Method and system for administering compliance with international shipping requirements

Abstract

There are provided methods and systems for facilitating international shipment of goods that enable centralized control of both the establishment of and any changes to international shipping requirements. Users can conveniently query the system through remote terminals. Requirement information is provided in a user-useful and friendly manner including matrices of core requirements relating to all shipments and country specific requirements relating to specified origination and/or destination countries. Compliance testing is provided by which a user can evaluate a particular international shipment for compliance with requirements particular to that shipment.

1 . A method operable on a computer for managing requirements to facilitate international shipping, comprising the steps of:
 storing on said computer core requirements applicable to a plurality of countries;   storing on said computer respective country-specific requirements applicable to respective countries;   protecting said core requirements and said country-specific requirements so that they can only be modified by an authorized user;   receiving a request to modify a one of said core requirements or a one of said country-specific requirements; and   providing said request to said authorized user.   
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  and further including the step of modifying, with the approval of said authorized user, the requested one of said core or country-specific requirements. 
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  and further including the steps of:
 storing on said computer subscription information including an identifier of a system user requesting notification of a modification to said core requirements or selected country-specific requirements; and   providing, upon modification of said core requirements or said selected country-specific requirements, notice to said system user.   
   
   
       4 . A system for managing requirements to facilitate international shipping, comprising:
 a processor   a memory operatively connected to said processor and storing instructions for controlling said processor to perform the steps of:   storing core requirements applicable to a plurality of countries;   storing respective country-specific requirements applicable to respective countries;   protecting said core requirements and said country-specific requirements so that they can only be modified by an authorized user;   receiving a request to modify a one of said core requirements or a one of said country-specific requirements; and   providing said request to said authorized user.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  and further including the step of modifying, with the approval of said authorized user, the requested one of said core or country-specific requirements. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  and further including the steps of:
 storing subscription information including an identifier of a system user requesting notification of a modification to said core requirements or selected country-specific requirements; and   providing, upon modification of said core requirements or said selected country-specific requirements, notice to said system user.   
   
   
       7 . A program product containing a program operable on a computer for managing requirements to facilitate international shipping, said program product comprising instructions for operating said computer to perform the steps of:
 storing core requirements applicable to a plurality of countries;   storing respective country-specific requirements applicable to respective countries;   protecting said core requirements and said country-specific requirements so that they can only be modified by an authorized user;   receiving a request to modify a one of said core requirements or a one of said country-specific requirements; and   providing said request to said authorized user.   
   
   
       8 . A method operable on a computer of obtaining requirements for international shipping, comprising the steps of:
 submitting, on said computer, a request for a notification of a modification to a requirement for an identified international shipping requirement; and   receiving, on said computer, a notification of said modification.   
   
   
       9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8  and further including the step of receiving said modification on said computer. 
   
   
       10 . A system for obtaining requirements for international shipping, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory operatively connected to said processor storing instructions for controlling said processor to perform the steps of:   submitting a request for a notification of a modification to a requirement for an identified international shipping requirement; and   receiving a notification of said modification.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  and further including the step of receiving said modification. 
   
   
       12 . A program product containing a program operable on a computer for obtaining requirements for international shipping, said program product comprising instructions for operating said computer to perform the steps of:
 submitting a request for a notification of a modification to a requirement for an identified international shipping requirement; and   receiving a notification of said modification.