Patent Publication Number: US-2004059710-A1

Title: Method and system for processing export information

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to inquiry mechanisms, and more particularly, to a method and a system for instant online retrieval of export information.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In the recent years, the up rise of the global economy has lead to an increase in the daily quota of purchase orders from exporters. In the conventional method, a significant amount of clerical staff is required to handle the amount of paperwork involved for updating the export information. As a result, using human power to process this information requires a lot of time. Although most large companies demand the daily purchase orders to be processed by the end of the day, clients and downstream companies still cannot get immediate access to the present status of the delivery to schedule the subsequent logistics.  
       [0003] Therefore the immediate problem to be solved is how to provide a method and system for processing export information that can allow export manufacturers to gain instant access to the present status of the delivery while reducing the amount of paperwork, faxes, and communications in the export process.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method and system for processing export information which allows exporters to use an online computer system to instantly inquire the receipt of the most recent purchase orders for scheduling subsequent logistics.  
       [0005] According to the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a method for processing export information. The method for processing export information establishes a network connection between an end user of a computer device to the export information processing system through an online connection. A goods database for storing the related information of the goods is first established in the export information processing system to allow users to process the export information. The export information processing method comprises: inputting the related information of the goods in the export process through a computer device by a user; generating a display on the computer device of the available goods in the goods database that have information that matches the inputted goods information in the export information processing system and allowing the user to select the desired goods; and creating export files of the selected goods by the export information processing system to provide reference for inquiry and report of the export information.  
       [0006] The user inputs the related information of the exportation such as sales unit, estimated time of delivery, and the like through a computer device. The export information processing system finds the goods information in the goods database that matches the related information of the inputted data. The goods information is then assigned with an invoice number, a payment order number, and a transportation identification number which are used to generate the export file of the various goods after the user has selected the desired goods information. Furthermore, the export information processing system allows the user to print out the invoice and package details of the export goods according to the export files.  
       [0007] The present invention provides an export information processing system that executes the abovementioned method. The export information processing system comprises: a goods database for storing the related information of the goods; an inquiry module for receiving the inquiry fields from the user in the computer device, wherein the inquiry module generates a display on the computer device of the available goods from the goods database that have information that matches the inputted goods information by the export information processing system and allowing the user to select the desired goods; a file create module for creating export files according to the selected goods received by the inquiry module; and an export file database for storing the export files created by the file create module. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the export information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0010] FIGS.  2 (A) to  2 (J) are schematic web page displays according to the operation process of the export information processing system of the present invention; and  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram according to the method for processing export information of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0012] Please refer to FIG. 1, it illustrates a block diagram of the export information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the export information processing system  100  (enclosed by the dotted lines) is disposed inside a web server (not shown) for users to enter the export information processing system  100  through an online connection  1  such as an internet by a computer device  10  (for example a personal digital assistant, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, or a mobile phone). The export information processing system  100  comprises at least a user database  101 , an inference module  102 , a goods database  103 , an inquiry module  104 , a file create module  105 , an export file database  106 , a customs database  107 , and a tax declaration module  108 . It is to be noted that the export information processing system  100  can possess other functional modules and is not limited to what is descried in this embodiment, only what is relevant to the present invention is disclosed.  
     [0013] The user database  101  stores the user details required for entering the export information processing system  100 , wherein the users comprise exporters, the receive companies that transact with the exporters, export representative, monitor units for monitoring goods logistics (such as export representative or customs department), and servicemen for maintaining normal operation of the system. The present invention is mainly used in processing export goods so the categories of the goods are classified as export goods. The inference module  102  is disposed in the export information processing system  100  for displaying an identification display to allow users to enter identification information such as login and password when the user logins or sends a special request using the computer device  10 . The inference module  102  limits the level of authority of the users by matching the inputted data to that in the user database  101  to increase the level of security of the export information processing system  100 . Due to the procedures and process for users to login to a web server are considered common and well-known operations, the details of the process and structure are therefore not described.  
     [0014] The goods database  103  stores the related information of various goods of the exporters, wherein the related information comprises origin of manufacture, goods model, goods weight, unit price, the part (raw material) list, and the estimated delivery location and time. This related goods information is usually first created and stored in the goods database  103  by the exporters through the computer device  10  to provide downstream companies with reference information for processing the exportation.  
     [0015] The inquiry module  104  is disposed in the export information processing system  10  for receiving the inquiry fields. The inquiry module  104  at least provides a goods delivery inquiry display  20  in FIG. 2(A) and an export inquiry display  24  and an export information display  28  in FIGS.  2 (E) and  2 (I) for users at the computer device  10  to enter the inquiry fields. The inquiry module  104  executes corresponding actions according to the information inputted by the user. The file create module  105  creates and stores files in the file database  106  according to the specified files of the soon-to-be-export goods to allow the inquiry module  104  to inform the exporter, the receive company (such as one for the exporter), the freight company, and the like of the status of the exportation. (The following describes the details of the inquiry and file create processes.)  
     [0016] The tax declaration module  108  is disposed in the export information processing system  100  and receives the declaration request sent by the export representative through the computer device  10  and displays a declaration display (not shown) on the computer device  10  to allow the export representative to perform the declaration process. The source of the declaration display is based on the content of the export files (not shown) in the export file database  106  to allow the export representative to compare and verify the export goods.  
     [0017] After the export representative has finished the comparison and verification in the declaration display provided by the tax declaration module  108 , it will provide a declaration form (not shown) to the export representative through the computer device  10 . The export representative inputs the related goods information of the successfully exported goods through the computer device  10  and the tax declaration module  108  stores the inputted data in the customs database  107 . Therefore the exporters can enter the export information processing system  100  of the present invention through a computer device  10  and an online connection  1  to initiate the tax declaration module  108  to extract the declaration information of various goods from the declaration database  107  for performing monthly statements and export related operations. Please refer to FIG. 2(A), it shows a goods delivery inquiry display  20  which is an inquiry input display transmitted from the export information processing system  100  to the user to allow the exporter to input any inquiry fields in the inquiry display before the exportation (please note the following clarification, the computer device  10  needs to be equipped with a browser such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer® or Netscape® Navigator® in order to connect to the export information processing system  100  of the present invention to obtain the display transmitted by the export information processing system  100 ). The user can enter “TW01” (an identification reference representing the first factory in Taiwan) in the sales location field  200  of the goods delivery inquiry display  20  and “ 02 / 27 / 2002  to 03/17/2002” in the estimated delivery time field  201  and the required information in other inquiry fields. Afterwards the user enters the inquiry command key  202  to initiate the inquiry module  204  to extract the matching goods information in the goods database  103  according to the inputted inquiry fields by the user, as illustrated in FIG. 2(B).  
     [0018]FIG. 2(B) shows a goods delivery display  21  for users to select the goods to be exported by crossing off the check box  210 , as illustrated in FIG. 2(C).  
     [0019]FIG. 2(C) is a goods delivery confirmation display  22 . After the user has finished crossing off the check boxes  210  and has entered the file create key  221 , the file create module  105  will transmit a confirmation dialog  222  to verify if the user wishes to create the files. If yes, the file create module  105  will create the export files according to the goods information selected by the user. The content of the export file is shown in FIG. 2(D).  
     [0020]FIG. 2(D) is a goods description content  23  of an export file. The content is based on the goods information stored in the goods database  103 . In the goods description content  23 , the reference numeral  230  indicates the invoice number of the export goods, the reference numeral  231  indicates the file name of the export file, the reference numeral  232  indicates the details of the export goods such as the weight, value, goods model number, goods name and the like. Furthermore the save format of the export files can be normal plain text in which the information of different fields is distinguished by using blank data to allow the export information processing system  100  to differentiate.  
     [0021] FIGS.  2 (A) to  2 (D) show the exportation procedures of an exporter. After finishing the file create step of the export goods, the following FIGS.  2 (E) to (J) provide not only the exporter but also the receive company and the export control unit to perform inquiry. Firstly, please refer to FIG. 2(E), it shows an export inquiry display  24  which is generated by the export information processing system  100  through the online connection  1  to provide the user (such as exporter, receive company, or export control unit) at the computer device  10  to input the inquiry fields to locate the export goods information and furthermore to print them out. FIG. 2(F) shows an export goods print-out display  25 , wherein the batch record  251  of the form  250  comes from the export files shown in FIG. 2(D). The invoice number and the file name of the batch record  251  is shown as “IF22205724” and “CTINV20020307151350620” respectively. Wherein the file name at least comprising year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and the like is named after the time at which the file is created by the file create module  105  when the exporter submits a file create request (as shown in FIG. 2(C)). After the user has entered the print command key  252 , the details of the invoice list  26  in FIG. 2(G) and the packing list  27  in FIG. 2(H) are printed out. The present invention provides exporter, receive companies, and export control units with an instant and time-saving export information inquiry and report processing method.  
     [0022] Following, please refer to FIG. 2(I), it shows the export information display  28  which is similar to FIG. 2(E) for providing users to input the required inquiry fields of the required export goods information. FIG. 2(J) shows a results display  29  of the export information inquiry by which users can instantly and easily locate the processing status of the export information from the results display  29 . Please refer to FIG. 3, it shows a flow chart of the process of the export information processing system  100 . Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 simultaneously for the explanation of the export information processing method.  
     [0023] First perform step S 1  where the exporters create the related goods information such as the origin of manufacture, the model number, the weight, the unit price, the part (raw material) list, the estimated delivery location and time, and the like and transmit this information to the export information processing system  100  for storage in the goods database  103 .  
     [0024] Following proceed to step S 2 , the computer device  10  of the exporter connects to the export information processing system  100  of the present invention through Internet to submit a goods delivery request. The inquiry module  104  of the export information processing system  100  generates a goods delivery display  20  on the computer device  10 . The exporter then inputs the related goods information of the soon-to-be-exported goods as the inquiry fields, as shown in FIG. 2(A).  
     [0025] Afterwards proceed to step S 3 , the inquiry module  104  locates the goods information in the goods database  103  that matches the inputted related goods information and displays the results on the computer device  10 , as shown in FIG. 2(B).  
     [0026] Following in step S 4 , the exporter will select the export goods according to the list generated by the inquiry module  104 , as shown in FIG. 2(C).  
     [0027] Next in step S 5 , the file create module  105  of the export information processing system  100  creates the export files according to the selected goods by the exporter and stores them in the export file database  106 , as shown in FIG. 2(D).  
     [0028] Then in step S 6 , if the exporter, the receive company, or the export control unit (such as export representative or customs unit) wishes to inquire export information, they can use their computer device  10  to connect to the export information processing system  100  via the online connection  1 . The export information processing system  100  provides an export declaration and an export information inquiry display ( 24 ,  28 ) on the computer device  10 , as shown in FIGS.  2 (E) and  2 (I) to allow users to input the required inquiry fields. The export information processing system  100  locates the goods information that matches the inquiry and displays on the computer device  10 , as shown in FIGS.  2 (F) and  2 (J). Furthermore the user can selectively print out more detailed invoice list or packing list of the export goods, as shown in FIGS.  2 (G) and  2 (H).  
     [0029] Following in step S 7 , if the export representatives wish to perform the declaration process on the export goods, they can initiate the tax declaration module  108  through the computer device  10  and the online connection  1  to generate a declaration display (not shown) on the computer device  10 . The export representative compares and verifies the export goods according to the declaration display. After the comparison and verification, the declaration database is created.  
     [0030] Next in step S 8 , after the export representative finishes the export goods declaration process, the tax declaration module  108  stores the created declaration information in the declaration database  107 . Therefore the exporters can use the export information processing system  100  through the computer device  10  and the online connection  1  to initiate the tax declaration module  108  to obtain the declaration information of export goods from the declaration database  107  for up keeping monthly statements and export related reports.  
     [0031] The aforementioned only exemplifies the preferred embodiment of the present invention but does not impose any restriction on the scope of the technology involved in the present invention, for example the web page displays of the export information processing method are not limited to what is shown in FIGS.  2 (A) to  2 (J) and can comprise any other export information depending on the embodiment. Furthermore when the user requests to create a file in the export information processing system  100 , the export information processing system  100  will verify the identify of the user to ensure the security of the online process.  
     [0032] The present invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.