Methods and systems for purchasing and inventory of paper and extended media products

• US 20020156707A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Inc. (TIME USA LLC)
• Original Assignee: Time Inc. (TIME USA LLC)
• Inventors: Misiukiewicz, Leon, Reid, Paul, Turry, Helene, Ornstein, Henry, Lamoretti, Katherine
• Granted Patent: US 6,876,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A system and method in a network-based inventory management system for providing information concerning inventory amounts and inventory ordering to at least one computer. In operation, a server first receives an inventory amount of an item from a first plurality of clients. Next, the server receives an inventory amount of the item from a second plurality of clients. Once the server has the two amounts, it analyzes the inventories at said first and second plurality of computers to determine from which of the first plurality of computers to order the item and to which of the second plurality of computers the ordered item is to be transferred.

Claims

1. A method in a network-based inventory management system for providing information concerning inventory amounts and inventory ordering to at least one server, the method comprising:

receiving an inventory amount of an item from a first plurality of computers;

receiving an inventory amount of said item from at least a second plurality of computers; and

analyzing the inventories at said first and second plurality of computers to determine from which of the first plurality of computers to order the item and to which of the second plurality of computers the ordered item is to be transferred.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of computers are associated with a first manufacturer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of computers are associated with at least a second manufacturer, said at least second manufacturer receives the item from the first manufacturer and converts said item into a second item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of computers are associated with paper suppliers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of computers are associated with printers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises:

identifying one of the first plurality of computers, wherein said computer is associated with a sufficient inventory of the item;

identifying one of the second plurality of computers, wherein said second computer is associated with an inventory demand that is greater than its current inventory; and

transferring the item from said one of the first plurality of computers to one of the second plurality of computers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of processing the item at a location corresponding to the computer to which the item is transferred.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step includes:

analyzing;

the inventory levels at the first and second plurality of computers;

a distance between at least one of the first plurality of computers and at least one of the second plurality of computers;

any pre-existing commitments to purchase the item from one of said first plurality of computers; and

manufacturing capabilities of the first and second plurality of computers; and

determining from which of the first plurality of computers to order the item and to which of the second plurality of computers the ordered item is to be transferred.

9. A method in a network-based inventory management system for providing information concerning inventory amounts and inventory ordering to at least one server, the method comprising:

requesting an inventory amount of an item from a first plurality of computers;

requesting an inventory amount of said item from at least a second plurality of computers; and

analyzing the inventories at said first and second plurality of computers to determine from which of the first plurality of computers to order the item and to which of the second plurality of computers the ordered item is to be transferred.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of computers are associated with a first manufacturer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of computers are associated with at least a second manufacturer, said at least second manufacturer receives the item from the first manufacturer and converts said item into a second item.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of computers are associated with paper suppliers.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of computers are associated with printers.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the analyzing step further comprises:

identifying one of the first plurality of computers, wherein said computer is associated with a sufficient inventory of the item;

identifying one of the second plurality of computers, wherein said second computer is associated with an inventory demand that is greater than its current inventory; and

transferring the item from said one of the first plurality of computers to one of the second plurality of computers.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of computers are associated with a first manufacturer.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the at least second plurality of computers are associated with at least a second manufacturer, said at least second manufacturer receives the item from the first manufacturer and converts said item into a second item.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of computers are associated with paper suppliers.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second plurality of computers are associated with printers.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the instruction to analyze the inventories further comprises the following instructions:

identifying one of the first plurality of computers, wherein said computer is associated with a sufficient inventory of the item;

identifying one of the second plurality of computers, wherein said second computer is associated with an inventory demand that is greater than its current inventory; and

transferring the item from said one of the first plurality of computers to one of the second plurality of computers.

21. The computer system of claim 15, further including the instruction to process the item at a location corresponding to the computer to which the item is transferred.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the instruction to analyze the inventories further comprises the following instructions:

analyze;

the inventory levels at the first and second plurality of computers;

a distance between at least one of the first plurality of computers and at least one of the second plurality of computers;

manufacturing capabilities of the first and second plurality of computers; and

any pre-existing commitments to purchase the item from one of said first plurality of computers; and

determine from which of the first plurality of computers to order the item and to which of the second plurality of computers the ordered item is to be transferred.

15. A computer system for providing information concerning inventory amounts and inventory ordering to at least a second computer, comprising:

a memory having program instructions; and

a processor configured to use the program instructions to;

receive an inventory amount of an item from a first plurality of computers;

receive an inventory amount of the item from at least a second plurality of computers; and

analyze the inventories at said first and second plurality of computers to determine from which of the first plurality of computers to order the item and to which of the second plurality of computers the ordered item is to be transferred.