Flexible apparatus and method for applying customized rating adjustments to transaction charges

Claim 1

A method for implementing custom discount rates for determining charges for a class of transactions, comprising the steps of: a) partitioning said class of transactions into cells in accordance with predetermined criteria; b) defining a plurality of discounts or surcharges applicable to said transactions; c) providing a user with an apparatus for computing said charges, said apparatus comprising: c1) means for determining base rates for said transactions; and, c2) means, responsive to user configuration data defining correspondences between said discounts or surcharges and selected cells, said configuration data being selected independently of said discounts or surcharges and said cells, for applying said discounts or surcharges which correspond to said selected cells to said base rates for particular transactions which satisfy said criteria for said selected cells; d) updating said user configuration data for said apparatus with updated configuration data defining a selected custom discount rate to implement said selected discount rate; and, e) calculating the final charge for said class of transactions by applying said plurality of discounts or surcharges determined by said apparatus for computing said charges in accordance with said user configuration data.

Claim 2

A method for implementing custom discount rates for determining charges for a class of transactions, comprising the steps of: a) partitioning said class of transactions into cells in accordance with predetermined criteria; b) defining a plurality of discounts or surcharges applicable to said transactions; c) providing a user with an apparatus for computing said charges, said apparatus comprising: c1) means for determining base rates for said transactions; and, c2) means, responsive to user configuration data defining correspondences between said discounts or surcharges and selected cells, said configuration data being selected independently of said discounts or surcharges and said cells, for applying said discounts or surcharges which correspond to said selected cells to said base rates for particular transactions which satisfy said criteria for said selected cells; d) updating said user configuration data for said apparatus with updated configuration data defining a selected custom discount rate to implement said selected discount rate; and, e) calculating the final charge for said class of transactions by applying said plurality of discounts or surcharges determined by said apparatus for computing said charges in accordance with said user configuration data.

Claim 7

A method as described in claims 1 or 2 wherein said configuration data is logically decoupled from said data base.

Claim 8

A method as described in claims 1 or 2 wherein said updating is carried out by replacement of a memory module for storing said configuration data.

Claim 9

A method as described in claims 1 or 2 wherein said updating is carried out by electronic transmission of said configuration data to said apparatus.

Claim 10

A method as described in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein a first plurality of said cells are defined by mutually exclusive criteria, said said cells being separated into two groups, one of said groups consisting of said first plurality of cells; and wherein further said apparatus responds to correspondence between said particular transactions and said first plurality of cells to only test said particular transactions for additional correspondences with the other of said two groups.

Claim 12

A method as described in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said transactions comprise the shipment of parcels.

Claim 13

A method as described in claims 1 or 2 wherein said transactions further comprise provision of special services in conjunction with said shipment of parcels, and said apparatus is further for applying a second plurality of discounts or surcharges to fees for said special services.

Claim 14

An apparatus for determining charges for a class of transactions, comprising: a) means for input of values corresponding to particular ones of said transactions for a parameter characterizing said transactions; b) first determining means for determining base charges for said transactions as a function of said parameter; c) a first memory for storing defining criteria for partitioning said class of transactions into cells; d) a second memory for storing configuration data defining correspondences between selected cells and first discounts or surcharges said configuration data being selected independently of said discounts or surcharges and said cells; e) means, responsive to said determining means, said first memory and said second memory, for applying said discounts or surcharges to said base charges, said applying means further comprising; e1) second determining means for determining if a particular transaction satisfies said criteria for one of said selected cells; e2) means, responsive to said second determining means, and said second memory, for applying said discounts or surcharges corresponding to said one of said selected cells to a base charge for said particular transaction in accordance with said configuration data to calculate final charges for said particular transaction.

Claim 15

An apparatus for determining charges for a class of transactions, comprising: a) means for input of values corresponding to particular ones of said transactions for a parameter characterizing said transactions; b) first determining means for determining base charges for said transactions as a function of said parameter; c) a first memory for storing defining criteria for partitioning said class of transactions into cells; d) a second memory for storing configuration data defining correspondences between selected cells and first discounts or surcharges said configuration data being selected independently of said discounts or surcharges and said cells; e) means, responsive to said determining means, said first memory and said second memory, for applying said discounts or surcharges to said base charges, said applying means further comprising; e1) second determining means for determining if a particular transaction satisfies said criteria for one of said selected cells; e2) means, responsive to said second determining means, and said second memory, for applying said discounts or surcharges corresponding to said one of said selected cells to a base charge for said particular transaction in accordance with said configuration data to calculate final charges for said particular transaction.

Claim 21

An apparatus as described in claims 13 or 15 wherein said configuration data is logically decoupled from said data base.

Claim 22

An apparatus as described in claims 13 or 15 wherein said second memory is a replaceable memory module.

Claim 23

A apparatus as described in claims 13 or 15 further comprising means for receiving electronic transmission of said configuration data for downloading to said second memory.

Claim 24

An apparatus as described in claims 13, 15, 16 or 17 wherein a first plurality of said cells are defined by mutually exclusive criteria, said said cells being separated into two groups, one of said groups consisting of said first plurality of cells; and wherein further said apparatus responds to correspondence between said particular transaction and said first plurality of cells to only test said particular transactions for additional correspondences with the other of said two groups.

Claim 25

A method as described in claims 22 wherein each of said first plurality of cells comprises an overlap index, the value of said index defining the boundary between said two groups.

Claim 26

A method as described in claims 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 wherein said transactions comprise the shipment of parcels.

Claim 27

A method as described in claims 23 wherein said transactions further comprise provision of special services in conjunction with said shipment of parcels, and said apparatus is further for applying second discounts or surcharges to fees for said special services.