# US 2009/0271237 A1 · Optimizing Rail Shipments for Commodity Transactions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0271237 A1 - Document ID: US20090271237A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/431,125 - Filed: 2009-04-28 - Published: 2009-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-28 - Assignees: Rail Insight, LLC - Inventors: Arthur J. Siccardi, JR.; Daniel L. Gordon; Daniel Luther - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090271237A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) - G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management - G06Q 10/08345: {Pricing} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Embodiments for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity are described herein. More specifically, one embodiment of a method includes receiving data related to a first previously established rail shipment the first previously established rail shipment established via a first supplier and exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity, comprising: receiving data related to a first previously established rail shipment, the first previously established rail shipment including a first origin and a first destination, the first previously established rail shipment being established by a first supplier; determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment that is established by a second supplier will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, the second previously established rail shipment including a second origin and a second destination; and in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment such that the first supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the first origin to the second destination and the second supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the second origin to the first destination. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier includes comparing the first origin and the first destination with the second origin and the second destination. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving data related to the first previously established rail shipment includes receiving a hurdle rate threshold from the first supplier that indicates a minimum savings required for exchanging shipments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier includes determining whether the hurdle rate threshold is met. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving data related to the first previously established rail shipment includes receiving a timeframe for delivery of the first previously established rail shipment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the commodity includes ethanol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will not result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a third previously established rail shipment that was established by a third supplier will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the third supplier. ### Claim 8 A system for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity, comprising: a memory component configured to store at least the following: receiving logic configured to receive data related to a first previously established rail shipment, the first previously established rail shipment including a first origin and a first destination, the first previously established rail shipment being established by a first supplier; first determining logic configured to determine whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment that is established by a second supplier will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, the second previously established rail shipment including a second origin and a second destination; and exchanging logic configured to, in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, exchange at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment such that the first supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the first origin to the second destination and the second supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the second origin to the first destination. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier includes comparing the first origin and the first destination with the second origin and the second destination. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein receiving data related to the first previously established rail shipment includes receiving a hurdle rate threshold from the first supplier that indicates a minimum savings required for exchanging shipments. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier includes determining whether the hurdle rate threshold is met. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein receiving data related to the first previously established rail shipment includes receiving a timeframe for delivery of the first previously established rail shipment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the commodity includes ethanol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising, second determining logic configured to, in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will not result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, determine whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a third previously established rail shipment that was established by a third supplier will result in greater efficiency for at least one of the first supplier and the third supplier. ### Claim 15 A computer-readable storage medium for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity that stores a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following: receive data related to a first previously established rail shipment, the first previously established rail shipment including a first origin and a first destination, the first previously established rail shipment being established by a first supplier; determine whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment established by a second supplier will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, the second previously established rail shipment including a second origin and a second destination; and in response to a determination that exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier, exchange at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with the second previously established rail shipment such that the first supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the first origin to the second destination and the second supplier facilitates shipment of commodities from the second origin to the first destination. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier includes comparing the first origin and the first destination with the second origin and the second destination. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein receiving data related to the first previously established rail shipment includes receiving a hurdle rate threshold from the first supplier that indicates a minimum savings required for exchanging shipments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein determining whether exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment will result in lower shipment costs for at least one of the first supplier and the second supplier includes determining whether the hurdle rate threshold is met. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein receiving data related to the first previously established rail shipment includes receiving a timeframe for delivery of the first previously established rail shipment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the commodity includes ethanol. ### Claim 21 A computer-implemented method for optimization of at least one previously established rail shipment of a commodity, comprising: receiving data related to a first previously established rail shipment the first previously established rail shipment established via a first supplier; and exchanging at least a portion of the first previously established rail shipment with a second previously established rail shipment.