IP Library Granted Patent US 7,567,912
Granted Patent B2
US 7,567,912 · App. 11/257,414 · Granted Jul 28, 2009

Method and system for automatically detecting that international shipment movement has satisfied a threshold condition

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,567,912
App. No.
11/257,414
Granted
Jul 28, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a network that tracks international shipments. In particular, it relates to automatic linking of supporting documents to electronic reports of shipment movements, including cross-border movements, and automatic detection when a shipment movement has reached a threshold condition, which may to be reported to an interested party, such as a bank.

Claims (42)

1. A method of secure and reliable automatic recognition of threshold condition satisfaction related to international reporting of shipment movement, the method including;

exposing a registration module via a public or private network;

registering computerized data sources in a plurality of countries involved in international shipment movement to report the shipment movement, including

establishing a secure connection,

authenticating the computerized data source and

exposing a reporting module via the public or private network consistent with assigned roles for the computerized data sources;

establishing a computerized database of particular threshold conditions and required particular supporting logistical documents;

computing the particular threshold conditions of interest and associated logistical document collection requirements by automatically translating INCO shipping terminology as applicable to particular shipment movements;

accepting from the computerized data sources reports of the particular shipment movements and automatically linking the reports to the required particular supporting logistical documents provided by the computerized data sources;

accepting an electronically submitted invoice and automatically linking the invoice to the particular shipment movements; and

monitoring, using a computer, the reports and comparing them to the threshold conditions, notifying at least one interested party who is not moving shipments that the particular shipment movement has reached the particular threshold condition and that the required supporting logistical documents have been linked, and exposing the linked supporting logistical documents and the invoice to the interested party.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including tracking the event reports and generating a notice to the exporter that it would be timely to generate the invoice for the goods.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including receiving in INCO terminology at least some of the contractual terms and automatically translating the INCO terminology into a trigger that can be compared to the event reports.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including triggering a payment by the bank to the exporter from the importer's line of credit.

5. The method of claim 4 , further including triggering a discount on interest payable by the importer for financing the payment, in consideration of prompt reporting of the advice leading to an opportunity for the bank to factor the payment with the exporter.

6. The method of claim 4 , further including triggering an extended time for the importer to repay amounts advanced from the importer's line of credit, in consideration of prompt reporting of the advice leading to an opportunity for the bank to factor the payment with the exporter.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including receiving from the exporter a trade financing request supported by the electronic report to the bank that the contractual terms have been met and the invoice approved and forwarding the request to the bank.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including promptness of the electronic transmission of advice electronically triggering financial consideration in favor of the importer upon realization by the bank of revenue from a factoring with the exporter of payment for the goods.

9. A server-based system including:

at least one secure network connection;

a computer with resources coupled to the secure network connection adapted to

expose a registration module via a public or private network;

register data sources in a plurality of countries involved in international shipment movement to report the shipment movement, including

establishing a secure connection,

authenticating the data source and

exposing a reporting module via the public or private network consistent with assigned roles for the data sources;

establish a database of particular threshold conditions and required particular supporting logistical documents;

compute the particular threshold conditions of interest and associated logistical document collection requirements by automatically translating INCO shipping terminology as applicable to particular shipment movements;

accept from the data sources reports of the particular shipment movements and automatically linking the reports to the required particular supporting logistical documents provided by the data sources;

accept an electronically submitted invoice and automatically linking the invoice to the particular shipment movements; and

monitor the reports and comparing them to the threshold conditions, notifying at least one interested party who is not moving shipments that the particular shipment movement has reached the particular threshold condition and that the required supporting logistical documents have been linked, and exposing the linked supporting logistical documents and the invoice to the interested party.

10. One or more machine readable memories impressed with logic adapted to

expose a registration module via a public or private network;

register data sources in a plurality of countries involved in international shipment movement to report the shipment movement, including

establishing a secure connection.

authenticating the data source and

exposing a reporting module via the public or private network consistent with assigned roles for the data sources;

establish a database of particular threshold conditions and required particular supporting logistical documents;

compute the particular threshold conditions of interest and associated logistical document collection requirements by automatically translating INCO shipping terminology as applicable to particular shipment movements;

accept from the data sources reports of the particular shipment movements and automatically linking the reports to the required particular supporting logistical documents provided by the data sources;

accept an electronically submitted invoice and automatically linking the invoice to the particular shipment movements; and

monitor the reports and comparing them to the threshold conditions, notifying at least one interested party who is not moving shipments that the particular shipment movement has reached the particular threshold condition and that the required supporting logistical documents have been linked, and exposing the linked supporting logistical documents and the invoice to the interested party.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: AVOLIN, LLC
Reel/Frame 073742/0694 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: APTEAN, INC.
To: APTEAN SAPPHIRE, LLC
Reel/Frame 049395/0150 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: APTEAN SAPPHIRE, LLC
To: AVOLIN, LLC
Reel/Frame 049395/0337 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTEAN, INC.; APTEAN SAPPHIRE, LLC
Reel/Frame 047375/0049 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTEAN, INC.; APTEAN SAPPHIRE, LLC
Reel/Frame 047375/0234 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2018
From: APTEAN SAPPHIRE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 047348/0813 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 22, 2016
From: APTEAN, INC.; ACTIVPLANT CORPORATION; APTEAN SYSTEMS, LLC; GQ LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 041175/0370 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 21, 2016
From: APTEAN, INC.; ACTIVPLANT CORPORATION; APTEAN SYSTEMS, LLC; GQ LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 041085/0752 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: APTEAN, INC.; ACTIVPLANT CORPORATION; APTEAN SYSTEMS, LLC; GQ LIFE SCIENCES, INC.; ADVANCED PUBLIC SAFETY, INC.
Reel/Frame 041035/0631 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: APTEAN, INC.; ACTIVPLANT CORPORATION; APTEAN SYSTEMS, LLC; GQ LIFE SCIENCES, INC.; ADVANCED PUBLIC SAFETY, INC.
Reel/Frame 041035/0395 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2014
From: APTEAN, INC.; ACTIVPLANT CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 032366/0564 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2014
From: APTEAN, INC.; ACTIVPLANT CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 032366/0634 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2014
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: APTEAN, INC., SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CONSONA CORPORATION AND TRADEBEAM, INC.
Reel/Frame 032307/0045 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 31, 2013
From: CATALYST INTERNATIONAL, INC.; PIVOTAL CORPORATION; ROSS SYSTEMS, INC.; SARATOGA SYSTEMS, INC.; TRADEBEAM, INC.
To: APTEAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 030119/0847 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 6, 2012
From: CONSONA CORPORATION; TRADEBEAM, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 028734/0560 →