Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7475079?dq=5,838,906
Timestamp: 2015-04-26 03:30:12
Document Index: 186582444

Matched Legal Cases: ['ARTA1', 'ARTA2', 'ARTA3', 'ARTB1', 'ARTB2', 'ARTC1', 'ARTC2', 'ARTD1']

Patent US7475079 - Customs duty audit using post entry data - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAuditing customs import-reporting data that are submitted on behalf of an importer by a customs broker to a customs agency. The methods include procedures for detecting discrepancies between product data and customs data, where the product data may be received after the customs data are received, and...http://www.google.com/patents/US7475079?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7475079 - Customs duty audit using post entry dataAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7475079 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/852,814Publication dateJan 6, 2009Filing dateMay 25, 2004Priority dateDec 27, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS7693854, US7739248, US7792863, US8015120, US8073873, US8121928, US20050004894, US20050010431, US20050015390, US20050021358, US20050033592, US20050060259, US20050177426Publication number10852814, 852814, US 7475079 B2, US 7475079B2, US-B2-7475079, US7475079 B2, US7475079B2InventorsAnthony Uy, Tom Potts, Frederic Holmes, Laurie Peach, Matt Halterman, Mark Swirt, Denise ThornOriginal AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (32), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (1), Classifications (35), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCustoms duty audit using post entry data
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,956, entitled �HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE CLASSIFICATION USING DECISION TREE DATABASE,� filed Dec. 24, 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled �TRADE COMPLICANCE SYSTEM,� Ser. No. 60/463,679, filed Dec. 27, 2002. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/779,035, filed Feb. 13, 2004, entitled �TWO-PASS HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE CLASSIFICATION,� which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/745,956. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/790,513, filed Mar. 1, 2004, entitled �HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE CLASSIFICATION USING ENTRY DATA,� which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/745,956.
In view of the various problems discussed above, there is a need for an improved mechanism for auditing reports submitted to U.S. customs, either importers or by customs brokers on behalf of importers. The forms created by customs brokers for each importation, including a U.S. Customs 7501 form, a commercial invoice, and a shipment manifest, are forwarded to the importer in addition to being presented to U.S. customs. These forms collectively establish an �entry� in the importer's trade compliance management system. There is a need to use post-entry data, including information received after an entry has been placed into an importer's trade compliance management system, to audit the records provided by customs brokers to U.S. Customs, and to correct errors that are discovered in the audit process. This includes a need to involve third-party information in the post-entry auditing procedures.
FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating the use of the decision tree in the assignment of HTS codes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Assume, for example, that the analyst for a motorcycle manufacturer needs to assign an appropriate HTS code to a replacement part, such as a rubber throttle grip. The method of the present invention makes the analyst's task straightforward. In step 23, the analyst selects the application classification group from a menu in the TCS. For illustrative purposes only, the classification group may be �motorcycle handlebar parts.� The analyst may then be given a list of alternatives in an exemplary subgroup #1, in step 25. One such alternative, for example, may be �throttle functions�. The analyst may then selects that alternative and thereupon may navigate to the next menu, as shown in step 27. The analyst may be presented with a further list of possibilities, one of which may be �rubber throttle grip� or the like. Associated with the part description may, depending on the embodiment, be a number of additional descriptive information such as a part number, the motorcycle brands to which the part corresponds, and other relevant information. The analyst may then select the �rubber throttle grip� in sub-group #2, and arrives at the correct HTS code for the part at issue, as shown in step 29. At that point, the correct HTS code may be assigned to the product to be imported, and the assignment may be recorded in the Item Master.
FIG. 5B is a flow diagram that depicts an exemplary pre-entry process in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this example, �Co. Customs� represents a division of a company that is responsible for obtaining product information from other divisions of the company and applying appropriate classification information for importation purposes. This step is described in more detail in the pre-entry process above. �Co. Customs� may obtain relevant information (step 504) from other company divisions 502 and customs brokers 503. As discussed above, various additional sources may trigger classification adds or changes. Notifications requiring action include the introduction of new models, customs ruling changes, self-audit discovery, or codes missing at entry. Using this information, the importer may perform appropriate classifications (step 505). That is, �Co. Customs� may assign HTS codes to products, along with other required information such as extended customs descriptions, legal rationale, and timestamps. �Co. Customs� may track Questions and Answers (501A, 501B) with other company divisions during the notification process. A Q/A log 508 may be created that contains information pertinent to product classification. �Co. Customs� may also perform the classification step and any subsequent audits to identify errors or discrepancies (step 506), as deemed appropriate. All classification information, associated bases for classification, and errors discovered during a subsequent audit may be entered into the TCS classification information repositories 515 which may be linked to an interface to customs tariff system 514 which may be linked to co. division system.
In addition, other links may provide more general navigational capability. �Coweb� link 703 may provide a link to the home page of the corporate intranet of the importer. �US Customs� link 704 may provide a link to the U.S. Customs web page. �Fedex Trade Networks� link 705 provides a link to the web page of a customs broker. �Japan� link 706 may provide links to networks of the corporation located in Japan. �QA log� link 707 may provide a link to the log created by virtue of correspondence between the customs division of the importer and the customs broker. �Toolset� link 708 may allow a user to navigate to the PWC tool set. An online user guide may also be available via link 709.
FIG. 8 shows another screen 802 to enable a user to access information from the Item Master. In this example, the user has accessed the Item Master by clicking on the �Item Master� link 701 in FIG. 7, thereby arriving at the screen 802 in FIG. 8. As shown by the area encompassed by 801, the TCS screen 802 in this embodiment contains a �headline� logo which may include a plurality of navigation commands to all functions (e.g., �Home�, �Sys Admin�, etc.). Underneath the general navigation commands in area 801 lies the sub-functions within the group selected (in this case the Item Master Classification).
In other embodiments, mappings may be created within the TCS which link various internal classifications only to commodity groups, or only to HTS codes. FIG. 14 is an illustration of a database map 1401 wherein internal classifications based on function are all linked directly to HTS codes. �FCN1� corresponds here to three items, labeled for illustrative purposes �PARTA1�, �PARTA2� and �PARTA3�. These parts correspond, respectively, to 10-digit HTS codes �CODEA1�, �CODEA2� and �CODEA3�. Likewise, �FCN2� contains parts �PARTB1� and �PARTB2�, which are linked respectively to �CODEA4� and �CODEA5�. �FCN3� links to �PARTC1� and �PARTC2�, which respectively map 1401 to �CODEA6� and �CODEA7�. Finally, �FCN4� links to �PARTD1� which is mapped to HTS code �CODEA8�.
FIG. 18 shows another example of a screen 1802 that can be accessed by selecting the �HTS Detail� link 1703 in FIG. 17. FIG. 18 also illustrates the utility of the TCS by its advanced navigational capabilities and its user-friendly applications screens. These screens may be part of an integrated application which overlaps and links to the underlying database repositories which provide for uniform and easy access to and editing of information pertinent to U.S. Customs. Here, the HTS code 1804 of the selected product can be identified and readily compared with the information in the entry packet submitted by the customs broker to U.S Customs. Further, the screen 1802 provides information about any necessary product attributes (if applicable), such as whether an anti-dumping duty 1805 or a countervailing duty 1806 may apply to items in the shipment. These records can be quickly and easily compared with the information in the electronic entry packet provided by the customs broker. Any errors can thereby be identified and appropriate remedial measures may be taken. Links 1803 to View Audit Results and Add line Item may be provided.
FIG. 25 shows an example of a TCS screen 2505 containing links to the electronically recorded entry packet information. In this example, an �Entry History� number 2504 is assigned to the entry packet for subsequent identification purposes. The entry packet shown has three elements. The user may navigate to the CF7501 Customs form by clicking on the link 2501. The user may also access directly the Commercial Invoice of the shipment associated with the entry packet by simply clicking on the link 2505. The user may also navigate to the EDI by selecting link 2503. The entry packet may be linked in other embodiments to additional information. An illustration of the 7501 form related to the entry packet is shown in the screen 2602 of FIG. 26.
FIG. 27 shows an screen illustrating the utility of linking entry packets to shipment information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TCS screen 2702 in this embodiment provides the user with the ability to navigate to various desired aspects of a particular shipment. �Entry Packet Info� link 2701 may allow the user to navigate back to the entry packet screen 2502 in FIG. 25. The user may also examine information regarding the shipment(s) at issue based on criteria including �Header/CI� (2703), �HTS� (2705), �Product� (2707), and �Event� (2709). The user is also provided in this embodiment with a comprehensive list 2711 of information linked to and directly relevant to the entry packet at issue. From this description, the advantages associated with the linkage of information are readily apparent. Audit times may be decreased. Records may be more easily found. Shipments may be examined using a variety of criteria.
In the accounts payable department according to the disclosed embodiment, an employee reviews the summarized payment request received from the customs department (step 260). The employee may also compare the request with its own summary of payments to ensure accuracy and that duplicative reimbursements are avoided. The employee may also process the electronic broker invoices through the company's weekly A/P payment cycle. Payment is then transmitted to the customs broker. Typically, the employee also creates remittance information for entry into the TCS to reflect the reimbursement and to �complete the picture� within the TCS. A payment remit file 258 may be used.
The main menu 3004 further provides a number of additional TCS System Links 3008. In this example, �Coweb� may bring the user to the company's intranet, which may include a suite of functions dedicated to importation and U.S. Customs processing. Link 3007B may take the user directly to a U.S. Customs web site, or other repository of U.S. Customs related information for use in classification and other purposes. Link 3007C provides in this embodiment a link to a customs broker, which in this instance is Fedex Trade Networks. A link 3007D to the web site of the United States International Trade Commission may be provided. A link 3007E to a corresponding division of the corporation in Japan may exist for, among other things, perusal by the analyst of the internal classifications of items. A Q/A log 3007F may also be obtained that may record questions and answers received from and provided to customs brokers and other third parties. A separate toolset link 3007G may provide the user with a plethora of other tools and links for navigating through the integrated data repository and finding information relating to a desired shipment, payment, audit, amendment, etc. A link 3007H to a user guide may conveniently enable the user to consult online help with respect to understanding various features or functions of the TCS. A link 3007I may also allow the user to contact U.S. Customs, or, depending on the implementation, another division of the corporation or similar entity.
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