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US5758329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for managing customer orders and method of implementation
Assignee: Lykes Bros Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1998-05-26
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract The system of this invention manages customer orders using vendor supplied software systems interfaced on a real-time basis to touch the data in each system on a real time basis. In effect, there is horizontal communication between the various components of the system such as inventory, purchasing, order management and receipt, logistics and inventory to have continual data flow without using a vertical software interface. As a result, customer orders are received on a real-time basis using screens that are user friendly to promptly take orders, and to verify customer data and verify the ability to meet those orders. Transmission of documents within the system is minimized thereby making it more efficient, timely and cost efficient.
Inventors
- 👤 Casimir M. Wojcik
- 👤 Paul A. Pretto
- 👤 Jim Courier
- 👤 Bob Morrow
- 👤 Joseph R. Wehry, Jr.
- 👤 Paul Kuczynski
- 👤 Matt F. Edwards
- 👤 Mark A. Schnieder
- 👤 Thomas W. Loftus
- 👤 Brian Schnieders
- 👤 Thomas C. Bernardi
- 👤 Craig Raymond Pellerin
- 👤 Ron D. Bushaw
- 👤 Michael Louis Schebell
- 👤 Bill D. Hartley
- 👤 Sheila Cappel
- 👤 Kimberly Weisgarber
- 👤 Henry Lee Vogler
- 👤 Louis Duane Ferguson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0874; G06Q10/08741; G06Q10/0877; G06Q10/08772; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A logistics system comprising: a network data base; means for downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria; means for sorting said load criteria; means for assembling loads; means for selecting carriers for said loads from a plurality of available carriers; means for routing said loads based upon said assembled loads and said selected carriers; means for rerouting said loads in transit to adjust for less than full loads as delivery criteria change; and means for generating data to assemble said loads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A logistics system comprising: a network data base; means for downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria; means for sorting said load criteria; means for assembling loads; means for selecting carriers for said loads from a plurality of available carriers; means for routing said loads based upon said assembled loads and said selected carriers; means for rerouting said loads in transit to adjust for less than full loads as delivery criteria change; and means for generating data to assemble said loads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The logistic system of claim 1 wherein said means for sorting further includes: means for prioritizing by ship date; means for prioritizing by priority designation; and means for prioritizing by carrier method.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The logistic system of claim 1 wherein said means for assembling loads further includes: delivery dates determination means for determining whether said load criteria include delivery dates within a schedule window; compatible loads determination means for determining whether said load criteria include compatible loads; delivery destination determination means for determining whether said load criteria include delivery destinations within a destination area; delivery origins determination means for determining whether said load criteria include delivery origins within an origin area; and means for consolidating loads associated with said load criteria.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The logistics system of claim 3 further comprising: means for prioritizing said loads associated with said load criteria by longest distance and latest delivery date; means for combining said prioritized loads; means for determining whether said combined and prioritized loads constitute full loads; means for determining whether said combined and prioritized loads are acceptable; and means for recombining and reprioritizing loads until acceptable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The logistics system of claim 1 wherein said means for selecting carriers for said loads further includes: means for determining whether a customer selected a carrier for said loads; means for assigning said carrier for said loads; and means for associating with said loads one from a group of available carriers based on carrier delivery information for said available carriers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The logistics system of claim 5, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises carrier rate and said means for associating further includes means for selecting one from a group of available carriers having the best rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The logistics system of claim 5, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises load structure and said means for associating further includes means for selecting one from a group of available carriers based on the load structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The logistics system of claim 5, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises type of goods rate and said means for associating further includes means for selecting one from a group of available carriers based on type of goods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The logistics system of claim 5, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises carrier rate and availability and said means for associating further includes means for selecting one from a group of available carriers based on rate and availability.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of managing a logistic system comprising the steps of: creating a network data base downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria; sorting said load criteria; assembling loads; selecting carriers for said loads from a plurality of available carriers; routing said loads based upon said assembled loads and said selected carriers; rerouting said loads in transit to adjust for less than full loads as delivery criteria change; and generating data to assemble said loads.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of managing a logistic system comprising the steps of: creating a network data base downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria; sorting said load criteria; assembling loads; selecting carriers for said loads from a plurality of available carriers; routing said loads based upon said assembled loads and said selected carriers; rerouting said loads in transit to adjust for less than full loads as delivery criteria change; and generating data to assemble said loads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of sorting further includes the steps of: prioritizing by ship date; prioritizing by priority designation; and prioritizing by carrier method.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of assembling loads further includes the steps of: determining whether said load criteria include delivery dates within a schedule window; determining whether said load criteria include compatible loads; determining whether said load criteria include delivery destinations within a destination area; determining whether said load criteria include delivery origins within an origin area; and if said load criteria include delivery dates within a schedule window, compatible loads, delivery destinations within a destination area, and delivery origins within an origin area, consolidating loads associated with said load criteria.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of: if said load criteria do not include delivery dates within a schedule window, compatible loads, delivery destinations within a destination area, and delivery origins within an origin area, prioritizing said loads associated with said load criteria by longest distance and latest delivery date; combining said prioritized loads; determining whether said combined and prioritized loads constitute full loads; determining whether said combined and prioritized loads are acceptable; and if said combined and prioritized loads are not acceptable, repeating said steps of combining said prioritized loads, determining whether said combined and prioritized loads constitute full loads, and determining whether said combined and prioritized loads are acceptable until said combined and prioritized loads are acceptable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of selecting carriers for said loads further includes the steps of: determining whether a customer selected a carrier for said loads; if a customer selected a carrier for said loads, assigning said carrier for said loads; and if a customer did not select a carrier for said loads, associating with said loads one from a group of available carriers based on carrier delivery information for said available carriers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises carrier rate and said associating step further includes the step of selecting one from a group of available carriers having the best rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises load structure and said associating step further includes the step of selecting one from a group of available carriers based on the load structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The logistics system of claim 14, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises type of goods rate and said associating step further includes the step of selecting one from a group of available carriers based on type of goods.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The logistics system of claim 14, wherein said carrier delivery information comprises carrier rate and availability and said associating step further includes the step of selecting one from a group of available carriers based on rate and availability.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of managing a logistic system comprising the steps of: creating a network data base downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria; sorting said load criteria; assembling loads; selecting carriers for said loads from a plurality of available carriers; routing loads based upon said assembled loads and said selected carriers; and generating data to assemble said loads.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of managing a logistic system comprising the steps of: creating a network data base downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria; sorting said load criteria; assembling loads; selecting carriers for said loads from a plurality of available carriers; routing loads based upon said assembled loads and said selected carriers; and generating data to assemble said loads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5265006A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |