Hema Budaraju

Methods and systems for displaying, to a user interface, categories of items for the user to select from for querying the system, in order to enable the system to return to the user images of items of the type desired by the user for possible purchase. The items categories of items can be presented to the user interface visually in silhouette form so that the user can select brand and the silhouette image of the type of item desired. Upon selection of the silhouette image, a query is sent to… Show more

Methods and systems for displaying, to a user interface, categories of items for the user to select from for querying the system, in order to enable the system to return to the user images of items of the type desired by the user for possible purchase. The items categories of items can be presented to the user interface visually in silhouette form so that the user can select brand and the silhouette image of the type of item desired. Upon selection of the silhouette image, a query is sent to the system and images of the desired type of item are returned to the user interface for presentation to the user, along with certain attributes of the items. Show less

A ring design machine receives one or more selections of gemstones and one or more selections of settings and allows a user to "mix and match" gemstones and settings and view a selected gemstone in a compatible setting for that gemstone. To present the gemstone in the setting, the ring design machine presents a combination image that depicts the gemstone in the setting. The ring design machine, which may be implemented using a computer programmed by software, may present the combination image… Show more

A ring design machine receives one or more selections of gemstones and one or more selections of settings and allows a user to "mix and match" gemstones and settings and view a selected gemstone in a compatible setting for that gemstone. To present the gemstone in the setting, the ring design machine presents a combination image that depicts the gemstone in the setting. The ring design machine, which may be implemented using a computer programmed by software, may present the combination image to the user in response to receiving a selection of the gemstone and a selection of the setting from the user via a network. Show less

A ring design machine receives one or more selections of gemstones and one or more selections of settings and allows a user to "mix and match" gemstones and settings and view a selected gemstone in a compatible setting for that gemstone. To present the gemstone in the setting, the ring design machine presents a combination image that depicts the gemstone in the setting. The ring design machine, which may be implemented using a computer programmed by software, may present the combination image… Show more

A ring design machine receives one or more selections of gemstones and one or more selections of settings and allows a user to "mix and match" gemstones and settings and view a selected gemstone in a compatible setting for that gemstone. To present the gemstone in the setting, the ring design machine presents a combination image that depicts the gemstone in the setting. The ring design machine, which may be implemented using a computer programmed by software, may present the combination image to the user in response to receiving a selection of the gemstone and a selection of the setting from the user via a network. Show less

Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with transportation planning in light of drop trailer arrangements are described. One exemplary computer-implemented method embodiment includes receiving orders that describe items to be delivered to facilities as controlled by order requirements. The method may also include accessing a transportation planning model that includes information concerning shipping modes and carriers by which an order can be delivered to a facility… Show more

Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with transportation planning in light of drop trailer arrangements are described. One exemplary computer-implemented method embodiment includes receiving orders that describe items to be delivered to facilities as controlled by order requirements. The method may also include accessing a transportation planning model that includes information concerning shipping modes and carriers by which an order can be delivered to a facility. The transportation planning model may also include data concerning drop trailer arrangements between facilities and the carriers. The method may also include selectively consolidating orders into shipments based on the transportation planning model and the availability of a drop trailer arrangement. The method may also include selectively assigning shipments to loads based on the transportation planning model and the availability of a drop trailer action. The method may output an actionable plan of loads stored, for example, on a computer-readable medium. Show less

A computer, for planning moves of freight automatically receives a plan containing a number of trips to be performed to move freight using vehicles, and partially releases only a portion of the plan for execution instead of releasing the entire plan. The plan portion that is released includes a subset of trips that are selected by the computer from among all trips in the entire plan. Thereafter, the computer simply repeats the just-described acts. Iteratively releasing portions of a plan allows… Show more

A computer, for planning moves of freight automatically receives a plan containing a number of trips to be performed to move freight using vehicles, and partially releases only a portion of the plan for execution instead of releasing the entire plan. The plan portion that is released includes a subset of trips that are selected by the computer from among all trips in the entire plan. Thereafter, the computer simply repeats the just-described acts. Iteratively releasing portions of a plan allows the computer to be instructed to release early certain trips that are satisfactory. Trips that are sub-optimal are re-generated in a next version of the plan, based on changes in orders in the interim. The computer may also be instructed to release a trip even if sub-optimal, if its time-to-departure becomes less than an advance notice needed by a truckload service that is to execute the trip. Show less

A computer, for planning moves of freight automatically adds one or more layover(s) to a mission. Next, the computer determines one or more charge(s) for the layovers, using carriers' rules. Thereafter, the computer uses the charge(s) in deciding whether to include the mission in a transportation plan to be executed. In some embodiments, the computer automatically maintains, for the given mission, counts of attributes on which limits are imposed by a government or by carriers, such as driving… Show more

A computer, for planning moves of freight automatically adds one or more layover(s) to a mission. Next, the computer determines one or more charge(s) for the layovers, using carriers' rules. Thereafter, the computer uses the charge(s) in deciding whether to include the mission in a transportation plan to be executed. In some embodiments, the computer automatically maintains, for the given mission, counts of attributes on which limits are imposed by a government or by carriers, such as driving time, on-duty time, and driving distance, and when any count exceeds a corresponding limit in the midst of a driving activity, the computer automatically divides up the current driving activity into a truncated driving activity and a remainder driving activity, separated by a layover activity. The computer also determines an estimated time of arrival, including the impact of required layovers, to reach destination(s), and whether layover(s) is/are required at the destination(s), e.g. due to consignee's receiving hours or due to congestion at consignee's dock. Show less

A computer, for planning moves of freight using vehicles, determines one or more attributes of a mission, based on a group of shipments being consolidated into the mission, computes a total amount of freight to be moved, and decides on feasibility of performing the mission, using a vehicle of a given type based at least on each of (A) the amount of freight, (B) one or more attributes of the mission, and (C) multiple effective capacities of freight moveable by the type of vehicle being selected,… Show more

A computer, for planning moves of freight using vehicles, determines one or more attributes of a mission, based on a group of shipments being consolidated into the mission, computes a total amount of freight to be moved, and decides on feasibility of performing the mission, using a vehicle of a given type based at least on each of (A) the amount of freight, (B) one or more attributes of the mission, and (C) multiple effective capacities of freight moveable by the type of vehicle being selected, which depend on the mission attribute(s). Multiple effective capacities for each vehicle type, and corresponding values of mission attribute(s) at which they are to be applied are stored in the computer ahead of time, based on industry experience. Examples of mission attribute(s) include (1) number of stops, (2) type of stops (whether pooling or not), and (3) a combination thereof. Show less