Ryder System said Monday it won a patent for the supply chain management systems and methods behind its Logistics Release shipping optimization process.

Awarded May 4, the patent is for a system that gathers data from different operators and stakeholders in the supply chain and configures it for common use in Web-based applications, according to Ryder.

The award of U.S. Patent 7,711,602 appears to be part of the U.S. Patent Office’s growing willingness to grant patents to business processes, giving them protections as intellectual property.

Ryder Global Supply Chain Solutions President John Williford says the patent award means the business process Ryder uses to support what it calls its Control Tower operation as a lead logistics provider “is recognized as unique.” That, he said, “benefits all participants in the supply chain.”

The U.S. Patent Office has seen more applications for supply chain process patents in recent years, some for relatively broad systems involving modeling, data mining and systems.

Most have not been tested in court, but SAP two years ago paid $83 million to supply chain software competitor i2 Technologies to settle a lawsuit alleging SAP had infringed on seven i2 supply chain management patents, including processes for broad planning and coordination in the movement of goods.

Miami-based Ryder says its unique process uses data to create what it calls an “optimum shipment,” including weight, cube packaging and other configurations that then determine choice of mode. Movements are then monitored and controlled in a virtual environment in real time.

Source: JOC