Abstract:
A system and apparatus is provided for managing the collection, preparation, and storage of shipping documentation. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes multiple sensors, a processing system and a control unit for organizing and transporting shipping documents for multiple shipments in a real-time tracking system. The shipping document management system of the present invention travels and arrives with the actual shipment and allows the user to collect information and produce documents for viewing, scanning, transmitting and/or printing. The present invention may function as a universal open architecture envelope capable of linking to existing container sensor systems.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Present Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a system for tracking shipping containers and organizing transport documentation. More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus for organizing shipping documents in which an envelope of information applied to a cargo transport container contains information from multiple sensors and multiple shipments which are shipped together and in which all documentation is fully viewable. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     When shipping a product, the shipper must be aware of packing, labeling, documentation, and insurance requirements. It is important that shippers ensure that the merchandise is packed correctly so that it arrives in good condition and labeled correctly to ensure that the goods are handled properly and delivered promptly. Shipments must be documented correctly to meet U.S. and foreign government requirements as well as proper collection standards. Freight must also be insured against damage, loss, pilferage and delay. 
     Most exporters rely on an international freight forwarder to perform these services because of the multitude of considerations involved in physically exporting goods. An international freight forwarder is an agent for the exporter in moving cargo to an overseas destination. These agents are familiar with the import rules and regulations of foreign countries, the export regulations of the U.S. government, the methods of shipping, and the documents related to foreign trade. Export freight forwarders are licensed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to handle air freight and the Federal Maritime Commission to handle ocean freight. 
     Freight forwarders assist exporters in preparing price quotations and providing advice on freight costs, port charges, consular fees, costs of special documentation, insurance costs, and their handling fees. They recommend the packing methods that will protect the merchandise during transit or can arrange to have the merchandise packed at the port or containerized. If the exporter prefers, freight forwarders can reserve the necessary space on a vessel, aircraft, train, or truck. 
     Once the order is ready for shipment, freight forwarders should review all documents to ensure that everything is in order. This is of particular importance with letter of credit payment terms. They may also prepare the bill of lading and any special required documentation. After shipment, they can route the documents to the seller, the buyer, or to a paying bank. 
     Freight forwarders can also make arrangements with customs brokers overseas to ensure that the goods comply with customs export documentation regulations. A customs broker is an individual or company that is licensed to transact customs business on behalf of others. Customs business is limited to those activities involving transactions related to the entry and admissibility of merchandise; its classification and valuation. A customs valuation of shipment also includes the payment of duties, taxes, or other charges assessed or collected or the refund, rebate, or drawback thereof. 
     The following documents are commonly used in exporting; but which of them are necessary in a particular transaction depends on the requirements of the U.S. government and the government of the importing country. 
     Air freight shipments are handled by air waybills, which can never be made in negotiable form. 
     A bill of lading is a contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier (as with domestic shipments). For vessels, there are two types: a straight bill of lading which is nonnegotiable and a negotiable or shipper&#39;s order bill of lading. The latter can be bought, sold, or traded while the goods are in transit. The customer usually needs an original as proof of ownership to take possession of the goods. 
     A commercial invoice is a bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer. These invoices are often used by governments to determine the true value of goods when assessing customs duties. Governments that use the commercial invoice to control imports will often specify its form, content, copies, language to be used, and other characteristics. 
     A consular invoice is a document that is required in some countries. It describes the shipment of goods and shows information such as the consignor, consignee, and value of the shipment. Certified by the consular official of the foreign country stationed here, it is used by the country&#39;s customs officials to verify the value, quantity, and nature of the shipment. 
     A certificate of origin is a document that is required in certain nations. It is a signed statement as to the origin of the export item. Certificate of origin are usually signed through a semiofficial organization, such as a local chamber of commerce. A certificate may still be required even if the commercial invoice contains the information. 
     A NAFTA certificate of origin is required for products traded among the NAFTA countries (Canada, the United States, and Mexico). 
     Inspection certification is required by some purchasers and countries in order to attest to the specifications of the goods shipped. This is usually performed by a third party and often obtained from independent testing organizations. 
     A dock receipt and a warehouse receipt are used to transfer accountability when the export item is moved by the domestic carrier to the port of embarkation and left with the ship line for export. 
     A destination control statement appears on the commercial invoice, and ocean or air waybill of lading to notify the carrier and all foreign parties that the item can be exported only to certain destinations. 
     A Shipper&#39;s Export Declaration (SED) is used to control exports and act as a source document for official U.S. export statistics. SEDs must be prepared for shipments through the U.S. Postal Service when the shipment is valued over $500. SEDs are required for shipments not using the U.S. Postal Service when the value of the commodities, classified under any single Schedule B number, is over $2,500. SEDs must be prepared, regardless of value, for all shipments requiring an export license or destined for countries restricted by the Export Administration Regulations (see Chapter 9). SEDs are prepared by the exporter or the exporter&#39;s agent and delivered to the exporting carrier (for example, the post office, airline, or vessel line). The exporting carrier will present the required number of copies to the U.S. Customs Service at the port of export. Often, the SED is prepared as a by-product of another document, the Shipper&#39;s Letter of Instructions. 
     An export license is a government document that authorizes the export of specific goods in specific quantities to a particular destination. This document may be required for most or all exports to some countries or for other countries only under special circumstances. 
     An export packing list is considerably more detailed and informative than a standard domestic packing list. It itemizes the material in each individual package and indicates the type of package, such as a box, crate, drum, or carton. It also shows the individual net, legal, tare, and gross weights and measurements for each package (in both U.S. and metric systems). Package markings should be shown along with the shipper&#39;s and buyer&#39;s references. The list is used by the shipper or forwarding agent to determine the total shipment weight and volume and whether the correct cargo is being shipped. In addition, U.S. and foreign customs officials may use the list to check the cargo. 
     An insurance certificate is used to assure the consignee that insurance will cover the loss of or damage to the cargo during transit. 
     Documentation must be precise because slight discrepancies or omissions may prevent merchandise from being exported, result in nonpayment, or even result in the seizure of the exporter&#39;s goods by U.S. or foreign government customs. Collection documents are subject to precise time limits and may not be honored by a bank if the time has expired. Most documentation is routine for freight forwarders and customs brokers, but the exporter is ultimately responsible for the accuracy of its documents. The number and kind of documents the exporter must deal with varies depending on the destination of the shipment. Because each country has different import regulations, the exporter must be careful to provide all proper documentation. 
     3. Description of Related Art 
     Presently, document tracking is transacted via computer systems which employ software programs capable of collating package level detail, scanning items and comparing them to the sales order or picking document. This shipping document management systems of the prior art benefits Business to Business (B2B) transactions such as: quoting freight rates while taking an order; posting freight charges to the sales order; creating packing lists by package and order; printing certified labels while handling the package; uploading electronic manifests; sending a detailed E-Mail with tracking numbers and package contents to the customer at time of shipment. 
     The prior art system of document management ultimately serves to track packages and shipments from within the business system. It is useful when reconciling freight invoices and generating Bills of Lading and Advanced Shipment Notices (ASN). However, when a shipment includes packages from multiple shippers each with separate shipping documentation, the document management system of the prior art creates complex problems for the carrier related to real-time tracking, organizing and viewing all document folders, reviewing and verifying packing list and quickly reconciling discrepancies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     To address the shortcomings presented in the prior art, a system and apparatus is provided for managing the collection, preparation, and storage of shipping documentation. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes multiple sensors, a processing system and a control unit for organizing and transporting shipping documents for multiple shipments in a real-time tracking system. The shipping document management system of the present invention travels and arrives with the actual shipment and allows the user to collect information and produce documents for viewing, scanning, transmitting and/or printing. The present invention may function as a universal open architecture envelope capable of linking to existing container sensor systems. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the processing, sensing, communicating and displaying components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an electrical wiring diagram of a micro-processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a method for describing the flow of information within a system for managing shipping documents in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  show a method for creating an envelope of information applied to cargo transport documentation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a sensor control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present invention is hereby intended and such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art. 
     The terms “program,” “computer program,” “software application,” and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library, a dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A data storage means, as defined herein, includes many different types of computer readable media that allow a computer to read data therefrom and that maintain the data stored for the computer to be able to read the data again. Such data storage means can include, for example, non-volatile memory, such as ROM, Flash memory, battery backed-up RAM, Disk drive memory, CD-ROM, DVD, and other permanent storage media. However, even volatile storage such a RAM, buffers, cache memory, and network circuits are contemplated to serve as such data storage means according to different embodiments of the present invention. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of the processing, sensing, communicating and displaying components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a platform for collecting and organizing shipping documents which includes a Processor-OCR element  108 , a RFID reader  104 , a barcode scanner  110 , a wireless transceiver element  114  and a microcontroller unit  106 . Preferably, the Processor-OCR element  108  may include an external scanner for inputting and updating documentation capable of recognizing and integrating any form of document regardless of the format, language and any other variables. Also preferably, the barcode scanner  110  of the present invention can access the network elements of the microcontroller unit  106  to run applications for Universal Barcode Identification. Preferably, the RFID reader  104  of the present invention may be capable of querying all passive, semi-passive and active RFID tags. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 1 , the sensing system of the present invention consists of environmental sensors such as an external optical sensor  118 , a 3-axis accelerometer  120  and a magnetometer  122 . Additionally, the sensing system includes a geolocation transponder  112  which may include assisted GPS, Wi-Fi location databases, and cellular network locators. Preferably, the present invention may track shipping by package while en route and provide real-time geolocation information via a remote monitoring station. 
     Preferably, the present invention includes circuitry to continuously monitor the sensor and capture the highest amplitude signal over a determined, short time interval. Thereafter, as signals are detected, it is preferred that a sensor manager  126  is provided to sample the measured values or cumulative values once per programmed interval and thereafter, and to provide the sampled results for further processing and analysis by processing system  106  of the present invention. Together the sensors of the present invention provide continuous monitoring of environmental conditions. Preferably, each of these should be designed to be adjusted to suit particular applications. Data from these sensors is processed, stored and acted upon by the processing system of the present invention as discussed in detail below. 
     Displaying System 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display screen  102  of the present invention preferably may be made of durable housing and with high resolution pixels and backlighting. Preferably, the display screen may be manipulated by a multitouch display, pressure triggered stylus or onscreen keyboard. Device may be managed and synced by a Remote Monitoring Station. 
     Processing System 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , a first preferred embodiment of the processing system  106  of the present invention will now be discussed. As discussed above, it is preferable that the processing system  106  compare the sequence and threshold performance of the sensors  504  in the clusters to a set of predetermined patterns and levels derived from empirical trials on an instrumented static test container. Based on a series of rule sets stored in memory, the controller  502  then operates to declare security events and initiate recording and communication actions as programmed. 
     In operation, the controller  502  is preferably programmed to routinely scan the conditions of the sensors to ensure operability. It is further preferable that the controllers  502  have access to all other subsystem managers and provide control of the sensors, communications, power, and alerting functions. To achieve this function, as shown in  FIG. 1 , it is preferred that the controller  502  have access to and handle all of the system logging of sensor data on a sensor log  128  or similar medium. 
     Communication System 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , a wireless transceiver  114  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, may be a wireless connection in a satellite mode to communicate with a satellite system such as Globalstar or Orbcomm. Preferably, such a satellite device will be a device such as the Axxon, AutoTracker, or the like, or a customized Orbcomm VHF satellite GPS tracking communications device which may be adapted with Zigbee interface antenna devices to incorporate them into the overall LAN architecture of the security system; these devices include a satellite transceiver, GPS receiver, a customized Zigbee wireless antenna with a serial (Ax Tracker) or duplex (OrbComm) interface. 
     In accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reporting may also be made using a wireless system independent from the satellite system. According to this embodiment, wireless signals may be transmitted to a wireless relay, base station or the like for routing and transmission to a chosen centralized location independent from or in combination with the transmissions made from the satellite system. In accordance with this alternative embodiment, signals may also be received by the communications manager and wireless interface from such external wireless networks as well. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the wireless communications used within the present invention will be based on the Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) standard. This standard transmits RF signals in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and operates with low power consumption due to its relatively slower data transmission rate (128 Kpps-250 Kbps). This approach enables additional capacity and flexibility of design through an up to 255 node pico-network. Communications are simplex or duplex in design, meaning that data can be assessed in either a push or pull process. 
     Remote Monitoring 
     To support and monitor the dataflow generated by the present invention, it is preferred that users establish a centralized location to collect and analyze data. This central location or “data fusion center” would preferably consolidate all tracking signals, sensor alarms and reports generated by the monitoring systems and provide further context and links with current intelligence. 
     Preferably, such a data fusion center will receive such source information in a variety of formats such as Electronic Data Interchange, XML, E-mail, HTML and flat text files. After receiving such data, the data fusion center preferably would act to process information to identify anomalies. With this data collected and processed, analyst may calculate statistics and probability of detection models used for decision support. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , an electrical wiring diagram of a microcontroller unit  106  according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. A microcontroller unit  106  receives input from a charging circuit and battery cells  203 , a Optical Sensor unit  205 , the status detect sensors  207 , a GPS transponder  211 , an accelerometer  229 , a RFID reader  209 , an OCR scanner  213 , a barcode scanner  215  and a magnetometer  231 . The controller  402  then assesses information and sends out signals to a radio transmitter/transceiver  312 , a sensor log  118  and a remote monitoring station  221 . Data from these sensors is processed, stored, and acted upon by the controller unit  502 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a method for describing the flow of information within a system for managing shipping documents in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. As shown in  FIG. 3 , as a container is loaded  302  it is preferred that package level detail is captured  304  by a RFID reader  310  detecting RFID tags on packages and a Barcode scanner  306  uploading barcodes. Further, as a container is loaded an electronic manifests may be transferred via wireless document transfer  316  from the Remote Monitoring Station  312  and/or shipping documents may be scanned  314  via the OCR Scanner  308  of the present invention. After data is transferred to the apparatus of the present invention  100 , transport documents may sorted, filed, and integrated  318  to become a unified manifest for everything on or in a pallet or container. Finally, the documentation can be managed, reviewed, and delivered in complete, viewable, and organized shipping documentation folders and transferred through a USB port  324 , an external serial port  322  and printer and/or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)  320 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , a method for creating an envelope of information applied to cargo transport documentation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , as the shipping container is loaded  410  the present invention captures package level detail  412 . Preferably, an electronic manifest is wirelessly transferred and received by the processing unit of the present invention  414  or a copy of the manifest and/or other shipping documents may be manually uploaded by the OCR scanner of the processing unit. Preferably, according to one aspect of the present invention, the package level detail captured at loading can be reconciled to the shipping manifest. In accordance with the present invention, a unified manifest may be generated  418  and transmitted for backend data storage and analysis  420 . In transit and especially at custom points, according to one aspect of the present invention, forms may be generated as needed by authorities  422 . Documentation may be delivered in complete, viewable, and organized shipping documentation folders and transferred through a USB port, an external serial port and printer and/or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Preferably, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, sensor data may be captured and the sensor log queried  424  by either the local user or the remote monitoring station. Preferably, tracking and sensor data may be consolidated with shipping documents  426  for generating complete tracking logs and other reports  428  based on actual sensor data collected during transit. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , it is preferred that the controller unit  502  incorporates a microprocessor  506 , a real time clock  518 , a general purpose Input/Output port to support external peripheral control  508 , a Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (USART)  510 , a Serial Port Interface (SPI)  512 , and memory such as RAM  522 , FLASH memory  520 , and EEPROM  514  as shown. 
     Preferably, the microprocessor  506  used may be a low power, high performance, eight-bit intergrated circuit based on the Motorola HCS08 instruction set. The controller  502  will preferably manage power and host the master date-time clock, communication scheduling and annotation of flash memory records. 
     Preferably, the present invention includes circuitry and digital ports to connect to existing electrical and sensor management systems previously configured with embedded circuitry. In operation, a controller unit  502  is preferably programmed to routinely scan the condition of each sensor to ensure operability.