WO2002089438A2

WO2002089438A2 - Method for processing data via the internet

Info

Publication number: WO2002089438A2
Application number: PCT/DE2002/001331
Authority: WO
Inventors: Holger Schmitt; Michael Klett; Frauke Heistermann; Rolf Henrich
Original assignee: Axit Ag
Priority date: 2001-04-25
Filing date: 2002-04-10
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: AU2002304890A1; WO2002089438A3; DE10120369A1; EP1382180A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for processing data via the Internet comprising at least two clients (1, 2), a webserver (3) and at least one database server (4) for saving and retrieving data. According to said method, at least one first client (1) saves data to the database server (4) via the Internet using the webserver (3) and at least one second client (2), retrieves the data, preferably via the Internet, using the webserver (3). To achieve a rapid, simple and cost-effective transfer of information to and from a service provider, in particular a logistics service provider, the method is designed in such a way that an assignment takes place between the first client (1) and the data that has been saved to the database server (4) and also the second client (2), which retrieves the saved data and that the data of the first client (1) is assigned by means of the selection of the second client (2) using the first client (1).

Description

.Procedure for processing data over the Internet "

The invention relates to a method for processing data via the Internet with at least two clients, a web server and at least one database server for storing and retrieving data, at least one first client storing data on the database server via the Internet using the web server, and at least a second one Client, preferably via the Internet using the web server, which retrieves data.

Methods for processing data over the Internet with at least two clients have been known for a long time. For example. transfer large customers directly to a service provider via the Internet using electronic data transmission, usually using EDI - Electronic Data Interchange data, which relate to orders and order processing. A prerequisite for the use of electronic data transmission is agreement on the format of the data to be transmitted, since the recipient of the data must be able to interpret it correctly. Standardized formats, such as EDI, are therefore used to design messages. EDI can therefore be defined as a media-free exchange of structured data, which is transferred using the use of electronic data transmission between the applications of the communication partners involved, for example a customer and a service provider.

However, an investment in EDI is not worthwhile for smaller customers, since the financial expenditure for the introduction of hardware and software solutions does not pay off in relation to the orders placed. As a result, many small orders, for which the same tight deadlines exist as for large orders, are often transmitted in very poor quality. In general, the transmission then takes place handwritten and by fax, which means that important information may be missing or that errors in the manual entry of the data may occur due to the fact that the handwritten data is illegible. This results in an error-prone, quality-threatening process. In addition to the increased entry costs that arise from manual entry, the necessary corrections also result in errors fix, high follow-up costs. All in all, this leads to high customer dissatisfaction.

This problem occurs especially in the logistics industry with shippers - the customers - and logistics service providers - the service providers. The logistics service providers often provide shippers with many different systems for order transmission and order processing. In general, these systems are manual in nature, i.e. they include loading lists to be filled in manually, waybills, forwarding delivery notes etc. Automated systems are less widespread, in which the data is recorded in separate programs, the data being loaded onto diskettes and / or being transmitted by electronic data transmission, but only very rarely using EDI, and then being further processed. Accordingly, shippers have to handle different processing methods, IT programs, etc., depending on the individual logistics service providers used. This is extremely confusing and often leads to increased effort in order processing and thus to increased costs.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method for processing data over the Internet of the type mentioned at the outset, in which fast, simple and inexpensive information transmission to and from a service provider, in particular a logistics service provider, is possible.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by the method for processing data via the Internet with the features of patent claim 1. Thereafter, the method in question for processing data via the Internet is designed and developed in such a way that there is an association between the first client and the data stored on the database server and the second client retrieving the stored data, and that the data are assigned to the first Clients by selecting the second client by means of the first client.

In the manner according to the invention, it has been recognized that, in contrast to previous practice, methods for processing data via the Internet are not the only ones for large customers, but that smaller customers must also be able to electronically transmit data, especially order data. The transmission of data over the Internet, with an assignment between the respective clients, also enables smaller customers who only have a generally standard Internet browser and access to use the advantages of electronic data transmission. This type of data transfer also minimizes sources of error as far as possible, thereby ensuring the quality of the process and enabling quick and easy information transfer. This leads to low and transaction-related costs alone.

In view of a particularly high degree of independence of the service provider, the selection of the second client by means of the first client could be limited to a set of second clients, in particular to a group of second clients enabled by means of the respective second client. The service provider could thus enable the respective customer to collect data, in particular orders that are intended for him. This would enable the respective service provider to only do business with certain customers or shippers and thus limit its customer base independently.

With regard to a particularly simple acquisition of the data, the data could be acquired on at least one website using at least one data mask using the first client. Such a, preferably standardized, data mask also enables smaller customers to enter orders independently without incurring any costs for setting up such a recording measure.

As part of an individual data acquisition, the data mask could be individually tailored to the first and / or the second client. The customer and / or the service provider could thus collect or have data tailored to their needs.

It would be a further advantage if the structure of the data mask could be changed using the respective client. This would allow the data mask and thus, for example, the order template is quickly and easily adapted to the respective changes at the customer and / or service provider.

With regard to a particularly convenient embodiment, the data could be transmitted automatically to the second client. This would be particularly conceivable with a regular and high number of orders, whereby the customer receives an interface to the web server and / or the second client and his orders are automatically transmitted to the service provider. The automatic transmission of the order data could then take place directly or via an in-house server of the service provider to the second client and in the order processing of the service provider. An in-house server is to be understood as the server of the LAN.

With a view to a particularly secure implementation, the login and / or the data transmission could be encrypted, preferably by means of SSL encryption - a secure socket layer encryption. However, it would also be conceivable for the encryption to be carried out using any other protocol or program.

In the context of a very particularly preferred embodiment, the data of the database on the database server could be mirrored in at least one further database on at least one further database server. On the one hand, this ensures that the data is backed up, and on the other hand, if the system was designed accordingly, improved accessibility of the system would have been achieved.

With regard to a particularly simple embodiment, the data from the database could be queried using SQL - Structured Query Language. However, the data from the database could also be queried using any other query language.

The data could be converted in a particularly advantageous manner by means of an EDI server, so that the information can be processed almost without media breaks. Such a data transmission standard could be, for example, ODETTE - Organization for Data Exchange by Teletransmission in Europe - how it is used, for example, in the European automotive industry. However, any other data transmission standard could also be used.

In order to ensure unrestricted communication, which is also industry-independent, the data could be transferred using EDIFACT. A prerequisite for data exchange using EDIFACT would be the selection of suitable software for conversion, sequence control and data transfer. With a converter in the narrower sense, i.e. a format or structure converter, tools are usually offered that serve to manage and control the transmission data. The converter and tools then form the converter system. Using the EDI server, the data could then also be adapted to the software used by the second client.

The data, preferably from the EDI server, to the second client could be carried out using a transmission protocol, in particular XML, FTP, OFTP, X.25, X.400 or the like. However, the data could also first be transmitted from the EDI server to another server, from which it is then transmitted to the second client. This additional server could be the in-house server of the service provider. Such a standard transmission protocol would ensure the universal replaceability for the service provider in a very special way.

As part of a particularly practical implementation, the data could be output in the form of a form, in particular in the form of an individually customizable form. In particular, it would then be possible to create order confirmations, invoices and the like particularly easily and without additional effort.

The data could be processed further using software from the second client, in particular transferred in the order entry. This would eliminate another source of error by not manually processing the data. In addition, it would be particularly easy to change orders that have already been created. The data could also correspond to orders for moving objects. In particular, one should think of forwarding-specific processes, i.e. a customer - a shipper - the data - the order - for the transport of objects - goods - to a logistics service provider - a forwarding agent - and the forwarding agent transports the goods from one place to another ,

With regard to a particularly practical embodiment, the objects could be identified by means of identification, preferably a barcode, an identification number or the like. This would have the particular advantage that the objects can be found at any time and that the course of the objects would be traceable.

In the context of another very practical embodiment, the identification and / or parts of the data and / or the entire data could be output in the form of a label. These labels would then be easily attached to the objects so that no additional errors occur due to the manual transfer of the data.

The data originally recorded and stored on the database server could then be supplemented by data which correspond to the movement of the objects. The movement data could be acquired by means of a detection device, preferably a scanner, a mobile radio unit or the like. In the case of a scanner, the data could be collected, which is then transferred to a computer in a special station, transmitted via the Internet and processed further. In the case of a mobile radio unit - GSM, UMTS - a transmission via a "SMS - Short Message Service Center" or via another service unit of a provider of the respective mobile radio provider, for example via SMS or FTP, would be possible. The movement data could then be transferred to the The communication server could prepare the movement data and / or assign the movement data to the relevant data which correspond to an order.

With regard to a comfortable track-and-trace function, the movement data could be called up by means of the first client and / or the second client, in particular by means of the respective in-house server. With regard to the security of the system, the web server could be protected by means of a firewall and / or a DMZ - demilitarized zone. The firewall is a combined hardware and software system for protecting a local network - LAN - with a connection to the Internet against attacks from the Internet. For the greatest possible security, the firewall could be supplemented by a DMZ, which could be a host or a small network, which acts as a "neutral zone" between the LAN and the external public network, the Internet. The DMZ therefore protects the web server from direct access by users from outside and is therefore an optional and secure application as a supplement to a firewall.

In view of a particularly high level of operating convenience, the data could be checked and / or completed automatically by means of at least one further database. This could be done, for example, in the form of an address book functionality, a storage of standard data, such as a match code for recipient addresses, frankings or the like, but also in an automatic assignment of locations to postcodes.

The data could also be supplemented by additional data, in particular dangerous goods data. This would make data collection easier again.

With a view to a particularly comfortable embodiment, statistics about the data and / or parts of the data could be called up by means of the first and / or second client. These statistics would make it possible for the customer and / or the service provider to develop, for example, corporate strategies and / or to tailor their services to the needs of the respective customer. It would also be possible for the customer to call up price and / or runtime information, for example.

However, a further service provider, preferably an e-shop, could also be located between the customer and the service provider by means of a third client, so that all or part of the data entered into the data mask is transmitted to a third client via the Internet by means of a further web server. This would make it possible for an e-shop to send a lo- to be connected to the service provider and to take advantage of electronic data transmission without additional recording effort or additional errors due to manual recording. In addition, the data could be transmitted to another client, who in this case could be the shipper of the objects.

As part of a track-and-trace function, all and / or parts of the data could be called up by other clients, namely by the customers of the e-shop. With a view to particularly good data security, the data which are called up by the further clients could be restricted by the second and / or the third client. This ensures that customers can only call up data that is relevant and specific to them.

There are now various possibilities for advantageously designing and developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and on the other hand to the following explanation of preferred exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention for processing data via the Internet with the aid of the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred configurations and developments of the teaching are also explained. In the drawing, the

1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system structure for use with the inventive method for processing data over the Internet,

2 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a system structure for use with the method according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the data flow of the embodiment of Figs. 2 and Fig. 4 in a schematic representation, the data flow of a further embodiment of the method according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 in a system structure for use with the method, the method for processing data over the Internet comprises two clients 1, 2, a web server 3 and a database server 4 for storing and retrieving data. Using the first client 1, a customer, namely a shipper, stores data via the Internet using the web server 3 on the database server 4 and by means of the second client 2 the data is then sent via the web server 3 by the logistics service provider, namely a freight forwarder, primarily accessed.

According to the invention, there is an assignment between the first client 1, the data stored on the database server 4 and the second client 2 retrieving the stored data. In addition, the data of the first client 1 are assigned by the selection of the second client 2 by means of the first client 1 instead. The shipper is part of a group of shippers who primarily store 1 data using a first client and the freight forwarder is part of a group of forwarders who primarily retrieve 2 data using a second client. This means that there are a large number of first and second clients 1, 2, each of which is assigned to a specific shipper or a specific forwarding agent.

The selection of the second client 2 by means of the first client 1 is limited to a fixed group of second clients 1 enabled by means of the respective second client 2. This enables the freight forwarder to only do business with certain customers or shippers and thus determine their own customer base. The data is recorded in a data mask by the first client 1 via the Internet on a website. The data mask is individually tailored to the shipping company so that it receives all the information it needs to process the order. The structure of the data mask can also be changed by the forwarding agent using the second client 2, so that the data to be filled in by the shipper can be adapted at any time. The login of the first client 1, the data transmission from the first client 1 to the web server 3, the data transmission from the web server 3 to the data server. tenbankserver 4 and the second client 2 is done using SSL encryption.

The data in the database on the database server 4 are mirrored in another database on another database server - not shown here. The data from the database is queried using SQL.

The data is converted using an EDI server and the data is transferred using EDIFACT. By means of the EDI server 5, the data are adapted to the software used by the second client 2, so that the data are taken over directly in the order processing of the forwarding agent. The data is transmitted from the EDI server 5 to the second client 2 by means of FTP - File Transfer Protocol -.

To ensure the security of the data, the web server 3 is protected by a firewall 7 and a DMZ 8.

2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a system structure for use with the method according to the invention. The system structure of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is expanded in such a way that a track-and-trace function can be carried out. The data correspond to orders for moving objects, in this case goods. This means that the shipper sends goods through a freight forwarder. The goods are identified by means of an identification number which is attached to the goods in the form of an issued label. The movement data are now recorded by the freight forwarder in such a way that the identification number and the respective station at which the goods are located are transmitted to a communication server 9 by means of a cell phone 6 via SMS and by means of the SMS center 10 of the respective cell phone provider. The movement data are then stored on the database server 4 by means of the communication server 9 and are processed in such a way that the movement data can be assigned to the respective order data. Now the shipper can call up the movement data by means of the first client 1 and the freight forwarder can use the second client 2 and is thus informed at all times about the location of the goods. FIG. 3 shows the data flow of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2. The order data are transmitted to the second client 2 by means of the system, ie the first client 1, the web server 3, the database server 4 and the EDI server 5. The identification number of the goods is then transmitted to the recipient A of the goods by means of the second client 2. Using this identification number, the recipient A can query movement data and thus the location of the goods from the database server 4 via the Internet. After delivery of the goods using a mobile phone 6 via SMS and SMS center 10 of the mobile service provider, the freight forwarder now transmits the new movement data to the communication server 9, the communication server 9 processing the movement data and assigning it to the order data.

4 shows the data flow of a further exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. An e-shop is interposed between the customer and service provider. Deep-linking thus takes place. The customer who visits the e-shop now transmits data to a third client 11 via the Internet using the first client 1 and via a further web server (not shown here). The and-trace function takes place via the third client 11, namely the e-shop, and the data recorded on the website of the e-shop is now automatically transmitted to a shop operator B, who carries out the inventory management Forwarding-relevant data are transmitted by means of the third client 11 and / or via the shop operator B using the method already described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

With regard to further details, reference is made to the general description in order to avoid repetitions.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments described above are only used to discuss the claimed teaching, but do not restrict them to the exemplary embodiments.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Method for processing data via the Internet with at least two clients (1, 2), a web server (3) and at least one database server (4) for storing and retrieving data, at least one first client (1) via the Internet using the web server (3) stores data on the database server (4) and at least one second client (2), preferably via the Internet using the web server (3), retrieves the data, characterized in that an assignment between the first client (1) and the data stored on the database server (4) and the second client (2) retrieving the stored data is carried out, and the assignment of the data of the first client (1) is carried out by the selection of the second client (2) by means of the first client (1) ,

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selection of the second client (2) by means of the first client (1) to fixed, in particular to a group of first clients (1) enabled by the respective second client (2). is limited.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data are recorded on at least one website using at least one data mask using the first client (1).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the data mask is individually tailored to the first and / or second client (1, 2).

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the structure of the data mask is changed by means of the respective client (1, 2).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transmission of the data to the second client (2) takes place automatically.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the login and / or the data transmission is encrypted, preferably using SSL encryption.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the data in the database on the database server (4) are mirrored in at least one further database on at least one further database server.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the data is queried from the database by means of SQL.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the data are converted by means of an EDI server (5).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmission of the data takes place by means of EDIFACT.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that by means of the EDI server (5) the data are adapted to the software used by the second client (2).

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and possibly one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the transmission of the data, preferably from the EDI server (5), to the second client (2) by means of a transmission protocol, in particular XML , FTP, OFTP, X.25, X.400 or the like.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the data or parts of the data in the form of a form, in particular an individually designable form, are output.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the data are processed further by means of the software of the second client (2), in particular are transferred in the order entry.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the data correspond to orders for moving objects.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the objects are identified by means of an identification, preferably a bar code, an identification number or the like.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the identification and / or parts of the data and / or the entire data are output in the form of a label.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the originally stored data is supplemented by data which correspond to the movements of the objects.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the movement data are recorded by means of a detection device, preferably a scanner, a mobile phone (6) or the like.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the movement data are stored on the database server (4) by means of a communication server (9).

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the communication server (9) prepares the movement data and / or assigns the movement data to the relevant data which correspond to an order.

23. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that the movement data are retrieved by means of the first client (1) and / or the second client (2).

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the web server (3) is protected by means of a firewall (7) and / or a DMZ (8).

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the data is automatically checked and / or completed using at least one further database.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the data are supplemented by additional data, in particular by dangerous goods data.

27. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that statistics about the data and / or parts of the data are called up by means of the first and / or the second client (2).

28. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that all or part of the data entered in the data mask of the first client (2) is transmitted to a third client (11) via the Internet by means of a further web server.

29. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the entire and / or parts of the data are retrieved by further clients.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that the data which are called up by further clients are restricted by the first and / or second client (1, 2).