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. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is configured by dynamically modifying an input object providing equipment options a user can select for a shipment of goods. Configuring the GUI comprises providing a hardware server arrangement including a machine readable storage encoded with software for implementing operations for configuring the GUI to alter selectable options on a GUI on a remote customer client system. Signals are sent to the remote customer client system to direct the GUI to implement a first input object configured to accept a user input identifying goods to be shipped. Signals are received from the remote customer client system conveying the user input identifying the goods to be shipped. These signals are processed at the hardware server arrangement to derive freight railcar types suitable to transport the particular goods and signals are then sent to the remote customer client system to direct a second input object implemented by the GUI to present to the user individually selectable freight railcar type options corresponding to derived the freight railcar types omitting railcar type options that cannot transport the particular goods. In response to reception of signals from the remote customer client system indicative of a selection of a freight railcar type option by the user, signals are generated and sent to the remote customer client system for adapting the GUI 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 configuring a Graphical User Interface (GUI) by dynamically modifying an input object providing equipment options a user can select for a shipment of goods, wherein configuring the GUI comprises:
 (a) providing a hardware server arrangement including a machine readable storage encoded with software for implementing operations for configuring the GUI to alter selectable options on a GUI on a remote customer client system;   (b) sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system to direct the GUI to implement a first input object configured to accept a user input identifying goods to be shipped;   (c) receiving at the hardware server arrangement signals from the remote customer client system conveying the user input identifying the goods to be shipped;   (d) processing at the hardware server arrangement the user input identifying the goods to be shipped to derive freight railcar types suitable to transport the particular goods;   (e) sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system to direct a second input object implemented by the GUI to present to the user individually selectable freight railcar type options corresponding to the freight railcar types derived at step (d), the second input object omitting from the selectable freight railcar type options, freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the particular goods;   (f) in response to reception at the hardware server arrangement of signals from the remote customer client system indicative of a selection of a freight railcar type option by the user, sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for 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 sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for adapting the GUI includes:
 computing a cost estimate associated to the shipment based at least in part on the selection of the freight railcar type option by the user;   wherein the signals sent from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system direct the GUI to present the user with the cost estimate associated to the shipment.   
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for adapting the GUI includes:
 in response to reception at the hardware server arrangement of signals from the remote customer client system indicative of an actuation of a control component on the GUI authorizing the shipment, generating at the hardware server arrangement an active shipping order;   in response to generation of the active shipping order, performing the desired shipment by using a freight railcar of the type selected by the user.   
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the GUI includes a third input object configured to accept user inputs identifying an origin and a destination for the transport of the goods. 
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 4 , wherein performing the desired shipment includes transporting the goods from the origin to the destination. 
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , including configuring the GUI on the remote customer client system to display one or more selectable options for services to be performed on the freight railcar to be used for the shipment. 
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , including in response to selection by the user of an option for services to be performed, performing the services on the freight railcar used for the shipment. 
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of service options include at least one service option selected in the group consisting of cleaning the freight railcar, loading the freight railcar, unloading the freight railcar, refrigerating the freight railcar and switching the freight railcar. 
     
     
         9 . 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 directing a customer client system to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object providing equipment options a user can select for a shipment of goods, said server arrangement comprising a hardware server arrangement including a non-transient machine readable storage encoded with software for implementing operations for configuring the GUI to alter selectable options on the GUI on the remote customer client system, said operations comprising:
 (a) sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system to direct the GUI to implement a first input object configured to accept a user input identifying goods to be shipped;   (b) receiving at the hardware server arrangement signals from the remote customer client system conveying the user input identifying the goods to be shipped;   (c) processing at the hardware server arrangement the user input identifying the goods to be shipped to derive freight railcar types suitable to transport the particular goods;   (d) sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system to direct a second input object implemented by the GUI to present to the user individually selectable freight railcar type options corresponding to the freight railcar types derived at step (c), the second input object omitting from the selectable freight railcar type options, freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the particular goods;   (e) in response to reception at the hardware server arrangement of signals from the remote customer client system indicative of a selection of a freight railcar type option by the user, sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.   
     
     
         10 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 9 , wherein sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for adapting the GUI includes:
 computing a cost estimate associated to the shipment based at least in part on the selection of the freight railcar type option by the user;   wherein the signals sent from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system direct the GUI to present the user with the cost estimate associated to the shipment.   
     
     
         11 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 9 , wherein sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for adapting the GUI includes:
 in response to reception at the hardware server arrangement of signals from the remote customer client system indicative of an actuation of a control component on the GUI authorizing the shipment, generating at the hardware server arrangement an active shipping order;   in response to generation of the active shipping order, performing the desired shipment by using a freight railcar of the type selected by the user.   
     
     
         12 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the GUI includes a third input object configured to accept user inputs identifying an origin and a destination for the transport of the goods. 
     
     
         13 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 12 , wherein performing the desired shipment includes transporting the goods from the origin to the destination. 
     
     
         14 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 9 , including configuring the GUI on the remote customer client system to display one or more selectable options for services to be performed on the freight railcar to be used for the shipment. 
     
     
         15 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 14 , including in response to selection by the user of an option for services to be performed, performing the services on the freight railcar used for the shipment. 
     
     
         16 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of service options include at least one service option selected in the group consisting of cleaning the freight railcar, loading the freight railcar, unloading the freight railcar, refrigerating the freight railcar and switching the freight railcar. 
     
     
         17 . 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 goods to be shipped;   (b) in response to the customer input identifying the goods to be shipped, the GUI configured for presenting a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar type options, the plurality of individually selectable freight railcar type options omitting freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the goods to be shipped identified at the customer input;   (c) the GUI being configured to receive a customer selection of a freight railcar type option among the plurality of selectable freight railcar type options;   (d) in response to the customer selection of the freight railcar type option among the plurality of selectable freight railcar type options, adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer about the shipment or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.   
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the step of adapting the GUI to present additional information to the customer includes computing price information for the customer selected shipment option and presenting to the customer the computed price information through the GUI. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the GUI is configured to display the plurality of selectable freight railcar type options in the form of a list. 
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is configured to present a plurality of railcar ownership shipment options. 
     
     
         21 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of railcar ownership shipment options are independently selectable from the plurality of individually selectable freight railcar type options. 
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of railcar ownership shipment options, include:
 (a) a first railcar ownership shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer;   (b) a second railcar ownership shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer;   
     
     
         23 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein adapting the GUI includes providing a control component for receiving an input by the customer to place an order to fulfill the shipment according to the customer selection. 
     
     
         24 . 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 computer system to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing an input object configured to accept a customer input identifying goods to be shipped;   (b) in response to the customer input identifying the goods to be shipped, the GUI configured for presenting a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar type options, the plurality of individually selectable freight railcar type options omitting freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the goods to be shipped identified at the customer input;   (c) the GUI being configured to receive a customer selection of a freight railcar type option among the plurality of selectable freight railcar type options;   (d) in response to the customer selection of the freight railcar type option among the plurality of selectable freight railcar type options, adapting the GUI to deliver additional information to the customer about the shipment or request from the customer additional input in order to complete the online transaction.   
     
     
         25 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the server is configured to adapt the GUI to present to the customer price information corresponding to the customer selection of the freight railcar type option. 
     
     
         26 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the GUI is configured to display the plurality of selectable freight railcar type options in the form of a list. 
     
     
         27 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is configured to present a plurality of railcar ownership shipment options. 
     
     
         28 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of railcar ownership shipment options are independently selectable from the plurality of individually selectable freight railcar type options. 
     
     
         29 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of railcar ownership shipment options, include:
 (a) a first railcar ownership shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by the customer;   (b) a second railcar ownership shipment option where the shipment uses a railcar owned by an entity other than the customer;   
     
     
         30 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 24 , the server is configured to adapt the GUI to provide a control component for receiving an input by the customer to place an order to fulfill a shipment according to the customer selection.