Flexible Billing Adjustment System for Transportation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional billing systems in the transportation industry are inefficient in handling credit card billing adjustments, often requiring customers to contact credit card companies directly, leading to additional fees and increased costs for carriers.

Innovation Solution

A flexible billing system that allows users to initiate and process credit card billing adjustments through a graphical user interface, using a database to retrieve past transactions and submit adjustment requests directly to credit card companies, reducing the need for manual processing and third-party involvement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If customers contact credit card companies directly for billing adjustments, then credit card companies can process the refunds, but additional chargeback fees are assessed to the carrier and the process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling adjustment processingVSAvoidbilling adjustment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (the billing adjustment system with integration module) that mediates between the carrier's billing system and the credit card company. This intermediary automates the billing adjustment process, eliminating manual interventions and reducing the complexity associated with direct customer-initiated chargebacks while maintaining reliable processing through structured electronic communication protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If carriers manually process billing adjustments through customer service divisions, then customer service can be maintained, but processing costs and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling adjustment processingVSAvoidbilling adjustment processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically retrieves transaction information, validates adjustment requests, and processes billing adjustments without requiring manual customer service intervention. The automated system serves itself by integrating with existing billing databases and credit card processing systems, dramatically reducing both processing time and operational costs while maintaining ease of use through simple customer initiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If refund checks are mailed to customers instead of applying credit directly, then customers receive their refunds, but processing, generating and mailing costs become prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling adjustment processing costVSAvoidbilling adjustment processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical refund check processing (printing, mailing, tracking) with an electronic digital system that automatically applies credits to customer accounts and processes adjustments through electronic communication with credit card companies. This substitution eliminates the physical handling and mailing costs while maintaining operational simplicity through automated electronic workflows

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If carriers use traditional in-house billing systems, then existing infrastructure is maintained, but the systems cannot easily accommodate credit card billing adjustment requests

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling system flexibilityVSAvoidbilling system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal billing adjustment system that can handle multiple types of billing adjustments across different credit card companies and transaction types. The system maintains compatibility with existing carrier billing infrastructure while adding versatile adjustment capabilities through standardized integration interfaces, allowing the system to adapt to various billing scenarios without requiring complete system replacement or excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7630938B2Flexible billing adjustment system

Publication Date: 2009.12.08 UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICAN INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to flexible billing systems that can be used within the transportation industry to facilitate credit card billing adjustments to credit cards that were previously used by customers to pay for one or more shipping charges. In particular, the present invention provides a system or tool that enables a user to easily access a detailed billing history of credit card transactions in order to apply full or partial credit card billing adjustments that specifically correspond to individual transactions included in the history of charges associated with a particular item or shipment.