Logistics system for automating transportation of goods

Abstract

The various transportation logistics tasks, such as order processing, order fulfillment, transportation of goods and tracking, are assigned to individual client/server objects which make up the building blocks of the computerized logistics management system. A tokenized message handling scheme allows client and server objects to share information, even where the respective data types do not match. An external processing manager provides script handling services to other client applications, allowing those applications to modify the performance of other program objects and to communicate with the outside world.

1. A logistics management tool to facilitate the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a selected one of a plurality of carriers, comprising:
 a plurality of rate servers comprising computer-implemented rate storage and calculating means, at least one rate server for each of said plurality of carriers, at least one of said rate servers having message processing means for sending, receiving and handling messages;  
 at least one of said rate servers database means for maintaining a record of the  rates applicable to a given one of said carriers and further having an embedded set of predefined methods representing the  rate computation rules of said given one of said carriers;  
 at least one client application comprising computer-implemented input and output means separate from said rate servers and having a user interface to permit the shipper to interact with said logistics management tool in order to  process the  a shipment of goods;  
 at least one of said rate servers having a shipper interface means for defining a set of operations accessible to said client application; the set of operations representing the  a procedure by which the shipper ships goods to thereby isolate the set of operations by which a  said shipper ships from the  rules by which a  said carrier transports;  
 at least one supervisory server for integrating operations of said at least one rate server, and for making said operations accessible to said client application, said supervisory server having message processing means for sending messages to and receiving messages from said at least one rate server and said client application and for handling messages sent and received based upon a predefined set of rules.  
 
     
     
       2. The tool of  claim 1  further comprising a scripting system communicating with said client application for modifying at least one of said set of operations representing the procedure by which the shipper ships goods. 
     
     
       3. The tool of  claim 1  wherein said client application comprises a shipments client for rating and documenting a group of packages comprising a shipment being processed by the shipper. 
     
     
       4. The tool of  claim 1  wherein said client application comprises a packages client for rating and documenting a single piece of shipment being processed by the shipper. 
     
     
       5. The tool of  claim 2  wherein said scripting system is a script administration client comprising one of  said client applications . 
     
     
       6. The tool of  claim 1  wherein said client application comprises a carrier rate adjustments client having a user interface operable to allow the  a user to alter the predefined methods representing the rate computation rules. 
     
     
       7. The tool of  claim 1  further comprising a document server for providing printing services to said client application. 
     
     
       8. The tool of  claim 7  wherein said printing services include printing documents generated to effect shipment. 
     
     
       9. The tool of  claim 1  wherein said rate server is installed on a first computer system and wherein said client application is installed on a second computer system, the first and second computer systems being coupled together over a network. 
     
     
       10. The tool of  claim 1  further comprising an external processing manager for providing communications services to permit said client application to request and receive data from an external database not supervised by said supervisory server. 
     
     
       11. The tool of  claim 10  wherein said logistics management tool is installed under , further comprising an operating system which provides a command interpreter facility and wherein said external processing manager interfaces with said operating system to use said command interpreter facility to provide said communications services. 
     
     
       12. The tool of  claim 11  wherein said command interpreter facility is responsive to a predefined command set and wherein said external processing manager includes means integrated with said command interpreter facility for supplementing said predefined command set. 
     
     
       13. A logistics management system to facilitate the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, comprising:
   a rate server comprising computer - implemented rate storage and calculating means, said rate server having message processing means for sending, receiving and handling messages;        said rate server having database means for maintaining a record of rates applicable to said carrier and further having an embedded set of predefined methods representing rate computation rules of said carrier;        at least one client application comprising computer - implemented input and output means separate from said rate server and having a user interface to permit the shipper to process shipments of goods;        said rate server having a shipper interface means for defining a set of operations accessible to said client application; the set of operations representing a procedure by which the shipper ships goods to thereby isolate the set of operations by which said shipper ships from rules by which said carrier transports;        at least one supervisory server for integrating operations of said rate server, and for making said operations accessible to said client application, said supervisory server having message processing means for sending messages to and receiving messages from said rate server and said client application and for handling messages sent and received based upon a predefined set of rules.     
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13  further comprising a scripting system communicating with said client application for modifying at least one of said set of operations representing the procedure by which the shipper ships goods. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13  wherein said client application comprises a shipments client for rating and documenting a group of packages comprising a shipment being processed by the shipper. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13  wherein said client application comprises a packages client for rating and documenting a single piece of shipment being processed by the shipper. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14  wherein said scripting system is a script administration client comprising said client application. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13  wherein said client application comprises a carrier rate adjustments client having a user interface operable to allow a user to alter the predefined methods representing the rate computation rules. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13  further comprising a document server for providing printing services to said client application. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19  wherein said printing services includes printing documents generated to effect shipment. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 13  wherein said rate server is installed on a first computer system and wherein said client application is installed on a second computer system, the first and second computer systems being coupled together over a network. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 13  further comprising an external processing manager for providing communications services to permit said client application to request and receive data from an external database not supervised by said supervisory server. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , further comprising an operating system which provides a command interpreter facility and wherein said external processing manager interfaces with said operating system to use said command interpreter facility to provide said communications services. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  wherein said command interpreter facility is responsive to a predefined command set and wherein said external processing manager includes means integrated with said command interpreter facility for supplementing said predefined command set. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 13  wherein said rate server is installed on a first computer system and wherein said client application is installed on a second computer system, the first and second computer systems communicating over a global- wide area network.   
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the supervisory server comprises an interprocess communication mechanism for passing messages between the rate server and the client application. 
     
     
       27. A logistics management system to facilitate the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, comprising:
   a rate server, connected to a network, having a set of rules by which said carrier transports;        a client application, connected to the network, having a set of rules by which said shipper ships; and        a supervisory server, connected to the network, through which said rate server and said client application register to establish a mutual message communication capability by which said rate server and said client application thereafter pass messages independently of said supervisory server over an interface between them, said interface isolating the set of rules by which the shipper ships from the rules by which the carrier transports.     
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27 , wherein:
   the client application includes a client interface for communicating with the client application; and        the rate server is configured to communicate with the client application via the client interface.     
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the messages comprise:
   at least one predefined request message issued by the client application to the rate server; and        at least one predefined response message issued by the rate server to the client application.     
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 29 , wherein:
   the predefined request message includes a weight and a delivery date for a package to be shipped; and        the predefined response message includes a cost for shipping the package.     
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the set of rules by which the carrier transports comprises a knowledge base of rate structures and carrier practices pertaining to the carrier. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the set of rules by which the shipper ships comprises a knowledge base of shipper's rules, regulations and practices pertaining to the shipper. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the knowledge base of the shipper's rules, regulations, and practices comprises rules for taking orders for goods from customers, packaging the goods, and shipping the goods to customers. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the client application further comprises a user interface for collecting input information from a user about a desired shipping operation and for providing output information. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the supervisory server engages an interprocess communication mechanism to facilitate message passage between the rate server and the client application. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 35 , wherein the interprocess communication mechanism is selected from the group consisting of shared memory, semaphores, named pipes, queues, signals, netbios, sockets, and mail slots. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 35 , further comprising an external processing manager for interfacing with external data bases or other application programs. 
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 35 , further comprising a device manager for interfacing with external peripheral devices. 
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 35 , wherein the client application further comprises a document server for printing of a shipping document. 
     
     
       40. The system of  claim 35 , further comprising a document administration object for extending communication standards for the interprocess communication mechanism. 
     
     
       41. The system of  claim 27  wherein the rate server is installed on a first computer system and wherein the client application is installed on a second computer system, the first and second computer systems communicating over a global- wide area network.   
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the messages comprise:
   at least one predefined response message that includes a cost for shipping one or more packages issued by the rate server to the client application.     
     
     
       43. A logistics management system to facilitate the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, comprising:
   a rate server having a record of one or more rates applicable to said carrier and further having an embedded set of predefined methods representing rate computation rules of said carrier, said rate server being connected to a network for sending, receiving and handling messages;        at least one client application connected to said network and is separately located from said rate server on said network, said client application having a user interface to permit the shipper to process shipments of goods;        said rate server having a shipper interface for defining a set of operations accessible to said client application, the set of operations representing a procedure by which the shipper ships goods to thereby isolate the set of operations by which said shipper ships from rules by which said carrier transports; and        at least one supervisory server for making said operations of said rate server accessible to said client application, said supervisory server being connected to said network for sending messages to and receiving messages from said rate server and said client application and for handling messages sent and received based upon a predefined set of rules.     
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 43 , wherein at least one predefined request message including a weight and a delivery date for a package to be shipped is issued by the client application to the rate server; and
   at least one predefined response message including a cost for shipping the package is issued by the rate server to the client application.     
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 43 , wherein the rate server includes a knowledge base of rate structures and carrier practices pertaining to the carrier. 
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 43 , wherein the client application includes a knowledge base of the shipper's practices pertaining to the shipper. 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 46 , wherein the knowledge base of the shipper's practices includes rules for taking orders for goods from customers, packaging the goods, and shipping the goods to customers. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 43 , wherein the supervisory server includes an interprocess communication mechanism for passing messages between the rate server and the client application. 
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 43 , wherein:
   the client application includes a client interface for communicating with the client application; and        the rate server is configured to communicate with the client application via the client interface.     
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 49 , wherein the interprocess communication mechanism is selected from the group consisting of shared memory, semaphores, named pipes, queues, signals, netbios, sockets, and mail slots. 
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 49  further comprising an external processing manager for interfacing with external data bases or other application programs. 
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 49  further comprising a device manager for interfacing with external peripheral devices. 
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 49 , wherein the client application further includes a document server for printing a shipping document. 
     
     
       54. The system of  claim 43  wherein said rate server is installed on a first computer system and wherein said client application is installed on a second computer system, the first and second computer systems communicating over a global- wide area network.   
     
     
       55. A logistics management method for facilitating the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, said shipper having a computer- implemented client application that has access to a network and which is related to shipping said goods, said client application having a set of rules by which the shipper ships, said method comprising the steps of:      providing a rate server having a set of rules by which the carrier transports in order to determine data related to shipping the goods;        providing access to said rate server on said network from the client application such that said rate server is separately located from said client application on said network; and        communicating the determined data from said rate server to said client application through an interprocess communication mechanism connected to said network and thereby isolating the set of rules by which the shipper ships from the rules by which the carrier transports.     
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the step of:
   communicating the determined data to the client application through an accessible client interface.     
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the steps of:
   issuing a request message by the client application to the rate server; and        issuing a response message by the rate server to the client application.     
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 57 , wherein:
   the request message includes a weight and delivery date for a package to be shipped; and        the response message includes a cost for shipping the package.     
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the step of:
   providing the rate server with a knowledge base of rate structures and carrier practices pertaining to the carrier.     
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the step of:
   providing the client application with a knowledge base of the shipper's practices pertaining to the shipper.     
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60 , wherein the knowledge base of the shipper's practices includes rules for taking orders for goods from customers, packaging the goods, and shipping the goods to customers' inputted destinations. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the step of:
   collecting via a user interface input information from a user about a desired shipping operation.     
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the step of:
   providing an interprocess communication mechanism for passing messages between the rate server and the client application.     
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 63 , wherein the interprocess communication mechanism is selected from the group consisting of shared memory, semaphores, named pipes, queues, signals, netbios, sockets, and mail slots. 
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 63  further comprising the step of:
   providing an external processing manager for interfacing with external data bases or other application programs.     
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 63  further comprising the step of:
   providing a device manager for interfacing with external peripheral devices.     
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 63  further comprising the step of:
   providing the client application with a document server for printing a shipping document.     
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 55  further comprising the steps of:
   installing the rate server on a first computer system, with the client application being a second computer system; and        providing the determined data of the rate server to the client application over a global - wide area network.     
     
     
       69. The logistics management method of  claim 55 , further comprising the step of providing at least one supervisory server configured to provide registration services to facilitate communication between the rate server and the client application. 
     
     
       70. The method of  claim 55 , further comprising the step of:
   issuing a response message by the rate server to the client application, wherein the response message includes a cost for shipping one or more packages.     
     
     
       71. A logistics management system to facilitate the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, comprising:
   a rate server, connected to a network, having a set of rules by which said carrier transports;        a client application, connected to the network, having a set of rules by which said shipper ships;        a supervisory server, connected to the network, with which said rate server and said client application register to facilitate communication of messages between said rate server and said client application independently of said supervisory server; and        an interface associated with at least one of said rate server and said client application which isolates the set of rules by which the shipper ships from the set of rules by which the carrier transports.     
     
     
       72. The system of  claim 71 , wherein:
   the client application includes a client interface for communicating with the client application; and        the rate server is configured to communicate with the client application via the client interface.     
     
     
       73. The system of  claim 71 , wherein the messages comprise:
   at least one predefined request message issued by the client application to the rate server; and        at least one predefined response message issued by the rate server to the client application.     
     
     
       74. The system of  claim 73 , wherein:
   the at least one predefined request message includes a weight and a delivery date for a package to be shipped; and        the at least one predefined response message includes a cost for shipping the package.     
     
     
       75. The system of  claim 71 , wherein the set of rules by which the carrier transports comprises a knowledge base of rate structures and carrier practices pertaining to the carrier. 
     
     
       76. The system of  claim 71 , wherein the set of rules by which the shipper ships comprises a knowledge base of shipper's practices pertaining to the shipper. 
     
     
       77. The system of  claim 76 , wherein the knowledge base of the shipper's practices comprises rules for taking orders for good from customers, packaging the goods, and shipping the goods to customers. 
     
     
       78. The system of  claim 71 , wherein the client application further comprises a user interface for collecting input information from a user about a desired shipping operation and for providing output information. 
     
     
       79. The system of  claim 71 , wherein the supervisory server engages an interprocess communication mechanism to facilitate a message passage between the rate server and the client application. 
     
     
       80. The system of  claim 79 , wherein the interprocess communication mechanism is selected form the group consisting of shared memory, semaphores, named pipes, queues, signals, netbios, sockets, and mail slots. 
     
     
       81. The system of  claim 79 , further comprising an external processing manager for interfacing with external data bases or other application programs. 
     
     
       82. The system of  claim 79 , further comprising a device manager for interfacing with external peripheral devices. 
     
     
       83. The system of  claim 79 , wherein the client application further comprises a document server for printing a shipping document. 
     
     
       84. The system of  claim 79 , further comprising a document administration object for engaging communication standards for the interprocess communication mechanism. 
     
     
       85. The system of  claim 71 , wherein the rate server is installed on a first computer system and wherein the client application is installed on a second computer system, the first and second computer systems communicating over a global- wide area network.   
     
     
       86. A delivery management system, comprising:
   at least one rate server having rate information based upon a set of rules by which a carrier delivers;        at least one client configured to collect input information from a user;        at least one supervisory server including at least one computer configured to provide registration services to facilitate communication between the rate server and the client via a client/server architecture utilizing an interprocess communication mechanism, said communication being independent of said supervisory server; and        whereby rules by which the user operates are isolated from the set of rules by which the carrier delivers.     
     
     
       87. The system of  claim 86 , wherein one or more computer processes are distributed across a network. 
     
     
       88. The system of  claim 86 , wherein at least two of the rate server, the client and the supervisory server run on a single processor. 
     
     
       89. The system of  claim 86 , wherein a first client, a first rate server, and a first supervisory server run on a single processor. 
     
     
       90. A logistics management system to facilitate the delivery of goods comprising:
   a network architecture for passing messages;        a supervisory server having a registrar enabling communication with said network architecture;        at least one client application having a set of shipper rules and a first data processing service including a first registration service to register said client application with said registrar for establishing a line of communication between said client application and said network architecture, a first interface service to collect input data, generate a request message based on said input data and said set of shipper rules and display a response message, and a first message handling service to communicate said request message and said response message between said client application and said network architecture; and        at least one rate server having a set of carrier rules and a second data processing service including a second registration service to register said rate server with said registrar for establishing a line of communication between said rate server and said network architecture, a second interface service to generate said response message based on said set of carrier rules and said request message, and a second message handling service to communicate said request message and said response message between said rate server and said network architecture;        wherein said first and second message handling services enable communication between said at least one client application and said at least one rate server via said network architecture and isolate said set of carrier rules from said set of shipper rules.     
     
     
       91. A computer- readable storage medium containing a set of computer - executable instructions for a method for facilitating the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, said shipper having a computer - implemented client application that has access to a network and which is related to shipping said goods, said client application having a set of rules by which the shipper ships, said set of instructions comprising:      providing a rate server having a set of rules by which the carrier transports in order to determine data related to shipping the goods;        providing access to said rate server on said network from the client application such that said rate server is separately located from said client application on said network; and        communicating the determined data from said rate server to said client application through an interprocess communication mechanism connected to said network and thereby isolating the set of rules by which the shipper ships from the rules by which the carrier transports.     
     
     
       92. A computer- controlled apparatus configured to perform a method for facilitating the process of shipping goods by a shipper via a carrier, said shipper having a computer - implemented client application that has access to a network and which is related to shipping said goods, said client application having a set of rules by which the shipper ships, said method comprising the steps of:      providing a rate server having a set of rules by which the carrier transports in order to determine data related to shipping the goods;        providing access to said rate server on said network from the client application such that said rate server is separately located from said client application on said network; and        communicating the determined data from said rate server to said client application through an interprocess communication mechanism connected to said network and thereby isolating the set of rules by which the shipper ships from the rules by which the carrier transports.