unless need, shipper is not authorized to check individual orders (buying/sell) and/or the market suggestion (observation of futures market comprises the data relevant with the transaction in the forward contract) from for carrier, forwarding agent and marketmaker.This has stoped shipper to obtain data (for example, for carrier cost data) inadequately.

Generally speaking, can allow to visit total prediction (for example, based on geography and/or time) of shipper for the carrier.In order to guarantee additional data security, can be not to the information that the prediction of discerning specific cargo transport order or particular shipper is provided for the carrier, unless special authorization receives this information of shipper for the carrier.Alternatively or additionally, the capacity release orders that can not visit the forwarding agent for the carrier is unless forwarding agent's Special Empower is visited this information.Usually allow to check market watch and forwarding index for the carrier.

Unless the common item forecast data that do not allow the forwarding agent to visit particular shipper are by Special Empower.Generally speaking, the forwarding agent can check total predicted data (for example, by geography) and total forecast ratings.The forwarding agent can also visited market observe and forwarding index.

The marketmaker only visits estimation and carries out the necessary data of transaction that bundle in the forward contract.Thereby, usually do not need the marketmaker to visit predicted data about particular shipper.As another example, the marketmaker can not be allowed to check the individual orders from specific forwarders or specific carriers.Generally speaking, the forwarding agent can check total predicted data (for example, by geography) and total forecast ratings.The forwarding agent can also visited market observe and forwarding index.

Although invention has been described according to a plurality of preferred embodiments, various changes can there be within the scope of the invention, changes or be equal to replacement.For example, given open in, those skilled in the art can be applied to the technology that multiple use futures have been disclosed in the combination of option and/or futures and option, to help argumentation.Thus, embodiments of the invention are applied to the derivative contract that comprises forward contract and/or option contract.It should be noted that and have many optional methods of carrying out method and apparatus of the present invention.Therefore, the various changes that appended claim is interpreted as falling within the scope of the present invention, change or be equal to replacement.

Claims (18)

1. based on network, computer-executed method that is used to realize the freight shipments of various ways, described freight shipments relates at least two kinds of means of transportation between first place and second place, and described method comprises:

Reception is for the derivative purchase request of the carrying capacity between described first place and described second place, and described derivative purchase request has regulation shipment volume and the contract requirement (CR) of execution time at least;

From the database of available derivative contracts, determine to satisfy a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable for of described contract requirement (CR); And

Select the subclass of described a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable for, to satisfy described derivative purchase request, described subclass comprises first derivative contract of first mode that is used for described two kinds of means of transportation at least and is used for second derivative contract of second mode of described two kinds of means of transportation.

2. method according to claim 1, wherein, all derivative contract of described contract requirement (CR) are satisfied in described a plurality of derivative contract representatives in described database.

3. method according to claim 1 wherein, uses fair and neutral trading rules to select described subclass.

4. method according to claim 1 also comprises:

The data that reception discharges about the carrying capacity from shipper, each described carrying capacity discharges all stipulates shipment volume and starting point and terminal point, and each described carrying capacity discharges the execution details that regulation also includes one of departure time, hours underway and time of arrival;

Selected several described carrying capacities releases are bundled in the described available derivative contracts, and wherein, at least one in the described available derivative contracts comprises that a plurality of described carrying capacities discharge.

5. method according to claim 4, wherein, described binding comprises divides into groups to relating to geographical carrying capacity release of immediate starting point and terminal point.

6. method according to claim 5, wherein, described binding also comprises divides into groups to the carrying capacity release that falls into schedule time window.

7. method according to claim 4, wherein, described binding comprises divides into groups to the carrying capacity release that falls into schedule time window.

8. method according to claim 4 also comprises:

The adjusting market mechanism is provided, be used to allow the purchaser of the described carrying capacity between described first place and described second place, according to the described subclass of described a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable for, with the conclude the business specific composition part of described subclass of described a plurality of derivative contract that may be suitable for of other participants of freight industry.

9. method according to claim 1 also comprises:

Reception is about the shipment forecasts of potential futures cargo transport and the self-assessment quality grade relevant with described shipment forecasts;

Described shipment forecasts and quality grade are gathered into total shipment forecasts and gross mass grade; And

Described total shipment forecasts and described gross mass grade are offered described trader, make described trader can estimate capacity with purchased derivative contract, described trader represent the marketmaker, for one of carrier and forwarding agent.

10. method according to claim 9, wherein, a qualitative grade of self-assessment in a plurality of described self-assessment quality grades relates to the self-assessment of the shipper of one group of at least four standard in the standard, and this group standard comprises demand, makes preparation, manufacturing location, carrying capacity, product, route and lane stability.

11. method according to claim 9, wherein, a self-assessment quality grade in a plurality of described self-assessment quality grades relates to the self-assessment of the shipper of one group of standard, and this group standard comprises demand, makes preparation, manufacturing location, carrying capacity, product, route and lane stability.

12. method according to claim 9 also comprises:

Calculating is about the quality grade of described shipment forecasts, and described quality grade is at least based on the historical data about past shipment forecasts and actual shipment volume of past;

Described quality grade is added up to into the gross mass grade; And

Provide described gross mass grade to described trader.

13. method according to claim 1, wherein, described first mode is represented one of air transportation mode, sea route means of transportation, railway transportation way and Freight Transport mode, and described second mode is represented different a kind of mode in described air transportation mode, described sea route means of transportation, described railway transportation way and the described Freight Transport mode.

14. method according to claim 1 also comprises the derivative contract mechanism of exchange is provided, make the marketmaker can the expiration before described first derivative contract of electronic transaction and described second derivative contract.

15. method according to claim 1, also comprise execution time according to described first derivative contract, to offer the electronics reservation system about the data of described first derivative contract and described second derivative contract, to subscribe the carrying capacity of the cargo transport of using described first mode and described second mode respectively.

16. method according to claim 1 also comprises:

Calculate forwarding index based on the historical shipment volume between described first place and described second place; And

Provide described total shipment forecasts and described gross mass grade to the trader, described trader represents the marketmaker, for one of carrier and forwarding agent.

17. method according to claim 1, wherein, described derivative purchase request is represented the contract purchasing request.

18. method according to claim 1, wherein, on behalf of option, described derivative purchase request buy request.

Images