Patent ID: 6973385
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for tracking the movement of cargo during shipment from a shipper having a first location defined by a latitude and a longitude to a consignee having a second location differing from said first location and defined by a second latitude and a second longitude said method comprising the steps of: a) generating a routing guide stored on a computer system, said routing guide representing an expected path from the first location to the second location, said path being defined by a continuous series of expected locations each defined by an expected latitude, an expected longitude and an expected time; b) establishing at least one tolerance level for each of said expected locations defined by a maximum absolute distance from a corresponding expected location, each of said at least one tolerance level associated with a shipment condition; c) attaching an electronic seal to said cargo, said electronic seal capable of transmitting an actual location of said cargo to said computer system at a plurality of discrete times; d) comparing at one of said plurality of discrete times said actual location to the one of said expected locations having an expected time which corresponds to said one of said plurality of discrete times; e) calculating the actual absolute distance of the actual location of the cargo to the expected location of the cargo; f) establishing said shipment condition by comparing said actual absolute distance to said maximum absolute distance; and g) communicating said condition to at least one of said shipper and said consignee.