Identifier attributes for product data stored in an electronic database

• US 20050289158A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Weiss, Jochen, Conrad, Peter, Zachmann, Uwe
• Application Number:
  US10/877,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20050289158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409

Abstract

A method and computer program product are provided for establishing an alternative identifier type for a category of products for which data relating to products are stored in an electronic database, where a standard identifier type has previously been established within a data structure for the product category. An input is received that indicates a user selection of a predefined database attribute within the data structure for the category of products. The selected database attribute is then defined to be an alternative identifier type for the product category.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an alternative identifier type for a category of products for which data relating to products are stored in an electronic database and wherein a standard identifier type has previously been established within a data structure for the product category, the method comprising:

receiving an input indicating a user selection of a predefined database attribute within the data structure for the category of products;

defining the selected database attribute to be an alternative identifier type for the product category.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a visual display of a list of attributes from which the selection of a predefined database attribute is made.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected database attribute is defined as an alternative product identifier type by setting an attribute identifier status attribute.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed multiple times to establish multiple alternative identifier types.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the alternative identifier type is of a nature that the identifier type will have a value that will not be duplicated for any product instance that is a member of the product category.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alternative identifier type is of a nature that the identifier type may have a value that is duplicated for more than one product instances that are members of the product category.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the products for which data related thereto are stored in the database are each unique assets.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the products are unique automobiles.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the products for which data related thereto are stored in the database are a particular type of product where there may be many unique products of the same particular type.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the products are a particular make and model of automobile.

11. A computer program product tangibly embodied on an information carrier and comprising program instructions that when executed perform a method for establishing an alternative identifier type for a category of products for which data relating to products are stored in an electronic database and wherein a standard identifier type has previously been established within a data structure for the product category, wherein the method comprises:

receiving an input indicating a user selection of a predefined database attribute within the data structure for the category of products;

defining the selected database attribute to be an alternative identifier type for the product category.

12. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises providing a visual display of a list of attributes from which the selection of a predefined database attribute is made.

13. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the selected database attribute is defined as an alternative product identifier type by setting an attribute identifier status attribute.

14. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the method is performed multiple times to establish multiple alternative identifier types.

15. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the alternative identifier type is of a nature that the identifier type will have a value that will not be duplicated for any product instance that is a member of the product category.

16. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the alternative identifier type is of a nature that the identifier type may have a value that is duplicated for more than one product instances that are members of the product category.

17. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the products for which data related thereto are stored in the database are each unique assets.

18. The computer product of claim 17 wherein the products are unique automobiles.

19. The computer product of claim 11 wherein the products for which data related thereto are stored in the database are a particular type of product where there may be many unique products of the same particular type.

20. The computer product of claim 19 wherein the products are a particular make and model of automobile.