Method and apparatus for electronically organizing transport documents
View Patent ↗A system and apparatus is provided for managing the collection, preparation, and storage of shipping documentation. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes multiple sensors, a processing system and a control unit for organizing and transporting shipping documents for multiple shipments in a real-time tracking system. The shipping document management system of the present invention travels and arrives with the actual shipment and allows the user to collect information and produce documents for viewing, scanning, transmitting and/or printing. The present invention may function as a universal open architecture envelope capable of linking to existing container sensor systems.
1. A method for collecting and organizing transport documentation, the method comprising:
loading a container;
capturing package level data regarding the content of the container;
receiving an electronic manifest data;
creating a unified manifest including electronic manifest data and package level data;
transmitting the unified manifest to a remote monitoring station for storage and analysis;
generating forms as needed by authorities using data from the unified manifest;
capturing sensor data regarding the transport condition of the container;
querying sensor data log;
consolidating sensor data with data from the unified manifest; and
generating a tracking data report which includes sensor data and data from the unified manifest.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving electronic manifest data includes uploading the manifest by an OCR scanner of a processing unit.
3. An apparatus for collecting and organizing shipping information and documentation for producing and transmitting shipping documents, the apparatus comprising:
an RFID reader configured to capture package level data loaded onto a shipping container;
a processing element configured to receive electronic manifest data, wherein the electronic manifest data includes data regarding the identity of the shipping container, routing information and custody of the container contents; further wherein the processing element is further configured to create a unified manifest including electronic manifest data and package level data;
a transmitting element, wherein the transmitting element is configured to transmit the unified manifest to a remote monitoring station for storage and analysis;
a form generating element, wherein the form generating element is configured to generate and populate forms with data from the unified manifest; and
a sensing system, wherein the sensing system is comprised of at least one sensor which is configured to capturing sensor data regarding the transport condition of the container;
wherein the processing element is further configured to consolidating sensor data with data from the unified manifest; and further wherein the form generating element is further configured to generate a tracking data report which includes sensor data and data from the unified manifest.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a display screen system for user level interaction.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a geolocation transponder for providing geolocation information to the processing system.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sensing system comprises at least one environmental sensor selected from the group of environmental sensors which includes: an accelerator, a magnetometer, and an optical sensor.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the geolocation transponder is selected from the group of geolocation transponders which includes: global positioning system, Wi-Fi location databases, and cellular network locator.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the processing system includes an OCR processing element.
9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an open architecture processing and control system for communicating with existing container sensor systems.
10. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the unified manifest data includes data regarding at least one shipping document selected from the following group of shipping documents: air freight waybills, an ocean waybill, a bill of lading, a straight bill of lading, a shipper's order bill of lading, a proof of ownership, a commercial invoice, a bill for the goods, a consular invoice, a certificate of origin, a NAFTA certificate of origin, an inspection certification, a dock receipt, a warehouse receipt, a destination control statement, a Shipper's Export Declaration (SED), a Shipper's Letter of Instructions, an export license, an export packing list, or an insurance certificate.
11. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the form generating element is configured to prepare forms based on the content, copies or language required by the importing government.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the form generating element is configured to prepare forms based on the detected geolocation.