Direct customer ERP access

• US 20070228163A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Torning, Kristian, Holm, Pontus, Gufler, Hans, Schon, Bjarne, Rath, Thomas, Roser, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• 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 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

To improve upon existing ERP and other business logic handling system implementations, the claimed system and method provides direct customer access to functionality and data available in a merchant'"'"'s business logic handling system. The claimed method and system includes installing functions of the business logic handling system at a portable computing device provided by the merchant or owned by a customer, and downloading data corresponding to functions installed at the portable computing device. The customer inputs requests to perform functions of the business logic handling system, and the functions are performed at the portable computing device and/or a system server, and the output of the function is displayed to the custom at the device.

Claims

1. A method for providing direct access by a customer of a merchant of goods or services to functions and data available in the merchant'"'"'s business logic handling system, comprising:

installing functions of the business logic handling system at a portable computing device;

downloading to the portable computing device data of the business logic handling system corresponding to the functions installed at the portable computing device;

receiving a request input by the customer at the portable computing device to perform a function of the business logic handling system installed at the portable computing device;

executing the function of the business logic handling system requested by the customer at the portable computing device; and

displaying an output of the executed function of the business logic handling system at the portable computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the portable computing device that the function requested by the customer is executed by a system server of the business logic handling system;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to the system server to perform the function requested by the customer;

executing the function requested by the customer at the system server;

transmitting a response message from the system server to the portable computing device containing an output of the function executed by the system server; and

displaying the output from the response message at the portable computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a request from the portable computing device to a system server of the business logic handling system for current data of the business logic handling system corresponding to the functions installed at the portable computing device;

receiving the request for current data at the system server;

selecting the requested current data from system data stored remotely from the portable computing device;

transmitting a response message containing the selected current data from the system server to the portable computing device;

receiving the response message at the portable computing device; and

updating the data stored at the portable computing device with the selected current data from the response message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically transmitting data update messages containing current data of the business logic handling system corresponding to the functions installed at the portable computing device from a system server of the business logic handling system having access to the system data;

receiving the data update messages at the portable computing device; and

updating the data stored at the portable computing device with the current data from the data update messages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing an inventory inquiry function at the portable computing device;

downloading item information and inventory information for items offered for sale by the merchant to the portable computing device;

receiving an item inventory inquiry request for an item at the portable computing device;

selecting item information and inventory information for the requested item in response to receiving the item inventory inquiry request at the portable computing device; and

displaying the selected item information and inventory information at the portable computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the merchant has a plurality of retail locations, and wherein the item information and inventory information downloaded to the portable computing device corresponds to the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed, the method further comprising:

installing an inventory inquiry function at the portable computing device for requesting inventory information for retail locations other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed;

receiving an item inventory inquiry request for inventory information for a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing devices is disposed;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to a system server of the business logic handling system containing the item inventory inquiry request;

selecting at the system server inventory information from system data for the requested item for the retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed in response to receiving the item inventory inquiry request message at the system server;

transmitting a response message from the system server to the portable computing device containing the selected inventory information; and

displaying the selected inventory information from the response message at the portable computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

installing an item reservation function at the portable computing device for reserving inventory at a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed;

receiving an item reservation request for an item at a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing devices is disposed;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to the system server containing the item reservation request;

receiving the request message at the system server; and

updating the system data to reserve the requested item at the retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed in response to receiving the item reservation request message at the system server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing an item purchasing function at the portable computing device;

receiving an item purchase request at the portable computing device;

transmitting an item purchase message containing the item purchase request from the portable computing device to a system server for the business logic handling system;

receiving the item purchase message at the system server; and

updating system data accessible by the system server to reduce the inventory of the purchased item by a quantity indicated in the item purchase message in response to receiving the item purchase message at the system server.

9. A method for providing direct access by a customer of a merchant of goods or services to functions and data available in the merchant'"'"'s business logic handling system, comprising:

downloading functions of the business logic handling system to a portable computing device owned by the customer;

downloading to the portable computing device data of the business logic handling system corresponding to the functions installed at the portable computing device;

receiving a request input by the customer at the portable computing device to perform a function of the business handling system installed at the portable computing device;

executing the function of the business handling system requested by the customer at the portable computing device; and

displaying an output of the executed function of the business handling system at the portable computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining at the portable computing device that the function requested by the customer is executed by a system server of the business logic handling system;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to the system server to perform the function requested by the customer;

executing the function requested by the customer at the system server;

transmitting a response message from the system server to the portable computing device containing an output of the function executed by the system server; and

displaying the output from the response message at the portable computing device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

installing an inventory inquiry function at the portable computing device;

downloading item information and inventory information for items offered for sale by the merchant to the portable computing device;

receiving an item inventory inquiry request for an item at the portable computing device;

selecting item information and inventory information for the requested item in response to receiving the item inventory inquiry request at the portable computing device; and

displaying the selected item information and inventory information at the portable computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the merchant has a plurality of retail locations, and wherein the item information and inventory information downloaded to the portable computing device corresponds to the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed, the method further comprising:

installing an inventory inquiry function at the portable computing device for requesting inventory information for retail locations other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed;

receiving an item inventory inquiry request for inventory information for a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing devices is disposed;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to a system server of the business logic handling system containing the item inventory inquiry request;

selecting at the system server inventory information from system data for the requested item for the retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed in response to receiving the item inventory inquiry request message at the system server;

transmitting a response message from the system server to the portable computing device containing the selected inventory information; and

displaying the selected inventory information from the response message at the portable computing device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

installing an item reservation function at the portable computing device for reserving inventory at a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed;

receiving an item reservation request for an item at a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing devices is disposed;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to the system server containing the item reservation request;

receiving the request message at the system server; and

updating the system data to reserve the requested item at the retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed in response to receiving the item reservation request message at the system server.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

installing an item purchasing function at the portable computing device;

receiving an item purchase request at the portable computing device;

transmitting an item purchase message containing the item purchase request from the portable computing device to a system server for the business logic handling system;

receiving the item purchase message at the system server; and

updating system data accessible by the system server to reduce the inventory of the purchased item by a quantity indicated in the item purchase message in response to receiving the item purchase message at the system server.

15. A computer readable medium with computer executable instructions for a business logic handling system providing direct access by a non-employee to functions and information of the business logic handling system, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

installing functions of the business logic handling system on a portable computer device;

downloading to the portable computing device data of the business logic handling system corresponding to the functions installed at the portable computing device;

receiving a request input by the non-employee at the portable computing device to perform a function of the business logic handling system installed at the portable computing device;

executing the function of the business logic handling system requested by the non-employee at the portable computing device; and

displaying an output of the executed function of the business logic handling system at the portable computing device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

determining at the portable computing device that the function requested by the customer is executed by a system server of the business logic handling system;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to the system server to perform the function requested by the customer;

executing the function requested by the customer at the system server;

transmitting a response message from the system server to the portable computing device containing an output of the function executed by the system server; and

displaying the output from the response message at the portable computing device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

installing an inventory inquiry function at the portable computing device;

downloading item information and inventory information for items offered for sale by the merchant to the portable computing device;

receiving an item inventory inquiry request for an item at the portable computing device;

selecting item information and inventory information for the requested item in response to receiving the item inventory inquiry request at the portable computing device; and

displaying the selected item information and inventory information at the portable computing device.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the business logic handling system is configured for implementation for a plurality of retail locations, and wherein the item information and inventory information downloaded to the portable computing device corresponds to the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

installing an inventory inquiry function at the portable computing device for requesting inventory information for retail locations other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed;

receiving an item inventory inquiry request for inventory information for a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing devices is disposed;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to a system server of the business logic handling system containing the item inventory inquiry request;

selecting at the system server inventory information from system data for the requested item for the retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed in response to receiving the item inventory inquiry request message at the system server;

transmitting a response message from the system server to the portable computing device containing the selected inventory information; and

displaying the selected inventory information from the response message at the portable computing device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

installing an item reservation function at the portable computing device for reserving inventory at a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed;

receiving an item reservation request for an item at a retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing devices is disposed;

transmitting a request message from the portable computing device to the system server containing the item reservation request;

receiving the request message at the system server; and

updating the system data to reserve the requested item at the retail location other than the retail location at which the portable computing device is disposed in response to receiving the item reservation request message at the system server.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

installing an item purchasing function at the portable computing device;

receiving an item purchase request at the portable computing device;

transmitting an item purchase message containing the item purchase request from the portable computing device to a system server for the business logic handling system;

receiving the item purchase message at the system server; and

updating system data accessible by the system server to reduce the inventory of the purchased item by a quantity indicated in the item purchase message in response to receiving the item purchase message at the system server.