Patent ID: 6571213
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A router for routing a load of one or more shipments of parcels, the router for use in a system for managing shipping parcels, the system including a shipping database and a planning engine that provides load information for the load indicating a load identifier, the router comprising:a) an input module, responsive to the load information, for providing the load identifier included in the load information; and b) an analyzer, responsive to the load identifier, and further responsive to planning information from the shipping database, for providing a carrier and service list; wherein the planning information from the shipping database is organized as a set of tables of records, each record including one or more fields, and each record using at least one field as an index, the set comprising the following tables: i) an address table, for indicating an address and a route identifier based on an address identifier; ii) a shipment header table, for indicating charge terms corresponding to a load identifier, and for indicating at least one address identifier; iii) rate shop group tables, for indicating one or more routes, each route including a carrier and service; iv) a route identifier priority table, for indicating priority for determining a route identifier based on charge terms; and v) routing instruction set tables, for indicating instructions for determining a route identifier or a rate shop group, based on a route identifier.