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 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry including providing a cost estimate in relation to the transport of goods by rail, comprising:
 (a) adapting a Graphical User Interface (GUI) by dynamically modifying a selection range of an input object providing equipment options a user can select for performing a shipment of goods, the adapting including:
 i. sending commands over a data communication network to a remote customer client system, the commands directing the remote customer client system to implement a GUI providing a goods input object configured to accept user inputs identifying goods to be shipped; 
 ii. the GUI being configured to provide a dynamically adaptable railcar type input object identifying a collection of individually selectable freight railcar type options that the user can chose from for performing the shipment of the goods specified by the user at the goods input object, the collection of individually selectable freight railcar types options being dynamically adaptable to the goods to be shipped; 
 iii. in response to a user input at the goods input object identifying particular goods to be shipped, executing a program element configured for processing the particular goods to be shipped selected at the goods input object to derive an adapted collection of freight railcar type options, the adapted collection of freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types suitable to transport the particular goods and omitting freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the particular goods; 
 iv. the GUI being configured to make available for selection at the railcar type input object the derived adapted collection of freight railcar type options; 
   (b) executing a program element configured to compute the cost estimate by using as factors at least the user input at the GUI identifying the goods to be shipped and the railcar type selected among the adapted collection of freight railcar type options and displaying the computed cost estimate at the GUI.   
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein in response to a user input identifying a specific freight railcar type selected at the railcar type input object, executing a program element configured for processing the specific freight railcar type selected at the railcar type input object to derive a list of actual railcars, the derived list of actual railcars including a railcar of the specific railcar type selected at the railcar type input object, the GUI being configured to display the derived list of actual railcars. 
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the GUI includes an origin and destination input object configured to accept user inputs identifying an origin and a destination for the transport of the particular goods. 
     
     
         9 . A method as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the GUI includes a route input object for displaying a plurality of individually selectable route options that the user can chose from for the transport of the particular goods, the route options being associated with respective routes between the origin and the destination. 
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein in response to selection of a particular route option, the program element adapting the collection of individually selectable freight railcar type options to display selectable freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types suitable to travel on the route associated with the particular route option and omitting from the collection selectable freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot travel on the route associated with the particular route option. 
     
     
         11 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the GUI includes a customer login input object for accepting customer credentials corresponding to a specific customer and identifying in a customer profile database a specific customer profile associated with the specific customer, the specific customer profile allowing distinguishing between a set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer and freight railcars owned by one or more entities other than the specific customer. 
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the GUI includes a railcar ownership input object configured for displaying a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar ownership options that the user can chose from, the method including setting one of the ownership options to identify the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile as owner of the freight railcar to be used for the shipment when the set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer includes a freight railcar of a type corresponding to the selected railcar type option. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the GUI includes a railcar ownership input object configured for displaying a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar ownership options that the user can chose from, the method including omitting from the selectable freight railcar ownership options, ownership options identifying the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile as owner of the freight railcar to be used for the shipment when the set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer does not include a freight railcar of a type corresponding to the selected freight railcar type option. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the route input object includes a first route option which corresponds to a route that includes at least a segment owned by a first entity, and a second route option which corresponds to a route that includes at least a segment owned by a second entity, which is different from the first entity, the GUI includes a railcar ownership input object configured for displaying a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar ownership options that the user can chose from, wherein in response to selection of a particular route option setting one of the ownership options in the railcar ownership input object to identify as owner of the freight railcar to be used for the shipment the entity that owns the segment of the route corresponding to the particular route option. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , including:
 a. receiving at a hardware server arrangement from the remote customer client the customer credentials;   b. processing the customer credentials with the hardware server arrangement to identify the specific customer profile associated with the customer credentials among a plurality of customer profiles in the customer profile database.   
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the hardware server arrangement includes an inventory of freight railcars, said method comprising processing at the hardware server arrangement the inventory of freight railcars to distinguish freight railcars associated with the identified specific customer profile and which are owned by the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile from freight railcars that are not owned by the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the hardware server arrangement stores a plurality of active shipping orders, the method including searching the plurality of active shipping orders to identify a subset of shipping orders associated with the specific customer profile and sending commands from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system to direct the GUI to display the subset of shipping orders. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein when the processing by the hardware server arrangement indicates that the set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile includes a freight railcar of the type selected by the user among the freight railcar type options in the first collection, setting another of the freight railcar ownership options to identify the rail transportation company as owner of the freight railcar to be used for the shipment. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , including sending signals from the hardware server arrangement to the remote customer client system for presenting the user via the graphical user interface with a plurality of service options that the user can chose from. 
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , including sending commands to the remote customer client system for presenting the user via the GUI with a plurality of service options that the user can chose from, 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. 
     
     
         21 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , including computing the cost estimate for performing the shipment by using as factors at least the user input at the GUI identifying the goods to be shipped, the information in the specific customer profile, the railcar type selected among the adapted collection of freight railcar type options and the freight railcar ownership option selected by the user through the GUI. 
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the GUI is configured to display the customer-specific list of actual railcars by prioritizing actual railcars owned by the specific customer over actual railcars owned by others. 
     
     
         23 . A server arrangement for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment service inquiry including providing a cost estimate in relation to the transport of goods by rail, the server arrangement configured for:
 a. adapting a Graphical User Interface (GUI) by dynamically modifying a selection range of an input object providing equipment options a user can select for performing a shipment of goods, the adapting including:
 i. sending commands over a data communication network to a remote customer client system, the commands directing the remote customer client system to implement a GUI providing a goods input object configured to accept user inputs identifying goods to be shipped; 
 ii. the GUI being configured to provide a dynamically adaptable railcar type input object identifying a collection of individually selectable freight railcar type options that the user can chose from for performing the shipment of the goods specified by the user at the goods input object, the collection of individually selectable freight railcar types options being dynamically adaptable to the goods to be shipped; 
 iii. in response to a user input at the goods input object identifying particular goods to be shipped, executing a program element configured for processing the particular goods to be shipped selected at the goods input object to derive an adapted collection of freight railcar type options, the adapted collection of freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types suitable to transport the particular goods and omitting freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the particular goods; 
 iv. the GUI being configured to make available for selection at the railcar type input object the derived adapted collection of freight railcar type options; 
   b. executing a program element configured to compute the cost estimate by using as factors at least the user input at the GUI identifying the goods to be shipped and the railcar type selected among the adapted collection of freight railcar type options and displaying the computed cost estimate at the GUI.   
     
     
         24 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 23 , wherein in response to a user input identifying a specific freight railcar type selected at the railcar type input object, executing a program element configured for processing the specific freight railcar type selected at the railcar type input object to derive a list of actual railcars, the derived list of actual railcars including a railcar of the specific railcar type selected at the railcar type input object, the GUI being configured to display the derived list of actual railcars. 
     
     
         25 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the GUI includes a customer login input object for accepting customer credentials corresponding to a specific customer and identifying in a customer profile database a specific customer profile associated with the specific customer, the specific customer profile allowing distinguishing between a set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer and freight railcars owned by one or more entities other than the specific customer. 
     
     
         26 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the GUI includes a railcar ownership input object configured for displaying a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar ownership options that the user can chose from, the server arrangement being configured to set one of the ownership options on the GUI to identify the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile as owner of the freight railcar to be used for the shipment when the set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer includes a freight railcar of a type corresponding to the selected railcar type option. 
     
     
         27 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the GUI includes a railcar ownership input object configured for displaying a plurality of individually selectable freight railcar ownership options that the user can chose from, the server arrangement being configured to omit from the selectable freight railcar ownership options on the GUI, ownership options identifying the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile as owner of the freight railcar to be used for the shipment when the set of freight railcars owned by the specific customer does not include a freight railcar of a type corresponding to the selected freight railcar type option. 
     
     
         28 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 25 , the server arrangement further configured for:
 a. receiving from the remote customer client the customer credentials;   b. processing the customer credentials to identify the specific customer profile associated with the customer credentials among a plurality of customer profiles in the customer profile database.   
     
     
         29 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 28 , comprising an inventory of freight railcars, wherein the server arrangement is configured for processing the inventory of freight railcars to distinguish freight railcars associated with the identified specific customer profile and which are owned by the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile from freight railcars that are not owned by the specific customer associated with the specific customer profile. 
     
     
         30 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the hardware server arrangement stores a plurality of active shipping orders and is configured for:
 a. searching the plurality of active shipping orders to identify a subset of shipping orders associated with the specific customer profile; and   b. sending commands to the remote customer client system to direct the GUI to display the subset of shipping orders.   
     
     
         31 . A server arrangement as defined in  claim 26 , configured for computing the cost estimate for performing the shipment by using as factors at least the user input at the GUI identifying the goods to be shipped, the information in the specific customer profile, the railcar type selected among the adapted collection of freight railcar type options and the freight railcar ownership option selected by the user through the GUI. 
     
     
         32 . A method for a rail transportation company for conducting an online transaction to fulfill a rail-shipment including providing cost information in connection with the rail-shipment, and fulfilling the rail-shipment, the method comprising:
 a. directing a customer system to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) configured to provide a commodity input object configured to accept a user input identifying a commodity to be shipped;   b. the GUI being configured to provide a dynamically adaptable railcar type object identifying a collection of individually selectable freight railcar type options that the user can chose from for performing the rail-shipment of the commodity specified by a user at the commodity input object, the collection of individually selectable freight railcar type options being dynamically adaptable to the commodity to be shipped;   c. in response to user input at the commodity input object identifying a particular commodity to be shipped, causing the GUI to make available for selection at the railcar type input object an adapted collection of freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types suitable to transport the particular commodity and omitting freight railcar type options corresponding to freight railcar types that cannot transport the particular commodity;   d. computing a baseline haul price by using as a factor the user input at the GUI identifying the commodity to be shipped and the railcar type selected among the adapted collection of freight railcar type options and displaying the baseline haul price via the GUI;   e. executing a program element to:
 i. display at the GUI information including a list of actual railcars, each railcar in said list of actual railcars being of a particular railcar type; 
 ii. accept user inputs at the GUI conveying customer-selected shipping options, the customer-selected shipping options:
 1. identifying a railcar from the list of actual railcars to be used for a shipment of the commodity, the identified railcar being of a type corresponding to the railcar type selected among the adapted collection of freight railcar type options; 
 2. identifying a chargeable service to be performed on the identified railcar to be used for the shipment of the commodity; 
 
 iii. compute a customized shipment price by using as a factor one or more inputs identifying the customer-selected shipping options including the chargeable service to be performed on the railcar to be used for the shipment of the commodity; 
   f. transporting the commodity by using the railcar identified by the user inputs conveying the customer selected shipping options   
     
     
         33 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the GUI includes an origin and destination input object configured to accept user inputs identifying an origin and a destination for the transport of the commodity. 
     
     
         34 . A method as defined in  claim 33 , wherein the GUI includes a route input object for displaying a plurality of individually selectable route options that the user can chose from for the transport of the particular goods, the route options being associated with respective routes between the origin and the destination. 
     
     
         35 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the chargeable service to be performed on the railcar is 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.