System and method for managing inventory

• US 7,707,075 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Expedia Inc. (Expedia Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Expedia Inc. (Expedia Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matos, Tomas A. D., Vaughan, Richard A., Brinker, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US09/932,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,175 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies

Abstract

A system and method for managing inventory data are provided. A travel server obtains inventory data from one or more inventory suppliers and stores the inventory data as SKU group, SKU and SKU inventory records. The travel server utilizes the SKU group, SKU and SKU inventory records to process user requests for available inventory and supplier inventory action requests.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a computer device for processing an available inventory item query corresponding to inventory items defined by inventory information, the method comprising:

storing a set of available inventory information according to a three level hierarchy, wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy;

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by at least two of the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct instances of inventory items than that of another inventory record, the distinct instances of inventory items including price with price adjustments applied to the price;

obtaining, by the computer device, a supplier batch inventory query, the query including a set of criteria;

determining at least one inventory item matching the supplier batch query criteria based on at least one group record, item category record and inventory record; and

transmitting matching group record, item category record, and inventory record data for the matching inventory item.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining at least one inventory item includes identifying all inventory items matching the query criteria, wherein each identified inventory item corresponds to a group record, record, and inventory record.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining at least one inventory item includes applying a supplier limitation of use to select a corresponding group record, record, and inventory record.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining at least one inventory item includes applying a consumer selection limitation of use to select a corresponding group record, record, and inventory record.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising processing the data associated with the identified group record, record, and inventory records prior to transmitting the data.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the instances of inventory items includes price and wherein processing the data includes generating a price corresponding to the set of query criteria.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein generating a price includes generating an ordered list of prices for one or more inventory items.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein generating a price includes applying any date based price adjustments based on a current date or date of use.

9. The method as recited In claim 8, wherein the date based price adjustment is a tax rate computed by a date of use.

10. The method as recited In claim 8, wherein the date based price adjustment is a service charge computed by a date of use.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the date based price adjustment is an extra person charge computed by a date of use.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the date based price adjustment is a point of sale variance computed by a date of use.

13. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein processing data includes determining an inventory availability corresponding to the set of query criteria.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inventory includes travel-based goods and services and wherein the available inventory query includes an available travel-based goods and services query.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the query criteria include a date or date range.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the date or date range is selected by a graphical user interface.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the query criteria include a selection of a destination.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the query criteria include a selection of a hotel or hotel room-type.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the query criteria include the selection of an airline or airline flight.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the query criteria include a selection of a cruise or cabin type.

21. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the query criteria include a selection of a car rental vendor or car type.

22. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the available inventory query is a user-specified, available inventory query.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the method recited in anyone of claims 1-22.

24. A computer system having a processor, a memory, and an operating environment, the computer system operable for performing the method recited in any one of claims 1-22.

25. A method implemented by a computer device for processing an inventory action request corresponding to one or more inventory items defined by inventory information, the method comprising:

storing a set of available inventory information according to a three level hierarchy, wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail includes date information associated with the inventory items, and wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy;

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types than that of another inventory record, the distinct inventory instances of item types including price with price adjustments applied to the price;

obtaining, by the computer device, an inventory action request, the inventory action request including an identification of at least one specific group record, item category record, and inventory record;

processing the inventory action request; and

transmitting the results of the processing of the inventory action request

wherein the inventory action request includes a supplier batch inventory action request, the batch inventory action request including an identification of one or more group records, item category records, inventory records, and inventory modification data, and wherein processing the inventory action request includes;

identifying at least one group record, item category record, and inventory record corresponding to the batch inventory action request; and

updating the identified at least one group record, item category record, and inventory record with the inventory modification data from the batch inventory action request.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein obtaining the inventory action request includes obtaining a supplier request for inventory action.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein obtaining an inventory action request includes:

issuing an inventory action request to a supplier; and

obtaining a supplier confirmation inventory action request.

40. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in anyone of claims 25-38 and 39.

41. A computer system having a processor memory in an operating environment, the computer system operable to perform the method recited in anyone of claims 25-38 and 39.

28. A method, implemented by a computer device for processing an inventory action request corresponding to one or more inventory items defined by inventory information, the method comprising:

storing a set of available inventory information according to a three level hierarchy, wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail includes date information associated with the inventory items, and wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy;

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types than that of another inventory record;

obtaining, by the computer device, an inventory action request, the inventory action request including an identification of at least one specific group record, item category record, and inventory record;

processing the inventory action request; and

transmitting the results of the processing of the inventory action request;

wherein the inventory action request includes a supplier batch inventory action request, the batch inventory action request including an identification of one or more group records, item category records, inventory records, and inventory modification data, and wherein processing the inventory action request includes;

identifying at least one group record, item category record, and inventory record corresponding to the batch inventory action request; and

updating the identified at least one group record, item category record, and inventory record with the inventory modification data from the batch inventory action request.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the modification data includes a cost code indicative of a supplier cost.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the modification data includes data indicating a maximum price that may be charged for the inventory item.

31. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising transmitting a confirmation of the updating of the at least one inventory record.

32. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising generating one or more inventory records corresponding to the identification data included in the batch inventory action request if no inventory records corresponding to the batch inventory action request can be identified.

33. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising generating one or more item category records corresponding to the identification data included in the batch inventory action request if no item category records corresponding to the batch inventory action request can be identified.

34. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the inventory action request includes a supplier inventory query action request, the supplier inventory query including one or more query criteria, and wherein processing the inventory action request includes:

determining at least one category item record and inventory record matching the query criteria; and

transmitting data associated with the matching category item record and inventory records to an associated supplier.

35. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising filtering the data associated with the matching category item record and record inventory records prior to transmitting the data.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the filtered data associated with the matching category item record, and inventory records includes utilization data corresponding to inventory items represented by the matching records.

37. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the filtered data associated with the matching category item record, and inventory records includes a supplier cost associated with inventory items represented by the matching records.

38. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the inventory includes travel-based goods and services, and wherein the inventory action request is a travel-based goods and services inventory action request.

39. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising generating one or more group records corresponding to the identification data included in the batch inventory action request if no group records corresponding to the batch inventory action request can be identified.

42. A system for managing inventory utilizing inventory information, the system comprising:

at least one client computing device operable to issue a supplier batch inventory query, the query including a set of criteria;

a travel server operable to store one or more inventory items defined by inventory information in a three level hierarchy, wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy;

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by at least two of the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct instances of inventory items than that of another inventory record, the distinct instances of inventory items including price with price adjustments applied to the price; and

wherein the travel server is operable to identify one or more group records, item category records, and inventory records matching the supplier batch inventory query criteria submitted by the client computing device.

43. The system as recited in claim 42 further comprising at least one inventory unit supplier operable to provide the one or more inventory items by communicating with the travel server.

44. The system as recited in claim 43, wherein the inventory unit supplier provides a cost code associated with the base costs of the inventory item.

45. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the one or more inventory items include travel-based goods and services and wherein the inventory query includes a travel-based goods and services query.

46. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein the query criteria include a date or date range.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein the date or date range is selected by a graphical user interface.

48. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein the query criteria include the selection of a hotel or hotel room-type.

49. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein the query criteria include the selection of an airline carrier or airline flight.

50. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein the query criteria include the selection of a cruise or a cabin type.

51. A system for storing and managing one or more inventory items utilizing inventory information, the system comprising:

at least one inventory supplier operable to provide the one or more inventory items and to transmit at least one supplier batch inventory action request;

a travel server operable to store one or more inventory items defined by inventory information in a three level hierarchy, wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail includes date information associated with the inventory items, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy;

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct instances of inventory items than that of another inventory record, the distinct instances of inventory items including price with price adjustments applied to the price; and

wherein the travel server is operable to communicate with the inventory suppliers and process the supplier batch inventory action requests corresponding to the one or more group records, item category records, and inventory records and wherein the travel server processes the supplier batch inventory unit request according to the item category record and inventory records.

52. The system as recited in claim 51, wherein the one or more inventory items and travel-based goods and services and wherein the inventory action request includes a travel-based goods and services inventory action request.

53. The system as recited in claim 52, wherein the inventory action request includes the transmission of an inventory status query and wherein the travel server processes the inventory status query according to the item category record and inventory records.

54. The system as recited in claim 53, wherein the travel server processes the inventory status query to include utilization information.

55. The system as recited in claim 51, wherein the travel server is further operable to initiate an inventory action request and transmit the inventory action request to the inventory supplier.

56. The system as recited in claim 51, wherein at least one inventory supplier is not continuously connected to the system and wherein the travel server transmits a confirmation for all inventory action requests.