TECHNOLOGY SHARING DURING DEMAND AND SUPPLY PLANNING IN A NETWORK-BASED SUPPLY CHAIN ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110251868A1
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Mikurak, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.25
• 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

1-40. -40. (canceled)

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

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

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;

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

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

comparing the first supply, the second supply, and the demand for the offerings to plan future supply and demand for the offerings;

selecting a supplier from a group consisting of the second business entity and the third business entity based on a result of the comparing;

using the network to facilitate planning between the first business entity and the supplier selected;

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

storing capacity data using the network wherein storing capacity data using the network includes replication and synchronization capabilities.

42. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

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

43. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

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

44. A method as recited in claim 41, 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 supplier selected.

45. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

using the network to coordinate a supply and the demand for offerings between the first business entity and the supplier selected.

46. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

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

47. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

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

48. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

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

49. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes supporting database connectivity protocols.

50. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the step of providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes supporting data transfer in multiple languages.

51. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes providing a common data access language.

52. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein storing capacity data using the network includes testing data integrity.

53. A method as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

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

analyzing the data to determine a status of the at least one service;

using the status of the at least one service to predict future demand by the at least one service provider for equipment offering supplied by a manufacturer; and

determining production capacity, inventory, costs and discounts of manufacturer offerings based on the status of the at least one service.

54. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein the events include changes to the at least one service.

55. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein the events include capacity requests for the at least one service.

56. A method as recited in claim 53, wherein the events include performance degradation of the at least one service.

81. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein selecting a supplier includes:

receiving information via the network from the first business entity, including information relating to a budge associated with the demand for the offerings; and

selecting the second business entity as the supplier if a cost associated with the first supply is lower than the budget.

82. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein using the network to provide data access from multiple simultaneous data sources includes:

providing an interface to the plurality of business entities; and

allowing one of the plurality of business entities to monitor a consumption of goods related to the demand of the first business entity via the interface.

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

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

a code segment 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 business entity for offerings;

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 first supply of offerings from the second business entity;

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

a code segment for comparing the first supply, the second supply, and the demand for the offerings to plan future supply and demand for the offerings;

a code segment for selecting a supplier from a group consisting of the second business entity and the third business entity based on a result of the comparing; and

a code segment for using the network to facilitate planning between at least the first business entity and the supplier selected;

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

a code segment for storing capacity data using the network wherein storing capacity data using the network includes replication and synchronization capabilities.

58. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, further comprising:

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

59. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, further comprising:

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

60. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, 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 supplier selected.

61. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, further comprising:

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

62. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, further comprising:

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

63. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, 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 supplier selected.

64. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, further comprising:

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

65. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 63, wherein the code segment for providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes a code segment for supporting database connectivity protocols.

66. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 63, wherein providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes:

a code segment for supporting data transfer in multiple languages.

67. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 63, wherein the code segment for providing data access from multiple simultaneous data sources using a network includes a code segment for providing a common data access language.

68. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 57, further comprising:

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;

a code segment for analyzing the data to determine a status of the at least one service;

a code segment for using the status of the at least one service to predict future demand by the at least one service provider for equipment offering supplied by a manufacturer; and

a code segment for determining production capacity, inventory, costs and discounts of manufacturer offerings based on the status of the at least one service.

69. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 68, wherein the events include changes to the at least one service.

70. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 68, wherein the events include capacity requests for the at least one service.

71. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium and executable on a computer as recited in claim 68, wherein the events include performance degradation of the at least one service.

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

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

a means 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 business entity for offerings;

a means for receiving information via the network from a second business entity of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a first supply of offerings from the second business entity;

a means for receiving information via the network from a third business entity of the plurality of business entities, including information relating to a second supply of offerings from the third business entity;

a means for comparing the first supply, the second supply, and the demand for the offerings to plan future supply and demand for the offerings;

a means for selecting a supplier from a group consisting of the second business entity and the third business entity based on a result of the comparing; and

a means for using the network to facilitate planning between the first business entity and the supplier selected;

a means for using the network to provide data access from multiple simultaneous data sources for demand and supply planning; and

a means for storing capacity data using the network wherein storing capacity data using the network includes replication and synchronization capabilities.

73. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

a means for using the network to facilitate collaborative network roll-out and planning between the first business entity and the supplier selected.

74. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

a means for using the network to facilitate collaborative forecasting between the first business entity and the supplier selected.

75. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

a means 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 supplier selected.

76. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

a means for using the network to coordinate a supply and the demand of for offerings between the first business entity and the supplier selected.

77. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

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

78. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

a means for using the network to facilitate planning between the first business entity and the supplier selected.

79. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

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

80. A system as recited in claim 72, further comprising:

a means for using the network to conduct reverse inventory management between the first business entity and the supplier selected.