Methods, systems and computer program products for integrating carrier services into an enterprise

• US 20060293911A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Kuntz-Mayr, Christiane, Kagermann, Heinz, Babu, Suresh, Wittmann, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• 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 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media are provided for integrating carrier services. In one implementation, carrier services are integrated into an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system utilizing an integration platform. The integration platform may include a first, second, and third components. The first, second, and third components may interact to utilize within the integration platform services offered by ERP vendors and carriers by discovering, setting up, testing, running and updating these services. As result, typical business scenarios, such as a order-to-cash process, may be enhanced.

Claims

1. An integration platform for integrating carrier services with an enterprise-scale business scenario that is supported by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system of an enterprise, comprising:

a discovery component adapted to provide general Web services for facilitating the enterprise-scale business scenario and specific Web services of at least one vendor to aid the enterprise-scale business scenario;

a connect component provided at least one of a plurality of vendors, adapted to publish specific Web services of the vendor to the discovery component; and

an enterprise component deployed by the enterprise adapted to retrieve general and specific Web services provided by the discovery component, store the services in a configuration database, and plug the services into the enterprise-scale business scenario.

2. The integration platform of claim 1, wherein the enterprise-scale business scenario is an order-to-cash process.

3. The integration platform of claim 1, wherein the general Web services are provided by a third party different from the enterprise or the carrier.

4. The integration platform of claim 1, wherein the enterprise component may only retrieve the specific Web services for which it has been granted authorization.

5. The integration platform of claim 1, wherein the enterprise and connect components comprise an integration and application platform and a business process platform wherein the integration and application platform provides, through the business process platform, a foundation upon which modules that comprise the enterprise-scale business scenario within the ERP system are run.

6. The integration platform of claim 5, wherein the enterprise, connect, and discovery components are connected through the use of an integration broker that runs within the integration and application platform.

7. The integration platform of claim 5, wherein the discovery component is further adapted to enable the discovery of carriers and their services.

8. A method of developing an integration platform for integrating carrier services with an enterprise-scale business scenario that is supported by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system of an enterprise, comprising:

a discovery component adapted to provide general Web services for facilitating the enterprise-scale business scenario and specific Web services of at least one vendor to aid the enterprise-scale business scenario;

a connect component provided at least one of a plurality of vendors, adapted to publish specific Web services of the vendor to the discovery component; and

an enterprise component deployed by the enterprise adapted to retrieve general and specific Web services provided by the discovery component, store the services in a configuration database, and plug the services into the enterprise-scale business scenario.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the enterprise-scale business scenario is an order-to-cash process.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the general Web services are provided by a third party different from the enterprise or the carrier.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the enterprise component may only retrieve the specific Web services for which it has been granted authorization.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the enterprise and connect components comprise an integration and application platform and a business process platform wherein the integration and application platform provides, through the business process platform, a foundation upon which modules that comprise the ERP system are run.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the enterprise, connect, and discovery components are connected through the use of an integration broker that runs within the integration and application platform.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the enterprise component plugs the Web services into an order-to-cash business process of the enterprise using specified plug in points of said modules and combines the Web services or Web service calls into one enterprise service.

15. A computer-readable medium including program instructions for performing, when executed by a processor, a method of developing an integration platform for integrating carrier services with an enterprise-scale business scenario that is supported by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system of an enterprise, comprising:

a discovery component adapted to provide general Web services for facilitating the enterprise-scale business scenario and specific Web services of at least one vendor to aid the enterprise-scale business scenario;

a connect component provided at least one of a plurality of vendors, adapted to publish specific Web services of the vendor to the discovery component; and

an enterprise component deployed by the enterprise adapted to retrieve general and specific Web services provided by the discovery component, store the services in a configuration database, and plug the services into the enterprise-scale business scenario.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the enterprise-scale business scenario is an order-to-cash process.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the general Web services are provided by a third party different from the enterprise or the carrier.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the enterprise component may only retrieve the specific Web services for which it has been granted authorization.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the enterprise and connect components comprise an integration and application platform and a business process platform wherein the integration and application platform provides, through the business process platform, a foundation upon which modules that comprise the ERP system are run.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the enterprise, connect, and discovery components are connected through the use of an integration broker that runs within the integration and application platform