Technology sharing during demand and supply planning in a network-based supply chain environment

• US 20060178918A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Mikurak, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities

Abstract

A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for technology sharing during demand and supply planning in a network-based supply chain environment. Steps included are providing locator and mapping capabilities utilizing the network. Technology that includes streaming audio, stereo audio and video data is also shared utilizing the network. Encryption capabilities for the technology are also included. Further, searching capabilities are provided utilizing the network in addition to logging events and passive user profiling. The event logging includes logging network operations. User profile data is automatically received and stored. User profile data includes user identity, state, preferences and interests. User profile data is also automatically exported to an active profile manager which automatically adds additional user profile data. Additional user profile data includes information related to whether the user is a service provider or a manufacturer and the location of user.

Claims

1. A method carried out by a computerized framework manager to supply collaborative planning comprising:

(a) furnishing connections to a network for use by a plurality of business entities, wherein the plurality business entities comprise at least one of service providers, vendors, resellers, and manufacturers;

(b) receiving information via the network from a first business entity of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a demand of the first business entity for offerings;

(c) receiving information via the network from a second business entity of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a supply of offerings from the second business entity;

(d) analyzing the supply and the demand for the offerings to plan future supply and demand for the offerings;

(e) using the network to facilitate planning between the first business entity and the second business entity;

(f) using the network to provide data access from multiple simultaneous data sources for demand and supply planning; and

(g) using the network to store capacity data, wherein the step of storing capacity data using the network includes replication and synchronization capabilities.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

using the network to facilitate collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

using the network to facilitate collaborative forecasting between the first business entity and the second business entity.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

using the network to provide a roll-out planning tool for facilitating collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

using the network to coordinate the supply and the demand of offerings between the first business entity and the second business entity.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

using the network to provide a supply chain planning tool for coordinating the supply of offerings between the first business entity and the second business entity.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

using the network to provide a production planning tool for facilitating collaborative capacity planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

using the network to conduct reverse inventory management between the first business entity and the second business entity.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes supporting database connectivity protocols.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes supporting data transfer in multiple languages.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes providing a common data access language.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of storing capacity data using the network includes testing data integrity.

13. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

(a) using a network to collect data relating to usage and events occurring on at least one service provided by at least one service provider;

(b) analyzing the data to determine a status of the service;

(c) using the status of the service to predict future demand by the service provider for equipment offering supplied by a manufacturer; and

(d) determining production capacity, inventory, costs and discounts of manufacturer offerings based on the status of the service.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the events include changes to the service.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the events include capacity requests for the service.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the events include performance degradation of the service.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer for a computerized framework manager to supply collaborative planning comprising:

(a) a code segment furnishing connections to a network for use by a plurality of business entities, wherein the plurality business entities comprise at least one of service providers, vendors, resellers, and manufacturers;

(b) a code segment for receiving information via the network from a first business entity for the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a demand of the first business entity for offerings;

(c) a code segment for receiving information via the network from a second business entity of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a supply of offerings from the second business entity;

(d) a code segment for analyzing the supply and the demand for the offerings to plan future supply and demand for the offerings;

(e) a code segment for using the network to facilitate planning between at least the first business entity and the second business entity;

(f) a code segment for using the network to provide data access from multiple simultaneous data sources for demand and supply planning;

(g) a code segment for using the network to store capacity data wherein the step of storing capacity data using the network includes replication and synchronization capabilities.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to facilitate collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

19. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to facilitate collaborative forecasting between the first business entity and the second business entity.

20. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 18 further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to provide a roll-out planning tool for facilitating collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

21. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to coordinate the supply and the demand of offerings between the first business entity and the second business entity.

22. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to provide a supply chain planning tool for coordinating the supply of offerings between the first business entity and the second business entity.

23. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to provide a production planning tool for facilitating collaborative capacity planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

24. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 17, wherein the business entities include at least one of a service provider and a manufacturer and further comprising:

a code segment for using the network to conduct reverse inventory management between the first business entity and second business entity.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 23, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes supporting database connectivity protocols.

26. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 23, wherein providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes:

a code segment for supporting data transfer in multiple languages.

27. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 23, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes providing a common data access language.

28. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

(a) a code segment for using a network to collect data relating to usage and events occurring on at least one service provided by at least one service provider;

(b) a code segment for analyzing the data to determine a status of the service;

(c) a code segment for using the status of the service to predict future demand by the service provider for equipment offering supplied by a manufacturer; and

(d) a code segment for determining production capacity, inventory, costs and discounts of manufacturer offerings based on the status of the service.

29. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 28, wherein the events include changes to the at least one service.

30. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 28, wherein the events include capacity requests for the at least one service.

31. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 28, wherein the events include performance degradation of the at least one service.

32. A system for a computerized framework manager to supply collaborative planning comprising:

(a) a module for providing connections to a network for use by a plurality of business entities, wherein the first and second business entities comprise at least one of service providers, vendors, resellers, and manufacturers;

(b) a module for receiving information via the network from a first business entity_of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a demand of the first independent business entity for offerings;

(c) a module for receiving information via the network from a second business entity of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a supply of offerings from the second business entity;

(d) a module for analyzing the supply and the demand for the offerings to plan future supply and demand for the offerings;

(e) a module for using the network to facilitate planning between at least the first business entity and the second business entity;

(f) a module for using the network to provide data access from multiple simultaneous data sources for demand and supply planning; and

(g) a module for using the network to store capacity data wherein the step of storing capacity data using the network includes replication and synchronization capabilities.

33. A system as recited in claim 32, further comprising:

a module for using the network to facilitate collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

34. A system as recited in claim 32, further comprising:

a module for using the network to facilitate collaborative forecasting between the first business entity and the second business entity.

35. A system as recited in claim 32 further comprising:

a module for using the network to provide a roll-out planning tool for facilitating collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

36. A system as recited in claim 32, further comprising:

a module for using the network to coordinate the supply and the demand of offerings between the first business entity and the second business entity.

37. A system as recited in claim 32 further comprising:

a module for using the network to provide a supply chain planning tool for coordinating the supply of offerings between the first business entity and the second business entity.

38. A system as recited in claim 32, further comprising:

a module for using the network to facilitate planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

39. A system as recited in claim 38, further comprising:

a module for using the network to provide a production planning tool for facilitating collaborative capacity planning between the first business entity and the second business entity.

40. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein the business entities includes at least one of a service provider and a manufacturer and further comprising:

a module for using the network to conduct reverse inventory management between the first business entity and the second business entity.