Globally-integrated returned material authorization information system

• US 20030105766A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iventec Corporation Corporation of Taiwan ROC
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Liao, Yi-Ming, Chen, Cheng-Ju, Tseng, Li-Ching
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A globally-integrated RMA (Returned Material Authorization) information system is proposed, which allows the RMA files built at a first global location, such as an oversees service station, to be shared by personnel at a second global location, such as a domestic repair center. The service station information system is capable of transferring RMS files periodically at specified time intervals to the repair center information system, so that when the domestic repair center receives a batch of returned products from the oversees service station, the repair personnel can immediately gain access to the associated RMS files of the returned products, without having to repeat a testing procedure and build RMS files for the returned products. The proposed globally-integrated RMA information system therefore allows the overall after-sale repair service to be more efficient and reliable.

Claims

1. A globally-integrated RMA information system, which comprises:

(a) a repair center information system installed at a first global location;

(b) a service station information system installed at a second global location; and

(c) a data communication link installed between the repair center information system and the service station information system to allow the repair center information system and the service station information system to exchange data;

wherein

the repair center information system includes;

(a1) an IQC workstation, which allows repair personnel to operate the repair center information system; and

(a2) an RMA database, which is used to stored RMS files that are transferred from the service station information system via the data communication link, and which can be access via the IQC workstation;

and wherein

the service station information system includes;

(b1) an RMA workstation;

which allows service personnel to input and built an RMA file for each returned product;

(b2) an RMA database, which is used to store every RMS file built via the RMA workstation; and

(b3) a database server, which is capable of transferring all the RMS files stored in the RMA database via the data communication link to the RMA database of the repair center information system at specified time intervals.

2. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 1, wherein the service tag of each returned product is used as an identification number for the RMA file of the returned product.

3. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 1, wherein the database server of the service station information system is an SQL server.

4. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 3, wherein the SQL server utilizes SQL'"'"'s DTS and schedule task to transfer all the RMS files stored in the RMA database of the service station information system at preset time intervals via the data communication link to the RMA database of the repair center information system.

5. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 1, wherein the data communication link is an Internet link.

6. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 1, wherein the data communication link is a directly-linked data communication line.

7. A globally-integrated RMA information system, which comprises:

(a) a repair center information system installed at a first global location;

(b) a service station information system installed at a second global location; and

(c) a data communication link installed between the repair center information system and the service station information system to allow the repair center information system and the service station information system to exchange data;

wherein

the repair center information system includes;

(a1) an IQC workstation, which allows repair personnel to operate the repair center information system; and

(a2) an RMA database, which is used to stored RMS files that are transferred from the service station information system via the data communication link, and which can be access via the IQC workstation;

and wherein

the service station information system includes;

(b1) an RMA workstation, which allows service personnel to input and built an RMA file for each returned product, wherein the service tag of each returned product is used as an identification number for the RMA file of the returned product;

(b2) an RMA database, which is used to store every RMS file built via the RMA workstation; and

(b3) an SQL server, which is capable of transferring all the RMS files stored in the RMA database via the data communication link to the RMA database of the repair center information system at specified time intervals.

8. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 7, wherein the SQL server utilizes SQL'"'"'s DTS and schedule task to transfer all the RMS files stored in the RMA database of the service station information system at preset time intervals via the data communication link to the RMA database of the repair center information system.

9. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 7, wherein the data communication link is an Internet link.

10. The globally-integrated RMA information system of claim 7, wherein the data communication link is a directly-linked data communication line.