System and method for multi-enterprise supply chain optimization
First Claim
1. A method of optimizing multi-enterprise supply chain agreements using an electronic option contract, the method comprising:
- determining at a buyer computer a range of forecasted demand for one or more products;
communicating from the buyer computer to a seller computer an offer to enter into an option contract for the supply of a product, the option contract including an option corresponding to the range of forecasted demand;
executing the option contract;
receiving at the buyer computer an indication of current buyer demand for the product;
automatically and without user input subsequent to receiving at the buyer computer the indication of current buyer demand for the product, determining at the buyer computer whether the indicated current buyer demand exceeds a maximum option quantity specified in the option contract; and
automatically and without user input subsequent to determining at the buyer computer whether the indicated current buyer demand exceeds the maximum option quantity specified in the option contract, if the indicated current buyer demand does not exceed the maximum option quantity specified in the option contract, communicating from the buyer computer to the seller computer a request to exercise at least a portion of the option based at least in part on the indicated current buyer demand.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of optimizing multi-enterprise supply chain agreements using an electronic option contract includes determining at a buyer computer a range of forecasted demand for a product and communicating from the buyer computer to a seller computer an offer to enter into an option contract for the supply of a product, the option contract including an option corresponding to the range of forecasted demand. The method further includes executing the option contract, updating at the buyer computer the forecasted demand, and exercising the option in the option contract within the range of forecasted demand based on the updated forecasted demand.
70 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of optimizing multi-enterprise supply chain agreements using an electronic option contract, the method comprising:
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determining at a buyer computer a range of forecasted demand for one or more products; communicating from the buyer computer to a seller computer an offer to enter into an option contract for the supply of a product, the option contract including an option corresponding to the range of forecasted demand; executing the option contract; receiving at the buyer computer an indication of current buyer demand for the product; automatically and without user input subsequent to receiving at the buyer computer the indication of current buyer demand for the product, determining at the buyer computer whether the indicated current buyer demand exceeds a maximum option quantity specified in the option contract; and automatically and without user input subsequent to determining at the buyer computer whether the indicated current buyer demand exceeds the maximum option quantity specified in the option contract, if the indicated current buyer demand does not exceed the maximum option quantity specified in the option contract, communicating from the buyer computer to the seller computer a request to exercise at least a portion of the option based at least in part on the indicated current buyer demand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of optimizing multi-enterprise supply chain agreements using an electronic option contract, the method comprising:
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receiving at a seller computer terms of an option contract from a buyer computer, the terms comprising an option corresponding to a buyer'"'"'s range of forecasted demand for a product; communicating to the buyer computer an acceptance of the terms of the option contract; storing the terms of the accepted option contract in a memory accessible to the seller computer; receiving, at the seller computer and from the buyer computer, a request to exercise at least a portion of the option based at least in part on an indication of current buyer demand for the product; at the seller computer, automatically and without user input subsequent to receiving at the seller computer the request to exercise at least the portion of the option, in response to receiving the request; accessing the stored terms of the option contract; and using the stored terms of the option contract; determining whether an option period specified in the option contract has begun; if the option period has not yet begun, notifying the buyer computer that the request is premature; and if the option period has begun; determining whether the request specifies a request quantity that exceeds a maximum option quantity specified in the option contract; if the request quantity exceeds the maximum option quantity, notifying the buyer computer that the request is improper; and if the request quantity does not exceed the maximum option quantity, storing the request for seller compliance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a procurement manager operable to be executed on the processor of a buyer computer, the procurement manager comprising; a forecast module operable to determine the buyer'"'"'s range of forecasted demand for one or more product; a negotiation module operable to communicate to a seller computer an offer to enter into an option contract for the supply of a product, the option contract including a proposed option corresponding to the range of forecasted demand, the negotiation module further operable to receive from the seller computer a modified range of forecasted demand, to communicate the modified range of forecasted demand to the forecast module, and to receive from the forecast module a compromised range of forecasted demand; an execution module operable to execute an option contract including an option corresponding to the compromised range of forecasted demand; and an exercise module operable to; receive from the forecast module an indication of current buyer demand for the product; determine whether the indicated current buyer demand exceeds a maximum option quantity specified in the option contract; and if the indicated current buyer demand does not exceed the maximum option quantity specified in the option contract, communicate to the seller computer a request to exercise at least a portion of the option based at least in part on the indicated current buyer demand. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a supply manager operable to be executed the processor of a seller computer, the supply manager comprising; a forecast module operable to determine the seller'"'"'s range of forecasted supply capacity for one or more product; a negotiation module operable to receive from a buyer computer an offer to enter into an option contract for the supply of a product, the option contract including a proposed option corresponding to a range of forecasted demand; an execution module operable to execute the option contract and to store the terms of the option contract in a memory accessible to the seller computer; and a tracking module operable to receive, from the buyer computer, a request to exercise at least a portion of the option; and in response to receiving the request; access the stored terms of the option contract; and using the stored terms of the option contract; determine whether an option period specified in the option contract has begun; if the option period has not yet begun, notify the buyer computer that the request is premature; and if the option period has begun;
determine whether the request specifies a request quantity exceeds a maximum option quantity specified in the option contract;
if the request quantity exceeds the maximum option quantity, notify the buyer computer that the request is improper; and
if the request quantity does not exceed the maximum option quantity, storing the request system for seller compliance. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification