Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Definitions

• THIS INVENTION relates to the transportation of goods.
• it relates to a system for, and a method of, estimating the cost involved in transporting goods. It also extends to a carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out the method.
• a data processing system for estimating the cost involved in transporting goods between a selected source location and a selected destination location, the system including a communication module for communicating with a user to obtain at least the selected source location, the selected destination location, and a selected type of goods; a database including a route database in which a plurality of source and destination locations are provided, the selected source and destination locations being one of the plurality of source and destination locations; and a goods database in which a plurality of different types of goods are listed; and an estimator operable to interrogate the goods database and the route database and estimate the cost involved in transporting the selected type of goods between the selected source location and the selected destination location and communicate the estimation to the user.
• the system may define a central server and include a plurality of remote user devices which communicate with the central server via the communication module of the central server via a communications network.
• the communications network is preferably the Internet. It is however, to be appreciated that the communications network can be any network configured for digital communication.
• the system is a stand-alone unit in the form of a personal computer e.g. a laptop computer programmed to carry out the method.
• the input data is typically selected from the group consisting of purchase terms data, mode of transport data, currency data, cost of goods data, data on the weight of the goods, and data on the dimensions of the goods. It is however to be appreciated that a variety of further databases may be included and accessed to enhance the accuracy of the estimate.
• the goods database may include at least cost data on a plurality of goods previously transported between the source and destination locations, the system being configured to interrogate the goods database based on the selected goods and retrieve cost data on at least associated goods thereby to estimate the cost involved in transporting the selected goods between the selected source and destination locations.
• the goods database typically includes a list or inventory of goods which are typically transported regularly between global source and destination locations by various transportation methods. Accordingly, the system may include a mode of transport database providing cost information for transporting various types of goods by at least one mode of transport selected from the group consisting of land transport, rail transport, sea transport and air transport.
• the mode of transport database may include at least one further database selected from the group consisting of an ocean freight cost database including cost data for estimating the ocean freight costs associated with transporting the selected goods, an airfreight cost database including cost data for estimating the airfreight associated with transporting the selected goods, a railway cost database including cost data for estimating the railway cost associated with transporting the selected goods, a road cost database including cost data for estimating the road cost associated with transporting the selected goods, and an insurance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of insuring the selected goods.
• an ocean freight cost database including cost data for estimating the ocean freight costs associated with transporting the selected goods
• an airfreight cost database including cost data for estimating the airfreight associated with transporting the selected goods
• a railway cost database including cost data for estimating the railway cost associated with transporting the selected goods
• a road cost database including cost data for estimating the road cost associated with transporting the selected goods
• an insurance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of insuring the selected goods.
• the goods database may include information on the transportation cost of the goods at predefined locations or in certain countries.
• the system includes at least one database selected from the group consisting of a packaging cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of packaging the selected goods, a documentation cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of documentation associated with transporting the selected goods, a handling depot cost database including cost data for estimating the cost associated with handling the selected goods, a freight cost database including cost data for estimating the freight cost of the selected goods, a customs cost database including cost data for estimating the customs costs associated with importing/exporting the selected goods, a harbour/airport cost database including cost data for estimating harbour/airport costs associated with transporting the selected goods, a finance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of financing the selected goods, the finance cost database including confirming house costs and bank costs, an agent/forwarder cost database including cost data for estimating the cost associated with the agent/forwarder of the selected goods, and a legal database which includes legal data relevant to each particular type of goods, the legal
• the legal database may include legal data relevant to each particular type of goods.
• the legal database typically includes data on taxes payable, laws and regulations relating to each type of goods, authorities providing approval, if any, for import or export of each type of goods, permits required and the cost thereof, or the like.
• the purchase terms data may be defined in the form of conventional INCOTERMS.
• INCOTERMS are a set of rules agreed to internationally.
• FOB - Free On Board i.e. the price of the goods quoted by the supplier includes all costs involved in getting the goods on board ship, and may include packaging, road transportation to the harbour, storage, loading on ship, etc.
• the system includes an interface to access an external source or sources of competitive product prices which provide sale prices of competitive goods associated with the selected goods at the various destination locations thereby to assist the user in making an informed decision as to whether the selected goods will be competitive in the market of the destination location.
• the system includes a search facility for searching relevant external data sources, e.g. web sites, portals, or the like, to obtain information for enhancing the estimation of the cost for transporting the goods from the selected source location to the selected destination location.
• the searching facility may be in the form of a search engine operable to search internal and/or external databases based on key words.
• the search engine may use key words/information to obtain data on, for example, rules in various countries relating to the transportation of goods, regulations affecting import/export restrictions, client profiles, look up tables or the like.
• the search engine may operate in a conventional way, e.g. in a similar way to YAHOO, using key words/icons to access and/or search for sources of information external to the system e.g. insurance brokers, shipping lines, airlines, commodity brokers, duties in various countries, or the like. Inputs from these external databases may be fed into the system for processing, merely be displayed for user reference, or the like.
• the system may by way of the search engine, icons, pull down menus or the like provide the user with access to various different web sites or portals.
• the search facility may provide pull down menus to provide the user with access to a plurality of associated web sites or portals providing transportation cost data.
• the system typically includes a web server hosting a web site with which the user interacts, the communication module being configured to communicate with the remote user device via the Internet.
• the system may include a web server hosting a web site wherein one or more users may log onto the web site, define at least the selected source location, the selected destination location, and the type of goods, and the site may then process the data.
• the system may include an accounting facility selectively to charge a user for use of the system.
• the system may include a currency database and a convertor for converting various different currencies to a selected single currency e.g. US Dollars, British Pounds, or any other currency favoured in international trade.
• the method may include updating the currency database on a regular basis e.g. hourly, daily, or the like.
• the accounting facility typically includes an accounting interface for interfacing the system to a financial institution such as a bank. Accordingly, payment for use of the system may be processed automatically.
• the system may include a customer database for storing historical data on previous use of the system by users e.g. previous cost estimates, financial details, or the like to facilitate charging for use of the system.
• the system may include a breakpoint analysis module for taking conventional break points into account.
• the breakpoint analysis module may take ranges of weights and rates associated with the ranges into account e.g. a break point database including ranges of weights, e.g. 0-25 kg, and rates associated with the ranges, e.g. R20/kg (minimum R100.00).
• the estimator may be operable to take consolidators of cargo into account. Likewise, the estimator may be operable to refine the cost estimate thereby to obtain a lower cost estimate by means of estimating the costs for different modes of transportation and delivery time constraints. Accordingly, the system may thus provide the user with a comparative cost of transporting the goods from the selected source location to the selected destination location.
• a method of processing data in a data processing system including obtaining the selected source and destination locations from a user, the selected source and destination locations being one of the plurality of source and destination locations in a route database; obtaining a selected type of goods from the user, the selected goods being one of a plurality of different types of goods listed in a goods database; interrogating the route database based on the source and destination locations, and the goods database based on the selected type of goods; and processing data retrieved from the route and goods databases to estimate the cost involved in transporting the selected goods from the selected source location to the selected destination location.
• the data is processed at a central server which is operable to communicate with at least one remote user device, the selected source and destination locations and the type of goods being communicated to the central server from the user device via a communications network.
• the method may include requesting a user to input data typically selected from the group consisting of purchase terms data, mode of transport data, currency data, cost of goods data, data on the weight of the goods, and data on the dimensions of the goods, and processing the data taking the input data into account.
• the central server and the user device or devices preferably communicate via the Internet.
• the method may be executed on a personal computer functioning as a stand-alone unit.
• the data processed typically includes input data selected from the group consisting of purchase terms data, mode of transport data, currency data, cost of goods data, data on the weight of the goods, and data on the dimensions of the goods.
• At least cost data on a plurality of goods previously transported between the source and destination locations may be retrieved from the goods database.
• the goods database may be interrogated based on the selected goods and the method including retrieving cost data on at least associated goods thereby to estimate the cost involved in transporting the selected goods between the selected source and destination locations.
• Cost information for transporting various types of goods by at least one mode of transport selected from the group consisting of land (road and rail) transport, sea transport and air transport may be retrieved from a mode of transport database and may be processed to estimate the cost of transporting the goods.
• the data for processing may be retrieved from at least one further database selected from the group consisting of an ocean freight cost database including cost data for estimating the ocean freight costs associated with transporting the selected goods, an airfreight cost database including cost data for estimating the airfreight associated with transporting the selected goods, a railway cost database including cost data for estimating the railway cost associated with transporting the selected goods, a road cost database including cost data for estimating the road cost associated with transporting the selected goods, and an insurance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of insuring the selected goods.
• an ocean freight cost database including cost data for estimating the ocean freight costs associated with transporting the selected goods
• an airfreight cost database including cost data for estimating the airfreight associated with transporting the selected goods
• a railway cost database including cost data for estimating the railway cost associated with transporting the selected goods
• a road cost database including cost data for estimating the road cost associated with transporting the selected goods
• an insurance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of insuring the selected goods.
• data for processing may be retrieved from at least one database selected from the group consisting of a packaging cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of packaging the selected goods, a documentation cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of documentation associated with transporting the selected goods, a handling depot cost database including cost data for estimating the cost associated with handling the selected goods, a freight cost database including cost data for estimating the freight cost of the selected goods, a customs cost database including cost data for estimating the customs costs associated with importing/exporting the selected goods, a harbour/airport cost database including cost data for estimating harbour/airport costs associated with transporting the selected goods, a finance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of financing the selected goods, the finance cost database including confirming house costs and bank costs, an agent/forwarder cost database including cost data for estimating the cost associated with the agent/forwarder of the selected goods, and a legal database which includes legal data relevant to each particular type of goods, the legal database including data selected from the group consisting of taxes
• the method may include prompting a user to select purchase terms data defined in the form of conventional INCOTERMS.
• the user may then enter the price of the goods and indicate or identify the terms to enable the system to calculate the cost of moving the goods from the source to destination locations.
• the price of the goods is typically needed to enable the system to calculate tax, duties and the like, and the terms (i.e. ex works, FOB, CIF, or the like) are required to inform the system that it does/does not have to add certain costs such as those mentioned below.
• the method may include accessing sources of competitive product prices which provide sale prices of competitive goods associated with the selected goods at the various destination locations thereby to assist the user in making an informed decision as to whether the selected goods will be competitive in the market of the destination location.
• the method may include searching relevant external data sources to obtain information for enhancing the accuracy of the estimate of the cost for transporting the goods from the selected source location to the selected destination location.
• the method preferably includes communicating with the remote user device via the Internet.
• the method may include the step of searching the system databases and the Internet.
• the method may provide pull down menus to provide the user with access to a plurality of associated web sites or portals providing transportation cost data.
• accounting functions may be performed selectively to charge a user provided with the cost estimate.
• the accounting functions may include, converting at least one different selected currency to a selected single currency.
• the accounting functions may include providing data to a financial institution for processing.
• Historical data on previous use is preferably selectively stored and retrieved from a customer database.
• the processing may take conventional break points into account.
• the breakpoint analysis may take ranges of weights and rates associated with the ranges into account.
• the estimate takes consolidators of cargo into account.
• the method includes refining the cost estimate to try and obtain a lower cost estimate.
• the method may include estimating the costs for different modes of transportation, delivery time constraints, different routes, or the like thereby to provide the user with a comparative cost of transporting the goods from the selected source location to the selected destination location.
• the system and method may be used to cost alternative transportation scenarios based on selected user preferences e.g. cost or time sensitivity.
• the method includes updating the various databases regularly as and when changes in costs occur.
• One or more of the following databases may be included to enhance the accuracy of estimating the costs incurred in a destination country: a landing/shipping cost database including cost data for estimating the landing/shipping costs associated with transporting the selected goods; a harbour/airport cost database including cost data for estimating the landing/shipping costs associated with transporting the selected goods; a customs cost database including cost data for estimating the customs cost associated with importing the selected goods; an agent/forwarder cost database including cost data for estimating the agent/forwarder costs associated with transporting the selected goods; and a delivery cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of delivering the selected goods to the destination location.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a personal computer (PC) functioning as a stand-alone unit programmed to perform a method, in accordance with the invention, for estimating the costs in transporting goods between source and destination locations;
• PC personal computer
• Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of various components of the PC which are used by a computer program, also in accordance with the invention, executing the method;
• Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a computer network defining a system, also in accordance with the invention, for estimating the costs in transporting goods between the source and destination locations;
• Figure 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a data processing system in accordance with the invention
• Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the method or process performed by the system of Figure 3;
• Figure 6 shows a schematic block diagram of the development of the system
• Figure 7 shows a schematic block diagram of how the system is updated when it is operational
• Figure 8 shows a typical display of INCOTERMS Cost/Risk Distribution
• Figures 9 to 1 5 show typical screen displays of the system.
• reference numeral 10 generally indicates a data processing system in accordance with the invention.
• the system 10 allows a user to process data associated with the transportation of goods between a selected source location and a selected destination location thereby to provide a cost estimate per unit or batch of units.
• the system 10 may thus process transportation data to provide output data which may be used to assess a business opportunity.
• the processing of the data takes place in terms of a method implemented by computer readable code provided on a carrier medium.
• the carrier medium may be a transient carrier, e.g. a communications signal or a storage medium such as a CD Rom, stiffy disk, or the like.
• the system 10 includes a plurality of databases which may be individually defined or form part of a composite database.
• the system includes a legal or standards/regulations database 1 2, a customer database 14, an estimates database 16, an estimate criteria database 18, a schedule database 20, an advice/knowledge database 22, and an accounts database 24,
• the schedule database 20 includes, inter alia, conventional cost data associated with rail, shipping, air transportation, IMCO, INCOTERMS, country maps, or the like.
• the estimate criteria database 18 includes insurance charges, customs charges, freight charges (road, rail, sea, air), packing charges, warehousing charges, harbour/airfreight/rail/road handling charges, exchange rates, or the like.
• the system 10 functions as a standalone system (see Figure 1 ) which can be run on a conventional personal computer (PC) e.g. a laptop computer or the like.
• the system 10 is provided on a server connected to the Internet and, accordingly, may be accessed globally by a plurality of users 1 1 , as shown in Figure 3.
• the users may be subscribers to the system e.g. they may have an account which is debited for use of the system 10.
• the system 10 includes a communications interface 26 for interfacing the system 10, for example, to the Internet in a conventional fashion.
• communication between the system 10 and a user 1 1 may be via any communication medium, e.g. e-mail, the Internet, WAP using a cellular telephone, SMS messages, a call centre, fax, or the like.
• the system 10 then interrogates a data import utility 30 and a data export utility 32 which includes history data relating to the same or similar data processing instructions previously processed by the system 10. If a similar instruction has been previously processed by the system, the data import and export utilities 30,32 provide a DM or USD or any other selected currency cost estimation, e.g. per 1 m 3 or 1000 kg of the commodity, for placing the commodity on the market in the selected destination location. However, if relevant data on an associated prior transaction is not located in the import and export utilities 30,32, the system 10 then accesses the schedule database 20 via a schedule retrieval application 34.
• the system 10 retrieves relevant predefined formulae from the criteria estimate database 18, via a criteria estimate retrieval application 36, and feeds the data into an estimator/estimate calculator 38.
• the estimate calculator calculates a cost estimate of the total cost involved in placing the commodity on the market at the selected destination location.
• the system 10 preferably includes an account/financial management application 40 for processing financial data and charging users of the system 10.
• the system 10 is arranged to allow a first time user or "customer" a free cost estimate. Thereafter, a user is required to pay for use of the system 10. Accordingly, when a user logs onto the system 10, a payment processing application 42 is accessed which, together with the account/financial management application 40 and the accounts database 24, processes a fee.
• the accounts database 24 and associated applications 40, 42 establish whether or not the user is a) a first time user or customer; b) a regular user or customer; c) a subscription paid customer; or d) a credit card payment customer.
• system 10 provides links to remote portals which may themselves provide relevant data or provide further links to other relevant portals e.g. a portal with a particular country's customs duties or several different countries' customs duties.
• customer data is preferably updated regularly and, accordingly, the system 10 includes a customer support application 44, a customer management application 46, and a personalisation engine application 48. These applications 44,46,48 update and personalise customer or user data stored in the customer database 14. Thus, the system 10 may personalise regular customer data and anticipate his/her future queries, direction, suggestions, routes, agents or the like. Customer profile data such as the type of commodity regularly transported by the user, a preferred transport medium, main trading areas, constant suppliers, brokers, frequency of shipments, or the like, may be stored in the customer database.
• the system 10 includes sub-databases which are included in the databases 12,14,16,18,20, and 22.
• the sub-databases include a packaging cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of packaging the selected goods; a documentation cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of preparing and obtaining documentation associated with transporting the selected goods e.g.
• a road/rail transportation cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of transporting the selected goods by road and/or rail both nationally and internationally;
• a handling depot cost database including cost data for estimating the cost associated with handling the selected goods;
• a freight cost database including cost data for estimating the freight cost associated with shipping or airfreighting the selected goods;
• a customs cost database including cost data for estimating the customs costs associated with importing/exporting the selected goods;
• a harbour/airport cost database including cost data for estimating harbour/airport costs associated with transporting the selected goods;
• a finance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of financing the selected goods, the finance cost database may include confirming house costs, bank costs, or the like; and an agent/forwarder cost database including cost data for estimating the cost associated with the agent/forwarder of the selected goods.
• an ocean freight cost database including cost data for estimating the ocean freight costs associated with transporting the selected goods
• an airfreight cost database including cost data for estimating the airfreight associated with transporting the selected goods
• a railway cost database including cost data for estimating the railway cost associated with transporting the selected goods
• a road cost database including cost data for estimating the road cost associated with transporting the selected goods
• an insurance cost database including cost data for estimating the cost of insuring the selected goods.
• the system 10 may access further tables or the like stored in the various databases and, accordingly, the estimate calculator 38 selectively executes further calculations taking further factors which influence the transportation cost into account.
• the commodity "abnormal” by way of value per ton ( 1 m 3 or 1000 kg), weight per square metre of the "footprint” of any single package, weight of individual packages, measurement (dimensions) of individual package(s) for rail/road/container movement, or the like? If so, specific scales of charges applicable to the specific nature of the "abnormality" are selectively accessed in a more sophisticated embodiment of the invention.
• the estimate calculator 38 is operable to calculate the "Freight Ton" on which charges may be assessed and may reference "Stowage Factor” tables via the schedule retrieval application 34 and the schedule database 20. Further data is then retrieved from a standards/regulations management application 50 to obtain information on restrictions/rules relating to identifying non-standard items and related costs.
• an advice engine application 52 can access the advice/knowledge database 22 to perform additional functions e.g. establish an optimum size of a shipment to achieve the optimum cost.
• Optimisation of the delivery of the commodity to the destination location includes access to all tables/databases and procedures/formulae described above.
• the method or process described above relates to a particular transportation route e.g. by sea.
• the user may instruct the system 10 to process data on an alternate transportation route e.g. an estimate for air transport.
• the system 10 provides a comparison between the costs of various transportation options. This functionality is implemented by a decision support application 54 in combination with the advice engine application 52.
• the system includes a search engine application 58 operable to process data on, for example:
• the search engine application 58 is configured to search all internal databases and applications as well as external databases.
• the search engine application 58 may access different shipping lines, e.g. conference, non-conference, tramp ships, bulk carriers, or the like.
• the application 58 may access insurance brokers or the like.
• the schedule database 20 includes "shipping" schedules identifying what vessels call at one or more ports in a source country (in which the selected source location is situated) and a destination country (in which the selected destination location is situated), frequency of sailing of vessels and the like.
• similar schedules are accessed by means of ICONS on a screen of a user PC which communicate with conventional portals owned by shipping/air lines. Accordingly, the system 10 allows comparisons between estimated costs for different route/sailing options thereby to suggest a recommended route along which costs are minimised.
• Figures 6 and 7 are schematic block diagrams of development of the system 10, and of how the system 10 is updated when it is operational.
• the system 10 obtains its input data and displays its output data to the user by means of successive screens (see Figures 6 to 10 for example screens) provided on the web site. Since the system 10 offers its functionality via a web site, global access may be obtained. Accordingly, various language and currency options may be provided. It is believed that, as the functionality of the system 10 is accessible globally, it provides a powerful tool to assist management decisions to move goods internationally. The system 10 may, however, function as a standalone unit.
• a "Customer” accesses the system 10 and interacts with the computer program product typically via an Internet Web Page using any computer device, e.g. personal computer, a PD, a cell phone, or the like (see applications 26 and 28).
• any computer device e.g. personal computer, a PD, a cell phone, or the like (see applications 26 and 28).
• the welcome screen typically provides two options:
• option 1 two further options allow the customer (via application 26 and 28) to: exit; or proceed with the calculation of an estimate.
• the use of the system is optionally at no cost to the user/customer for this particular enquiry; and whether the customer has a customer identification, which establishes or defines the method or procedure of customer invoicing and payment, and provides access to the customer profile for information on any previous enquiries and information which may facilitate the current enquiry, (see applications 48, 46, 44, 40, 42, and 38, and databases 14 and 24).
• Commodity Accesses schedules (see database 1 8) to retrieve data on:
• Ocean freight and airfreight tariffs per carrier per selected route - origin/source to destination countries are Ocean freight and airfreight tariffs per carrier per selected route - origin/source to destination countries. - Ocean freight and airfreight tariffs per carrier per selected route - origin/source to destination countries.
• IMDG Regulations i.e. International Schedule listing Hazardous Commodities, (see applications 36, 34, 38 and databases 1 8, and 20) .
• Mode of Transport Determines either sea or air mode for the initial estimate and/or
• Country of Origin a) The system displays an appropriate map of that country showing all main towns and centres (see Figure 1 2). Customer places cursor/mouse pointer on point of origin, or selects origin from drop down menu. System 1 0 accesses country tables of internal transportation routes to the export point and calculates costs. b) The system 1 0 then accesses country tables relating to Customs and export documentation and calculates costs. c) The system 1 0 also accesses tables relating to harbour/airport charges and calculates costs. d) Appropriate web sites are accessed for assessment and calculation of Customs taxes, insurance cover and premiums, etc.
• the system 10 provides a map of that country showing all main towns and centres. Customer places cursor/mouse pointer on point of destination or selects from drop down menu. The system 1 0 then accesses country tables of internal transportation routes from point of import to delivery point and calculates costs. a) Country tables relating to Customs and import documentation are then accessed and the costs are calculated. b) Links to appropriate web sites are optionally accessed for assessment and the system 10 then calculates Customs duties and taxes, import rules, regulations and requirements relating to the commodity.
• the system 10 then reprocesses, recalculates the estimate, provides suggestions/recommendations e.g. optimum shipment size, advantageous routes, comparison of costs between air and sea, container stowage, listing of applicable rules and regulations, etc. based on the information stored in its databases and obtained via the communications interface 26.
• suggestions/recommendations e.g. optimum shipment size, advantageous routes, comparison of costs between air and sea, container stowage, listing of applicable rules and regulations, etc. based on the information stored in its databases and obtained via the communications interface 26.
• f) System provides the customer with ability to transfer data generated by the system 10 to a selected Freight Forwarder (via drop down menu) who then uses the data to negotiate final costs with carriers and arrange physical movement of the commodity and also process all transportation and customs documentation.
• the forwarding company (F) will require to know:- the commodity the value of the commodity at a given point, e.g. ex works the mass of the commodity the measurement of the commodity any peculiarities of the commodity, i.e. is it hazardous, what is its flashpoint, is it perishable, does it require special packing, marking, identification, storage, or the like? the source (physical address) of the commodity the destination (physical address) of the commodity is transport to be accomplished by sea or air or rail or any other mode?
• Company F through its normal business, then has to access different information sources in order to amass the total information not necessarily in the following order- Contacting a cartage and/or packaging company to quote a price for uplifting the commodity from the factory of company X, packing it in a manner sufficient to withstand, for example the hazards of a sea voyage, and delivering it to a depot, e.g. rail depot for onward carriage to a sea port.
• a cartage and/or packaging company to quote a price for uplifting the commodity from the factory of company X, packing it in a manner sufficient to withstand, for example the hazards of a sea voyage, and delivering it to a depot, e.g. rail depot for onward carriage to a sea port.
• These tables can include:- a) an ad valorem percentage of a calculated value at that point in the transportation process. b) an amount calculated per "Harbour Ton”. c) additional charges that may be levied by the nature of the goods, e.g. perishable/hazardous, abnormal by weight or measurement, etc.
• the "Harbour Ton” is usually deemed to be either 1 m 3 or 1000 kg whichever yields the highest revenue to the Harbour, with a few exceptions where certain commodities have been allocated their equivalent of the harbour ton in defined tables, e.g. 500 kg of lead ingots may be equivalent to a Harbour Ton.
• the freight rate may be quoted
• TEU a twenty foot equivalent
• the total mass/measurement that may be safely loaded and transported is dictated by international regulations covering each of these two configurations.
• a stowage database may include relevant data so that these factors may be taken into account by the system 10.
• the shipping line may have a vessel sailing to the nominated destination, i.e. Chicago, or depending on the winter season when the Great Lakes are closed to shipping, may have to carry the cargo to the port nearest the final destination - say New York. In this event the transport overland (by rail or road) may have to be included in the freight rate or added in as an additional factor.
• the source and destination locations need not necessarily be located in different countries.
• the system 10 may be used in domestic transport such as state to state transport in the USA, province to province, town to town or the like. Thus the transportation may take place within a country's borders.
• the mode of transport may be a single mode of transport or multi-modal. Relevant information, to assess the opportunity using prior art methods, is not easily available to any importer/exporter/entrepreneur /manufacturer. However, by means of the data processing system 10, the opportunity may be assessed more effectively and relatively rapidly provide cost information to user.

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Cited By (8)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-04 AU AU2001266266A patent/AU2001266266A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-04 WO PCT/IB2001/001190 patent/WO2002003221A2/fr active Application Filing

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