System, method and computer program product for auctioning surplus products in a supply chain management framework

• US 20030069823A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Restaurant Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Menninger, Anthony Frank, Sechrist, Daniel, Hoffman, George Harry, Burk, Michael James
• Application Number:
  US09/816,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• 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 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for auctioning surplus products in a supply chain management framework. Utilizing a network, data is received from a plurality of outlets of a supply chain. The received data relates to an amount of products sold by the outlets. The received data is then made accessible to the outlets, distributors, and suppliers utilizing a network based interface. Utilizing the network-based interface, surplus products from at least one of the outlets are auctioned.

Claims

1. A method for auctioning surplus products in a supply chain management framework, comprising:

a) receiving data from a plurality of outlets of a supply chain utilizing a network, the data relating to an amount of products sold by the outlets;

b) making the data accessible to the outlets, distributors, and suppliers utilizing a network based interface; and

c) auctioning surplus products from at least one of the outlets utilizing the network-based interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outlets, the distributors, and the suppliers are provided access to the network-based interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the outlets, the distributors, and the suppliers are capabl e of submitting bids utilizing the network-based interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the auctioning is initiated in response to one of the outlets closing.

6. A system for auctioning surplus products in a supply chain management framework, comprising:

a) logic for receiving data from a plurality of outlets of a supply chain utilizing a network, the data relating to an amount of products sold by the outlets;

b) logic for making the data accessible to the outlets, distributors, and suppliers utilizing a network based interface; and

c) logic for auctioning surplus products from at least one of the outlets utilizing the network-based interface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the outlets, the distributors, and the suppliers are provided access to the network-based interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the outlets, the distributors, and the suppliers are capable of submitting bids utilizing the network-based interface.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the network includes the Internet.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the auctioning is initiated in response to one of the outlets closing.

11. A computer program product for auctioning surplus products in a supply chain management framework, comprising:

a) computer code for receiving data from a plurality of outlets of a supply chain utilizing a network, the data relating to an amount of products sold by the outlets;

b) computer code for making the data accessible to the outlets, distributors, and suppliers utilizing a network based interface; and

c) computer code for auctioning surplus products from at least one of the outlets utilizing the network-based interface.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the outlets, the distributors, and the suppliers are provided access to the network-based interface.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the outlets, the distributors, and the suppliers are capable of submitting bids utilizing the network-based interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the network includes the Internet.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the auctioning is initiated in response to one of the outlets closing.