Patent ID: 8170951
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented system for processing shipment and return of a package containing items from a Sender to a Recipient, the system comprising: a database configured to store package data, for the package, and including item data, for the items in the package, before shipment occurs; a shipping mechanism coupled to the database and configured to retrieve shipment tracking data, for tracking shipment of the package from the Sender to the Recipient and return of one or more items of the items of the package from the Recipient to the Sender; a computer processor coupled to the database and the shipping mechanism and configured to add the shipment tracking data to the database; the computer processor configured to correlate the package data in the database with the shipment tracking data for the package; the computer processor configured to determine whether the package requires customs clearance and, if so, to generate the appropriate customs documentation or data transmission to a customs broker; the computer processor configured to permit an authorized user to query the database for processing the shipment of the package from the Sender to the Recipient and the return from the Recipient to the Sender of the one or more items of the items of the package; and the computer processor configured to render data for display to an authorized user, based on a query of the database for shipping parameters of the package from the Sender to the Recipient and return from the Recipient to the Sender of the one more items of the items of the package, wherein the computer processor is configured to add returned item information to the database if items from the package are returned to the Sender; in the case of international shipments, the computer processor is configured to prepare duty and tax refund claims based on the returned item information and the corresponding item data; and the computer processor is configured to add duty and tax refund information to the data base.