Shipment Option Selection with Environmental Impact Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shipping applications do not consider environmental impact when presenting shipment service options, limiting user choice to cost, distance, and transit time, without accounting for other metrics.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that receives shipment-related criteria, calculates and displays environmental impact for each option, using actual and projected environmental data to provide users with informed choices, and includes a confidence factor for accuracy verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If shipping applications present only cost, distance, and transit time metrics, then the system complexity remains low and ease of operation is maintained, but the information completeness is insufficient and user decision-making capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an environmental impact estimator as an intermediary component that calculates environmental metrics based on carrier-provided data. This mediator processes raw carrier data through standardized algorithms, transforming unstructured carrier information into comparable environmental impact scores without requiring direct integration complexity between carriers and the user interface
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the environmental impact assessment into distinct modular components: data reception from carriers, data validation, environmental impact calculation, confidence factor determination, and presentation to users. This segmentation allows each function to be independently developed and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive environmental information display
2Measurement precision
If the system uses provided environmental impact data from carriers directly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of environmental impact data is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where confidence factors are calculated based on the consistency between provided environmental data and actual shipment outcomes. This feedback loop allows the system to identify and weight more reliable data sources over time, improving measurement precision through learned patterns rather than requiring complex real-time validation of every data point
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data validation and confidence assessment before environmental impact calculations are displayed to users. By pre-processing and verifying carrier data against established criteria beforehand, the system ensures measurement precision without adding complexity to the user-facing interface or real-time decision-making processes
3Loss of information
If the system displays environmental impact information for all shipment options, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to increased information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color-coded visual indicators to represent different levels of environmental impact across shipment options. By translating numerical environmental data into intuitive color gradients or traffic-light-style indicators, the system maintains full information transparency while allowing users to quickly grasp comparative environmental performance without being overwhelmed by detailed numerical data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms environmental impact data from a complex multi-dimensional dataset into a simplified one-dimensional visual scale that can be easily compared across options. By projecting environmental metrics onto a unified visual dimension (such as a linear scale or color intensity), the system preserves information completeness while enabling rapid user comprehension and comparison
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of offering shipment options for selection is disclosed. The method includes receiving shipment-related criteria from a user and defining at one or more one shipment options that meet the shipment-related criteria. Environmental data corresponding to the shipment options are received and an corresponding environmental impacts, based on the environmental data, are determined. The method further includes displaying the shipment option with the corresponding environmental impact to the user and storing a selection by the user of one shipment option of the one or more shipment options.