Abstract:
A system and method which utilize current, updated classification of goods and parties when relevant documents are prepared and printed and further updates relevant classification data contained in various records either periodically or as changes are received. This updating and utilization of the current, updated classification minimizes delays which would occur because of improper characterization or classification information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to importing and exporting goods, and more particularly to a method apparatus for providing frequent compliance checking of documentation and paperwork. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The importing and exporting of goods across jurisdictional boundaries, such as between states or nations, is a well known phenomena as a result of increased globalization, free trade agreements and the rise of multinational corporations. Trading goods across borders continues to grow and accelerate. One step of the process which is common in both importing and exporting is that certain information must be provided to allow proper passage of the goods. This information includes classification and parties. One characteristic of the import and export procedures is that classification information and party information may change periodically. However, in current systems there is no convenient mechanism to update the classification of either parties or goods in existing systems. As a result, in many cases goods are transferred with improper classifications. This often results in undesirable delays, either at the export or at the import stage. As these delays increase the cost for all parties involved, it would be desirable if a system was available which maintained current classification information for both goods and parties and updated itself as classification changes were provided by any of the relevant government entities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A system and method according to the present invention utilize current, updated classification of goods and parties when relevant documents are prepared and printed and further updates relevant classification data contained in various records either periodically or as changes are received. This updating and utilization of the current, updated classification minimizes delays which would occur because of improper characterization or classification information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computer system for operating the current method according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2A-2G  are block diagrams of the computers of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an embodiment of the import and export process according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the entry of goods information according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the entry of party information according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a periodic scan performed to update relevant information according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of the updating of underlying information on goods and parties as changes to relevant data is received according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Proceeding now to  FIG. 1 , a system for maintaining current compliance of classification information, both for goods and for parties, is illustrated. The system  100  is divided into several different sections. A server network  102  is provided and contains the servers utilized according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. These servers include a database server  104 , an application server  106 , a web server  108 , an EDI server  110  and an FTP server  112 . The database server  104  maintains the relevant records and tables for import/export transactions. The application server  106  stores and provides the basic logic and software implementing the logic to perform the basic application or method. The web server  108  acts as an interface between the various users of the system, be they importer/exporters or general users, and the application server  106 . The EDI server  110  is used to receive and provide electronic data format information for use in maintaining various records. The FTP server  112  is preferably used for file transfer, one example in the illustrated embodiment being with the government entities which maintain various regulations relating to classification of goods and parties and another example being with document preparation servers of importers or exporters. The server network  102  is generally connected to the internet  114 . Generally the web server  108 , the EDI server  110  and the FTP server  112  are the servers which are connected to the internet. An importer network  116  is connected to the internet with an exemplary document preparation server  117  and an exemplary user computer  118  for the importer illustrated. Similarly, an exporter network  120  including an exemplary document preparation server  121  and an exemplary user  122  are also connected to the internet to allow access to the server network  102 . In addition, individual users  124  and  126  can be directly connected to the internet  114  via any desirable method such as WAN connections and the like. A government network  128  includes a government server  130  which is connected via the internet  114  to the FTP server  112  to allow updates of classification information as needed to keep the data current in the system  100 . A customer network  128  may contain an ERP server  130  which contains basic goods and party information of the customer. The ERP server  130  is connected to the internet  114 . 
         [0014]      FIGS. 2A-2G  are block diagrams of computers utilized in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2A  is a block diagram of the database server  104 . The database server  104  includes server hardware  202  and a storage unit  204  for programs, instructions and data  204 . The stored programs, instructions and data include an operating system  206 , database software  208  and database tables  210 . The block diagram of the ERP server  130  is essentially identical, the ERP system being similar to a database. The operating system  206  can be any desired operating systems such as Windows server or Linux. The database software  208  can be any desired database software such Microsoft SQL server, Oracle, MySQL and the like. The database table  210  contains information utilized to contain party and goods information and to maintain information on the transactions and transfers occurring. 
         [0015]    The application server  106  is illustrated in  FIG. 2B . Server hardware  220  is connected to storage  222 , which stores an operating system  224  and application software  226  for execution by the server hardware  220 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  illustrates the web server  108 . Server hardware  240  is connected to storage  242 , which contains the web software  244  and an operating system  246 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  illustrates the EDI server  110 . Server hardware  260  is connected to storage  262 , which contains the EDI software  264  and an operating system  266 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2E  illustrates the FTP server  112 . Server hardware  280  is connected to storage  282 , which holds the FTP software  284  and the operating system  286 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2F  is illustrative of the various user computers  118 ,  122 ,  124  and  126 . The client or user hardware  290  is connected to storage  292 , which contains an operating system  294  and a web browser  296 . This operating system could be Microsoft Windows, Apple OSX or Linux. Exemplary web browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Opera. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2G  is illustrative of the document preparation servers  117  and  121 . The server hardware  272  is connected to storage  274 , which contains an operating system  276 , database software  278  with tables  270  and application software  271 . The operating system  276  can be Windows or Linux, for example. The database software  278  can be database software such as Microsoft SQL server, Oracle, MySQL or the like. The application software  271  provides the document preparation capability for the relevant import or export documents and accesses the database tables  270  for necessary information as described below. 
         [0021]    It is understood that the above examples of hardware, operating systems and exemplary software are provided as examples and it is well understood that other configurations could be utilized. In addition, the connection of the servers in the server network  102  can occur in a different manner and the various functions can be integrated into more or fewer physical servers as desired. It is understood that the various storage items are computer readable media which store computer programs used to cause the related server or computer to perform various operations, including operations according to the present invention. 
         [0022]    Basic flow according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention occurs as shown in  FIG. 3 . In step  302  the shipper or exporter obtains a list of goods to be shipped and the destination party. In step  304  the shipper prepares the various documents that are necessary for export, commonly known as a commercial invoice. The commercial invoice includes a list of goods and the destination party. In step  306 , as the documents are being prepared for the shipper in step  304 , the document preparation server  121  retrieves the relevant goods and party information from its database tables  270 . As discussed below, the server network  102  keeps the database tables  270  updated or synchronized so that only current information is contained in them, not outdated information as would be the case in the prior art. In an alternate embodiment, such as where the exporter network  120  is also the server network  102 , the information may be retrieved directly from the database server  104 . In another alternate embodiment the document preparation server  121  may not contain the goods and party information database but may obtain it directly from the database server  104 . After the information is retrieved in step  306 , the documents are printed. In step  308  the goods leave the origination country and arrive in the destination country. In step  310  the broker, the importer in this case, prepares import documents, which include the list of goods, relevant codes and any duties due. This list can be developed in many ways and numerous software packages are available. As part of the preparation of the import documents, in step  312  the document preparation server  117  queries its database tables  270  to determine the various codes and duties that are due. As above, this information is kept updated so only the most current information is utilized in preparing the documents. As with the export preparation, alternative embodiments can have the information obtained directly from the database  104 , either locally or remotely. In step  314 , after the broker has prepared the documents and they have been accepted, the goods are released to the destination party. 
         [0023]    Therefore it can be seen that the actual goods and party are checked as the commercial invoice is prepared and as the document used for import is prepared. 
         [0024]    To provide data utilized in the database server  104  it is necessary to enter relevant information as to the goods and to the parties.  FIG. 4  illustrates the steps of the goods entry according to the preferred embodiment. An operator or individual in step  402  enters the goods information into the system  100 . In step  404  the system  100  reviews the goods entry versus classification information. In some cases the classification data can be stored automatically or options can be presented to the individual for manual selection. Again, various software packages are available to perform or aid in the classification. After the goods are classified in step  406 , the goods entry information is stored in the database of the database server  104 . The data stored includes the sufficient information to determine when changes in the underlying data used to develop the classification may affect the given entry. One method of providing this underlying data is to maintain the date or version information of the classification information utilized in developing the actual classification. If on a later date the date or version number changes, this would be an indication that it is appropriate to reevaluate the particular good. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a similar flowchart for the entry of parties. In step  502  the operator or individual enters the party information into the system  100 . In step  504  the system  100 , i.e., the application server  106 , reviews the party entry versus the classification as is well known. Again this review either completes automatically or options are presented to the individual for manual selection. In step  506  the party information is then stored in the database in the database server  104 . Again the sufficient information is maintained in the party entry to allow determination as to the base information utilized and thus is able to be checked for need for updating. 
         [0026]    The embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5  assume individual item entry. In an alternate embodiment, the items can be batch downloaded from a customer ERP server  130 , with the operations of  FIGS. 4 and 5  occurring in a batch or automated fashion, with manual data entry as needed. After the initial data entry, the ERP server  130  can be checked periodically for changed information and the batch or automated information entry completed for any new or changed entries. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of one method according to the preferred embodiment for maintaining updated information on goods and the parties. In step  602  the underlying data that is utilized in steps  404  and  504  is updated and records of which underlying data has been changed is maintained. In step  604  on a periodic basis, such as nightly, the system  100  re-computes all goods and all party entries that may need to be changed based on analysis of the information contained in the goods and party entries, such as the dates or version numbers of the classification data with the list of underlying data which has changed. Any necessary entries are computed and the results are stored. In an alternate embodiment all goods and all parties could be recalculated each night or recomputed each period without doing the underlying check. If an update cannot be automatically determined, a list is prepared for manual connection. After the recomputing or updating of step  604  is completed, the updated results are provided to all relevant entities, such as the document preparation servers  117  and  121  so that they are maintained current. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment where necessary changes occur as the underlying data is changed. In step  702  the changes to the underlying data are received. In step  704  the system  100  scans all goods and party entries to see if the change that has just been received in step  702  is relevant to those particular entries. If so, in step  706  the system  100  automatically corrects and updates the various goods and party entries, if possible, and any remaining entries are flagged for manual correction when individual or operators are available. In step  708  the updated results are proved to all relevant entities, as in step  606 . 
         [0029]    Correlating the various servers  102  with the operations of  FIGS. 3-7  is helpful to understand the full information flow inside the preferred embodiment. With respect to  FIG. 3 , the document preparation of steps  304  and  310  are done on the relevant user station  118 ,  122  with the aid of the document preparation servers  117  and  121 , or with the application server  106  providing web pages to the web server  108  for use by the individuals as in the case of user stations  124  and  126 . In the first case the data transfers are only local to the exporter network  120 , as the document preparation server  121  contains the updated or current information. In the second case, the necessary data is requested by the application server  106  and provided by the database server  104 . The application server  106  performs the checks of steps  306  and  312  and places the data into the web pages provided to the web server  108 . 
         [0030]    For the goods and party entries of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the application server  106  provides web pages to the web server  108 , with the pages being displayed on the user stations  118 ,  122 ,  124  or  126 . The web server  108  provides entered data to the application server  106 , which retrieves classification information from the database server  104 . The application server  106  then performs the classification and the resulting classification and related information is provided to the database server  104  for storage in the transaction record. In the ERP server  130  case, the FTP server  112  obtains the ERP information from the ERP server  130  and provides it via the EDI server  110  to the application server  106  for processing. 
         [0031]    For the updates of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the FTP server  112  obtains classification information from the government server  130  and provides it to the EDI server  110 . The EDI server  110  reformats the information and provides it to the database server  104 . Then either the EDI server  110  or the database server  106  compares the data with that currently stored in the database server  104  and notes any changed data. The changed data is provided to the application server  106 , which performs the updates as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . After the updates are determined, they are provided via the FTP server  112  and the EDI server  110  to the document preparation servers  117  and  121 . 
         [0032]    Therefore in the preferred embodiment the primary logic functions are performed by the application server  106 , with the FTP server  112 , EDI server  110 , database server  104  and web server  108  acting as interfaces, data storage elements or data gathering elements. It is understood that this partitioning of operations is the preferred embodiment and different partitionings are readily possible, particularly if additional servers are added. 
         [0033]    It can be seen that by maintaining sufficient information as to the underlying classification information used to classify a particular good or party updating of this information can be simplified and performed, in general, automatically either periodically or as changes are received. This allows only the most current and most appropriate information to be utilized when the exporter and importer prepare documents rather than outdated information which could delay operations. 
         [0034]    While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.