Router utility for a parcel shipping system

Abstract

A router utility and corresponding method for routing a load of one or more shipments of parcels, for use in a system for managing shipping parcels that includes a shipping database and a planning engine that provides load information for the load indicating a load identifier. The router utility includes: an input module for providing the load identifier included in the load information, and an analyzer for providing a carrier and service list. The planning information from the shipping database is organized as a set of tables of field records, including: an address table, for indicating an address and a route identifier based on an address identifier; a shipment header table, for indicating charge terms corresponding to a load identifier and for indicating at least one address identifier; rate shop group tables, for indicating one or more routes (a carrier and service); a route identifier priority table, for indicating priority for determining a route identifier based on charge terms; and routing instruction set tables, for indicating instructions for determining a route identifier or a rate shop group based on a route identifier. The routing instruction set tables can include condition fields which the router evaluates in determining what routing instructions to use. In addition, all records of the rate shop group tables applicable to a shipment are evaluated in combination and set logic can then be used in specifying a group of carriers and services to rate shop.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.