System apparatus and method for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering

Abstract

A method and system for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering is provided. A customer system is directed to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods. The GUI is configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, the plurality of shipment options, including a first shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer and a second shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer. The GUI is configured to receive a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options and, in response to a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options, the GUI is adapted to deliver additional information to the customer or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.

1 . A method for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering, the method comprising:
 a. directing a customer system to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods;   b. the GUI configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, the plurality of shipment options, including:
 i. a first shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer; 
 ii. a second shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer; 
   c. the GUI being configured to receive a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options;   d. in response to a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options, adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.   
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the step of adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer includes presenting to the customer price information corresponding to the customer selected shipment option. 
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second shipment option is one where a rail transportation company owns the railcar for the shipment of the goods. 
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the step of adapting the GUI includes providing a control component for receiving an input by the customer to place an order to fulfill a shipment according to the customer selection of a shipment option. 
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of customer selectable shipment options include at least two route options between the origin and the destination and wherein the route options are independently selectable from the first and second shipment options. 
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the route options is a bimodal route option including a rail portion having one or more rail segments and a truck portion over which the goods are transported by truck. 
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the GUI is configured to identify in connection with the bimodal route option a rail hub at a juncture between the truck portion and the rail portion. 
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the GUI is configured to identify for at least one of the portions of the route a length of the portion of the route. 
     
     
         9 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein each route option distinguishes between a route including one or more rail segments, where all the rail segments of the route are owned by the same owner and a route including a plurality of rail segments having two segments owned by different owners. 
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the GUI is configured to display at least one of the route options on a map, identifying on the map for the at least one route option:
 a. an origin;   b. the truck portion;   c. the rail portion;   d. a rail hub at a junction between the truck portion and the rail portion;   e. a destination.   
     
     
         11 . A server arrangement for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering, the server arrangement configured for:
 a. directing a customer system to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods;   b. the GUI configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, the plurality of shipment options, including:
 i. a first shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer; 
 ii. a second shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer; 
   c. the GUI being configured to receive a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options;   d. in response to a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options, adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.   
     
     
         12 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the server is configured to adapt the GUI to present to the customer price information corresponding to the customer selected shipment option. 
     
     
         13 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the second shipment option is one where a rail transportation company owns the railcar for the shipment of the goods. 
     
     
         14 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein adapting the GUI includes providing a control component for receiving an input by the customer to place an order to fulfill a shipment according to the customer selection of a shipment option. 
     
     
         15 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of customer selectable shipment options include at least two route options between the origin and the destination and wherein the route options are independently selectable from the first and second shipment options. 
     
     
         16 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the route options is a bimodal route option including a rail portion having one or more rail segments and a truck portion over which the goods are transported by truck. 
     
     
         17 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the GUI is configured to identify in connection with the bimodal route option a rail hub at a juncture between the truck portion and the rail portion. 
     
     
         18 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the GUI is configured to identify for at least one of the portions of the route a length of the portion of the route. 
     
     
         19 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 17 , wherein each route option distinguishes between a route including one or more rail segments, where all the rail segments of the route are owned by the same owner and a route including a plurality of rail segments having two segments owned by different owners. 
     
     
         20 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the GUI is configured to display at least one of the route options on a map, identifying on the map for the at least one route option:
 a. an origin;   b. the truck portion;   c. the rail portion;   d. a rail hub at a junction between the truck portion and the rail portion;   e. a destination.   
     
     
         21 . A computer for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry or a rail-shipment service ordering, the computer including a non-transitory storage medium containing instructions for execution by a CPU, the instructions configured for:
 a. Implementing on the computer a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying an origin and a destination for a shipment of goods;   b. the GUI configured for presenting a plurality of customer-selectable shipment options, the plurality of shipment options, including:
 i. a first shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer; 
 ii. a second shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer; 
   c. the GUI being configured to receive a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options;   d. in response to a customer selection of a shipment option among the plurality of shipment options, adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.   
     
     
         22 . A computer as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions are configured for adapting the GUI to present to the customer price information corresponding to the customer selected shipment option. 
     
     
         23 . A computer as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the second shipment option is one where a rail transportation company owns the railcar for the shipment of the goods. 
     
     
         24 . A computer as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the the instructions are configured for adapting the GUI provide a control component for receiving an input by the customer to place an order to fulfill a shipment according to the customer selection of a shipment option. 
     
     
         25 . A computer as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of customer selectable shipment options include at least two route options between the origin and the destination and wherein the route options are independently selectable from the first and second shipment options. 
     
     
         26 . A computer as defined in  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the route options is a bimodal route option including a rail portion having one or more rail segments and a truck portion over which the goods are transported by truck. 
     
     
         27 . A computer as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the GUI is configured to identify in connection with the bimodal route option a rail hub at a juncture between the truck portion and the rail portion. 
     
     
         28 . A computer as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the GUI is configured to identify for at least one of the portions of the route a length of the portion of the route. 
     
     
         29 . A computer as defined in  claim 27 , wherein each route option distinguishes between a route including one or more rail segments, where all the rail segments of the route are owned by the same owner and a route including a plurality of rail segments having two segments owned by different owners. 
     
     
         30 . A computer as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the GUI is configured to display at least one of the route options on a map, identifying on the map for the at least one route option:
 a. an origin;   b. the truck portion;   c. the rail portion;   d. a rail hub at a junction between the truck portion and the rail portion;   e. a destination.