FIEED OF TECHNOEOGY

The present invention relates to the field of supply chain management, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and system for automated management of consignments in real-time.

BACKGROUND

Typically, material shipments are based on a platform of crude and complex documentations. This may lead to lack of transparency and visibility for suppliers, distributors and purchasers in terms of stage of the shipment including transit, receipt, inspection and recording into a supply chain management system. Also, manual process for handling consignments pose a challenge to track inefficiencies in the whole process. For example, consignments are tracked by calling transporters/logistics coordinators. Once the consignment is arrived at a desired destination, the process of receiving the consignment is manual and maintained in physical registers for record keeping. The verification of the consignments is carried out using standard templates which are sometimes not available for future audits in the supply chain management software. Moreover, many a times, the supply chain management is not updated on time, resulting in dissatisfaction of supplier and inaccurate statement of books and records which may impact revenue recognition considerations. Additionally, the whole process of handling consignments is not transparent across all entities involved in supply chain management.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for automated management of consignments. In one aspect, a method for automated management of consignments includes generating a unique machine -readable label for a consignment to be delivered to a target location from a source location using information associated with the consignment in a consignment database. The unique machine-readable label includes the information associated with the consignment. The method includes authenticating a transporter associated with vehicle in which the consignment is to be transported from the source location to the target location using the unique machine-readable label. Also, the method includes tracking a location associated with the consignment in the vehicle in real-time from the source location to the target location using a Global Positioning System (GPS) of the transporter when the transporter is successfully authenticated. Moreover, the method includes verifying the consignment at the target location using the unique machine-readable label. Additionally, the method includes updating the information associated with the consignment in the consignment database when the consignment is successfully verified.

The method may include creating a time- stamped log associated with the consignment in the consignment database. The method may include computing a predicted lead time for the consignment based on historical information of the consignments using a first trained Al model. The method may include computing a performance classification index for a supplier of the consignment using a second trained Al model. The performance classification index is indicative of performance of the supplier with respect to delivery of consignments.

In generating the unique machine-readable label for a consignment to be delivered to the target location from the source location, the method may include obtaining a purchase order associated with the consignment from the consignment database, identifying the information associated with the consignment from the purchase order such as transporter information, destination information, quantity information, material information, invoice information, generating an unique identifier for the consignment to be delivered at the target location, mapping the information associated with the consignment with the unique identifier for the consignment, and generating the unique machine -readable label associated with the consignment using the information associated with the consignment and the unique identifier for the consignment.

The method may include generating a request to authenticate the transporter to transport the consignment in response to scanning the unique-machine readable label associated with the consignment using the handheld device of the transporter.

In authenticating the transporter associated with the vehicle in which the consignment is transported from the source location to the target location using the unique machine - readable label, the method may include receiving a request to authenticate the transporter from the handheld device of the transporter via a first communication channel and generating a unique code to authenticate the transporter for transporting the consignment. Also, the method may include sending the unique code to the handheld device of the transporter via a second communication channel, receiving a code from the handheld device of the transporter via the first communication channel, validating the code received from the handheld device against the generated unique code, and authenticating the transporter to transport the consignment form the source designation to the target designation when the received code is successfully validated.

In tracking the location associated with the consignment in the vehicle in real-time from the source location to the target location using the GPS of the transporter, the method may include acquiring real-time location data from the GPS in the handheld device of the authenticated transporter. For example, the handheld device is in the vehicle transporting the consignment. The method may also include tracking the location of associated with the consignment using the location data acquired from the GPS in the handheld device.

In another aspect, an apparatus for automated management of consignments includes one or more processing units, a consignment database communicatively coupled to the one or more processing units, and a memory unit communicatively coupled to the processing units. The consignment database is configured to store information associated with the consignments in real-time. The memory unit includes a consignment management module configured to perform a method described above using the information stored in the consignment database.

In yet another aspect, an automated consignment management system includes an apparatus for managing one or more consignments described above, and one or more client devices communicatively coupled to the apparatus for managing the information associated with the consignments. The client devices include at least one scanner for scanning a unique machine-readable label associated with said each consignment.

In yet another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having machine- readable instructions stored therein, that when executed by one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to perform a method for automated management of consignments described above.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the following description. It is not intended to identify features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a block diagram of a system for automated management of consignments, according to one embodiment.

FIG 2 is an exploded view of a consignment management module of FIG 1, according one embodiment.

FIG 3 is a process flowchart of an exemplary method of automated management of consignments, according to one embodiment.

FIG 4 is a block diagram of a system for automated management of consignments, according to another embodiment.

FIG 5 is a block diagram of a system for automated management of consignments, according to yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for automated management of consignments. Various embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals are used in reference to the drawings. Like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. These specific details need not be employed to practice embodiments. In other instances, well known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments. While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. There is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed. Instead, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 100 for automated management of consignments, according to one embodiment. The system 100 may be a personal computer, workstation, laptop computer, tablet computer, and the like. In FIG 1, the system 100 includes a processing unit(s) 102, a memory unit 104, a storage unit 106, a bus 108, an input unit 110, and a display unit 112. The system 100 is a specific purpose computer configured to facilitate automated management of consignments in real-time.

The processing unit(s) 102, as used herein, means any type of computational circuit, such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, microcontroller, complex instruction set computing microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing microprocessor, very long instruction word microprocessor, explicitly parallel instruction computing microprocessor, graphics processor, digital signal processor, or any other type of processing circuit. The processing unit(s) 102 may also include embedded controllers, such as generic or programmable logic devices or arrays, application specific integrated circuits, single-chip computers, and the like.

The memory unit 104 may be non-transitory volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The memory unit 104 may be coupled for communication with the processing unit(s) 102, such as being a computer-readable storage medium. The processing unit(s) 102 may execute instructions and/or code stored in the memory unit 104. A variety of computer-readable instructions may be stored in and accessed from the memory unit 104. The memory unit 104 may include any suitable elements for storing data and machine-readable instructions, such as read only memory, random access memory, erasable programmable read only memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, a hard drive, a removable media drive for handling compact disks, digital video disks, diskettes, magnetic tape cartridges, memory cards, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the memory unit 104 includes a consignment management module 114 stored in the form of machine-readable instructions on any of the above- mentioned storage media and may be in communication to and executed by the processing unit(s) 102. When the machine-readable instructions are executed by the processing unit(s) 102, the consignment management module 114 causes the processing unit(s) 102 to generate a unique machine-readable label such as QR code based on the information associated with each consignment. The consignment management module 114 may enable verification of a transporter of a vehicle in which consignment is to be transported from a source location to a target location using the QR code. The QR code stores the information of the transporter such as a mobile number. Accordingly, the consignment management module 114 may generate and send an unique code to the mobile number of the transporter as an SMS message. The consignment management module 114 may receive a code from the transporter which is compared with the unique code. The transporter is successfully verified if the received code matches with the unique code.

The consignment management module 114 may track the consignment from the source location to the target location using the GPS from the authenticated mobile device of the transporter. The consignment management module 114 verifies the consignment at the target location using the QR code and updates the information associated with the consignment in the consignment database 116.

The consignment management module 114 may compute predicted lead time for the consignment using a trained Al model based on historical information associated with previous consignments from a supplier. The consignment management module 114 may compute performance of the supplier using another trained Al model. The details of the consignment management module 114 is explained in FIG 2 below. Additionally, method steps performed by the processing unit 102 to achieve the above functionality are described in greater detail in FIG 3. The storage unit 106 may be a non-transitory storage medium which stores a consignment database 116. The consignment database 116 stores information associated with consignments such as Purchase Orders details, Delivery details, Transporter details, Unique Identifier, Material Information, Quantity Information and so on. The input unit 110 may include input devices such as keypad, touch- sensitive display, mouse, QR code scanner or a camera for scanning QR code, etc. capable of receiving input data such as quantity to supplied, scanned image of unique machine-readable label, etc. The display unit 112 may be a device with a graphical user interface displaying details associated with consignments. The bus 108 acts as interconnect between the processing unit(s) 102, the memory unit 104, the storage unit 106, the input unit 110, and the display unit 112.

Those of ordinary skilled in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in FIG 1 may vary for particular implementations. For example, other peripheral devices such as an optical disk drive and the like, Local Area Network (LAN)/ Wide Area Network (WAN)/ Wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) adapter, graphics adapter, disk controller, input/output (I/O) adapter also may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is provided for the purpose of explanation only and is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present disclosure.

The system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an operating system employing a graphical user interface. The operating system permits multiple display windows to be presented in the graphical user interface simultaneously with each display window providing an interface to a different application or to a different instance of the same application. A cursor in the graphical user interface may be manipulated by a user through the pointing device. The position of the cursor may be changed and/or an event such as clicking a mouse button, generated to actuate a desired response.

FIG 2 is an exploded view of the consignment management module 114 of FIG 1, according one embodiment. The consignment management module 114 includes a label generator 202, an authentication module 204, a tracking module 206, a verification module 208, an update module 210, a lead time prediction module 212, and a performance module 214. The label generator 202 is configured to generate a unique machine -readable label for a consignment to be delivered to a target location from a source location using the information associated with the consignment in the consignment database. The unique machine- readable label includes the information associated with the consignment such as Purchase order details, Invoice details, Transporter Information, Delivery Information, Unique Identifier, etc. In one embodiment, the unique machine-readable label is a quick response (QR) code.

The authentication module 204 is configured to authenticate a transporter associated with a vehicle in which the consignment is to be transported from the source location to the target location using the unique machine -readable label. The tracking module 206 is configured to track a location associated with the consignment in the vehicle in real-time from the source location to the target location using a Global Positioning System (GPS) of the transporter when the transporter is successfully authenticated.

The verification module 208 is configured to verify the consignment at the target location using the unique machine -readable label. The update module 210 is configured to update the information associated with the consignment in the consignment database 116 when the consignment is successfully verified. The update module 210 is configured to create a time- stamped log associated with the consignment in the consignment database 116.

The lead time prediction module 212 is configured to compute a predicted lead time for the consignment based on historical information of the consignments using a first trained Al model. The performance module 214 is configured to compute a performance classification index for a supplier of the consignment using a second trained Al model. The performance classification index is indicative of performance of the supplier with respect to delivery of consignments.

FIG 3 is a process flowchart 300 depicting an exemplary method of automated management of consignments, according to one embodiment. At step 302, a unique machine-readable label for a consignment to be delivered to a target location from a source location is generated using information associated with the consignment in a consignment database 118. In one embodiment, a purchase order associated with the consignment is obtained from the consignment database. The information associated with the consignment is identified from the purchase order. An unique identifier for the consignment to be delivered at the target location is generated. The information associated with the consignment is mapped with the unique identifier for the consignment. The unique machine -readable label associated with the consignment is generated using the information associated with the consignment and the unique identifier for the consignment. The unique machine-readable label includes the information associated with the consignment such as invoice information, transporter information, destination information, quality information, material information, unique identifier, purchase order line number, purchase order details, etc. In an exemplary implementation, the unique machine-readable label is an quick response (QR) code.

At step 304, a transporter associated with a vehicle in which the consignment is to be transported from the source location to the target location is authenticated using the unique machine-readable label. In some embodiments, a request to authenticate the transporter to transport the consignment is generated in response to scanning the unique-machine readable label associated with the consignment using the handheld device of the transporter. In these embodiments, a request to authenticate the transporter is received from the handheld device of the transporter via a first communication channel. Then, a unique code to authenticate the transporter for transporting the consignment is generated based on the request. The unique code is sent to the handheld device of the transporter via a second communication channel. A code is received from the handheld device of the transporter via the first communication channel. The code received from the handheld device is validated against the generated unique code. The transporter is authenticated to transport the consignment from the source designation to the target designation when the received code is successfully validated.

At step 306, a real-time location associated with the consignment in the vehicle is tracked from the source location to the target location using a Global Positioning System (GPS) of the transporter if the transporter is successfully authenticated. In one embodiment, real-time location data is acquired from the GPS in the handheld device of the authenticated transporter. The handheld device is in the vehicle transporting the consignment. The location of associated with the consignment is tracked using the location data acquired from the GPS in the handheld device. At step 308, the consignment is verified at the target location using the unique machine- readable label. At step 310, the information associated with the consignment is updated in the consignment database when the consignment is successfully verified.

At step 312, a time-stamped log associated with the consignment is created in the consignment database. At step 314, a predicted lead time for the consignment is computed based on historical information of the consignments using a first trained artificial intelligence model. At step 316, a performance classification index for a supplier of the consignment is computed using a second trained artificial intelligence model. For example, the performance classification index is indicative of performance of the supplier with respect to delivery of consignments.

FIG 4 is a schematic representation of a system 400 for automated management of consignments, according to another embodiment. Particularly, the system 300 includes a cloud computing system 402 configured for providing cloud services for automated management of consignments.

The cloud computing system 402 comprises a cloud communication interface 406, cloud computing hardware and OS 408, a cloud computing platform 410, the consignment management module 114, and the consignment database 116. The cloud communication interface 406 enables communication between the cloud computing platform 410, and client devices 412A-N such as smart phone, tablet, computer, etc. via a network 404.

The cloud computing hardware and OS 408 may include one or more servers on which an operating system (OS) is installed and includes one or more processing units, one or more storage devices for storing data, and other peripherals required for providing cloud computing functionality. The cloud computing platform 410 is a platform which implements functionalities such as data storage, data analysis, data visualization, data communication on the cloud hardware and OS 408 via APIs and algorithms; and delivers the aforementioned cloud services using cloud-based applications (e.g., computer-aided design application). The cloud computing platform 410 employs the consignment management module 114 for automated management of consignments using artificial intelligence (Al) models and unique machine-readable label as described in FIG 3. The cloud computing platform 410 also includes the consignment database 116 for storing information associated with the consignments. The cloud computing platform 410 may include a combination of dedicated hardware and software built on top of the cloud hardware and OS 408.

In accordance with the foregoing embodiments, the cloud computing system 402 may enable users to manage consignments in real-time. In particular, the consignment management module 114 generate a unique machine-readable label such as QR code based on the information associated with each consignment. The consignment management module 114 may enable verification of a transporter of a vehicle in which consignment is to be transported from a source location to a target location using a unique machine-readable label such as QR code. The QR code stores the information of the transporter such as a mobile number. Accordingly, the consignment management module 114 generates and sends an unique code to the mobile device 416 of the transporter as an SMS message. The consignment management module 114 receives a code from the mobile device 416 of the transporter which is compared with the unique code. The transporter is successfully verified if the received code matches with the unique code.

The consignment management module 114 tracks the consignment from the source location to the target location using the GPS from the mobile device 416 of the transporter. The consignment management module 114 verifies the consignment at the target location using the unique machine -readable label and updates the information associated with the consignment in the consignment database 116.

The consignment management module 114 may compute predicted lead time for the consignment using a trained Al model based on historical information associated with previous consignments from a supplier. The consignment management module 114 may compute performance of the supplier using another trained Al model. Advantageously, the cloud computing system 402 may enable users to remotely manage the consignment in realtime. The client devices 412A-N include graphical user interfaces 414A-N for receiving and displaying information associated with the consignment. Each of the client devices 412A- N may be provided with a communication interface for interfacing with the cloud computing system 402. Users of the client devices 412A-N can access the cloud computing system 402 via the graphical user interfaces 414A-N. For example, the users may send request to the cloud computing system 402 to access the information associated with the consignment. The graphical user interfaces 414A-N may be specifically designed for accessing the consignment management module 114 in the cloud computing system 402. The client devices 412A-N may include peripherals such as QR code scanner, Keyboard, Mouse, etc.

FIG 5 illustrates a block diagram of a system 500 for managing consignments in an automated manner, according to yet another embodiment. Particularly, the system 500 includes a server 502 and a plurality of client devices 506A-N. Each of the client devices 506A-N is connected to the server 502 via a network 504 (e.g., Focal Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wi-Fi, etc.). The system 500 is another implementation of the system 100 of FIG 1, wherein the consignment management module 114 resides in the server 502 and is accessed by client devices 506A-N via the network 504.

The server 502 includes the consignment management module 114, and the consignment database 116. The server 502 may include a processing unit(s), a memory unit, and a storage unit. The consignment management module 114 may be stored on the memory unit in the form of machine-readable instructions and executable by the processing unit(s). The consignment database 116 may be stored in the storage unit. The server 502 may include a communication interface for enabling communication with client devices 506A-N via the network 504.

When the machine-readable instructions are executed, the consignment management module 114 causes the server 502 to authenticate a transporter, track the consignment in real-time, verify the consignment using a unique machine-readable label associated with the consignment. Method steps performed by the server 502 to achieve the above-mentioned functionality are described in greater detail in FIG 3. The client devices 506A-N include graphical user interfaces 508A-N for receiving and displaying information associated with consignments. Each of the client devices 506 A-N may be provided with a communication interface for interfacing with the server 502. Users of the client devices 506A-N can access the server 502 via the graphical user interfaces 508A-N. The client devices 506A-N may include peripherals such as QR code scanner, Keyboard, Mouse, etc.

Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that, unless specifically indicated or required by the sequence of operations, certain steps in the processes described above may be omitted, performed concurrently or sequentially, or performed in a different order.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for simplicity and clarity, the full structure and operation of all data processing systems suitable for use with the present disclosure is not being depicted or described herein. Instead, only so much of a data processing system as is unique to the present disclosure or necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure is depicted and described. The remainder of the construction and operation of the data processing system may conform to any of the various current implementation and practices known in the art.

It is to be understood that the system and methods described herein may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or a combination thereof. One or more of the present embodiments may take a form of a computer program product comprising program modules accessible from computer-usable or computer-readable medium storing program code for use by or in connection with one or more computers, processors, or instruction execution system. For the purpose of this description, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium can be electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation mediums in and of themselves as signal carriers are not included in the definition of physical computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and optical disk such as compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk read/write, and digital versatile disc (DVD). Both processing units and program code for implementing each aspect of the technology can be centralized or distributed (or a combination thereof) as known to those skilled in the art.

While the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to those embodiments. In view of the present disclosure, many modifications and variations would be present themselves, to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, as described herein. The scope of the present disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, modifications, and variations coming within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be considered within their scope.