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 to provide a test for comparing the compliance of an international shipment with requirements for international shipping, comprising the steps of:
 storing on said computer a plurality of questions for testing the compliance of said international shipment with requirements;   providing on said computer correct answers to said plurality of questions;   receiving a request to test an international shipment for compliance with said requirements;   making available said plurality of questions;   receiving input answers to said plurality of questions; and   comparing said input answers to said correct answers to determine if said international shipment is in compliance with said international shipment requirements.   
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  and further including the steps of generating a compliance report based on said answers. 
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  and further including the steps of:
 aggregating on said computer results based on a plurality of international shipment tests; and   making available a plurality of compliance reports based on said results.   
   
   
       4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  and further including the step of, if said international shipment is not in compliance with said requirements, initiating an action plan. 
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said step of initiating an action plan includes identifying an action plan handler. 
   
   
       6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  and further including the step of creating a stored record of said action plan and said action plan handler. 
   
   
       7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6  and further including the step of creating a user report based on said stored record. 
   
   
       8 . A system for providing a test for comparing the compliance of an international shipment with requirements for international shipping, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory operatively connected to said processor and containing instructions for controlling the operation of said processor to perform the steps of:   storing a plurality of questions for testing the compliance of said international shipment with requirements;   providing correct answers to said plurality of questions;   receiving a request to test an international shipment for compliance with said requirements;   making available said plurality of questions;   receiving input answers to said plurality of questions; and   comparing said input answers to said correct answers to determine if said international shipment is in compliance with said international shipment requirements.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  further including a report generator component for generating a compliance report based on said answers. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  and further including an action plan initiator for, if said international shipment is not in compliance with said requirements, initiating an action plan. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising an action plan handler. 
   
   
       12 . A program product containing a program operable on a computer for providing a test for comparing the compliance of an international shipment with requirements for international shipping, said program product comprising instructions for operating said computer to perform the steps of:
 storing a plurality of questions for testing the compliance of said international shipment with requirements;   providing correct answers to said plurality of questions;   receiving a request to test an international shipment for compliance with said requirements;   making available said plurality of questions;   receiving input answers to said plurality of questions; and   comparing said input answers to said correct answers to determine if said international shipment is in compliance with said international shipment requirements.   
   
   
       13 . A method operable on a computer to test an international shipment with requirements for international shipping, comprising the steps of:
 reviewing said international shipment;   requesting on said computer questions for testing the compliance of said international shipment with requirements;   receiving on said computer said questions; and   inputting into said computer, based on said reviewing step, answers to said questions.   
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  and further including the steps of receiving a compliance report based on the answers. 
   
   
       15 . A system for testing an international shipment with requirements for international shipping, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory connected to said processor and containing instructions for controlling the operation of said processor to perform the steps of:   reviewing said international shipment;   requesting questions for testing the compliance of said international shipment with requirements;   receiving said questions; and   inputting, based on said reviewing step, answers to said questions.   
   
   
       16 . A program product containing a program operable on a computer for testing an international shipment with requirements for international shipping, said program product comprising instructions for operating said computer to perform the steps of:
 reviewing said international shipment;   requesting questions for testing the compliance of said international shipment with requirements;   receiving said questions; and   inputting, based on said reviewing step, answers to said questions.