U.S. patent application number 15/078858 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-14 for shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rick Burnett. Invention is credited to Rick Burnett.
Application Number | 20160203439 15/078858 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55067855 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160203439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burnett; Rick |
July 14, 2016 |
Shipper and Carrier Interaction Optimization Platform
Abstract
A shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can
include an internet based web page, application for a handheld
device, a dedicated device with a graphical user interface, or any
combination thereof for one or more shipper to enter shipment
requirements and/or bids for use of a carrier's equipment. One or
more carriers can enter equipment specifications, such as equipment
type, availability, and minimum payment amount accepted, as well as
bids for employment to ship goods via the shipper and carrier
interaction optimization platform. The platform can automate
matching shippers and carriers for each shipment, provide
information regarding shipment status, and help carriers to
maximize the amount of time their vehicles carry cargo. Systems may
include a shipper interface, a carrier interface, one or more
handheld devices running the interaction optimization platform, and
positioning software and/or hardware to indicate the location of
the one or more handheld devices used by shipment carriers.
Inventors: |
Burnett; Rick; (San Diego,
CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Burnett; Rick |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55067855 |
Appl. No.: |
15/078858 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14794619 |
Jul 8, 2015 |
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15078858 |
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62022165 |
Jul 8, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/334 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/0834 20130101;
G06Q 10/063118 20130101; G06F 3/04847 20130101; G06F 3/04842
20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; G06Q 40/08 20130101; G06Q 10/0835
20130101; G06Q 10/083 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201; G06Q 10/0832
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20060101
G06Q010/08 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A system for optimizing selection of a carrier for a shipment
having a shipment location, the system comprising: an interaction
optimization platform comprising: a shipper interface configured to
display, on a shipper display device, one or more shipper data
fields for receiving shipper information regarding shipment
requirements corresponding to the shipment; a carrier interface
configured to display, on a carrier display device, one or more
carrier data fields for receiving carrier information regarding
equipment capabilities and/or availability corresponding to a
carrier; and a progress interface configured to display, on the
shipper display device or the carrier display device, shipment
information comprising the shipment location; and a server
configured to, by execution of the interaction optimization
platform: receive shipper information from the shipper display
device and the carrier information from the carrier display device;
match, by at least comparing the received shipper information in
the one or more shipper data fields with the received carrier
information from the one or more carrier data fields, the carrier
with the shipment; receive carrier location information comprising
a location of one or more mobile devices that correspond to
available carriers; transmit instructions to generate, at the
progress interface, graphical representations of shipment
information, the graphical representations comprising an indication
of the shipment location; and transmit an instruction to the
shipper display device to generate an alert at the shipper display
device when the shipment location is within a predefined distance
from a shipment destination.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the carrier display device and
the shipper display device each comprise at least one of: a mobile
phone, a smart phone, a wearable computing device, a tablet
computer, and a laptop computer.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein each of the carrier display
device and the shipper display device comprises at least one of:
positioning software and/or hardware configured to locate the
carrier display device and the shipper display device using one or
more of cellular phone signaling, wireless internet (Wi-Fi)
signals, and satellite positioning.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the carrier display device
displays the carrier interface and is configured to allow a
carrier's driver to at least provide the shipment information to
the server.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein the progress interface
comprises one or more displays showing at least one of: the
shipment location on a map, an estimated time until shipment
pick-up, an estimated time until shipment delivery, an estimated
time until a check-point is reached, and a shipment exception.
26. The system of claim 21, wherein the shipper interface is
configured to accept information for each shipment of a shipper
that is seeking a carrier, the information for each shipment
comprising at least one of: a load type, insurance requirements, a
contact person for the shipment, a shipment origin, a shipment
destination, a desired time for delivery, and a proposed payment
for carrying the shipment.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the carrier interface is
configured to accept information for a carrier, the carrier
information comprising at least one of: carrier corporate
information, equipment available, equipment capability, insurance
information, and information for one or more drivers employed by
the carrier.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the equipment capability
comprises at least one of: refrigeration ability, hazardous
material (hazmat) compatibility, size limitations, and weight
limitations.
29. The system of claim 27, wherein insurance information comprises
information regarding coverage under at least one of the following
types of insurance: general liability, auto liability, cargo
liability, and workman's compensation.
30. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction
comprising: creating a shipper profile with an interaction
optimization platform by entering shipper information into at least
one shipper profile data field displayed at a shipper display
device; uploading a set of rules associated with the shipper to a
server, the uploading initiated with the interaction optimization
platform; uploading a document associated with a shipment belonging
to the shipper to a server, the uploading initiated with the
interaction optimization platform; and selecting a carrier from one
or more carriers presented by the interaction optimization platform
as a potential suitable carrier, wherein each potential suitable
carrier electronically confirms, via a carrier interface of the
interaction optimization platform, to conform to the set of rules
and the document associated with the shipment, where each potential
suitable carrier has been previously confirmed by the interaction
optimization platform to meet a set of shipment requirements
defined by the shipper with the at least one shipper profile data
field.
31. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction
comprising: creating a carrier profile with an interaction
optimization platform by entering carrier information into at least
one carrier profile data field displayed at a carrier display
device associated with a driver; receiving, at a carrier interface
on the carrier display device, a set of rules and a document
associated with a shipment; and associating, via the carrier
interface, the shipment with the carrier display device associated
with the driver, wherein the carrier display device is configured
to accept and/or generate carrier location information for the
carrier display device and relay the carrier location information
to a server according to the interaction optimization platform.
32. A method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction
comprising: receiving, at a server, a shipper profile generated at
a shipper interface; receiving, at the server, a carrier profile
generated at a carrier interface; receiving, at the server, a set
of rules from a shipper generated at the shipper interface;
receiving, by the carrier interface from the shipper,
user-generated input data indicating acceptance of conditions
described in a document associated with a shipment, the document
received from the shipper and generated with the shipper interface;
displaying, at the shipper interface, at least one potential
suitable carriers, each of the at least one potential suitable
carriers meeting a set of shipment requirements defined by the
shipper; receiving, at the server from the shipper, electronic data
comprising a selection of the at least one potential suitable
carriers to deliver the shipment, the selection made via the
shipper interface; displaying, at a carrier display device,
shipment information to a selected potential suitable carrier for
acceptance, the shipment information comprising the set of rules,
the document, and the set of shipment requirements; associating, at
the server, the shipment with a mobile computing device associated
with a selected driver, the mobile computing device configured to
present information to and accept input from the selected driver
via the carrier interface, wherein the selected driver is
associated with the selected potential suitable carrier; receiving,
at the server, shipment location information from the mobile
computing device; and displaying, a progress interface at a shipper
display device, at least one of: a location of the shipment on a
map, an estimated time until shipment pick-up, an estimated time
until shipment delivery, an estimated time until a check-point is
reached, and a shipment exception.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the progress interface is
accessible from the shipper and/or carrier interfaces.
34. The method of claim 32, further comprising defining one or more
geo-fences, wherein each geo-fence comprises a defined distance
from a check-point, origin, destination, or other significant
location along a shipment route.
35. The method of claim 34, further comprising generating and/or
displaying an alert when the selected driver breaches any of the
one or more geo-fences.
36. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving, from the
selected driver, confirmation of delivery of the shipment and
sending notification of delivery in real-time to the shipper and/or
carrier.
37. The method of claim 32, further comprising displaying to the
shipper, via the shipper interface, estimated time for at least one
of: arrival of driver for pick-up of the shipment, acceptance of
the shipment; confirmation of the shipment details, departure of
the shipment, and arrival of shipment at destination.
38. The method of claim 32, further comprising accepting an
electronic version of a shipment manifest from the shipper, and
delivering the shipment manifest to the selected driver.
39. The method of claim 32, further comprising sending a message to
a driver associated with the carrier, the message instructing the
driver to install an interface platform comprising the carrier
interface to a mobile computing device that accompanies the driver
while the shipment is in transit.
40. The method of claim 32, wherein the location information from
the mobile computing device comprises at least one of: GPS
information, cellular phone signal information, wireless internet
(Wi-Fi) signal information, and information derived from GPS,
cellular phone signals, and/or wireless internet signals.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/022,165, titled "Shipper and Carrier
Interaction Optimization Platform," filed Jul. 8, 2014, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The subject matter described herein relates generally to the
shipping of physical goods, particularly via land based vehicles
such as truck, rail, and the like.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Matching shipments of goods to carriers can be a tedious
undertaking. Currently, much of the matchmaking between shippers
and carriers is carried out by third parties, such as brokers. The
involvement of brokers, as well as the use of older means of
communication and tracking can lead to increased costs or loss of
potential income. The increased costs can include increased
overhead payments to third parties, and loss of potential income
can stem from increased time to find a carrier for each shipment,
carriers moving equipment that is not fully utilized, and
unexpected delays or exceptions that are not adequately
communicated to the shipper.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, a shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform accepts input from one or more shippers and
input from one or more carriers. The input from one or more
shippers can include specifications for a shipment, a bid for use
of a carrier's equipment, or both shipment specifications and a bid
for use of a carrier's equipment. Specifications for a shipment can
include a threshold or auto execute cost value, dates for the
shipment, point of origin, destination, desired ratings score of
the carrier, type of cargo, cargo handling needs, or any
combination thereof. A bid for use of a carrier's equipment can
include a proposed payment amount. The input from one or more
carriers can include equipment availability information, a bid for
the cost of transporting a shipment of cargo, or both equipment
availability information and a bid for the cost of transporting a
shipment of cargo. The equipment availability information can
include the type of equipment available, the dates and time of
availability, the threshold cost of hiring, an auto execute hiring
value, availability origin location, availability destination
location, and any combination thereof. A bid for the cost of
transporting a shipment of cargo can include the hourly driver
cost, the mileage cost for the equipment, fuel costs, special route
costs (e.g., tolls), special handling costs upon loading or
delivery, and any combination thereof. The platform can provide
interfaces for tracking any shipment, for generating proof of
delivery, for creating lists of preferred shippers or carriers, for
generating cost estimates, for locating shipments with origins that
coincide with the termination of one shipment, or any combination
thereof.
[0005] In some implementations, a system for optimizing selection
of a carrier for a shipment is provided that includes an
interaction optimization platform, a server, and one or more mobile
computing devices. The interaction optimization platform may
include a shipper interface configured for receiving information
input from a shipper regarding shipment requirements, a carrier
interface configured for receiving input from a carrier regarding
equipment capabilities and/or availability, and a progress
interface configured to display shipment information. The server
may be configured to accept input from the shipper interface and
the carrier interface, execute on or more programs to match a
carrier with one or more shipments, and accept information
regarding the location of one or more mobile devices that execute
the carrier interface. The one or more mobile computing devices can
display one or more of the shipper interface, carrier interface,
and/or progress interface.
[0006] In some implementations, one or more of the following
features may be present in any suitable combination. The one or
more mobile computing devices can include a mobile phone, a smart
phone, a wearable computing device, a tablet computer, and/or a
laptop computer. Each of the one or more mobile computing devices
can include positioning software and/or hardware that can be
configured to locate the mobile computing device using one or more
of cellular phone signaling, wireless internet (Wi-Fi) signals, and
satellite positioning. The one or more mobile computing devices can
display the carrier interface. The one or more mobile computing
devices can also accept input from the carrier interface and relay
it to the server. The carrier's driver can use the one or more
mobile computing device to at least provide shipment information to
the server. The shipment information can include the shipment
location. In some implementations, the progress interface can
include one or more displays showing: a location of the shipment on
a map; an estimated time until shipment pick-up; an estimated time
until shipment delivery; an estimated time until a check-point is
reached; a shipment exception; and/or any combination thereof. The
shipper interface can be configured to accept information for each
shipment for which a shipper is seeking a carrier. The information
for each shipment can include: a load type, insurance requirements,
a contact person for the shipment, a shipment origin, a shipment
destination, a desired time for delivery, a proposed payment for
carrying the shipment, or any combination thereof. The carrier
interface can be configured to accept information for a carrier.
The carrier information can include" carrier corporate information,
equipment available from the carrier, equipment capability,
insurance information, information for one or more drivers employed
by the carrier, or any combination thereof. In such embodiments,
the equipment capability can include refrigeration ability,
hazardous material (hazmat) compatibility, size limitations, weight
limitations, and any combination thereof. The insurance information
in such implementations can include information regarding coverage
under the following types of insurance: general liability, auto
liability, cargo liability, workman's compensation, or any
combination thereof.
[0007] In a related aspect, provided in some implementations is a
method for optimizing shipper and carrier interaction that includes
creating a shipper profile for a shipper using an interaction
optimization platform, uploading a set of business rules associated
with the shipper to a server using the interaction optimization
platform, uploading a contract associated with a shipment belonging
to the shipper to a server using the interaction optimization
platform, and electing a carrier from one or more carriers
presented by the interaction optimization platform as a potential
suitable carrier. In the method, each potential suitable carrier
can agree to conform to the set of business rules and contract
associated with the shipment via a carrier interface of the
interaction optimization platform. The interaction optimization
platform can also confirm that each potential suitable carrier
meets a set of shipment requirements defined by the shipper.
[0008] In a further related aspect, a method for optimizing shipper
and carrier interaction is provided that includes creating a
carrier profile for a carrier using an interaction optimization
platform; installing, downloading, or activating a carrier
interface on a mobile computing device associated with a driver who
is associated with the carrier; accepting, using the carrier
interface, a set of business rules and a contract for a shipment;
and associating the shipment with the mobile computing device
associated with the driver using the carrier interface. The mobile
computing device may be configured to accept and/or generate
location information for the mobile computing device and relay that
location information to a server according to the interaction
optimization platform.
[0009] Another related aspect provides a method for optimizing
shipper and carrier interaction in some implementations, in which
the method includes accepting a shipper profile via a shipper
interface, accepting a carrier profile via a carrier interface,
accepting a set of business rules from a shipper via the shipper
interface, displaying one or more potential suitable carriers to
the shipper via that shipper interface, accepting a selection from
the shipper of one of the one or more potential suitable carriers
to deliver the shipment, displaying information regarding the
shipment to a selected potential suitable carrier for acceptance,
associating the shipment with a mobile compute device associated
with a selected river who is associated with the selected potential
suitable carrier, accepting location information from the mobile
computing device, and displaying: a location of the shipment on a
map, an estimated time until shipment pick-up, an estimated time
until shipment delivery, an estimated time until a check-point is
reached, a shipment exception, and/or any combination thereof. The
shipper profile, business rules, contract, and selection of one of
the one or more potential suitable carriers can be submitted or
made via a shipper interface. The carrier profile can be submitted
via a carrier interface. The one or more potential suitable carrier
can be displayed to the shipper via the shipper interface. The
information regarding the shipment can be displayed to a selected
potential suitable carrier for acceptance via the carrier
interface. This information regarding the shipment can include the
set of business rules, the contract, and the shipment requirements.
The mobile computing device associated with a selected driver can
be configured to present information to and accept input from the
selected driver through the carrier interface.
[0010] One or more of the following features can be present in the
implementations described herein in any suitable combination. In
some implementations, the progress interface can be accessible from
the shipper and/or carrier interfaces. The method can also include
defining one or more geo-fences, in which each geo-fence includes a
defined distance from a check-point, origin, destination, or other
significant location along a shipment route. In some such
implementations, the method can also include generating and/or
displaying an alert when the selected driver breaches any of the
one or more geo-fences. The method can also include receiving
confirmation of delivery of the shipment from the selected driver,
as well as sending notification of delivery in real-time to the
shipper and/or carrier. The confirmation of delivery can be sent
using the carrier interface. The method can also include
displaying, to the shipper via the shipper interface, estimated
time for one or more of: arrival of driver for pick-up of the
shipment, acceptance of the shipment, confirmation of the shipment
details, departure of the shipment, and arrival of the shipment at
its destination. In some implementations, the method can further
include accepting an electronic version of a shipment manifest from
the shipper and delivering the shipment manifest to the selected
driver. The method can include sending a message to one or more
drivers associated with the carrier, in which the message instructs
each of the one or more drivers to install an interface optimizing
platform that includes the carrier interface to a mobile computing
device that accompanies the driver during shipments. The mobile
computing device can send location information to the interaction
optimizing platform, and the location information can include one
or any combination of the following: GPS information, cellular
phone signal information, wireless internet (Wi-Fi) information, as
well as information derived from GPS, cellular phone signals,
and/or wireless internet signals.
[0011] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter
described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the
description below. Other features and advantages of the subject
matter described herein will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of
the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the
description, help explain some of the principles associated with
the disclosed implementations. In the drawings,
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system that
includes a shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform
for interaction between one or more shipper and one or more
carrier;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart showing an exemplary method for
creating a shipper profile on the interaction optimization platform
described herein;
[0015] FIGS. 3A-3C show exemplary views of the shipper interface of
the interaction optimization platform during profile set-up;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart showing an exemplary method for
creating a carrier profile on the interaction optimization platform
described herein;
[0017] FIGS. 5A-5E show exemplary views of the carrier interface of
the interaction optimization platform during profile set-up;
[0018] FIGS. 6A-6J show exemplary views of the carrier interface of
the interaction optimization platform on a hand-held mobile
device;
[0019] FIGS. 7A-7C show exemplary flow charts of shipper and
carrier interaction via the interaction optimization platform;
and
[0020] FIGS. 8A-8H show representative views of the interaction
optimization platform, as in some implementations described
herein.
[0021] When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar
structures, features, or elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] A platform that allows for interaction between shippers and
carriers through the internet is provided. The platform allows for
shippers to post their shipping needs, for carriers to post their
equipment and workforce availability, and for both shippers and
carriers to bid on the opportunity to use equipment or provide
shipping services, respectively. In addition to facilitating
interaction which leads to hiring or service providing contracts,
the platform can provide tools to track each shipment, to estimate
the arrival time of each shipment, to account for delivery or
shipment exceptions, to estimate the cost for any shipment, to
estimate the break-even point for any shipment, to generate proof
of delivery, to suggest shipments or equipment availability to
optimize efficiency or best meet needs, or any combination
thereof.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system that
includes a shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform
105 for interaction between one or more carriers 110, 115, 120 and
one or more shippers 125, 130, 135. Each carrier 110, 115, 120 can
employ multiple drivers. The one or more shippers 125, 130, 135 can
provide input to the shipper and carrier interaction optimization
platform 105. This input from the one or more shippers can include
shipment requirements and/or bids to ship using available
equipment. The one or more carriers 110, 115, 120 can provide input
to the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform 105.
This input from the one or more carriers can include equipment
specification and/or bids on the cost to ship one or more
particular shipments. These inputs, as well as information from the
shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform 105 to each
of the one or more carriers and one or more shippers will be
described in further detail, herein below. The system can also
include location and/or signaling systems 140 that work with a
mobile computing device used by drivers. The location and/or
signaling systems 140 can include GPS location systems, wireless
internet systems, cellular phone signaling systems, or a
combination of those systems, or another wireless communication
system that can receive data or generate data regarding the
location of the mobile computing device. Knowing the location of a
driver's mobile computing device while he or she is transporting a
shipment can allow the interaction optimization platform to
determine the location of the shipment and display progress
information to the shipper and/or carrier.
[0024] The shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform
can include one or more of a web-based user interface, such as a
web site; a dedicated application for use on a hand-held device,
such as an app; and a dedicated computing device with a graphical
user interface. The hand-held device can be a tablet, smartphone,
cell phone, wearable electronic interface such as an electronic
watch, or the like. The shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform can accept input from one or more shipper
and/or one or more carrier. The shippers and carriers associated
with the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can
be referred to as the associated shipping community.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method 200 for a shipper to join
the shipping community associated with the interaction optimization
platform (105 in FIG. 1). The shipper can have an application for
interfacing with the interaction optimization platform on a mobile
computing device, or the shipper can use a web site to view a
shipper interface generated by the interaction optimization
platform. Once the shipper has initiated contact with the
interaction optimization platform, he or she can provide
information about the shipping organization to the platform, as in
210. The type of information is described more fully, below, but
can include the company name, address, type of goods normally
shipped, and the like. The shipping company can have rules,
including carrier requirements, that are specified in 215 to better
enable the interaction optimization platform to match a carrier to
a shipment. The shipper can also provide insurance requirements
220, and cost limitations 225 to the interaction optimization
platform to help narrow down the field of potential suitable
carriers or to help the shipper create a suitable bid on the use of
equipment for a shipment. The shipper can complete the profile for
his or her shipping company by including the contact particulars
for a person responsible for the proposed shipment, as in 230. This
responsible person can be the default responsible person, shown in
the system to always be responsible for shipments, or the
responsible person can vary from shipment to shipment.
[0026] FIGS. 3A-3C show exemplary views of the shipper interface
when setting up a shipper profile. In order for a shipper to create
a shipper profile and join the associated shipping community, the
shipper provides log-in information, shipper information (e.g.,
business name and address), criteria for carriers (e.g., CSA score
requirement, insurance requirement, performance requirement, and
the like), and a main contact, as seen in FIGS. 3A-3C. The shipper
can also provide a list of preferred carriers to the shipper and
carrier interaction optimization platform. Once the shipper has a
profile and is a member of the associated shipping community, the
shipper can upload one or more shipments/loads, either by providing
an electronic file with the shipment data or by using the interface
to provide the information. A shipper that is a member of the
associated shipping community can also bid to use equipment posted
as available.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 400 for creating a carrier
profile for the interaction optimizing platform. The carrier can
interact with the interaction optimizing platform via a carrier
interface that is presented via a web site or a dedicated
application (i.e. app) on a mobile computing device. The carrier
can create a username and password upon starting up the carrier
interface for the interaction optimizing platform, as in 410. The
company information can be provided to the platform to create the
barest of carrier profiles, as in 415. The insurance information
provided, as in 420, as well as information about drivers
associated with the carrier, as in 425, help to round out the
creation of a carrier profile. The driver information can be
provided by manually entering information into fields presented in
the carrier interface. Alternatively, or additionally, driver
information can be provided in a spread sheet, text delimited file,
or as any other array of data in a file that is uploaded to the
interaction optimization platform.
[0028] FIGS. 5A-5E are exemplary views of a carrier interface that
can be seen when creating a carrier profile for the interaction
optimization platform. A carrier can join the associated shipping
community by providing log-in information (FIG. 5A) and
registration information that can include a department of
transportation (DOT) number, business name and address (FIG. 5B).
The shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can also
accept insurance information (FIG. 5C) and equipment information
from the carrier (FIG. 5B). The equipment information can include
the equipment type, the maximum weight accepted by the equipment,
and the carrier's equipment ID. The equipment type can include van,
flatbed, refrigerated, and the like. The carrier can also provide
driver information to the shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform by the carrier (FIG. 5D). The driver
information can include each driver's name, each driver's mobile
phone number, and the identification number or name assigned to
each driver by the carrier. Additional information can be
associated with each driver, such as the equipment he or she is
authorized to operate, preferred routes, and the like. Once a
carrier becomes a member of the associated shipping community, the
carrier can post the availability of his or her equipment, as well
as bid to be the carrier on shipments posted by shippers within the
community.
[0029] FIGS. 6A-6J are exemplary views of the carrier interface 600
as displayed on a mobile computing device, such as a driver's
mobile phone or tablet device. FIG. 6A shows an exemplary landing
page or starting view 610 for the carrier interface 600. FIGS. 6B
and 6C show registration views of the carrier interface 600. The
user (e.g., the driver) is prompted to enter a password in fields
615A and 615B, then select the next button 620. The user can then
take a photo of his or her driver's license by selecting the
appropriate button 625 and submit 630. The photo may be used to
verify the driver's identity and credentials. FIG. 6D shows how a
shipment, or load, may be presented in the carrier interface for
acceptance. If the carrier accepts the shipment, then the carrier
agrees to abide by the shippers business rules and contract and to
deliver the shipment. The load details 635 can include the shipper
name 636, load number 637, dates and times of the shipment start
and end 638, the number of miles to cover 639, the expected time
needed to deliver 640, the origin location 645, the destination
location 650, and further details 655. The user, or driver, can opt
to view more details 655 and see information such as further
shipment requirements, an electronic copy of the shipment manifest,
payment details, the main contact person, and the like. The driver
or carrier can choose to accept 660A or decline the shipment 660B
by selecting the appropriate button on the interface. FIG. 6E shows
the view that can be seen when a driver or carrier selects decline
660B. The header indicates that a decline reason 665 is requested,
and the driver can select a reason from the drop down menu 666
and/or write an explanation for declining the shipment 667. Once
the reason for the decline is prepared, the reason can be submitted
by selecting the appropriate button 668.
[0030] FIGS. 6F-6J show views that can be seen when a carrier or
driver selects to accept 660A a shipment. The current load view
670, designated by a load number 671, is shown in FIG. 6F. This
information can be useful when a carrier has queued up many loads
along a route or in a finite time period ahead of time. The pickup
verification view 675 is shown in FIG. 6G. This view provides the
load number 676 and then provides ways for the driver or carrier to
indicate details about the load or shipment as he or she took
possession of it onto his or her equipment. For example, the driver
can indicate whether the load matches the manifest 677, the route
and shipment details can be confirmed 678, and comments can be
noted 679. The comments can indicate unusual circumstances or
occurrences during loading of the shipment. Should something be
wrong, or if the driver would like to show the condition of the
shipment before and/or after loading onto his or her equipment, the
driver can take a photo 680 of the shipment. Once the shipment is
successfully examined and/or loaded, the load can be accepted and
an indication of this can be sent to the interaction optimization
platform by selecting the load accepted button 681 on the carrier
interface 600.
[0031] FIGS. 6H and 6I show the progress interface, or dashboard,
690 for the carrier interface of the interaction optimization
platform. The progress interface can include a map 691; the
shipment, or load, number 692; the shipment status 693; time and
distance information 694; and the option to report a problem 995.
The map 691 can include a view of the origin and destination of a
shipment, the route that has been selected, and an indicator of the
current location of the load. Checkpoints can be displayed on the
map, particularly if the route is long or complicated, and the
location of the shipment can be shown relative to the origin,
destination, and/or any checkpoint. Once the shipment is a
threshold distance or time away from a checkpoint or other
significant location, and automatic alert can be sent to the
shipper and/or carrier.
[0032] FIG. 6I shows an exemplary view of a problem or exception
reporting interface. If a driver wishes to report a problem 695,
the driver can indicate a type of issue 696 and provide comments or
details 697. A photo can be associated with the problem by
selecting the take photo button 698. Once all of the details have
been provided by the driver, the information can be submitted to
the platform by selecting the submit button 699. The problem can be
automatically forwarded to the shipper and/or carrier (e.g., the
carrier's driver supervisor or road side assistance
dispatcher).
[0033] Once the shipment is delivered, the progress interface can
automatically switch to the delivery verification view 6100.
Alternatively, or additionally, the driver can select the delivery
verification view once shipment delivery is eminent. In this view,
seen in FIG. 6J, delivery of the load can be indicated with the
push of a button 6110, and proof of signature by the accepting
party at the destination can by recorded digitally 6120. Comments
can be recorded, as well, 6130, such as information regarding the
final condition of the shipment and the like. Once this information
has been input into the carrier interface, it can be submitted by
selecting the submit button 6140. Delivery notification can be
automatically delivered to the shipper and/or carrier once the
submit button 6140 is selected.
[0034] FIGS. 7A-7C show exemplary methods of interaction between a
shipper and a carrier via an interaction optimizing platform. The
method 700A, or scenario, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B is for when a
carrier accepts a shipment from a shipper. In this scenario, the
interaction can start with the shipper uploading a contract, a
manifest, and/or business rules, 710. The interaction optimization
platform can match the shipment requirements indicated by the
shipper to available carriers, 715. The result of this matching can
be provided to the shipper via the shipper interface. The shipper
can select a potential suitable carrier using the shipper
interface, 720. The selected carrier can then receive information
about the shipment 730 and can accept the shipment 735. The carrier
can assign the shipment to a particular driver 735. The driver
associates his or her mobile computing device (e.g., smart phone,
tablet computer) with the shipment 740 and the mobile computing
device provides location information and/or other status
information to the interaction optimization platform 745. The
interaction optimization platform can provide that information in a
useful manner via a progress interface 745. Once the shipment
reaches its destination, confirmation can be sent through the
interaction optimization platform 750.
[0035] FIG. 7C shows a representative scenario 700B in which the
carrier or driver has declined a shipment 736. A reason is sent for
declining the shipment 736. This can enable the shipper to tailor
his or her search for a carrier in the future. When the interaction
optimization platform notifies the shipper of the carrier's decline
of the shipment, other potential carriers can be presented to the
shipper 737.
[0036] As mentioned above, the input from one or more shippers can
include specifications for a shipment, a bid for use of a carrier's
equipment, or both shipment specifications and a bid for use of a
carrier's equipment. Specifications for a shipment can include a
threshold or auto execute cost value, dates for the shipment, point
of origin, destination, desired ratings score of the carrier, type
of cargo, cargo handling needs, or any combination thereof. A bid
for use of a carrier's equipment can include a proposed payment
amount. As an alternative to the scenarios in FIGS. 7A-7C, shippers
and/or carriers can search postings and tailor bids to those
postings to become a highly favorable suitable carrier or shipper.
FIGS. 8A-8H show views of the interaction optimizing platform that
can be seen by a user, either a shipper or carrier, when creating a
bid.
[0037] The interaction optimization platform can provide the
shipper the option of automatically engaging a carrier when the
carrier meets the shipper's criteria for a particular shipment,
including the cost for fulfilling the shipment. Upon automatically
engaging a carrier that meets the acceptable criteria, both the
shipper and carrier can be notified via e-mail, text message, phone
message, or any combination thereof. Additionally, each shipment
posted by a shipper has time lines, including deadlines, of when
the shipment needs to depart a point of origin, as well as when it
needs to arrive. After being posted to the platform, a shipment
posting can be identified, such as by color coding or categorizing,
by the time until the shipment needs to depart its point of origin,
such as in FIG. 8A. For example, if a posted shipment is within
twenty-four hours of its departure time, the posting can be color
coded yellow. Once the shipment is within a shorter time period,
such as 4 or 2 hours from its departure time, the shipment posting
can be color coded red. Expired shipment postings can be
categorized as either expired-fulfilled or expired-unfulfilled and
displayed only when a shipper or carrier searches for such shipment
postings.
[0038] The input from one or more carriers can include equipment
availability information, a bid for the cost of transporting a
shipment of cargo, or both equipment availability information and a
bid for the cost of transporting a shipment of cargo. The equipment
availability information can include the type of equipment
available, the dates and time of availability, the threshold cost
of hiring, an auto execute hiring value, availability origin
location, availability destination location, and any combination
thereof. A bid for the cost of transporting a shipment of cargo can
include the hourly driver cost, the mileage cost for the equipment,
fuel costs, special route costs (e.g., tolls, bridge assessments,
taxes, or the like), special handling costs upon loading or
delivery, and any combination thereof.
[0039] As with the shipment postings, equipment availability
postings can have an auto-execute setting which prompts the
platform to accept a bid on behalf of the carrier once certain
criteria are met. One of the criteria can be the price that the
shipper is willing to pay to engage the carrier and his or her
equipment.
[0040] It is feasible that a carrier can post his or her equipment
as available while bidding to be the carrier for shipments with
deadlines that coincide with the posted availability of the
equipment. In such cases, should a bid to provide service be
accepted by a shipper, the availability post can be removed by the
carrier. Conversely, should the carrier accept a bid to hire
equipment, the carrier should remove any conflicting bids to supply
equipment to a shipper. Alternatively, the platform can remove
conflicting posts on behalf of the carrier either concurrently with
or after notification of the post's removal. A carrier or shipper
can also control the types of notifications he or she receives
(FIG. 8H), as well as updating contact information and other
relevant information (FIGS. 8B-8G).
[0041] The platform can provide interfaces for tracking any
shipment, for generating proof of delivery, for creating lists of
preferred shippers or carriers, for generating cost estimates, for
locating shipments with origins that coincide with the termination
of one shipment, or any combination thereof. The shipper and
carrier interaction optimization platform can suggest matches for
each posting, such that a shipper can see which carriers have
posted or indicated availability that matches a shipment's
specifications or such that a carrier can find out which shipments
meet the availability of his or her equipment. Such proposed
matches can facilitate agility in the shipper's schedule, such as
when the shipper is suddenly inconvenienced due to weather or other
traffic obstructions, or when there is an unexpected surge in
orders that require fulfillment. Another benefit of such proposed
matches can be that carriers can minimize the number of trips made
by drivers with empty vehicles, that is to say without cargo or a
shipment.
[0042] Tracking each shipment using the shipper and carrier
interaction optimization platform can entail using positioning
components and/or software on each driver's hand held device (e.g.,
mobile phone, smartphone, tablet or the like), on built-in
positioning equipment on a carrier's vehicle, or on a positioning
component on a dedicated computing device used by a driver during
shipment delivery. Positioning components and/or software can use
global positioning satellite systems (GPS systems), cell tower or
other cell signal information, Wi-Fi signal information, or the
like to indicate position and progress of a shipment.
[0043] The shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform
can provide special alerts associated with the position of a
carrier's driver with respect to a point of origin and a
destination. At the beginning of a shipment, after both the shipper
and the carrier have agreed to enter into a service relationship,
the shipper can receive an alert indicating the distance of the
carrier's appointed driver from the point of origin for the
shipment he or she is contracted to transport. A threshold
distance, or geo-fence, can be pre-determined by the shipper or by
the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform. This
pre-determined, threshold distance can be selected to give the
shipper an idea of the timeliness of the carrier's driver, but also
to allow for preparation for the arrival of the driver.
Additionally, or alternatively, the shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform can alert the shipper, the carrier, or both
the shipper and carrier when a driver is within a pre-determined
threshold distance from the shipment destination, breaching the
geo-fence. The alert can be an e-mail, a voice message, a text
message, an audio alert, a haptic alert, or any combination
thereof.
[0044] The shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform
can accept a shipping manifest when a post is accepted for a
shipping opportunity or when a shipper's bid for hiring equipment
is accepted by a carrier. Once the bid is accepted, the associated
shipping manifest can be electronically delivered to the carrier
automatically by the shipper and carrier interaction optimization
platform. When the carrier assigns a shipment to a particular
driver or drivers, the corresponding shipping manifest can be
automatically sent to the driver's or drivers' position indicating
computing device (e.g., hand held telephone or computing device,
GPS, or wearable computing device). In such implementations, one or
more geo-fences can be delineated within the shipper and carrier
interaction optimization platform and the position of the shipment
relative to the one or more geo-fences can be calculated with
respect to the driver's or drivers' position indicating computing
device. Further, or alternatively, in such implementations, a
mobile application or a website can launch once the position
indicating computing device breaches the corresponding geo-fence
after the shipment is loaded onto the carrier's equipment. The one
or more geo-fences can include a geo-fence about the point of
origin, about the destination, and about points along a
predetermined route from the point of origin to the destination.
Using such geo-fences, the shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform can indicate to the shipper, the carrier, the
driver, or any combination thereof, when the shipment has deviated
and is "off route," such as by sending alerts, messages, and the
like. When the driver and shipment breeches a geo-fence about the
shipment's destination, then an eminent delivery alert can be sent
by the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform to the
shipper, the carrier, the driver, or any combination thereof,
indicating "real-time delivery." At this time, the shipper and
carrier interaction optimization platform can prepare a proof of
delivery interface that the driver can present to an authorized
person at the destination or that the driver can fill out to prove
delivery. Further, or alternatively, the actual delivery time
(e.g., the time the shipment reaches the destination precisely or
the time the shipment is off-loaded from the equipment) can be sent
with the proof of delivery to the shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform.
[0045] As mentioned above, the shipper and carrier interaction
optimization platform can provide both the shipper and the carrier
with useful information. Once a bid has been accepted and a shipper
and a carrier have come to an agreement with respect to a shipment,
the shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform can
e-mail the shipment manifest directly to the hand-held device of
the carrier's driver or drivers. The shipper and carrier
interaction optimization platform can provide alerts to both the
shipper and carrier regarding location of the driver, location of
the shipment, shipment exceptions (e.g., last minute changes in
quantity or destination), and potential impediments to the shipment
delivery, such as weather delays, traffic jams, and the like. The
location of the shipment, by tracking the location of the driver's
hand held device, wearable computing device, or GPS device, can be
monitored in real time, with the location data updated each minute
during transit. The shipper and carrier interaction optimization
platform can detect the timeliness of the shipment, and if the
shipment is projected to be delayed by more than a predetermined,
threshold amount of time, then an alert can be sent to the shipper,
the driver, the carrier, or any combination thereof.
[0046] The shipper and carrier interaction optimization platform
can be a free to join system. Shippers and carriers that are part
of the associated shipping community can view available equipment
or shipping jobs free of charge, in some cases with the information
regarding the posting party redacted. In some implementations,
members of the associated shipping community can pay for each bid
that is accepted in response to a post. Alternatively, or
additionally, members of the associated shipping community can pay
a fee for each month in which a bid is accepted in response to a
post. For example, cost for each accepted bid can be a first
amount, and the monthly cost can be a second amount that is about
two times or more than the first amount (e.g., the first amount is
$19.95 and the second amount is $39.95). In some implementations,
costs can be borne by the party whose bid was accepted. In other
implementations, only the carriers can pay fees to use the shipper
and carrier interaction optimization platform. In other
implementations, costs can be borne by both the shipper and
carrier. However, in some such implementations, either the carrier
or the shipper can pay more for using the shipper and carrier
interaction optimization platform.
[0047] Aspects of the subject matter described herein can be
embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending
on the desired configuration. Some implementations of the subject
matter described herein can be realized in digital electronic
circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs
(application specific integrated circuits), computer hardware,
firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various
implementations can include implementation in one or more computer
programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable
system including at least one programmable processor, which can be
special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and
instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a
storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output
device.
[0048] These computer programs (also known as programs, software,
software applications, applications, components, or code) include
machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be
implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented
programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used
herein, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to any computer
program product, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs,
optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to
provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable
processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives
machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term
"machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide
machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor.
[0049] Because of the high-level nature and complexity of the
selections and methods described herein, including the multiple and
varied combinations of different tasks, including the detection of
the location of carrier's driver, and real-time coordination of the
available shipments with available equipment, the calculations,
computations and selections cannot be done in real time quickly or
at all by a human. The processes described herein rely on the
machines described herein.
[0050] The implementations set forth in the foregoing description
do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject
matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples
consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter.
Although a few variations have been described in detail above,
other modifications or additions are possible. In particular,
further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to
those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described
above can be directed to various combinations and subcombinations
of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations
of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic
flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein
do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or
sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other
implementations may be within the scope of the following
claims.
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