Managing Consistent Interfaces for Service Part Business Objects Across Heterogeneous Systems

• US 20090248487A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Horn, Matthias, Chen, Yue, Nagy, Marton Daniel, Santoso, Budi, Loukachev, Iouri, Schoknecht, Andreas, Huber-Buschbeck, Andreas, Schweitzer, Michael, Verma, Sameer
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities

Abstract

A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a service part demand forecast, a service part demand history, a service part inventory replenishment rule, a service part order history, and/or a service part supply plan business object.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part demand forecast service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for receiving, from a service consumer, a first message for processing service parts demand forecasts using service part master and transactional data;

program code for invoking a service part demand forecast business object, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for a forecast of the demand for service parts, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part demand forecast root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a time series period subordinate node; and

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on the data in the service part demand forecast business object, the message comprising a service part demand forecast template message entity, a message header package, a service part demand forecast package, and a log package.

16. The program code of claim 1, wherein processing includes creating, updating and/or retrieving.

2. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part demand forecast service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on data in a service part demand forecast business object invoked by the second application, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for a forecast of the demand for service parts, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part demand forecast root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a time series period subordinate node;

and the message comprising a service part demand forecast template message entity, a message header package, a service part demand forecast package, and a log package; and

program code for receiving a second message from the second application, the second message associated with the invoked service part demand forecast business object and in response to the first message.

3. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services, the system processing business objects involving creating, updating or retrieving service parts demand forecasts using service part master and transactional data and comprising:

memory storing a business object repository storing a plurality of business objects, wherein each business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object of a particular business object type and at least one of the business objects is for a forecast of the demand for service parts, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part demand forecast root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a time series period subordinate node; and

a graphical user interface remote from the memory for presenting data associated with an invoked instance of the service part demand forecast business object, the interface comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible media.

4. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part demand history service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for receiving, from a service consumer, a first message for processing histories for service parts demand;

program code for invoking a service part demand history business object, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining the history of the demand for a service part, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part demand history root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a period bucket assignment subordinate node; and

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on the data in the service part demand history business object, the message comprising a service part demand histories change request message entity, a message header package, and a service part demand history change request message package.

5. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part demand history service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on data in a service part demand history business object invoked by the second application, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining the history of the demand for a service part, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part demand history root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a period bucket assignment subordinate node;

and the message comprising a service part demand histories change request message entity, a message header package, and a service part demand history change request message package; and

program code for receiving a second message from the second application, the second message associated with the invoked service part demand history business object and in response to the first message.

6. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services, the system processing business objects involving creating, updating or retrieving histories for service parts demand and comprising:

memory storing a business object repository storing a plurality of business objects, wherein each business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object of a particular business object type and at least one of the business objects is for defining the history of the demand for a service part, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part demand history root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a period bucket assignment subordinate node; and

a graphical user interface remote from the memory for presenting data associated with an invoked instance of the service part demand history business object, the interface comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible media.

7. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part inventory replenishment rule service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for receiving, from a service consumer, a first message for processing replenishment rules for service part inventories;

program code for invoking a service part inventory replenishment rule business object, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining the replenishment rules for service part inventories, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part inventory replenishment rule root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a period bucket assignment subordinate node; and

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on the data in the service part inventory replenishment rule business object, the message comprising a service part inventory replenishment rule template message entity, a message header package, a service part inventory replenishment rule package, and a log package.

8. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part inventory replenishment rule service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on data in a service part inventory replenishment rule business object invoked by the second application, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining the replenishment rules for service part inventories, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part inventory replenishment rule root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a period bucket assignment subordinate node;

and the message comprising a service part inventory replenishment rule template message entity, a message header package, a service part inventory replenishment rule package, and a log package; and

program code for receiving a second message from the second application, the second message associated with the invoked service part inventory replenishment rule business object and in response to the first message.

9. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services, the system processing business objects involving creating, updating or retrieving replenishment rules for service part inventories and comprising:

memory storing a business object repository storing a plurality of business objects, wherein each business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object of a particular business object type and at least one of the business objects is for defining the replenishment rules for service part inventories, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part inventory replenishment rule root node;

a key figure subordinate node and wherein the key figure node contains;

a key figure value subordinate node; and

a period bucket assignment subordinate node; and

a graphical user interface remote from the memory for presenting data associated with an invoked instance of the service part inventory replenishment rule business object, the interface comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible media.

10. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part order history service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for receiving, from a service consumer, a first message for processing historical data that can be derived from a business document item;

program code for invoking a service part order history business object, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining historical data that can be derived from a business document item, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part order history root node; and

a business transaction document reference subordinate node and wherein the business transaction document reference node contains;

a business transaction document reference actual values subordinate node; and

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on the data in the service part order history business object, the message comprising a service part order history supply chain management by elements response message entity, a message header package, a service part order history package, a processing conditions package, and a log package.

11. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part order history service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on data in a service part order history business object invoked by the second application, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining historical data that can be derived from a business document item, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part order history root node; and

a business transaction document reference subordinate node and wherein the business transaction document reference node contains;

a business transaction document reference actual values subordinate node;

and the message comprising a service part order history supply chain management by elements response message entity, a message header package, a service part order history package, a processing conditions package, and a log package; and

program code for receiving a second message from the second application, the second message associated with the invoked service part order history business object and in response to the first message.

12. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services, the system processing business objects involving creating, updating or retrieving historical data that can be derived from a business document item and comprising:

memory storing a business object repository storing a plurality of business objects, wherein each business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object of a particular business object type and at least one of the business objects is for defining historical data that can be derived from a business document item, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part order history root node; and

a business transaction document reference subordinate node and wherein the business transaction document reference node contains;

a business transaction document reference actual values subordinate node; and

a graphical user interface remote from the memory for presenting data associated with an invoked instance of the service part order history business object, the interface comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible media.

13. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part supply plan service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for receiving, from a service consumer, a first message for processing information about service part supply plans;

program code for invoking a service part supply plan business object, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining the supply plan for service parts, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part supply plan root node; and

a key figure subordinate node; and

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on the data in the service part supply plan business object, the message comprising a service part supply plan supply chain management by elements response message entity, a service part supply plan package, and a log package.

14. A computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a service part supply plan service, the service exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry, wherein upon execution the program code executes in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services and comprises:

program code for initiating transmission of a message to a heterogeneous second application, executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, based on data in a service part supply plan business object invoked by the second application, wherein the business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object for defining the supply plan for service parts, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part supply plan root node; and

a key figure subordinate node;

and the message comprising a service part supply plan supply chain management by elements response message entity, a service part supply plan package, and a log package; and

program code for receiving a second message from the second application, the second message associated with the invoked service part supply plan business object and in response to the first message.

15. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services, the system processing business objects involving creating, updating or retrieving information about service part supply plans and comprising:

memory storing a business object repository storing a plurality of business objects, wherein each business object is a logically centralized, semantically disjointed object of a particular business object type and at least one of the business objects is for defining the supply plan for service parts, and comprises data logically organized as;

a service part supply plan root node; and

a key figure subordinate node; and

a graphical user interface remote from the memory for presenting data associated with an invoked instance of the service part supply plan business object, the interface comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible media.