Patent ID: 7366770

Claim:
A logistics node for administering the shipment of a product from a source node to a destination node, comprising: an interface unit for coupling the logistics node with at least one remote entity; a processing unit coupled to the interface unit for controlling the operation of the logistics node; a database coupled to the processing unit for storing information pertaining to the shipment of a product from the source node to the destination node; and interface administration logic for permitting a first class of users to interact with the logistics node using a first interface, the first interface providing access to a first set of functions, and for permitting a second class of users to interact with the logistics node using a second interface, the second interface providing access to a second set of functions; wherein the first set of functions differs from the second set of functions; wherein the first class of users are affiliated with the source node and the second class of users are affiliated with the destination node; wherein the first set of functions comprises: a shipment confirmation function, and at least one other function that pertains to product shipping; wherein the second set of functions comprises at least one function that pertains to product shipping; wherein the interface administration logic further permits a third class of users to interact with the logistics node using a third interface, the third interface providing access to a third set of functions; wherein the third class of users are affiliated with a customer node; wherein the third set of functions includes a function that permits the users to change a priority level associated with at least one; and wherein the first, second and third interfaces present priority information that reflects the change in the priority level.