Patent ID: 7761387

Claim:
A computer system comprising: a computer server configured to receive information from at least one computer associated with at least one carrier entity registered with the system and to provide a common carrier interface, said server further configured to permit the following: (a) creation of a booking request relating to a container, (b) submission of the booking request, (c) receiving confirmation of the booking request, and (d) receiving container tracking and tracing information associated with the booking request, to enable the receipt of container tracking and tracing information, the server configured to perform: (1) determining at least one carrier entity associated with the booking request, (2) periodically receiving and storing container tracking and tracing information from the at least one carrier entity over the first communication pathway, (3) receiving a container tracking request, for a specific container, wherein the container tracking request is first received after the container tracking and tracing information for said specific container is received from the at least one carrier entity, (4) searching for a match between the received container tracking request and the stored container tracking and tracing information received from the at least one carrier entity; and (5) providing the matching container tracking and tracing information to an entity requesting the tracking and tracing information prior to receiving the next periodic container tracking and tracing information from the at least one carrier entity.