Supply-chain side assistance

• US 20060080188A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,694,881 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 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping

Abstract

An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system that identifies an item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to a signal indicative of the item, obtains a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source; and aggregates the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

a) identifying an item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to a signal indicative of the item;

b) obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source; and

c) aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying an item having a presence within a geographic locale includes identifying at least one of a product, a raw material, or a manufactured good having a presence within a geographic locale.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying an item having a presence within a geographic locale includes identifying an item having a presence within at least one of a distribution center premises, a retail store storage premises, or a warehouse premises.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying an item having a presence within a geographic locale includes identifying an item having a presence within a conveyance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source over a network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source over the network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source over a network includes obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source over a network that includes at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, a private network, a public network, or the Internet.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source over a network includes obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source over a network that includes at least one of a private global computer network or a public global computer network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first domain and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second domain.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source that is independent from the first source.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of information corresponding to a history of the item during a presence of the item in a supply chain.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of information corresponding to a history of the item during a presence of the item in a supply chain.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a third party database.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a third party database.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a trade association.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a trade association.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a regulatory agency.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a regulatory agency.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of a security interest information corresponding to the identified item from a first source.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of a security interest information corresponding to the identified item from a second source.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of a commercial interest information corresponding to the identified item from a first source.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of a commercial interest information corresponding to the identified item from a second source.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of a stolen property status information corresponding to the item from a first source.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of storage information corresponding to the item from a first source.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance includes aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance into a user interface.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance includes translating the first supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item using a mutually agreed protocol.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance includes translating the first supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first native data format.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) enabling a supply-chain user to request at least one instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item.

43. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) broadcasting the aggregated first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance.

44. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) causing the first supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item to be obtained from the first source and the second supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item to be obtained from the second source.

5. (canceled)

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46. (canceled)

47. A computer-implemented method comprising:

a) receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale; and

b) enabling a supply-chain user to request a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item having a presence within a geographic locale.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale includes receiving a signal indicative of an optically readable product code associated with an item having a presence within a geographic locale.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale includes receiving a signal indicative of an electronically transmitted product code associated with an item having a presence within a geographic locale.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale further includes identifying the item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to the signal indicative of the item.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale includes receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a premises.

52. The method of claim 47, further including:

c) in response to a received supply-chain user request for a supply-chain assistance, obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item from a second source;

d) aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance; and

e) broadcasting the aggregated supply-chain assistance.

53. (canceled)

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59. A system comprising:

a) a computing device operable to receive a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale and to access a network; and

b) instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to;

(i) identify an item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to the signal indicative of the item;

(ii) obtain a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and obtain a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source; and

(iii) aggregate the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source includes obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source over the network.

61. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein the obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source includes obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source over the network.

62. A system comprising:

a) a sensor operable to generate a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale;

b) a computing device including a storage medium, and operable to receive the signal indicative of an item and to access a computer network; and

c) instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to;

(i) receive a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale; and

(ii) enable a supply-chain user to request a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item having a presence within a geographic locale.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the instructions further include:

(iii) in response to a received supply-chain user request for a supply-chain assistance, obtain a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item from a first source and obtain a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item from a second source from the network;

(iv) aggregate the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance; and

(v) broadcast the aggregated supply-chain assistance.

64. A computer-implemented method comprising:

a) receiving a first signal indicative of a first item having a presence within a geographic locale subject to a control by an entity;

b) receiving a second signal indicative of a second item having a presence within the geographic locale subject to a control by an entity;

c) requesting an information corresponding to both the first item and the second item over a computer network from at least two sources each independent of the entity; and

d) providing the information corresponding to both the first item and the second item.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the requesting an information corresponding to both the first item and the second item over a computer network from at least two sources each independent of the entity includes requesting an information corresponding to both the first item and the second item over a global computer network from at least two sources each independent of the entity.