System and Method for Processing Import/Export Transactions

Abstract

Import/export transactions whereby an item is to be transported from one country to another are automated. An invoice containing a list of one or more part numbers is entered in at a web site and loaded to a server containing a database. A database is of part numbers and their corresponding tariff classification numbers. The uploaded invoice will be compared to the database to output a data record whereby the one or more part numbers uploaded in the invoice now have tariff classification numbers and daily calculation associated therewith This data record can then be accessed over the Internet at another web site by a customs broker for use in transmitting a report to a customs entity.

1 . A method for processing import/export transactions over a network, comprising:
 receiving invoice data associated with an import/export transaction at a first terminal coupled to the network, wherein the invoice data includes a product identifier identifying a product to be transported in the import/export transaction;   transferring the invoice data from the first terminal to a server hosting a database of product identifiers and tariff classification information particular to each of the product identifiers;   matching the product identifier identifying the product to the product identifiers in the database; and   outputting a data record, wherein the data record includes tariff classification information associated with the product identifier identifying the product.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein outputting the data record includes e-mailing the data record to a second terminal coupled to the network. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein outputting the data record includes downloading the data record to a second terminal coupled to the network. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein outputting the data record includes printing the data record. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the data record is downloaded in response to receipt of a request to access the data record by a second terminal using a web browser. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the invoice data further comprises electronically transmitting the invoice data from the first terminal to the server. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the invoice data is received into a web site associated with the database. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving updates to: updating the database from a third terminal coupled to the network. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising recording results of the matching into a transaction database hosted by the server. 
     
     
         10 . A system for processing import/export transactions over a network, comprising:
 means for receiving invoice data associated with an import/export transaction at a first terminal coupled to the network, wherein the invoice data includes a product identifier identifying a product to be transported in the import/export transaction;   means for transferring the invoice data from the first terminal to a server hosting a database of product identifiers and tariff classification information particular to each of the product identifiers;   means for matching the product identifiers identifying the product to the product identifiers in the database; and   means for outputting a data record in response to the matching of the product identifier identifying the product to the product identifiers in the database, wherein the data record includes tariff classification information associated with the product identifiers identifying the product.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the outputting means includes a means for e-mailing the data record to a second terminal coupled to the network. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the outputting means includes a means for downloading the data record to a second terminal coupled to the network. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data record is downloaded in response to access of the data record in the server by the second terminal using a web browser, wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the inputting means further comprises:
 means for electronically transmitting the invoice data from the first terminal to the server.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the inputting means further comprises means for inputting the invoice data into a web site associated with the database. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system for processing import/export transactions over the Internet, comprising:
 a server, coupled to the Internet, hosting a database of product identifiers and corresponding import/export transaction information;   a first computer, coupled to the Internet, operable for uploading invoice data, containing at least one product identifier associated with an import/export item, to the server over the Internet;   a program operable for matching the at least one product identifier with a product identifier contained in the database of product identifiers and outputting a data record including import/export transaction information corresponding to the at least one product identifier, and   a second computer, coupled to the Internet, operable for accessing the data record over the Internet.   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the first computer uploads the invoice data via a web link associated with the server. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the second computer accesses the data record via a web link between the second computer and the server. 
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a software program for transforming the data record into a customs report suitable for transmittal to a customs entity. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and operable for processing an import/export transaction over the Internet, comprising:
 first programming steps operable for establishing a first web page, accessible by a first terminal coupled to the Internet using a web browser, that receives data associated with an import/export transaction from the first terminal, wherein the invoice data includes a product identifier for a product to be transported in the import/export transaction;   second programming steps operable for matching the product identifier included in the invoice data to a database of product identifiers and corresponding tariff classifications resulting in an output of a data record containing a tariff classification matched with the product identifier identifying the product to be transported in the import/export transaction; and   third programming steps operable for establishing a second web page, accessible by a second terminal coupled to the Internet using a web browser, that displays the data record through the second web page.   
     
     
         25 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the database is stored on a server coupled to the Internet. 
     
     
         26 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising:
 fourth programming steps operable for establishing a third web page, accessible by a a third terminal coupled to the Internet using a web browser, that enables an update of the product identifiers and corresponding tariff classifications in the database.   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the product identifier is unique to a particular company. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the import/export transaction is associated with the particular company. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first terminal is coupled to the server over the network. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the matching results in the tariff classification information being assigned to the product identifier included in the invoice data. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the invoice data lists products to be imported/exported, and each product is identified with a product identifier. 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tariff classification information is a harmonized tariff number for a particular country. 
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising transforming the data record into a customs entry report for the import/export transaction. 
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising transforming the data record into a master report to facilitate the import/export transaction. 
     
     
         35 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one product identifier is unique to a particular company. 
     
     
         36 . The system as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the import/export transaction is associated with the particular company. 
     
     
         37 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the first computer is coupled to the server over the Internet. 
     
     
         38 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the matching program assigns the import/export transaction information to the product identifier included in the invoice data. 
     
     
         39 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the invoice data lists products to be imported/exported, and each product is identified with a product identifier. 
     
     
         40 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the import/export transaction information is a harmonized tariff number for a particular country. 
     
     
         41 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the product identifier is unique to a particular company, and the import/export transaction is associated with the particular company. 
     
     
         42 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the matching programming steps assign the tariff classifications to the product identifiers included in the invoice data. 
     
     
         43 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the tariff classifications are harmonized tariff numbers for a particular country. 
     
     
         44 . A method comprising:
 transmitting invoice data over an electronic network to a computer server from a workstation coupled to the computer server over the electronic network, wherein the invoice data is an electronic version of an invoice representing a purchase of the products by a customer resident within the country, wherein the invoice lists the products by product number;   storing an electronic database of customer products and tariff classification information, wherein the electronic database is accessible by the computer server, wherein the electronic database comprises product numbers for products particularly associated with the customer, wherein the product numbers are each assigned a harmonized tariff number particular to the country;   a computer processor comparing the product numbers in the invoice data to product numbers in the electronic database to compile a customs entry report where the product numbers in the invoice are each assigned a harmonized tariff number; and   the computer processor using the customs entry report to create a master report to facilitate entry of the products into the country, wherein the master report includes the harmonized tariff numbers assigned to each of the product numbers.   
     
     
         45 . A method for processing an import/export transaction over a computer network using a server comprising a tariff assignment application and a product database comprising:
 receiving, by the server, an invoice from a first terminal wherein the invoice comprises a product ID corresponding to a product;   matching, by the server, the product ID from the invoice with a product ID from the product database and identifying a corresponding tariff classification from the matched product ID; and   generating and outputting, by the tariff assignment application, an import/export report using the tariff classification from the matched product ID.   
     
     
         46 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , further comprising receiving, by the server, product information from a second terminal and storing the product information in the product database wherein the product information comprises product IDs, tariff classification, and duty rate information corresponding to each product ID. 
     
     
         47 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , further comprising generating a master report using the generated import/export report, and transmitting the master report from the server to a computer coupled to the server over the computer network. 
     
     
         48 . A system for processing an import/export transaction over a computer network using a server comprising a tariff assignment application and a product database comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor storing computer readable instructions when executed cause the processor to perform the steps of:
 receiving an invoice from a first terminal wherein the invoice comprises a product ID corresponding to a product; 
 matching the product ID from the invoice with a product ID from the product database and identifying a corresponding tariff classification from the matched product ID; and 
 generating and outputting an import/export report using the tariff classification from the matched product ID. 
   
     
     
         49 . The system as recited in  claim 48 , further comprising receiving product information from a second terminal and storing the product information in the product database wherein the product information comprises product IDs, tariff classification, and duty rate information corresponding to each product ID. 
     
     
         50 . The system as recited in  claim 48 , further comprising transmitting the invoice and the master report from the server to a customs broker/freight forwarder computer. 
     
     
         51 . The method as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the product ID is unique to a particular company, and the import/export transaction is associated with the particular company. 
     
     
         52 . The method as recited in  claim 51 , wherein the invoice lists products to be imported/exported, and each product is identified with a product ID. 
     
     
         53 . The method as recited in  claim 52 , wherein the tariff classification is a harmonized tariff number for a particular country. 
     
     
         54 . The method as recited in  claim 53 , wherein the product database is customized on a per customer basis to ensure that the matching of the product IDs with the tariff classifications is in compliance with local customs regulations. 
     
     
         55 . The system as recited in  claim 48 , wherein the product ID is unique to a particular company. 
     
     
         56 . The system as recited in  claim 55 , wherein the import/export transaction is associated with the particular company. 
     
     
         57 . The method as recited in  claim 48 , wherein the invoice lists products to be imported/exported, and each product is identified with a product ID. 
     
     
         58 . The system as recited in  claim 57 , wherein the tariff classification is a harmonized tariff number for a particular country.