Cargo Logistics Platform Standardizes Heterogeneous Carrier Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Freight logistics face inefficiencies in scheduling and managing cargo transportation due to lack of visibility into partner carriers' booking systems, incompatible technology platforms, and data sharing restrictions, leading to suboptimal routing and increased resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cargo logistics platform that integrates with carrier and partner carriers' systems to access and standardize cargo transportation data, generate route recommendations based on location, capacity, and partnership data, and facilitate booking requests across different communication formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple partner carriers with different technology platforms are integrated into a single logistics network, then cargo transportation visibility and routing options are improved, but system complexity and data format incompatibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a central logistics platform that acts as an intermediary between the carrier and multiple partner carriers. This platform receives cargo transportation data from various partner carriers in different formats, standardizes the data internally, and provides unified visibility and routing capabilities. The intermediary handles format conversion and data normalization, allowing the system to integrate diverse technology platforms without requiring each partner to adopt a specific format.
2Productivity
If cargo transportation data from multiple carriers is collected and standardized, then scheduling efficiency is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming cargo transportation data from various formats into a standardized internal representation. The system modifies data parameters (formats, structures, and representations) during ingestion and processing, converting heterogeneous data from different carriers into a unified format that enables efficient scheduling. This parameter transformation occurs automatically through the platform's data processing layer.
3Productivity
If route recommendations are generated based on comprehensive cargo transportation data, then delivery optimization is improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-processing and standardizing cargo transportation data as it is collected from partner carriers, before route recommendation generation is required. The system performs data normalization, validation, and structuring in advance, creating a ready-to-use standardized data set. When route recommendations are needed, the computational process works with already-prepared data rather than raw heterogeneous data, reducing real-time computational requirements.
4Speed
If booking requests are automatically transmitted to partner carriers, then scheduling speed is improved, but communication protocol incompatibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the central logistics platform as an intermediary to handle communication protocol conversions. The platform receives booking requests in its standardized format, translates them into the appropriate communication protocols for each specific partner carrier, and transmits them accordingly. This intermediary translation layer enables automatic booking request transmission to multiple carriers with different protocols without requiring direct integration between the carrier and each partner.
Data Source
AI summary
A device receives and stores location data and cargo transportation data. The cargo transportation data is received from a first system of a carrier and one or more other systems of partner carriers. The device receives, from the first system, a transportation availability request that is to be used to schedule transportation of cargo. The device generates and provides the first system with a recommendation that specifies recommended routes that may be used to assist in transporting the cargo. The device receives, from the first system, a booking request that identifies a selected route that vehicles are to use to transport the cargo, and provides the booking request to one or more other systems. The device receives a booking response from a second system of a partner carrier and provides the first system with an indication of whether the partner carrier has provided confirmation of assistance in transporting the cargo.