Patent ID: 6873963

Claim:
In a data processing system for tracking inventory, said data processing system having a processor for processing data and a storage device for storing data, a method for estimating a time of arrival of supplier goods being transferred from a source to a final destination, wherein said supplier goods are transferred to an intermediate location by a first carrier and from said intermediate location to a final destination by a second carrier, said method comprising the steps of: receiving at the data processing system a first transmission from said source, said transmission indicative of characteristics of said supplier goods; receiving at the data processing system a second transmission from said first carrier when said first-carrier is delivering said supplier goods from said source to said intermediate location, said second transmission indicative of characteristics of said first carrier; associating, with the data processing system, said first carrier with said supplier goods by comparing at least one of said characteristics of said supplier goods contained in said first transmission with at least one of said characteristics of said carrier contained in said second transmission; obtaining a first estimated time of arrival for said supplier goods to said final destination, said first estimated time of arrival being obtained from said second transmission; receiving at the data processing system a third transmission when said second carrier is delivering said supplier goods from said intermediate location to said final destination; said third transmission indicative of characteristics of said second carrier; associating, with the data processing system, said second carrier with said supplier goods by comparing at least one of said characteristics of said supplier goods contained in said first transmission with at least one of said characteristics of said second carrier contained in said third transmission; and determining, with the data processing system, a second estimated time of arrival from a route plan and the third transmission, said second estimated time of arrival being an updated estimated time of arrival of said supplier goods to said final destination.